L.A. officials are looking into options for getting homeless people with severe mental illnesses off the county's streets - we host a roundtable to discuss potential rules expansions for involuntary hospitalization; plus, opioid and heroin safe spaces may sound counterintuitive, but are they actually a good idea?; we talk to Cheech, of Cheech & Chong fame; and more.
California lawmakers propose moving primary up, gaining clout
“In the age of Trump, California Democrats are tired of their state's votes being an afterthought.”
Democratic State Senator Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens is the second legislator to propose moving the next CA Presidential primary up to March. Supporters say it would make CA more relevant in the primary process. The new date would follow the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.
CA went down this road as recently as 2008, when the primary was held in February. Despite strong turnout, the primary was moved back to its historic June date. What are the pros and cons of an early Presidential primary?
Guests:
Carla Marinucci, senior writer for POLITICO’s California Playbook
Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School and president of the LA Ethics Commission
Bills call for CalPERS to divest from Border Wall, DAPL - but is it wise?
A number of bills have been introduced in the CA Legislature to call for CalPERS - the state’s public pension pen - to pull money from companies associated with a range of projects, including the construction of the border wall and the Dakota Access Pipeline.
But CalPERS has come out to say that the divestitures would hurt taxpayers.
Guests:
Adrian Martinez, staff attorney at the environmental law firm, EarthJustice
Randy Diamond, reporter at the trade publication, Pensions and Investments, who covers CalPERS and CalTRS
California mulls allowing safe spaces for IV drug users
A bill in Sacramento would make California the first state in the country where drug users could be provided with a place to inject.
The bill's author says the measure is aimed at reducing overdoses and other problems caused by drug abuse.
"In the U.S. we have criminalized rather than treated addiction as a medical or social issue," said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). "Our prisons are full of people suffering from issues of addiction. Being able to provide a safe place for someone to use also increases the likelihood that they [will] get into rehab."
Eggman's bill would allow cities and counties to authorize the creation of facilities "supervised by healthcare professionals or other trained staff where people who use drugs can consume preobtained drugs, sterile consumption supplies, and access to referrals to addiction treatment."
Read the full story here.
Guests:
Laura Thomas, deputy state director of the Drug Policy Alliance which co-sponsored AB 186
Dr. Damon Raskin, M.D., chief medical advisor for Cliffside Malibu Treatment Center; he is an internist board-certified in addiction medicine
The pros and cons of expanding LA County rules for involuntary hospitalization
Los Angeles officials are looking into options for getting homeless with severe mental illnesses off the county's streets.
On Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors instructed the Department of Mental Health to research what legal options officials have at their disposal to compel people into treatment if it's believed they're so gravely disabled, they can't make decisions for themselves.
The move comes as city and county agencies in L.A., backed by new taxpayer dollars, are making major investments in tackling the region's growing homeless problem. As they do so, there are questions the supervisors want answered about whether a small percentage of homeless will refuse all attempts to get them into stable housing.
Read the full story here.
Guests:
Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the 5th District; she authored the request for the Department of Mental Health to research legal options for involuntary hospitalization
Carol Sobel, a civil rights attorney who has represented L.A.'s homeless in federal courts
Jonathan E. Sherin, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Dorothy Edwards, formerly homeless and a current advocate for the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s “SpeakUp!” program; a housing solutions organization
Comedy, counterculture, Cheech
You probably don’t know his actual name, but you’ve definitely heard of Cheech.
In his new memoir “Cheech Is Not My Real Name: ...But Don't Call Me Chong,” Cheech Marin reflects on his childhood in South Central L.A., as well as his friendship with Tommy Chong and their iconic stoner comedy duo.
Host Larry Mantle talks to Cheech about the trajectory of “Cheech & Chong,” as well as Cheech’s more recent endeavors, which range from guest starring on “Jane the Virgin” to compiling a renowned collection of Chicano art.
Cheech will be speaking at the Canyon Club of Agoura Hills on Wednesday, April 19, and at the Rose of Pasadena on Thursday, April 20. You’ll also find him at the L.A. Times Festival of Books on Sunday, April 23. For more info on these events, click here and here.
Oh, and his real name is Richard.
Guest:
Cheech Marin, stand-up comedian, actor, director and author of “Cheech Is Not My Real Name: ...But Don't Call Me Chong” (Grand Central Publishing, 2017)