Larry checks in with Sheriff Jim McDonnell on a variety of issues, including decreased crime rates and the status of mental health and medical programs for prison inmates. We also discuss the LA Times' lawsuit demanding transparency in the state's execution processes; explore the launch of a new car rental program; and more.
LA Times, other CA news media sue state to make entire execution process transparent, but critics say it will prevent executions
The LA Times and two San Francisco-based non-profit news organizations are suing to keep executions from resuming in CA.
The Times, NPR-member station KQED and the San Francisco Progressive Media Center want guaranteed full access to executions before they resume. Currently, the state’s planning to allow viewing of the prisoner being executed, but not the backroom where the lethal injection drug is prepared and administered. The state’s also installed curtains to block viewing of the procedure if the person doesn’t die after three doses of the drug.
The news organizations argue openness is essential to determining whether the state is following the law in its executions. Critics say they’re concerned this suit could delay the resumption of executions. Legal challenges have effectively blocked executions here since 2006.
We debate the lawsuit and its repercussions.
Guests:
Ajay Krishnan, a partner with Keker, Van Nest & Peters, which is representing the San Francisco Progressive Media Center, one of the plaintiffs in the suit
Kent Scheidegger, legal director and general counsel at the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a Sacramento organization dedicated to the interest of victims of crime
LA County Sheriff check-in: a new proposed standard for use of force, the civilian oversight commission, crime rates and more
Since the last time we’ve spoken with Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, two state bills were introduced that would change the way the department operates.
One bill would impose a stricter standard for use of deadly force by an officer. Another bill would require that investigations into serious use-of-force by an officer, such as a police shooting, be disclosed. We get the Sheriff’s thoughts on these two bills, as well as other topics, including:
- The L.A. Times’ lawsuit that accuses the department of flouting open records laws
- Decreases in crime rates
- The movement to give the Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission subpoena power
- The state of mental and medical care in prisons, including the calls for mental health workers and better treatment of mentally ill inmates, and the resulting ramp up in hiring
- Women’s jails practices that could contribute to sexual abuse and the deputy charged with sexually assault six female inmates
- April child abuse awareness month
Have a question for Sheriff Jim McDonnell? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Jim McDonnell, Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; he tweets
To curb homelessness, LA law would let some housing projects skip environmental review
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council gave the green light to two laws meant to create more homeless housing.
As the Los Angeles Times reports, one of the laws would allow certain housing projects to avoid environmental reviews in order to speed up the construction process. It would also cut down on costs to build the structures. An estimated 200 additional units would go up each year, with 10,000 units estimated to be built in a decade.
While homeless advocates lauded the plan, neighborhood groups were opposed, saying the ordinance would remove protections from residents.
Larry speaks to a Venice resident and the president of the L.A. City Planning Commission for a lively debate on the new ordinance.
Guests:
David Ambroz, president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission
Christian Wrede, member of Venice Vision, a neighborhood group that aims to create a safe and livable community; the organization is opposed to the ordinance
With the launch of Getaround, strangers can now rent each other’s cars in Los Angeles
A San Francisco-based car-sharing service is launching in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Getaround gives people a chance to share their cars with strangers through a smartphone app. The on-demand service lets you search the app for the nearest car for rent, the user goes to the car and wirelessly unlocks it from the phone. Rental prices range from $5 to $8 an hour depending on the type of car. All cars are covered by Getaround’s $1 million insurance policy that covers liability, collision, property damage and theft.
Getaround launched in San Francisco in 2011 and now the service will be available in downtown Los Angeles, Silverlake, Hollywood, West Hollywood and the Westside. The company plans to serve San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys as well as Orange County, according to general manager James Correa. Apart from San Francisco, Getaround has already seen significant expansion with services in Austin, San Diego and Portland.
Guests:
Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle reporter covering business, tech and the on-demand economy; she tweets
James Correa, general manager for Getaround, a San Francisco-based car-sharing service
Some people have no regrets in life, others aren’t so lucky: When a ‘good’ idea turns into a bad tattoo
Grammatical errors, misshapen objects, foreign symbols with dubious meanings – a lot can go wrong with even the most planned out tattoo, but on the bright side it makes for a good AirTalk story.
Recently, Ben Affleck’s less-than-subtle back tattoo went viral, sparking a surprisingly biting New Yorker piece titled “The Great Sadness of Ben Affleck,” to which the actor responded on Twitter “I’m doing just fine.”
But celebrities are not the only ones who have fallen victim to questionably ostentatious ink jobs. In fact, it’s pretty common. How often have we seen the name of an ex-significant other on someone’s body? Or the “I-Went-On-Vacation-And-Woke-Up-With-This-On-My-Arm” tattoo? Or the classic “I-Got-My-Favorite-Team’s-Helmet-Tattooed-On-My-Head” tattoo? It could happen to anyone.
Whether it’s your own tattoo or a friend’s, what’s some of the worst body art you’ve seen in recent years?
Here are some of our other favorite responses: