Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we discuss the latest on the Tejon Ranch housing project; analyze what the defeated Amazon union effort means for the future of unions in the country; and more.
COVID-19 AMA: LA’s Eligibility Opens Up, Vaccine Research Latest And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg of UC Davis.
Topics today include:
LA opens vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 and older
The picture in CA seems better, but still we’ve surpassed sixty thousand deaths in the state
One study points to Regeneron being able to head off infections
What do we know about the larger picture of COVID rates across the U.S.?
OC will test run a “digital” vaccine passport
Guest:
Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital
What’s Next For The Tejon Ranch Project After Judge Blocks Construction Due To Wildfire Risk
A long-running plan to build a community of 19,000 homes on vast Tejon Ranch north of Los Angeles has been halted by a judge who cited high wildfire risk.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff on Tuesday rejected Los Angeles County’s approval of the developer’s environmental impact report, effectively blocking construction. The judge cited aspects of the environmental review concerning fire danger and additional greenhouse gases generated by vehicles, the Los Angeles Times reported. The ruling does not kill the project on the southern flanks of the Tehachapi Mountains near the Kern County border, the newspaper said, but it does threaten to delay it significantly.
The Center for Biological Diversity, one of the project’s most vocal opponents, hailed the judge’s decision. The project’s developer said the ruling would merely delay construction. The Centennial development has faced significant opposition since it was proposed by Tejon Ranch Co. in 1999. Opponents cite impacts on plant and animal habitats, earthquake and wildfire hazards, traffic congestion and pollution, among others. Advocates say Centennial would bring housing, jobs and revenues to the county, as well as needed infrastructure in the region 70 miles (112. kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk about what’s next for Tejon Ranch and hear how environmental advocates plan to work with the developers as the project progresses.
With files from the Associated Press
We invited Tejon Ranch Company to join our discussion, but they could not make someone available to speak with us at the time of our interview.
Guests:
J.P. Rose, staff attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity; he tweets
Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley; he also leads the Climate Change and Business Research Initiative on behalf of UC Berkeley Law and UCLA Law
A New Project Aims To Identify Landmarks Connected To Black LA History. What Would You Like To See Included?
Last week, Getty and the city of Los Angeles announced the African American Historic Places Project, a new program aimed at identifying and preserving historic Black landmarks in the city.
The three-year initiative aims to rectify a glaring disparity in LA landmark designations— only 3% of current landmarks are connected to Black heritage and history. “There’s much work to be done to rectify that disparity and ensure that the heritage of African Americans in Los Angeles is fully woven into our historic designation, and recognition of historic places in Los Angeles,” said Ken Bernstein, principal city planner and manager of the Office of Historic Resources. The Getty and the city are actively searching for a project leader with the help of an advisory group, and will work with local communities and cultural institutions to identify landmarks. The initiative also aims to reconsider what a “landmark” might be; while landmark designation is often granted to buildings, leaders are interested in expanding the boundaries of this classification to include more intangible spaces that honor African-American heritage in the city.
Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you. What histories, destinations or cultural landmarks connected to Black Angeleno heritage would you like to see designated as landmarks? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or comment below.
Guests:
Sara Lardinois, project manager of the Los Angeles African American Historic Places Project at the Getty Conservation Institute; she tweets
Susan D. Anderson, history curator and project manager at the California African American Museum who sits on the advisory panel for the project; she tweets
What Amazon Union’s Defeat Means For The PRO Act And The Future Of Unions In The United States
Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama handed the online retail giant a decisive victory when they voted against forming a union and cut off a path that labor activists had hoped would lead to similar efforts throughout the company and beyond.
After months of aggressive campaigning from both sides, 1,798 warehouse workers ultimately rejected the union while 738 voted in favor of it, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which is overseeing the process.
Of the 3,117 votes cast, 76 were voided for being filled out incorrectly and 505 were contested by either Amazon or the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which led the organizing efforts in Bessemer. But the NLRB said the contested votes were not enough to sway the outcome. About 53% of the nearly 6,000 workers cast their ballots.
In February, the Democratic-controlled House approved a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions and bargain for higher wages, better benefits and improved working conditions. President Biden recommended the PRO Act to be a part of his infrastructure package.
The “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment.
In one of its most controversial provisions, the bill would close loopholes that allow what supporters call intentional misclassification of workers as supervisors and independent contractors in order to prevent them from joining a union.
Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about the significance of Amazon’s triumph over the Bessamer unionization effort, what the implications could be for the PRO Act and how it all fits into the larger picture of unions in America. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Karen Weise, technology reporter for The New York Times covering Amazon; she tweets
Rebecca Givan, associate professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Nelson Lichtenstein, professor of history at the University of California Santa Barbara where he directs the Center for the Study of Work, Labor, and Democracy; he tweets