Today on AirTalk Dr. Jonathan Sherin, director of the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, joins us to discuss what steps the L.A. County Department of Mental Health is taking to get closer to its goals. We also examine a recent Supreme Court trademark case over the "FUCT" clothing line; and more.
Is Pete Buttigieg a bellwether? America’s shifting attitudes on electing a gay president
In 2006, the majority of Americans were either “very uncomfortable”, or had “reservations”, about a gay person running for president.
Then, only 43% of Americans said they would be OK with a gay person running for president -- but today 68% say they would be fine with a gay candidate. The number of people who say they would be “enthusiastic” about a gay president has gone up threefold since 2006, from 5% to 14%.
These finding come on the heels of the first high-profile gay presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of Bend, Indiana. Buttigieg, an openly gay, 37-year-old former Naval office is growing in popularity. According to a new Emerson survey, Buttigieg is polling in third place among the 2020 democratic presidential candidates, behind Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden and ahead of big names like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker. Mayor Pete’s surging popularity follows the 2018 midterm elections’ “rainbow wave” when more LGBT candidates than ever before ran for office. Buttigieg has raised more than $7 million dollars for his presidential campaign.
Can Mayor Pete’s growing support take him all the way to the White House? Have you seen the same rise in acceptance towards gay people in your community or life? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Sean Meloy, political director at the LGBTQ Victory Fund, a DC-based organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ people at all levels of government
Don Haider-Markel, political science professor at the University of Kansas and author of “Out and Running: Gay and Lesbian Candidates, Elections and Policy Representation” (2010, Georgetown University Press)
FUCT from the beginning: LA fashion brand’s trademark battle reaches the Supreme Court
On Monday, clothing designer Eric Brunetti’s trademark case was argued before the Supreme Court.
Brunetti created his “FUCT” clothing line in 1990, but had his trademark application rejected consistently by the US Patent and Trademark Office, which he claims is unconstitutional. Brunetti asserted that if he had been able to trademark his brand, he could shut down the counterfeit brands that knocked off his brand.
The Patent and Trademark Office contends that the alleged acronym for “Friends U Can’t Trust” violates the Lanham Act which prohibits “scandalous” and “immoral” trademarks. As Justice Ginsberg pointed out on Monday, this case raises questions around how the appropriateness of a trademark is determined and what the role of the government is in regulating commercial speech. The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on this case before July.
Guests:
Jess Bravin, Supreme Court correspondent for the Wall Street Journal who’s written about the case
Erik Brunetti, owner and founder of the LA-based fashion brand, FUCT
California bill would create statewide rental data registry to track eviction and displacement, but privacy concerns remain for landlords
As part of a sweeping package of bills in Sacramento aimed at addressing housing, an Oakland assemblywoman is sponsoring a bill that would create an online data registry where landlords who oversee rental units with more than 15 dwellings would be required to submit data.
In a post on the Bay Area blog Oakland News Now, Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks says her bill, AB 724, will provide lawmakers with “rental data in order to create sound legislation that actually helps alleviate the strain on renters and protects working people.” Affordable housing advocates who support the bill agree that legislators lack adequate data on these kind of rentals, and that having it and analyzing it would lead to better housing policies at the state level. But opponents, including the California Apartment Association, argue that the bill raises privacy concerns regarding the amount of information that would be made public, and say that the information the bill seeks can be obtained through the census and other methods already available to the public.
What do you think of the bill? Call us at 866.893.5722 to weigh in.
Guest:
David Garcia, policy director at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley
Debra Carlton, senior vice president of public affairs with the California Apartment Association, the statewide trade group representing owners, investors, developers, managers and suppliers of rental homes and apartment communities
LA County Dept of Mental Health Director on homelessness, schools, jails and more
Dr. Jonathan Sherin leads the largest Mental Health department in the nation and its challenges are deep and wide-ranging.
Today, he joins AirTalk to discuss what an ideal mental health care system would look like and what steps the L.A. County Department of Mental Health is taking to get closer to its goals. Other topics include:
Mental health challenges related to homelessness in Los Angeles, including the plan to convert a mental health facility in Canoga Park into transitional housing for the homeless and the Mental Health Department’s visits to a homeless encampment in Whittier
The closure of “board-and-care” homes
The plan to replace the Men’s Central Jail in Downtown with a mental health hospital for inmates
The department’s role in the newly signed AB 1810, which gives some criminal defendants the option to undergo a mental health program instead of jail time
What plans the Department has for expanding medication-assisted treatment for people with opioid use disorders
Los Angeles County is asking the Governor to pursue a federal waiver that would allow Medicaid funds to be used for mental health related hospital stays
According to a recent study, depression and other mental health issues are on the rise in teens and young adults
During the LAUSD teachers’ strike, L.A. County Supervisors pledged more funding for schools, including $10 million from the Department of Mental Health for mental wellness and care
The Department is offering Woolsey Fire survivors free or low cost services
Have a question for Dr. Sherin? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Jonathan Sherin, M.D., director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; he tweets