Baltimore police announced they've turned over the results of their investigation into Freddie Gray's death to the local prosecutor. Also, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will announce his plans to run for president. Then, the Raise the Wage campaign, including business leaders and workers, will deliver 100,000 petition signatures to LA City Council calling for a $15.25 minimum wage and paid sick days.
Baltimore police commissioner hands over Freddie Gray investigation to state prosecutor
This morning, Baltimore police announced they've turned over the results of their investigation into Freddie Gray's death to the local prosecutor.
Though the report isn't being made public, police commissioner Anthony Batts revealed the van transporting Gray made a fourth stop that wasn't known to officials. How they learned of the stop might be telling.
Guest:
Luke Broadwater, City Hall reporter, The Baltimore Sun
Making a run or making a statement? Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to run for president
Another presidential candidate is throwing his hat into the Democratic side of the ring today. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will announce his plans to run for president, making him the second person to wade into the fray on the Democratic side.
Sanders, a self-described socialist, plans to put out a short statement tomorrow about his intentions, and will officially kick off his campaign in Vermont in a few weeks. While he won’t be able to compete dollar-for-dollar with Hillary Clinton’s campaign, his entrance into the race may be more symbolic than realistic. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza argues in a recent post on his blog “The Fix” that Sanders isn’t focused on about winning, but influencing the conversation among Democratic candidates, and to push Clinton and any others that may come further to the left on important issues like trade and campaign finance.
What do you think of Bernie Sanders as a presidential candidate? Do you think he’s trying to shift the other candidates farther to the left? Will Sanders garner votes from Democrats who don’t think Hillary is left enough but want to send a message with their vote?
Guest:
Ron Fournier, senior political columnist and editorial director of National Journal
How ACLU’s new app aims to hold law-enforcement officers accountable for actions
See a police officer overstepping his or her authority? Now there’s an app for that, too.
The ACLU of California announced today that it is rolling out a mobile app called “Mobile Justice CA,” which users can use to record video if they see a law-enforcement officer they believe there’s a violation of civil rights. The video is automatically sent to the user’s local ACLU affiliate and is preserved even if the sender’s phone is taken or destroyed later on.
The ACLU warns users that while the app is intended for bystanders, they know some may try to use the app during an interaction with police. They advise users who plan to do this to announce that they are reaching for their phone and attempting to access the app. It can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Android’s Google Play.
Do you think this app will change anything about community interactions with police? What concerns might law enforcement officers have about the app?
Guest:
Peter Bibring, Director of Police Practices & Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Southern California
Why Governor Brown is rolling back Delta project
Governor Brown is expected to announce today that the state is dramatically reducing the amount of fish and wildlife habitat it plans to preserve in connection to the $25 billion twin-tunnels project under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
California Department of Fish and Game Director Chuck Bonham told The Associated Press Wednesday that the project now calls for restoring 30,000 acres for wetland and wildlife habitat - down from 100,000 acres.
The original environmental improvements were projected to cost $8 billion, and officials said the new plans to be announced Thursday will cost about $300 million. The plan immediately drew criticism from environmental and conservation groups.
With files from Association Press
Guests:
Chelsea Tu, staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, where she works on limiting land development and preserving freshwater resources for the public and endangered species
Jason Peltier, Deputy General Manager at Westlands Water District, which provides water supply to its landowners and water users
Minimum wage debate: CA restaurateurs claim $21 hourly wage earned by tipped waitstaff
Tomorrow, the Raise the Wage campaign, including business leaders and workers, will deliver 100,000 petition signatures to LA City Council calling for a $15.25 minimum wage and paid sick days.
The latest move comes on the heels of a report commissioned by the California Restaurant Association, which claims restaurant “servers make an average of $12.57 per hour in tips, bringing their current hourly wage to over $21 when added to the minimum wage.” Disputing the conclusions of the study, the Restaurant Opportunities Centers-United says restaurant workers make an average annual salary of $28 thousand. Additionally, prior statistics conducted by government agencies claim tipped workers only bring in $1.54 per hour in tips.
These figures are being bandied about because of efforts by restaurant proprietors to incorporate their workers’ gratuities into any minimum wage hikes.
If you work in the industry, what have you experienced by way of average tipping amounts? Should wait staff be excluded from the minimum wage hike?
Guests:
Jot Condie, President & CEO, California Restaurant Association - an advocacy organization representing restaurateurs
Kathy Hoang, Director of the LA Chapter of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) - founded in 2001, ROC United advocates to improve wages and working conditions for the nation's restaurant workforce.
New site promotes openness to open relationships
Openminded.com, a dating site devoted to polyamorous relationships, launched earlier this week, garnering a membership of 10,000 on its first day.
The site bills itself as a place for people that seek open relationships, but is decidedly anti-cheating and wants members to be open and honest with all parties involved. It’s all about embracing different kinds of relationships instead of hiding behind societally accepted norms. Experts hope it will dispel what they call common misconceptions about open relationships.
Has an open relationship worked for you or not? How did you define it? Do you and your partners agree to boundaries? How do you deal with jealousy? Have you tried and failed to make polyamory feel right?
Guest:
Elisabeth Sheff, Ph.D., Sociologist and an expert on polyamory: author of The Polyamorists Next Door: Inside Multiple-Partner Relationships and Families