The EPA is putting a six-year freeze on fuel economy standards beginning in 2020, and revoking an Obama-era waiver allowing California to set its own standards. We debate the impact of the new rules. We also get a public safety update from Sheriff Jim McDonnell; take a cruise down the historic Route 66; and more.
Trump proposes lowering fuel standards: The impact on California and the court battles ahead
The Trump administration announced Thursday it intends to weaken federal fuel efficiency standards and revoke California’s autonomy to impose its own standards.
The US EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are calling for fuel mileage standards to be frozen at year 2020 levels, rolling back aggressive standards agreed to by CA and the Obama Administration. They called for average fuel economy of more than 50-miles-a-gallon by 2025.
AirTalk gets the latest from California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the automotive industry, and law and policy experts.
Guests:
Xavier Becerra, California state attorney general
Kenny Stein, director of policy and federal affairs for the American Energy Alliance, the advocacy arm of the Washington, D.C.-based free-market think tank, the Institute for Energy Research
Adrian Martinez, attorney for Earthjustice, the SF-based environmental law organization
Mike Floyd, editor-in-chief of Automobile Magazine based in El Segundo
LA County Sheriff check-in: vacancies, allegations of a secret clique and more
Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell is back for his quarterly AirTalk visit. We’ll check in on the latest developments, including:
Allegations that a secret clique, identified by their matching tattoos, has resurfaced within the Department
The approval of a $2.2 billion replacement for the Men’s Central Jail which will treat and house inmates who are medically and mentally ill
A number of vacant positions and a projected deficit in the Department, which is causing a delay in the rollout of the body camera program
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to review the LASD’s protocols for reporting and investigating hate crimes
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
The business ethics of Google building a censored search engine for China
Eight years after Google pulled out of China because of concerns over censorship and hacking, the internet giant is now reported to be working on a search engine for the country that would block access to search terms and websites blacklisted by Xi Jinping’s government.
It’s unclear if China would take Google back, but this project has drawn criticism from certain human rights groups who feel that the company would be complicit in China’s censorship.
Has anything changed now, versus eight years ago? What are the ethical and business considerations behind Google’s decision?
We have reached out to Google and they did not get back to us in time for the program but they provided us with this statement:
We provide a number of mobile apps in China, such as Google Translate and Files Go, help Chinese developers, and have made significant investments in Chinese companies like JD.com. But we don’t comment on speculation about future plans.
Guests:
Daisuke Wakabayashi, reporter for the New York Times covering technology, based in San Francisco; he tweets
Ian Maitland, professor of business ethics at the University of Minnesota; he also teaches at the school’s MBA Program in China
OC needle exchange program approved by state health officials despite local protest
The California Department of Public Health has approved on Monday the operation of a mobile needle-exchange program in four Orange County cities.
State officials gave the green light to let the Orange County Needle Exchange Program operate for two years starting Monday, Aug. 6. But local lawmakers in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Orange and Santa Ana are not welcoming the move.
Supporters argue the program is meant to provide clean needles that would prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. But opponents say that needle exchange programs jeopardize the health and safety of people living in the community. Meanwhile, the Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold an emergency meeting on Friday regarding possible litigation in order to halt the mobile needle giveaway program.
Guests:
Alicia Robinson, reporter for the Orange County Register, who has been reporting on the mobile exchange program
Laura Thomas, acting director of the California chapter of the Drug Policy Alliance, a drug law reform advocacy group
Andrew Do, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the First District that includes the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Westminster, who has called for an emergency meeting for Friday regarding possible litigation in order to halt the mobile needle exchange program
The historic Route 66 is endangered. This crew wants to save it by sharing their month-long tour on the road
Route 66 is one of the most iconic highways in America. But it’s also the most endangered.
Stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, the quintessential roadtripper’s muse captures the heart of life on the open road. There’s even the song, “(Get Your Kicks) On Route 66” dedicated to it, first sung by Nat King Cole in 1946.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCYApJtsyd0
Though Congress has considered adding Route 66 to the National Historic Trails list, which would secure federal assistance and permanent protections for the highway, legislation must be passed and signed by President Donald Trump by the end of 2018.
From July 2 to August 3, the nonprofit group National Trust for Historic Preservation has dedicated a month-long road trip to travel the route’s full length, stopping by the places and hearing the stories of the people who have given the road its historic value.
Have you traveled Route 66 before? What are some of your fondest memories on the highway? Share your stories with us by calling 866-893-5722 or comment below.
Public events: The Historic Route 66 Tour will conclude at Los Angeles’ Clifton’s Republic (Thursday 8/2 @ 4-9 p.m.) & Santa Monica’s Mel’s Drive-In (Friday 8/3 @ 5-9 p.m.)
Guest:
Jason Clement, director of marketing campaigns of National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to preserve historic landmarks in America; he’s also the Route 66 road crew member tasked with launching the trip and tweets