Today on AirTalk, we discuss how the pandemic could change architecture in public spaces. Also on the show, our FilmWeek critics discuss the weekend's new releases; we answer your COVID-19 questions; and more.
Proposed Legislation Would Hike Taxes On Rich, But Will It Drive Some To Leave The State?
California already levies pretty high taxes on its top 1 percent of earners, but a new bill making its way through Sacramento would set up a new sliding scale of income taxes on Californians who make more than $1 million a year.
That money would go to the state’s general fund and could be used, for example, to help address the likely impending budget crisis the state will need to address because of the shutdown due to COVID-19. But some worry that yet another tax on the highest earners in the state might be an incentive for them to move out of state and somewhere that has friendlier tax laws for those who earn more than $1 million a year.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll take a closer look at what this proposed new tax on the rich would actually do and whether experts think it really could lead to some of California’s top earners deciding to move elsewhere.
Guest:
Roxana Tynan, executive director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit advocacy group
Joel Fox, editor-in-chief of the political commentary website Fox and Hounds Daily and the former president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association from 1986 to 1998; he tweets
Imagining Future LA: How This Pandemic Could Change The Design Of Offices, Homes And Cities
After the black death swept Medieval Europe, cities cleaned up their streets and expanded boulevards. Disease has often forced humans to rethink the way they use and design space -- and COVID-19 will likely prompt change and innovation as well.
As families spend more time in their homes, working and doing online classes, how will domestic architecture shift to accommodate? How will office floorplans change based on the hygienic needs of social distancing and ventilation? What about bars, restaurants or concert venues?
We sit down with two architects to imagine how the pandemic might influence the way Los Angeles looks in the future.
Guests:
Dana Cuff, professor of architecture and urban design and founding director of cityLAB, a research center that develops urban innovations at the University of California, Los Angeles
John Dutton, architect, urban designer and principal of Los Angeles based Dutton Architects; he is a adjunct associate professor of architecture at USC
COVID-19 AMA: Long Term Effects, Rural Areas, Cleaning Products And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with UC Davis’ Dr. Dean Blumberg.
Topics today include:
The latest CA numbers
CDC posts new death projections
Can chronic fatigue be a long term symptom of the coronavirus?
The danger of people who are asymptomatic and their capacity to spread the disease
One model looks at the efficacy of masks and how many lives they could save
CA’s rural areas hard hit by COVID-19
A CDC study finds that a third of adults in America aren’t using cleaning products the right way
Guest:
Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital
FilmWeek: ‘Song Without A Name,’ ‘La Llorona,’ ‘A Thousand Cuts’ And More
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Peter Rainer, Claudia Puig and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
"La Llorna" on Shudder
"Howard" on Disney+
"Spinster" on VOD (Google Play, Vudu, AppleTV & FandangoNOW)
"Black Is King" on Disney+
"Waiting For The Barbarians" on VOD (AppleTV, Google Play, FandangoNOW, Vudu & Vimeo)
"I Used To Go Here" on VOD (iTunes, Google Play, Apple TV & FandagoNOW)
"The Stand: How One Gesture Shook The World" on VOD (Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, FandangoNOW, Vudu, YouTube & Google Play)
Our FilmWeek critics have been curating personal lists of their favorite TV shows and movies to binge-watch during self-quarantine. You can see recommendations from each of the critics and where you can watch them here.
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA); she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Don Hahn Explores The Life Of Disney Lyrical Mastermind Howard Ashman In New Documentary ‘Howard’
Think about some of Disney’s most iconic songs. Hits that have become classics and bring on that wave of nostalgia. Chances are, lyricist Howard Ashman had a hand in writing some of your favorite Disney tunes.
Howard Ashman’s life and career is explored in writer and director Don Hahn’s documentary “Howard”. From Broadway to Disney, Ashman made a name for himself as an accomplished writer in the musical world. He and his frequent collaborator, composer Alan Menken, were the masterminds behind the Broadway classics “God Bless You, Mr Rosewater” and “Little Shop of Horrors”. The latter of which later went on to see long-running success and eventually be turned into the 1986 feature film.
But it’s with Disney that Ashman created some of his most recognizable work. Ashman’s lyrics played a role in the success of Disney’s Renaissance era. He, along with Menken, wrote music for “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and The Beast,” and “Aladdin”. Together, the musical duo produced numerous Disney classics like “Part of Your World” and “Be Our Guest”. Their work with Disney received critical acclaim and a number of accolades that included Academy Awards, Grammys and Golden Globes. Ashman continued his creative partnership with Disney until the very end of his life when he died of complications from AIDS. In 2011, Disney recognized Ashman’s impact and work by honoring him with the Disney Legend award.
Hahn had worked with Ashman as a producer on “Beauty and The Beast”. He hopes this documentary shares not only Ashman’s highs, but his lows through his creative struggles and eventual battle with AIDS. Today on FilmWeek, writer and director Don Hahn joins us to discuss Howard Ashman’s life, what it was like working with the lyricist, and what audiences will take away from the film.
Guest:
Don Hahn, writer and director of the documentary “Howard”; film producer whose credits include “The Lion King” and “Beauty And The Beast”