Today on AirTalk, we’re asking parents of LAUSD students to weigh in: How did you choose the school where you send your child and what are the factors that go into that decision? We also take a closer look at the New York Times' 1619 project, a series that examines and details the legacy of slavery in America; and more.
As LAUSD Students Return To Classes, Parents Weigh In On How And Why They Chose Their Child’s School
Pencils are sharpened. Lunches are packed. Outfits are chosen. It can only mean one thing -- school has returned for the 2019-2020 academic year in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
The majority of the district’s nearly 500,000 students will return to classes on Tuesday following an academic year that was characterized largely by the teachers’ strike and the failure of a parcel tax ballot measure that would have generated approximately half a billion dollars a year in funding. In his “State of the Schools” address last week, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner pointed to a graduation rate increase and a decrease in chronic absences as a sign of progress, but noted that there was still much work to be done in the areas of student performance and in rebuilding the public’s trust in the nation’s second largest public school district.
With today being the first day for LAUSD students, we’re asking district parents to weigh in: How did you choose the school where you send your child? What are the factors that go into that decision? If you're sending your kids to your neighborhood school, is it because it's improved or is now a charter or maybe there's no other option? We’re taking your calls at 866-893-5722.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Tonikiaa Orange, director of the Institute for Cultural Sustainability & Educational Equity and assistant director of the Principal Leadership Institute at UCLA; she is a former LAUSD teacher and administrator, and a current LAUSD parent
David Tokofsky, consultant strategist with the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, which represents principals and other administrators working in LAUSD; former LAUSD board member and a former teacher in the district
A Closer Look At The New York Times’ 1619 Project
Four hundred years ago today, on August 20th, 1619, the first enslaved people from Africa arrived on the shores of Virginia.
In observance of the anniversary, the New York Times Magazine recently launched “The 1619 Project”-- a series examing and detailing the legacy of slavery in America. The project aims to reframe American history and provide a greater understanding of the impact slavery had on the country. The series began when reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones pitched the project as an entire issue dedicated solely to the ways in which slavery has shaped the country. It includes contributions from writers, poets, photographers, and reporters, among others.
For more on the project, its significance and response, we speak with Nikole Hannah-Jones of the New York Times and Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers, a history professor at UC Berkeley.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Nikole Hannah-Jones, reporter for The New York Times Magazine focusing on racial injustice; she led the 1619 Project
Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers, associate professor of history at UC Berkeley
Exploring The Why Behind California’s Primary Care Physician Shortage
According to a new piece in CAL Matters, California’s growing shortage of primary care physicians is hitting low-income and rural areas the hardest.
About a third of doctors in the state are over the age of 55, nearing the edge of retirement. Meanwhile, there aren’t nearly enough doctors going into primary care, especially in places like the Central Coast, the Central Valley and the Southern Border.
What’s behind the shortage of primary care physicians? Steep student loans which incentivize docs toward specialization, the draw of populated areas and small MediCal reimbursements are among the culprits.
We dive into the latest data, as well as efforts to address the physician shortage in California.
Plus, if you work in the medical field, have you felt the impact of the shortage? If you are a patient in an under-serviced area, have you noticed the lack of primary care physicians? Or if you’re a med student, what is driving you towards or away from primary care?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Elizabeth Aguilera, reporter with CALMatters covering health and social services; her latest piece is “Paging more doctors: California’s worsening physician shortage”
Dr. Mark Henderson, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine, he’s also the Vice Chair for Education and Associate Dean for Admissions
Could Climate Change Kill Off Napa Valley’s Beloved Cabernet Sauvignon?
Winegrowers in Napa Valley agree that climate change is real and impacting wine worldwide. This could have serious implications for a region that’s economy depends on producing a world class crop, including Cabernet Sauvignon, which Napa’s identity is wrapped around. Cabernet in Napa is a signature and often pricey type of wine, but growers worry the rising temperatures and increasingly frequent wildfires will eventually mean they won’t be able to produce a quality product. And some believe that critical moment will come sooner rather than later. Does this mean Napa’s future may not lie solely with Cabernet?
Growers in the area aren’t waiting to find out. Some are now taking matters into their own hands by experimenting with different grape varieties that could potentially thrive in warmer climates. Guest host Libby Denkmann sits down with experts to discuss the issue and what the future holds for developing the at-risk beverage.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Esther Mobley, a wine critic at the San Francisco Chronicle, she writes primarily about California wine and recently wrote a piece about climate change’s impact on Napa Valley’s signature flavor: Cabernet Sauvignon; she tweets
Greg Jones, director of the Evenstad Center for Wine Education at Linfield College in Oregon, he’s also a professor and research climatologist in the Department of Environmental Studies, he focuses on climate variability and how it impacts wine production and quality.
Imported Goods And Homeland Vibes: Your Favorite Ethnic Markets In Los Angeles
Last week, the L.A. Times’ Jamie Feldmar wrote an ode to the Armenian-owned international grocery store chain Super King, whose stores distinguish themselves with their deals and ability to cater to the neighborhoods in which they’re based.
This got us thinking about so-called “ethnic markets,” which often cater to a specific immigrant community, importing goods from the home country and preserving a certain cultural vibe within its grocery aisles. And what better place to talk ethnic markets than L.A., which houses so many immigrant communities and caters to them all.
Whether it be the Russian delis on Fairfax in West Hollywood, a 99 Ranch in San Gabriel Valley or a tiny grocery mart in Little Ethiopia, we want to hear from you. What are the ethnic markets that you grew up with? And that you still frequent (and potentially brave traffic for) today? What goods or vibes are you seeking out there?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Quincy Surasmith, digital assistant producer for the KPCC In Person team; he tweets
Esther Tseng, freelance food writer, who’s writing has appeared in various publications, including the LA Times, LAist, Food & Wine and more; she tweets