The debate over affordable housing in Los Angeles county seems to be hitting a fever pitch. Also, he’s a political outsider. A straight shooter. And a GOP hopeful running to become the next President of the United States. His name is Ben Carson. Then, the controversial premise of A&E’s “Intervention,” a nightmarishly realistic portrayal of addiction recovery, may be what’s propelled the show to its 14th season.
Debate over 'tiny homes' for the homeless highlights growing need for affordable housing
The debate over affordable housing in Los Angeles county seems to be hitting a fever pitch.
This week alone, two county groups have released reports on the growing numbers of homeless, the LA City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee is taking up a motion to draft an ordinance regulating short-term rentals, which could potentially land a blow to Airbnb, and KPCC is taking a deeper look at Section 8 housing.
LA City Hall is also debating the utility of tiny, curbside homes on wheels. Elvis Summers began building the wooden, single-room structures that can fit into about the size of parking spot, to address what he saw as a need for homeless people to get off the streets. The results went viral. He raised $85,128 through a Go Fund Me campaign.
But now Harbor-area Councilman Joe Buscaino is trying to get the homes booted from his neighborhood, arguing they pose a risk to public safety.
Do you think tiny homes are a possible solution to homelessness in LA County? Or are they just a bandaid on a much larger issue?
All Alone: Antecedents of Chronic Homelessness
Guests:
Joe Buscaino, Councilman for the 15th District in Los Angeles, which includes San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Watts
Elvis Summers, founder of A Tiny House, Huge Purpose
GOP 2016: The appeal of Ben Carson
He’s a political outsider. A straight shooter. And a GOP hopeful running to become the next President of the United States. His name is Ben Carson.
Donald Trump’s rise in the GOP primary has eclipsed the rest of the sizable field, particularly Carson. The retired pediatric neurosurgeon has ranked high in the recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, coming in third (tied with Scott Walker) after Trump and Jeb Bush as the most popular candidates for Republican voters.
Who is Ben Carson? What is his political platform?
Guests:
Katie Glueck, political reporter for POLITICO who’s covering the 2016 campaign
Raynard Jackson, GOP political strategist and CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, a political consulting firm in DC
Marine conservationist on what animals think and feel
Can animals think and feel? Anyone with a pet will likely say yes. Animal researcher Carl Safina is taking that question one step further by asking what and how do nonhuman animals feel.
His new book, “Beyond Words,” documents Safina’s journey to Amboseli National Park in Kenya to study how elephants survive poaching; to Yellowstone National Park to observe a pack of grieving wolves; to the Pacific Northwest to figure out how killer whales communicate with each other. It gives readers a glimpse into the range of emotions animals are capable of feeling.
In addition to writing, Carl also hosts the PBS series 'Saving the Ocean,' which you can watch for free at PBS.org.
Carl Safina will be discussing his book tonight, August 25, at 7:00pm at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Click here for more information.
Guests:
Carl Safina, a marine conservationist and the author of numerous books, including his latest, “Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel” (Henry Holt and Co., 2015)
Education experts debate whether kindergarten should be mandatory in California
For now, California kids don’t have to start their formal education until age 6, meaning kids could skip kindergarten and begin school in first grade.
But, currently there’s a bill pending in the Senate mandating that California children attend kindergarten.
The bill has passed in the Assembly. Research points to low-income family kids suffering for not attending kindergarten, especially with the accelerated academic expectations of kids these days. Research also points to kindergarten having little impact on middle to upper class kids.
Does it make sense to mandate five year olds attend school? Does it infringe on the current parental right to choose? Do the benefits of serving all children outweigh that possible infringement? Is it worth it for California to spend the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary in order to build out the infrastructure needed to support mandatory kindergarten?
AB 713 - Elementary Education: Kindergarten
Guest:
Gib Hentshke, emeritus dean and professor at the Rossier School of Education at USC
Lisa Snell, Director of Education at The Reason Foundation
Sarkisian slip-up puts spotlight on culture of alcohol in college football
A contrite Steve Sarkisian spoke to the media this morning and apologized for his actions after a drunken episode this past weekend at an annual football dinner raised eyebrows, not to mention questions about the culture of alcohol within the University of Southern California’s football program.
Sarkisian called his actions ‘irresponsible’ and says he’s sworn off drinking for the rest of this season. When asked what happened, he said that he mixed medication with alcohol, though he didn’t give a reason for taking the meds. He also said that he plans to seek treatment, though he doesn’t know if he has a drinking problem.
Saturday night, an allegedly very loose Sarkisian spoke to an audience at the Salute to Troy football dinner about the upcoming season, at one point proclaiming “Get ready to (expletive) fight on, baby!” He also said “They all suck” when referring to road games this season against Arizona State, Notre Dame, and Oregon. Sarkisian was allegedly pulled away from the microphone by athletic director Pat Haden, who then spoke to Sarkisian backstage about his behavior.
Sarkisian is in his second year as head coach of the Trojans. Alcohol had been banned from the locker room before his tenure, but Sarkisian brought it back last year, though he maintains it was only in the coaches’ locker room after big wins. Previously, he was head football coach at the University of Washington, and at least one person who worked in the athletic department at Washington but asked to remain nameless said that Sarkisian used to keep alcohol around when he coached there as well.
Do you think Coach Sarkisian should receive a suspension? Do you think a double standard exists when it comes to punishing players versus punishing coaches? What does this say about the culture of alcohol in college football?
Guest:
Scott Wolf, USC beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News. He was at this morning’s press conference with Coach Sarkisian.
Emmy 2015 Unstructured Reality: A&E’s ‘Intervention’
The controversial premise of A&E’s “Intervention,” a nightmarishly realistic portrayal of addiction recovery, may be what’s propelled the show to its 14th season.
It’s certainly part of what’s garnered it another Emmy nomination for best Unstructured Reality show this year. Reality TV began as a kooky trend at the turn of the millennium but is now a staple for audiences and the industry.
AirTalk is taking a deeper look at this year's Emmy category of Unstructured Reality, and today we dive into the dark world of “Intervention.” The series deals with individuals struggling with a wide spectrum of addictions--from crystal meth or sex, to duster or alcohol--and the people in their lives begging them to seek treatment.
Guest:
Jeffrey Weaver, executive producer of A&E’s “Intervention”