NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT STRIKE; LOS ANGELES CRIME RATE DECLINES FOR 3RD YEAR; WASTE MANAGEMENT; DEALING WITH TOXIC PERSONALITIES DURING THE HOLIDAYS
NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT STRIKE
New Yorkers are in their third day of commuting misery. Over seven million people depend on that city’s subways and buses. A State Supreme Court justice, calling the strike illegal under New York’s Taylor Law, ordered the union members back to work. The Taylor law provides penalties against striking public employee unions and their members. The judge imposed a $1 million fine for each day the transport workers union is on strike. Negotiations with a State mediator continued through the night and subways may start running again as early as this evening. But whatever happens, the strike has already had huge economic consequences. The City Comptroller estimates the cost to New York’s economy at $400 million the first day and $300 million for each subsequent weekday the transit workers are out. Some argue that essential public sector service providers should not be allowed to strike. Does such a law undercut worker’s negotiating position? Larry and his guest discuss the strike and how it applies to key unions in California and the rest of the country.
LOS ANGELES CRIME RATE DECLINES FOR 3RD YEAR
The city of Los Angeles is poised to end the year with a near 10% drop in crime, meeting a goal set by Police Chief William J. Bratton. If the trend continues over the next week and a half, it will be the third year in a row that Los Angeles has seen an important drop in crime, though the reasons for this decline aren’t obvious. Chief Bratton credits the LAPD’s assertive policing and improved organization for contributing to the decline but other experts point to an aging population and a relatively strong economy for the drop in the rate. Larry Mantle talks with guests about the decline in crime in the City of LA.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Ten years ago, more than 70 percent of California’s trash was sent to landfills. Today, that figure has dropped to 50 percent. But since the population keeps increasing, the total amount of trash keeps growing with it. City officials are pushing for more recycling, but today Californian’s produce some 40 million tons of un-recycled waste. The mountains of garbage keep growing in communities throughout the Southland. Where are we going to put all this rubbish? Larry talks to experts about this important question.
DEALING WITH TOXIC PERSONALITIES DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Larry Mantle talks with Psychiatrist Dr. Judith Orloff about how to deal with toxic personalities of loved ones and friends during the holiday season. Her latest book is Positive Energy : 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength, and Love.