Today on AirTalk, we discuss a new California privacy law going into effect tomorrow. Also on the show, we take a look at the "silver tsunami" housing phenomenon; protests in Baghdad; and more.
Protestors Storm U.S. Embassy In Baghdad Following American Airstrikes
Dozens of Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday, smashing a main door and setting fire to a reception area, prompting tear gas and sounds of gunfire, angered over deadly U.S. airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militia.
There were no reports of casualties, but the unprecedented breach was one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory. It followed deadly U.S. airstrikes on Sunday that killed 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah. The U.S. military said the airstrikes were in retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that it had blamed on the militia. The developments represent a major downturn in Iraq-U.S. relations that could further undermine U.S. influence in the region and also weaken Washington's hand in its maximum pressure campaign against Iran. President Donald Trump is blaming Iran for a breach of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad and is calling on Iraq to protect the embassy. Trump tweeted Tuesday that “Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many.” Trump says,
"We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!
With files from the Associated Press
With guest host Kyle Stokes
Guest:
Aaron David Miller, an expert on Middle East and U.S. diplomatic history and senior fellow at the DC-based think tank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; former State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations; he tweets
New Rules Governing Street Vending Set To Kick in -- But Is LA Ready?
Come January 1, street vendors in L.A. will be operating under a new regulatory framework.
All street vendors will have to get permits from the city and vendors selling food will have to meet County health standards. There will be a six month roll out period before the full weight of the rules is enacted.
However, the regulations may not be set in stone. About a month ago, Councilmember John Lee from the San Fernando Valley introduced a resolution that would tighten some of these regulations, he says to make them more fair and to give the city power to punish repeat offenders. However, community activists who have long been pushing for the legalization of street vending, see this as a step backwards, tightening already strict rules.
We dive into the regulations.
We reached out to StreetsLA -- the LA City body tasked with creating the permitting process. But they are unable to provide anyone to join us today.
With guest host Kyle Stokes
Guests:
John Lee, Los Angeles City Councilmember representing the 12th district, which encompasses the Northwest San Fernando Valley
Rudy Espinoza, executive director of Inclusive Action for the City, a community organization in Los Angeles who supports legalized street vending
What Internet Users And Companies Alike Need To Know When California’s Landmark Consumer Privacy Law Goes Into Effect On Wednesday
If you’ve noticed a recent increase in the number of emails about updated privacy regulations that you’ve gotten from sites like Google, Facebook or Uber, it’s not just a coincidence.
Starting on January 1, companies both large and small that collect, store and trade data will have to adhere to a landmark new privacy law that California’s legislature passed this year. The California Consumer Privacy Act gives consumers the right to request that a company share the personal information it has collected and stored on them, and further empowers them to ask that company not to sell that personal information. The law applies to companies that bring in at least $25 million in annual revenue, make at least half their revenue by selling data, If a company violates that law, it can be fined $2,500. That number increases if the violation is determined to have been intentional. With the exception of data breaches, however, individual consumers won’t be able to sue companies who violate the law. That falls to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office, and there is question about whether it has the resources to truly give the law the fangs it’s meant to have. And the law doesn’t just apply to companies based in California. Virtually all companies that have a website and deal with customers in California will have to adhere to the new rules.
Advocates of the law say it will finally give consumers the power they’ve long desired to control how companies use the personal data they collect on users and help to reign in an industry that has gone largely unregulated when it comes to data collection. But opponents in the business and privacy communities worry the new law is a knee-jerk reaction to the number of high-profile data breaches that have been in the news over the last few years. They also say the law may hamstring smaller companies that don’t have the staff or budget to ensure timely compliance.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll discuss the practical implications of the new law for both the average consumer and companies both large and small who are now having to adapt to the new law. If you have questions or thoughts on the CCPA, join the live conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
We contacted California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office to request comment, as they are the agency tasked with drafting the rules for the California Consumer Privacy Act, but they could not provide us with someone for comment.
With guest host Kyle Stokes
Guests:
Mary Stone Ross, co-author of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and former president of Californians for Consumer Privacy, which sponsored the CCPA; on January 1 she will begin her new role as associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington, D.C.-based public interest research center focused on emerging privacy and civil liberties issues; she tweets
Eric Goldman, professor of law at Santa Clara University where he specializes in privacy and internet law; he tweets
How The ‘Silver Tsunami’ Will Change The Real Estate Market In The Coming Decades
Baby boomers are expected to launch millions of houses into the market over the next couple decades in what’s being dubbed the “silver tsunami.”
According to economists, boomers are already starting to age into retirement. As they pass away in large quantities, their homes will flood the housing market. It’s difficult to wrap your head around that given talks of housing shortages and unaffordable prices across the country. But there could be too many people selling homes and not enough buyers. That could mean more affordable prices for younger adults, but it also could mean homeowners have a hard time finding interested buyers and potentially even lose money. The research finds that places with more vibrant economies will be least affected, whereas retirement hotbeds will be most affected. According to a column in the San Diego Union-Tribune, housing experts say the transition will be gradual.
Today on AirTalk, we dive head first into the so called “silver tsunami” to discuss the impacts and timeline. Do you have questions about this? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
With guest host Kyle Stokes
Guests:
Dowell Myers, Urban planning and demography professor at the Price School of Public Policy at USC; he tweets
Adam Fowler, director of research with Beacon Economics, whose expertise includes Southern California’s housing market
Robot Umpires: Coming Soon To A Major League Baseball Diamond Near You?
Human error when it comes to officiating sports can be frustrating for fans, players and coaches alike. Just ask New Orleans Saints fans after last year's now infamous pass interference no-call in the final moments of the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, which ultimately cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl.
Discussions about how to eliminate the potential for human error in officiating have been going on for years and most professional sports leagues have adapted in some fashion, whether it's instant replay or a video assistant referee. But purists of sports like baseball will cringe at the thought, arguing that human error and discrepancies in the different strike zones of umpires is part of what makes the game great and that to do away with that component would dilute the product on-field. But following a new labor agreement reached last week between the MLB and its’ umpires union, computer plate umpires could be called up to the major leagues at some point during the next five seasons.
Umpires agreed to cooperate with Major League Baseball in the development and testing of an automated ball-strike system as part of a five-year labor contract announced Saturday. The Major League Baseball Umpires Association also agreed to cooperate and assist if Commissioner Rob Manfred decides to utilize the system at the major league level. The independent Atlantic League became the first American professional league to let a computer call balls and strikes at its All-Star Game on July 10. Plate umpire Brian deBrauwere wore an earpiece connected to an iPhone in his pocket and relayed the call upon receiving it from a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar.
MLB has discussed installing the system at the Class A Florida State League for 2020. If that test goes well, the computer umps could be used at Triple-A in 2021 as bugs are dealt with prior to a big league callup. It is not clear whether the Major League Baseball Players Association would need to approve computerized ball and strikes.
With files from the Associated Press
With guest host Kyle Stokes
Guest:
J.P. Hoornstra, MLB reporter for Southern California News Group; he tweets