AirTalk weighs preserving the Mojave desert against energy development after the Trump administration announced plans to get rid of California’s Desert Renewable Energy Conservation plan. We also dive into what the stock market swings mean for your wallet; what was your experience going to college at an older age?; and more.
The wild swings in the stock market and what it means for your retirement savings
“Panic” was a word used a lot after Monday’s stock market plunge.
It was the biggest single-day point drop in history, with the Dow plummeting nearly 1,200 points. As reported by Business Insider, selling, which began on Friday, was prompted by computer-driven trading and margin calls on investors who had bought stocks with debt. U.S. stocks are trying to recover, but not without see-sawing between gains and losses.
It’s hard to tell from the past three days what this all means long-term, but retirement-age people may be most affected by this change in the market. To find out more, Larry speaks to a panel of financial insiders for the latest on the ups and downs of the market, and how Californians may be affected by those gains and losses.
Guests:
Sarah Ponczek, markets reporter for Bloomberg News; she has been following the story
Randy Diamond, writer for Chief Investment Officer, an investment news, opinion and research site, where he covers CalPERS and CalSTRS
Liz Weston, columnist for NerdWallet; author of many books on personal finance, including “The 10 Commandments of Money" (Plume, 2011)
Judge in OC encampments suit asking cities to prove anti-camping ordinance isn’t criminalizing the homeless
The U.S. District Judge hearing the suit against the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Orange and the County of Orange is asking for proof that their anti-camping policies aren’t being used to criminalize the homeless.
The suit was filed on behalf of the homeless people living in encampments along the Santa Ana river -- over 500 people that the County is attempting to clear out.
Attorneys on the suit say that people have nowhere to go. But how can these cities prove that their anti-camping policies aren’t discriminatory, if the only people who would camp along the Santa Ana River are homeless?
We discuss the legal matters and standards in the suit.
AirTalk reached out to the cities of Costa Mesa, Anaheim, and Orange as well as the county counsel for Orange County for comment. As of the airing of this segment we had not received a response from the cities of Orange or Costa Mesa. The City of Anaheim and Leon Page, county counsel for Orange County, declined our request, but Mr. Page's office sent us this statement:
We have no comment on the merits of the litigation, but we have great respect for the Elder Law and Disability Rights Center and its talented attorneys and we look forward to discussing positive solutions that will benefit all stakeholders, including the population encamped in the Santa Ana Riverbed.
Guests:
Carol Sobel, a civil rights attorney who has represented L.A.'s homeless in federal courts; she is a co-counsel on this suit
Todd Wulffson, managing partner at Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger in Irvine, an employment and labor law firm with offices throughout California; he has served as legal counsel on behalf of several Southern California cities including Newport Beach, Anaheim, Irvine, Carson, and Palmdale
Considering the addict’s perspective on news coverage of USC med school dean Carmen Puliafito
In its continuing coverage of USC’s former medical school dean Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the Los Angeles Times recently published a story about the death of his then-girlfriend’s baby.
There has been some criticism of the Times’ original and extended coverage of Puliafito’s story for failing to adequately take into account the complex struggles involving drug addiction.
AirTalk’s Larry Mantle speaks with an addiction specialist and opens up the phones for your comments.
Guest:
Damon Raskin, M.D., internist and chief medical advisor for Cliffside Malibu, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center; he specializes in addiction treatment
L.A. versus Airbnb: city committee’s continuing debate over regulating short-term rentals
Los Angeles’ proposed ordinance to regulate short-term rentals through companies like Airbnb is back in the spotlight today as the L.A. City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee will continue its discussion over the particulars of the ordinance and exactly how these rental properties should be regulated.
One of the core issues of the discussion is exactly how long hosts should be allowed to rent out all or part of their homes. The ordinance as currently proposed would cap the number of days per year at 180. AirBnB hosts argue their livelihoods depend on their ability to rent out rooms or homes. But others say the number of short-term rentals that are being offered is severely cutting into the amount of available, affordable housing in L.A. and impacting certain neighborhoods' quality of life.
The city of Los Angeles says it could rake in approximately $30 million a year from taxes after it struck a three year deal with AirBnB in 2016 for it to pay hotel taxes for its hosts.
Guest:
Emily Alpert Reyes, reporter covering City Hall for the Los Angeles Times
Trump administration targets one of DiFi’s biggest legislative accomplishment: protecting the CA desert
The Trump administration is reportedly considering scrapping the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation plan, which was created to protect the California desert and make sure energy facilities are set up where they’re least likely to cause environmental harm.
This could also open up these desert areas to mining, grazing and off-road vehicles. The Bureau of Land Management said it is considering changes that restrict energy development. But the California Energy Commission, which helped develop the plan, says the rollback on protections is unnecessary and that California is already meeting its clean-energy goals
We debate the proposal and discuss what it would mean for California’s energy resources and environment.
AirTalk contacted Senator Feinstein's office to request that she be made available for comment, but they did not respond to our inquiries.
Guests:
Karen Douglas, commissioner of the California Energy Commission who worked on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
Shannon Eddy, executive director of the Large-Scale Solar Association, a Sacramento-based solar industry advocacy group working on California and Western U.S. solar issues
The experience of being an older college student
If you visit any major university, you’ll find undergraduates from countless different cities, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, but most are about the same age – in fact, at UC Berkeley, 95 percent of undergraduates are under 25.
Older students add a wide diversity of experience to four-year universities, but the campus climate can be isolating, as student programs and events are often geared toward younger classmates. Some seek each other out through organizations designed to connect “non-traditional” or “re-entry” students on campus.
If you pursued an undergraduate degree after your early 20s, what was your experience? What were your biggest challenges? What surprised you? And what was it that ultimately led you to go back to school?
Call us to share your story at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Heather Adams, program director of the UCLA Transfer Center and non-traditional student programming; she is a non-traditional student herself and started UCLA’s first student organization for students over 25, the Non-Traditional Students Network