Today on AirTalk, we discuss the new proposals to increase investment in social programs by Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Corey Booker. We also examine the pros and cons of banning pepper spray in juvenile probation facilities; and more.
What is a fair standard racially and ethnically for gang injunction traffic stops?
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s callingfor the LAPD’s Metropolitan Division to stop pulling over as many cars as they’ve been doing in recent years.
Just over three years ago the Mayor announced the elite division would double in size to fight increasing crime. That’s led to a dramatic increase in the number of vehicle stops in the city.
The LA Times reported recently African-American drivers were five times more likely to be pulled over, relative to the overall population, than drivers of other races and ethnicities.
But given the proactive approach to policing is designed to crack down on the subset of gang offenders, is the overall population comparison relevant?
We reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department to request comment, but as of the airing of this segment we have not received a response. We will update this story if we hear back from them.
Guests:
Peter Moskos, professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City; he tweets
Alberto Retana, CEO and president at Community Coalition, a community outreach group based in South Los Angeles; he tweets
Dem presidential candidates float ideas that go beyond raising taxes on high-income Americans
Sen. Kamala Harris of California is touting tax credits. Sen. Corey Booker of New Jersey suggested interest-bearing savings accounts for newborns.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, these are just a couple ideas that have been floated by Democratic presidential candidates using the wealth gap as a key issue in the 2020 race. As the wealth gap continues to rise, liberals have proposed raising taxes on the wealthy or investing in social programs. But high profile candidates like Harris and Booker are taking a different approach: actually giving money to low income people.
These more far-reaching ideas to bridge the wealth gap have been met with criticism from conservatives who believe subsidies give no incentive for people to seek higher paying work. But supporters of these plans say the money could give people a better chance to improve their finances, and quality of life. For a deep dive into these new proposals, Larry speaks to Michelle Hackman of the Wall Street Journal. She’s been following the story.
Guests:
Michelle Hackman, domestic policy reporter for the Wall Street Journal; she wrote the recent article, “Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Amplify Income Inequality Message"
Olugbenga Ajilore, senior economist at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning research think tank based in Washington D.C.
Brian Riedl, economist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a New York-based conservative think tank
Comparing wildfire mitigation plans from Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric
On Wednesday, Southern California Edison sent the California Public Utilities Commission its wildfire mitigation plan, which proposes that the power company look over power lines, cut down trees in fire-prone areas and plan for power shutoffs.
This is part of a $582 million plan to mitigate fires caused by the company’s infrastructure. The plan is a requirement resulting from Senate Bill 901. Pacific Gas & Electric submitted its own plan yesterday, along with San Diego Gas & Electric.
Today, we break down SoCal Edison and PG&E’s wildfire mitigation plans.
Guest:
Sammy Roth, reporter covering energy for the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
Following LA County Inspector General report, a look at the pros and cons of banning pepper spray in juvenile probation facilities
Staff at L.A. County's juvenile halls and camps use pepper spray on kids too often, too quickly, and in situations when it isn't necessary, according to a report issued by the county's inspector general.
And the use of the pepper spray — sometime referred to OC spray, for the chemical irritant oleoresin capsicum — has increased dramatically since 2015.
"The need for reform, investigation, and oversight may never have been as vital as it is now," Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said after the report was presented Tuesday to the board of supervisors.
Using pepper spray is supposed to be the "final and ultimate authorized" way to "subdue youth," according to probation department policy. But the report concluded that probation staff commonly reach for pepper spray first before employing other deescalation measures. The report also noted several incidents where "the use-of-force reports filed by staff described youth behaviors as aggressive or threatening, even when available video footage showed that youth appeared to pose no threat to staff."
For more on this story from LAist, and to read the full OIG report, click here.
Guests:
Dominique Nong, senior policy associate for Children’s Defense Fund California, a nonprofit children’s advocacy organization and a branch of the National Children’s Defense Fund
Jim Salio, immediate past president of Chief Probation Officers of California; Chief Probation Officer for San Luis Obispo County
Reducing plastic use: Have you tried it? What issues did you run into?
KPCC reporter Jill Replogle’s family of four gave up single-use plastic for the month of January.
Why? Because 450 years-to-never is the estimated time it takes for some plastics to break down in the environment. And because scientists estimate more than 18 billion pounds of plastic winds up in the ocean every year.
Microplastics have been found in the air we breathe and the water we drink. It's been found in the stomachs of deep sea creatures, birds and turtles. It pollutes beaches and rivers and, well, just about every ecosystem on earth.
And while recycling is great, as plastic waste researcher Jenna Jambeck says, "The most sustainable thing you can do is not generate the trash in the first place."
So Jill tried going cold turkey on single-use plastic during the month of January.
Today, AirTalk host Larry Mantle sits down with Jill to talk to her about her experiment, the problems she ran into and the solutions she found. Plus, if you’ve ever tried going plastic free or to reduce your plastic use, how did it go? What issues did you run into? And what tips do you have?
To read more about Jill’s plastic-free January, click here.
Guest:
Jill Replogle, KPCC’s Orange County reporter, who tried to give up plastic for the month of January; she tweets