Today on AirTalk, we look into the Measure R proposal that would give the LA Sheriff's Department increased subpoena power. We're also bringing on KPCC politics reporter Libby Denkman to kick off 'The Denkmann Report'; talk about McClatchy filing for bankruptcy; and more.
Debating Measure R: Expanding Civilian Oversight Of LA Sheriff’s Department
On March 3, Los Angeles County will vote on Measure R, which would give the L.A. Sheriff Department’s civilian oversight board increased subpoena power. It would also require the county to research and publish a plan that uses mental health treatment to lower the jail population.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has already voted to give the inspector general the power to issue subpoenas to investigate complaints from inmates and citizens. Measure R would give the same subpoena power to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.
We’ll look at the pros and cons of the measure, which started as an effort by grassroots organizers for prison reform. Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
PRODUCER'S NOTE: We contacted the L.A. Sheriff's Department in advance of our segment airing this morning, but they were not able to confirm before we went to air that an LASD representative could participate in the discussion. Later on, after the segment had concluded, Sheriff Villanueva called into AirTalk on his own to respond. You can listen to that interview here.
We also reached out to the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, who were not able to provide someone for the interview, as well as the L.A. County Office of Inspector General, which hasn’t responded to our interview request. We'll update this segment if we receive a response.
Guests:
Lynne Lyman, strategy and policy consultant for the “Vote YES on R” campaign, which is the original campaign to pass the measure; she tweets @lynnelyman
Ryan Carter, city editor of the Los Angeles Daily News who’s been writing about this; he tweets
AirTalk Listeners, How Much Do Political Endorsements Matter To You?
Democratic presidential hopefuls have been trying all sorts of tactics to make themselves stand out in a crowded field—campaign events, advertisements, and social media. Today on AirTalk, we’re looking at whether political endorsements make a difference in a campaign.
Some big names like Mayor Eric Garcetti and Dianne Feinstein have voiced their support for Joe Biden, and dozens of current and former California politicians have endorsed Michael Bloomberg. Is that enough to make a difference to undecided voters?
Did a political endorsement help you decide who to vote for on March 3? Or are you looking for something else in a candidate? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Ben Christopher, reporter covering California politics and elections for CalMatters, where his recent piece is “Do endorsements for president even matter?”; he tweets
Sheriff Alex Villanueva Responds To Measure R Debate
Los Angeles County will vote on Measure R on March 3. The measure would give the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s civilian oversight board increased subpoena power, and it would also require the county to research and publish a plan to implement effective mental health treatment in order to lower the jail population.
Today on AirTalk, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva responds to Measure R and the potential changes it poses to the Sheriff's Department.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors previously voted to give the inspector general the power to issue subpoenas to investigate complaints from inmates and citizens. Under Measure R, that same subpoena power would be given to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.
Guest:
Alex Villanueva, Sheriff of Los Angeles County; he tweets
The Denkmann Report: Checking In On Race For Katie Hill’s CA-25 Seat, A Rematch In LA City Council District 12 And More
California’s primary is less than a month away, and there’s a lot of information for voters to process before the polls open.
With new technology rolling out this election cycle along with significant changes to where and when people can vote in their communities, not to mention all of the different races at the local and state level, we’re starting a weekly check-in with KPCC politics reporter Libby Denkmann, who is following all things voting in SoCal. Here are some of the headlines she’s watching this week:
25th district race -- Who will win Katie Hill’s seat?
DA’s race -- Lacey vs. Gascon vs. Rossi
L.A. City Council 12th district race -- Round 2 of John Lee vs. Loraine Lundquist
District 2 County Supervisor -- Jake Jeong, Holly Mitchell, Jan Perry & Herb Wesson
Padilla OK’s L.A. County voting machines -- with some caveats
Voting changes and how prepare local voters are feeling for election day
No Party Preference voters have told pollsters they want to vote in the Democratic primary, but barely any of them have requested a crossover ballot yet.
New Secretary of State voting registration report released last week
Have questions for Libby about the upcoming races? Join the live conversation and ask your question by calling 866-893-5722.
For more from Libby on LAist about how you can prepare yourself to vote on March 3, click here. You can also check out KPCC’s Voter Game Plan for resources to help you register, prepare to vote and learn about candidates.
Guest:
Libby Denkmann, KPCC politics reporter; she tweets
Stuck: KPCC’s Investigation Into A Southern California Rental Empire
Virtually unknown to his tenants or the public, Mike Nijjar is one of the biggest landlords in the state. Companies he is connected to make up a vast rental empire centered in some of the poorest parts of Southern California.
Nijjar himself lives in a Los Angeles suburb that Forbes Magazine once called "America's Most Expensive ZIP Code." His 12,000-square-foot hillside mansion, dubbed "Villa Bellefontaine," sits in a gated community and boasts six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a waterfall, a tennis court, a reflecting pool, a screening room and a vineyard.
Many of Nijjar's tenants live in starkly different conditions, fighting off roaches, rats, bedbugs, bees, maggots and mold, all while struggling to get even minor issues fixed. At many of these rentals, low-income residents feel stuck in unsanitary, dangerous housing.
Read the full investigative piece here.
Have you ever faced a situation where you felt stuck in a rental with a bad landlord and no recourse? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Aaron Mendelson, investigative reporter at KPCC, where his latest investigative piece is “Deceit, Disrepair and Death Inside a Southern California Rental Empire”; he tweets
Javier Beltran, managing attorney for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, a legal service provider in L.A. County that helps address legal issues for people who are low income or homeless
McClatchy, Owner Of Sacramento Bee And Other Papers, Files For Bankruptcy
The publisher of theSacramento Bee, the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and dozens of other newspapers across the country has filed for bankruptcy protection.
The newspaper industry has been devastated by changing technology that has sent the vast majority of people online in search of news. While McClatchy and others have pushed digital operations aggressively, advertising dollars have continued to flow toward internet giants like Facebook and Google.
McClatchy Co.'s 30 newsrooms, including The Charlotte Observer, The News & Observer in Raleigh, and The Star-Telegram in Fort Worth, will continue to operate as usual as the publisher reorganizes under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The publisher's origins date to 1857 when it first began publishing a four-page paper in Sacramento, California, following the California Gold Rush. That paper became The Sacramento Bee.
McClatchy has received $50 million in financing from Encina Business Credit that will enable it to maintain current operations for the company, which is still based in Sacramento.
McClatchy has suffered as readers give up traditional subscriptions and get news online and like other publishers, it's tried to follow them there.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Ken Doctor, media analyst who focuses on the transformation of consumer media in the digital age; author of “Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends That Will Shape the News You Get” (St. Martin’s Press, 2010)
Roses Smell Good. Chocolates Are Sweet. But What's The Most Romantic Valentine's Gesture You've Ever Received?
For people who celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s a special time to celebrate our significant others and show them how much we love them. Some people take it further and try to sweep their sweethearts off their feet.
That can be easier than done -- especially if you’ve spent a few Valentine’s Days with that special someone, and you’re running out of ideas.
So this Valentine’s Eve, we’re giving our listeners a stroke of inspiration. What are the most unexpected gestures you’ve received? Did your Valentine’s plan an entire day for you from start to finish? Did they take you somewhere unexpected, or give you something you’d always wanted? And how did the gesture go over?
Call us with your most surprising Valentine’s Day romantic gestures: 866-893-5722.