405 Expansion and Other Traffic Bottlenecks; Hope Gardens: Proposed Suburban Facility For Homeless Women and Children; LAUSD District 5 Candidates; Stronger Unions vs. Better Jobs; The Life of Pete Maravich
405 Expansion and Other Traffic Bottlenecks
After an intense day of lobbying in Sacramento on Tuesday, Los Angeles' top leaders appeared to be winning their fight to secure $730 million in bond money to widen the 405 Freeway, Larry talks about the effort with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, State Assemblyman Mike Feuer and California Transportation Commission Chair Marion Bergeson.
Hope Gardens: Proposed Suburban Facility For Homeless Women and Children
The Union Rescue Mission's proposed Hope Gardens complex is supposed to serve homeless women and children in a decidedly different environment from that of downtown Los Angeles' skid row. Now, because of community resistance, the project may be in danger of falling apart. Larry talks about the controversy with Union Rescue Mission President Andy Bales, Paul Novak, Planning and Land Use Deputy for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, and Marlene Rader, Vice Chair of the Kagel Canyon Preservation Committee.
LAUSD District 5 Candidates
Larry talks Los Angeles Unified School Board district 5 candidates Yolie Flores Aguilar and Bennet S. Kayser.
Stronger Unions vs. Better Jobs
Does an increase in wealth and productivity in the face of waning union influence suggest that unions are extraneous? Or are robust unions crucial to preserve the strength of the middle class? Russell Roberts, Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and Nelson N. Lichtenstein, Professor of History at UC Santa Barbara debate the issue in light of the Employee Free Choice Act, which was approved by the Education and Labor Committee last week.
The Life of Pete Maravich
Larry Mantle talks with author Mark Kriegel about his new book examining the life of charismatic athlete "Pistol Pete" Maravich who became the youngest player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame after his untimely death at age 40. In his new book Pistol: The Life Of Pete Maravich (Free Press). Kriegel investigates and recounts the singular life of a player who came to be known for his athletic prowess and showmanship, for basketball raised to the level of artistry. When a leg injury forced him to retire at age 33, Maravich embarked on a search for meaning that took him from Hinduism through "UFOlogy", eventually leading him to evangelical Christianity.