Today on AirTalk, we examine a measure proposed by state Senator Robert Hertzberg that would allocate $5 million to expand shelters and services to homeless people and their pets. Larry is also joined by our FilmWeek critics to discuss and debate this year’s contenders for the major Oscar categories.
A California bill wants to set aside money for pet care at homeless shelters -- what are the benefits and challenges of furry friends in shelters?
A measure proposed by state Senator Robert Hertzberg is looking to expand shelter to homeless people and their pets.
The bill, SB 258, would allocate $5 million to provide basic care, veterinary services and food to pets belonging to residents experiencing homelessness. With around a quarter of all homeless people across the nation living in California, and with up to 10% of those individuals being pet-owners, many people who are homeless seek pet-friendly housing. According to Hertzberg, this bill is an effort to reduce the number of homeless people sleeping on the streets. We discuss the pros and cons of pet-friendly facilities with local shelter-operators.
If you are homeless or have experienced homelessness, what do you think of having more pet-friendly shelters? Have you run into issues with animals in shelters? Or has owning a pet been a barrier to getting transitional housing?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena
Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, president and CEO of LA Family Housing, a homeless housing service based in the San Fernando Valley; she tweets
Andy Bales, CEO at Union Rescue Mission, a private Christian homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row
AirTalk’s FilmWeek: 2019 Oscar Preview
A live audience joined us this past Sunday, February 17, one week before the 91st Academy Awards, as KPCC In Person convened AirTalk’s FilmWeek critics for its 17th annual Oscar preview event. This year, host Larry Mantle and the critics returned to the stage of the historic Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
There was no clear front-runner emerging in any of the big categories, and the best picture race looked to be the biggest toss-up of all. Noteworthy contenders included films from familiar names like Alfonso Cuarón, who wrote, shot, and directed his now Oscar-nominated film “Roma,” Adam McKay, who is back in the conversation for his Dick Cheney biopic “Vice”; and Spike Lee with his latest film “BlacKkKlansman” about a black police officer who tries to infiltrate a KKK chapter.
Newer contenders include Ryan Coogler who hopes to turn the box office success of “Black Panther” into awards season gold, Bradley Cooper who wrote, directed, and starred in the reboot of “A Star Is Born”; and Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, whose film “The Favourite” has garnered plenty of praise for powerhouse performances by stars Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.
Built in 1927 by Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith, the Theatre at Ace Hotel was originally known as the United Artists Theatre. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Fairbanks said he hoped the theater would always be a reminder that Los Angeles is the center of production of the film industry. More than 90 years later, on the very same stage, Larry and the critics discussed and debated this year’s contenders for the major Oscar categories.
For more analysis on the categories from the critics click here
Guests:
Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC, film writer for The Guardian and host of the podcasts ‘The Canon’ and ‘Unspooled’; she tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA); she tweets
Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic; she tweets
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com; he tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com