AirTalk dives into the local impact of the Trump administration’s move to expand offshore drilling yesterday; plus, can California counter it? We also debate a new state bill that would allow for denser and taller housing around major transit routes and stations; review this week’s movie releases on FilmWeek; and more.
What can California do in the wake of Trump’s directive to significantly expand offshore drilling?
The Trump administration on Thursday moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a plan that would open up federal waters off the California coast for the first time in more than three decades.
The new five-year drilling plan also could open new areas of oil and gas exploration in areas off the East Coast from Georgia to Maine, where drilling has been blocked for decades. Many lawmakers in those states support offshore drilling, although the Democratic governors of North Carolina and Virginia oppose drilling off their state coasts.
What’s the impact on California? And can the state do anything to counter the move? We’ll explore.
Read the full story here.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Sean Hecht, Co-Executive Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA School of Law.
Eric Biber, a professor of law and director of the environmental and energy law programs at UC Berkeley; his teaching and research interests include environmental law, natural resources law, energy law and land-use law
Tim Charters, senior director of governmental and political affairs for the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), a trade association of oil, wind and energy sectors
Sandy Aylesworth, oceans advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
New CA bill calling for denser, taller housing near transit could change the face of LA
A new Senate Bill by Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would remove many of California’s zoning restrictions which limit certain housing within a half-mile of major transit stations and routes.
This would allow for more dense housing, which, according to Wiener, would help the state address both the affordable housing shortage and California’s emissions reduction goals.
If passed, the legislation would supercede local zoning rules, and that eroding of local control is one of the aspects of the bill that rubs opponents the wrong way. Other critiques of the bill are that it would change the landscape of neighborhoods in Los Angeles and that it’s an ineffective way to eliminate gas emissions.
Should L.A. allow for more dense housing along rail and bus lines? Are you concerned or happy with the changes the bill could bring to your neighborhood?
Guests:
Ethan Elkind, director of the climate program at the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, a joint venture of UCLA and UC Berkeley; he is author of the book, “Railtown: The Fight for the Los Angeles Metro Rail and the Future of the City” (UC Press, 2014)
Paul Koretz, City of Los Angeles councilmember representing the 5th District, which includes communities on the westside of L.A. from Hollywood to Bel Air, as well as communities in the San Fernando Valley
Mark Ryavec, president of the Venice Stakeholders Association
FilmWeek: ‘Insidious: The Last Key,’ ‘Blame,’ ‘The Strange Ones’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases.
"Insidious: The Last Key" in wide release
"Blame" at Laemmle's Music Hall
"The Strange Ones" at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
"Sheikh Jackson" at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts
"Goldbuster" at AMC Orange, AMC Puente Hills & AMC Atlantic Times Square
"Devil's Gate" at Arena Cinelounge Sunset & The Frida Cinema
"Stratton" at Arena Cinelounge Sunset
"Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel" at Arena Cinelounge
Critics' Hits
Christy: "Blame"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXTs55teDwE
Wade: "Goldbuster"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gDhRgtr1Pk
Mixed Feelings
Christy: "Insidious: The Last Key"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQyrwQyCOk
Wade: "Sheikh Jackson"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsijix35ORE
Misses
Christy & Wade: "Stratton" & "Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFoBq-oOqUs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGTI89YV4bM
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
From the brain to the basket case: a look into the evolution of high school movies
This week, the Criterion Collection released a revamped Blu-ray of John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club,” a film that has wooed fans for over three decades, and it had us thinking: how have high school films developed over time?
From “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to “Sixteen Candles,” Hughes’ affinity for movies about teenagers undeniably set the cinematic tone for not only his peers, but future filmmakers as well. It’s not difficult to find his quintessential, teenage misfit themes in films like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Superbad,” “Dazed and Confused” and most recently, Greta Gerwig’s 2017 hit “Lady Bird.”
Pre-1980’s movies about high school seemed to convey different tones than their later, Hughes-influenced counterparts. Take “Rebel Without A Cause” and “Carrie,” both sobered, tortured and filled with allegorical meaning and moral-defining characters.
So has there been a shift in how high school is portrayed? Are some themes more popular now than they were twenty years ago? And what are some of the films that helped relieve your worst teenage blues and pimpled-fuelled angst?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com