Today on AirTalk, we discuss what went wrong during the Northridge Earthquake 25 years ago, and analyze how California is gearing up for future quakes. We also debate a proposal to City Council limiting developer’s political donations; review a rule that will allow home marijuana deliveries statewide; and more.
CA to allow delivery of marijuana statewide, even to cities that have banned the drug
California endorsed a rule Wednesday that will allow home marijuana deliveries statewide, even into communities that have banned commercial pot sales.
The regulation by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control was opposed by police chiefs and other critics who predict it will create an unruly market of largely hidden pot transactions, while undercutting control by cities and counties. Cannabis companies and consumers had pushed for the change, since vast stretches of the state have banned commercial pot activity or not set up rules to allow legal sales. That means residents in those areas were effectively cut off from legal marijuana purchases, even though sales are permitted for adults in California.
With files from the Associated Press
AirTalk reached out to the Bureau of Cannabis Control for an interview, which declined our request.
Guests:
Sunshine Lencho, attorney specializing in the cannabis industry; co-founder of Supernova Women, an organization supporting women of color in the cannabis industry; she is a former member of the City of Oakland Cannabis Regulatory Commission
Jerred Kiloh, president of United Cannabis Business Association, a Los Angeles-based cannabis industry group representing regulated cannabis retailers in California, and owner of The Higher Path Collective, a medical and recreational cannabis dispensary in Sherman Oaks
Walter Allen III, Mayor of the City of Covina, which bans the sales of recreational marijuana
With Democrats wielding power in Sacramento, how are CA businesses faring?
California, now more than ever, is a one-party state. And as POLITICO reports, that means the state’s business community is trying to figure out how to navigate a space that traditionally isn’t seen as business-friendly.
Where lobbyists and business groups used to call on Republican lawmakers to kill bills for more regulations and higher taxes, Democrats like Gavin Newsom are now on the list of people to endorse, if say, you’re in the restaurant industry. Newsom owns wineries and hotels in Napa. So what’s up with the new strategies to get liberal California leaders on the side of businesses? Larry Mantle speaks to a restaurant lawyer and lobbyist to find out more.
Guests:
Charles Lew, LA-based restaurant lawyer, consultant and owner of multiple hospitality concepts across the United States, including in Los Angeles; he tweets
Adam Keigwin, managing director and lobbyist for Mercury Public Affairs; he provides public relations, government affairs, and strategic communications counsel to labor and trade associations
Amidst FBI probe into City Hall corruption, we debate a revived proposal to City Council limiting developer’s political donations
A handful of council members on Tuesday proposed a ban on campaign contributions from real estate developers of significant projects.
Developers covered by the proposed restrictions include those whose projects would add or construct more than 4,000 square feet of residential floor area or 15,000 square feet of commercial space.
The council members also want to look for ways to restrict developers from making contributions to favored causes supported by officials, donations known as "behested payments."
Councilman David Ryu authored the new motion calling for the restrictions on developers' campaign contributions and behested payments, a move backed by council members Paul Koretz, Mike Bonin, Paul Krekorian, Nury Martinez and Joe Buscaino and seconded by Council President Herb Wesson. The motion seeks to ban contributions from certain developers from the time of their planning applications until 12 months after they are finally resolved.
This motion is the second of its kind. A previous motion from early 2017 expired over the recent council recess. Ryu's office hopes the latest motion, which for the first time calls for steps banning behested payments from developers, will move more quickly.
Read the full LAist story here.
In 2017, KPCC investigated millions of dollars in behested payments raised by Mayor Eric Garcetti from individuals, businesses and foundations. Read the series here.
Guests:
Nicholas Greif, chief of staff for Councilmember David Ryu, who represents Council District 4, which stretches from Sherman Oaks through Griffith Park to Miracle Mile; he helped draft this legislation
Mott Smith, principal with Civic Enterprise Development, a mid-sized developing firm based in L.A., and adjunct professor in the USC Price School of Public Policy
Derek Muller, associate professor of law at Pepperdine University where his work focuses on election and campaign finance law
Against a backdrop of infighting, the Women’s March enters its third year. What does the movement mean to you?
This Saturday, January 19, marks the third Women’s March both nationally and in Los Angeles.
It’s been a tough year for the March, which has faced infighting over questions about inclusivity, anti-semitism and even its name.
For example, the organizers of a march in Eureka, California cancelled the event over fears that it was not racially diverse enough, and in turn a third party has decided to organize a march.
Meanwhile, there have been calls for some of the national leaders of the March to step down over allegations of anti-Semitism and their association with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. It appears that the Democratic National Committee has pulled out from being a partner of the March. New York will be hosting two different marches nearly 50 blocks apart.
Last year’s Los Angeles march drew nearly 600,000 people. We’ll have to wait until Saturday to see this year’s turnout -- but on Facebook, 8.9K people are registered as “going.”
Are you going to the March this year, and if so, why? What does the March mean to you? How has this year’s infighting affected your perception of the movement? And if you’re not going this year, why not?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Samantha Schmidt, reporter for The Washington Post where she covers gender and family issues; she tweets
Emiliana Guereca, executive director of Women’s March LA
On its 25th anniversary, looking back at the Northridge quake and preparing for The Big One
It was a shocking rumble that struck just before dawn in January of 1994.
The 6.7 magnitude Northridge quake cost $25 billion in damages, 57 people were killed and thousands were injured. The shaking was felt as far away as Las Vegas, and left a tragic scene at the apartment complex, Northridge Meadows, which had 163 units. 16 people at the complex were killed.
For Angelenos who remember the quake, you may have had to sleep outside with other apartment tenants for a while after that day, just as a safety precaution. Or maybe your house split right down the middle. As we look back on the effects of Northridge, the big question is: What did we learn? And are we better prepared for The Big One, a quake that would make Northridge look like an aftershock in comparison?
Even if you haven’t been thinking about earthquakes much lately, KPCC’s Jacob Margolis and Misha Euceph are here to prepare you. They’re the host and lead producer, respectively, of KPCC’s podcast, “The Big One: Your Survival Guide.”
Larry speaks with Jacob and Misha about what went wrong during Northridge, and how we’re gearing up for future quakes.
Guests:
Jacob Margolis, KPCC’s science reporter, and host of its new podcast “The Big One”; he tweets
Misha Euceph, lead producer of KPCC’s “The Big One”; she tweets