Today on AirTalk we'll take a look at a San Bernardino County's plan to invoke eminent domain to address the housing bust, talk to our trio of journalists to find out what's happening in Orange County, give you some tips for staying healthy in the summer sun, weigh the pros and cons of Steve Nash coming to the Lakers, and discuss ways to have a successful life without completing college.
California cities consider using eminent domain to keep people in their homes
San Bernardino County may invoke eminent domain to deal with how the housing bust is affecting its cities. While eminent domain is typically used by the government to acquire property and reuse it for the public interest, local officials are planning to acquire property with underwater mortgages, restructure them according to the market value of the property, and resell the mortgage to private investors.
The use of private investors is key, as the avoidance of public funds allows the plan to go forward without approval from the city council or board of supervisors. This idea is drawing criticism from those in the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, who stress that this practice will only make banks more unwilling to lend. Mortgage Resolution Partners, the firm which came up with this idea, says that’s already the case.
Which side is right? Is invoking eminent domain acceptable for such a purpose? Is this a better route than declaring bankruptcy, which other cities have done? What could this plan mean for you?
Guests:
Graham Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Mortgage Resolution Partners LLC
David Wert, Spokesperson & Public Information Officer, San Bernardino County
Chris Thornberg, Principal at Beacon Economics
Jim Burling, director of litigation at Pacific Legal Foundation
Orange County journalists’ roundtable
Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff on the latest news from the O.C.: Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante faces sexual assault charges; Long Beach Transit pulls its buses from ‘racist’ Seal Beach residents; the ACLU files a lawsuit against Anaheim on behalf of disenfranchised Latinos; a noted pension reform advocate is hired to head up the OC’s public employees retirement fund; and a granddaughter of the Trinity Broadcast Network founders files a lawsuit against TBN over rape allegations.
Guests:
Gustavo Arellano, Managing Editor of the OC Weekly and author of “Ask A Mexican”
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
Norberto Santana, editor-in-chief of the Voice of OC, a non-profit investigative news agency that covers Orange County government and politics
What is your sunscreen hiding?
Everyone, including the Food & Drug Administration, agrees that sunscreen shopping is confusing and misleading. But that won't change in time for this summer's sunburns.
While the FDA has established new regulations, the sunscreen industry has been given until December to change labels and remove false claims. In the meantime, consumers have to educate themselves. Some major things to consider: a product that helps prevent sunburn may not reduce the risk of cancer or early skin aging. New labels will have to make that clear. Also, they can't claim to be "waterproof" or "sweatproof."
One consumer group that tries to explain the known efficacy of lotions and sprays is the Environmental Working Group. They go further to say there's no consensus that sunscreens prevent skin cancer. And they point out some sunscreen ingredients may be carcinogenic to boot. Even the FDA admits it has taken decades to get good science on sunscreen.
So who do you trust? How closely do you read labels? What should you shop for? Why aren't there more effective sunscreens on store shelves? Why hasn't the FDA approved some sunscreen products that are available in Europe already?
Guests:
Nneka Leiba, Senior Analyst, Environmental Working Group; Leiba has worked on the EWG Sunscreen database for several years
Janellen Smith, Professor of Dermatology, UC Irvine
More Info: FDA Sheds Light on Sunscreens
Who wins as Steve Nash comes to the Lakers?
The Lakers get a two-time MVP and a dynamic point guard to punch up their offense. The Phoenix Suns get four draft picks. And 38-year-old Steve Nash gets to stay near his family, who live in Phoenix.
Nash himself was instrumental in the deal, convincing the reluctant Suns to agree to a sign-and-trade deal with L.A. Nash signed with the Lakers for $27 million for three years.
But who’ll get the best end of this deal? Lakers fans, no doubt, who can look forward to an energized and potentially title-winning team.
Guest:
A Martinez, host of ESPN LA’s In the Zone and Laker Lines
What could be better than college?
Parents spend years extolling the virtues of doing well in school. The reason? So the next generation can secure a place in a good college and ideally go on to live a better life. But the value of a college education has been questioned in recent years, with high student debt and no guarantee of a quality career at the end of four years of study.
In a new book, Better than College: How to Build a Successful Life Without a Four-Year Degree, author Blake Boles discusses the benefits of not attending college, but building an education through life experience and self discovery.
As a parent, would you encourage your child to seek success outside of the classroom? Would you be concerned that your child would waste their time? If you’re a graduate struggling with student debt, do you question the value of your education, if you’ve been unable to find a job? Or for you, is college about more than just finding work, but also about the social and life skills you learn?
Guest:
Blake Boles, author of "Better Than College: How To Build A Successful Life Without a Four-Year Degree" (Tells Peak Press)