The Obama administration has repeatedly tried to quash the rumor that when minors arrive in the U.S., they will be granted a permiso, or free pass to stay in the country. What’s really driving this surge of illegal immigration? Also, Mayor Garcetti joins us to reflect on his inaugural year in office. Then, what goes on in the mind of an arsonist?
New deportation numbers complicate Obama administration's permiso narrative
The Obama administration has repeatedly tried to quash the rumor it believes is driving the nearly 52,000 Central American minors who have illegally crossed over the border since October: that when they arrive in the U.S., they will be granted a permiso, or free pass to stay in the country. But the latest deportation numbers released under a Freedom of Information Act actually seem to confirm that rumor; deportations of minors have plummeted during the Obama administration even as the number of minors illegally crossing has ballooned.
The number of minor immigrants who were deported or turned away at ports of entry fell from 8,143 in 2008, the last year of George W. Bush’s administration, to 1,669 last year. The new data has already sparked political mud-slinging, with critics of the Obama administration alleging that it is partly to blame for the surge of minors illegally crossings.
What’s really driving this surge of illegal immigration? Does the deportation process need to be revamped? And how will this play out politically in the midterm elections?
Guests:
Brian Bennett, LA Times reporter covering homeland security and immigration in Washington, D.C. His piece on deportation data the Los Angeles Times obtained from the Immigration and Custom Enforcement through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Sonia Nazario, reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize with the Los Angeles Times for her coverage of unaccompanied migrants entering the U.S. illegally. She followed some of these children on their difficult journey north and wrote the book "Enrique's Journey"
Mayor Eric Garcetti reflects on inaugural year in office
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has been in office for a little over a year. Returning efficiency, accountability and transparency to City Hall has been a priority of his administration. Shortly after he took office, he asked all city managers reapply for their jobs, and in May launched a new city data website providing access to data gathered by the city.
One of the high points of the Mayor’s tenure thus far has been his battle with the Department of Water and Power union, resulting in a contract for new employees with reduced salaries and pension costs. He also managed to win approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for his $1-billion proposal to revitalize the L.A. River, to the surprise of many.
But victories like those have been few and far in between, some say, and the general consensus is that his performance has been solid, but safe. Skeptics charge that his mayoral agenda still hasn’t come fully into focus, and some supporters are still waiting for him to put his imprint on the city.
What grade would you give Mayor Garcetti? What would you like the Mayor to focus on in the coming months? Call in with your question for Mayor Garcetti.
Interview Highlights:
Road and sidewalk repairs didn't receive much of a boost in the 2014-2015 budgets. What's going on there?
"I agree and actually, sidewalks did get a huge bump. We are more than double what we put in ever before in these past years. It's a priority of mine, we're going to have probably about $25 million just repairing our sidewalks. But I've been honest with people, it's a 7-year backlog, it starts with the first step forward, we'll pave a record number of miles of lanes of roads as well as the sidewalks that I mentioned.
"But back to basics is a larger approach, whether it's the wait time when you call 311, whether it's that we force you to take a day off of work to get a building inspector at your home. Those things are changing and in the first year, we're seeing a city that's headed in the right direction: crime, the economy, and City Hall becoming a more user-friendly place, focusing on those basic services."
Let's talk about the economy. The business tax is just one aspect of L.A.'s less competitive positions with neighboring cities. Why a 2-year delay on reducing that tax and why not reduce it more so that it truly is competitive with other cities?
"I'd do it overnight if it were solely in my power, but I was glad to get a 4-year deal. It's not a 2-year delay, it's a 1-year. We still had to balance this budget, I'm proud that we did it, we just went to Wall Street to sell our bonds as we do every single year to get our revenue for the beginning of the year until our tax receipts come in. It was the lowest interest rate in our city's history, 0.11 points better than a lot of other municipalities and even the county of L.A.
"That shows that the first things first before you can expand things due to tax breaks or add more services, we have to show that we can balance our budget, and that was my most important goal when I came into my first year. Good labor contracts that are saving us billions of dollars in the coming decades, and making sure we go after pension reform, making sure we keep down our raises for another year or two and then we can make sure we can restore those services, cut the taxes and become more business friendly.
"But one last thing on business is we have a totally different approach now. We're getting new developments up and running 4 months after they come to us. We're getting building inspectors out to your home on saturdays, we're investing in key industries, like the film industry where we're about to I think have a big victory in Sacramento with film tax credits. Aerospace, where we just got designated by the Obama administration as a key city for manufacturing, and a bunch of other industries where we can make sure L.A.'s economy is going to prosper, not just this year, but for the next 20 years to come."
Is there any way that you think within the next year you can significantly improve the experience for small business owners to open up their places?
"Absolutely. First of all it's a free, don't pay your business tax for the first 3 years under the policy we have now. Second, we're going to make sure that things you had to get into your car and go downtown during the work week to get, say, the pictures of your building, the old files, we're going to digitize those and have them online for free 24/7.
"The wait time on 311 when you call to get your business appointment scheduled, it's down 80 percent in the first year and it's a wait time of about 36 seconds now. So those things that are seemingly small, they don't make big headlines, but I think the city wants results before flash. Now it's time to make it a business-friendly city.
"The proof is in the pudding, 26,217 new business have been established since I became mayor. The unemployment decline was 3.1 percent in the last year, we're headed in the right direction and we've got more to do."
A recent Harvard study found L.A. the least affordable big city in the country. What can and will you do to help those working in the city be able to afford to live in it?
"I support a higher minimum wage, I'm going to invest in a lot more housing being built in the city, because even though we're not as expensive as a place like San Francisco or New York, too many people are paying too much for their housing. And I'm going to invest in a public transportation system. I'm leading now as the chair of the MTA, the largest public transportation construction program in the country.
"My six trips to Washington, just in my first year alone, brought more than $3.5 billion for that, finishing off of the Crenshaw line, we passed that we'll finally get rail to LAX, and that we're going to extend the Wilshire and Downtown Subways to make sure that they all connect with each other, giving the people the option not to be just stuck in traffic and the working person to be able to save a little bit more money by not having to own a car."
What do you think could be done to expedite construction of [housing] units to deal with the demand?
"One we're seeing our permit level almost back to where it was before the recession, so there's very good news coming in and that includes a lot of new housing starts. There's just a big market for it right now, both in for sale and apartments.
"Second, we're going to be looking at things like, for instance, if somebody wants to install solar panels. We made people come downtown, get approval, someone had to go through the bureaucracy for weeks or months. Now its going to be a ministerial stamp that you get and it can be done online for about 80 to 90 percent of those homes that get built. So I think a lot of builders looked at L.A., they said it's a great market, but I don't want to go in there and have to get through all of that red tape.
"I brought together all the general managers, the first thing I did in my first couple months as a mayor was to re-interview all of them and say no longer are we going to be judged on how well you enforce bureaucratic rules. You're going to be judged on how many housing starts, how many jobs, and how customer-friendly you are.
Caged child story highlights challenges of raising violent kids on the autistic spectrum
In Anaheim, an 11 year-old boy with autism was allegedly kept in a cage by his family in order to control his violent outbursts.
Parents with kids on the autism spectrum are confronted with a variety of social, emotional, and physical issues their children cope with regularly. Each child is unique, and depending on where they land on the spectrum, as well as their age, physical, emotional, and intellectual capabilities. They might react violently to feelings of frustration, sadness and rage.
Parents who want to do good by their child and society can feel desperate for help and ignorant of how to get it. Culture, too, might play a role in how a family perceives their child’s condition, and how to cope with it.
What tools do parents have to control their child’s violent reactions to their feelings? What can parents do to desensitize their children to triggers leading to actions born of rage or frustration? If you are on the spectrum, what have you found to be helpful to keep you and those around you informed about your autism?
Guests:
David Bernstein, M.S.W. and Executive Director at Hope House, a private non-profit organization based in El Monte, providing specialized homes and services for people affected by intellectual disabilities such as autism and other mental health challenges.
Matt Asner, Executive Director at Autism Speaks Los Angeles. He has a son and brother with autism.
Inside the mind of an arsonist
California’s fire season seems nearly year-long recently, especially during a trying drought.
Though most residents adapt to new fire safety standards to stay safe and prevent fires, a small group of individuals aren’t playing along. Arsonists have allegedly been behind some of California’s biggest blazes, but they’re also known for more smaller and more contained fires, like the 20 blazes allegedly started by one man in Boyle Heights.
What goes on in the mind of an arsonist? What’s the difference between a pyromaniac and an arsonist? Who are the people behind most fire-related crimes?
Guest:
Alex Yufik, Ph.D, USC lecturer licensed psychologist and attorney, Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Forensic Psychology; in his private practice, Dr. Yufik sees patients and conducts forensic evaluations in criminal and civil cases
Should Orange County expand John Wayne Airport’s operations?
A report from Orange County’s Grand Jury suggests that constraints on John Wayne Airport are limiting its economic impact.
Newport Beach residents are bristling at the report, which comes near the end of a “curfew” that expires in 2015. Currently, the airports operations are restricted so as to limit the amount of noise and pollution in the area.
The report argues that expanding operations, including the number of departing flights and the ease of parking near the airport, could contribute to a more robust economy in Orange County, potentially luring customers from nearby airports.
Critics of the report call it one-sided, arguing that increases in passenger caps and departures would bring down the value of homes in the area, and that current constraints should be kept in place until there are quieter jet fleets on the market.
Should John Wayne expand its operations? Are the airport’s strict curfews a selling point for the city, or are they damaging the local economy? If John Wayne were to expand, would you be more likely to fly out of Newport Beach?
Guest:
Jill Cowan, County Government and Projects Reporter at the Daily Pilot in Orange County
Study finds people would rather be electrically shocked than left alone to think
Whether it’s in traffic or at work daydreaming, Southern Californians certainly have the opportunity to get lost in their thoughts. However, a new study has shown that people have an issue being left alone with their minds.
The study conducted by the University of Virginia found that 67 percent of men and 25 percent of women were more inclined to shock themselves with electricity rather than sit alone with their thoughts.
Timothy Wilson, co-author of the study, said that people got caught up in their own shortcomings and pensive thought-cycles when left alone with their minds. During the study, individuals were placed in rooms and asked to either think about specific subjects or engage in a topic of their choice for 6 to 15 minutes. 50 percent of people claimed to dislike the experience, citing boredom as the number one discomfort.
In your everyday life, how do you manage your thoughts? Is your “shock” something a little less drastic, like music or reading? Do you enjoy having time alone to simply think?