How hard is it to convict a police officer when civilians are killed? California Assembly Speaker John Perez is in the House taking your questions about the budget and more. Then, what do women want... in the marketplace? Later, T-G-I-FilmWeek! Reviews of Despicable Me, Predators, The Kids are Alright, and The Girl Who Played with Fire. Later, actress Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford join Larry to discuss Love Ranch.
Justice for Oscar Grant?: legal obstacles to convicting cops
A Los Angeles jury convicted former BART officer Johannes Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter yesterday, for shooting Oscar Grant, an unarmed black man, in Oakland last January. Prosecutors argued that Mehserle intended to kill when he drew his gun in the Fruitvale BART station while restraining Grant. The jury, though, seems to have believed the defense’s argument that Mehserle reached for his Taser and grabbed his pistol by mistake. How difficult is it for prosecutors to accuse and convict police officers?
Speaker Pérez is in the House
Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) joins Larry Mantle to talk about his California Jobs Budget, the proposal that legislative Democrats have offered to solve California’s budget stalemate. Holding fast to the idea that the budget should be viewed through the lens of job creation and job retention, Speaker Pérez’s proposed budget provides $1 billion for targeted jobs and private sector development, including green and clean technology industries. The Democrats' plan includes proposals to create a new tax on oil production and rolls back about $2 billion in tax breaks for corporations, set to go into effect in the new fiscal year, which begins Thursday. The proposal also calls for "one-time solutions" and borrowing.
Guest:
John Pérez, California Assembly Speaker, Democrat representing the 46th Assembly District which includes Maywood, Vernon, Huntington Park as well as the communities of Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, unincorporated East Los Angeles and parts of South Los Angeles.
The global marketplace turns female friendly
What makes a product, package, or service "female friendly?" As large numbers of women become steadily wealthier and more powerful, their choices and preferences are transforming our commercial environment in a variety of important ways. In his new book “What Women Want,” Paco Underhill examines the growing importance of women in everybody's marketplace. Underhill looks at why the refrigerator trumps the stove as the most crucial appliance, how every major hotel chain in the world has redesigned services for the female business travelers and why some malls appealing to women succeed while others fail. He warns that businesses can’t afford to ignore the power and presence of women, saying that they are becoming “a major social, cultural, and economic force.” Have business models been too man-centric?
Guest:
Paco Underhill, author of What Women Want: The Global Marketplace Turns Female Friendly (Simon & Schuster)
FilmWeek: Despicable Me, Predators, The Kids Are All Right, The Girl Who Played With Fire
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig of USA Today, Wade Major of boxoffice.com and Charles Solomon, animation critic and historian for amazon.com discuss the week’s new film releases including Despicable Me, Predators, The Kids Are All Right, and The Girl Who Played With Fire, among others. TGI-FilmWeek! We didn't get a chance to cover Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival that runs from July 8 – 18th. More details including screening schedule at Outfest.org. Nor did our critics have an opportunity to mention A Single Man, out this week on DVD and Blu-Ray. Check out the full review from the film's theatrical release [begins at 13:22].
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic, USA Today Wade Major, film critic for boxoffice.com Charles Solomon, animation critic and historian for amazon.com Live tweeting this week's reviews:
Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford take on the world's oldest profession
In the movie Love Ranch, Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci play a married Nevada couple running one of the first legalized brothels in the country. But their lives are complicated when the husband enters a business endeavor to revive an Argentinean boxer's career. Directed by Mirren's husband Taylor Hackford, the film is based on the lives of Joe and Sally Conforte and boxer Oscar Bonavena.
Guests:
Helen Mirren, actress and star of Love Ranch. She won the 2007 Best Actress Academy Award for her role in The Queen.
Taylor Hackford, Director of Love Ranch. His other films include An Officer and a Gentlemen and Ray.