Today on AirTalk, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore joins Larry Mantle for his monthly check-in. We also discuss on a proposed bus rapid transit line from North Hollywood to Pasadena that has caused some controversy among Eagle Rock residents; and more.
Will New Development In Skid Row Help Or Hurt Locals? LA City Officials And Residents Disagree On The Answer
A plan to rezone LA’s skid row looks to create 100,000 new housing units by 2040 - but who will that new housing be accessible to?
That’s the question at the heart of a divide between skid row residents and city officials. Locals fear that it will contribute to gentrification, while the city insists it will positively impact the existing community. The city’s proposal would limit upscale residential housing within the skid row, while allowing that type of development in the areas surrounding the neighborhood.
A number of groups are banding together to protest the rezoning plans, including the Los Angeles Community Action Network, Inner City Law Center and United Coalition East. Protestors are asking the city to nix the plan and put their focus on creating affordable housing for homeless and low-income individuals.
We reached out to Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar and the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. They were unable to accommodate our request for interviews.
Guests:
Steve Diaz, organizing director with the Los Angeles Community Action Network, a community organization that works on anti-poverty group issues
Andy Bales, CEO at Union Rescue Mission, a private Christian homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row
LAPD Chief Moore: The Origins Of Predictive Policing, Preparing For ICE Raids And More
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore joins Larry Mantle for his monthly check-in on AirTalk. Topics discussed include:
The value of predictive policing
Advantages of drones in incident response
Threatened ICE raids in Los Angeles
The LAPD’s move against MS-13 members in the Valley
What are officers tasked to do in homeless encampment cleanups?
Progress on wiping out minor warrants for homeless Angelenos
The LAPD’s new germ-zapping robot
A new exhibition on LAPD history, featuring crime scene photos spanning from 1925 to the 1970s
Guest:
Michel Moore, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department; he tweets
Proposed Bus Rapid Transit Line From North Hollywood To Pasadena Has Divided Eagle Rock Residents
A proposal by Metro to run a bus rapid transit line (BRT) between North Hollywood and Pasadena has stirred controversy in Eagle Rock after a public comment session over the weekend during which tensions ran high over how a dedicated bus lane in the middle of Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock’s main artery, would impact both the flow of traffic on the roads as well as the flow of customers into and out of shops and businesses along the street.
The proposed line would run 18 miles with limited stops from North Hollywood to Pasadena, and for the portion that runs through Eagle Rock, Metro has proposed the dedicated bus lane to the center of Colorado Blvd, which under the current proposal would stop at Townsend Ave, Eagle Rock Blvd and Harvey Drive/West Broadway Blvd along Colorado. Attendees at Metro’s first two meetings in North Hollywood and Pasadena, respectively, on the BRT proposal were largely in favor, according to the website Streetsblog L.A., which has been following the story. But on Saturday in Eagle Rock, a contingent of opponents showed up to express their concerns about how a dedicated lane for buses might constrict traffic flow and cut down on potential foot traffic for the restaurants and businesses that line Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock.
Do you live in one of the impacted neighborhoods? What do you think about Metro’s proposal? If you’re an Eagle Rock resident, would you prefer to see dedicated bus lanes on Colorado Blvd or the 134 freeway option? Why? Join the conversation at 866-893-5722.
For more on this story from LAist, click here.
Metro will be holding more scoping meetings on the NoHo to Pasadena BRT project at the following dates and times:
Glendale -- Wednesday, July 17th, 5:30–7:30pm
Glendale Downtown Central Library
222 E Harvard St, Glendale 91205
Eagle Rock -- Wednesday, August 7th from 6:00-8:00pm
Venue TBD
Guests:
Ryan Fonseca, staff writer for LAist who has been following the story; he attended Saturday’s Metro scoping meeting in Eagle Rock and a previous one in Pasadena; he tweets
Scott Hartwell, project manager for the North Hollywood to Pasadena Transit Corridor at Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
California Could Require Presidential Primary Candidates To Release Their Tax Returns – But Is That Constitutional?
A bill heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk would require candidates to submit five years of tax returns to run in the state’s presidential primary.
The move would affect President Trump, who has long-avoided releasing his tax returns, as well as the Democratic candidates who have not yet made their returns public. If the bill is signed into law, candidates who don’t comply won’t show up on the state primary ballot.
The bill’s requirements would apply to candidates running for Governor as well.
This is not the first time California has tried to require tax returns from candidates. Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill in 2017, saying the policy could set a dangerous precedent for documents like birth certificates or health records to be required in the future.
Legal experts are split over whether the bill and others like it are constitutional. Opponents say past Supreme Court decisions have shown states can’t regulate their ballots for political gain. Legal experts supporting the bill say it’s been carefully crafted, and it doesn’t limit ballot access because it’s something all candidates can easily do.
Larry sits down with legal experts to hear the arguments on each side. Do you think candidates should be legally required to release their tax returns? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Gowri Ramachandran, professor of law at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles; she testified before the State Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of the bill
Derek Muller, associate professor of law at Pepperdine University; he tweets