“Carmaggedon”— not. Debating digital adverts on the Big Blue Bus and beyond. After serving, is it wrong for jurors to cash in? Anna Deavere Smith’s show Let Me Down Easy comes to Los Angeles.
“Carmaggedon”— not
Angelenos were prepared for the end of the world, but “Carmageddon” didn’t deliver the drama so many feared. The 405-shutdown was a major success, with the freeway reopening 17-hours ahead of schedule. So many drivers stayed off the roads that Southern Californians rebranded the weekend “Carmaheaven.” How did Angelenos cope without their beloved wheels? What did they do in lieu of hitting the freeways? Might this impact driving habits in the future? Any chance this could become an annual – or monthly – holiday?
Debating digital advertising on Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus and beyond
Last week, the California state Assembly passed a measure to allow illuminated digital ads that scroll every three seconds on the sides of Santa Monica transit buses. If passed by Governor Jerry Brown, this measure will allow Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus system to operate a limited pilot program.
The new measure would put scrolling digital ads on the sides of 30 of Santa Monica's buses for a trial period of five years.
The city says the ads could earn significantly more revenue for Santa Monica's public transit system at a time when funding for public services is tight. The estimated $8 million the ads would generate annually could potentially keep bus fares down.
Santa Monica would not be the first with digital ads on wheels – New York and Chicago are among other cities implementing similar programs – but so far, there's no data on the downsides of digital bus ads.
California state Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, who introduced the measure, pointed out that one of the major benefits of the program would be a safety report that the City of Santa Monica would release in 2016. That report could then be used to inform legislation on future programs like this one.
Even with a safety study in place, some worry these ads will add yet another distraction to California's roads. "I recognize the importance of public transit, but this is a very bad idea," said Dennis Hathaway, president of the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight. "It really raises very serious questions about traffic hazards."
Brownley argued that the bill has not been introduced without considering limitations for safety. "There is specific language in the bill that limits the brightness of the ads," she said, adding that Santa Monica's transit department may also opt to show the ads only on the sidewalk side of the buses, or to only show moving ads while the buses are stopped. The bill also proposes to keep the ads still, rather than scrolling, whenever the buses enter freeways.
Even with safety restrictions, Hathaway said the ads will be offensive visual clutter. "It's a bad idea because it's part of this growing trend of commercializing public space. These advertisers are targeting public property," Hathaway said, adding that Californians may even see advertising in public parks soon. "Those public spaces should really emphasize democratic values like discourse and diversity."
Brownley said that not all of the advertising has to be commercial. Opening up the sides of buses to advertising "will open up more space for public service announcements," said Brownley. "Even in the event of some emergency of some sort, ads could be overridden for safety information."
On KPCC's Airtalk this morning, listeners said that allowing these ads will counteract safety measures that California has put in place for drivers, such as banning cell phone use while driving.
Richard from Larchmont commented online, "Texting and talking drivers in Southern California are dangerous enough. Adding electronic ads on the sides of buses can only make a bad set of conditions worse."
"Texting on your phone will first keep your head looking down into the car, and that won't bring $8 million to the city," wrote Jacquie online. "If this is a temporary fix to collect money, go for the bill."
Brownley emphasized the importance of raising money for the transit system and the benefit of the safety study that would come from the program. For Hathaway and his coalition, the safety concerns of scrolling, illuminated advertisements on the road outweigh all of the potential benefits of the program. On implementing the program before any formal safety study has been done, he said, "That is completely backwards."
After serving, is it wrong for jurors to cash in?
On the heels of the Casey Anthony murder trial, a Florida lawmaker wants to limit how much jurors on such trials can profit after the fact. State Senator Scott Randolph (D-Orlando) has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for jurors to sell – or media outlets to buy – their stories within 270 days of serving on a jury. If passed, a violation would be a third-degree felony punishable by $10,000 and up to five years in prison. The Anthony trial, which attracted an unprecedented amount of media attention, also resulted in public outrage over her acquittal. O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark said the verdict was “worse than O.J.” Jurors have since struggled with their acquittal verdict. In an interview with Good Morning America, the jury foreman said he felt an “overwhelming sense that we may have let people down.” He also called reports that Anthony was being offered large sums of money to tell her story, “mortifying.” Would it be equally mortifying for jurors to cash in? Or should they be they be entitled to lucrative speaking engagements and book deals? Would a bill limiting that ever pass constitutional muster?
Guests:
Mark NeJame, Founder, Senior Partner, NeJame Law based in Orlando, FL
Larry Rosenthal, Professor of Law, Chapman School of Law
Anna Deavere Smith’s show Let Me Down Easy comes to Los Angeles
Actress Anna Deavere Smith is perhaps best known for her starring role on Showtime's "Nurse Jackie." Or for playing the national security advisor on NBC's "The West Wing." Movie buffs will recognize Smith from films like Rachel Getting Married, RENT, and The American President. But theater lovers mostly know her as an award-winning playwright and pioneer of documentary-style theater. Smith interviews hundreds of people to create solo shows where she plays the people she's interviewed. L.A. audiences might remember Smith's now famous take on the 1992 Los Angeles riots where she interviewed and played everyone from Reginald Denny, the Reverend Al Sharpton and even L.A.'s former police chief Daryl Gates. That show, which was called "Twilight," helped Smith win a MacArthur Foundation Genius award. Now, Smith steps back on stage at the Broad in Santa Monica this week as part of a sold-out national tour for her new show "Let Me Down Easy." Smith interviewed over three hundred people on 3 continents to pick the 20 characters she plays in the show--including cyclist Lance Armstrong, supermodel Lauren Hutton and former Texas governor Ann Richards. The stories explore the resilience of the human body, our beliefs about dying and the debate over healthcare in the US. Smith joins Larry in-studio to talk about her new show and multi-faceted career.
Guest:
Anna Deavere Smith, Actress and Playwright; her one-woman show Let Me Down Easy is at the Broad Theater in Santa Monica from July 20-31, 2011