Today on AirTalk we'll pore over California's primary results, take a look at the effect the recall election in Wisconsin could have on unions in our state, reflect on the passing of Ray Bradbury, and get an update on the jury selection in the Jerry Sandusky case.
California primary leaves battles yet to be won
Some new wrinkles in this year’s California statewide election made things interesting, if confusing. Newly drawn districts left some Senate and Assembly candidates scrambling to impress a new slate of constituents.
And under California’s inaugural open primary, also known as the “Top Two” system, the top two vote-getters in a race will be facing off in November, regardless of party affiliation. Among the more lively contests was the race for L.A.’s District Attorney, with a wide field of contenders vying to replace retiring Steve Cooley.
Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was expected to finish at the top, but in a surprise upset, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson were the top two, garnering 32 percent and 23 percent of the vote, respectively. In San Bernardino County, the competition for the Third District Supervisor’s seat was hot and heavy; incumbent Neil Derry, who has been dogged by a felony conviction for allegedly hiding campaign cash, found himself up against James Ramos, the former leader of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Ramos, who grew up on the San Manuel reservation, has become a political force to be reckoned with; the tribe’s casino and entertainment complex has emerged as one of the area’s biggest employers. The two will continue their contest in November’s runoff.
In San Fernando, new district lines left long-time Democratic congressmen Howard Berman and Brad Sherman stuck in the ring together; neither won the round, with Sherman receiving 42.2 percent and Berman 32.4 percent of the vote. And two key measures were on the ballot. Proposition 28, which tweaks California’s term limits, passed with 61 percent. At this writing Proposition 29, imposing a $1.00 cigarette tax meant to fund cancer research, is still too close to call, but looks headed for defeat, likely due to a near $47 million spent by big tobacco companies against it.
In Fullerton, voters outraged by last year’s beating death of a mentally ill homeless man, opted to recall three city council members, Don Bankhead, Pat McKinley and Frederick Richard Jones. In all the excitement, nobody seems to have paid much attention to the presidential race, which offered no surprises on either side. How do you feel about the final results?
GUESTS
Jackie Lacey, Chief Deputy District Attorney
Alan Jackson, Gang Homicide Prosecutor
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
R. Michael Alvarez, Professor of Political Science, California Institute of Technology; Blogs at Election Updates
Brad Sherman, Democratic Congressman from the San Fernando Valley's 27th Congressional district
Dan Schnur, Director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and adjunct faculty at USC Annenberg School
Ed Joyce, KPCC’s Orange County reporter
Steven Cuevas, KPCC's Inland Empire reporter
Wisconsin result bad news for California unions?
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker emerged the victor last night after a long year of battling his state's labor unions. Their attempt to recall the Republican governor was expected to be a close vote, but Walker appears to have won handily.
Public-sector unions had led the recall effort because Walker had stripped down their collective bargaining powers. It allowed deep cuts to pension benefits for teachers and other groups. The fight in Wisconsin mirrors a push-and-pull in states across the country including California. Just last night, San Jose and San Diego city governments won proposition votes to cut benefits for city workers.
More than two-thirds of San Diego voters and a near landslide of San Jose voters approved mandates to cut retirement benefits.
Could all this mean more ballot measures targeting pension spending? Is there a connection between Scott Walker's win and the future of unions in California?
Guests:
Marcia Fritz, President, California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility
Cheryl Parisi, Executive Director, AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Council 36 of Southern California
Remembering Sci-Fi master Ray Bradbury
One of the giants of science fiction has died at the age of 91. Ray Bradbury, spent a lifetime sharing stories from the depths of his imagination with classic works including "Fahrenheit 451," "The Martian Chronicles" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes."
His works predicted many of today's technologies, including ATMs and televised car chases. In a career that spanned over seven decades of science fiction, horror and mystery, Bradbury described himself as a "hybrid author" writing over 600 short stories and 50 books, as well as screenplays for TV including "The Twilight Zone" and "The Ray Bradbury Theater". He also wrote the screenplay for John Huston's classic film adaptation of "Moby Dick."
Ray Bradbury died last night at his home in Los Angeles. He's survived by his four daughters. What are you memories of his work? How did Ray Bradbury change the face of science fiction?
Remembering Ray Bradbury
Twitter tributes to author Ray Bradbury, who passed away today at the age of 91
Storified by 89.3 KPCC · Wed, Jun 06 2012 15:35:06
Ray Bradbury, cat lover #RIP http://pic.twitter.com/BpNLZx07BuzzFeed
This is the Bradbury I have known for 12 years. “@terryteachout: Ray Bradbury on death and the meaning of life: http://tinyurl.com/6uouwaa”Sam Weller
"Looking back over a lifetime, you see love was the answer to everything." Ray Bradbury.Neil Gaiman
woah ray bradbury died he was an amazing part of my childhood, i spent countless hours reading and rereading the martian chronicles R.I.P.Flea
he was a master of the short story, as good as chekhov, engaged my imagination, gave me something to hold onto as a kidFlea
I think Ray Bradbury is one of our most under-rated authors. I read Dandelion Wine once a year to remember what good writing is about.R.L. Stine
Adiós a Ray Bradbury: el autor que fue capaz de hacernos creer en otros mundos http://bit.ly/MjRb9U http://pic.twitter.com/DuKYYroRexpresiones_exc
Sad day for storytelling in LA. Ray Bradbury, a literary legend, dies at 91. RIP. http://lat.ms/KcrduQAntonio Villaraigosa
Ray Bradbury and Francoise Truffaut's "Fahrenheit 451" is streaming on Netflix Instant, with its unforgettable ending.Roger Ebert
RIP Ray Bradbury, native of Waukegan, Illinois. His brilliant Sci-Fi especially Fahrenheit 451 is mandatory reading.Tom Morello
"Don't talk about it... write." Ray BradburyCameron Crowe
RT @AdamtheIA: RIP Ray Bradbury. I loved his office - stocked with things to trigger ideas. http://pic.twitter.com/n0uh3EkOelreiss
RIP Ray Bradbury. See you in the future...Brad Bird
"You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."Ray Bradburymia farrow
RIP Ray Bradbury :( you've touched many lives with your work, and even a few more recently you might not have expected! Sleep well dude!deadmau5
RIP Ray Bradbury You made Mars, time travel & Illustrated Men more real than reality for a 14 year old me. #RIPRayRainnWilson
Pour out some dandelion wine for Ray Bradbury. Goodbye, Mr. Bradbury. See you in October Country.Patton Oswalt
Ray Bradbury was not only a great author, but also an accomplished artist. This signed print hangs in our house. #RIP http://pic.twitter.com/sp2WyRUcgdemet
"I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it." - Ray BradburyChuck Palahniuk
Creative imaginative visionary. A dreamer, like so many of the best science fiction authors. Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), R I PNeil deGrasse Tyson
"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." — Ray BradburyCharles M. Blow
Heroes get remembered but legends never die. #RIP Ray Bradbury, Ward Kimball, Chuck Jones. http://pic.twitter.com/dCQZ4qymBraincelSam
"Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall." - Ray Bradbury. RIP.Ronan Farrow
A touch with greatness: My photo of Ray Bradbury from his 2007 visit to San Bernardino, CA. Thanks your vision! http://pic.twitter.com/OioajD3vGLAPhoto
A standing ovation for Mr Ray Bradbury. Our imagination will be dimmer without him.edgarwright
Ray Bradbury, the illustrating man...how the author's stories inspired his paintings: http://lat.ms/9tasD6Geoff Boucher
"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." - Ray BradburyPaul Hochman
RT @julichilliard: Love it. Lucky! rt @ABLiterary Here is 20-year old me with Ray Bradbury. http://pic.twitter.com/kxx97bZXJLyetGassman
Ray Bradbury, RIP. I re-read Dandelion Wine for @KPCCOffRamp fun: http://kp.cc/L2W1dQ I re-loved my summer reading too http://kp.cc/L2W1dOMolly Peterson
Author Ray Bradbury published two pieces in The New Yorker, and both are now unlocked for all readers: http://nyr.kr/M8BG5lThe New Yorker
Muere un maestro de la ciencia ficción, sobre todo un gran escritor: Ray Bradbury: Cr... Marcianas, Farenheit 451#arte http://pic.twitter.com/tB6TxeuQferomavi
GUESTS
Sam Weller, Ray Bradbury’s biographer and author of The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury
Ronald D. Moore, screenwriter and TV producer of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Battlestar Gallactica.”
Sandusky trial and the challenges jurors face serving on sex abuse cases
Nine jurors were selected yesterday in the sex-abuse trial of former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. In total, there will be 12 jurors and two alternates chosen this week. All are residents of Centre County, Pennsylvania, home of the university.
The defense team fought to keep the local venue, in hopes that the jurors would be more sympathetic. Prosecutors expressed concerns that many would likely have connections to Penn State and Sandusky. But Judge John Cleland, who’s presiding over the trial, indicated that those connections aren’t enough to keep prospective jurors from being chosen.
Sandusky is accused of abusing 10 boys over 15 years, starting in 1994. Sandusky has denied any sexual activity with the boys and has pleaded not guilty. Opening arguments and subsequent testimony are scheduled to begin June 11. Whatever the outcome of the case, the jurors themselves are likely to be in for a long and difficult haul. They’ll have to sit through hours of sexually graphic and emotional testimony, all the while trying to be fair and impartial. They will also face intense public pressure due to the high profile nature of this case.
What are the unique challenges of picking juries for cases involving sex crimes and children? What’s it like to serve on cases like these, given the sometimes grisly details jurors hear, day after day? Have you – could you – do your civic duty?
Guest:
Rich Matthews, Senior Trial Consultant, Juryology, a San Francisco-based firm that advises lawyers on all matters pertaining to jury trials, from jury strategy and selection through crafting the right message