Today on Air Talk we'll discuss President Obama's latest visit to Los Angeles, The LA Kings getting another shot at the Stanley Cup in New Jersey, a roundtable discussion with our favorite Orange County journalists, a look at our continuing economic woes and how they are affecting debt collection, a conversation with Rep. Howard Berman on the battle in the San Fernando Valley and handicapping the odds of "I'll Have Another" winning the Triple Crown. Plus, the latest news.
California greeted by Candidate Obama not President Obama
Last night, the Beverly Wilshire Hotel was the scene of a boisterous affair. The gay and lesbian community of Tinseltown held a fundraising event for President Obama. Heartened by the president's recent statements in support of gay marriage, the crowd chanted "Four more years!" and happily forked over $25,000-a-plate for the fundraiser.
As drivers on the Westside know too well, candidate Obama has made a number of trips to the Southland for campaign events this year. However, President Obama hasn't had time for public appearances or glad-handing with the plebes. California as a "political ATM" is nothing new. And on AirTalk we've talked about how much money Obama's opposition is planning to spend – in the neighborhood of $1 billon from GOP-affiliated super PACs. Still, is President Obama taking Californians for granted?
Guests:
Kitty Felde, KPCC’s DC Correspondent
Mark Sawyer, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the African American Studies Department at UCLA
LA Kings take battle to Jersey
They were hoping to continue their winning streak to lift the Stanley Cup on home soil, but the LA Kings didn't quite pull it out of the bag last night. The Kings hit the post twice and failed to capitalize on many opportunities to wrap up the series, but with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, the two teams head East to battle is out at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Saturday. But all is not lost.
The Kings still have the advantage, having secured three wins in the series so far. A win at the weekend on Devils home turf would end forty five years of heartache for Kings fans, following a bankruptcy, three owners and two lockouts. Being crowned the NHL kings of the ice would also go a long way to healing the wounds of fans who still blame Marty McSorley for an illegal stick move in game two of the 1993 Stanley Cup series. They say McSorley's error handed the Cup to the Montreal Canadiens on a platter.
Were you there last night? Are you disappointed with home the Kings performed? Will you be travelling to New Jersey to support the Kings? What impact do you think playing away will have on the team? Have you already planned your Kings victory party? Or are you concerned that the Devils will get a second wind and the series will go down to the wire in game 7?
Guests:
Helene Elliott, Sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times
Orange County journalists’ roundtable
Nick and our talented Orange County journalists will chew on the latest big news from the O.C., including a lack of news about the San Onofre nuclear plant. As temperatures rise in the Southland, the heat is on to secure a power supply for the region. What will happen if the San Onofre units stay offline for the summer?
We'll also address the impact of Tuesday's election results, including the Fullerton recall and local ballot measures. Also, we'll get an update on the County supervisors’ refusal to recognize Harvey Milk Day. And as reported in the "Voice of O.C.," there are some questions surrounding Anaheim City Council's approval to buy a $2.2 million Cessna for its police department.
Finally, this Saturday the Crystal Cathedral will be renamed. According to "The Orange County Register," a church spokesman said the name will be Christological, or pertaining to the life, teachings and deeds of Jesus. The Catholic Diocese received thousands of ideas for a new name.
Guests:
Norberto Santana, Editor-in-Chief of the Voice of OC, a non-profit investigative news agency that covers Orange County government and politics
Gustavo Arellano, Managing Editor of the OC Weekly and author of "Taco USA" and “Ask A Mexican”
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
And please answer some questions relating to Orange County for KPCC's Public Insight Network:
What Orange County issues matter most to you?
How does Kelly Thomas’ death change the Fullerton you know?
Ongoing economic woes and dealing with debt collectors, legitimate or otherwise
In case you were wondering, the economy still isn’t doing so hot. This is no breaking news, but what you may not know is that economists are becoming more fearful about financial recovery for the country. With opposing camps of free marketers and regulation proponents becoming more divided with each new jobs report, the situation is reaching a fever pitch.
Feeling the heat the most might be Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who testified today on Capitol Hill regarding the issue. His remarks landed somewhere between muddled and murky, essentially saying that monetary policy at the Federal Reserve level is not a “panacea,” and that he’d like Congress to start implementing broad policies to relieve some of his organization’s burden. He said the situation was not as bad as the one in Greece, but that the country should not grow complacent.
But Bernanke isn’t the only one shifting in the hot seat. Millions of Americans out there are now getting those daily, and irritating, calls from debt collectors. When times were good, people borrowed liberally, and now the reality is that lending companies want their money (plus interest) back, and the borrowers, in most cases, simply don’t have it. The only thing worse than getting a call from a debt collector, it seems, would be getting a call from abusive “phantom” debt collectors.
That’s right, overseas call centers with ties to organized crime in India are perpetuating a nationwide scam in the U.S. And they’re bilking Americans out of millions of dollars they don’t actually owe. When you’re in debt, you’re vulnerable, and often so in over your head that you can’t tell the bad debt collectors from the good ones (if there is such a thing).
When dealing with legitimate debt collectors, what rights do you have? How can you tell if you’re being scammed for money you never borrowed in the first place? What are your tips for alleviating the situation, whether that be avoiding phone calls or aggressively paying down debt?
Guests:
Tom Pahl, Assistant Director of the Division of Financial Practices, Federal Trade Commission
Liz Weston, Personal Finance Columnist, MSN, Author of “Your Credit Score”
The Berman & Sherman show continues in San Fernando congressional race
Newly drawn district lines left long-time Democratic congressmen Howard Berman and Brad Sherman stuck in the ring together, both vying for the same congressional seat. Since neither received over half the vote, they’ll be squaring off again in November’s runoff election.
Sherman, who starts Round Two well ahead of his rival financially with a cool $3 million in the bank, has said the primary was an “exhibition game…we’re on to the real game and our team is ready to go.” Berman is equally rarin’ to go and the battle is on. But the two, both Democrats, have similar positions on many key issues.
How will voters distinguish the two? What are Berman’s plans for the next phase of the campaign? How will he reach out to a new batch of constituents and hold onto his seat in congress?
Guest:
Rep. Howard Berman, Democratic Congressman for the 28th District
Will racehorse I’ll Have Another have another win at Belmont?
There hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner in over three decades. Since the 1970’s, when Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) eleven other champions have tried, but fallen short of taking racing’s greatest prize. But “I’ll Have Another” is giving hope to racing fans – and to the sport in general.
Well-publicized allegations of mistreatment of horses and controversy over the use of synthetic tracks have dogged the horseracing world in recent years. Proponents of the sport maintain that horse athletes are well cared for and that safety is of paramount concern. With local hero “I’ll Have Another” poised to go the distance at Belmont Park, the thrill and excitement of horse racing seem to have made a comeback. But is it enough to bring the sport of kings back into the public’s good graces? Southern California is a major hub for the racing industry, with two major tracks at Santa Anita and Del Mar.
What is the state of racing in California today? Are you a racing fan? Will you be betting on I’ll Have Another this Saturday? Or do you have another horse in this race?
GUEST
Steve Andersen, reporter, Daily Racing Form
You can watch the race at Del Mar Fairgrounds and Santa Anita.