Today on AirTalk, LAPD Chief Moore joins our show to address calls for police reform. Also on the show, we check-in on the economy as retail numbers in May were up; talk about how to approach discussions of race in the workplace; and more.
AirTalk Special: Chief Moore On Calls To Reform LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore joins Larry Mantle for his monthly check-in on AirTalk. Topics discussed include:
LAPD investigates allegations of misconduct by officers during protests
Use of batons and other weapons violate rules of use
Projectile launchers safer than other alternatives; protesters disagree
Identifying cuts in the LAPD’s budget
Garcetti will not support proposal by Black Lives Matter to defund LAPD by more than $150 million
CA police unions release reform agenda
Evolving the Community Safety Partnership program; expanding its model as a form of alternative policing
Guest:
Michel Moore, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department; he tweets
COVID-19 AMA: Hospitalizations Tick Up In Some California Counties, Other States Amid Reopening
A major concern as many states are starting to slowly reopen their economies is whether there will be a spike in cases of COVID-19 that coincides with the reopening, and in some states we’re seeing that play out. CNN reports Arizona, Texas and Florida all set daily records for new cases this week.
Here in California, public health officials are pointing to hospitalizations, not the number of new cases, as an indicator of a connection between reopening economies and new outbreaks of the virus. The Los Angeles Times reports that Ventura and Orange Counties have both seen increases in hospitalizations, specifically those that require ICU treatment.
In Washington, a new oversight board is warning about the strain of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. government and calling into question Washington's ability to effectively manage trillions of dollars in aid and keep federal workers safe. The inaugural report released Wednesday by the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee cites an array of challenges in responding to the outbreak. Thirty-seven agencies summarized the obstacles they face, with financial management and health and safety at the top of most lists. The report emphasizes a few core concerns, including the financial management of more than $2 trillion in new spending and protecting the health and safety of government workers at prisons, national parks, meatpacking plants and other worksites deemed essential during the pandemic. The committee, established in March by Congress and made up of a board of inspectors general, also said in a letter to lawmakers that they are concerned about a legal determination by President Donald Trump's administration on pandemic funding. They fear it could result in the administration withholding data on recipients of nearly half of the unprecedented $2.4 trillion in aid.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll tackle these headlines and more of what’s happening with the coronavirus outbreak, plus we’ll take your questions at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets
Economy Check In: Shoppers Ramped Up Spending In May
American shoppers ramped up their spending on store purchases by a record 17.7% from April to May, delivering a dose of energy for retailers that have been reeling since the coronavirus shut down businesses, flattened the economy and paralyzed consumers during the previous two months.
The government’s report Tuesday showed that consumers’ retail purchases have retraced some of the record-setting month-to-month plunges of March (8.3%) and April (14.7%) as businesses have increasingly reopened. Still, the pandemic’s damage to retailers remains severe, with purchases still down 6.1% from a year ago. Last month’s bounce-back by consumers comes against the backdrop of an economy that may have begun what could be a slow and prolonged recovery. In May, employers added 2.5 million jobs, an unexpected rise that suggested that the job market has bottomed out. Still, a big unknown is whether early gains in job growth, retail sales and other areas can be sustained in the coming months or whether they may plateau at a low level.
Today on AirTalk, we check in on the retail industry and how the economy is being impacted. Do you have thoughts? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Rachel Michelin, president and CEO of the California Retailers Association (CRA), the trade group representing all aspects of retail in the state; she tweets
Kevin Klowden, executive director of the Milken Institute’s Center for Regional Economics and California Center; he tweets
How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race At Work
The killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis and the ensuing protest movement has sparked difficult conversations about race in many different spheres, including one that can feel especially sensitive and fraught: the workplace.
Some organizations have chosen not to address recent events, or did so only after outcry from within the company. Others have hosted discussions with perhaps the best of intentions that ended up serving no one, or worse, creating conflict. For example, LinkedIn recently received attention for a virtual town hall with its employees where controversial anonymous comments were made about race and diversity.
So how can an organization facilitate a conversation about race, especially now, when we’re all working remotely? How should approaches differ in different settings, for example an office versus a restaurant? How can an environment be created where people feel that they can speak up and not be judged for making mistakes? And if a company is lacking in diversity, how can they effectively discuss race?
We sit down with assistant professor of management at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Stephanie Creary to discuss.
Plus, we want to hear from you. Whether you’re management or an employee, whether your workplace had a great conversation about race or an unconstructive one, what have you experienced in the past few weeks? Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Stephanie Creary, assistant professor of management at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business; her research interests include identity, diversity and inclusion and relationships across difference