A new study slams California training programs as being one of the worst in the nation. Is the study an accurate reflection of the quality of training in the state? Then, after eight years in office LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is due to step down. Larry talks to him about what's next. Later, should obesity be considered a disease? And we'll talk about TCA's controversial 241 Toll Road extension and a bill in the state senate that could slow public records requests. Then, we'll discuss "After the Grizzly" and the 40-year-old Endangered Species Act.
California teacher training programs fail miserably, according to new study
The National Council on Teacher Quality and the U.S. News and World Report published a new study today slamming teacher training programs in California as some of the worst in the nation. The reports singles out UCLA and Loyola Marymount University for having the most subpar programs among the more than 20 some California schools that were examined. UCLA’s elementary school teacher training program got a one-star rating and its high school program received 1 ½ stars. Both LMU and UCLA say that the report is flawed and question its methodology. USC did not participate in the study.
Is the study an accurate reflection of the state of teacher training? Teacher training degrees can cost up to $116,000 according to the study. Are they worth the price tag? What can be done to improve the quality of teacher training?
Guests:
Sandi Jacobs, Vice President of the National Council on Teacher Quality
Megan Franke, Chairwoman of the Department of Education at UCLA
Updated: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: 'I want to run for governor'
After eight years in office, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is due to step down, but he may have his eye on higher office (more on that in a bit).
Villaraigosa became the first Mexican-American to be elected in Los Angeles in more than 130 years. Highlights of Villaraigosa's mayoral tenure include the passage of the America Fast Forward bill — an initiative that allows Los Angeles to fast-track transportation projects — and his plan to wean the city off the use of coal completely by 2025.
Villaraigosa first ran for L.A. mayor in 2001 and was defeated in a runoff against James Hahn. Before he became mayor, Villaraigosa was a member of the California State Assembly, the Democratic leader of the Assembly, the Speaker of the California State Assembly and a member of the L.A. City Council.
Larry talks to Mayor Villaraigosa about what's next for the lifelong Angeleno.
For one, Villaraigosa made a definitive comment about his plans to run for California governor in the future:
“You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will," said Villaraigosa. "I’m going to tell you something. I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for."
At least one political consultant told KPCC that he didn't expect Villaraigosa to run for governor against Gov. Jerry Brown, who is expected to stand for re-election next year.
"He's not going to run against Jerry Brown," said political consultant Mike Shimpock, whose firm has worked for Villaraigosa. "I don't think Brown is beatable."
A Field Poll released in February found Brown's approval ratings at the highest level since he was elected. About 57 percent of voters approved of his performance. Only 31 percent disapproved.
Brown, 75, remains in good health. He says he underwent successful radiation treatment for early stage prostate cancer in January.
"My health is great," he told reporters earlier this year.
Villaraigosa, 60, likely knows any insurgent campaign against a fellow Democrat who is popular would be difficult. It would also anger the party — something he wants to avoid ahead of a 2018 run. Money is another problem.
"It would be difficult to raise money against Brown," Shimpock said. Brown is also well known in California: He served as governor once before, from 1975-1983, and his fundraising roots run deep.
Even in 2018, Villaraigosa could face a strong Democratic field of candidates. State Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Controller John Chiang are all possible candidates.
Interview Highlights:
On whether he'll miss being mayor:
"I'm not going to miss the profile, but I am going to miss the people. There will never be a job ... . You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will, but I’m going to tell you something. I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for. The people of this town gave me a shot when a lot of folks thought it was an impossible dream. I have no regrets. ... There's a bit of sadness on some levels, I guess, and nostalgia, but it's about the people."
On advice that he's given to incoming Mayor Eric Garcetti:
"Eric and I have known each other now for 12 years as colleagues. He was actually on a community advisory committee for me when I was in the state legislature, so we go way, way back. Was part of an advisory council when I ran for mayor in 2001. The one thing I have said to him is, don't let the Monday morning quarterbacks stop you from being bold. You've got to set a high bar. This is a great city, we've got to measure up to that city, and I think he's prepared to do that."
On how his personal life has been covered by the media:
"I took responsibility for the breakup [of his marriage], and if there was anything that I regret was the way I handled it. But I took responsibility, I never pushed back when you asked the tough questions. I'm very proud of the fact that I'm closer to my kids today than I ever had been and that both live with their dad, that Corina and I have a great relationship and a great friendship. As far as the other relationships, I did push back on that. The day that I spearheaded the passage of America Fast Forward, ... the newspaper of record did not put it in the newspaper; what they put was my breakup with my ex-girlfriend. I took umbrage with that. A great newspaper ought to be printing things that people care about, issues that people care about. So my breakup of my marriage, I understand that; the other stuff, come on, a little much."
On his plans for the immediate future:
"I'll do anything that the mayor, the governor, the City of Los Angeles asks me to do on their behalf. If I can promote the town that I was born and raised in and that my grandpa came to 100 years ago, I'm going to do it. I'm moving to Venice. I love that part of the city, and it's always been a great supporter of mine. I'm going to probably affiliate with a university or think tank, maybe do a little public speaking, since I have turned down a lot of requests over the years. Then I want to do a listening tour. I think we all want to restore the California dream, and I want to figure out how to do it."
On his love for Los Angeles:
"I believe in this town. I will always be an Angeleno in that I will always fight to reaffirm what I believe to be true: that in this century, L.A. is to the world what New York was in the 20th century and London in the 19th. We're the gateway to a rising China and Asia; we're a gateway to a rising Mexico and Latin America. Our diversity, our port, our airport, our people will make us the preeminent city in the world. I believe that."
Guest:
Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles
Is obesity a disease?
At their annual meeting in Chicago today, delegates of the American Medical Association have officially endorsed recognizing obesity as a disease. Opponents to the labeling argue that obesity is a risk factor for health problems and a reflection of someone's eating habits and chosen lifestyle.
Proponents, however, say that obesity has underlying metabolic and hormonal causes and designating it a disease would encourage a more direct response in fighting this national epidemic. This is not just a philosophical debate; upgrading obesity to a disease has important financial implications for the health insurance industry and for employers.
Is obesity a disease or is it a result of lifestyle choices?
Guests:
Dr. Scott Kahan, Director of the National Center for Weight & Wellness in Washington D.C. He also teaches at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Paul Campos, Professor of Law at the University of Colorado and the author of “The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health” (Gotham, 2004)
The debate over the TCA’s 241 Toll Road extension, Round 2
Five years after the Transit Corridor Authority failed in its attempt to win approval to connect it's 241 Toll Road from the 91 Freeway in the Anaheim Hills to the Interstate 5 just south of San Clemente, the Orange County agency is back at it, announcing its intent to restart the project but with a different building schedule. Denied the ability to build the 15+ mile stretch in one go, the TCA has announced its intent to build a 4-mile segment of the 241, extending it toward its eventual goal of meeting up with I5.
Opponents of the 241, environmentalists and an engaged Southern Orange County surf community, defeated the TCA the first time on grounds that the final stretch of the 241 could negatively impact both the pristine nature of the northern sliver of Camp Pendleton the toll road would travel through as well as the waves at the legendary surf spot Trestles, which are fed by sediment that flows to the coast and could be impacted by the proposed design of the 241-5 connector. We're now in the period of public hearing and comment on the project, and organizations like the Surfrider Foundation are trying to muster opponents of the Toll Road to attend the Water Quality Control Board meeting tomorrow to voice their opinions.
Do you think the TCA should be allowed to build their 4-mile segment, which could help traffic congestion? Or is the TCA just trying to force their toll road through regardless of the opinions of the community?
Guests:
Paul Bopp, 241 Tesoro Extension Engineering Manager, Transit Corridor Authority
Joel Reynolds, Western Director, Natural Resources Defense Council
Sacramento bill could limit access to public records
Under current law, local governments in California have ten days to respond to requests for public records. If the request is delayed or rejected, officials must explain why. However, that could change in a few days. Governor Brown is expected to sign the state budget this week, and within the budget is a change to the California Public Records Act (CRPA). It says Sacramento no longer has to fund a few core provisions of the CRPA. Local governments, including cities like Bell, will not be obligated to respond in a timely fashion to requests for information.
The Department of Finance says this does not change the fundamental right to access information, but it simply removes taxpayers' funding of certain aspects. Is this about the budget or about transparency?
For Julie Small's full story, click here.
Guests:
Brian Uhler, Assigned to Local Government Issues for the Legislative Analyst’s Office
Jim Ewert, General Counsel and Legislative Advocate, California Newspaper Publishers Association
After 40 years, does the Endangered Species Act actually work?
This year marks the 40th year of the Endangered Species Act, signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1973. But how effective is this law? What actions have been taken to preserve endangered species, and how many people have been prosecuted for harming them? According to History and Environmental Studies assistant professor Peter S. Alagona, the Endangered Species Act has been more influential in California than any other state.
His new book, “After the Grizzly: Endangered Species and the Politics of Place in California” traces the history of the grizzly bear and how its population has severely decreased. Alagona says that in the 19th century, there was actually 1 grizzly to every 11 people in California. However, it didn’t take long for grizzly numbers to dwindle down; and the last sighting was near Sequoia in 1924. California is also known for the endangered condor. When the California Condor isn’t accidentally mistaken for a Turkey Vulture and shot, it’s sometimes accidentally killed by wind farms.
How can these accidental killings be prevented? Also, the gray wolf population is rising and the federal government may take gray wolves off its endangered list. Would the species still survive?
Guest:
Peter S. Alagona, author of, “After the Grizzly: Endangered Species and the Politics of Place in California;” Assistant Professor of History and Environmental Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara