Recent Supreme Court Decisions; Neighborhood Councils Revised; Online Music Broadcasters Go Silent; Concessions of a Serial Campaigner
Recent Supreme Court Decisions
Larry discusses the recent Supreme Court rulings on the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus," "McCain-Feingold," and "faith-based initiatives" cases with John Eastman of the Chapman University School of Law, and Mark Tushnet of the Harvard University School of Law. What do these rulings mean for free speech and the role of religion in the U.S. Government?
Neighborhood Councils Revised
In 1999, Los Angeles voters passed a revised City Charter that created, for the first time, a system of Neighborhood Councils to promote participation in city government and to increase City Hall's responsiveness to local needs. Since then, nearly 90 such councils have been established throughout the city. The Charter also mandated a review of the process after seven years. To undertake this review the Mayor and the City Council appointed the Neighborhood Council Review Commission (NCRC), a panel of 29 volunteers. The commissioners have met and deliberated since last year, and their preliminary recommendations will be vetted at a series of seven public workshops this summer. A final package will be presented to the City Council later in 2007. Larry talks with Rev. Altagracia Perez and Jason Lyon of the NCRC about their recommendations for reforming and revitalizing Neighborhood Councils.
Online Music Broadcasters Go Silent
Today several online music broadcasters, including KCRW in Los Angeles, will observe a day of silence to protest a new set of royalty rates that many stations and online music services say would put them out of business. The new royalties were decided by a panel of three copyright judges in early May, and the first payments are due on July 15. Unlike previous arrangements, which expired in late 2005, no breaks were given to smaller online-only broadcasters as they build their businesses. Many broadcasters who rely on online music streaming are encouraging listeners to support a bill in Congress that would roll back the new rates. Larry Mantle talks with KCRW General Manger Ruth Seymour about how these royalties would affect the station's online music service, as well as John Simson of the nonprofit performance rights organization SoundExchange.
Concessions of a Serial Campaigner
Democratic political strategist, Robert Shrum, has been an advisor of numerous political campaigns including those of Ted Kennedy, John Edwards, Al Gore, John Kerry and Bill and Hillary Clinton. Shrum's new memoir No Excuses (Simon & Schuster) is a knowing and candid account of the way American politics is actually practiced at the highest levels. Shrum joins Larry to discuss his political memoir and share his unique political insight on the current presidential campaign.