United Way Reports on Quality of Life in Los Angeles; Grocery Workers Union Call for Contract Renegotiation; Inland Empire Journalists Roundtable; New Immigration Bill Would Put Millions of Undocumented Immigrants on a Path to Citizenship; Bee Population in Decline
United Way Reports on Quality of Life in Los Angeles
United Way of Greater Los Angeles announced Wednesday its State of the County 'Quality of Life in Los Angeles' study and index. The composite index provides civic, business and community leaders with a tool for measuring how Los Angeles is doing over time in the four key areas: education, economic status, health, and public safety. The study found that, while Los Angeles County is a safer region than it was five years ago, its workforce is under-educated and under-skilled and its population poor and unhealthy. Ted Chen examines the report and its implications with United Way CEO, Elise Buik.
Grocery Workers Union Call for Contract Renegotiation
Three years ago, after a long strike, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) signed a contract with supermarket chains. Now the UFCW, which has scheduled a strike-authorization vote for March 25, wants to renegotiate that contract to eliminate the two tiers in which workers hired after the 2003/2004 lockout are paid at a lower scale than veteran employees. In addition, a new report by the Blue Ribbon Commission of the Los Angeles Grocery Industry and Community Health finds that many area grocery workers receive low wages and few benefits. Ted discusses both the results of the report as well the possibility of a strike with Edena Tessler, Spokeswoman for Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons Supermarkets, Mike Shimpock, Spokesman for Southern California Grocery Workers Union, and Jackie Goldberg, member of the Blue Ribbon Commission.
Inland Empire Journalists Roundtable
Ted Chen talks with Steven Cuevas, KPCC's Inland Empire Reporter, and Phil Willon, editor of the LA Times Inland Empire edition, about the latest news, events, and developments in the Inland Empire.
New Immigration Bill Would Put Millions of Undocumented Immigrants on a Path to Citizenship
A bi-partisan House bill introduced today would offer temporary legal citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants. The bill would give guest worker status to immigrants who have entered illegally before June of 2006. The guest workers would be allowed to stay six years in the United States as long as they work, pay back taxes and fines, learn English and pass criminal background checks. At the end of that time, they would be required to leave and re-enter the country to be eligible for permanent residency and U.S. citizenship. Ted Chen discusses the bill with co-sponsor Republican Congressman George Radanovich of the San Joaquin Valley, and Republican Congressman John Campbell of Orange County, who opposes the bill.
Bee Population in Decline
Beekeepers in California and many other states are reporting signs of a massive bee die-off. The sudden drop in the bee population is being called "Colony Collapse Disorder," but the cause, so far, remains a mystery. Fruit growers and other farmers that rely on honeybees to help pollinate commercially grown crops are concerned about the effect the die-off may have on the food supply. Even congress is concerned, and a House Agriculture subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on the issue next week. Ted Chen discusses the mysterious phenomenon with Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Entomology Department, and Jerry Hayes of the Florida Deptartment of Agriculture.