Today on AirTalk, we discuss a recent study on congestion pricing that suggests charging $4 to drive into West LA could significantly reduce traffic and commute times. We also examine suggestions by Democratic presidential candidates to expand the number of justices in the Supreme Court; and more.
Should the Westside become the first tolled zone in LA? New study says congestion pricing could reduce commute times and traffic
Southern California Association of Governments released SoCal’s first study on congestion pricing today.
The analysis found that charging Angelenos $4 to drive in the West LA and Santa Monica area could significantly reduce traffic and commute times. According to the study, charging the fee in the 4.3 square-mile area west of the 405 and north of the 10 Freeway would minimize congestion by more than 20%. The reduction in driving would also lead to an increase in biking, walking and transit ridership.
Some community members oppose the proposal of toll zones. One Brentwood resident said she might not frequent an area if paying to enter the neighborhood was a requirement. A resident from Koreatown said he would have take too many tools and supplies on public transit.
Researchers said the toll fees would make up an annual average of $69 million in net revenue.
Should the Westside become the first tolled zone in LA? What do you think?
Share your thoughts: Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Darin Chidsey, interim executive director at Southern California Association of Governments
Mike Bonin, Councilmember for the 11th District of the City of Los Angeles, which includes Brentwood, Ladera, Venice and the area the SCAG study focuses on
Supreme Court expansion is getting traction among some Dems as an election issue -- who’s buying in, who’s not and how it might work
Some Democratic presidential candidates are suggesting expanding the number of justices in the Supreme Court if elected president.
The list includes Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand saying they would be open to expanding the high court and adding term limitations for justices. The idea of “court-packing” isn’t a new one either. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plan failed nearly a century ago to expand the high court to 15 Supreme Court justices.
Larry talks to with two democratic strategists about who’s buying into court packing, who’s not, and how making that big of a change might work.
What do you think about expanding the high court? Do you have any thoughts on term limitations for Supreme Court justices?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Sean McElwee, director of polling and research for Pack The Courts, a group advocating for Democratic candidates to support an expansion of the Supreme Court’s membership; he is also the co-founder of Data For Progress, which provides polling and research on left issues, and a contributor to The Nation; he tweets
Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies. He is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008; he tweets
Putting a number on it: should you tell your child how much money you make?
For some parents, discussing money with kids might be a topic even more dreaded than “the birds and the bees.”
And while most financial planners agree that you should talk to your child about finance early, there’s disagreement about whether revealing your salary should be part of this financial conversation. In this recent Wall Street Journal piece, one planner argues that a frank discussion of money, including the numbers, can give a child an understanding of the household budget. It will give a child a sense of why mommy can’t afford that toy, for example, and also promote financial literacy.
Another analyst disagrees, arguing that going into the specifics of salary may actually skew a child’s understanding of money, if they don’t have an understanding of all the other variables that are involved in their parents’ financial calculations.
For some parents with an unstable financial situation, the decision to keep money matters opaque may be about protecting their kids from anxiety. While for a well-off family, too clear of an understanding of wealth might make a child big headed or unmotivated. Then again, for many kids, the home is the only place where they’ll be exposed to real financial planning or decision making.
How have you navigated the salary conversation with your child? Is there an age at which you decided that the conversation was appropriate? How has your cultural or financial background influenced this decision?
Call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Jayne Pearl, freelance writer covering financial parenting and family business; she is the co-author of the book “Kids, Wealth and Consequences: Ensuring a Responsible Financial Future for the Next Generation” (Bloomberg Press, 2010)
In the wake of Boeing 737 Max crash, questions arise over FAA oversight of jet safety
Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Department appeared before a Senate subcommittee hearing on airline safety Wednesday afternoon.
Amid the two deadly Boeing crashes, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration defended the FAA’s practice of relying on aircraft makers to help certify their own planes for flight.
Under the self-certifying program, these employees perform tests and inspections needed to win safety approvals, with the FAA overseeing their work. The approach is credited with holding down government costs and speeding the rollout of new models.
But in the wake of the air disasters involving Boeing’s new 737 Max jetliner in Ethiopia and Indonesia, that practice has been seized on as evidence of an overly cozy relationship between the FAA and the industry.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, Boeing’s vice president of airplane development, Mike Sinnett, outlined the changes he company is making to the flight-control system and pilot training, and he repeated Boeing’s confidence in the safety of the Max.
We recap the Senate hearing and discuss airline safety.
With files from the Associated Press
Guests:
Lori Aratani, reporter at the Washington Post focusing on transportation issues, including airports, airlines, and the nation's railroad and subway systems; she tweets
Mike Perrone, president of Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, the federal union representing Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense employees who install, maintain, support and certify air control and national defense equipment
Is McDonald’s investment into AI tech for its drive-thrus a bellwether for retail?
It’s a sunny day outside, you pull up to the drive through window at your local McDonalds and see a milkshake advertised on the drive-thru menu. You didn’t want a milkshake initially, but it sounds good on a hot day like this…
That might no longer be a hypothetical situation. This week, McDonalds bought an artificial intelligence startup who’s tech can automatically change menus depending on the time of day, weather and even traffic.
Mcdonalds is reported to be paying $300 million. This is McDonald’s biggest buy since it bought Boston Market in 1999.
This comes against a backdrop of other retailers investing in the kind of machine learning that you’re more likely familiar with on the web -- retailers like Nike, Sephora and Walgreens.
Is machine learning and personalization the future of brick-and-mortar retail? As a consumer, how do you feel about this potential trend?
Share your thoughts by calling us at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Ann-Marie Alcántara, tech reporter for Adweek who focuses on retail and commerce, where she’s been following this story; she tweets
Kit Yarrow, consumer research psychologist, professor at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, and author of “Decoding the New Consumer Mind: How and Why We Shop and Buy” (Jossey-Bass, March 2014); she tweets
Triple Play: Hope springs anew for Angels and Dodgers on MLB Opening Day 2019
Gloves are oiled. Bats are pine-tarred. Dodger Dogs are on the grill in Echo Park and the fountains are flowing in Anaheim. It can only mean one thing: Opening Day is finally here.
The Dodgers begin their season Thursday afternoon as defending NL West and National League Champions and will be gunning for their seventh-straight NL West title and third-straight League Championship this year. They open 2019 at home against NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks. Hyun-Jin Ryu will start for L.A. and go against former Dodger Zack Greinke who will take the mound for Arizona. The casual fan will see some notable absences from the opening day lineup -- slugging infielder Manny Machado went south to San Diego in the offseason and fan-favorite outfielder Yasiel Puig was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in a trade along with Matt Kemp and Alex Wood. Max Muncy, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson all return to the lineup as does shortstop Corey Seager, who sat most of 2018 out after he needed Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in his throwing arm after he strained it a month into the season.
The Angels, meanwhile, begin 2019 on the road as they head to Oakland for a series against the A’s. Angels newcomer Trevor Cahill gets the nod for the Halos while Mike Fiers will start for Oakland. 27-year-old phenom outfielder Mike Trout leads the charge for the Angels, who are coming off an 80-82 2018 season that earned them 4th place in a very competitive AL West that includes the 2017 World Series Champion Houston Astros, an Oakland Athletics team that earned a wildcard spot in the playoffs last year and a Seattle Mariners team that appears to be right on the cusp of making the postseason. For his part, Trout just became the richest man in the history of North American pro sports after signing a 12-year deal worth $426 million that will essentially keep Trout in Anaheim for the rest of his pro career. The Angels also brought on a few new faces during the offseason in the form of starting pitchers Matt Harvey and the previously mentioned Cahill as well as slugging first baseman Justin Bour and welcome back players like Albert Pujols, Andrelton Simmons and Kole Calhoun who fans already know. Shohei Ohtani, the Angels dual-threat pitcher/hitter, will start the season still in recovery mode from Tommy John surgery last year, but has been taking batting practice and the Angels hope to integrate him into the lineup as the designated hitter early in the year.
Today on AirTalk, we reconvene the Triple Play of Larry Mantle, A Martinez and Nick Roman to preview the 2019 season for the Dodgers and the Angels, preview the most exciting players on each team and peer into the crystal ball and forecast how the two teams will fare this year.
Guests:
A Martínez, host of Take Two on KPCC; he tweets
Nick Roman, host of All Things Considered on KPCC; he tweets