May Day Demonstration; Cokie Roberts; Port Protest; Farm Bill; Charles Bock
May Day Demonstration
One year ago today, Los Angeles' May Day immigration rally ended in conflict as protestors and journalists met with aggressive LAPD resistance. Because of the unrest, the police department issued a mandatory crowd control and crisis management program for all officers. Six-hundred police participated in a mock demonstration held at Dodger Stadium last month in an attempt to better prepare for this year's May Day gathering. Before today's demonstrations begin, city leaders gathered to unveil a new study by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation that examines the negative effects of immigration raids on the Los Angeles area economy. Larry and guests Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the LA Area Chamber of Commerce, Jack Kyser, Chief Economist with the LAEDC (Los Angeles Economic Development Corportation), Joel Rubin, reporter for Los Angeles Times, and Anjelica Salas, Executive Director of CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles) discuss the issues highlighted by today's immigration marches.
Cokie Roberts
In "Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation," author and journalist Cokie Roberts looks back at some of the remarkable women who helped move our young country forward, from the inauguration of John Adams in 1797 to the inauguration of his son, John Quincy Adams in 1825. Drawing on letters, journals, recipes and songs, Roberts illuminates the lives and accomplishments of Dolly Madison, Theodosia Burr, Susanna Rowson, Sacajawea, and other key women who added to the culture as writers and educators, reformers and religious leaders, settlers and seekers. Cokie Roberts joins Larry in studio to discuss her latest book.
Port Protest
The West Coast ports from Oakland to Long Beach represent key economic entry points--and potential choke points--for the US market and economy. Today those ports are either closed down completely or severely slowed down due to a war protest by the longshoreman who operate the cranes and offload the ships. Larry talks with Craig Merrilees, spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, about what's going on.
Farm Bill
In a time of record food prices and record profits for agro-business, many are bristling as Congress is poised to pass a $300 billion farm bill that continues $5.2 billion a year in direct payments that will be disbursed to farmers. The Senate and House are negotiating with the White House to come up with a final bill, but this won't satisfy many detractors who say the bill pays farmers to plant unhealthy and environmentally damaging commodity crops. Others say it will help the California economy which is highly dependent on agriculture as one of its biggest exports. Larry checks in with Dan Morgan, who writes on agriculture for the Washington Post, Jack King, manager of national affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation, and Daniel Imhoff, President and Co-Founder of the Wild Farm Alliance.
Charles Bock
In his debut novel "Beautiful Children," Charles Bock captures Las Vegas with scope and nuance and provides a glimpse into a microcosm of modern America. The novel begins one Saturday night in Las Vegas when a twelve-year-old boy goes out with a friend and doesn't come home. In the aftermath of his disappearance, the boy's parents navigate the mystery of what's become of their son. The people of Beautiful Children are "urban nomads," each with a past to hide, every one of them searching for salvation and weaving their way through a neon underworld of sex, and drugs. Charles Bock joins Larry Mantle to talk about the writing of his first novel and the gritty life of urban and suburban Las Vegas.