Today on AirTalk, we discuss the many ways flying will look different after the pandemic. Also on the show, we get the latest on COVID-19; look at how the coronavirus shutdowns have altered retail; and more.
Immunization Rates Plunge In LA County, Sweden Backtracks On Its Coronavirus Strategy
As of Monday afternoon, L.A. County has at least more than 1,570 deaths and 32,263 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to chip away at a plan to slowly reopen the state. Earlier this month, Newsom announced a framework of six parameters he says it will take to reopen the state's economy. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a similar five-pillar plan. Last week, certain retail businesses, golf courses and hiking trails were allowed to reopen with distancing restrictions in place.
Meanwhile, Sweden is backtracking on its controversial coronavirus strategy after deaths of elderly residents spiraled, Bloomberg News reports. Plus, the childhood immunization rate in L.A. County was down more than 50% in April compared to the same month in 2019, according to the county Department of Public Health. The department sent an advisory to health care providers Friday night urging providers to prioritize immunizations as they start to see more patients in person. The immunization rate is based on preliminary data from the California Department of Public Health. Today on AirTalk, Larry sits down with a noted epidemiologist to discuss the latest with COVID-19. Do you have questions? Please call 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist. Read the full story from Mariana Dale here.
Guest:
Karin Michels, PhD, epidemiologist; chair and professor of the Department of Epidemiology at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health
What’s In The Two-Pronged Plan California Senate Democrats Are Unveiling Tuesday Aimed At Easing Economic Burden Of COVID-19
California legislators on Tuesday are expected to pull the tarp off of two proposals aimed at helping ease the economic burden that residents across the Golden State are feeling due to COVID-19.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Democratic state senators will detail two things: a renter-assistance program where rent payments would be waived and the landlords forgiving them would get tax credits of the same size starting in 2024 spread out over a 10 minute period, and an economic stabilization plan that would offer any California taxpayer the option to pay as much as 10 years of state income taxes in advance in exchange for vouchers that could be used to cover taxes for future years or sold to investors for money right then. The money the state receives in advance state income tax payments would go towards funding short-term economic relief programs.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll find out more about what’s in the two proposals from Senate Democrats, talk about the pros and cons that stakeholders might raise and explain what it all means two days ahead of Governor Newsom sending state lawmakers a plan to fill a short-term budget deficit that could reportedly total $54 billion.
Guests:
Dan Walters, long-time California politics observer with CALmatters, a nonprofit public interest publication; he tweets
Joel Fox, editor-in-chief of the political commentary website Fox and Hounds Daily and the former president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association from 1986 to 1998; he tweets
Toilet Flushes, Pet Appearances And Funny Backgrounds: What ‘Zoom Fails’ Have You Experienced?
Many of us remain homebound for the most part as stay-at-home orders stay in place and states slowly begin to ease restrictions. And many who have been lucky enough to continue working through this challenging time have found Zoom and other video or phone conferencing platforms to be the life blood of staying connected. Getting used to the technology hasn’t come easy to everybody though.
Just last week, as Supreme Court justices began oral arguments that are now live streamed to the public, an undeniable sound of a toilet flushing could be heard. This left people wondering who could have flushed it! Double checking that mute button can often be overlooked and can result in some interesting sounds or discussions. In one work meeting, a woman showed up to her meeting looking like an actual potato. According to Buzzfeed News, she had downloaded the fun filter for a happy hour event. She remained in potato form the rest of the meeting because she couldn’t figure out how to change the setting. Plus, pets and kids who are home can enter the work screen resulting in some funny flounders.
Today on AirTalk, we want to hear all of your epic “zoom fails.” Share your stories on air by calling us at 866-893-5722.
How Has Shut Down Affected Retail And What Does It Signal For Its Future?
Though some retail stores are now open for curbside pickup, retailers both big and small are continuing to feel the pain of a pandemic-stalled economy and of health protocols that have shut down business.
National brands like JCPenney, J. Crew and Neiman Marcus have all filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, small retailers without an online infrastructure have also suffered, especially in the apparel sector.
So what trends are we seeing in retail right now? Which businesses are staying afloat and which won’t be able to survive the pandemic? And what will the future of retail look like? We sit down with a roundtable of experts to discuss.
Plus, if you’re a retailer, weigh in by calling 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Rachel Michelin, president and CEO of the California Retailers Association, the trade group representing all aspects of retail in the state; she tweets
Alexis DeSalva Kahler, senior research analyst focusing on retail and e-commerce at Mintel, a global market research firm; she tweets
Ilse Metchek, president of the California Fashion Association, an association of the businesses behind fashion
What Does The Future Of Air Travel Look Like?
It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on industry after industry across the country, and the airline industry is no different. As a recent piece in The Atlantic puts it, airlines could have it a bit worse because, unlike other industries that have been forced to close amid COVID-19, airlines are forced to continue operating.
James Fallows reports in the piece that travel bookings were down by about 98% compared to last year, and that the average domestic flight had about 10 to 12.5 passengers on board these days. Fallows writes that no one can know what air travel will look like a decade from now, but it’s clear that airports and plane rides won’t look the same for a very long time. This will impact various aspects of the air travel experience including ticket buying, check-in and security, plane boarding and seating, and even arrival experiences on the other end of your trip.
Today on AirTalk, Larry sits down with Fallow to discuss what the future might hold for air travel. What do you think? Can you see yourself taking a trip in the sky anytime soon? What will impact your decision? We want to hear from you. Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.
Guest:
James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic and co-author of “Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America” (Pantheon, 2018), his latest piece looks at the future of air travel; he tweets