Grand Avenue Project Go Ahead; Stem Cell Governance; Senate Reaches Deal On Filibuster; Supreme Court To Hear Parental Notification Case; A Son Of The South
Grand Avenue Project Go Ahead
On Monday a panel of city and county officials, the Grand Avenue Authority, voted unanimously in favor of a $1.8 billion joint project to revitalize Grand Avenue. The master plan, developed by New York-based The Related Companies, includes creating a 16-acre civic park, more than 2,100 residential units -- 20 percent of which will be designated as affordable making streetscape improvements along Grand Avenue, from Fifth Street to Cesar Chavez Avenue. The vote forwards the plan to the Community Redevelopment Agency, City Council and county Board of Supervisors for approval. Larry talks with Eli Broad, LA Civic leader, philanthropist, and Co-Chairman of the Grand Avenue Committee, Brenda Levin, President of Levin & Associates, an architecture firm that is participating in the design of the Grand Avenue Project, and Martha Welbourne, managing director of the Grand Avenue Committee.
Stem Cell Governance
Officials of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) have expressed serious concerns about a constitutional amendment being debated in Sacramento that would give state lawmakers some control over their operations. The CIRM’s Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee held their monthly meeting yesterday (MON). On the agenda was state and federal stem cell legislation as well as pending lawsuits. Larry delves into the details with State Senator George Runner who co-wrote a constitutional amendment with Sen. Deborah Ortiz, imposing several requirements on the stem cell agency, Ted Costa, CEO of People's Advocate Inc., and Joan Samuelson, member of the ICOC.
Senate Reaches Deal On Filibuster
A bipartisan agreement reached yesterday in Washington opens the way for votes on the 3 of the 5 stalled judicial nominees. Senate Democrats agreed to allow the votes, while Senate Republicans agreed to halt their pursuit of a ban on judicial filibusters. However, a loophole in the deal allows future filibusters of judicial nominees in “extreme circumstances.” This, of course, will be to interpretation, so the so-called “nuclear option” has been averted….for now. Larry talks with David Menefee-Libey, Professor of Politics at Pomona College.
Supreme Court To Hear Parental Notification Case
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of a decision striking down a parental notification law. The New Hampshire law required that a parent or guardian be notified when an abortion was to be done on a woman under 18. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the 2003 law was unconstitutional, because it didn't provide an exception to protect the minor's health in the event of a medical emergency. Legal experts John Eastman, Professor of law and Director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at Chapman University School of Law, and Clare Pastore, Senior Counsel with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California discuss the constitutionality of the law, speculate on how the high court might rule, and explore the larger implications should the court reverse the appeal.
A Son Of The South
Karl Fleming joins Larry to discuss his memoir, Son of the Rough South.