The Army Corps of Engineers has accepted Mayor Garcetti’s push to help revitalize an 11 mile stretch of the Los Angeles River. What does this mean for the future of the LA River? The Los Angeles City Council proposes AMBER-Alert like notifications for hit-and-runs. Would these notifications be effective in preventing hit-and-runs? Later, why do people put up with long lines?
LA River gets a billion dollar bump
In an unexpected move, the Army Corps of Engineers has accepted Mayor Garcetti’s push to help revitalize an 11 mile stretch of the LA River. All this, in order to restore habitat, widen the river, remove concrete, create wetlands, and much more.
The LA Times said, “Under terms of the proposal, the $1.08 billion cost would be shared equally by the federal government and city and state sources.” Mayor Garcetti said, "I was tenacious about this — it's a big win for the city…” But, what exactly is in store for the river?
Could new business, interested in spurring an “urban renaissance” serve as a boon for jobs and quality of life for Angelenos with offerings of new restaurants, access to recreation, and upscale housing?
What about current river communities who are worried they’ll be priced out of their homes? What about the environmentalists, concerned their interests and efforts in protecting the river will be thwarted?
Guest:
Lewis MacAdams, Founder of Friends of the LA River (FOLAR)
LA City Council proposes Amber Alert-like notifications for hit-and-runs
Councilmember Mitchell Englander won unanimous approval yesterday to take next steps for creating a hit-and-run alert system. Dubbed "Medina Alerts" after Colorado hit-and-run victim Jose Medina, the alerts would be visible on highway signs and media reports in the aftermath of a severe and/or fatal hit-and-run car collision. Hit-and-run collisions in Los Angeles have been characterized as reaching epidemic proportions.
In 2012, the LA Weekly reported on an awfully high number of vehicular hit-and-run crashes in Los Angeles. The report said that the LAPD records about 20,000 hit-and-run incidents a year, 4,000 of which result in injury or death. Colorado recently approved state-wide implementation of Medina Alerts.
There is not enough data to show its efficacy, but it might be comparable to AMBER Alerts. Research has shown those alerts for kidnapping victims are not as effective as originally believed.
What do you think of this proposal? Why might it be effective? What could make it less effective? Do you have other creative solutions?
Guest:
Dennis Gleason, Policy Director for Joe Buscaino - LA City Councilmember for the 15th District, including Harbor City, San Pedro, Watts
Larry Stevenson, created the hit-and-run alerts for Denver, Colorado; Spokesperson for the City and County of Denver, Colorado
Tim "Skip" Griffin, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at University of Nevada; studied AMBER Alerts
Is Amazon being a bully?
Amazon.com and publisher, Hachette Book Group, are in a contract dispute.The New York Times says, “Amazon was seeking better terms, Hachette was balking, so Amazon began cutting it off.”
It’s said that Amazon, although receiving book orders from Hachette, are not giving them to the customer at the speed in which they are famous for, nor at a price that’s most affordable. All this, to put the squeeze on Hachette so the publisher capitulates to Amazon’s terms.
What kind of impact does Amazon’s actions have on publishers, authors, and the reading public? Is Amazon playing an unfair game of hardball? What choices do publishers and consumers have?
Guest:
David Streitfeld, covers technology for The New York Times and broke the original story
Support for secession grows days before election
Two more counties have joined the ranks Yuba, Glenn, Modoc, Siskiyou counties .
If it passes in the June 3rd election, Measure A would require the Board of Supervisors in each participating county to officially discuss supporting a secession movement that would create an independent state, called Jefferson, by combining 5 counties on the Oregon-California border.
Guest:
Mark Baird, founder of the Jefferson Declaration to secede from California
Hot Sauce Battle: Tabasco rolls out a Sriracha knockoff, but will it catch on? (Poll)
The Sriracha hot sauce, made in the SoCal city of Irwindale, has become the spicy condiment de jour.
There’s Lay’s Sriracha flavored chips, and many foodies swear by the homemade concoction of the Sriracha Mayo. Trader Joe’s has its version of the popular Thai hot sauce, and recently, the company behind Tabasco has quietly rolled out its own rendition.
Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but will these Sriracha “knockoffs” catch on with true fans? If Sriracha isn’t your thing, what’s your go-to hot sauce for a bit of extra heat?
KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below.
Guest:
Vic Clinco, contributing writer for Chile Pepper Magazine; owner of the largest privately owned hot sauce collection in the world with over 6,500 bottles
Waiting In Line: Why we often put up with long queues
It's probably not an overstatement to say that no one likes to wait in line. It's something we only do out of necessity, but despite our professed dislike, examples abound where people engage voluntarily and courageously with long queues.
Take for instance this story KPCC reported on a while back: A fake coffee shop calling itself "Dumb Starbucks" appeared in Los Feliz one Saturday in February.
Word of the parody spread, and by Sunday, lines had formed around the block filled with curiosity-seekers wanting to check out the place and get a cup of Joe. Even our own intrepid reporter
.
So why the paradox? Why do we do the very thing we say we hate doing, i.e. waiting in line?
Guest:
Laurens Debo, Associate Professor of Operations Management, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His research focuses on queues and the positive aspects of waiting in line
What is the DEAL with all those matchsticks?!
Mysterious, giant matchsticks have been showing up all over Los Angeles in the last few weeks. No one’s come forward yet to claim responsibility but the ‘sticks are causing quite the stir on Instagram and for passers-by.
Speculation is swirling about their meaning: Is it a conspiracy by Google (they do look an awful lot like giant map pinpoints)? Or a fire prevention PSA? Patt Morrison does some detective work with longtime Los Angeles-based guerrilla artist Robbie Conal.
Guest:
Robbie Conal, LA-based guerrilla artist