LA Homeless Services Authority's annual report was released this morning, with a 23 percent increase in homelessness throughout the county - we analyze the steep incline. We'll also take a look at the risks behind the Pentagon's missile defense system; former mayor and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa; and more.
Pentagon successfully tested its missile defense system yesterday, but is it worth the cost?
It was back-patting and hand-shaking all around at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday after a rocket that U.S. military officials launched off the coast of Santa Barbara County intercepted and destroyed a target warhead launched from the Marshall Islands, some 4,000 miles away.
The test is a major milestone for the U.S.’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system and program as it marks their second consecutive successful test. It comes at a time where sabre-rattling between the U.S. and North Korea has increased in recent months with regards to launching missiles. Pyongyang has overseen at least a dozen missile tests already this year, so Tuesday’s successful launch is somewhat of a show of strength by the U.S.
However, not everyone is breathing a sigh of relief. Some experts say that while two straight successful tests is a good sign, the success rate is only 40 percent when you consider that only two of the last five tests succeeded. They also say that the last GMD test was three years ago, and with the frequency that North Korea is testing missiles, one U.S. test every three years of the GMD system is simply not enough. There are also concerns about whether the GMD can function in realistic conditions you’d see during a war, such as having to do a nighttime launch.
Guests:
Riki Ellison, founder and chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a non-profit organization advocating for the deployment and evolution of missile defense; he was at the Missile Test viewing site at Vandenberg Air Force Base yesterday
Philip Coyle, senior science fellow at the D.C.-based non-profit, The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
CEO of Permanente Medical Group on how to fix healthcare
For Robert Pearl, MD, the little problems that arise from relying on paper medical records can lead to huge oversights in preventive care.
But by digitizing these records, we improve the knowledge that doctors bring to treating patients.
That’s just one of the problems that the CEO of The Permanente Medical Group tackles in his book, “Mistreated,” where he takes on the US healthcare system. According to Pearl, our healthcare relies on a fee-for-service model that can be modernized so that it better suits the needs of patients.
Host Larry Mantle speaks with Pearl about the ways we can improve our healthcare, and how we can better understand what the real problems are.
Guest:
Robert Pearl, M.D., executive director and CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, and author of “Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Health Care—and Why We’re Usually Wrong;” he tweets
LA’s homelessness shows dramatic rise, as city and county struggle to contain problem
This morning the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is discussing the results of the 2017 countywide street and shelter count of homeless people – and the results are stark, with a 20% rise in homelessness in the city of L.A. and a 23% jump in the county, totaling to almost 58,000.
According to the report, there’s been success in placing people in housing. However, lack of affordable housing, rising rents and decreased income might all be contributing factors, according to the report.
This news comes amidst Los Angeles deciding on how to spend funds from Measure H.
We discuss the numbers and the potential causes of this steep rise.
L.A. County Homeless Report 2017 by Southern California Public Radio on Scribd
Guest:
Rina Palta, correspondent for KPCC, covering Southern California's social safety net
5 things to know about former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plans for California
Antonio Villaraigosa joined AirTalk's gubernatorial race series, and the former mayor of Los Angeles has big plans for the position, should he win in 2018.
Villaraigosa served as L.A.'s mayor eight years, from 2005 to 2013. His biggest challenge may have been leading the city during the 2007-2008 global financial crisis and asking for concessions from public unions for raises that had been promised before the recession. He also championed Measure R, a 2008 transportation package that helped fund the city's transit system. Prior to his two terms as mayor, Villaraigosa was speaker of the state Assembly, from 1998 to 2000.
His plans as governor include expanding the middle class and improving education.
Larry and listeners asked Villaraigosa questions about his plans for California. Here are five topics the candidate addressed:
1. On juggling fiscal responsibility and fitting into a largely Democratic legislature:
The same way I fit into Los Angeles when we stared bankruptcy in the face. The governor has to be the [one] to say, "we can't do all of that." . . . So we have to prioritize. I did that as mayor [of L.A.] and will have to do that as governor as well.
2. On potential statewide single-payer health care in isolation from the rest of the country:
I've had discussions with a broad cross-section of leaders in the health care community, and there's not unanimity on whether you can do that. As you know, you need federal waivers to do that, and we're not going to be able to get them from [President Trump's] administration. Let's first focus on backfilling, on making sure we're keeping people whole from [proposed health care budget] cuts. Then let's put a group of stakeholders together and look at how we can transition to a health care system that is smarter and better and could include single-payer.
3. On the growing pension and retirement health care costs, and what that means for taxpayers:
It can't [fall on private citizens]. We're going to have to look at the issue of a more sustainable pension system. I can support defined benefits, but we're gonna have to redefine the scope and what people contribute to it. It's basic math.
4. On dealing with homelessness:
I think the state needs to step in. It's not enough for Sacramento to say "it's your problem." And I'm looking at a state housing and transportation fund that would leverage what cities and counties are doing around homelessness and housing affordability overall. The state needs to do what I did when I was mayor. I wasn't content with having passed a half-penny sales tax to generate $40 billion over 30 years and rebuild our public transportation system. I said, "Let's leverage that with the federal government at a time of high deficits and debt and have them incentivize cities like ours with low-cost loans and bonds." The state needs to replicate that. Tools for an economic development bank would help us do more with affordable housing, and particularly where it's connected to transportation corridors.
5. On the bullet train project:
I'm for it. But I'm for it because we have to leverage it for economic development, much like we've done here with public transportation throughout the city. By building downtown, Hollywood, Century City, along the Wilshire Corridor, we can leverage high-speed rail for economic development and housing in the Central Valley and throughout the state.
To see all our past interviews with the 2018 gubernatorial candidates, click here.
Note: this interview has been edited for clarity.
Guest:
Antonio Villaraigosa, former L.A. Mayor (2005-2013) and former state Assembly speaker (1998-2000); he is running for governor of California in 2018
As complaints about licensed rehab centers rise, what should you look out for?
SoCal is home to more than 1,000 licensed rehab treatment centers.
And a combination of the nation’s opioid epidemic with California’s health care laws covering addiction treatment, some facilities have been reportedly offering less than quality care. In an investigation by Southern California News Group, complaints about licensed rehab centers nearly doubled from 2013 to 2016. The report also shed light on the lack of regulation for many facilities, as a degree isn’t required to run a licensed rehab, and there are only 16 inspectors for all of the state’s facilities.
With people in urgent need of treatment, it can be difficult to know the red flags are, and what the best places are to get proper care. So what do you need to know if you or a loved one needs to vet a rehab center? Larry speaks to an editor for the investigation and an addiction psychiatrist to find out.
Guests:
Andre Mouchard, assistant managing editor of projects and investigations at Southern California News Group; he was lead editor for the group’s investigative report, "How some Southern California drug rehab centers exploit addiction"
Larissa J. Mooney, M.D., addiction psychiatrist and director of the UCLA Addiction Medicine Clinic; she teaches psychiatrists training in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings