Today on AirTalk, we discuss the first day of public impeachment hearings. Also on the show, we take a look at how CA home insurance is changing after fires and the LA's Phil's take over of the Ford Theatre.
What We Learned From The First Day Of Impeachment Inquiry Hearings
The start of public impeachment hearings took place before Congress. It’s the first time the American public could watch and listen to the witnesses surrounding the impeachment investigation.
State Department official George Kent and top diplomat to Ukraine William Taylor testified before the House Intelligence Committee. They previously met with House Democrats and provided private testimonies. The hearing operated along party lines. In the several hours of testimony, witnesses were met with questions from Democrats and Republicans concerning Trump’s push for an investigation into the Bidens and the possibility of a quid pro quo.
Today on AirTalk, we bring together our political panel to break down what happened in today’s impeachment hearings and what we can expect moving forward.
With files from the Associated Press.
Guests:
Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News; he tweets at
Sean T. Walsh, Republican political analyst and partner at Wilson Walsh Consulting in San Francisco; he is a former adviser to California Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a former White House staffer for Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush
William C. Banks, professor emeritus of law at Syracuse University, he’s the co-author of “Constitutional Law: Structure and Rights in Our Federal System,” (Carolina Academic Press, 2018)
As California Wildfire Seasons Get More Destructive, It’s Harder To Find Fire Insurance
It’s been a little over a year since the Woolsey fire which blazed through Malibu, eastern Ventura County and the Santa Monica Mountains, taking down nearly 1,600 structures.
Woolsey has been part of a larger trend of destructive wildfire seasons in California. And as wildfires get worse, people are having a tougher time finding fire insurance and many are being dropped by their insurers.
What do renters and homeowners need to know about fire insurance? Why have insurers become more reticent to provide coverage? How do insurers determine risk, and is their anything consumers can do to protect themselves?
We get a primer with Eric Einhorn, a fire insurance agent who specializes in homes in hazard fire areas.
Call us with your questions at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Eric Einhorn, owner and agent with Einhorn Insurance, which specializes in insuring homes in hazard fire areas
LA County Supervisors Okayed LA Phil’s Takeover Of Ford Theatre
Yesterday the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to transfer control of the John Anson Ford Theatre to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.
The Ford has long been subsidized by the county - it’s a 1200 seat amphitheatre with limited bookings and resources - but as of December first, the Ford will be financially supported by the LA Phil which also controls the Hollywood Bowl directly to the west of the Ford across the 101 Freeway and Cahuenga Boulevard. While there was no dissent amongst the supervisors, several members of the LA arts community did stand up during the meeting yesterday to voice their concerns about the transparency of the process and their hope that under the Phil, the Ford maintains its diverse booking roster.
Guest:
Kyle Stokes, reporter for KPCC who was at the L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday, where they voted unanimously to approve the proposal; he tweets
Gustavo Herrera, executive director of the nonprofit arts organization, Arts for L.A.; former COO of L.A. Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a Mexican-American museum and cultural center
Southern California Edison Reaches Settlement Over Woolsey and Thomas Fires
Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $360 million to local governments to settle lawsuits over deadly wildfires sparked by its equipment during the last two years, including one blamed for a mudslide that killed more than 20 people, the utility and attorneys announced Wednesday.
The sum will reimburse counties, cities and other public agencies for firefighting costs and repairing damage from two of the region’s worst blazes. The figure will not fully repay taxpayer costs, but it will help pay the bills to rebuild roads, other infrastructure and clean up debris, among other things, said attorney John Fiske, who represents local governments.
SoCal Edison said it admitted no wrongdoing or liability in the settlement.
The Thomas Fire that broke out in dry brush in Ventura County was sparked when the utility’s power lines slapped together in high winds on Dec. 4, 2017, investigators said. Two people were killed and 440 square miles (1,139 square kilometers) were burned.
The Woolsey Fire started with the company’s equipment a year ago just outside Los Angeles and quickly spread to the coast, jumping a highway and crossing the Santa Monica Mountains into Malibu, according to the company’s recent quarterly earnings report. It destroyed more than 1,600 homes and killed three people.
The payout will be split among the counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles and includes the cities of Santa Barbara, Malibu, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss the significance of the agreement.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Sharon McNary, infrastructure reporter with KPCC; she tweets at