A new state audit strongly condemns L.A. Unified’s handling of child abuse, Palestine is about to get one step closer to being recognized as a state by the United Nations, the L.A. City Council may ban circus elephants, and a retired Marine takes charge of California's state parks. Listen in as host Larry Mantle discusses all that and more on today's AirTalk.
Palestinians bid for UN recognition
Less than two weeks after a violent eight-day conflict between Hamas and Israel, the United Nations (UN) is set to approve recognition of Palestine’s status as a “non-member observer state.” This is the second time that Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has applied for the status upgrade from “observer entity” after his first attempt was impeded last year. The resolution is expected to garner the necessary majority vote of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly, but there are strong petitions on both sides of the motion.
Some countries, including the United States and Israel, oppose the upgrade and are concerned that the Palestinians will use their new status to join the International Criminal Court and try to prosecute Israel for alleged war crimes. France, Italy, and Spain have announced their endorsement of the resolution alongside many other European nations, including Greece, Belgium and Denmark.
While winning the status of “non-member observer” would constitute an important endorsement of legitimacy for Palestine’s claim to statehood, it would be mostly symbolic and would probably not change much on the ground in the Middle East.
Why is Abbas pursuing this? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks to upgrading Palestine’s status?
Guest:
Barbara Plett, BBC United Nations Correspondent
Pachyderm prohibition: The circus may not come to Los Angeles if City Council bans elephant shows
Elephants have been iconic symbols of circuses since the traveling shows were conceived, but if Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey want to pass through Los Angeles, they may have to cross the majestic animals off their list of attractions.
The city’s Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee on Tuesday recommended a full vote by the City Council on a measure that would prohibit traveling circus elephants and the potentially harmful tools (called ‘bullhooks’) used to control them. The council will decide to fully ban pachyderms, or bullhooks, or both.
The recommendation follows a decision from a state judge made earlier this year that banned the use of bullhooks at the Los Angeles Zoo and a federal bill, proposed a year ago, that would have severely limited the transportation of lions, tigers and elephants around the county.
Is circuses’ treatment of performing elephants and other animals abusive and cruel? Is there a way to protect circus elephants without completely banning them from LA?
Guests:
Paul Koretz, Los Angeles City Councilman representing District 5 in West Los Angeles and head of the Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee
Stephen Payne
, vice president of corporate communications for Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CircusState audit blasts LA Unified’s handling of child abuse
A state audit released this morning evaluates the way school districts handle child abuse. The report highlights several concerns about LAUSD practices, it says that L.A. Unified frequently fails to follow state law in reporting procedures, and that their handling of child abuse in schools has often been slow and sub-par.
The report draws specific attention to money problems that may contribute to the mishandling of these cases – it is often faster and less costly to settle with an accused employee than to dismiss them. The report recommends that LAUSD follow state procedures for timely reporting, and that they institute stricter monitoring of alleged misconduct, including provisions to prevent an employee who was dismissed after report of a transgression from being hired in another school district.
How should LAUSD handle alleged misconduct by their employees? Do the results of the state audit concern you?
Guest:
Tami Abdollah, KPCC education reporter
Can new director get California’s state parks back in the green?
When he retired last year at the age of 63, Major General Anthony L. Jackson, a highly decorated marine whose 36 years of service included stints with Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous other command posts, headed for the hills - and the beaches, the woods, and mountains.
Jackson purchased an RV as a retirement gift for himself and his wife, and hit the road to explore California’s state parks. Cut to a year later, and Jackson has just been sworn in as the new director of California’s department of Parks and Recreation.
The department has had a bumpy year, with its last director resigning in disgrace after officials were discovered to have hidden over $50 million of parks money in special funds. Prior to that, dozens of parks went on the closure list due to lack of funds, while private citizens rallied to save them.
The new director brings managerial experience, knowledge of renewable energy and environmental issues and a deep love and respect for the outdoors. Governor Jerry Brown said he’s confident that under Jackson’s leadership, The stewardship of California’s beaches, forests, estuaries, dunes and wetlands is in good hands and that the confidence and trust of Californians in our Parks Department will be restored.”
But is that easier said than done?
How does Major General Jackson plan to rehabilitate the beleaguered department? Which parks are most in need of attention? Will he be able to maintain the glory that Teddy Roosevelt famously described, after visiting Yosemite, as "...a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man”?
Interview Highlights:
On how he’s planning to rebuild the trust of the park employees?
“The first thing you have to do is find out what the problem is. We are in the middle of a couple of audits and investigations. What I am doing is on a weekly and monthly basis now I am looking at our expenditure and budget and seeing where the money is going. That alone will give that kind of transparency that the top and for all those people who need to know will give an idea of where each and every penny is going. We have that already in the works and we have seen where we are to date. We are putting some of the past practices well behind us.”
How are you planning on regaining contributor trust?
“I’ve already met with several of the important foundation folks and I’m out meeting people at the ground level, letting them see me and get to know me as a manager and leader and person who is responsible and believes that integrity comes first and for most. Part of it is very personal. Leadership is all about people and gaining their trust and living up to the trust that they give you.”
What ideas do you have to deal with the over popularity of the parks?
“I’ll start by addressing the several thousand people, over 600 park rangers, all the people in the headquarters and at the field, I’ve only been here a two weeks and I’ve already been out and tried to shake as many hands as possible and meet the people. What I see are very high quality and dedicated people to the task of winning back the public trust and at the same time executing the mission of the parks to protect the parks and protect the natural resources, all the things that the park symbolically stands for. On the other hand you’re right we have over 65 million people visit the parks on an annual basis and they have high expectations…. What I found every time as an everyday consumer at the parks was they were all dedicated, even not knowing I would later be the boss of their department, they treated me as if I was a special person. And they are still out there doing that every day.”
Guest:
Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret.), Director, California State Parks
Report suggests independent regulator for British Press
A new report from the head of a major inquiry into British media standards suggested that the British press should institute an independent regulator. The report is a response to a history of questionable practices by British tabloids, including the infamous Rupert Murdoch phone hacking scandals, which triggered the inquiry.
Hundreds of witnesses testified over several months to help provide evidence. The tabloids’ invasive measures have been admonished by politicians and other press outlets as violations of privacy. The head of the inquiry has put it to the politicians to decide how to regulate the press – already, there has been outcry from media and government, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who voiced his wariness “of any legislation that has the potential to infringe free speech and the free press.”
Should government statutes regulate the press, or should any ‘policing’ be instituted voluntarily by the media? How far is too far when it comes to privacy -- what sorts of practices are too invasive? Is there a difference between exposing crimes and exposing fodder for gossip? How would the American press fare if there were a hacking scandal involving Hollywood tabloids?
Guest
Jose Lambiet, veteran gossip writer and columnist; Publisher, GossipExtra.com
OC journalists’ roundtable
Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff on the latest news from the O.C. African-American family victim of hate crimes in Yorba Linda...Newport Beach dock owners threaten to boycott Christmas boat parade......private eye tries to sting Costa Mesa councilman...Rev. Schuller loses his multi-million dollar claims against the Crystal Cathedral...this and more juicy news from the Big Orange.
Guests:
Norberto Santana, Editor-in-Chief of the Voice of OC, a non-profit investigative news agency that covers Orange County government and politics
Julie Gallego, government & politics editor, Orange County Register
Ben Bergman, KPCC’s Orange County reporter
LA Auto show preview
SoCal car enthusiasts and press from around the world are converging on the Convention Center this week for the 2012 LA Auto Show. It’ll be jam packed with the latest tech gadgets for consumer vehicles, as well as concept and green cars that are years away from assembly lines.
Visitors get a chance to climb into the newest models of popular production models, like Toyota’s best selling RAV-4, which has been redesigned for 2013, the first change in seven years. Or that 2014 Porsche Cayman that you’ll never really afford, but is still fun to dream about. Toss in a sweep of diesel Audis, plug-in hybrids, and a new New Beetle convertible.
Just when you thought it was only the new stuff attracting all the attention, Lincoln’s display on press day is a throwback to Detroit in its heyday, with classic vehicles from the 1920s up to 1961. The car extravaganza is open to the public November 30 through December 9, 2012.
Guests:
Matt DeBord, KPCC Reporter; writes the DeBord Report KPCC.org
Ed Loh, Editor in Chief of Motor Trend Magazine