Today on AirTalk we'll take a look at Police Chief Beck's newest immigration proposal, discuss Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz's announcement that he's gay, a conversation with District Attorney candidate Jackie Lacey, T.G.I. Filmweek with our cavalcade of critics and Alfred Hitchcock's classic 'Dial M for Murder' was shot in 1954 with 3-D in mind, hear how the original is getting retouched for today's 3-D players. Plus, the latest news.
LAPD chief bucks the feds with controversial new immigration policy
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck made headlines nationwide this week when he announced that, starting January 1st, the LAPD would no longer comply with federal immigration policy by automatically turning over arrestees for deportation.
Deporting people for minor offenses, said Beck, splinters communities, erodes public trust in the police and is counterproductive to the department’s crime prevention efforts. Los Angeles is home to an estimated 750,000 illegal immigrants. Under the federal Secure Communities program, the LAPD gets about 3,400 requests for detention each year from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But, Beck points out, ICE fails to distinguish between dangerous and non-dangerous crimes. Under the chief’s new policy, illegal immigrants arrested for petty crimes such as illegal vending, driving without a license and public drinking would not be turned over to the feds.
The policy, which could affect about 400 arrestees per year, is still subject to public comment and approval by the Police Commission, a civilian oversight board.
Is Beck going too far in usurping federal authority? Will the new policy strengthen community relations with the police? Does it pose a threat to public safety? Is this a model other cities should follow? Should local law enforcement be subject to federal authorities?
Guest:
Peter Nunez, chairman of the board of directors, Center for Immigration Studies; former U.S. Attorney, southern district of California
Richard M. Loew, Senior Partner, Aquino & Loew law firm in South Pasadena; Board Certified Immigration & Nationality Law Specialist, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization
Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz knocks out stereotype by announcing he’s gay
In Hollywood it has become relatively common for stars to reveal their homosexuality, but this is not the case in the world of professional boxing.
In fact, there has never been a pro boxer to come out of the closet while still active in the sport. That changed Wednesday when Orlando Cruz, a 31-year-old featherweight, released a statement that said, “I have always been and will always be a proud gay man.” Cruz, who was a member of the Puerto Rican Olympic boxing team in 2000, also said being closeted was a major “distraction,” but that he has received “unconditional, 100% support” from colleagues, celebrities, and fans after coming out.
How big of a milestone is it for LGBT community to have an active professional male boxer reveal that he is gay? Might Cruz’s revelation be a watershed moment that encourages other prominent men and women to be open about their homosexuality?
Guest:
Lance Pugmire, sports reporter, Los Angeles Times
Jackie Lacey gets closer to being the first woman and first African-American to be elected district attorney of Los Angeles County
As the race for Los Angeles County district attorney reaches the home stretch, with absentee balloting to start on Monday, DA candidate and Chief Deputy District Attorney Jackie Lacey has a lot to be confident about.
In addition to earning the support of unions representing Los Angeles city police officers and county deputy sheriffs, Lacey has also garnered endorsements from current District Attorney Steve Cooley and from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Lacey has served as a member of the District Attorney’s executive management team for ten years and has come a long way from her beginnings as the daughter of two working class parents in Los Angeles.
If Lacey is elected over her opponent, Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson, she would be the first woman and first African-American to be the chief prosecutor for the county.
In a close race in which both candidates have relevant experience, what are the key factors that will ultimately give either candidate the winning edge? What would having its first female and first African-American DA mean for the city of Los Angeles?
Guest:
Jackie Lacey, Chief Deputy District Attorney of Los Angeles County and one of two candidates running to be elected as the new chief prosecutor
FilmWeek: Frankenweenie, Taken 2, The Paperboy, Looper and more
FilmWeek: Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Andy Klein, Henry Sheehan and Charles Solomon to discuss this week’s new films, including Frankenweenie, Taken 2, The Paperboy and more. Plus, we turn on our flux capacitor so our resident time travel expert, Andy Klein, can review last week’s Looper. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and dearhenrysheehan.com
Charles Solomon, animation critic and historian for KPCC, author for amazon.com
Trailer for Taken 2
Trailer for Frankenweenie
Trailer for The Paperboy
Trailer for Looper
Dial M for Murder and the process of 3-D conversion
At a time when most studios were turning out schlock to capitalize on the new trend of 3-D, one man managed to use the medium in a way that still stands the test of time.
The master of mystery himself, Alfred Hitchcock, directed “Dial M for Murder” in 1954, and used 3-D to do something different beyond just having images fly out of the screen into the viewers’ faces. Instead, he used 3-D to give the film more depth and draw people in that way. For the first time, the film will now be available to view in 3-D on Blu-ray starting October 9th.
What exactly goes into the process of restoring a 3-D movie and converting it to a new format? Will this be a sign of more classic 3-D movies being transferred to Blu-ray? What will it mean for the film industry?
Guests:
George Feltenstein, Senior Vice President, Catalog Marketing, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and dearhenrysheehan.com
Charles Solomon, animation critic and historian for KPCC, author for amazon.com