The president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police issued a public apology for historical mistreatment of minorities at the IACP's annual conference in San Diego; why are tech-devices so addictive and do product designers have an ethical obligation to take the Hippocratic oath; and, what's it like to travel to space not once, but twice?
SoCal responds to police chiefs' group’s apology for past racial injustice
The head of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Terry Cunningham, made an announcement Monday apologizing for the “historical mistreatment of communities of color.”
As reported by NPR, Terry Cunningham, the IACP president for the U.S. gave this formal apology on behalf of the association at its annual meeting.
In the speech, Cunningham went on to address the dark times in history between police and communities of color, but also said, “while this is no longer the case, this dark side of our shared history has created a multigenerational — almost inherited — mistrust between many communities of color and their law enforcement agencies.”
Cunningham also iterated that the apology was a step in the right direction to mend the relationship between police and those communities. According to the Washington Post, IACP spokesperson Sarah Guy said the speech received a standing ovation.
At a time when tensions between law enforcement and communities of color runs high, the apology has taken many by surprise. Criticisms of the apology have ranged from arguments the statement fuels anti-police views, to people who say the apology is too little, too late.
What do you think of the IACP’s apology? Is it a step in the right direction, or will it do more harm than good?
Guests:
Perry Tarrant, Assistant Chief of the Seattle Police Department; President, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
Eugene O’Donnell, Professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; former NYPD officer; former prosecutor in Kings County, New York
Do software designers have an ethical obligation to make their products less addictive?
Given that tech product designers hack into behavioral psychology to maximize the addictive nature of their software, doesn’t the onus to create a less harmful, less distracting world lie on the shoulders of tech?
That’s the view of Tristan Harris, whose advocacy group Time Well Spent calls for software designers to take a Hippocratic oath and restructure their products to enhance human experience, rather than maximize screen staring.
Monday, we talked to Dr. Larry Rosen, co-author of ‘The Distracted Mind’ to get his take on what high-tech distractions do to the brain and how users can live a more balanced life.
Now, Larry looks at the issue from the supply-side. He talks to Harris about how tech is designed to hack the brain, what a code of ethics for software designers would look like and how apps and websites can be restructured.
Should product designers take a Hippocratic oath to make their software less distracting? What features would you like added or subtracted from your tech?
Guest:
Tristan Harris, former Google product ethicist; former CEO of startup Apture, acquired by Google in 2011; co-founder of advocacy group Time Well Spent
4 things the pro and anti campaigns want you to know about California's proposed tobacco tax hike
Proposition 56 has been touted as a way to combat youth smoking and fund cancer treatment, but critics are calling it a special interest tax grab.
The controversial ballot measure would give California one of the highest taxes on tobacco, taking the current rate from 87 cents to $2.87 per pack of cigarettes.
E-cigarettes and cigars, as well as other tobacco products would be included in the tax.
Aside from the measure’s goal to urge the public not to smoke, the tax would bring $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion during its first year, and is mostly going to fund the state insurance program, Medi-Cal. Funders of the measure include health care companies. (See the top funders)
But opponents of the measure, including the tobacco industry, argue that Prop 56 would benefit health insurance companies.
Larry Mantle hosted a debate with Robb Korinke of the Yes on 56 campaign and Beth Miller of the No on 56 campaign. Here are four things they want you to know about the controversial ballot measure:
1. Prop. 56 is heavily geared toward reducing youth smoking
Robb Korinke: There are studies that demonstrate that hiking the cost of cigarettes does lead to a decline in smoking, particularly among youth, and that's one thing I want to emphasize most. Prop 56 is really geared toward trying to reduce youth smoking, and it would extend the existing state taxes as well as the new proposed tax to electronic cigarettes, which are becoming a strong gateway for youth to begin smoking.
2. E-cigarettes are included in the tax
Korinke: We have strong evidence that E-cigarettes are not helping people quit, they're helping people start [smoking]. A USC study notes that youth are more than six times more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes [if they use E-cigarettes]. Note: a study published in the British Medical Journal that Larry Mantle cited during the interview found that E-cigarettes that contain nicotine can help people stop smoking.
3. Most of the tax revenue will go to Medi-Cal
Korinke: About $1 billion per year will go to Medi-Cal. . . the funds that go into that have to go directly into care, they're very tight state and federal regulations about how those dollars get spent. And if they don't provide the care, they don't get the money.
Beth Miller: Prop 56 relies on an unstable and declining revenue stream. Even the legislative analysts office said the funds generated from this measure are expected to decline over time as cigarette consumption decreases. . . If Medi-Cal is a significant concern and a public policy priority, it should be funded with a stable revenue stream and not by a targeted tax.
4. Smuggling of cigarettes could be exacerbated with the tax increase
Miller: We have a huge law enforcement component to our broad-based coalition, and they're on board because of concern that an increase in the tobacco tax will significantly increase black market, counterfeit and smuggling. Currently, 31.5 percent of cigarettes consumed in California are smuggled.
*Note: This interview has been edited for clarity
Guests:
Robb Korinke, official spokesperson for the Yes on 56 campaign
Beth Miller, official spokesperson for the No on 56 campaign
How much is being spent on the campaigns?
Voting has begun in California. KPCC is here for you and will help you develop your Voter Game Plan. Use our election guide to find your personalized ballot.
Space odyssey: Astronaut Mike Massimino on conquering space, twice
For many of us, space travel is only a far-fetched dream. For Mike Massimino, it’s something he’s been able to accomplished, twice over.
But it wasn’t easy. In his new memoir, “Spaceman,” Massimino documents his journey and challenges to become an astronaut. In the blue-collar town where he grew up, even going to college wasn’t guaranteed. And even after attending two of the most prestigious universities in the country – Columbia and MIT – it still took Massimino three times before he was selected to the astronaut training program.
Larry talks to Massimino about his journey, his two space missions and more.
Mike Massimino will be at Skylight Books in Los Feliz tonight (10/18) at 7:30pm to talk about his new book.
Guest:
Mike Massimino, former NASA astronaut and author of the book, “Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe” (Crown Archetype, 2016)