Buy a house, get a visa. Broadcaster fired for political activism with the 99% movement. FilmWeek: Paranormal Activity 3, The Three Musketeers, Johnny English Reborn, The Mighty Macs and more. Spencer Tracy – a new look at the life of a screen legend.
Senators propose bill to stimulate housing market in exchange for visas
A new law proposed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D) from New York and Mike Lee (R) from Utah would award a three-year residential visa to foreigners who spend at least half a million dollars on residential real estate. That could be one home at a minimum of $250,000, and additional property that could be rented out, totaling at least $500,000.
The bill – cleverly dubbed the Visa Improvements to Stimulate International Tourism to the United States Act (VISA-USA) – is designed to stimulate the moribund housing market and could be an incentive for cash-flush buyers from China, Canada and elsewhere to invest in residential properties in the US. Foreigners and recent immigrants spent $82 million dollars on real estate in the U.S. during a one year period ending in March, up considerably from the previous year.
This bill is similar to an already existing program that gives foreigners who invest heavily in American businesses and job creation a fast track to a green card. But the authors of the bill point out that this is not a path to citizenship for foreign nationals. There are numerous restrictions on the program: Buyers would have to pay cash for the entire purchase and would have to live in the house for at least six months in a year. They would be subject to U.S. taxes but would not be eligible for government benefits such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. And a separate work visa would still be required for those who want to work.
Schumer and Lee, however, believe that the concept has potential to lift the sinking housing market, stimulate the economy and fill up foreclosed properties. Real estate broker Sandra Miller told the Los Angeles Times that if this bill becomes law, states like California could see a huge increase in sales to foreigners. There are also a number of other provisions in the bill that are designed to lower barriers to travel and obtaining visas for foreign nationals. Could this idea spell welcome relief for the housing crisis?
Guest:
Jim Puzzanghera, national business writer for the Los Angeles Times
NPR drops "World of Opera" over host's political activism (Updated)
The media covers few stories with as much relish as, well, media stories. On Thursday, journalists' blogs and Twitter feeds melted down over rumors that an NPR contributor was fired for being an Occupy DC protestor. Ironically, many reports were rife with misinformation. But now, the facts are slowly being revealed.
Broadcaster Lisa Simeone stands at the center of the storm, known for her work on two programs, “Soundprint” and “World of Opera.” Each show is produced by different organizations, Soundprint Media and WDAV, respectively. Both shows are broadcast on various NPR affiliates, but the similarities end there.
“World of Opera” is distributed by NPR. Soundprint is not. “World of Opera” doesn't have a lick to do with news, current affairs or politics. However, Soundprint is a documentary radio show billed as “the aural equivalent of photo journalism.” It has won dozens of journalism awards, including a Peabody.
After the president of Soundprint learned that Simeone had organized a protest called October 2011/Stop the Machine, Simeone was fired on Wednesday night. In a statement, Soundprint President Moira Rankin wrote, “Lisa's leadership role in the recent October 2011 protest activities, associated with the Occupy DC movement, conflicts with her role as the host of a documentary series. Soundprint adheres to the highest standards of journalism."
Rankin told Larry Mantle on AirTalk Friday that she felt the company needed to act quickly, and Soundprint Media has always been clear about conflict of interest policies.
“One of the other things about a documentary series is that it offers perspective and thought-provoking points of view. And when you affiliate with a specific organization, we think that dilutes the power of those perspectives. We think that that makes the program suspect for advocating narrow agendas,” she said.
Rankin went on to say that the host is the one consistency in a series that touches on many topics, and though a host must be transparent about themselves, he or she must draw a line to stay journalistically moral.
“Of course we want the hosts to be revealing something about themselves, […] and she did a very good job on that. But, what we can’t have is a public personality affiliated with an organized group then going ahead and presenting material as if there is no connection to her,” Rankin said.
Meanwhile, WDAV said Simeone's politics do not conflict with her work at “World of Opera,” and seems intent on keeping her as the host. While NPR issued a statement that said, “We fully respect the management of WDAV as solely responsible for the decision-making around Lisa’s participation in Occupy DC and her freelance role with WDAV’s program,” it could still cut the show from its roster because of Simeone’s political activism.
Lisa Simeone could not be reached. NPR clarified inquiries but was unavailable to participate in the AirTalk discussion.
UPDATE 4:00 p.m. – NPR drops distribution of "World of Opera"
In a statement emailed to Julie Moos of Poynter Publications, NPR spokeswoman Anna Christopher was quoted as saying, "Lisa's activities have created an issue under the program distribution agreement between NPR and WDAV. We're working with WDAV to find a mutually agreeable solution."
WEIGH IN:
What are the ethical and professional issues here? NPR's ethics code states that "NPR journalists may not participate in marches and rallies." Should arts presenters – who don’t cover news or make editorial decisions – be held to the same code? If so, how does NPR defend having NPR reporters and hosts who double as commentators and op-ed writers? Will this incident lead to more blowback for NPR similar to that following the controversial Juan Williams firing?
Guest:
Moira Rankin, president of the Soundprint Media Center, Inc.; executive producer of Documentaries, Soundprint
FilmWeek: Paranormal Activity 3, The Three Musketeers, Johnny English Reborn, Le Havre and more
Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Andy Klein and Tim Cogshell to review this week’s films, including Paranormal Activity 3, The Three Musketeers, Johnny English Reborn, Le Havre and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC
Tim Cogshell, film critic for KPCC and Box Office Magazine
Spencer Tracy – a new look at the life of a screen legend
Frank Sinatra called him “The Gray Fox.” Fellow actors knew him as “The Pope.” Even Lee Strasberg, known as the "father of method acting" described him as “the perfect method actor.”
Previous books on Spencer Tracy have sensationalized and even fabricated the events of his life. Biographer James Curtis sets out to correct, disprove and improve on their shortfalls with what he calls “the first major Tracy biography in 40 years.” Tracy’s long relationship with Katherine Hepburn has been well documented, but what about the first four decades of his life, before they met?
In ”Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” Curtis starts by uncovering the actor’s early years, including his first marriage to fellow actor and writer Louise Tracy. Their union produced a son, John, who was deaf, which left Tracy with a deep sense of guilt that impacted his marriage and his life.
Along with details of his distinguished career, Curtis also discusses Tracy’s Catholicism and ahead-of-its-time natural acting technique, and delves into his battles with alcoholism and insomnia. Incorporating over 100 photographs, full stage and screen chronologies and a bibliography, Curtis’ book is, as he describes it, “a big package,” one that paints a rich and vibrant, yet intimate, portrait of this very big personality.
Guest:
James Curtis, author of “Spencer Tracy: A Biography” (Knopf).