It's not a new Sci-Fi movie, robots will be rolling out at an Osh store in San Jose. Also, Bobby Shriver checks in for his campaign for the LA County Board of Supervisors seat. Then, can political upstart Pete Peterson beat the odds to become the next Secretary of State?
Lowe’s to rollout 5-foot tall, robotic shopping assistants this November
Say hello to the new shopping assistant at your local Lowe’s: a robot. The home improvement chain, which recently acquired Orchard Supply Hardware, will begin rolling out OSHbots in some California stores in late November.
The the white 5-foot tall robotic shopping assistants will greet customers, ask if they need help and guide them to a product in either English or Spanish (more languages coming soon). In addition to language processing technology, the OSHbots are also equipped with two large video screens and a 3-D scanner for price checks. Lowe’s argues these robots will be solving a problem and marrying the best of e-commerce shopping convenience to a brick-and-mortar store.
Will consumers go for this, or could it be supremely creepy? Could this lead to a jolt of commerce for big box stores? And will this displace entry level jobs for humans?
Guest:
Richard Feinberg, consumer psychologist in the Department of Consumer Science at Purdue University
Lawrence Mishel, president of Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank that focuses on economic issues. He is also a labor market economist.
Debating Prop. 1: The big, fat, California water bond
Known as the "save our water" proposition by its supporters, Proposition 1 authorizes the state of California to sell $7.1 billion in bonds to battle the drought by paying for groundwater cleanup, water recycling and watershed restoration. A "yes" vote on the measure would also allow $425 million dollars in existing bond funds to be redirected to the general fund, making it a grand total of $7.5 billion. Previously called Proposition 43, it was renamed Proposition 1 to improve its visibility to voters. Prop 1 was scaled down from $11 to $7 billion dollars before it was signed by Governor Jerry Brown.
But opponents of Prop. 1 call the plan a "giveaway of taxpayer money," claiming that it will focus too much on the building of dam. Critics also say it doesn't devote enough attention to near-term drought relief. Furthermore, they contend it does nothing to promote self-sufficiency or cut down dependence on water sources.
Do you think Proposition 1 goes far enough in addressing the causes of the drought? Will it provide the relief to Californians in drought-stricken areas?
Guest:
Molly Peterson, KPCC’s environmental correspondent
Steve Fleischli, Water Program Director and senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). He is based in L.A.
Adam Scow, Director at Food & Water Watch, a non-profit that working to ensure access to safe and affordable drinking water
Jason Peltier, Deputy General Manager at Westlands Water District, which provides water supply to its landowners and water users
On the Campaign Trail: Bobby Shriver on his candidacy for the LA County 3rd District Supervisor seat
Bobby Shriver is campaigning for a seat on the LA County Board of Supervisors, a powerful position that shapes the allocation of $25 billion in annual spending. The position hasn't been open in nearly 20 years, and the contest is fierce between Shriver and his opponent, Sheila Kuehl.
Shriver, nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, has served in Santa Monica as a council member and as the mayor. In addition, he has experience in various sectors, including venture capital, entertainment, law, and non-profit international aid programs. But despite his family legacy and extensive experience, the election is going to come down to who can convince voters that they are the right one for the job.
Yesterday, Larry spoke with Kuehl about her candidacy. Today, he checks in with Shriver.
With large budgets come large decisions. What do you want the Board of Supervisors to prioritize?
Guest:
Bobby Shriver, candidate for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors 3rd District. He was chairman of the California State Park and Recreation Commission and was a council member and mayor for the City of Santa Monica.
Olvera Street Development Project Aims to Revitalize Downtown L.A.
The go-ahead has been given for a jolt of new life to be infused into the Olvera Street area of downtown Los Angeles. On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $135 million development project that, when finished, will bring 341 new apartments as well as shops, restaurants, and community facilities to an area that, thus far, has not developed as quickly as other historic downtown neighborhoods.
The nonprofit La Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation will oversee the development. They run a cultural center dedicated to L.A.'s Mexican-American history, not far from the area where the development will be built. La Plaza will lease two parking lots from L.A. County for $1 and then sublet them to a developer for $250,000 during construction and $400,000 or more every year afterward. Of the residential units built, twenty percent will be set aside for affordable housing.
Advocates say the development will not only bring vibrancy and culture back into the Olvera Street area of downtown, but also will make use of two parking lots that have been sitting empty. Those who own shops and businesses say they're happy about the development and hope it brings more businesses to the area, but don't want any businesses moving in that would be in conflict with the businesses that have been there for years.
Do you think this project will significantly increase visitors to the Olvera Street area of downtown? What more, if anything, needs to be done to make the area a destination for both visitors and locals alike?
Guest:
John Echeveste, CEO of La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, who is overseeing the development
Gina Rodriguez, Olvera Street Business Owner; Proprietor of Hecho con Carino
Pete Peterson interview: Can political upstart beat the odds to become the next Secretary of State?
Pete Peterson is running for California Secretary of State, his first run at political office, and by all accounts he is doing quite well. While Peterson is running as a Republican, he has garnered substantial bipartisan support as well as endorsements from newspapers across the state, including the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
His issue-driven campaign is pushing for increased voter turnout and civic engagement, which seems in line with his previous experience managing a civic engagement organization and leading Pepperdine's Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership. Despite having collected only one-tenth of the funds that his opponent, Alex Padilla, has collected, the race is expected to be competitive.
What obstacles does Peterson face to a potential victory next week? If elected, do you believe he would be able to work well with Democrats in Sacramento? Is Peterson's focus on voter turnout and civic engagement something that appeals to you?
Guest:
Pete Peterson, Republican candidate for Secretary of State, and executive director of the Davenport Institute at the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University