Today on AirTalk, we take a look at the NCAA's policy changes to student athletes and compensation. Also on the show, we get the latest on the Easy Fire; the new ride share pickup system at LAX; and more.
Easy Fire Breaks Out In Simi Valley As Extreme Red-Flag Warning Grips SoCal
Firefighters in Ventura County have responded to a wildfire burning between the communities of Simi Valley and Moorpark Wednesday morning.
The Easy Fire was reported around 6:15 a.m. near the 118 Freeway and Madera Street, according to Ventura County officials. The fire had burned about 200 acres as of 7:50 a.m., according to Ventura County fire officials.
Los Angeles County said some of its firefighters and aircraft were also responding to the blaze, which was burning west along the 23 Freeway, pushed by strong northeast winds.
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Guests:
Jacob Margolis, KPCC’s science reporter
Jim Medina, public information officer, Caltrans District 7, which covers Los Angeles and Ventura Counties; Twitter:
Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer, The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute in Simi Valley
Sharon McNary, KPCC’s infrastructure correspondent
Under Pressure From New CA Law, NCAA Eases Policy On Student Athlete Compensation
The NCAA took a major step Tuesday toward allowing college athletes to cash in on their fame, voting to permit them to "benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness."
The nation's largest governing body for college sports and its member schools now must figure out how to allow athletes to profit - something they have fought against doing for years - while still maintaining rules regarding amateurism. The NCAA Board of Governors, meeting at Emory University in Atlanta, directed each of the NCAA's three divisions to create the necessary new rules immediately and have them in place no later than January 2021.
The NCAA's move came a month after California passed a law that would make it illegal for NCAA schools to prohibit college athletes from making money on endorsements, autograph signings and social media advertising, among other activities. The California law goes into effect in 2023. More than a dozen states have followed with similar legislation, some of which could be on the books as soon as next year.
It's hard to say exactly how much athletes could fetch on an open market for their names. It could range from a few hundred dollars for creating personalized video and audio greetings for fans through companies such as Cameo, to thousands of dollars for doing television advertisements for local businesses. NCAA rules allow for an athletic scholarship that covers tuition, room and board, books and a cost-of-attendance stipend. The cost of attendance is determined by the institution using federal guidelines and generally ranges from $2,000-$5,000 per semester.
AirTalk contacted the NCAA to request a representative be made available for comment, but they declined our request. We also reached out to Senator Nancy Skinner, who introduced the California legislation allowing student athletes to profit from their name and likeness, but she was not available.
Guests:
Louise Radnofsky, sports reporter for the Wall Street Journal who has been covering the story; she tweets
Craig Pintens, athletic director at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; he previously spent seven years as the senior associate athletic director at the University of Oregon; he tweets
Andrew Zimbalist, professor of economics at Smith College and author of the book “Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports—and How to Fix It” (Brookings Institution Press, 2017)
Gregg E. Clifton, lawyer and principal at the Phoenix office at Jackson Lewis where he is the co-chair of the firm's national sports practice; he serves as the editor of the firm’s sports law blog
LAX Faces Challenges On First Day Of New Ride-Hailing Policy
Although LAX officials say the first day of new ride-hailing rules went largely as expected, the airport faced serious challenges as the evening progressed.
The new rules mean no curbside ride-hailing pickups, however departure drop-offs remain the same. Instead travelers must use a shuttle to get to a specific lot where they can catch a ride. Challenges on Tuesday evening included lengthy wait times for shuttles and Uber or Lyft rides and traffic back ups getting to the ride-hailing lot.
LAX
An update on #LAXit pic.twitter.com/HPAFYwK86b
— LAX Airport (@flyLAXairport) October 30, 2019
, saying it’s committed to addressing the problems and making adjustments as needed. The new policy is one of the changes being made as part of LAWA’s $14 billion modernization effort that it hopes will not only bring much needed renovations, but also help ease the soul-crushing congestion that many travelers often experience when going to or coming from LAX.
Some drivers and passengers have applauded the changes, but others say the new rules led to serious confusion and question how the policy will play out over time. Today on AirTalk, we talk look back on the problems seen on the first day of the newly implemented rules and how LAWA plans to address any challenges moving forward.
Guest:
Laura J. Nelson, covers transportation and mobility issues for the Los Angeles Times
Trio Of Tech Companies Wants Carveout From New CA Law That Classifies Its Workers As Employees
Not long after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB-5 into law, gig economy giants Uber, Lyft and DoorDash announced this week they’re seeking an exemption.
The companies are part of a coalition that announced a $90 million ballot campaign, The Protect App-Based Drivers & Services Act, in hopes of it landing on the ballot next November. The initiative calls for app-based drivers to be considered independent contractors as long as the companies meet certain criteria, including an earnings guarantee of “at least 120% of minimum wage, while preserving the opportunity to earn more with no caps on what drivers can earn.” Drivers would also earn 30 cents per mile for maintenance expenses and gas. The proposal also says the companies will provide health care stipends and occupational accident insurance.
Although the companies are calling for what could be a compromise by promising certain benefits, some stand in support of AB-5, which reclassifies a wide array of gig workers from independent contractors to employees. The companies argue the law will take away drivers’ flexibility and eliminate work opportunities.
We reached out to Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez. She was not able to join us for the interview, but she sent us this statement:
“There is nothing in either the State Supreme Court’s decision or AB 5 that impacts flexibility for workers. This initiative is disingenuous. These billion-dollar corporations still refuse to offer their workers what every other employee in California is entitled to: earning the minimum wage for all hours worked, social security, normal reimbursements for their costs, overtime pay, and the right to organize.”
Guests:
Brandon Castillo, spokesperson for the coalition that has launched the ballot campaign on behalf of Uber, Lyft and DoorDash
Wendy Musell, an employment lawyer with the firm Stewart & Musell in Emeryville, California
Harry Campbell, Los Angeles-based Uber and Lyft driver and founder of theRideShareGuy.com, a blog and podcast for rideshare drivers; he tweets
‘The Problem With Everything:’ Part Memoir, Part Manifesto And Full On Cultural Observation
It’s difficult to describe the new book, “The Problem with Everything: My Journey Through the New Culture Wars.” But as author Meghan Daum puts it, “the book is part memoir, part manifesto, part extended rumination on the complications and contradictions of our time. And it’s very Gen X.”
Daum attempts to make sense of the country’s current landscape, while examining its most intractable problems. The book dives into identity politics, intersectionality, campus politics and tests theories on the divide between millennials and Gen Xers.
So what’s the problem with everything? Larry sits down with author Meghan Daum to find out.
Guest:
Meghan Daum, author of many books, including her latest, “The Problem with Everything: My Journey Through the New Culture Wars” (Gallery Books, 2019); she tweets