Today on AirTalk, we take a closer look at whether or not information on individual felonies and misdemeanors should be publicized following WEHOville's publishing of local arrests records online. We also examine how overdose cases are prosecuted and defended in the wake of Ed Buck's drug arrest; and more.
Ed Buck’s Drug Arrest And How Overdose Cases Are Prosecuted And Defended
A West Hollywood man who made prominent donations to the Democratic Party was charged Tuesday with running a drug house where two men died of overdoses.
Edward Buck, who was arrested at his home Tuesday, should be held on $4 million bail because he is a "violent, dangerous sexual predator" who offered drugs, money and shelter to mainly addicted and homeless men in exchange for participating in sexual fetishes, including a fetish that involved administering dangerous doses of drugs, Los Angeles County prosecutors said in a motion.
In addition to operating a drug house, Buck is charged with furnishing methamphetamine and with battery causing serious bodily injury. He was scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.
Buck, 65, has donated tens of thousands of dollars to California candidates, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, and is well known in LGBTQ political circles. He came under investigation in January after 55-year-old Timothy Dean was found dead of an accidental methamphetamine overdose in his apartment. It was the second such death in two years, following the July 2017 death of Gemmel Moore, 26. Both men were black. Buck, who is white, was not charged and critics later questioned if wealth, race or political ties influenced the investigation.
Following Buck’s arrest, Larry Mantle talks with legal experts who will explain how drug overdose cases are prosecuted and defended.
With files from the Associated Press
AirTalk reached out to Seymour Amster, the attorney representing Ed Buck, but as of the airing of this segment we have not received a response to our request. We will update this segment if we hear back from him.
Guests:
Dmitry Gorin, criminal defense attorney with the Los Angeles-based firm Eisner Gorin, LLP and a former trial prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and; he tweets
Matthew Ruff, criminal defense attorney in L.A. County who has handled many child abuse and neglect cases over 23 years
The City Council Versus Themselves: Westminster’s Supermajority is Threatened by Infighting
Infighting and recall campaigns are threatening to end Westminster City Council’s historic supermajority of Vietnamese Americans.
The supermajority’s election to the City Council was once celebrated by the Westminster community as a welcomed changed that reflected the city’s changing demographics and immigrant history. But today, City Council meetings have turned into verbal matches between attendees and council members. Among the council members, the group has faced accusations of nepotism, slander, and personal attacks. The council has seemingly been divided between two camps: Mayor Tri Ta alongside allies Kimberly Ho and Chi Charlie Nguyen versus newcomer Tai Do and veteran member Sergio Contreras.
The Orange County community has been watching the drama unfold and are uneasy about how the turmoil will continue to play out. The biggest concern among citizens is whether the Vietnamese American community, despite making up half of the city’s population, will lose political credibility and the chance to pursue other roles of city leadership. While council members have released statements insisting that everything is under control, Orange County and the Vietnamese American community is anxiously awaiting to see any resolution to the situation.
Guest:
Anh Do, Metro reporter covering Asian American issues and Orange County for the LA Times; her latest piece looks at the split in the Westminster City Council
Public Shaming or Public Service: Should News Sites Share Detailed Arrest Records?
West Hollywood news website WEHOville is under scrutiny for publishing local arrests records online.
According to CBS Los Angeles, the site reports on crimes ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, and includes personal details of detainees including names, ages and crimes allegedly committed. Critics say the practice amounts to public shaming and could permanently stain someone’s online presence.
WEHOville publisher Hank Scott defends the practice, saying the community has a right to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. For example, Scott says the records have revealed arrest information of local politicians. WEHOville says they do not plan to stop publishing the records, which they source from the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
Do you think the information on individual felonies and misdemeanors should be publicized? Have you, or anyone you know, had personal arrest information published online? Share your experience with Larry Mantle by calling 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Hank Scott, publisher of WEHOville, a news website covering West Hollywood; publisher of West Hollywood Magazine, a quarterly print newspaper
Round 15: California’s CAFE Standards Fight Continues With Trump Admin Revoking State Authority
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is revoking California's authority to set auto mileage standards stricter than those issued by federal regulators.
In a tweet, Trump said his move would result in less expensive and safer cars. He insisted that new cars would be cleaner, even as they burn more gasoline than they would have under the Obama-era fuel efficiency standards.However, U.S. automakers contend that without a substantial increase in fuel efficiency, their vehicles will be less competitive globally, which could potentially result in job losses.
Trump's move comes after the Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation into a deal between California and four automakers for tougher pollution and related mileage requirements than those sought by Trump. Trump also has sought to relax Obama-era federal mileage standards nationwide, weakening a key effort by his Democratic predecessor to slow climate change.
Top California officials and environmental groups pledged legal action to stop the rollback. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler told the National Automobile Dealers Association on Tuesday the agency's goal is to establish one nationwide set of fuel-economy standards.
With files from the Associated Press
AirTalk reached out to Senator Diane Feinstein and Attorney General Xavier Becerra, but did not receive a response to our request.
Guest:
energy reporter with Politico; he tweets
Checking Back In On The Ridgecrest Community, After The Quake
It’s been a few months since the magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 earthquakes in Ridgecrest.
The quake damaged the Naval Base at China Lake and the base is still rebuilding. Meanwhile, the Ridgecrest community is recovering from the physical and emotional damage of the incident. We check in on how recovery is going.
Guests:
Emily Erwin, investigative reporter with KBAK-TV in Bakersfield covering Ridgecrest; she tweets
Larry Cox, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Trona, CA
Sarah Macedo, resident of Ridgecrest
Alexis Zubia, resident from Ridgecrest
No Right Answer: What Do You Do When Your Child’s Teacher Isn’t A Good Fit
Almost a month into the new school year, and with any luck your child is settled in to their new classes and daily routine. But what if that’s not the case? What if, a month into the new year, you’re starting to get the sense that your child and their teacher just aren’t a good match?
Maybe you heard bad things via word of mouth from other parents, maybe you had a passing interaction that raised a red flag in your mind, or maybe your child has just been acting differently and you’re wondering if it’s just a phase or if anxiety in the classroom is to blame? Whatever the case, it can be a challenging issue to navigate, and there’s no clear answer to whether it’s best to intervene on your child’s behalf to prevent emotional damage or to try to help them get through the year in the hopes that they might learn a lesson about handling adversity.
Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from listeners who have discovered that their child’s teacher might not be a good fit. How did you handle it? What was the outcome for your child? Join our live conversation at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Eileen Kennedy-Moore, clinical psychologist based in Princeton, New Jersey; author of "Kid Confidence: Help Your Child Make Friends, Build Resilience, and Develop Real Self-Esteem" (2019, New Harbinger Publications)