King-Drew Decision; Assembly Bill (AB 2683) to End the California Exemption Sparing Many Older Cars From Smog Checks; Governor Schwarzenegger Signs a Bill (SB 1159) Allowing the Purchase of Syringes Without a Prescription; The Meaning of Sports
King-Drew Decision
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is voting today on a controversial measure to shut down the trauma unit at the King Drew Medical Center. Larry Mantle will talk about the closure and the role of racial politics in the establishment and maintenance of the South Los Angeles facility. Joining him is Charlie Ornstein, staff writer for the LA Times, Janice Hahn, City Councilwoman from the 15th District, Kermin Maddox, managing partner for Dakota Communications the leading minority owned political affairs/ public relations firm in LA, and Cathy Ochoa, Senior Health Policy Analyst for the Service Employees International Union Local 660.
Assembly Bill (AB 2683) to End the California Exemption Sparing Many Older Cars From Smog Checks
Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D, Mountain View) sponsored legislation that would freeze the cutoff time for old cars to be exempt from smog checks to the year 1976. Proponents of the bill say that this would keep the pool of potential gross polluters from growing each year, but it has car collectors up in arms. Sally Lieber, California State Assemblywoman representing the 22nd Assembly District, and Steve MacDonald, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, join Larry to discuss the issue.
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs a Bill (SB 1159) Allowing the Purchase of Syringes Without a Prescription
Governor Schwarzenegger surprised some people by signing a bill that would allow consumers to buy up to ten syringes over the counter without a prescription. Some law enforcement groups think that this will encourage drug use, but supporters of the Governor’s move say that it will help to decrease infection rates of HIV and Hepatitis. Joining Host Larry Mantle to discuss the controversial issue is Michael Kennedy, President of the California Narcotic Officers’ Association, Dr. Kevin Reilly, M.D., Deputy Director of Prevention Services for the California Department of Health Services, and Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Public Health and Health Officer for Los Angeles County.
The Meaning of Sports
Foreign policy expert Michael Mandelbaum turns his sights to sports in his new book The Meaning of Sports: Why Americans Watch Baseball, Football and Basketball and What They See When They Do (Public Affairs). In it, Mandelbaum looks at America’s love of team sports and examines how sports caters to a deep human need. He looks at the evolution of the rules of sports like basketball, baseball and football, the rise and fall of successful teams and famous figures like Babe Ruth and Vince Lombardi.