Greek default may be imminent…so why are the Greeks happy about it? Former LA Times publisher sues the paper over “discriminatory” distribution of its Sunday magazine. Former Oxnard teacher who witnessed shooting of gay student Larry King speaks out, as next steps for trial are debated. Charges in the Kelly Thomas case.
Greek default may be imminent…so why are the Greeks happy about it?
Euro-zone leaders may be saying otherwise, but analysts in the know say a Greek default is a certainty. Greece is trying to head off default. They’re in crisis talks with creditors right now, they’re putting well over a billion dollars in treasury bills on sale and they’re planning to auction off more debt next month. But some analysts say even those measures won’t be enough to stave off default. And the Greek people say that might not be so bad.
Many of them resent the fact that they owe so much money to foreigners and that they have to endure austerity measure to pay it back. Be that as it may, most analysts agree that a Greek default will be catastrophic, possible fracturing the Euro-zone and sending other countries like Portugal and Ireland into default as well. We’ll get a sense of the Greek debt crisis from reporters in Europe and analyze how bad a Greek default will be.
WEIGH IN:
What do you think the impact of a Greek default would be? Should Greece be more worried?
Guests:
Geoffrey Smith, Senior Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Barry Ritholtz, CEO of Fusion IQ, an equity research firm; Writer, The Big Picture, a leading financial news blog; author of the book Bailout Nation.
Former LA Times Magazine publisher sues the paper over “discriminatory” distribution
Did you get your Sunday Los Angeles Times Magazine this past weekend? If you did, chances are you don’t live in Compton or Highland Park. According to Steven Gellman, the former publisher of the magazine, this doesn't fly. Gellman’s suing the Times and Tribune over his firing, accusing them of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of business and professions codes. And he's looking for $13-million in damages.
The suit alleges that the Los Angeles Times discontinued distribution of its Sunday magazine to low-income and demographically minority neighborhoods -- to save money. Subscribers in these areas are still charged the same price as “white affluent subscribers” who get the magazine with their paper.
Gary Weitman, a spokesman from Tribune, responded in a statement, “After reviewing the lawsuit filed by Mr. Gellman, we believe the claims contained in it are without merit. As this is a matter of ongoing litigation, we will defer further comment.”
But on Twitter, the LA Times Social feed (@latimessocial), tweeted in response to a subscriber’s complaint about not getting the Sunday magazine, that it’s “available to any subscriber who requests it.”
This seems to indicate that the paper is making choices about distribution based on demographics.
WEIGH IN:
Here’s what we want to know: do you subscribe to the Los Angeles Times? Do you get the Sunday magazine? If not, would it upset you to learn that it might be because you’re neighborhood is considered less desirable somehow? Or would you think this is a valid business decision that a paper is making during tough economic times?
Former teacher who witnessed shooting of gay student Larry King speaks out
The judge declared a mistrial in the murder trial of Brandon McInerney, the 17-year-old accused of shooting gay classmate Larry King in 2008, after the jury failed to reach a verdict. One of the witnesses who testified in court was former English teacher Dawn Boldrin, McInerney and King's teacher, who also gave King a green dress; she spoke with KPCC.
"With the trial, seeing Brandon, even discussing it now... I'm always at the height of emotion," Boldrin said.
She's received a lot of criticism for giving a green, full-length dress to King, asserting that she supported him when he asserted a more feminine identity at the Oxnard middle school.
"My god, junior high is just this crazy place where kids are experimenting on a daily basis," Boldrin said.
Critics say that it was inappropriate for Boldrin to give King the gift, but she says she wasn’t concerned about the dress further provoking problems with King’s attire. Boldrin said she gave him the gift privately and it was intended for him to wear at home; the students were required to wear uniforms at school, so King showing up in the dress was never an option.
At this point, King had been showing up to school wearing high-heeled boots and makeup, but Boldrin said that the degree to which this occurred has been overblown by many people.
When students taunted him in class, she’d defend King, saying that she had a gay member of her family and respects the community.
"My mother is a pastor. People have to understand I've been there," Boldrin said. "I know what it's like to want to be accepted."
On Feb. 12, 2008, Boldrin warned King to respect students after there had been rumors floating around the school that he had been blowing kisses to his classmate, McInerney. Whether King heeded or not is unknown, but within half an hour, McInerney shot King in the back of the head twice in Boldrin’s classroom.
Boldrin lost her tenured teaching position after taking time off to psychologically and emotionally recover from the incident. She now works as a Starbucks barista in order to retain health benefits for her three children.
While Boldrin has been criticized by her former colleagues who didn’t agree with her school conduct, Boldrin said there is no one person to blame. Adults at every level, including the administration and parents, all had a hand in the situation, according to Boldrin.
Boldrin said the school district refused to help her get back in her classroom and put no money towards counseling services after the incident.
"If they did [spend money] it was for donuts and stuff," she said.
The counselors were all volunteers and mostly clergy people, she said.
Boldrin said she suffered significant mental issues after the shooting take place and has recently started to speak out against the criticism she has received.
Guest:
Dawn Boldrin, former teacher at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard; currently working as a barista at Starbucks
Charges in the Kelly Thomas case
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas has announced charges against two of the six Fullerton police officers in conjunction with the death of homeless schizophrenic man Kelly Thomas in July.
Officer Manuel Ramos will be charged with felony counts for second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Corporal Jay Cicinelli has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.
After the morning’s press conference, Larry Mantle spoke live with Ramos’ attorney John Barnett, who was critical of the charges.
“It’s going to negatively affect public safety, because peace officers who risk their lives daily in the streets will now have to worry about risking their lives in the court room,” he said.
Barnett said Ramos was “simply doing his job.”
In response to the charges, Kelly Thomas’ father Ron Thomas said, “I am elated. This is really what I wanted. At least two of them, and we have two of them.”
Follow full coverage on the homepage, or share your opinion here.
WEIGH IN:
Were the charges fair? How do you think the situation should have been handled?
Guests:
John Barnett, Attorney for Manuel Ramos, the officer being charged
Stephanie O’Neill, KPCC reporter