Undocumented immigrants can apply for professional licenses in California under a new law (SB-1159; Lara) signed on Sunday by Gov. Jerry Brown. Also, Los Angeles WaterKeeper is calling on Angelenos to stop washing their cars. Then, Mayor Richard Riordan talks about this new memoir "The Mayor."
New law allows undocumented professionals to be licensed in California
Immigrants in the country illegally will be able to apply for professional licenses in California under a new law (SB-1159; Lara) signed on Sunday by Governor Jerry Brown.
The law applies to a range of professions including doctors, dentists, real estate agents, security guards, psychologists - plus all the other 40 licensing boards administered by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
Opponents of the bill say it violates federal law.
"It's another example of California state government just completely obliterating any distinction between people legally present and those who are in violation of federal law," said Federation for American Immigration Reform spokesman Ira Mehlman.
Senator Ricardo Lara's office issued a statement saying: “Critics of the bill have often mischaracterized its intent, claiming it would contradict federal law. Currently, individuals who lack federal work authorization cannot work as employees or be on payroll, but can start businesses, be self-employed, work as an independent contractors (if they meet the applicable tax laws) or perform day labor, consistent with federal law.”
How could this law affect you? Does it contradict federal law? Could it be challenged? What are the economic costs and benefits?
Guests:
Joseph Villela, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles: CHIRLA
Ira Mehlman, Media Director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) - a national, nonprofit, public-interest, membership organization seeking to stop illegal immigration
Joe R. Hicks, a member of the Project 21 black leadership network - a group described as representing African-Americans not traditionally represented by the nation's civil rights establishment; Hicks is also vice president of Community Advocates, Inc. - a Los Angeles-based political think tank.
LA’s skyline is about to change, but what does that mean for firefighting?
LA’s skyline is about to change. The city is ending a 40-year-old rule that required skyscrapers to have helicopter landing pads if there are other safety features in place, like a fire service elevators or automatic sprinklers. The new change means that tall buildings in the city can now have spires or slanted roofs.
The change will usher certainly change how the Los Angeles skyline will look. But what are the firefighting implications?
Guest:
John Vidovich, Fire Marshal Deputy Chief, Los Angeles Fire Department
Fall is in the air, MLB playoffs are in the parks and MVP is up for debate
Crowds are flocking to Dodger Stadium for more than just the momentum behind the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs: Clayton Kershaw’s winning arm has fans and analysts talking about the MVP award.
Kershaw would be the first pitcher to win the National League MVP award since 1968 -- he’s 21-3 this season, with 239 strikeouts. Kershaw’s pitching has been a driving force behind the Dodgers’ season, which included a no-hitter and major victory over the Giants as a division clincher in which Kershaw hit a run-scoring triple. Kershaw’s major competition for the National League MVP award is Gioancarlo Stanton of the Marlins and Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates.
Some critics argue that the MVP honor should go to position players and hitters because pitchers have their own distinction, the Cy Young Award, but many still have Kershaw pegged as a likely winner. In the American League, Angels outfielder Mike Trout is a top contender for MVP. As the Dodgers and Angels both enter the playoffs in their respective leagues, Southern Californians are weighing the odds of a winning team in Los Angeles, or even a “Freeway Series.”
Which LA teams will dominate in the playoffs? Who stands the best chance of winning an MVP award?
Guests:
Bill Shaikin, Baseball Writer, Los Angeles Times
Ryan Fagan, MLB writer at Sporting News
How long would you go without washing your car? #DirtyCarPledge wants to know
The Los Angeles WaterKeeper has put out a new campaign calling on Angelenos to stop washing their cars for a month so that water can be conserved.
In hopes that the campaign will go viral, the non-governmental organization is asking people to sign a pledge not to wash their cars and is mailing a static cling (read: removable) car sticker to those who do. The organizers and other water conservation activists are fighting to bring more visibility to California’s drought as dirty cars and their #DirtyCarPledge stickers permeate LA streets.
Commercial car washes on average use 56 gallons of water per vehicle, and at-home washes average 85 gallons. The goal is to save millions of gallons as those who pledge cut down from washing their car every two weeks to once per month.
Would you be willing to keep your car unwashed for a month? Is the status associated with having a clean car more important than conserving water? Could defying social norms become a popular trend?
Guests:
Rachel Stich, communications manager, LA WaterKeeper, a water conservancy group based in Santa Monica
Rosemarie Molina, strategic director at the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, which is working to raise carwash workers’ standard of living in Los Angeles
Richard Riordan looks back on his tenure as LA Mayor
Mayor Richard Riordan has the distinction of being the only Republican to be elected mayor in Los Angeles in the last 4 decades. On paper, he shared few ideological similarities with his GOP colleagues. He was pro-gay rights, pro-choice, and pro-immigration.
Riordan’s tenure began in 1993. He was elected to office in the wake of the Rodney King beating and the ensuing riots that swept the city. By the time he stepped down as mayor in 2001, Los Angeles had endured two other major events: the Northridge earthquake in 1994, and the O.J. Simpson murder trial in 1995.
In his new memoir, The Mayor, Riordan looks back at the successes and challenges of his mayorship, as well as personal events that have shaped him.
Guest:
Richard Riordan, Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993 to 2001. He is the author of the new memoir, “The Mayor” (Post Hill Press, 2014) that comes out today.
Quiz: Where to find the best pizza in Los Angeles
New Yorkers and Chicagoans may say their pizza is tops, and the two have certainly staked out their territory in the battle for the best slices in the U.S. (don't even get us started on Italy). But Los Angeles has a vibrant pizza scene of its own -- the city plays host to great pies and a variety of styles that can compete with the greats across the country, and maybe even across the ocean.
L.A.'s best pizza offerings some from all corners of the city. Angelenos can find upscale pies at Pizzeria Mozza and the unique toppings at Gjelina. New York loyalists will love the thinnest of thin crusts on Larchmont at Village Pizzeria; those looking for pizzas in the Chicago style can dig in to deep dish at Hollywood Pies and Masa of Echo Park. L.A. also plays host to awesome pizza in the form of microchains -- 800 Degrees and Blaze -- and great delivery spots like Garage Pizza and Tomato Pie.
Whether you're eating a personal pie by candlelight in one of the city's nicest restaurants or digging into a slice the size of your face in front of the TV, L.A. has a lot to offer in the way of pizza. Where are your favorite pizza places? Can L.A.'s pizza compete with New York's or Chicago's?
Guest:
Garrett Snyder, Associate Food Editor at Los Angeles Magazine