Could The Politics Of Crime Lead To A Reversal Of Criminal Justice Reform?

Since the start of the pandemic crime has been steadily increasing in Los Angeles and other cities across the country. In recent months, the numbers have jumped even higher, with homicides and car thefts in the top categories. Still, crime rates today are much lower than they were at their peak in the 90s when LA saw some of its most violent years. Even so, a recent string of brazen crimes splashed across the news is leading many to wonder how those in positions of power will respond. Los Angeles has been at the center of criminal justice reform for the past decade and polls show that voters still support many of the measures that have been taken to steer funds and power out of the hands of police and into other programs, like pretrial programs and social services. How will these increasing violent crime rates impact the continued movement for criminal justice reform, both locally and beyond?

Today on AirTalk, Larry is joined by Jonathan Simon, criminal justice law professor at UC Berkeley and El Dorado County District Attorney & former president of the California District Attorney’s Association Vern Pierson. 

California Prepares To Become An Abortion Sanctuary If The Supreme Court Overturns Roe

California abortion clinics and state legislative leaders on Wednesday revealed a plan to make the state a “sanctuary” for people seeking reproductive care. The 45 recommendations from the Future of Abortion Council come as Supreme Court justices are deciding whether or not to overturn Roe v. Wade, and dozens of states are preparing to ban abortion of they do. The report recommends funding - including public spending - to help patients seeking abortion pay for travel expenses including gas, lodging, transportation, and child care. It also asks lawmakers to reimburse abortion providers for services to those who can’t afford to pay - including low-income people who travel to California from other states. California currently pays for abortions for many low-income residents through the state’s Medicaid program. Governor Newsom told the Associated Press in an interview last week that some of the report’s details will be included in his January budget proposal. The recommendations were formed with the input of California Senate pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and today on AirTalk, Senator Atkins joins Larry to discuss the recommendations and the role California hopes to play in a possible post-Roe future.

With files from the Associated Press 

Miami Superintendent Will Be The Next L.A. Public Schools Chief

Miami Superintendent Alberto Carvalho will be the next superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Board members announced the pick today. The former science teacher has led Miami public schools since 2008. KPCC and LAist K-12 education reporter Kyle Stokes joins Larry to tell us about the Carvalho and the road ahead for LAUSD.

Homeland Security Secretary On Border Reopening, “Remain In Mexico,” Cyber Threats, And More

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas is in California this week. The visit comes after the vital San Ysidro border crossing with Mexico reopened last month after nearly two years of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Biden administration also recently reinstated the Trump-era “remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. The move brought the administration in compliance with a court order. Also on the trip, Secretary Mayorkas met with tech giants in Silicon Valley as the government looks for help fighting hackers and cyber threats from countries like Russia. Today on AirTalk, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas joins Larry to talk about those issues and more.

COVID-19 AMA: 16 And 17-Year-Olds Can Get Boosted, Los Angeles Sees Uptick In New Cases, And More

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s school of public health Timothy Brewer, M.D..

Topics today include:

• Study finds that COVID-19 attacks fat tissue
• As Omicron cases grow, vaccine makers are prepared to adjust their vaccines
• Los Angeles has seen a 100% uptick in new coronavirus cases in last 10 days
• Nearly 500 LAUSD employees were fired due to not complying with vaccine mandate
• LA County health officials are saying new Omicron case could’ve been from local transmission
• What time of day is the best to get your COVID-19 vaccine
• Study shows that those who receive a Pfizer booster shot 5 months after their second dose have 90% lower mortality due to COVID-19
• FDA authorizes Pfizer booster shots for 16 and 17-year-olds

What Books Helped You Get Through 2021?

This year due to the pandemic, many people felt only comfortable spending extended periods of time in their homes. In that time it left them searching for things that could help them get their minds off the pandemic–which left many listening to music or even reading books.

Today on AirTalk, we talked to listeners about what books helped them get through the pandemic-filled year that was 2021. Larry will also be discussing with Young Adult books section editor for the Los Angeles Review of Books Jonathan Alexander and co-host of the LARB Radio Hour podcast Eric Newman.

Here is a list of all the books our guests and listeners recommended:

• Jonathan Alexander recommends "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" and "Darius the Great Deserves Better" by Adib Khorram; "Felix Ever After" Kacen Callender; "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo
• Eric Newman recommends "Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples; "Mexican Gothic" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia; "Let The Record Show: A Political History of Act Up New York,1987-1993" by Sarah Schulman
• Sarah in Santa Monica recommends "Daisy Jones & The Six" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Janelle in Orange County recommends "Nightbitch" by Rachel Yoder
• Jimmy in Downtown L.A. recommends "Terms of Endearment" and "The Evening Star" by Larry McMurtry
• Julia in Venice recommends "Fresh From Farmers Valley" by Justin Bass
• Gina in Pasadena recommends "Successful Aging" by John Rowe and Robert Louis Kahn
• Judith recommends "Cloud Cuckoo Land" by Anthony Doerr
• Cathy in Manhattan Beach recommends "Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It" by Ethan Kross
• Trevor in Hollywood recommends "Down and Out in Paris and London" by George Orwell
• Doug in Hollywood recommends "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc" by Mark Twain
• Kim in Lincoln Heights recommends the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon
• Pablo in Altadena recommends "Clark and Division" by Naomi Hirahara
• Andrea in Sherman Oaks recommends "Escape from the Ordinary" by Julie Bradley
• Chuck in Temple City recommends "The Story of Mankind' by Hendrik Willem van Loon
• Nick in North Hollywood recommends "Emotional Robots" by Alex Zohar
• Hans in Eagle Rock recommends "Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could" by Adam Schiff
• Ella recommends "My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferrante
• Ron recommends "The Last Policeman" trilogy by Ben H. Winters
• Leslie and her mother recommend "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" in audiobook format by Trevor Noah
• Eric in Pomona recommends "AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies" by Derek DelGaudio