Dirt from debris basins around the LA wildfires is raising concerns
Los Angeles is still recovering from the Eaton and Palisades Fires. But after winter storms came another issue, debris buildup in the catch basins around the fire zones. Now, the dirt from those basins is being moved by the county. But where? And how toxic is it? Additionally, LA County supervisors on Tuesday approved a measure to push property owners affected by the January firestorm to clear debris. About 10% of property owners in fire ravaged areas opted out of federal debris clean up, and others haven’t responded. LA County officials are pushing for clearing of debris because it poses health risks. LA County public works officials will give additional notice to the non-responsive and opt-out property owners using telephone, email, or text messages. Joining us today on AirTalk is Mark Pestrella, director of LA County Public Works. Do you have questions? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
The latest on the LA County workers strike
Tens of thousands of L.A. County workers walked off the job this past Monday night, and have been on strike since. The labor action is expected to end tonight, and comes as the county's largest union — SEIU Local 721, which represents more than 55,000 county workers in 36 of 38 departments — has been in contract negotiations with the county for months. The union contract for healthcare professionals, social workers, public works employees, custodians and others expired in March. The union says the county has refused to bargain in good faith, has excessively outsourced contracts, kept wages stagnant and retaliated against union employees, among other unfair labor practices. The county denies the allegations, blaming significant budget issues on delaying ongoing contract negotiations. Joining Larry to give the latest on the strike, services being impacted, and how negotiations are faring is LA Times reporter covering the Los Angeles government Rebecca Ellis.
LA City faces lawsuit tied to Measure HLA implementation, we break it down
The city of Los Angeles is being sued by a resident alleging that the city isn’t following through on Measure HLA, an initiative residents approved that was meant to improve the safety of the area’s streets. The lawsuit, filed by Streetsblog LA editor Joe Linton, refers to the lack of street safety upgrades on Vermont Avenue as an example of the city not meeting the voters’ demands. Today on AirTalk, we’ll dig into this first lawsuit tied to Measure HLA with LAist transportation correspondent, Kavish Harjai. We’ll also hear from its plaintiff, Joe Linton. We also want to hear from our LA city listeners: what are your thoughts on this lawsuit tied to Vermont Ave. and its lack of street safety? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
How does school choice in California work?
The school year is nearing to a close, but many parents are already looking forward to next year’s enrollment. California has a lot of options for schools, from public, to charter, to private. You can choose to stay in your district or elect for the District of Choice program and have your child attend school with special classes or activities. In Los Angeles Unified alone, there are more than 400 elementary schools, plus hundreds of specialized programs and dozens of charter schools run by separate nonprofits. The default option is to attend the assigned school nearest your home, but there are many reasons families may consider another school. Some of these schools are so popular there isn’t room for every student who wants to enroll. Today on AirTalk, we discuss California’s unique school choice options with LAist’s K-12 senior reporter, Mariana Dale, and professor of education policy at USC, Julie Marsh. We also want to hear from you! How do you feel about California’s school choice policy? If you are a parent, how did you decide where to enroll your child and why? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
The American West is lousy with dams. Should it be?
It’s not a stretch to say that dams have played a pivotal role in shaping the American West. From the impounding of the Colorado river with the Hoover dam to form Lake Mead, to the massive Central Valley Project which turned the middle of California into an agricultural powerhouse, the confining and channelizing of waterways across the west has turned seasonal precipitation into a year-round source of water. But these massive environmental engineering efforts have not been without repercussions; Fish populations have declined, the state’s wetlands have dwindled, and under-maintained dams have posed serious risks to communities. A conference being hosted at the Huntington Library this Friday May 2, Dam Nation: The Fate & Future of Dams in the American West will look at the impacts, both positive and negative, that dams have had on our side of the Mississippi. Today on AirTalk, Larry speaks with the director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West and one of the moderators for this event Bill Deverell, about the past, present, and future of plugging up rivers in the golden state.
Can you trust your gut? An expert weighs in on that ‘sixth sense’ we call intuition
It’s a common refrain: “trust your gut.” But what does that actually mean? And what happens when your so-called intuition leads you astray? Intuition has long perplexed those who study it. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what intuition really is. Some call it a sixth sense, others a hunch, or a gut-instinct. But how do you know when to trust it? And is it ever at-odds with reason and logic? Joining us today on AirTalk is professor of organizational behavior and author of the book “Trust your Gut,” Eugene Sadler-Smith. We also want to hear from you. How often do you rely on your intuition? And does this method work well for you, or has it led you astray? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
