LAHSA appoints temporary head of agency
A longtime Los Angeles city prosecutor will serve as temporary head of the region’s homeless services agency, but critics argue she has a history of enforcing policies that “criminalize and displace” unhoused people. Gita O’Neill was appointed last week by the commissioners of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA. She will replace former chief executive Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who stepped down last week. Supporters say O’Neill has the experience to steer the embattled agency, which is under scrutiny because of oversight and accounting issues. O’Neill served as the L.A. city attorney’s first director of homeless strategies. Mayor Karen Bass, a member of the commission, called O’Neill’s “deep expertise and leadership” a good fit for LAHSA as it navigates the county government pulling its funding from the agency. The city has not yet decided whether it will do the same. For more on this new head and the future of homelessness services in Los Angeles is Nick Gerda, LAist watchdog correspondent.
With files from LAist
CECOT: understanding the extradition process to the mega-prison, and what reports say of conditions
Last week saw the release of many Venezuelan migrants who were deported from the U.S. and extradited to CECOT, a Salvadorian maximum security prison originally intended to house the country’s local gangs and criminals. Following a prisoner swap between President Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, recently released CECOT detainees shared what it was like being held up in the megaprison, with some having referred to it as “hell.” So what is there to know about CECOT, its use, and the experiences of those who’ve been incarcerated in the prison? This morning on AirTalk, we’ll get clarification on CECOT with NPR immigration reporter Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, and Naomi Roht-Arriaza, distinguished professor emerita of law at UC San Francisco and expert in international human rights law.
The dos and don’ts of sharing food in a post-pandemic world
Food can be a messy subject — and we’re not just talking about eating. When food enters an office space, its paradigm changes. Snacks that we would find appropriate to munch down on at home suddenly have the propensity to cause a noise-inducing nightmare or an unpleasant aroma for our cubicle neighbors. And when it comes to communal food, whether it’s an office party, a team meeting, or home-baked goods from a kind office-mate, it’s sometimes difficult to navigate the unspoken rules of sharing and eating in the office, especially on an empty stomach. This morning we’re talking about office food etiquette with Diane Gottsman, etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas. We also want to hear from you! What’s a faux pas you have about food in the office? Do you have questions about the etiquette of eating in the office? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
A new report looks at the impacts of groundwater depletion worldwide
We’ve used wells to tap into underground pockets of water for millennia, but modern technology has drastically increased our ability to access these aquifers. As areas of the world have become drier, communities have become more reliant on groundwater to meet their needs. Now, a new study says the depletion of aquifers worldwide has become a leading cause of sea level rise and fresh water loss. At the same time, the depletion of aquifers and other freshwater sources has led to the interlinking of previously isolated arid places over time. Today on AirTalk, ProPublica reporter Abrahm Lustgarten joins Jacob Margolis for more on what the study tells us about the future of water globally.
A new effort aims to cool down Los Angeles with the power of shade
Extreme heat poses serious health risks for anyone outdoors, and as the climate heats up more of these days are expected in Los Angeles. But there is one readily available, extremely low-tech solution to extreme heat: shade. Just standing in a shady area on a hot day can help alleviate many of the health concerns extreme heat poses, with the “feels like” temperature dropping by double digits when in the shade. Now, a new program out of USC and UCLA is aiming to expand the shady areas around Los Angeles to clamp down on heat related illnesses. Today on AirTalk, Jacob Margolis speaks with the climate director for USC Dornsife Public Exchange Monica Dean and the water adaptation policy specialist for UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation Edith de Guzman, about this new initiative.
How to foster good relationships with the youngins in your life
It can be helpful for a child or teen to have a close relationship with an adult that is not their parent. Maybe someone who can serve as a career mentor, an older sibling, or just another family member they can share their interests with. Sometimes it's easier for the adolescent to tell an aunt, uncle, or family friend about their problems rather than their own parents. But it can be difficult for the adult in that relationship to know when to keep the child’s trust and when it is time to get the parents involved. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you! Do you have a niece or nephew or godchild that you have a close relationship with? Do they confide in you? Was there ever an instance where they told you something you thought they should share with their parents? How did you broach that situation? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. Joining us to offer some advice for these situations is Madison Blair, licensed clinical social worker.
