New Audit Breaks Down LAPD’s Use Of Helicopters
The Los Angeles Police Department spends an average of $46.6 million each year to fly its helicopters over the city, according to an audit released Monday by the L.A. City Controller’s Office. That’s more than the annual budget for over a dozen L.A. city departments, including the Ethics Commission, the Department of Aging, and the Department on Disability. With 17 helicopters in the LAPD Air Support Division’s fleet, each hour in the sky costs nearly $3,000, according to the audit. However, the audit notes that most of the helicopter flight time from fiscal years 2018 through 2022 weren’t connected to high priority crimes. The helicopters flew for a total of 80,687 hours in that five-year period, which is an average of more than 16,000 hours each year. According to the audit, only 39% of the flight time was dedicated to high-priority incidents, such as burglaries and felony incidents involving personal injury or harm. The rest of the time was dedicated to transportation flights — in which a helicopter is used instead of a car — general patrol time, and ceremonial flights. Joining us today on AirTalk is Sergio Perez, chief of accountability and oversight for the LA City Controller’s office.
With files from LAist. Read the full story here.
Checking In On How Younger Generations Discover New Music As Semesters, Spotify Wrap
From bossa nova to EDM, and metal to jazz, the catalog of music enjoyed by Los Angeles teens is boundless. But their 2023 soundtracks were about more than “vibes.” Their musical interests connected them to friends, family, language and helped them start to answer the perpetual question of who they are in the world. Their stories offer ideas on how we all might listen to music with fresh ears. Yet, given the state of where folks get their music nowadays, it does beg the question of how some kids now are getting their music as opposed to generations previously that spent so much time with their ears glued to the radio. Today on AirTalk, we talk to LAist K-12 education senior reporter Mariana Dale, about her latest piece, we also get a better understanding of how social media plays a part in discovering music nowadays with Kelsie Herzog, music-centric content creator who posts under the account name “TheYellowButton.”
With files from LAist; you can read Mariana’s story for LAist by clicking here.
Listen to the playlist she made, curated by the students she spoke to, by clicking here.
Olive, Avocado, Grapeseed, Sunflower. Why So Many Cooking Oils And How Should You Use Them?
Have you noticed how many cooking oils there are to choose from these days? You may use olive oil, but your friend uses avocado oil, your sister uses grapeseed oil, your neighbor uses sunflower oil and on and on. Recipes call for all different kinds of oils, but why? And does extra virgin olive oil provide any extra advantages? Nyesha Arrington, chef, culinary creative and judge on Next Level Chef on Fox, joins to discuss how to choose the oil staples in our kitchens and how to actually use them properly. Got questions about cooking oil? Slip ino the convo by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
What Can Los Angeles Take From UN Climate Conference COP28?
The United Nations Climate Change Conference referred to as COP28 is coming to a close after two weeks. The conference happens every year to weigh the different challenges facing the globe and agree on solutions. Tens of thousands of attendees registered. They include political and business leaders, climate scientists, journalists and many more. Matt Petersen, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). He's been in Dubai for the conference and joins to discuss how we can connect the global conversations to those here in SoCal. If you have questions, please call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Free Speech Debate Arises As Elite Colleges And Universities Come Under Scrutiny Amid Growing Reports Of Anti Semitism
Universities across the country are having heated debates over the line between free speech and harassment and intimidation. Administrations are being accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid reports of growing antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Facing heavy criticism, the University of Pennsylvania’s president walked back some of her remarks given earlier this week at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism, saying she should have gone further to condemn hate against Jewish students. Harvard and MIT’s presidents have received national backlash as well. The Republican-led House committee announced Thursday it will investigate the policies and disciplinary procedures at Harvard, MIT and Penn. Separate federal civil rights investigations were previously opened at Harvard, Penn and several other universities in response to complaints submitted to the U.S. Education Department.
Joining us today on AirTalk is Doug Belkin, covering higher education and national news for The Wall Street Journal and Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and author of the book “The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust, Destroys Institutions, and Threatens Us All–But There is a Solution.”
Are ‘Humane’ Layoffs A Pipe Dream?
2023 has been a big year for layoffs, particularly in the tech industry, which saw job losses of almost a quarter of a million. Some layoffs come with lengthy explanations from the CEO, like Spotify’s recent round. McDonald's took the drastic step of closing their offices in order to conduct layoffs virtually. What are the legal and ethical issues that companies must consider when laying people off? Is there a “right” way to let employees go? Today on AirTalk we dive into layoff etiquette with Lindsay Ellis, reporter at The Wall Street Journal who covers the workplace, young professionals and business education and Wayne Cascio, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Colorado Denver Business School who has studied the financial and psychological costs of downsizing.
