No Right On Red? San Francisco Pushed To Pass The Rule. Would It Work In Los Angeles?
A recent proposal by San Francisco supervisor Dean Preston to ban right turns on red lights in the city has pedestrian safety advocates excited. Down in Southern California, West Hollywood Councilmember Chelsea Lee Byers has proposed something similar for some intersections in her city, citing the need to improve safety for walkers and bicyclists. Could a ban like this work in a city as car-centric as Los Angeles? What are the benefits of banning right turns on red lights? Joining us to discuss is Joe Linton, editor of Streetsblog Los Angeles. We also welcome your thoughts at 866-893-5722 or via email at atcomments@laist.com.
CARE Courts Are Live In Seven CA Counties – What Do They Look Like, And How Will They Fare?
An alternative mental health court program designed to fast-track people with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders into housing and medical care — potentially without their consent — has kicked off in seven California counties. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom created the new civil court process, called “CARE Court,” (which stands for Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment) as part of a massive push to address the homelessness crisis in California. But as petitions roll in Monday, it’s not clear who the program might help nor how effective it will be. San Francisco, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Glenn counties launched the new program Monday. Los Angeles County will begin its program Dec. 1. The state estimates roughly 1,800 to 3,100 people could be eligible in the first seven counties, but Los Angeles could bump up estimates to 3,600 to 6,200. The rest of the state has until December 2024 to establish mental health courts. Joining us to discuss CARE courts are Veronica Kelley, chief of mental health and recovery services for Orange County and Jonathan Sherin, volunteer professor of psychiatry at USC and UCLA and former director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
How One Of America’s Most Beloved Presidents Navigated Unprecedented Division In The Country
It may feel at times as though the United States is more divided politically than it has ever been, but as NPR Morning Edition Host Steve Inskeep lays out in his new book “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America,” our 16th president and his political know-how could serve as an example of how we might bridge the gap today. While it might sound like a sagely quote from Master Yoda in one of the Star Wars films, the book title “Differ We Must” actually refers to a line from a letter that Abraham Lincoln wrote to a close friend who was the son of a Kentucky slave owner. “If for this you and I must differ,” he wrote, “differ we must,” adding that they’d remain friends forever. It’s this idea that drove so much of Lincoln’s political success -- he would often meet and work with critics and political opponents, and it was through this engagement with opposition that he was able to lead a revolution against slavery in the United States.
Today on AirTalk, Steve joins Larry Mantle to talk about his latest book, and how Abraham Lincoln and his politics can serve as an example for navigating the current political division in America.
The Supreme Court Begins A New Term – Here’s What You Should Know
The Supreme Court seems a bit quieter than in recent years, as the justices begin a new term.
Major cases await, as they always do, including several challenges to regulatory agencies and efforts to regulate social media platforms.
But nothing yet seems on par with conservative-driven decisions overturning Roe v. Wade’s right to an abortion and expanding gun rights in June 2022, then ending affirmative action in higher education and killing the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan last June. Guns, abortion rights, and voting rights are some of the main topics being looked at this term. We discuss what listeners should know with Kimberly Robinson, Supreme Court reporter for Bloomberg Law, and Jimmy Hoover, Supreme Court reporter for The National Law Journal.
West Hollywood Drivers Can Now Video Chat with the Deputies Who Pulled Them Over
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is piloting a new program that lets drivers video chat with deputies that pulled them over during routine traffic stops. Traffic stops are common, but can turn deadly — and the app, called SafeStop Driver, intends to keep tensions low by establishing communication and eliminating unknowns before the driver and deputy meet face to face. Drivers who have downloaded and set up the app just have to open it and hit the “Contact Officer” button after being pulled over. The app would then put them in a waiting room, where the officer can accept the video chat if they deem the situation appropriate. The program is currently only available in West Hollywood, and its use is entirely up to the deputy’s discretion. SafeStop co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jackson Lallas and law enforcement practices expert Ed Obayashi join Larry to talk about how the app works and the potential advantages and disadvantages of its use.
Themed Parties Can Be Some Of The Most Memorable Bashes – Tell Us About Yours
Toga Parties, Masquerade Balls, Baby Showers – chances are, you’ve been to more than one themed party in your lifetime. Maybe it wasn’t in the recent past but that reptile birthday party in the first grade you attended. Or perhaps it was that slumber party in middle school. Themed parties range from the classic to the extreme – a luau to a murder mystery bash. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear about the best (or most memorable) themed party you’ve ever attended or thrown.
