What Happened At USC And UCLA Over The Weekend?
UCLA created a new chief safety officer role following concerns about how security was handled at an encampment last week, the L.A. Times reports. Hundreds of law enforcement officers in riot gear cleared out a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA late last week firing flash bangs and dismantling barriers. Protesters at USC complied with campus security and police orders Sunday to clear out their pro-Palestinian encampment. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest from USC and UCLA over the weekend. Joining is LAist reporter Yusra Farzan and L.A. Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe.
With files from LAist
High Electricity Rates And A Controversial Plan To ‘Fix’ Them
Wondering over and over again what can be done about your high electricity bill? The California Public Utilities Commission votes this week on a controversial proposal that would create a fixed rate system for customers. As CalMatters reports, this idea is not a new one. Here though, fees would vary by income. Utilities say the move to fixed rates is necessary while some Republicans don’t like the varied fee. Then you have environmental groups who disagree as well. Joining to discuss the latest with current rate prices, the implications of the fixed-rate proposal and more is Severin Borenstein, professor and faculty director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and member of the California ISO Board of Governors, and Ben Christopher, CalMatters reporter.
New Book Traces The Lives Of Three Jazz Titans
In his new book, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America, author Larry Tye tracks the lives and careers of three titans of jazz through the tumultuous 20th century. Born within five years of each other, the musicians’ impact on jazz is hard to overstate. The book digs into how these men became the preeminent purveyors of jazz across America despite the limits imposed on them by Jim Crow. It also explores how Ellington, Armstrong, and Basie’s music transcended genre and race to become the soundtrack to the civil rights movement. Today on AirTalk, Tye joins Larry to share the stories of these three exceptional musicians.
Chavez Ravine Was A Catalyst For The Chicano Movement – A New Bill Wants For Reparations For Its Residents
The story of the Chavez Ravine dates back to the early 1950s when Mexican-American families living in the hillside community of east Los Angeles were asked to leave their homes for the promise of a new affordable housing development. The promise made was that they’d be able to move back a few years later, into the new apartments. But the promise collapsed and the families became permanently displaced. Now, a new piece of legislation brought forward by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo seeks to restore some of the wrongs. Bill 1950, known as the Chavez Ravine Accountability Act, was introduced last week. Financial compensation and a permanent memorial honoring the displaced families are among the requests. What is the history of the Chavez Ravine that galvanized a Chicano movement and what do we owe the families at the heart of the story? Joining us today on AirTalk is Eric Avila, professor of history and Chicano studies at UCLA.
LA’s City Charter Is Turning 100
One hundred years ago today, Los Angeles voters approved the city charter that remains its governing document (notwithstanding a 1999 facelift). While today’s sprawling, diverse metropolis would be unimaginable to an Angeleno of 100 years ago, many of the issues that a fledgling LA faced are still relevant today, including fair districting. Today on AirTalk, frequent AirTalk guest and executive director of the Haynes Foundation Raphe Sonenshein joins us to talk about what lessons we can learn from the 100 year-old document.
LA’s Grade A Steakhouses – Tell Us Your Prime Picks!
In the classic American steakhouse“employees hone the art of performance,” writes New York Times reporter Rita Bullwinkel in her recent piece. Steakhouses are a beloved iteration of restaurant that we’ve adopted from coast to coast. It’s a distinct genre defined by certain elements, like crisp white linens, wood paneling, and of course, steak. Today on AirTalk, we want to hear from you. What’s your favorite steakhouse and why? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
