Financial payouts plunge Santa Monica into financial turmoil. We check in on the latest
The city of Santa Monica has a money problem. As in, it doesn’t have any. That’s according to a recent report for a City Council meeting, which will be held tomorrow to discuss the financial challenges the city is facing. Legal payouts to sexual abuse victims, which have reached $229 million in settlements, is one of the reasons for the city’s struggles. Local police dispatcher, Eric Uller, has more than 200 victims and their payouts have cost the city tremendously, draining its budget reserves. Joining us to discuss the financial fallout and the legal parameters is national correspondent for The New York Times based in Sacramento Shawn Hubler and criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Ambrosio Rodriguez.
How can DTLA turn skyscrapers into housing units
Downtown L.A. has yet to bounce back from the pandemic, with 28% of office spaces still lying vacant. A potential solution is to turn these empty skyscrapers into affordable housing units, essentially killing two birds with one stone: bringing people back to downtown and addressing the city’s housing shortage. The city’s Adaptive Reuse Ordinance has allowed for some of downtown’s buildings to be revitalized, but the process of turning an office space into an apartment complex presents some challenges. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the possibility of adaptive reuse to fix L.A.’s housing crisis. We’re joined by Joshua Seawell, head of policy at the Inclusive Abundance Initiative, and Tarrah Beebe, Senior Associate at KFA Architecture, which is based in Culver City and does work throughout the greater LA region.
Black Movie Soundtrack, celebrating Black music and film, returns to the Hollywood Bowl
A few years ago, the Black Movie Soundtrack event combined some of the best Black musical artists in Los Angeles with some of the best Black Talent and put on a show paying tribute to some of the most influential Black creatives and works of media. Three sequels later, and it’s time for another Black Movie Soundtrack to hit the Hollywood Bowl. The performance, happening this Wednesday, features a number of special guests and a number of hits. Today on AirTalk acclaimed bassist and musical director for Black Movie Soundtrack V Marcus Miller joins the program to share what he hopes to accomplish this go around.
Did a guideline change lead to increased rates of prostate cancer? A new study says yes
In recent decades, prostate cancer diagnoses, especially ones in the late stages, have been steadily rising. A new study published last Tuesday points to a change in screening recommendations, which discouraged routine screenings, as the possible culprit for this rise. Prostate cancer is the most common among men in the U.S. but it is also the most survivable of malignant cancers, in large part due to the widespread adoption of routine screening. So where’s the middle ground? How much screening is too much and what are the potential risks? And what are the current recommendations for prostate screening? Joining us today on AirTalk is Dr. Bill Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society and one of the authors of the new report and Dr. Scott Eggener, professor and chair of urology at UCLA with an expertise in prostate cancer screening and treatment.
What does it mean for someone to have ‘AI psychosis’?
As we’ve talked about before on the program, AI chatbots have become a way folks have sought out therapy, seeking counsel at a time when folks may struggle to afford real therapists. Although well-meaning, the general idea of conversing with a chatbot has shown a track record of what is now being termed “AI psychosis.” The term isn’t necessarily something you’ll find in the DSM, but it’s meant to articulate the idea that these software’s responses could lead vulnerable individuals to become more delusional with their situations. Whether through traditional text responses or the “AI characters” becoming more available in platforms like Meta, researchers are beginning to take note of these chatbots’ psychological impacts on those who are severely mentally ill, and those who aren’t. Today on AirTalk, we’ll dig into AI psychosis with Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter for the Washington Post, and Stephen Schueller, professor of psychological science and informatics at UCI.
SoCal History: The contradictions and promise of Los Angeles
Tales of Los Angeles being both a place of dreams and disillusionment abound. It’s long been the type of place people aspire to live, and whether or not it lives up to their expectations comes down to their personal opinion. But this contradictory nature of Los Angeles is one of the many facets of SoCal life that residents come to not only acknowledge, but accept. In his new book, Elements of Los Angeles: Earth Water, Air and Fire, author Don “D.J.” Waldie grapples with this strange identity the city has created, and the elements that go into it. He joins AirTalk today to speak with Larry about his book and unique thesis on the city.
D.J. will be discussing his book at an event at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
