White House's proposed budget defunds CA earthquake warning system, Jared Kushner's business ties to LA's CIM Group, local celebrations for Memorial Day weekend.
State of Affairs: Dems target 2 more CA GOP Reps. in 2018
Today on State of Affairs:
Democrats are targeting two more California Republicans for 2018 — that brings to total up to 9.
The White House rolls out its four-trillion-dollar budget proposal, but state lawmakers have some concerns.
Jerry Brown's striking a softer tone on Trump. You might call it divine intervention.
Guests:
- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, professor of public policy at USC
- Carla Marinucci, senior editor for Politico's California Playbook
Correction: A Martinez identifies Carla Marinucci as senior editor for KQED's California Playbook. She is — in fact — senior editor for Politico's California Playbook.
What the death of the 710 freeway extension means for the future of transportation in Southern California
This week marked the end of a battle that has divided local communities for longer than most of us have been alive. And it was all about a freeway.
A freeway extension to be precise.
One that would connect the 210 and 710 freeways along a route through the San Gabriel Valley. The controversy developed and brewed over the course of 60 years. Houses along the planned accessway were condemned. As years went by, the plan morphed from a traditional freeway into a tunnel.
But on Wednesday, Metro put a stake in its heart – voting unanimously to pull its support from the project. That didn't just put the cap on an epic transportation struggle, it marks the end of an era in Los Angeles - the age of freeway construction.
And that brings us to Martin Wachs. He's a professor emeritus at UCLA. He's spent his life studying transportation, and he's been following the fight over the 710 since he moved here back in 1971. He spoke to A Martinez about the failed expansion and the future of freeways in Los Angeles.
"I think we are at the end of the freeway building era but not the freeway using era," says Wachs. "We will of course amend freeways - widen lanes, replaces overpasses [and] open shoulders for traffic."
To listen the full segment, click the blue play button above.
New Pasadena monument ‘Enduring Heroes’ combines the faces of 11 fallen service members
There are few ways to fully honor American service members who make the ultimate sacrifice. So when a group of Gold Star families from the Pasadena area commissioned a new memorial, it came with a tall order: Create a work that will honor the memory of those lost in the wars since 9/11 and bring comfort to their families.
The resulting statue is called the "Enduring Heroes Memorial," and it will be dedicated Monday at Defender’s Parkway in Pasadena, just off Colorado Boulevard.
At first glance, it looks like one single service member. But look again, and you'll see the facial features of 11 local service members, immortalized in a solitary bronze figure. The name tag reads "Pasadena."
But getting the sculpture installed was no easy feat, says Gold Star mother, Jaynie Studenmund. Her son, Scott, was a Green Beret. Her was killed in southern Afghanistan in 2014.
"It's quite a process to get a memorial like this through City Council," Studenmund told Take Two's A Martinez. "We met with every single City Council member, met with numerous commissions, submitted a proposal that was probably about 10 inches thick and had a big lesson in civics. But at the core of that was wanting to memorialize our sons," she said.
The artist tasked with sculpting the memorial is Chris Slatoff. He's done several public sculptures, including works at USC, Fuller Theological Seminary and Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown LA. But Slatoff says depicting the heroism of the 11 was a new challenge. Drawing on his Christian roots, he decided to work with a New Testament-inspired theme.
"Basically, I gave them Sunday morning. I gave them resurrection," Slatoff said. "This is a sense of dealing with the loss and dealing with everything that should be tragic about this."
Drawing on traits from the fallen servicemembers, Slatoff hopes that families will see some of their sons and daughters in the work and feel comfort. During the installation of the work last weekend, Jaynie Studenmund says she felt just that.
"Our son is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is very precious, but feeling like Scott is close by gives me a lot of comfort," Studenmund said. "We'll all continue to visit our sons and daughters wherever they're buried ... but I think we feel like our child is right here in Pasadena. I happen to believe that Scott is here right now."
The sculpture will be dedicated this Memorial Day. More information can be found here.
Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.
LA-based CIM Group ties with Kushner and Trump World raises ethics questions
During his campaign, Donald Trump touted his business experience as an asset to the presidency. Now, his critics warn that his many businesses endeavors and business relationships create ethical problems for the White House.
Among the firms with close ties to the President, there's one raising eyebrows that's based here in Los Angeles - real estate finance and development company, the CIM Group.
The privately held firm has been doing business with President Trump and his son-in-law and top advisor Jared Kushner for years.
Andrea Bernstein is senior editor of politics and policy at NPR member station, WNYC. She and her colleague, Ilya Marritz have been investigating the CIM-Trump connection.
Take Two's A Martinez spoke with Bernstein about CIM and Trump Worlds's business history, and how ethics experts say that relationship may come into play now that Trump and Kushner are in the White House.
To hear the full interview with Andrea Bernstein, click on the blue Media Player above.
Marriage equality in Taiwan makes history in Asia
This week, Taiwan made headlines around the world when the constitutional court ruled to recognize same sex marriage. It is the first nation in Asia to do so.
Next, there will be a two year period when legislators can amend marriage laws, potentially reversing the ruling. But for now, activists feel victorious.
Take Two host A Martinez spoke with Arvin Chen, a filmmaker with California roots who’s now based in Taiwan. Chen’s 2013 film “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” explores the experience of a married Taiwanese man who struggles to understand his sexuality.
According to Chen, the reaction in Taiwan and the US has been incredibly positive. “Especially Asian Americans,” said Chen. “Regardless of whether or not their parents are ethnically Chinese or Taiwanese. A lot of Asian Americans are just very happy that there’s an Asian country that's done it. And I think a lot of people are very hopeful, and very proud, that it's Taiwan.”
To hear the full conversation, click on the media player above.
A Styled Side secret: Bros have been rocking rompers for years
As you kick back and relax this Memorial Day weekend, you want to be comfortable, right?
But for guys, maybe a shirt and shorts are too simple. So what if - like chocolate and peanut butter -they were put together?
You may have seen it online recently... it's a romper... (gasp) for men. And it's created a lot of chatter.
"We are talking about a jumpsuit," says Michelle Dalton Tyree of Fashion Trends Daily. "But with shorts instead of a pant."
Rompers for women have been popular for sometime now but a romper specifically for men went viral last week when a Kickstarter campaign started by Aced Design took off. Their product: the RompHim. And they bill it as "your new favorite summer outfit that will turn heads and break hearts."
"Southern California designers have actually helped to popularize it in recent years," said Tyree. So, despite the online uproar of late, they've been in circulation for the last few seasons.
You can purchase them at local places like Mr. Turk's, the menswear side of Trina Turk. "They debuted a pant version in 2014," said Tyree. "And it sold so well that they launched a short jumpsuit in the spring of 2015 and it's been a huge hit for the mens brand."
Mr. Turk designer, Jonathan Skow isn't a big fan of characterizing them as rompers. He's concerned that branding them that way could hurt retailers who were doing fine selling them before calling them rompers went viral. "It also kind of changes what to me was always this steady income business into this crazy fad that everyone seems to mostly hate, said Skow. "So it kind of makes it feel like a flash in the pan as opposed to just something that's kind of fun and comfortable to wear."
Not only have male rompers been on the market in recent years, it's also hardly a new concept to men's fashion. One piece outfits for men were popular in the 1960's and 1970's. Sean Connery famously wore a short, blue terry romper as James Bond in Goldfinger.
Rompers not your style? Tyree said there are definitely seeing other trends in men fashion this season. In the mix? Summer weight jeans, baseball caps, watches with fabric bands in preppy colors, and lots of color. "We're definitely seeing a '90's style coming back in," said Tyree. "A lot of street style."