Moving up the CA primary and SCOTUS news, Governor Brown poised to sign housing package of bills, but how will it help? Celebrating everyone's favorite brewed drink.
State of Affairs: CA's presidential primary moves again, SCOTUS considers unions
Today on State of Affairs, Take Two's weekly update on California politics with Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, professor of public policy at USC, and Carla Marinucci, senior editor for Politico's California Playbook.
- Governor Brown signed yet another bill Wednesday. This one moves California's presidential primary from June to March. But don't celebrate yet: it might not mean much by 2020.
- The Supreme Court could deal a blow to unions next session. It's a move that could send some political ripples across California.
- President Trump's tax proposal could be making some Republican lawmakers uncomfortable.
California Republicans' response to Trump tax plan:
"Well, first it's a little more uncomfortable because the so-called 'California Seven' are already very nervous about being targeted by the national and the state Democratic Party," says Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, professor of public policy at USC.
"According to the LA Times, the 'winner' — or maybe the loser — is Darrell Issa. The statistics that the Times gave indicated that 45 percent of the filers in his district use SALT (the state and local tax deduction). And the average deduction in that district is over $10 thousand," Bebitch Jeffe says.
Press the blue play button to hear about the other California Republicans who might be concerned.
Disneyland has a complicated business history with Anaheim
The happiest place on earth may also be one of the busiest under the table. That's according to a two-part series in the LA Times this week that explores the long and sometimes complicated business relationship between Disneyland and the City of Anaheim. And it raises a big question: Is Disney paying its fair share?
Daniel Miller wrote about it for the LA Times. He spoke about it with Take Two's A Martinez.
In your piece, you detail some deals made between the city of Anaheim and Disney over the last two decades. And you say that Disney made a lot of them using a carrot-and-stick approach. How did some of these deals go down?
In general, Disney has — over the years — suggested that it could direct its investment dollars elsewhere if it isn't able to come to terms with Anaheim on a deal.
I can give you an example:
In 2015, Disneyland went to the city and sought renewal of a tax exemption that it had. Disneyland wanted an exemption from any potential entertainment tax for up to 45 years. In exchange for a 45-year exemption, Disney would invest $1.5 billion in its resort property.
The City Council voted to give the company that exemption and soon after that, Disney announced that it would build a Star Wars-themed area at Disneyland and that area will open in 2019.
In your reporting, you found that a lot of these deals were possible because of some very accommodating local politicians — some of whom may have received campaign funds from the company. What's Disney's role in the Anaheim political scene?
Disney is a power player in the Anaheim political scene. It backs candidates with direct contributions, and it contributes money to political action committees (PACs) that then spend money in support of certain candidates.
In the last election, Disney contributed about $1.22 million to PACs that were involved in the election.
Press the blue play button above to hear about what's behind the recent tension between Disney and Anaheim.
Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Teaching Vietnamese in OC classrooms brings challenges, rewards
Rams' Johnny Hekker punts for L.A.'s Vision Zero as new hero ambassador
If you're planning on going to a Rams game this season, you might notice something different playing on the Coliseum's scoreboard. Rams all-pro punter Johnny Hekker won't just have his punts re-played on the big screen. He'll be starring in a new public service announcement with Mayor Eric Garcetti as LA's first Vision Zero Hero Ambassador.
It's part of a new partnership between LA's Department of Transportation, the Rams and insurance company State Farm that's working to educate football fans about how they can help the city eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. As part of Hekker's Vision Zero ambassadorship, each time he punts during a game, it will trigger a reminder to fans inside the stadium and also on Rams radio broadcasts to drive safely.
Take Two host A Martinez spoke to Hekker before he headed off to Dallas to play the Cowboys this weekend.
Hekker's decision to work with Vision Zero was inspired, at least in part, by former St. Louis Rams teammate Isaiah Pead losing part of a leg in a car crash last year:
Yeah, that's definitely something I thought of. We've all lost friends and family to accidents. Actually, a good friend of mine passed in a car crash just over a year and a half ago -- a punter at Michigan State. He was driving a little bit fast on a wet road and went off the side of the road and hit a tree. We've all been affected some way by traffic accidents or vehicular mishaps. Accidents happen, but the more we can be aware about dangerous situations we can avoid, the less likely they are to be fatal.
Hekker feels compelled to support teammates who protest during the national anthem:
I just felt something kind of in my heart, a couple weeks prior to that when people were yelling at Rob [Quinn] during the national anthem and telling him to put his hand down. Just all the backlash coming on these people expressing their freedom. It's a constitutional right, and to have people think less of a person for exercising that right just didn't sit right with me. As a white man, a man of privilege, I think it's important for us to stand in unity with people who are marginalized and not really given a fair hand in our society.
What Hekker would say to fans who don't support the players' protest:
I'd say to them, 'You know what? You're never going to agree with everything that everyone says and feels, but one beauty of living in this country is you don't have to. You may disagree, but you know what, we're all Americans. The more we have conversations to try to understand each other the better.'
Can California's new affordable housing bills really help?
California affordable housing bills SB 2, SB 3 and SB 35 are all crafted to address a growing problem in the state -- one that's making it increasingly difficult for residents to keep a roof over their heads. To find out whether any of the new bills are likely to make a difference, Take Two's A Martinez spoke with Mike Alvidrez, CEO of the Skid Row Housing Trust, which provides permanent housing for the formerly homeless.
I think what we're seeing is how the lack of housing that's affordable is not only affecting homeless people in very obvious ways. It's affecting low income people. But I think that shortage of the amount of housing and the affordability of housing is now creeping upwards into the middle class, and I think we're seeing the impact on families whose kids go to high school, graduate, go to college, graduate... Middle income wage earners are having a hard time, sometimes buying a place 50 miles from where they work. This is a problem affecting a larger segment of the population not only locally but in the state...
All throughout California we've got to figure out how to allow people who can build that housing to do so. There's some evidence some cities have wanted not to allow that, but we're at a crisis point. Employers are finding it hard to attract talent when the job openings, there's no affordable housing. We can't expand the job base. Parents are spending too much time with long commutes, not being able to help with their children's homework. The social costs abound.
National coffee day: Listener picks, plus Cafe de Olla
Friday, September 29, is national coffee day and it’s being celebrated all over SoCal. Whether you take it black or enjoy it with some cream and sugar, today's the day to raise your mug and appreciate the roasted bean that helps get us through the week.
Some SoCal coffee deals available Friday
That feeling when it's Free Coffee Weekend @ 7-Eleven. Get one FREE any size coffee with the 7Rewards app 9/29 to 10/1. Limit 1 Per Member. pic.twitter.com/DouIdlWGEY
— 7-ELEVEn (@7eleven) September 29, 2017
7Eleven for a free coffee when you join their rewards program.
Celebrate #NationalCoffeeDay, 9/29, with a FREE Medium hot coffee when you purchase a Medium or Larger hot coffee! 💕☕️ pic.twitter.com/uEhAeKjCl0
— Dunkin' (@dunkindonuts) September 26, 2017
Dunkin Donuts has a buy one get one deal.
We see your #NationalCoffeeDay and raise you a #NationalCoffeeWeekend. 9/29 -10/1 (US/CAN) https://t.co/D11P0HDZdy pic.twitter.com/56JzvzXs3J
— Krispy Kreme (@krispykreme) September 28, 2017
Krispy Kreme is celebrating all weekend by offering a free small hot or iced coffee.
The list of coffeeshops participating goes on and on.
We asked listeners on Facebook and Twitter for their favorite coffee spots, and now we know -- A LOT of Take Two listeners love a good cup of joe.
@taketwo best cup of joe is from Philz in Hollywood ☕️☕️☕️
— Nervous chemgal1 (@chemgal1) September 27, 2017
I love small roasters who put out a quality cup of coffee in a great environment. Joshua Tree Coffee Company is a favorite.
— Joanne O'Connell (@oconnell_joanne) September 27, 2017
Laura Austin told us about her love for Nice coffee in Downtown LA.
While Matt Martinez let us know Charlie's Coffeehouse in South Pasadena is his favorite spot for a cup.
Also weighing in? KPCC's John Rabe. He went to Tierra Caliente to find out more about his favorite style of coffee, Cafe de olla.
Rabe spoke with Jessie Velasco, one of the people who run Tierra Caliente, and he explained what Cafe de olla is.
"Cafe de olla is a Mexican version of coffee. It's our own little version that we make at home...So, we have our pot right here, always on the stove. What we do is we grab a packet of coffee, we add a little bit of cinnamon, a little bit of sugar cane, all natural ingredients. It's very grainy, just 'cause we don't filter it. Sometimes we use a strainer, but most people just like it straight."
Here's to coffee!