LA Council Approves Ethics Reforms For Ballot. Critics Say The Changes Are Watered Down
The Los Angeles City Council moved closer Tuesday to placing on the November ballot a package of ethics reforms designed to fight corruption, but the panel dumped key proposals in the process.
Council members unanimously directed the city attorney to draft ballot language for the package, which involves a number of changes to the city charter. The reforms follow successive City Hall scandals that have shaken the public’s trust in elected city officials. Among the biggest proposals: one that would triple the maximum fines imposed on elected officials and others who violate city ethics rules, including campaign finance laws. It’s been more than a year and a half since City Hall was rocked by the release of audio recordings of some members making racist and derogatory remarks in a secret conversation about political redistricting — the event that prompted the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Reform that proposed the changes. Joining us this morning on AirTalk is Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of politics at Pomona College; was/is also a member of the the Los Angeles Governance Reform Project (LAGRP).
Read the full LAist story here.
Did The California Highway Patrol Overreact To Protests At UCLA?
CalMatters has reviewed video footage from inside the UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment and found that California High Patrol response teams violated their own guidelines. The footage shows officers appearing to aim their weapons at the eye level of protesters, which goes against guidelines stating that these types of munitions “shall not be aimed at the head, neck or any other vital organs.” Weapons can accidentally discharge and in 2021 in the wake of George Floyd protests, California outlawed the practice of shooting non-lethal munitions at crowds unless there is “threat to life or serious bodily injury.” Joining us to discuss his reporting is investigative reporter for CalMatters, Sergio Olmos and recently retired LAPD lieutenant with expertise in use of force and crowd management techniques, Jeff Wenninger.
New Book Weighs The Pros And Cons Of Mega-Popular Weight Loss Drugs
In his new book, Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs, author Johann Hari charts the meteoric rise of medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which first emerged as treatments for diabetes. He also chronicles his own experience taking Ozempic, which left him thinner, but with plenty of questions unanswered. While the drugs have surged in popularity, there is still much that isn’t known about how they work and what their long-term effects may be. What can these drugs actually do? What are some of the risks? And what’s it like to be on them? Today on AirTalk, Johann Hari joins us to talk through the science, psychology and cultural effects of weight loss drugs.
Neurodiversity At Work: Advice For Both Businesses And Employees
We continue with our week-long series on neurodiversity, a rising umbrella term used to describe people with variation in their mental function. It can be used to describe people with things like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorder and many other conditions. Today, we focus on neurodiversity in the workplace, the various challenges neurotypical people can experience, and advice for both individuals and employers for how to improve the situation. Joining to discuss is Devon Price, social psychologist, professor at Loyola University Chicago, and the author of the book Unmasking Autism (Harmony, 2022), and Alex Gilbert, coach, CEO and founder of Cape-Able, a consulting and coaching organization that supports individuals with learning disabilities and works with companies.
To Cut Slack Or To Create One: What About Project-Management Apps Help Maintain A Relationship?
A recent story from The New York Times brought to light an answer to an issue that generations of relationships have attempted to resolve…how do you keep up with a loved one’s schedule and let them know about your availability? The piece lays out how people in recent years have attempted to answer this problem by using project management software, like Slack, to keep up with a loved one’s activities and whereabouts. Although it seems jarring to some, it does lay out one’s calendar, photo gallery, or to-do lists in a way that verbal communication sometimes can’t compete with. But is this a real answer to building stronger bonds in a relationship or some romantically bureaucratic gesture to stay organized?
Today on AirTalk, we dig into this topic with Erin Griffith, New York Times reporter covering tech companies and Silicon Valley, her recent piece is “Honey, I Love You. Didn’t You See My Slack About It?.” We’ll also get expert insights from Alyssa Westring, professor of management at DePaul University; she’s also author of the book “Parents Who Lead: The Leadership Approach you Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career and Create a Richer Life”
