LA near Accord on Skid Row 'Tent Cities'

Making News

Red Line to Be Extended ()

In 1985, subterranean methane exploded in LA's Fairfax District and a major business burned down.  LA's Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman led Congress to ban any tunneling in that part of town.  But since then, westside traffic congestion has become so bad that Waxman is leading an effort to repeal his own law.

Guests:

• Noam Levey: Congressional Reporter for the Los Angeles Times, @NoamLevey

Links:

• Levey's article on Waxman's campaign to reverse his 1985 measure on tunneling

Main Topic

LA near Accord on Skid Row 'Tent Cities' ()

LA Police Chief William Bratton is pushing a deal with the ACLU to allow homeless people to sleep on the streets of Skid Row at night, but not in the daytime.  He says that means no more of the tent cities that breed filth and crime. A federal court has ruled that arresting people for sleeping on sidewalks is “cruel and unusual punishment,” because there are not enough beds for almost 2000 homeless people.  Bratton says if the City Council fails to approve the compromise tomorrow, the alternative is endless appeals that will make saving the neighborhood impossible.

Guests:

• Becky Dennison: Co-Director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network
• Estella Lopez: Executive Director of the Central City East Association

Links:

• LA Times article on plan to end 'tent cities'

Reporter's Notebook

Tracing the Source of the E-Coli Outbreak ()

The E.coli outbreak in spinach has killed one person and made at least 113 people ill in 21 states.  The Food and Drug Administration has warned Americans not to eat fresh spinach until the problem is finally resolved.  But one professor of food safety says that means tracing ground water in the Salinas Valley which is more art than science.

Guests:

• Dean Cliver: Professor of Food Safety at UC Davis