Investigating the Department of Children and Family Services
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Two top officials of the LA County Child Welfare Department have filed claims against the department for deliberately falsifying at least three reports on child fatalities. The department's been under fire since an independent investigator said it violated state law by failing to make public at least 60 such cases. We hear from Department Director Trish Ploehn. Also, the Westlake neighborhood near MacArthur Park is in a state of upheaval after a fatal shooting by the LAPD, two nights of street protests and more than 20 arrests. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Gulf oil spill and Middle East peace talks have diverted President Obama from what voters care about most: the economy. Is it too late to make a difference before November's elections?
Making News
Third Day of Protest after Police Kill Manuel Jamines ()
Chief Charlie Beck and other officials planned to attend a community meeting tonight in Westlake, the MacArthur Park neighborhood where an officer shot and killed Manuel Jamines on Sunday after they say he threatened them with a knife. Police in riot gear arrested 22 protesters last night and four the night before. We get two perspectives.
Guests:
- Jorge-Mario Cabrera: Spokesman, CHIRLA
- Nicole Bershon: Inspector General, LA Police Commission
Main Topic
Child Abuse and County Bureaucracy ()
Last month, an independent investigator found that LA County’s Department of children and Family Services violated state law at least 60 times by failing to publicly disclose the deaths of children from abuse and neglect while they were under County supervision. Now, two senior officials have filed claims against the County, claiming the Department purposefully falsified at least three child fatality reports.
Guests:
- Garrett Therolf: Reporter, Los Angeles Times, @gtherolf
- Mike Gennaco: Chief Attorney, LA County Office of Independent Review
- Trish Ploehn: Director, LA County Department of Children and Family Services
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Main Topic
Obama on the Economy…at Last ()
The November elections are less than two months away, and Democrats have their backs against the wall. As he tours the country this week, President Obama is now pushing some Republican-sounding proposals for boosting the economy. Monday in Milwaukee, he was in campaign mode. Today, he's in Cleveland to unveil some business-friendly proposals.
Guests:
- Ben White: Reporter, Politico.com, @morningmoneyben
- Glenn Hubbard: former Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers
- David Sirota: nationally syndicated columnist, @davidsirota
- Gail Russell Chaddock: Congressional Reporter, Christian Science Monitor
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Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
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