Questions about Safety at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant
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As Japan copes with Fukushima Daiichi, Edison's nuclear plant at San Onofre has drawn scrutiny, not just because it's near an earthquake fault that could cause a tsunami. We hear about the "safety culture." Is it declining? Could it lead to an accident? Should the public know more? Also, about one-third of LA City workers have said, "no" to a pay cut that's crucial to balancing Mayor Villaraigosa's budget. Will he make good on his threat of furlough days that will cost them more and disrupt city services? On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, heavy weather for the "Arab Spring" in Syria.
Banner image: Japanese reporters leave the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant, which sits at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in north San Diego County, on March 15, 2011. Photo: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
Making News
LA City Unions Vote on the Mayor's Labor Deal ()
LA Mayor Villaraigosa has been telling the anti-labor Governor of Wisconsin that "collective bargaining works." He gave 19,000 city workers a choice between a four percent pay cut to finance health benefits when they retire as opposed to seven weeks of furloughs that would cost them even more. Today, the vote was announced, and more than 6,000 of the 19,000 said, "no deal."
Guests:
- David Zahniser: Los Angeles Times, @DavidZahniser
- Matt Szabo: Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Villaraigosa
- Julie Butcher: SEIU Local 721
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Main Topic
San Onofre's 'Safety Culture' ()
USC Engineering Professor Najmedin Meshkati is not opposed to nuclear power, but he says the "safety culture" at nuclear power plants is deteriorating. Tomorrow, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on safety issues at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station three miles south of San Clemente. Yesterday, Meshkati wrote an op-ed in the LA Times titled "How Safe is San Onofre?" We speak with the professor and with Gil Alexander, spokesman for Southern California Edison. .
Guests:
- Najmedin Meshkati: University of Southern California
- Gil Alexander: Southern California Edison
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Guest Interview
The US Weighs Options against Syria ()
Protesters in Libya have help from the US and other countries, but those in Syria are on their own against another regime that's willing to kill its own people. Despite international outrage, Syria's use of tanks and guns against political protesters is likely to keep President Bashar Assad in power. What does that reveal about diplomatic realities in the Middle East? Does the Obama Administration have a consistent policy?
Photo: Syrians protesters in the city of Banias hold a sign that reads "The first results in lifting the state of emergency is over 100 deaths" on April 26, 2011. Photo: -/AFP/Getty Images
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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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