LAPD Admits Racial Profiling; Coliseum Scandal Highlights Rave
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For the first time, an LA Police Department investigation concludes that an officer has engaged in racial profiling, specifically, a white cop who targets Latino drivers. Is he just one bad apple or is the LAPD opening a can of worms? Also, we update the case of bribery and embezzlement against former managers of LA's Memorial Coliseum and promoters of what law enforcement calls "raves" and the promoters call "electric dance concerts." Is the Coliseum down on its luck or keeping up with the times? On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, big trouble for the Affordable Care Act.
Banner image: Guests revel at the 2010 Electric Daisy Carnival. Photo by Caesar Sebastian/flickr
Main Topic
Conservatives Justices Take Hard Line on Individual Mandate ()
One major question raised by President Obama's Affordable Care Act is, just how much power does the so-called Commerce Clause give the federal government? Today, the US Supreme Court heard arguments about the so-called "mandate," which requires that Americans buy health insurance or pay a penalty. We hear what the justices wanted to know and what answers they got from the Obama Administration and its challengers. (Special thanks to Gideon Brower for production assistance.)
Guests:
- Jess Bravin: Wall Street Journal, @JessBravin
- Andrew Cohen: CBS Radio News, @CBSAndrew
- Dahlia Lithwick: Slate.com, @Dahlialithwick
- Carrie Severino: Judicial Crisis Network, @jcnseverino
- Ron Pollack: Families USA, @FamiliesUSA
Links:
- New York Times poll on Americans and the 2010 healthcare law
- Bravin on conservative justices challenging government over health law
- Cohen on the justices and the individual mandate
- Slate on conservative justices' questions about the mandate
- Severino on today's arguments tilting against the mandate
- Families USA guide to the healthcare case before the Supreme Court
- Carroll on Medicaid expansion, the other important issue before the Supreme Court
Making News
First Case of Racial Profiling Confirmed at LAPD ()
Today's LA Times reports that Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has signed off on a recommendation that one of his officers be found guilty of racial profiling. Long-time civil rights advocate, Police Commissioner John Mack says, "We've come a very long way." Charges of racial profiling by the LAPD are familiar. What's new is the Department's finding that — at least once — it really happened.
Guests:
- Joel Rubin: Los Angeles Times, @joelrubin
- Peter Bibring: ACLU of Southern California, @ACLU_SoCal
Links:
Main Topic
Coliseum Scandal Casts Spotlight on Rave Culture ()
Last Friday, two former executives of the Memorial Coliseum, two rave promoters and two other contractors were indicted on 29 counts of bribery, embezzlement, conspiracy and conflict of interest. Today's LA Times reports that one of the contractors is still at large and may be out of the country. District Attorney Steven Cooley says millions of public dollars were stolen and that prosecution will be conducted "aggressively." Jointly run by the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the State of California, the Coliseum has hosted two Summer Olympic Games, John Kennedy's nomination as President, several world series and Super Bowls, and a mass conducted by Pope John Paul II. But since 2005, almost all the events there have been raves, also known as "electronic dance concerts."
Guests:
- Linda Deutsch: Associated Press, @AP
- Dave Brooks: Venues Today, @venues2dave
Links:
Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert 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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