Verde XChange
Publisher of the Planning Report and Metro Investment Report, newsletters that covers public infrastructure investment, and founder and chair of the VerdeXchange Institute; Managing Director of the nonprofit New Schools Better Neighborhoods; Vice Chair of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
What Has Antonio Villaraigosa Done for Los Angeles Lately? The Mayor of Los Angeles has less than a year and a half until he's "termed out" of office. Antonio Villaraigosa's first term was marred by personal troubles and rejection of his education proposals, but he easily won re-election. Critics say his attention is now focused not so much on LA as it is on Washington, now that he's President of the US Conference of Mayors and Chair of the upcoming Democratic National Convention . He's in Washington today, pushing for transportation bills in the House and the Senate, which include his plan called, " America Fast Forward ."
'CleanTech Manufacturing Center' a Casualty of CRA Decision Since the state Supreme Court upheld the abolition of Redevelopment Agencies by Governor Brown and the legislature, more than a few potential babies are going out with the bathwater. One is the " CleanTech Manufacturing Center ," long planed to anchor Mayor Villaraigosa's so-called Cleantech Corridor.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.