Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Fast Food Fail, Skid Row Running Club and Finance for Kids
LA’s ban on new fast food restaurants in the city’s poorest neighborhoods hasn’t reduced obesity. And, Press Play producer Anna Scott profiles a criminal courts judge who’s started a running club for homeless and formerly-homeless people on Skid Row.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenLA’s ban on new fast food restaurants in the city’s poorest neighborhoods hasn’t reduced obesity. And in neighborhoods throughout the city, over half of residents don’t make enough money to meet basic obligations like housing and health care. Then, Press Play producer Anna Scott profiles a criminal courts judge who’s started a running club for homeless and formerly-homeless people on Skid Row. How do you teach kids about personal finance? A new book is here to help. Finally, tech columnist Nick Bilton and actress Ashley Judd are in hot water with the internet, and our web regular Xeni Jardin is none-too-pleased either. Bilton belittled cancer. Judd is trying to sue Twitter trolls.
Banner Image: Judge Craig Mitchell leads a team of runners from Skid Row; Credit: Skid Row Marathon
In this episode
5 storiesFast Food Ban Hasn’t Reduced Obesity
A new report says that LA’s ban on new fast food restaurants in the city’s poorest neighborhoods hasn’t reduced obesity. No one thought the ordinance, which was unanimously passed by the City Council in 2008, would solve the obesity problem in South LA. But the report says it’s had no discernible effect whatsoever.
Read the story9 minHow Expensive is LA? $73,000 Annually, Just to Get By
Los Angeles is an expensive place to live, though we’re often told it’s better than San Francisco or New York. The liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute surveys the region each year and comes up with a family budget -- the amount of income necessary to cover health care, housing, food and taxes. Just the essentials, no saving.
Read the story7 minSkid Row Running Club
Downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row is known as a place of last resort for those without homes. But amid the depressing stories of drug abuse, mental illness and general misery, there is hope. Press Play producer Anna Scott profiles a criminal courts judge who has started a running club for homeless and formerly-homeless people on Skid Row.
Read the story7 minPersonal Finance and Kids
Should you tell your kids how much money you make? Should they have to work in order to get an allowance? How much should they spend and how much should they save? New York Times’ personal finance columnist Ron Lieber has a new book that tackles all of these questions and more.
Read the story14 minWeb Roundup: Ashley Judd Sues the Internet
The trolls attacked after Ashley Judd tweeted negative comments about an Arkansas basketball team. And now Judd is attacking back. Also in our web roundup this week: New York Times tech columnist Nick Bilton is under fire for using bunk science in a column about cancer and personal tech devices .
Read the story8 min
