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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Legalizing Pot in California and High Salaries at the LA County Fair

    No fewer than 17 different groups are working to legalize recreational marijuana in California. Can they all coalesce behind one ballot measure? Then, the L.A. County Fair has lost money for years...while also paying its CEO more than triple the salary of other fairs’ executives.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Nov 3, 2015 • 50m Listen

    No fewer than 17 different groups are working on measures to legalize recreational marijuana in California. Can all these different pot proponents coalesce behind one ballot measure?

    Then, the L.A. County Fair has lost money for years...while also paying its CEO more than triple the salary of other fairs’ executives.

    And L.A. leaders are finally trying to fix some of the parking problems in Los Angeles. The City Council’s Transportation Committee is going ahead with several reforms recommended by a working group set up by Mayor Garcetti.

    Next, when Saigon fell in 1975, many members of the political and military elite of South Vietnam fled to America…where they continued to fight left-leaning journalists and those who dared to question the anti-communist cause. That conflict led to murder in places like Orange County, San Francisco and Houston, and the murders of these journalists remain unsolved.

    Finally, Highland Park has become almost synonymous with gentrification; when it comes to food, however, the new isn’t necessarily replacing the old. The neighborhood’s seen a lot of restaurants open up. But these places aren’t especially upscale, and the old standbys seem to be popular as ever.

    Banner Image Credit: Prensa 420

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:17

      Legalize It

      No fewer than 17 different groups are working on measures to legalize recreational marijuana in California. Ten are already gathering signatures to get on next year’s ballot. And this week, the tech billionaire Sean Parker stepped into the ring, backing yet another initiative. His measure won the endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

      Read the story
      8 min
    2. 8:57

      L.A.'s Questionable County Fair

      The Los Angeles County Fair debuted in 1922, and was once the biggest agricultural fair in the country. Because it’s held on county grounds, the nonprofit behind the fair pays no property taxes, and is also exempt from most income taxes.

      Read the story
      7 min
    3. 16:34

      Fixing L.A. Parking

      Parking is broken in Los Angeles. Sixty-dollar parking tickets, street sweeping at the crack of dawn and exclusive resident-only parking on city streets are just a few common gripes. Well, L.A. leaders are finally trying to fix some of these problems.

      Read the story
      8 min
    4. 25:58

      Terror in Little Saigon

      When Saigon fell in 1975, many members of the political and military elite of South Vietnam fled to America…where they continued to fight left-leaning journalists and those who dared to question the anti-communist cause.

      Read the story
      15 min
    5. 42:33

      Highland Park Cuisine

      Highland Park is synonymous with gentrification. Our public radio colleagues at Marketplace even set up a whole office there to report on the changing demographics. When it comes to food, however, the new isn’t necessarily replacing the old. The neighborhood’s seen a lot of new restaurants open up.

      Read the story
      7 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

      News

    In this episode

    5 stories
    1. 0:178 min

      Legalize It

    2. 8:577 min

      L.A.'s Questionable County Fair

    3. 16:348 min

      Fixing L.A. Parking

    4. 25:5815 min

      Terror in Little Saigon

    5. 42:337 min

      Highland Park Cuisine

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand