Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Silver Lake vs Airbnb, Deep Undercover and Coming of Age
Angelenos take on Airbnb, an undercover agent leads the sting against Sen. Leland Yee and Raymond Chow, and our weekly film roundup.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenAngelenos continue to rent out their apartments using Airbnb, even though it’s not technically legal - and that’s turning neighbor against neighbor in Silverlake. We find out what’s happening there and across the country. We also hear about the deep undercover agent who helped authorities arrest Sen. Leland Yee and Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow. And we meet the woman behind a new coming-of-age film that’s generating a lot of buzz.
Banner Image Credit: David Robinson
In this episode
5 storiesSilver Lake vs Airbnb
The Los Angeles Department of City Planning sent out a memo recently making it clear that short-term rentals are illegal in most of the city’s residential areas. But people are doing it anyway -- renting out their home or their retrofitted garages to visitors.
Read the story9 minThe Business of Airbnb
Angelenos aren’t the only ones concerned with the proliferation of Airbnb rentals. Cities and neighborhoods all over the country are grappling with how to deal with this new kind of business model. Meanwhile, the 6 year old company continues to grow. Airbnb is currently raising capital at a valuation of more than $10 billion.
Read the story7 minUndercover Agent U.C.E. 4599
This week, State Senator Leland Yee was one of two dozen people arrested by the FBI in a Bay Area sting. Most of the headlines have focused on Yee and his relationship with a one-time gangster known as Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow. But there’s another figure who played a big role in this story: “U.C.E. 4599.”
Read the story9 minCesar Chavez, Noah, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
In today’s film roundup, we talk about the new Cesar Chavez biopic, the biblical epic Noah, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest return to the screen. Also, our guests defend Gwyneth Paltrow against all the haters out there.
Read the story12 minIt Felt Like Love
Eliza Hitman’s first film It Felt Like Love won rave reviews at Sundance last year and is getting buzz around the country. The movie looks at that awkward time in a girl’s life when she’s not really a girl and not really a woman and not sure who she is at all.
Read the story9 min
