Which Way, L.A.?
Crisis in the Catholic Church; LA's Traffic and Budget Woes
Mayor Villaraigosa today changed his argument on increasing electricity rates. From "we need the money for renewable energy," it's become "do it now or the city goes bankrupt." Also, a plea to make public transit more "user-friendly." On our rebroadcast of To the Point, America's healthcare debate caused a schism between Roman Catholic bishops and 59,000 nuns. In Europe, the sex-abuse scandal has reached into the Vatican.
By Warren Olney • • 53m ListenMayor Villaraigosa says that if the Department of Water and Power can't raise its rates, Los Angeles might go bankrupt. We get the latest in that long-running dispute and ask whether more drivers would give up their cars if public transit were more "user-friendly." On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, America's healthcare debate caused a schism between Roman Catholic bishops and 59,000 nuns. In Europe, the sex-abuse scandal has reached into the Vatican. What's the role of priestly celibacy? Is there a crisis of confidence in all-male authority?
Banner image: Cardinal Sean Brady (L), Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop hands a copy of the Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland to a child at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, Northern Ireland, on March 20, 2010. Photo: Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesSex Abuse, Celibacy and Politics in the Roman Catholic Church
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops supports universal healthcare, but took a stand against the Senate bill on the grounds that it might allow federal money to subsidize abortions. It turned out that many pro-life members of Congress were listening to other voices.
Read the story27 minMayor Says without Electricity Rate Increase, It's Lights Out!
Mayor Villaraigosa has been pushing for higher electricity rates to help the Department of Water and Power convert to renewable energy. Some city council members are skeptical. Today, in a briefing paper, the Mayor issued a warning: if the rates don't go up, Los Angeles might go bankrupt.
Read the story10 minPublic Transportation in a Time of Budget Cuts
Los Angeles Times business columnist David Lazarus doesn't ride public transit to work every day but, in today's paper, he wrote that he would — if it were more "user-friendly." After a week of trying it while his car was in the shop, he says, "it's almost as if dozens of entities" in the regional network "are conspiring to make the system as…
Read the story16 min
