December 2009 Archives

Ken Jeffries talks with Syracuse University Pop Culture and Television Professor Robert Thompson--who gives context to the retransmission fee dispute that had Fox threatning to pull its programming off Time Warner Cable in the San Fernando Valley (and elsewhere across the counry).

Ken Jeffries talks with Wayne Friedman with Mediapost.com, who details the retransmission fee dispute that had Fox threatning to pull its programming off Time Warner Cable in the San Fernando Valley (and elsewhere across the counry).

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who says the city of LA and the Chamber of Commerce are engaged in a competition to try and provide discount drug prescriptions to residents. It's raised concerns that the two programs--which have nearly the same names...may be confused with each other.

This is a repeat podcast from November 29th..in which I (Ken Jeffries) ask people at a Woodland Hills shopping mall if the recession would affect their Christmas. Some of the answers may SURPRISE you. And--by the way--from my family to yours--have a Happy Holiday.

Ken Jeffries talks with LA County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Bill Allen, who says the 14-page report is designed to be a guide for the county--(and its 88 cities)--to dig out of the recession.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News reporter Troy Anderson and USC Political Analyst Sherry Bebitch-Jeffee regarding Mark Ridley-Thomas' reversal of a request for 700-thousasnd dollars to renovate his aging office space.
In the wake of public and media criticism of the money that was to be spent on the project, Ridley-Thomas has now asked that it be referred back to the county's chief executive officer.

Ken Jeffries talks with L-A County Sheriff's Dept. Spokesman Steve Whitmore in the wake of an audit that shows 348 Sheriff's Dept. employees had worked the equivalent of an extra six months a year in overtime.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who says Paul Krekorian won't be able to be sworn in until after the first of the year because the City Clerk's office was unable to complete certification of the December 8th election by last Wednesday--when Krekorian's new collegues began their annual vacation.

In the meantime, Orlov says it sets up a nightmare scenario of elections to fill Krekorian's current ASSEMBLY seat.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who has conducted an end-of-the-year interview with the Mayor.
Despite what Orlov says is all evidence to the contrary, Antonio Villaraigosa insists this past year was one of the best in "hizzoner's" nearly six years as the city's chief executive.

Ken Jeffries talks with Christopher Thornberg of West LA-based Beacon Economics...who looks at the numbers.
They show that the unemployment rate dropped to 12-point-3 percent from 12-and-a-half percent. Even so, employers cut over ten-thousand jobs in November, meaning many job seekers either gave up the hunt or left the state altogether.

Ken Jeffries talks with Mary Heim of the State Department of Finance, who says California's population grew by less than one percent in 2009--one of the lowest rates on record. The only time the state has seen a slower growth rate was from 1994 to 1996.
And she says much of this trend is due to the sour economy.

Ken Jeffries talks with a spokeswoman with the Enviromental Working Group, who says LA's tap water quality ranks 83rd among 100 U-S cities...and she recommends that LA residents get water filters to help protect themselves from chemical pollutants.

Also, the LA City Council's Public Safety Committee has approved the idea of starting a gang counselor academy...which LAPD Chief Charlie Beck says is a big step toward stemming the city's gang problem. The Committee's decision now goes to the FULL Council--for a final decision.

The LA City Council's Public Safety Committee has approved the idea of starting a gang counselor academy...which LAPD Chief Charlie Beck says is a big step toward stemming the city's gang problem.
The Committee's decision now goes to the FULL Council--for a final decision.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who says Antonio Villaraigosa is forming a 'kitchen cabinet' of mostly unpaid advisors to help him address the city's jobs issue. The Mayor will also appoint a jobs 'czar'..which WILL be a paid position.

Orlov also looks at last week's City Council election....and how the LA Police Protective League may have to deal with criticism that it spent a lot of money...in backing the losing candidate.

Ken Jeffries talks with a woman who helps run a Woodland Hills lot...she says sometimes the trees "talk" to you..if they're the ones for you. She addresses pricing, and how to take care of your tree.

Ken Jeffries talks with Assemblyman Paul Krekorian who says he has unfinished business in Sacramento before he's sworn in as LA Councilman for the Second District. He says once he joins the Council--he plans to "zero in" on reforming the laws on independent campaign expenditures....a key issue in his successful race against the well-funded Christine Essel. But, he also weighs in on other items such as jobs..and the city's attempts to regulate marijuana clinics.

And, a San Fernando Valley Rabbi offers his thoughts about the beginning of Hanukkah. The eight-day Jewish "Festival of Lights"--begins Friday evening.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who says the LA City Council has put off a vote on an ordinance aimed at regulating medical marijuana dispensaries--until January. He says Council members want more time to consider restrictions on where dispensaries can be located. Officials estimate that up to a thousand dispensaries are operating right now within the city...most of them illegally.

Orlov also analyzes this week's election for the vacant Council District 2 seat....where Assemblyman Paul Krekorian easy defeated Christine Essel.

Ken Jeffries talks with UCLA Anderson economic forecaster Jerry Nickelsburg who says we're OUT of the recession but that recovery is also slow...and that California's unemployment rate should rise slightly above the 12-and-a-half percent it is today--before receding.

Also, the City Council approves a cap on medical marijuana dispensaries.
The cap is at 70, but the panel allows those that originaly registered with the city to remain open...meaning around 186 others may be 'grandfathered' in. And, the LA school District has okayed a budget that calls for more than five-thousand job cuts over the next two years.

The City Council approves a cap on medical marijuana dispensaries.
The cap is at 70, but the panel allows those that originaly registered with the city to remain open...meaning around 186 others may be 'grandfathered' in.

Also, the LA school District has okayed a budget that calls for more than five-thousand job cuts over the next two years.

The LA City Council's Public Safety Commitee--meeting Monday--has requested that City Attorney Carmen Trutanich meet with the FULL Council on Friday.

Councilmembers say they want to know if Trutanich is filing criminal charges against AEG, the ownwer of Staples Center, which housed the Jackson event in July. Councilwoman Jan Perry says that if charges hang over AEG's head, it's not likely the entertainment giant will donate its share of the 3-point two million dollars the city says it cost to pay for police overtime, among other things.

Ken Jeffries talks with City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who details the continuing battle between LA Councilman Dennis Zine...and the head of Lone Star Security, Bruce Boyer. Zine has been on a campaign to try and ban the mobile advertising trailers that Boyer and Lone Star have--around the San Fernando Valley.

Ken Jeffries talks with City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who fills us in on the runoff this Tuesday between Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and Christine Essel to fill the seat left vacant when Wendy Greuel jumped from the City Council to the post of City Controller.

Ken Jeffries talks with Robert Thompson--the Founding Director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. Thompson looks at the tentative deal...what its chances are of getting government approval...its possible impact on NBC-Universal jobs in the San Fernando Valley...and its effect on what you would see on TV and on your computer screen.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who looks at a judge's threat to close down an Eagle Rock dispensary...and the problems getting an LA law on the books...before the end of the year.

Ken Jeffries talks with former KABC personality Doug McIntyre who begins a Page One column today in the Daily News...and a podcast on dailynews.com.

Also, Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov tells us about some possible future water woes in the City of Angels...and he fills us in on the hospitalization of a top city official.

LA County Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding outlines the final round of the free H1N1 vaccination clinics...and says beginning next week, the vaccine will be distributed primarily through PRIVATE health care providers.

Also, Governor Schwarzenegger gets a "sneak peek" at the annual L-A Auto Show...and...at a news conference...talks about the increasing number of ALTERNATIVE FUEL vehicles on display. The show runs from December 4th through the 13th at the Convention Center.

Ken Jeffries talks with KNX 1070 Newsradio Sports Anchor Randy Kerdoon who gives HIS take...now that Woods has pulled out of his own golf tournament this weekend in Thousand Oaks...and has also cancelled what was to be today's news conference promoting the event. Woods cited injuries suffered in his recent well-publicized traffic accident outside his Florida home. However, "official" details of what led up to the accident are few and far between...leading to widespread tabloid speculation.