March 2010 Archives

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who says that City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana--the man behind the city's drive to cut jobs--has been pulled over in a DUI case. Santana was driving home from a charity event honoring the man whose office may have to prosecute him--DA Steve Cooley.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who says that last year, the metro LA area had 293 buildings that earned the EPA's Energy Star rating--at a savings of nearly 94 million dollars. It's the second year in a row LA has garnered that honor. And, it comes at a time when Mayor Villaraigosa is wrestling with the City Council over potential DWP rate hikes.

In this podcast, you'll hear the LA City Council saying that it will have the final say in whether DWP rates will go up. The 15 member council has voted unanimously to assert control over the issue. The Mayor and the DWP chief say the rate hikes--originally slated to take effect next week--are needed to help the city deal with its financial situation.

Ken Jeffries hits the streets of Woodland Hills to get the pulse of the people concerning the new health care legislation. And, the opinions are as varied as the people who give them.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News sportswriter Jon Gold about the 82-year old Dodgers' play-by-play legend amid word that he'd been briefly hospitalized after falling at home and hitting his head. It's a look back on Scully's career both in LA and in Brooklyn.

Daily News sportswriter Jill Painter tells Ken Jeffries about her mindset and training for the event when she ran it in 2007. She also gives her views on the new course--debuting this Sunday--from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. Organizers promise what they call 'a new landmark every mile'.

As the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament gets into full swing, Daily News sportswriter Jon Gold talks to Ken Jeffries about the appeal of the 65-team field and whether it's a good idea to expand it to 96. Gold also gives Jeffries his Final Four picks...and who he beleives will become National Champion.

Daily News Golf Columnist Jill Painter tells Ken Jeffries that the golfing great's return to the big stage in Augusta, Georgia next month should be a ratings goldmine for ESPN and CBS. (ESPN has the first two days while CBS has the last two). Will Masters organizers bar paparazzi and TMZ cameras? And, will Tiger win his FIFTH green jacket? Painter gives her thoughts on that, as well.

Ken Jeffries talks with some people at the rally, including UTLA President A-J Duffy...who say the district can--and should--look elsewhere for budget cuts.
Today was the deadline for sending out notices of possible layoffs to roughly 52-hundred employees including teachers, nurses, librarians and administrators.

Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov gives Ken Jeffries the 'lowdown' on the Mayor's scheduled annoucement this coming Monday backing the plan...while noting it might be a 'tough sell' for Antonio Villaraigosa coming in the midst of a recession.

The proposed increase--at more than five percent--would boost the average residential power bill by $2.50 a month and would be considered by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners in the coming week. And it's designed to boost local solar energy use, coming a year after LA voters shot down a plan to spend more on solar power.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who says that with LA's cash flow drying up and its credit rating dropping, Mayor Antionio Villaraigosa and City Controller Wendy Greuel have ordered a citywide clampdown on most non-salary expenditures, such as travel. Ironically, the annoucement was made as the Mayor was in DC on city business.

The order does NOT restrict CITY COUNCIL spending, although council members indicate they're doing their best to 'hold the line'. (Some of THEM are also slated to go to Washington next week for a National League of Cities meeting.)

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News reporter Troy Anderson who says a budget shortfall may trigger route scalebacks
from downtown LA to Ventura County and to Lancaster...and/or the raising of fares.
A hearing on this issue is slated for April 2nd.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News sports columnist Tom Hoffarth who looks back on the life of ex-Dodger Willie Davis--who's been found dead at 69.

Hoffarth says Davis...who played for 14 seasons with the Blue...epitomized the speed and grace of those Dodger teams in the '60s and early '70s...that included Maury Wills and Sandy Koufax...and was perhaps unfairly also remembered for three errors committed on consecutive plays in the 1966 World Series.

Ken Jeffries talks with LA-based urban historian Joel Kotkin about new numbers from Sacramento--which show that 41 LA County schools (over half of them within LA Unified) are among the state's lowest-performing campuses.

That makes them eligible for federal grants, but it also forces them to take drastic action such as replacing all staff or perhaps 'going charter'.

Ken Jeffries talks with Deane Leavenworth--TWC's Regional Vice President for Governmental Relations--who says it's a 24/7 operation where subscribers can access--at no extra charge--local and state politicians explaining their positions on various issues (it's also set up a SACRAMENTO bureau to help out). There is also a focus on the ongoing 2010 CENSUS AWARENESS campaign.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News entertainment industry reporter Bob Strauss, who gives HIS views on the TEN-film 'best picture' race..(there could be a 'dark horse' in there somewhere)...and on who he believes will take home the directing and acting statuettes.

Ken Jeffries talks with Cal State Northridge students as they rally on Thursday with professors, LAUSD employees and others to try to prevent the Governor and the Legislature from cutting billions from an already financially-beleagured system.

Ken Jeffries talks with Dr. Rita Singhal, the Medical Director of the county's Office of Women's Health. She says economy, ethnicity and environment are huge factors in the new study...and when it comes to the economy, the recession was just beginning when these numbers were gathered...indicating that the next survey will show things getting WORSE.

The report also shows that African-American women have far higher mortality rates from many chronic diseases...and that Latinas say they have the poorest health status among all ethnic groups.

In this podcast you'll hear school board members as they wrestle with--but eventually accept--sending out up to 52-hundred notices of termination to teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians and other district employees. The district faces a 640-million dollar deficit in the coming school year.

The board's vote DOESN'T necessarily mean layoffs will begin. Union leaders could enter negotiations to make some layoffs unnecessary...and the district has in the past rescinded such notices if more money became available.

Ken Jeffries talks with LAUSD Nurse Stephanie Yellin-Mednick (who also happens to be his wife) about the layoff notices expected to be approved Tuesday--and how they would negatively affect the health of the kids. Besides nurses, thousands of other district personnel are targeted, including teachers, administrators, counselors and librarians.