One of the simple pleasures in life around the greater Los Angeles area is free parking, an increasingly rare but treasured commodity in our car-crazy region. A bill that just passed out of the California Senate yesterday could threaten what little free parking remains, as the state will encourage cities to eliminate as much free parking availability as possible in return for increased transportation funding. This comes at the same time as cities, like L.A., are asking the state government for permission to increase parking fines. Decreasing free parking is meant to increase public transportation use, which is good for all of us—a beneficial byproduct for the state is a healthy increase in parking revenues. Is the elimination of free parking, as annoying as it may be, ultimately better for all of us?
The two behemoths in the $4.4 billion worldwide concert industry are merging. Now that they control every aspect of the live music business, it will make it nearly impossible for independent promoters to compete, immediately killing off competition with the simple approval from the Department of Justice. Live Nation/Ticketmaster is publicly saying that this will be a huge win for fans, while critics are saying that this will leave fans with no other alternatives. We find out what this means for promoters, fans, and musicians. Will it be a great win for fans? Or will this be the day the music died.
Montana’s become the third state where physician assisted suicide is legal – is the precedent in big sky country a clue as to changing attitudes in the U.S.? Did they legalize euthanasia or merely not find any law or public policy saying that it was illegal? We discuss the fight for and against the “right to die”.
This week, by a margin divided along party lines, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to encourage companies to disclose the effects of climate change on their business. Hold up—so that means global warming is real?? Some Republican commissioners equate the vote with a kind of political endorsement of an environmentalist agenda, but social investment groups say investors have a right to know whether changing sea levels might increase the risk of claims in some areas, or if certain goods produce significantly higher greenhouse gases. Is this a mandate that gives real incentive to green investing, and if so, how much money with flow?
Patt Morrison is known for its innovative discussions of local politics and culture, as well as its presentation of the effects of national and world news on Southern California.
