Los Angeles has long been recognized as a hub for diverse culinary experiences, from upscale dining establishments to humble food trucks.
Yet, the vibrancy of this food scene is under threat as ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities cause significant anxiety among restaurant employees, many of whom are immigrants or undocumented workers.
Recent reports indicate that many of these essential workers are choosing to stay home out of fear of deportation, leading to staff shortages across the city’s eateries.
Simultaneously, patrons have begun to limit their outings, resulting in a downturn in business for restaurants that were already grappling with the lingering effects of the pandemic and recent wildfires.
On today’s episode of AirTalk, we dive deeper into the pressures facing the restaurant industry in Los Angeles.
Karla Marie Sanford, a staff writer at the LA Times, sheds light on these issues, while Brittney Valles-Gordon, a founding board member of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, discusses potential strategies that restaurants might adopt to address labor shortages and community fears.
Kevin Klowden, Executive Director of the Milken Institute, provides insight into the economic implications these immigration policies might have on the broader Los Angeles economy.
In addition to the restaurant industry’s challenges, California is experiencing an unprecedented expansion of its battery storage capacity, a crucial component for supporting the state’s electric grid.
As of 2019, California’s electric grid boasted approximately 770 Megawatts (MW) of battery storage capacity.
Fast forward to recent developments, and this figure has skyrocketed to more than 15,000 MW, which is adequate to power over 10 million homes for several hours when needed.
This significant increase in battery storage is helping to stabilize California’s energy supply, balancing the daily fluctuations in power demand.
During the day, power usage tends to decrease as most people are at work, while it surges in the evening when they return home.
According to Severin Borenstein, professor and faculty director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, this surge in battery storage infrastructure is one factor alleviating concerns over blackouts this summer.
Borenstein will discuss how these battery systems operate and their implications as California heads deeper into the summer months.
Joining him are William Walsh from Southern California Edison and Rajit Gadh from UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Research Center, who will explore both the rapid expansion of battery technology and the potential drawbacks associated with such systems.
On another note, music enthusiasts will be excited to learn about a new book delving into the history of the iconic Record Plant Studios, known for producing legendary albums like Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” and the Eagles’ “Hotel California.”
Authored by music journalists Martin Porter and David Goggin, the book titled “Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studios,” recounts the evolution of this influential studio that emerged in 1968 and dominated the 1970s music scene.
Today on AirTalk, Porter and Goggin will join the discussion to share more about their work and the significance of the Record Plant Studios in the landscape of American music production.
In international news, the U.S. government has made a contentious decision to halt certain weapons shipments previously pledged to Ukraine.
This decision comes amid growing concerns about the depletion of U.S. military stockpiles, which has prompted officials to rethink their commitments.
As Ukraine faces escalating attacks from Russian forces in its ongoing war, this pause in military support introduces uncertainty regarding the continued aid that the U.S. can provide.
Nick Schifrin, foreign affairs and defense correspondent with PBS NewsHour, will provide insight into this crucial situation, alongside Brian Taylor, a political science professor at Syracuse University.
In a different realm of public service, NASA’s television service, “NASA+” is expanding its reach by partnering with Netflix, allowing the streaming service to feature its programming.
This move is part of a strategy to attract a broader audience and provide more engaging content related to space exploration, even as other nonprofit services like C-SPAN search for sustainable pathways to distribute public affairs programming.
With traditional cable viewership declining, C-SPAN’s future may hinge on its ability to transition to more modern platforms while retaining its audience.
Todd Spangler, business editor for Variety, will join us to discuss these developments in the world of television and the challenges that not-for-profit networks face in an evolving media landscape.
Lastly, for those navigating the ever-expanding universe of streaming content, this week’s TV Talk segment offers recommendations for shows that are worth your time.
Liz Shannon-Miller, senior entertainment editor at Consequence, and Melanie McFarland, TV critic for Salon, will help cut through the noise to bring viewers essential updates on must-watch programming and those that might fall short of expectations.
Today’s discussions on AirTalk highlight the intertwined nature of cultural, economic, and technological issues facing Los Angeles and beyond, capturing the realities of a complex and rapidly changing world.
image source from：laist
