Hearing From Fast Food Workers & Franchisees As Statewide Wage Increases Loom
April 1 will see fast-food workers’ minimum wage reach $20 an hour, following the passing of AB 1228 through the state legislature in September. The wage increase, now slightly under the cost of living in the state, is a shift that fast-food franchisees across the state are now trying to adapt to through changes in hiring and hourly staffing. Some workers may start to see their hours shortened and their shifts more demanding, while franchisees struggle to balance their books to the new normal. With a lot of change coming up–what’s the pulse of the state’s fast food industry now and what are their expectations for the future? Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in with listeners who are part of the industry and talk to a panel of experts. Joining us today is Tia Koonse, legal & policy research manager at the UCLA Labor Center, Michaela Mendelson, Southern California El Pollo Loco franchisee, and Anneisha Williams, Jack in the Box worker & member of the California Fast Food Workers Union.
What’s Your Kink? Uncovering The Nuanced World Of BDSM
There are many misconceptions out there about BDSM and kink. The former stands for Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission, Sado-Masochism and although it’s used as an umbrella term for all kinds of activities and roles, there are common stereotypes that might pop into one's head. The dominant paradigms include a slender man in a suit and a girl in a dress kneeling in front of him. Or, a conventionally attractive woman in spiked heels and latex with a man kneeling in front of her. While both paradigms may certainly be present in the world of kink, they are no longer the dominant narratives and in many ways, never fully encompassed the diversity of bodies, genders, and proclivities that are present in these communities. Joining us today on AirTalk is Nora Last, owner of Devil Mask Studio, a queer owned and operated Shibari studio located in DTLA, and Jean Franzblau, writer and performer of the show “My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m Kinky; she’s also an intimacy coordinator for the entertainment industry. We want to hear from you. Are you into kink and BDSM? How did you get into it and what does it offer you? Tell us about your experience by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
DomCom, a professional and lifestyle domination convention, takes place in LA from May 29th to June 2nd at the Hilton LAX.
Is LA Lacking Affordable ‘Family-Sized’ Housing? Here’s How That Could Be Impacting The Region
It’s not just homeownership that's getting further out of reach. Even renting an apartment with enough space for kids is increasingly inaccessible to millennial parents. The city of L.A.’s most recent housing planning document estimates that a three-bedroom unit rents for about $3,995 per month, making family-sized apartments unaffordable to households earning less than $159,800 per year. L.A. County’s median household income is about $83,000. LAist housing reporter David Wagner has been reporting on the “family-sized” housing market in the region and how it’s impacting residents in various ways. His new three-part series published today at LAist.com. How is this impacting you? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist. You can find all three of David’s stories here.
‘Are We Dating The Same Guy’?: How To Avoid The Legal Landmines Of Online Dating Whisper Networks
Online dating can be more effort than it's worth, which is why in 2022 a Facebook group focusing on the dating scene in New York was created to help women on apps like Tinder figure out if the men they were speaking to online presented any red flags in prior dating experiences. The group “Are We Dating The Same Guy” has since spawned a “whisper network” of over 200 Facebook pages in cities all over the country. However, since the groups were formed the subjects of many online threads have caught wind of posts alleging past dating behaviors. In January, an Illinois man filed suit against members of the Chicago AWDTSG. And just this week a Santa Monica man did the same against a dozen women in the AWDTSG LA group alleging “libel, sex-based discrimination, gender violence, invasion of privacy and conspiracy…” and seeking $2.6 million in damages as restitution.
Today on AirTalk, we take a look at online dating, how private the posts in “private groups” actually are, and how to avoid lawsuits for expressing your opinions online. Joining to discuss is Sara Ashley O’Brien, a style news reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Ali Arko, an internet defamation & content removal attorney at Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz in Cleveland, Ohio. Have questions or comments about online dating and speech online? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at ATcomments@laist.com.
‘The New Suburbia’ Examines The Melting Pot Of Los Angeles’ Suburbs
The story of suburban growth is one of the dominating narratives of the second half of the 20th century, with predominantly white, middle-class people migrating outward from urban cores across the country. Few cities were immune to this seismic shift, including Los Angeles, which spawned suburbs like Lakewood and South Gate. But the story of Los Angeles’ suburbs does not end there; these cities continued to evolve, and today, the suburbs of LA are no longer majority white. As this shift happened, how did communities adjust? How did different groups create community, or not? And how has the promise of the suburbs changed over time? Through the close examination of data, oral histories, and case studies, historian Becky Nicolaides tackles these questions in her new book, The New Suburbia: How Diversity Remade Suburban Life in Los Angeles After 1945. Today on AirTalk, Nicolaides talks with Larry about LA’s suburbs.
Check out Becky Nicolaides' map of suburbanization in L.A. County here.
Becky Nicolaides will be talking about her book at the Leland R. Weaver Public Library in South Gate this Saturday, March 30 from 2-3 pm.
