Patt Morrison for Tuesday, July 13, 2010

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

1-3 p.m.

 

CALL-IN @ 866-893-5722, 866-893-KPCC; OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

 

 

1:06 – 1:19

OPEN

 

 

1:21 – 1:39

Give me your money or else: debt collectors ratchet up the pressure

As if asking someone to pay you back repeatedly wasn't unpleasant enough, some debt collectors have taken the art to a new level.  Harassing phone calls, abusive language and even physical violence have made their way into the world of debt collection as collectors fight (all to literally) to pry money out of the hands of many Americans who simply don't have it anymore. The comforting fact in all of this is that actions such as these are illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1977. But is that only “cold comfort” to Americans unable to pay their bills?   

 

Guest:

Robert Andrews, senior analyst specializing in the debt industry at research film IBISWorld.

CALL HIM: TBD

Contact:  Savannah Haspel [savannahh@ibisworld.com]│ Vice President Media Relations

IBISWorld, Inc. │

Direct: 310 866 5044 

 

Representative of Association of Credit and Collection Professionals

 

 

 

1:41 – 1:58:30

Countdown to Zero

Are you ready for a REALLY scary movie?  Countdown to Zero by producer Lawrence Bender (An Inconvenient Truth and Inglourious Basterds) illuminates just how close we could be to witnessing a massive nuclear catastrophe that could launch us into the next ice age. And no, it doesn’t star Bruce Willis or Will Smith.  The documentary shines a light on the three of the biggest nuclear threats we face including an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, and human error.  The doc includes interviews with President Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, Tony Blair as well as former CIA operative Valerie Plame.  Hey, it even gets a thumbs up from UN Secretary Bann Ki-moon.  Countdown to Patt’s show tomorrow and you’ll get a preview. 

 

Guest:

Lucy Walker, writer and director of Countdown to Zero

IN-STUDIO

• The film premiered in January 2010 at the Sundance Film Festival
• It opens July 23

 

 

 

2:06 – 2:30

Round 3: DWP, L.A. City Council square off again, this time over ratepayer watchdog

The first round came over proposed power rate hikes from the DWP to justify its expansion of alternative energy sources, only to be shot down by the L.A. City Council.  The second round came in the form of a planned revenue transfer of $75 million from the coffers of the DWP into the City’s general fund, which was withheld over suspected political payback.  Now in the aftermath of those two previous fights comes round three when DWP and the Council square off over the idea of an independent ratepayer watchdog, something that the Council has long promised to impose as a check on DWP’s authority.  Just as Council president Eric Garcetti is set to announce a motion that will put the idea of a ratepayer watchdog on the ballot for L.A. voters to approve, the DWP has said that it will create its own in-house watchdog.  As L.A.’s political boxing match continues, what does this all mean for the average DWP customer?

 

Guests:

Eric Garcetti, President of the L.A. City Council representing the 13^th District

HE CALLS US:  Line #10 first, then 866

Backup:  Yusef Robb, yusefrobb@gmail.com;

 

UNCONFIRMED

Austin Beutner, Interim General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power; Deputy Mayor of economic development for the City of Los Angeles

 

 

 

2:30 – 2:39

Turning it around in the graveyard of empires: fixing the American strategy in Afghanistan

After nine years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. appears to have hit the reset button.  General David Petraeus is in, not only to replace a back-talking general but also to jump start a stalled counterinsurgency effort that has failed to defeat the Taliban or win over more converts.  The Obama Administration is asking for more patience from Congress and more troops from increasingly wary NATO allies.  While there is talk of a new beginning the realities of Afghanistan are far gloomier:  there are no real alternatives to dealing with a universally acknowledged corrupt government run by the troubled Hamid Karzai; European allies are indeed heading for the exits; and the American public is restless, with an unofficial 2011 withdrawal date looming.  Can the U.S. escape the graveyard of empires with its pride intact; never mind leaving a functioning Afghan state behind?

 

Guests:

Vikram Singh, Senior Advisor to Special Envoy to Afghanistan & Pakistan Ambassador Holbrooke

HE CALLS US:

 

 

2:41 – 2:58:30

OPEN

 

 

Jonathan Serviss

Producer, Patt Morrison Program

Southern California Public Radio

NPR Affiliate for Los Angeles

89.3 KPCC-FM | 89.1 KUOR-FM | 90.3 KPCV-FM

626.583.5171, office

415.497.2131, mobile

jserviss@kpcc.org / jserviss@scpr.org

www.scpr.org