Patt Morrison Live from the AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, Friday 9/30/11

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, September 30, 2011

1-3 p.m.

LIVE FROM THE 2011 ALTCAR EXPO IN SANTA MONICA!

 

1:06 – 1:18: OPEN

 

 

1:23:00 – 1:39

Bank of America soon to charge customers $5 to use their debit card

If you’re a customer of a major financial institution, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that since the passage of stricter financial regulations, banks can't charge as much in overdraft fees. The bad news is that those fees were a huge source of revenue. So, Bank of America has announced a new fee: beginning early next year, customers will have to pay $5 per month to use their debit cards. A Bank of America spokesperson says "the economics of offering a debit card have changed." Not a B of A customer? Many of the large financial institutions including Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase and Sun Trust Banks are considering new charges on the convenient and often-used piece of plastic as well. Citibank customers, however, need not fear. The head of banking products for Citi's U.S. consumer bank told Reuters that the fee would be "a huge source of irritation" to their customers. Is $5 a reasonable amount to pay for the convenience of being able to access your checking account to buy goods and services almost anywhere? Or is $5 too much to pay for something that used to be free? Did Citibank get it right? Is it a huge source of irritation? And if so, will you stay with your bank?

 

Guests:

ALL UNCONFIRMED:

TBD, Bank of America

 

TBD, Consumers Union

or

TBD, Center for Responsible Lending

or

TBD, U.S. Pirg to the BofA

 

 

1:41:30 – 2:58:30

Live, from the 2011 AltCar Expo

Patt takes some of the newest alternative fuel cars for a spin…

 

Guest:

Rick Sikes, fleet superintendent, City of Santa Monica

 

 

2:06-2:39

Live from the 2011 AltCar Expo: What’s holding back green cars?

Development of alternative fuel vehicles in the last several years has been spurred in large part by the federal government—through tax credits and exemptions, grants, and mandatory renewable fuel standards. In California, the goal of AB 32 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 means more cars and buses will run on alternative fuel. It potentially means more options for car buyers, less dependence on volatile gas prices and fewer air pollutants. But that’s all contingent on whether all the moving parts can begin to work together and current infrastructure can be updated to support those cars. The power grid’s in a sorry state. You don’t see hydrogen fuel stations on every corner. And how well do plug-and-play electrics really work? After green energy scandals like Solyndra, who is going to foot the bill for these upgrades and invest in green technology? Live from the 2011 AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, Patt surveys the newest hybrids, electrics, fuel cells and considers what obstacles sustainable infrastructure must overcome. Whether you’re in the market for an altcar, or just concerned about the future of gas prices and traffic in Los Angeles, tune in and call up with questions.

 

Guests:

Rick Teebay, fleet and transportation specialist, Los Angeles County Office of Sustainability; former chair of the National Association of Fleet Managers' Fuels and Technology Committee

• Earlier this year, Rick pulled together more than 20 agencies and with LA DWP, submitted a $3.2 million application to the Energy Commission to install a network of more than 1,200 chargers throughout the region, but the application was rejected

 

Peter Ward, department head of Alternative Fuels and Vehicles, California Energy Commission

• A long time advocate of reducing petroleum use and a front runner in putting together funding for CA’s  test projects
• Why did his commission reject Rick Teebay’s application to install 1200 chargers across the region?

 

Enid Joffe (like Coffee), president, Clean Fuel Connection, one of the companies installing electric vehicle chargers and natural gas fueling stations across the region; formerly with Edison

 

UNCONFIRMED, DO NOT PROMOTE YET:

Matt Maiyasato (Mia-SA-tow), assistant deputy executive officer, Science and Technology Advancement Division, Air Quality Management District (AQMD)

 

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Live from the 2011 AltCar Expo: Beyond cars, how public transportation and biking could transform Southern California

Beyond cars, what will the future public transportation and bike landscape of Southern California look like? In November 2008, California voters approved Measure R, committing a projected $40 billion to traffic relief and transportation upgrades throughout the county over the next 30 years. The Expo light rail line, the Crenshaw-LAX light rail line and Gold line extensions to Azusa have all broken ground under this measure, which is expected to greatly improve connectivity across the region and increase ridership. There are currently 1.4 million passengers boarding bus and rail throughout the county—rail accounts for 300,000 of those boardings. That ridership is expected to double by the time Measure R projects are completed. In addition, what will be the future of biking in the region? What’s been the impact of events like CicLAvia?

 

Guests:

Richard Katz, director for Metro and board chair for metro link

• Expo light rail line – first phase from downtown LA to Culver City is almost complete, they’re testing trains and second phase from Culver City to Santa Monica should be finished by 2015.
• After Measure R projects are completed, ridership is expected double. There are currently 1.4 million passenger boarding bus and rail – of that, rail accounts for 300,000 boardings. After Measure R projects are complete, that’s expected to jump to 600,000 rail boardings.

• Subway to the sea  - final environmental impact report should be out this fall
• Metro board last week just approved final Crenshaw-LAX light rail environmental docs, paves way to start construction in about a year
• Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa is under construction, should open 2015-2016
• Metro Orange Line bus way will soon open an extension to Chatsworth

 

Claire Bowin, city planner with the Los Angeles City Planning Department

• She spearheaded the city’s green building ordinance, drafted an update to the bicycle plan and is writing a transit district parking ordinance

 

 

Lauren Osen

Southern California Public Radio - 89.3 KPCC

626-583-5173 / 626-483-5278

losen@scpr.org