Heather Mac Donald speaks about illegal immigration Jan. 15, 2007 Heather Mac Donald Interview 2003 I spend Thursday from 8am - 2pm (1/17/08) at the Manhattan Institute's conference on L.A.'s safer city initiative. I sit at a table with George Kelling, who co-wrote the famous broken windows policing article in 1982 with James Q. Wilson. I ask Kelling and UCLA professor Mark A. R. Kleiman about the thesis in Freakanomics that the biggest reason for the crime drop since 1992 was 1973's legalization of abortion. Dr. Kelling completely dismisses that though he says he's never studied it. Dr. Kleiman says abortion mattered less for the crime drop than the getting rid of lead from gasoline (which caused lower IQs and hence crime). These non-economists resent the over-arching claims of economics. My economics professor at UCLA, Dr. Russell Roberts, taught: "There is only one social science and economists are its practicioners." Here's audio from the first panel discussion. It is moderated by Brian Kennedy from Claremont. Heather Mac Donald, Mark A. R. Kleiman, Andrew Smith, and Carol Wilkins participate. Here's audio of Gretchen Dykstra (former president of the Times Square business improvement district). Here's audio from Estele Lopez, executive director of L.A.'s Central District East Association. Here's audio from Tori Osborn, Senior Advisor to Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. Here's audio of the last five minutes of LAPD chief William Bratton taking questions. The Manhattan Institute reached out to its critics. Some showed up. The ACLU would not. There are several bloggers from downtown Los Angeles and some former members of skid row (including one woman who's a double-felon and an ex-drug addict). ViewFromALoft (Ed Fuentes) reports:
Eric Richardson writes on blogdowntown.com:
The Manhattan Institute was super-friendly to us bloggers. Josh Gerstein writes for the New York Sun Dec. 26, 2007:
Here's Heather Mac Donald opposing illegal immigration: "Let's stop welcoming undocumented immigrants" Moderator: John Hockenberry Speaking for the motion: Vernon M. Briggs, Jr., Mark Krikorian and Heather Mac Donald Speaking against the motion: Daniel T. Griswold, Enrique Morones and Karen K. Narasaki IQ2US marks the launch of Oxford-style debating -- one motion, one moderator, three advocates for the motion, three against -- in New York City. Each evening begins at 6:00P with a complimentary cocktail period. As you enter the theater before the debate starts at 6:45P, you cast your vote for or against the evening's motion. Those results are displayed midway through the debate as each side makes its statements. After all six panelists speak, the audience has a chance to ask the speakers questions and vote again. The debate finishes with brief summations from the panelists, the votes are tallied and a winning side is declared. Manhattan Institute senior fellow and City Journal contributing editor Heather Mac Donald on WCBS News. She is quoted on her support of George Bush's plan to cut Homeland Security funding for New York City due to what she sees as the possibly overstated threat of terrorist attack. The interviewer is Andrew Kirtzman of WCBS. From Saturday, December 1, 2007. Manhattan Institute senior fellow and City Journal contributing editor Heather Mac Donald on the November 6, 2007 edition of NY 1's "Inside City Hall." Heather debates New York State Governor Spitzer's proposal to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Heather is co-author of the new book, "The Immigration Solution." Chung-Wha Hong from the New York Immigrant Coalition represents the other side of the debate. Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow and City Journal contributing editor Heather Mac Donald offers an eloquent critique of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-poverty initiative. From NY 1's "Inside City Hall," September 13, 2007. Manhattan Institute senior fellow and City Journal contributing editor Heather Mac Donald discusses a New Jersey policy that all illegal immigrants arrested for crimes must be reported to the Department of Homeland Security. From the September 14, 2007 episode of Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor." |