Last updated on: 1/30/2019 | Author: ProCon.org

PRO/CON at The Pier, 2018

Arthur N. Rupe Debate Series in LA

Running from Aug. 6, 2018 through Aug. 27, 2018 at the Santa Monica Pier on Monday evenings, the Arthur N. Rupe Debate Series in LA was designed to stimulate critical thinking and civil discussion on current issues. Several organizations partnered to bring prominent experts from both sides of the issues, neutral moderators to facilitate the conversations, and beautiful venues to enjoy the free public debates. Those groups included: ProCon.org, Santa Monica Pier, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, Action Civics California, Santa Monica Public Library, California Secretary of State’s Office, and The Constituents LA. Topics included marijuana legalization, rent control, water, and immigration. Please visit our Events page page for current programs. Photographs courtesy of alovecreative.com.

Video edited by GoodWolf.la.

Aug. 6, 2018 – Marijuana Legalization in California – Is It Working?

PRO: Josh Drayton, Deputy Director, California Cannabis Industry Association

CON: Will Jones, Communications and Outreach Associate, Smart Approches to Marijuana (SAM)

Moderator: Megan Gailey, Stand-up comedian, writer, and host of Crooked Media’s Hysteria

At each debate, we ask attendees to vote pro or con based on our question that week, and also to indicate the intensity (1-10) of their opinions. Below are the results of this week’s voting on the question, “Marijuana Legalization in California – Is It Working?”

PRO Intensity CON Intensity
Before 83.7% 7.1 16.3% 7.0
After 59.4% 6.2 40.6% 4.2
% Change -29.0% -12.7% 149.1% -40.0%

Aug. 13, 2018 – Rent Control: More of It? or Less?

PRO: René Christian Moya, LLB, Housing Campaign Organizer, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment

CON: Steven Greenhut, Senior Fellow and Western Region Director of R Street Institute

Moderator: Mike Gatto, JD, Former Four-term California State Assemblyman

At each debate, we ask attendees to vote pro or con based on our question that week, and also to indicate the intensity (1-10) of their opinions. Below are the results of this week’s voting on the question, “Rent Control: More of It? or Less?”

PRO Intensity CON Intensity
Before 66.7% 5.9 33.3% 6.8
After 83.3% 7.0 16.7% 6.2
% Change 24.9% 18.6% -49.9% -8.8%

Aug. 20, 2018 – Water: Desalinate Ocean Water for LA?

Special partner for this event is UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

PRO: Eric M.V. Hoek, PhD, Editor-in-Chief at npj Clean Water journal, Professor at UCLA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and CEO of Water Planet

CON: Tracy Quinn, MEng, Director, California Water Conservation & Efficiency, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Moderator: Toby Muresianu, Comedian, Host of Up Close and Political at the Hollywood Improv

At each debate, we ask attendees to vote pro or con based on our question that week, and also to indicate the intensity (1-10) of their opinions. Below are the results of this week’s voting on the question, “Water: Desalinate Ocean Water for LA?”

PRO Intensity CON Intensity
Before 63.2% 5.2 36.8% 6.2
After 49.2% 4.1 50.9% 5.3
% Change -22.2% -21.2% 38.3% -14.5%

Aug. 27, 2018 – Immigration: Abolish ICE?

PRO: Chris Newman, JD, Legal Director, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)

CON: Andrew Arthur, JD, Former Immigration Judge; Former Acting Chief of the INS National Security Law Division

Moderator: Dawn Nakagawa, MBA, Executive Vice President, The Berggruen Institute

At each debate, we ask attendees to vote pro or con based on our question that week, and also to indicate the intensity (1-10) of their opinions. Below are the results of this week’s voting on the question, “Immigration: Abolish ICE?”

PRO Intensity CON Intensity
Before 77.3% 6.6 22.7% 4.8
After 64.3% 7.1 35.7% 6.2
% Change -16.8% 7.6% 57.3% 29.2%