Maybe that hotel has bedbugs. Maybe the competitor's brother-in-law wrote the review. And just maybe that root canal in Freemont was almost pleasurable?
Think you can spot a fake review on Yelp, TripAdvisor, Amazon, or even RateMyProfessors?
We discuss online reviews and their impact on consumers, small businesses -- and the (de)centralizing of information. Also, who's gaming the system, and how have consumer-generated reviews changed the game?
Election day is almost upon us - but for Californians there is much more at stake than just electing our next President. Voters are being asked to weigh in on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to fixing our state budget, GMO food labeling, and the influence of unions in elections. City Visions runs down California's propositions and the many local issues on the ballot.
On November 6, voters will have a chance to weigh in on two proposals that could have a big impact on how criminals are treated in California. Prop 34 would eliminate the death penalty and replace it with life in prison, while Prop 36 would alter California's "3 Strikes" law to impose a life sentence only when a new felony conviction is "serious or violent."
Supporters say these propositions are step towards a more cost-effective approach towards incarceration, while opponents claim that these initiatives will cause an increase in crime rates and harm public safety for Californians. City Visions takes up the debate.
City Visions speaks with Melanie Nutter, head of San Francisco's Department of the Environment. Hear about the Department's current initiatives -- from the bag ban to climate change adaptation measures to new rules for nail salons -- and how they could affect you and influence statewide policy.
Today, many of the foods we eat come from Genetically Modified Organisms such as modified corn, wheat, and soy to make them grow more productively. But do consumers have the right to know if the food they are buying at the grocery store contains GMOs? This November, voters are being asked to decide if GMOs and foods that contain GMOs should be labeled as such in retail outlets. We take up the pros and cons of Proposition 37.
