Retail Retreat & Freeway Fallout: Store Closures, Economic Forecasts, and the True Cost of SoCal Highways

Hour 2 - Monks and Merrill examine what shifting economic signals could mean for Southern California with insights from a leading, unbiased economic forecasting organization that has analyzed global, national, state, and local economies for more than 70 years. The conversation turns to major retail shakeups as Saks Fifth Avenue announces closures in Orange County and Palm Desert, while Neiman Marcus prepares to shut down its Canoga Park location—raising questions about the future of high-end brick-and-mortar shopping. Monks and Merrill also respond to listener talkbacks before diving into a deeper debate about transportation: adding up what urban highways really cost and weighing the pros and cons of Southern California’s freeway system—from economic impact and mobility to congestion, pollution, and urban development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.