LA Podcast

Alissa, Mike, and Memo discuss the “No Secret Police Act,” which requires ICE agents to remove face coverings — and why LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell’s refusal to enforce it is such a red flag. Don Lemon’s federal detention highlights the double standards for LA journalists who are arrested during protests. LA Mayor Karen Bass delivers her (first) state of the city. Plus: why elected officials are calling for LA28 chair Casey Wasserman to step down.At a press conference, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell “described two state laws that were passed by the state legislature in response to the ICE raids — one banning face coverings, the other requiring law enforcement officers to identify themselves — as ‘not a good public policy decision,’” LA Taco reportsMike writes about how McDonnell is setting the city back: “In his 15 months as chief, McDonnell has consistently shown contempt for civilian authority, tolerance for police violence, hostility toward the press, and a drive to militarize LAPD under the guise of mega-event security. He is rebuilding the old LAPD that had only recently been partially dismantled.”After deadly shootings, ICE says it will start using body cameras for transparency (where have we heard that before?). Read Copaganda’s Alex Karakatsanis on why body cameras are bad, actuallyAttorneys for Keith Porter, Jr.’s family are calling for an investigation of his murder at the hands of an off-duty ICE agentDon Lemon and Georgia Fort were two of four Black journalists detained after covering a protest in St. Paul. Lemon talked more about his arrest on his YouTube channel. ”We’re having a constitutional crisis,” Fort said on Democracy Now!LA Mayor Karen Bass was publicly defending Lemon but hasn’t defended journalists arrested by LAPD at protests, including LA Taco reporter Lexis-Olivier Ray who was detained by LAPD at a protest in downtown the same weekendAdam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, was out sounding the alarm about these arrests and had some very harsh words for BassBass delivered her first of two State of the City addresses: here’s the address as delivered and here’s Alissa’s thread from the eventLA28 chair Casey Wasserman is facing calls to resign due to associations with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell revealed in the latest Department of Justice releaseBass declined to call for Wasserman’s resignation, saying instead: “Ultimately, any decision on the LA28 leadership must be made by the LA28 Board. As you know, they are a separate and independent nonprofit organization."Alissa’s tracking which elected officials, organizations, and clients are calling for Wasserman to step downLindsey Horvath and Monica Rodriguez both went on TV calling for Wasserman to step downAnd yes, after we recorded, Horvath opted not to run for LA mayor, but, in a huge surprise, Councilmember Nithya Raman did. We’ll talk about that more next weekThis episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardBecome a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la  to keep this podcast weekly! A fun gathering exclusively for paid subscribers is coming up Saturday, March 21!

Alissa, Godfrey, and Sophie recount another week of accelerating immigration raids and how Angelenos are organizing against them. Why the “national shutdown” isn’t a general strike (yet). If ICE is going to the Winter Olympics, what does that mean for LA in 2028? And what about the World Cup this summer? And RIP to Shirley Raines who brought dignity, agency, and eyelash extensions to Skid Row residents.LA Taco’s Daily Memo for Wednesday, January 28: “There was a time when 25-40 was the total number of incidents I’d report for a whole week; they just did that in one day”“What we’re seeing now are large numbers of officers to grab anywhere from one to five people, not necessarily questioning them, and then moving out as quickly as possible,” Juan Pablo Orjuela-Parra, an organizer with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, told the Los Angeles TimesTPM: ICE not only looks and acts like a paramilitary — it is oneGavin, wyd? “California has cooperated with more ICE transfers probably than any other state in the country,” California’s governor told Ben ShapiroMeanwhile progressive district attorneys — meaning: not LA’s DA — are banding together to prosecute federal agents: “The group launched Wednesday and calls itself Fight Against Federal Overreach, or FAFO”Highland Park is testing out air raid sirens for ICE raidsThere’s another community defense training Saturday, February 7 at 11 a.m.; here’s how to sign upKim Kelly on the difference between a general strike and a national shutdownYes, ICE is going to the Winter Olympics. Yes, it’s also kind of horribly normal for U.S. law enforcement to be involved in the Olympics — does everyone remember when the LAPD got special permission to carry guns in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics? “ICE, NO GRAZIE!”LAist’s Libby Rainey reported on potential plans to clear unhoused people from around sports venues ahead of megaeventsWill LA see a boycott in 2028? Will LA see a boycott this summer?Alissa’s Torched piece focused on “hospitality houses” in what feels like the least hospitable possible environment — and she also reported on the World Cup fan zones announcementSpeaking of cognitive dissonance, how about that Home Depot World Cup sponsorship deal?LA Mayor Karen Bass is giving two State of the City addresses; one is Monday, February 2, watch it hereFinally, remembering the Skid Row outreach legend Shirley Raines who died at 58Tune in Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. for a Measure G teach-in to learn the latest news about LA County’s charter reform initiativeThis episode was produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardBecome a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la to keep this podcast weekly! Subscribers-only event is coming soon!

Mike, David, and Carla do a deep-dive on state and local efforts to build and fund — and also stop and kill — housing, while changes are proposed to LA city’s ULA transfer tax, also known as the “mansion tax.” More charter reform proposals advance. Are 23 councilmembers enough? Should 16-year-olds get the right to vote in local elections? Then: California’s mountain lions might finally get endangered species protection.2025 was a pivotal year for housing legislation in California and Los Angeles, with a slew of new laws and rules taking effect this year to spur housing construction — and the coming year might see even more, as KQED reportsPolitico’s Liam Dillon reports on LA’s latest strategy to stop/subvert SB 79, the new state law allowing more density in transit-rich areas. Metro also weighed in against SB 79, expressing concern that transit-oriented housing creates opposition to new transit. Reminder to Metro board members that building housing near transit increases transit ridership, which you think would be their goal? Metro also voted on this as they approved the Sepulveda subway and potentially stall the C line extension to Torrance. Time to dissolve (or seriously reform) the Metro board?Liam also reports on the high-stakes staredown between the state and the city trying to kill affordable housing in VeniceMeanwhile, YIMBY Law has filed a lawsuit to overturn Gavin Newsom’s executive order blocking SB 9, which would allow new duplexes, in Pacific PalisadesThe fight over Measure ULA has been brewing for months. Affordable housing advocates proclaim success with more than $1 billion raised. Opponents of the measure contend it’s killing development of multifamily housing in Los Angeles.  Conflicting reports — even in the same publication — argue new apartment construction is down and that multifamily investment is on the reboundCouncilmember Nithya Raman, a longtime supporter of Measure ULA, is proposing a ballot measure to exempt multifamily and commercial housing from the transfer tax for 15 years after construction. Raman’s proposal is getting a lot of attention. The council has until February 11 to put something on the June ballotState lawmakers are mulling a proposal to put a $10 billion affordable housing bond before voters in NovemberLA’s Charter Reform Commission is weeding through various proposals. If you can’t find anything to binge on Netflix, watch the full 6 hour, 22 minute meeting — the commission is likely to recommend expanding the size of the City Council from 15 to 23 The commission also seems poised to recommend lowering the voting age for Los Angeles city and LAUSD elections to 16.  There is a national movement to lower the voting age and extend the franchise to 1-6 and 17-year-olds. Liz Chou recently looked at the issue in her LA Reporter newsletter. A ballot measure to lower the threshold to 16 in Culver City failed narrowly last year, getting 49.5% of the voteHere’s the Charter Reform Commission website. Stay involved with LA Forward’s governance reform and CIP working groups. Topics coming up: police reform; the removal/replacement of elected officials for misconduct; establishment of a 2-year budget cycle, ethics, and neighborhood councilsCalifornia wildlife officials are considering listing mountain lions as threatened. Advocates of the protected status point to the hazards encountered by LA’s beloved Hollywood Hills mountain lion, P-22In 2022, the wealthy Northern California town of Woodside declared its entire jurisdiction a mountain lion habitat to pause all new housing projects under SB 9 — yep, the same duplex bill that’s being exempted in Palisades — but the decision was later reversedThis week’s episode was produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardBecome a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la to keep LA Pod going. Subscribers-only event coming soon! 

Alissa, Rachel, and Godfrey remember Keith Porter Jr., who was killed by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve in Northridge. A new UCLA report shows how Metro’s unarmed ambassadors are helping Metro’s riders. A subway concept advances for the Sepulveda Corridor and Fred Rosen’s monorail might finally be dead. And LA City’s charter reform commission has begun the purge.“Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King, Jr.On New Year’s Eve, Keith Porter Jr. was killed by off-duty ICE agent Brian Palacios in Northridge, and vigils were held across the city this past weekThere’s just so much to protest! An anti-ICE protester was blinded by a DHS agent in Santa AnaMeanwhile a new LA City Council motion that advanced would require LAPD to adopt tactics like a “graded response” modelICE raids seem to be intensifying: 10 people were taken across 8 Echo Park locations in 3 hours. Read Blood in the Machine and 404 Media on how tech companies like Palantir are finding neighborhoods to raidSign up for the Community Self Defense Coalition patrols training and share the information on InstagramRead the Metro ambassador report from UCLA’s Institute of Transportation StudiesStreetsblog LA: “UCLA Study Finds Metro Transit Ambassador Program Is Benefitting Metro Riders”And the monorail option for the Sepulveda Pass project MIGHT ACTUALLY BE DEAD but keep your calls coming — Modified Alternative 5 is up for a full Metro board vote this weekNick Andert’s video shows how they picked a hybrid option that’s pretty cool actuallyLA’s city charter reform process held “the purge” last weekend, where certain reforms are starting to be taken off the table. Here’s the Charter Reform Commission website and a way to join the conversation at Rethink LAHere’s a great policy document with proposed reforms for LA’s Capital Infrastructure Program — a 5 year outlook and 2 year budget, to start!Stay involved with LA Forward’s governance reform and CIP working groupsFinally: we’re out of drought after 25 years! Check our progress with Cal Matters’ 2026 California Water Tracker This week’s episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardOur first subscriber-only event will be held in 2026! Become a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Alissa, Mike, and guest co-host Golden State’s Mariel Garza talk about how local officials commemorated (or didn’t commemorate) the one-year anniversary of the fires, including a shocking statement from Councilmember Traci Park. Reality TV star Spencer Pratt is running for LA mayor. Gavin Newsom delivers his final State of the State address. And right-wing tabloid journalism is coming to the West Coast with the launch of the California Post.“It wasn’t an act of nature. It wasn’t some ‘storm of the century.’ And it wasn’t climate change, and don’t let anybody try to tell you otherwise.” Yep, that’s Councilmember Traci Park at the "They Let Us Burn" rally on the anniversary of the fires. Recent LA Podcast guest co-host Sammy Roth wrote a whole story about Park’s climate denialAt the same rally, reality TV star Spencer Pratt announced he was running for LA mayor at what ended up being a very MAGA Palisades rally (but Pratt can’t give interviews until February?)Mike talked to the Los Angeles Times about Pratt: “If you look at the model of who he is as a candidate, it’s similar to Trump: the reality television background; his most visible communication presence is on Twitter, just as Trump’s was. And he’s sort of developing a candidacy around frustration and blowing the system up, just like Trump did.” Mike also said Pratt’s entry into the race could be “perilous” for Bass.LA Mayor Karen Bass did not go out in public the entire day on January 7Read Mariel’s piece: “14 ways fire victims were failed by government at all levels”LAFD Chief Jaime Moore accepted responsibility for the watered-down after-action report but then news broke that Bass’s office might have been trying to make changes? Sorry, refinementsLA Times: “Anger overflows in west Altadena: Where is the accountability for 19 deaths, epic losses?”Supervisor Lindsey Horvath made it sound even more like she’s running for mayor in an interview with CNN’s Elex Michaelson (here’s the transcript)Watch Gavin Newsom’s final State of the State address, with coverage from Politico and commentary by CalMatters’ Dan WaltersWhy Mariel is excited about a wide-open governor’s raceThe New York Post officially announced the California Post is launching at the end of the monthBut lots of other new local publications are launching, like Golden State, the LA Local, and LA Reported This week’s episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardOur first subscriber-only event will be held in 2026! Become a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

One year ago this week Los Angeles was forever changed by the most destructive natural disaster in the county’s history. Alissa, Mike, and Kate survey the impact of the firestorms, and discuss what year two of recovery looks like for the thousands of Angelenos who are still displaced. Plus LAFD’s after-action report is deemed a “cover up,” and the real story behind the collapse of the state’s insurance system.Listen to Kate’s Rebuilding LA podcastAlthough the death toll for the firestorms is officially 31 — revised up in July when additional remains were found west of Lake Avenue in Altadena — a recent study estimated that up to 440 people died due to the dangers of wildfire smokeOne (1) house has been rebuilt in each burn area, although the completed Palisades home is actually a spec house that was built by a developer with demolition permits that had been approved on the morning of the fires. Additionally, an ADU was completed in November that received the first certificate of occupancy in AltadenaAs of mid-December, permits have been issued for 16 percent of the homes destroyed in Altadena and 14 percent of the homes in Pacific Palisades. Even though permitting is starting to pick up survivors are facing challenges like city rebuilding fees LAist: “Investors are buying close to half the empty lots in LA burn zones, report says”Listen to Kate’s conversation with Greenline’s Jasmin Shupper, who is trying to help Black homeowners and business owners hold onto their Altadena properties through land banking and other alternative financing modelsWashington Post: “A year later, Altadena fire survivors confront hard choices about housing”Meanwhile, the Palisades mobile home community is just now getting its debris clearedThe big after-action LAFD report that we talked about last time was described as “watered down,” “highly unprofessional,” and, finally, deemed a “cover up” by fire experts in a bombshell LA Times investigation. And LAFD is also impugned in new text messages that showed questions about the presence of native plants might have impeded the mop up of the Lachman FireListen to Kate’s conversation with Councilmember Traci Park, who told Kate councilmembers are not briefed on deployment: “I certainly don't get a briefing anytime the fire department or LAPD are called into action”There are allegations that FEMA has been clearing lots sloppily and dumping debris illegally, without enough soil testing. And an absolutely devastating report from the New York Times shows families going back into smoke-damaged homes insurance companies said were fine and finding lead levels 27 times the federal limit The LA Times also has an investigation into California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s campaign finance and ethical violations and why the state’s insurance system failed so spectacularlyKate also looked into where the FireAid concert money ended upAlissa wrote about the failure to create a Resilient Rebuilding Authority for the Los Angeles Review of ArchitectureKate’s spoke with Cal Poly Pomona professor Nicole Lambrou about social infrastructure. Read Lambrou’s Zocalo piece: “How do you rebuild community after wildfire?”The annual relighting of Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane and how the majestic deodar cedars may have saved the houses belowThis week’s episode was produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardOur first subscriber-only event will be held in 2026! Become a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

It’s the end-of-the-year episode! And what a horrible year it has been! Alissa, Rachel, and Mike recap the biggest stories, the stories that didn’t get nearly enough attention, and what to look forward to next year. (Yes, there are some things to look forward to!) Plus: predictions for 2026 and what will be a very big election year for LA.Check out last year’s end-of-the-year show to see what we got right (and wrong)LA Mayor Karen Bass started 2025 seemingly invincible and after missteps, reversals, and delays now seems politically vulnerableCouncilmember Katy Yaroslavsky had an incredible year challenging the status quo of LA’s fiscal woes. Here’s her final speech of 2025, captured by Unrig LA: “Public safety is about more than police... it's about having enough money to paint our own damn crosswalks and not having rogue volunteers doing it for us”Local journalism flourished in the face of adversity: LA Taco, The LA Local, Boyle Heights Beat, The LA Reporter, Mar Vista Voice, Golden State, Streetsblog LA, and Alissa’s mega-event newsletter Torched — with more new publications still to comeSix local publications banded together to cover ICE: LA Public Press, Caló News, Capital & Main, Capital B, LA Taco, and Q VoiceRevisiting Emily Baumgaertner Nunn’s New York Times investigationabout the Blade, the 50-block sex-trafficking corridor on LA’s Figueroa StreetCity Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is facing a new alleged ethical breach after a declaration in CA superior court accuses her of contacting an expert witness in a case against the city and asking him for a campaign contribution. The lawsuit spurred a major LA Times investigation about reckless LAPD driving. The case was settled for $18 million, “thought to be the most city taxpayers have ever paid to resolve a police collision case”Feldstein Soto also put another major campaign donor, Mark Adams, in charge of the Skid Row Housing Trust as it was dissolving, only to remove him laterLast year, a city attorney who works for Feldstein Soto filed a declaration saying she prosecuted people based on “personal relationships” or “perceived political gain”After a judge concluded that Councilmember John Lee violated laws on receiving and reporting gifts, LA’s City Ethics Commission fined Lee a staggering $138,000Re-live the 2020 Department of Justice filing after the surrender of Mitch Englander, Lee’s former boss, and read Scott’s 2021 assessment of Lee’s role: “A Co-Conspirator on City Council”There has been at least one call for him to resign, by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo who represents a big part of CD 12Councilmember Curren Price pled not guilty to corruption charges filed by the LA District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors filed an amended complaint in September alleging two additional counts of conflict of interest relating to development and land use. Price was arraigned and the DA’s office rejected a motion to dismiss the public corruption chargesScott called the local charges faced by Price “outlandish and flimsy" but Price was one of three sitting councilmembers being investigated by the FBI in the original search warrant that took down Englander and former councilmember Jose Huizar, along with other Garcetti administration officials including former deputy mayor Ray Chan, who was sentenced to jail last year Anyway, this all makes reforming the city’s land-use decisions even more important! You can join a public assembly or become an ambassador for Rewrite LA, the new effort to bring more Angelenos inside the charter reform process. Sign up for updates at rewritela.org/deliberateWill Rick Caruso announce his (second) campaign for LA mayor on January 7, the anniversary of the fires? Will the announcement happen at his unscathed Palisades mall, which is supposed to reopen in 2026? He’s got a Christmas tree up and ready to goWill LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also run for LA mayor? After Bass published an op-ed in the LA Daily News touting her progress on homelessness, Horvath called her track record “indefensible,"  Bass dunk-tweeted Horvath, then Horvath posted a highlight reel of bad headlines. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado offered her own commentary: “I fear the girls are fighting”Will Bass’s “working people not billionaire class” message actually resonate with voters — especially as she undermines this message by playing an “instrumental” role in delaying the Olympic wage?Will any gubernatorial ad top Tom Steyer’s Love Actually parody?Will the D line open on time? And will the LAX people mover *ever* open? Watch Nick Andert’s excellent end-of-the-year Metro recapSpeaking of end-of-the-year recaps, read LA Forward's annual impact report and call-to-action for the new year for all sorts of ways to get organizedThis week's episode was produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardBecome a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la

Mike, David, and Godfrey go deep on one of the wildest LA City Council votes in recent memory as councilmembers quarrel over Karen Bass’s manufactured deadline to increase police hiring. LAPD reform finally makes it onto the charter commission radar, plus all the different ways that council expansion could happen (27 districts…. or 9 three-member districts?). Then: two important races for open seats in the California State Senate.In its final session of the calendar year, LA’s City Council sharply rebuked Bass’s demand that they immediately authorize money to allow LAPD to hire 410 new officers While most councilmembers said they support hiring more police officers, they warned that the mayor was ignoring the fiscal crisis and the potential impact on other city services. Council approved an additional LAPD Academy class for January, and promised to revisit the issue in JanuaryOpposition to Bass was led not by the council’s progressive bloc, but by many of its more mainstream liberal bloc, such as Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield. Yaroslavsky was a particularly sharp critic of Bass and Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson: watch her comments hereBass’s approach was backed by an odd coalition of the council’s conservative members (Traci Park and John Lee), her closest personal allies (Harris-Dawson and Heather Hutt), and two moderates (Adrin Nazarian and Imelda Padilla)The council vote was the culmination of months of tension over police hiring, stemming from the mayor’s budget proposal last spring that called for potentially laying off 1000 city workers to finance a big increase in LAPD hiring. The council balked at that, cutting the mayor’s LAPD hiring request in half, and sparing layoffs that would have led to cuts in other city services. Despite that council direction, however, LAPD had been hiring and spending more than the council had authorizedThe timing of this debate — and the sudden deadline — had left a lot of people, including Alissa, wondering if this has something to do with the city’s stalled negotiations with LA28 over who will foot the bill for Olympic related security expenses. (Speaking of the Olympics, LA28 chair Casey Wasserman continues to cozy up to the Trump administration)As Jim McDonnell prepares to celebrate the first anniversary of his appointment, Los Angeles Times reporter Libor Jany asks “Who’s running the LAPD? Chief’s style draws mixed reviews in first year”LA’s Charter Reform Commission is rushing to meet a tight deadline to submit potential ballot proposals to the City Council. The body has launched an interesting experiment — engaging with citizen assemblies to get public input; find out more at Rewrite LAThe LA Reporter: “LAPD is finally getting taken up by the LA Charter Reform panel. What took so long?”The commission will be discussing the size and composition of the City Council at its January 7 meeting. You can track what the commission is doing on its website (subscribe to the newsletter!), and join LA Forward’s Governance Reform working group. You can also watch some great LA Forward teach-ins on the issues, including police reform and council expansionTwo state senate races we’re closely following: SD26 and SD24SD26 candidates discussed: Wendy Carrillo, Sara Hernandez, Sarah Rascón, Maebe Pudlo, Juan CamachoWatch the Santa Monica Dem Club debate for SD24; Assemblymember Rick Zbur endorsed four (?) candidatesSD24 candidates discussed: Dr. Sion Roy, John Erickson, Mike Newhouse, Ellen Evans, Brian Goldsmith, Eric Alegria, Nico Ruderman, Republican candidate Kristina IrwinListen to our overview of city races from SeptemberThis week’s episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Alissa, Rachel, and Sophie dig into an investigation that shows the City of Los Angeles stopped repaving its streets instead of implementing multimodal safety improvements. Remembering Robert Silverstein, the lawyer who tried to halt nearly every major Hollywood development. Plus: an appreciation of LA’s own hometown starchitect, the legendary Frank Gehry, who died at the age of 96.The Future Is LA: “LA has stopped repaving our streets”LA has 28 pothole trucks, currently only 12 run daily due to budget cutsHere are all the HLA appeals and a follow up on “large asphalt repair” by Streetsblog’s Joe LintonThe City is also trying to be ADA compliant (but with this federal administration, who knows)This was the year traffic fatalities were supposed to be reduced to zero — except people keep dying! For contrast: Vision Zero in London: “Across all 157 schemes on borough roads, there was a 34% decrease in fatal or serious casualties.” Even crosswalks advocates are getting arrestedWhat will make LA safer when cars kill more people than homicides? Alissa wrote about “Dying to host the Olympics” last yearTraffic fatalities are also a problem at the state level, and advocates recently held a vigil at at Caltrans HQLA Times: “Robert Silverstein, who fought City Hall over Hollywood development and won, dies at 57"Stop the Gondola recently celebrated Silverstein for slowing Metro approvals Bernard Luggage was preserved — but is still empty! — and Silverstein also tried to stop a residential tower by preserving a Spaghetti Factory (which is also still empty)The classic Curbed (RIP) piece about “greenmailing” from 2013 LA Times: “Frank Gehry dead: Disney Hall architect transformed LA's landscape”“To look only at the overwrought megaprojects, however, is to miss one of Gehry’s crucial achievements: his ability to turn an existing building, no matter how ordinary, into something humane and delightful,” writes Carolina Miranda in The AtlanticThe Guardian on the “Bilbao effect,” where the Guggenheim “transformed Bilbao’s wider civic fortunes, attracting 1.3 million visitors in its first year and… became shorthand for uplift through cultural tourism predicated on “iconic” architecture”LA Times: “To a handful of condo owners whose units face the Disney Hall on Hope Street, the view of the Frank Gehry landmark is glorious -- until around noon on a sunny day. Then, the sun hits the stainless steel arches on the hall’s Founders Room and bright light is reflected into their condominiums” (2004)This week’s episode was produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Mike, Rachel, and Oscar check in on six months of still-escalating ICE raids terrorizing Los Angeles County. House Dems held a special Congressional hearing to collect powerful testimony about the state-sponsored kidnappings — and immigration advocates, mutual aid groups, and neighbors continue to fight back. Plus, LA’s City Council gives LAPD permission to use tear gas on protesters and journalists. And welcome to the silly season of our local election cycle.Angelenos spoke publicly about the trauma and due process violations of the immigration raids at a special hearing November 24 hearing in downtown Los Angeles convened by the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. The event was requested by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and led by Long Beach area Rep. Robert Garcia, who announced the creation of a new oversight dashboard documenting “verified incidents of possible misconduct and abuse” during federal immigration enforcement operationsRep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, who attended the hearing, referred to it as “living an American nightmare.” The most talked-about testimony of the hearing was that of Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen who was detained on her way to work and held under harrowing conditionsSix LA newsrooms are collaborating to cover the ICE Raids: LA Public Press, Capital B, CALÓ News, L.A. TACO, Capital & Main, and Q Voice News.L.A. TACO continues to provide standout coverage, documenting the raids on a daily basis. They recently catalogued every person kidnapped by ICE and Border Patrol in LA since AugustLeaders of the local trans community helped lead the recent push to get the County of Los Angeles to declare a state of emergency over the immigration raids.Residents in LA and Chicago are building multiracial solidarity against ICE. Bystanders are beginning to disrupt immigration raids with nothing more than a whistle or a honking car hornFamily members, immigration advocates, and members of Congress are all demanding answers to the question: Where is Vicente Aguilar? Aguilar was taken into custody October 7, suffered a medical emergency, and has not been heard from sinceWith immigration raids making some people afraid to leave their homes, LAUSD enrollment is droppingThe LA County Board of Supervisors is gearing up for a legal fight with the Trump administration, passing a law — which the feds have said they ignore — to ban face coverings for law enforcementInternational Migrants Day is on Wednesday, December 18, and CHIRLA, DSA and other groups are organizing a big event in downtown Los AngelesIn an 8-4 vote, the Los Angeles City Council reauthorized LAPD’s authority to use tear gas and other military grade equipment on protesters. They did so at the vigorous insistence of LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, who claimed that using tear gas on a crowd is a “de-escalation” tacticPrior to June 8, the LAPD had not used tear gas in crowd-control settings in almost 50 years, an LAPD spokesperson told L.A. TACOLos Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia is famous for his prominent use of his adorable corgis in communications. Former State Senator Isadore, who is challenging Mejia, is trying to use that as the basis of a laughable ethics complaintMeanwhile, Raul Claros, a challenger to Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, held a self-described “publicity stunt” claiming that he would move into MacArthur Park if electedSilly season is underway in Santa Monica as well, where councilmembers Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick are being attacked for, well, having full-time jobs in public service and public policy. Torosis and Zwick are set to rotate into the posts of mayor and mayor pro tem this weekThis week’s episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la  and you’ll be the first to know the details

As the LA Podcast team takes off for the Thanksgiving long weekend, we’re featuring Mike’s recent one-on-one interview with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss Bass’s leadership style — she says she prefers to govern from the center — and how it has been tested by wildfires, ICE raids, and the ongoing homelessness crisis.The conversation, which took place on October 16, is part of a new series of fireside chats focused on public leadership hosted by the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, which Mike runs as his day jobBass faces reelection in just six months — the primary is June 2! The interview with Bass was recorded a few days before former LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner officially announced his campaign to unseat her, and a few weeks before progressive organizer Rev. Rae Huang announced a challenge from the leftAt CalMatters, Jim Newton of UCLA (and an esteemed former LA Times political reporter) writes that Bass is vulnerable, but still tough to beatMike asks about some of the mayor’s controversial moves to undercut the voter-approved Measure ULA. It is a stance that angered many progressives. In recent weeks, Bass has taken another swipe at the voter-approved measureBass’s second term could look dramatically different as the Los Angeles City Charter Commission discusses expanding the 15-member City Council. The panel is preparing to discuss three different models of council expansion, each with unique benefits and challenges for Angelenos. This Wednesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. join LA Forward Institute, AAPI Equity Alliance, and LA Voice to explore the three models and consider pros and cons of each model. Organizers will also share how community members can make sure that commissioners hear their voices! RSVP hereThis episode was produced by Daniel Huecias and Olive Greenspan. The interview previously aired as part of Mike’s podcast, What’s Next, Los Angeles? (Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts)We’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Alissa and Mike are joined by journalist Sammy Roth to answer all your questions about LA’s climate and environment goals. Why are green bins clustered on every corner? How can we save even more water? When are we weaning ourselves off coal? And is California slowly losing its status as a global environmental leader? Plus: a new way to think about getting to Dodger Stadium.Los Angeles Times: “Green bins clog L.A. curbs as city’s organic waste program goes into overdrive”Thanks to The Los Feliz Neighborhood Council for the best video on the Great Green Bin Apocalypse of 2025One LA resident estimates the botched bin rollout cost $4 million that Sanitation Department doesn’t haveWhat can you compost in your green bin? Here’s a good guideMeanwhile, many LA residents are about to pay more for less trash pickup while Sanitation general manager Barbara Romero is departing at the end of the year. Some advocates, like Bruce Reznik of LA Waterkeeper are saying she was pushed outLA’s stormwater capture for this water year (since October 1) is equivalent to 10 Rose BowlsNow LADWP is going to double the amount of water it plans to recycle at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant amidst state orders to take less water from Mono LakeOver at the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), advocates argue another leader was forced out: Adel Hagekhalil, who the board voted to remove after “an investigation into claims of harassment and a toxic workplace"Once again, LA Waterkeeper’s Bruce Reznik has strong feelings about who should lead MWDYes, LA and California are actually getting off coal: this month!LADWP plans to also convert one natural gas plant to hydrogen — although those plans are a bit more controversialBillionaire hedge-fund founder turned environmentalist Tom Steyer announces campaign for governor — what are his climate credentials? He doesn’t mention environmental issues in his launch videoNew York Times: “California’s Environmental Past Confronts Economic Worries of the Present”One way California is starting to backslide: Gavin Newsom seems to be giving up on his 2035 EV mandateSammy has been following the calls for the Dodgers to cut ties with fossil fuel companiesAfter LA’s City Council voted 12-1 to oppose Metro’s environmental review of the gondola, LA Mayor Karen Bass voted to approve the EIR in her Metro board role. She also had a chance to say something — anything! — about the project, and she didn’tSubscribe to Sammy’s newsletter, Climate-Colored GogglesThis week’s episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Mike, Rachel, Godfrey, and Olga analyze the significance of last week’s vote by LA’s City Council to limit annual rent increases for 1.5 million tenants — and somehow explain it all using Dodgers metaphors. The LAPD and city attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto are bucking civilian oversight in a variety of shocking (or maybe not-so-shocking) ways. Then, how labor power is brewing at your local Starbucks.LA’s City Council voted to limit rent increases in rent-controlled units to 1 to 4%, based on an annual formula published by the Los Angeles Housing Department — a big change from the current 3 to 10% cap. It is the first time since 1985 that the formula for rent increases has been changedSome see the council vote through the lens of the Zohran Mamdani victory in the New York City mayoral election. That misses the five-year arc of progressive victories in LA, which we discussed on last week’s show. Those victories have focused heavily on tenant protections, including the pandemic-era eviction moratorium, the passage of a “just cause” eviction ordinance, and the funding of a right to counsel for tenants facing evictionOn the council floor, the legislation was pushed by the progressive renters bloc of Nithya Raman, Hugo Soto-Martínez, Eunisses Hernandez, and Ysabel Jurado. But it is the undeniable result of years of organizing and hard work from the housing justice activists, like the members of the Keep LA Housed coalitionHousing justice activists had pushed for a 0 to 3% formula, while the landlord lobby wanted the old rules to stay in place. In the end, tenants won a huge chunk of what they wanted, but the landlords still tried to claim a partial victory, saying they defeated a more extreme proposalThe council action was based in large part by a study conducted by the Economic Roundtable, an esteemed nonprofit public benefit research organization that has long been a source of analytical foundations for L.A.’s progressive policies. The organization, which issued the report last fall, shut its doors recently after a 34-year runLAPD has been all over the headlines lately, for all the wrong reasons. The department is refusing to release crime data, warning it could lead to public panic and bad public policy. (Um, what about Citizen?) Experts in public records law scoff at the LAPD assertion that withholding data is in the public interest Meanwhile, LAPD spends millions of dollars annually shaping public narrativeLAPD and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto are fighting to preserve the department’s right to use force on journalists at recent protests. They’ve been sharply rebuked by the courts and by a unanimous LA City Council. Despite the legal and political reprimand, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell is still pushing backLA Daily News: “Los Angeles city attorney to press: drop dead”The LAPD is also pushing back on spending restrictions in this year’s budget, blowing way past the number of authorized hires and putting the city in further fiscal jeopardyMike considers the LAPD’s bucking of civilian oversight to be significant, harkening back to days when the LAPD ran roughshod over LA’s elected officials. If you can find it, Mike recommends Joe Domanick’s excellent 1994 book: “To Protect and To Serve: the LAPD’s Century of War in the City of Dreams”Did you know current charter reform conversations do not include LAPD reform? Join an LA Forward teach-in on Policing and LA's City Charter on Thursday, November 20 from 6 to 7 p.m. to learn more. Details and RSVP hereThe Guardian: ‘Red cup rebellion’: striking Starbucks baristas urge customers to stay away”Here’s where Starbucks workers are striking around LAStarbucks Workers United also filed a complaint with the IOC after Starbucks was named official coffee partner of the 2028 Olympics. As the LA Times reports, the complaint says “Starbucks’ treatment of U.S. workers looking to unionize and bargain a contract — as well as allegations of forced labor abroad — conflict with the Olympic Games’ code of ethics”Catch upcoming interviews with Council District 9 candidates on Mike's show What's Next, Los Angeles?This episode was produced by Kristen TorresThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Alissa, Mike, and Rachel break down last week’s election results and some major progressive victories. Zohran Mamdani is the new democratic socialist mayor of New York City! Prop 50 passes, temporarily redrawing California’s districts! And a blue wave produces downballot wins nationwide! What does it all mean for LA politics as our 2026 election cycle kicks into gear? Plus, surveying the state’s gerontocracy as 85-year-old Nancy Pelosi announces her retirement.Zohran Mamdani wins New York City’s mayoral election: watch his victory speechNew York City saw turnout that was the highest since the 1969 mayoral race. Over 1 million votes were cast for Mamdani, even with fewer eligible voters — the electorate has shrunk to 5.3 million from 5.6 million four years agoAlissa thought this clip of Jamaal Bowman at Mamdani’s victory party was the exact right sentimentContrary to pundit belief, socialism has been a part of New York City’s political fabric over the years, but as Mamdani takes power, the stakes are high. Luckily he has an outstanding all-women transition teamHere in California, Prop 50 passed easily, temporarily redrawing the state’s Congressional districts. Here’s what happens nextProp 50 turnout is 38.6 percent so far, matching the Gavin Newsom recall election from 2021(another odd-numbered year election)Yes on Prop 50 leads by 28 points, 64 percent to 36 percent. Kamala Harris won the state in 2024 by only 20 points, writes the New York Times’ Nate Cohn in “Why Democrats Could Win the Redistricting War”What about LA? Watch and share Mike’s video on our Zohran Mamdani momentMayoral candidate Austin Beutner is trying to hit Karen Bass on affordability but he isn’t presenting his own solutions for making the city more affordable. Meanwhile, as we discussed last week, housing justice leader Rae Huang is going to declare her candidacy soon. Still not sure about Rick Caruso, who is going to make a decision about mayor or governor in the next few weeks85-year old Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek re-election“The challenge for Democrats is to wrest control from the gnarled grip of gerontocracy while containing the chaos that will naturally ensue from younger politicians who are mad as hell at their own party,” writes New York Magazine’s Rebecca Traister in “It’s My Party and I’ll Leave When I Want To“Many young progressives who won aren’t being talked about as much this week, like Michelle Wu, who ran unopposed for her second term as mayor of Boston (maybe she should have been quoted as one of the mayors giving advice to Mamdani)Progressive prosecutors still notched big wins coast-to-coastCatch upcoming interviews with Council District 9 candidates on Mike's show What's Next, Los Angeles?This episode was produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re moving our first subscriber-only event to 2026! Become a paid subscriber to LA Podcast at thinkforward.la and you’ll be the first to know the details

Alissa, Godfrey, and Mike review a new city controller assessment of LAPD’s “armed-first, police-first, patrol-first” response to mental health crisis calls. Plus, what in the world is going on at LAX? The people mover is delayed to June 2026 at least, while billions in public transit investments are about to be undermined by new elevated roadways that are certain to make airport traffic worse.If you’re hearing this on Monday — get your ballot in today or Tuesday!The LA City Controller’s office published a comprehensive assessment of LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit and Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team (SMART) programThere’s some troubling data: “Only 6% of the incident report narratives describe an attempt to de-escalate by the responding officers and/or SMART; 61% include no description of an attempt to de-escalate, and 33% describe no need for de-escalation”Interestingly, LAPD would not comment on the report to the Los Angeles Times“When it comes to LAPD mental health crisis response, LAPD requires an armed-first, police-first, patrol-first response to mental health crisis incidents,” Dinah Manning, who also is the controller’s chief of strategic initiatives, told LAistEfforts to remove LAPD from some types of traffic stops have also stalled, although there is a set of draft recommendations from 2023Compare these efforts to the very successful outcomes of LA’s Unarmed Model of Crisis Response, which we discussed in September: “6,700 calls were diverted from 911 dispatch and fewer than 4.1% of calls required police backup”Karen Bass appointed a new LAFD chief: 30-year department veteran Jaime MooreLAFD Chief Moore has his first big challenge: reports that firefighters were ordered to leave the still-smoldering Lachman Fire a week before the Palisades Fire may have started in the same placeUnrig LA spotted a big update in the mayoral race: pastor and housing justice advocate Reverend Rae Chen Huang enters the race to Bass’s leftAlissa is losing her mind about spending $1.5 billion on new roadways into the LAX horseshoeNick Andert made a great video about why this is such a bad ideaMeanwhile, what is happening with the LAX people mover? It was supposed to open in 2023 and is still at 95% completionLAWA CEO John Ackerman told the LA Times that the people mover will not be open until June 2026 and may not be open in time for the World CupThis week’s show is produced by Olive GreenspanThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions

Alissa, Mike, and guest co-host Liz Chou discuss a secretive $2 million payout to LA County’s CEO, who claims she suffered “reputational harm” from Measure G. An LA City charter reform proposal would bring dramatic changes to the Board of Public Works. Yet another fire investigation, this time from Republican senators who are trying to blame the flames on DEI. And remembering river advocate Melanie Winter.LA County CEO Fesia Davenport was “quietly paid a $2 million settlement,” as LAist reported first, “over claims she was harmed” by the passage of Measure G one year ago, the ballot measure that expanded the Board of Supervisors from five members to nine members, and changed her position from an appointed role to an elected roleAs Julia Wick reported in her final story for the Los Angeles Times, many think that Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who pushed for Measure G, would run for the County CEO role. “There are people who are never going to be convinced that I created this measure without seeing a seat for myself in it,” she says. “I’m not interested in convincing people of that. I’m interested in doing the work”“With six months remaining before the commission’s recommendations are due, several commissioners, city officials and good government advocates told LAist they have concerns about transparency and independence,” LAist reports. “Some say they doubt the commission is in a position to accomplish a fraction of what it first set out to do”More on LA City’s Charter Reform Commission, including upcoming meetings. Sign up for the charter reform newsletterRead more proposals on planning and infrastructure charter reform platforms from Investing in Place and Streets for All, including dissolving the Board of Public Works. Here are some of the reforms being proposed by the commission, and a set of recommendations from Mayor Karen BassLA Forward has both Governance Reform and Capital Infrastructure Program working groupsLiz reports on Councilmember Monica Rodriguez’s appearance at last week’s charter reform meeting and why she accused the commission of having an “agenda”Subscribe to Liz’s newsletter, The LA ReporterU.S. Senate investigations subcommittee requested Palisades Fire records from LA Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson including "records referring or relating to the creation or oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion ('DEI') hiring policies for the LAFD and the LADWP"As the LA Times notes, the letter mentions the Eaton Fire but no similar request was sent to LA County representativesLA County passes an emergency declaration against ICERemembering river advocate Melanie Winter, who died last week, through this beautiful obituary as well as a 2024 profile, both by Ian James at the LA TimesThis week’s show is produced by Olive GreenspanThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions

Mike, Godfrey and Carla welcome former LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner to the LA mayoral race as the first serious challenger to incumbent Karen Bass. The state’s housing department sends a blistering letter to the City of Los Angeles about its obstruction of affordable housing in Venice. Plus, Governor Gavin Newsom signs (and vetoes) major pieces of legislation, including the highly anticipated passage of transit-density bill SB 79.Warning that Los Angeles is “adrift,” Austin Beutner throws his hat in the ring for mayor with a four-minute launch video and coverage from major media outlets like the New York Times and PoliticoBeutner was superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District during a turbulent time. The historic six-day 2019 teachers strike happened on his watch, and he oversaw the district's pandemic shift to online learning and food-relief efforts that served over 100 million free mealsBeutner also served as publisher of the Los Angeles Times for a year, pushing the paper to do a series of editorials giving letter grades to elected officialsMike talked about Beutner’s entry — and a lot more — with Bass during a fireside chat for the Pat Brown Institute. You can listen to the interview in its entirety on this week’s episode of What’s Next, Los AngelesThe state’s Department of Housing & Community Development sent a stern letter to city officials for road-blocking already-approved homeless and affordable housing on a public parking lot in Venice. The letter says LA is now in danger of losing its “pro-housing” designationThe letter came just days after the City Council voted to support a “mobility hub” study on the same parking lot put forth by Councilmember Traci Park, who is trying to kill the housing projectGovernor Newsom issued a flurry of bill signings and veto statements last week, weighing in on the hundreds of bills sent to him by the legislature this session. To the delight of housing production advocates, Newsom signed SB 79, which will limit the ability of cities to say no to some additional housing in certain areas near transit hubsWill SB 79 have any impact in your neighborhood? While people are still debating precisely where it will apply, LAist did its best to understand the impactsNewsom also signed a bill to raise wages for prisoners who fight wildfires, and a bill making it easier for Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize.The governor vetoed a bill that would make it easier for transgender patients to get a long-term supply to hormone-therapy drugs.CalMatters has extensive coverage of what Newsom signed and what he vetoedLA Forward has a full schedule of Prop 50 events leading up to November 4Next week, Hollywood FWD will host “ULA: 3 Years In” at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. The October 29 panel will feature: Joe Donlin from United to House LA; Greg Good formerly with the LA Housing Department; Nella McOsker with Central City Association of Los Angeles; Shane Phillips from UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies; and Zerita Jones with ULA Citizens Oversight Committee. Register hereThis week’s show is produced by Olive GreenspanThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions

Alissa, Mike, and Kate recount a dramatic week as an arson suspect is taken into custody for allegedly starting a fire which smoldered underground for a week, then rekindled in high winds to become the deadly Palisades Fire. Analysis of LAFD’s after-action report reveals more communications breakdowns. Plus, ballots for Prop 50 hit mailboxes.Former Palisades resident Jonathan Rinderknecht, also known as Jon Rinder, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint for starting what federal prosecutors allege eventually became the Palisades FireLos Angeles Times: “Florida man ‘maliciously’ started Palisades fire, then tried to cover his tracks, authorities allege”Here’s the video he watched in the days before the fire: “Un Zder, Un The" by French artist JosmanWhat’s a “holdover” fire? LAist’s Jacob Margolis has a great explainer on how a fire can rekindle a week laterWhen the fires started, LA was in the “bottom two percent of historical records” for soil moisture readingsLAFD did not use thermal imaging to confirm the fire was out and least one fire expert (anonymously) claimed that cleanup from the Lachman Fire was not done properly. This raises more questions about liability: “This affidavit puts the responsibility on the fire department. There needs to be a commission examining why this rekindled fire was allowed to reignite,” said Ed Nordskog, former leader of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s arson unit. “The arsonist set the first fire, but the fire department proactively has a duty to do certain things”Here’s LAFD’s after-action report on the Palisades Fire and good analysis by LAistAlissa is, once again, worried about who is supposed to give warnings in LA CountyMeanwhile, Rinderknecht might face the death penalty, and Kate reported at Spectrum that he’ll be back in court later this weekListen to Kate’s Rebuilding LA podcastLA Times: “Who is spending money on Prop 50?”CalMatters has a good look at how Prop 50’s mid-decade redistricting would change representation in other waysYou should probably not mail in your ballot on the last day due to new USPS rules, so be sure to take it to the special ballot boxes. There is also a small mistake on the guideLA Forward has a full schedule of Prop 50 events leading up to November 4, including a ballot party on Sunday, October 19 at 2 p.m. at the Hermosillo in Highland ParkCheck out Mike Bonin's interview with California Environmental Voters ED Mike Young on "What's Next, Los Angeles?" about the good, the bad, and the ugly of this year's environmental legislation in Sacramento (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)On the next What’s Next, Los Angeles?, Mike will be talking to Loyola Marymount University faculty members whose union was abruptly not recognized by leaders at the school claiming there was a “religious exemption”This week’s show is produced by Olive GreenspanThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.laand you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions.

Alissa, Mike and Rachel recap Trump’s declared war on cities run by the “radical left” (we wish!) and fresh threats to Cal State campuses. LA County’s long-awaited after-action report on the failure to issue alerts and evacuations during the Eaton Fire raises more questions than answers. And will a $32.35 minimum wage for construction workers help LA build more homes?“California State University faculty members say they are worried about employee privacy protections and academic free speech after learning that the Trump administration is investigating alleged antisemitism across the 22-campus system,” reports EdSourceAP: “Progressive nonprofits condemn Trump’s targeting of George Soros and his foundations”ICE is hiring for a social media surveillance team, reports Wired, with a 16-person office in Southern California: “At all times, at least one senior analyst and three researchers would be on duty at the Santa Ana site”LA County’s after-action review of notification systems and evacuation policies for the Eaton and Palisades FiresLos Angeles Times: “No 'smoking gun': Why Eaton fire report didn't name names or assign blame” Meanwhile, 24-year-old climate scientist Edgar McGregor issued warnings via Facebook that saved hundreds of livesLAist: “Hours before the Eaton Fire, distribution lines failed and fire started in Altadena”KNX reporter AB Silverman asked the question on everyone’s mind: why wasn’t there any information about the false evacuation alert that went out to everyone in LA CountyMalibu’s rebuilding director resigns and says the mayor should, too“Confronting Disaster: Curbing Corporate Speculation in Post-Fire Altadena”: A new report from SAJE, Inclusive Action for the City, Morena Strategies, Public Interest Law Project, the UCLA Veterans Legal Clinic, and theworksLA“22,500 homes lost. Over five years later, only 38% rebuilt”: LA Times journalists reported out a major series on how slowly the state is recovering from previous fires, with a video featuring Liam Dillon that summarizes it allA broad coalition of LA City Councilmembers is looking into establishing a $32.35 minimum wage for residential projects with 10 or more units that are under 85 feet in heightWill it translate to more homes being built? The LA Times’ Roger Vincent reports: “Los Angeles apartment construction has dropped by close to a third in three years as developers struggle with unprofitable economics and regulatory uncertainty”This week’s episode is produced by Sophie BridgesThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardWe’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptions.

Mike, Rachel, and guest co-host TV writer Olga Lexell discuss censorship in Hollywood and how unions rallied to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live. How ICE is using Palantir’s data to track you, and how rapid response groups are fighting back. Plus a recap of LA’s divisive convention center vote and how Mayor Karen Bass saved city worker jobs, but not city services.We’re hosting a party for all paid subscribers soon! Become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la and you’ll get the invite as soon as it comes out. Your support is critical to enabling us to release new episodes every week. Thank you for bringing more independent voices to California media with your paid subscriptionsLA’s convention center expansion was, indeed, passed 11-2. As the Los Angeles Times notes, we just finished paying off the 1990s expansion, now we have three more decades of debtAlissa published Katy Yaroslavsky’s remarks in full; you can also watch them here"There are boondoggles, there are big boondoggles, and then there are public development disasters. Los Angeles has just embarked on a disaster," writes convention center expert Heywood Sanders. Read Alissa’s interview with him for a true LA horror storyMayor Karen Bass is celebrating averting layoffs — even though the budget committee did most of the actual work — but sadly LA’s service levels will still suck, as Yaroslavsky noted in councilCalifornia lawmakers from the local to federal level joined unions on Hollywood Boulevard on Monday to rally for free speech. Jimmy Kimmel Live was reinstated by Disney moments after the press conference ended and returned to the air the following night — except in a handful of cities. Over the weekend, Sinclair brought the show back to the remaining marketsLA Times: “Hollywood writers were already struggling. Now they fear censorship"This New York Times column by Thomas Edsall is the most comprehensive — and chilling — explanation of the media mergersRapid response groups are shifting to new ways to track ICE including setting up their own cameras and operating their own “liberty vans” as part of the Save America MovementLicense plate readers continue to collect information all over LA, although LA County is trying to keep the data away from ICE“For years, little was known about the multibillion-dollar company that handles data for the U.S. immigration enforcement agency. Now, a cache of emails, training documents and reports sheds light on how Palantir helps ICE with investigations and on-the-ground enforcement,” The Guardian reportsThere have been many protests at Palantir’s West Hollywood officeDoug Smith of Inclusive Action writes about the Trump administration's illegal use of IRS data to supercharge ICE raidsOlga joined Ed Begley Jr., Adam Conover, and Bill Wolkoff on the Transit and Hollywood panel moderated by Alissa for SoCal Transit MonthIn addition to wrapping up SoCal Transit Month, this is the national Week Without Driving. Ride free transit on Wednesday, October 1 for Clean Air Day!This week’s episode is produced by Olive GreenspanThe reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward