LA Podcast

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

Alissa, Mike, and David discuss a contentious vote about expanding LA’s neglected convention center. The ULA transfer tax is making $387 million available for affordable housing right as a backroom deal to undermine ULA implodes in the state legislature. Plus, how LA’s tourism unions rallied with an epic signature revocation campaign to save the Olympic Wage.Weekly actions from #BoycottDisneyABC after the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live, because comedy isn’t the only thing under attackThe Department of Housing and Urban Development has changed guidelines for federal funds for permanent supportive housing: not only can providers not engage in harm reduction, but money can only go for projects in cities or states that prohibit public camping and cooperate with immigration enforcement LA is now looking into how to create its own homelessness agency, and LA’s City Council will need to approve the court-ordered oversight of former LA city controller Ron Galperin and lawyer Daniel Garrie to monitor data and reportingMeasure ULA is about to release a super NOFA (notice of funding availability) for affordable housing projects with $387 million in available fundingThe United to House LA coalition also recently released a report by Occidental academics disputing the claims in a recent UCLA Lewis Center report critical of ULA’s structureBe sure to listen to this week’s What’s Next, Los Angeles? out Wednesday where Mike speaks to United to House LA’s Joe Donlin and Amped Kitchen’s Mott Smith about dueling reportsLAist: “State lawmakers unveil bill that would put new limits on LA’s hotly debated ‘mansion tax’”…which almost immediately got withdrawnIn other housing news, the transit-oriented development bill SB 79 cleared the state legislature and is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, where he is expected to sign it despite LA Mayor Karen Bass’s request for a vetoAfter we recorded the show, LA’s City Council approved the convention center expansion 11-2, despite the budget committee’s vote recommending against it“This expansion is unrealistic, unaffordable, and fiscally irresponsible. It puts our city at severe risk.” It’s extremely worth watching Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s remarks; Alissa published them in their entirety at TorchedA Central City Association report has ideas to turn downtown commercial vacancies into housing - more public subsidies for private redevelopment, anyone?Alissa wrote about the campaign to save the Olympic WageThis week’s episode is produced by Olive Greenspan. The 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 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 subscriptions.

Alissa, Scott, Hayes, and Mike try to decipher the electoral intentions of LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and preview other key city and county races as local candidates launch their campaigns for the June primary. Plus, a devastating Supreme Court decision upholds ICE’s discriminatory roving patrols. And remembering legendary California legislator John Burton: “I yell because I care.”The Supreme Court reversal of a previous federal ruling means half the population of Southern California now meets ICE’s criteria for reasonable suspicionThere’s not much California leaders can do, especially when ICE no longer requires internal paperworkLos Angeles Times: ‘I am not the same person.’ Pasadena man recounts 13 days in ICE’s ‘basement’There was good news for journalists covering protests this week. A federal judge issued preliminary injunctions against the Department of Homeland Security and LAPD for use of force against press; LA Press Club’s Adam Rose is closely tracking those casesAs part of a deal during budget negotiations, LA Mayor Karen Bass finally announced her executive directive to hire more LAPD officersICE’s gross new ads are trying to attract law enforcement officers. Deputy Tony Meraz, director for the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, told LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano he worried it would hurt local recruitmentLos Angeles City races and candidates discussedCouncil District 1: Eunisses Hernandez (incumbent), Raul Claros, Lou Calanche, Sylvia RobledoCouncil District 3: Tim Gaspar, Barri Worth Girvan, Jon RawlingsCouncil District 9: Jose Ugarte, Estuardo Mazariegos, Jorge Nuño, Elmer RoldanCouncil District 11: Traci Park (incumbent), Faizah MalikLA City Attorney: Hydee Feldstein Soto (incumbent), Marissa RoyAll the other races have no announced challengers, including Council District 7, where Monica Rodriguez is the incumbent but has yet to file. Could she be running for something else? She made a video where she visited a Foot Locker and appeared on LA in a MinuteLos Angeles County races and candidates discussedLA County Board of Supervisors District 1: María Elena DurazoTermed-out Hilda Solis says she’ll run for the new 38th District created if new maps are approved by voters through Prop 50 — which Californians will be voting on in a special November 4 electionLA County Board of Supervisors District 3: Lindsey Horvath has no announced challengers, and hasn’t launched her reelection campaign. Is it because she’s running for LA mayor?John Burton, who reshaped California’s progressive politics across six decades, has died at age 92. This LA Times obituary by Dan Morain is excellent: “He was a Democrat who cared about poor people, and he knew how to fight” Buy Burton’s biography: I Yell Because I Care: The Passion and Politics of John Burton, California's Liberal WarriorSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, start a paid subscription today at thinkforward.laAll opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardProduced by Olive Greenspan

Alissa, Mike, and LA Taco’s Memo Torres break down three months of ICE raids and explain why a Labor Day lull doesn’t mean the feds are letting up. LA County passes a law that says your landlord must keep your apartment below 82 degrees, and LA City may follow suit. California sets up its own CDC amid a major COVID spike. And yet another major setback for Frank McCourt’s gondola — will this project ever get off the ground?Memo’s Daily Memo has become a must-watch to keep up with LA’s ongoing siege. Read it at LA Taco or watch it on LA Taco’s Instagram or Memo’s InstagramLA Taco’s reporting on the ICE raids has been featured on MSNBC, NPR, KQED, Huff Post, and the Washington PostAnd be sure to check out stories and photography by LA Taco’s staff investigative reporter Lexis-Olivier RayAs Trump threatens to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, a federal judge rules that deploying the National Guard to LA was illegal. The deployment also cost taxpayers $120 million“Take your orange aprons somewhere else”: Councilmember Ysabel Jurado tries to block Home Depot from opening a new store in Eagle Rock PlazaACLU argues that Border Patrol is breaking an existing Central Valley temporary restraining order with a series of Sacramento raids (also at Home Depot)LAist: “As heat-related deaths rise, LA County will soon require that landlords keep apartments cool”Now the city is also considering its own maximum indoor temperature ordinance. Watch Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez, Adrin Nazarian, and Bob Blumenfeld present their plan at a press conferenceAlissa recommends Sam Bloch’s new book, Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource, to learn about the dangers of extreme heat; watch her conversation with SamLA Times: “COVID wave washes over California. Some officials urge residents to mask up”Wastewater data, which is a pretty reliable way to track COVID infections, does not look goodCalifornia, Oregon, Washington, and now Hawaii are joining forces as the West Coast Health Alliance to give “science-based recommendations” as the CDC reverses its vaccination guidanceThe latest from Frank McCourt’s gondola, reported by LA Times columnist Bill Shaikin: After a state appeals court rejected Metro’s environmental impact report, State Senator Scott Wiener added gondola-friendly language to the bill SB 71, which would limit legal challenges to some transportation projects to one year. LA’s council passed a resolution against the bill, and, then, that language was removed from the bill entirelyThe LA Daily News reports that the anti-gondola protests caused Wiener to amend SB 71Alissa’s story on how one-third of the Hollywood Bowl audience does not arrive in carsProduced by Olive GreenspanSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, start a paid subscription today at thinkforward.laAll opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Alissa, Rachel, Mike, and Godfrey discuss how LA’s Unarmed Model of Crisis Response had a very successful first year of diverting 911 calls away from LAPD. What is the Save Our Services campaign claiming to prevent budget cuts and why is Airbnb behind it? And a debate about housing between Scott Wiener and Imelda Padilla highlights all the ways LA’s leaders weaponize land-use decisions.LA City’s Unarmed Model of Crisis Response program is assessed in a year in review report which shows that 6,700 calls were diverted from 911 dispatch and fewer than 4.1% of calls required police backup“This is a cost-saving measure in addition to a life-saving measure. It would be really great to have a system built out by then to be able to absorb the shock of our emergency management systems.” Godfrey in the LA Times about the importance of unarmed crisis for upcoming megaeventsMeanwhile, homicides may be going down, but police shootings are up over last yearThe Trump administration is trying to financially punish jurisdictions that have eliminated cash bail“As he publicly mocks concerns that crime in California is out of control, Gov. Gavin Newsom is also surging law enforcement resources across the state,” CalMatters reportsLA Times: Airbnb pushes ‘Save Our Services’ campaign for more short-term rentals in LA"They're taking up the fact that we almost had such disastrous layoffs as a cover for this. It's a little bit frustrating, to be totally frank." Roy Samaan, president of Engineers & Architects Association, told LAistWhat the city and state should be doing to actually rein in illegal rentalsWhy is Airbnb doing this? Here’s one reason: the number of listings are droppingAlissa writes about the reasonable demands of the Fair Games coalition, including asking the IOC and FIFA to drop Airbnb as a global sponsorPod Save America: “The Abundance Debate Hits California,” an SB 79 debate between State Senator Scott Wiener (YIMBY) and Councilmember Imelda Padilla (NIMBY),The face host Jon Lovett made when Padilla said she made a 100% affordable project slash the number of housing unitsMax Dubler on how Padilla "accidentally told the truth” about LA housing policy: “In reality, city councilors try to keep the zoning as restrictive as possible, so that it’s basically impossible to actually build anything viable while following all of the rules”After we recorded, Padilla defended her remarks at Friday’s council meetingListen to last week’s episode for more on SB 79Come see Alissa on a panel with Fair Games coalition members at LAANE’s Medaling in Justice event Sunday, September 7 at 4:30 p.m., RSVP for detailsListen to a re-broadcast episode of Mike’s What’s Next, Los Angeles featuring Kent Wong of the UCLA Labor CenterThis week’s episode is produced by Olive Greenspan (also a Virgo)Support for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, start a paid subscription today at thinkforward.la!All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Alissa, David, and Carla sweat it out during LA’s first major heat wave of the summer and wonder if the city is any better prepared for catastrophic fires. Former LAFD chief Kristin Crowley files a defamation claim against LA Mayor Karen Bass. The Trump administration is trying to extort $1 billion dollars from UCLA. Plus, the latest state transit-upzoning bill, SB 79, makes its way through the California legislature.“Kristin Crowley and her lawyers accuse Bass of ousting her, and repeatedly defaming Crowley as Bass sought to shift blame for the way the city handled the catastrophic Palisades fire ‘while concealing the extent to which she undermined public safety’ with cuts to the fire department’s budget,” reports the Los Angeles TimesRead Crowley’s full claimWill she sue the city? As LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia reminds us, LA’s liability suit problem is getting worse“Trump’s claim of fighting antisemitism at UCLA is a dangerous charade,” argue David N. Myers, Aaron Greenberg, and Kate Pynoos in a Los Angeles Times op-edNew York Times: “How Universities Became So Dependent on the Federal Government”“What worries me the most is the country is highly dependent on using these training programs as sources of highly skilled individuals, and that seems to be shrinking massively,” one researcher told LAistSome of the new Jewish groups mentioned by David that are pushing back against weaponization of antisemitism allegations include Diaspora Alliance, Nexus Project, and Jewish Partnership for Los AngelesLA’s City Council voted 8-5 to oppose SB 79, the new transit-upzoning bill authored by State Senator Scott Wiener“If I thought that this body was acting in good faith to address our housing crisis, I would support this resolution.” Watch Councilmember Nithya Raman’s comments on the council floorA large statewide equity coalition, including ACT-LA, is calling for SB 79 amendments to reduce displacement and create more affordability.Speaking of housing production, LA County’s new housing authority, LACAHSA, is making some foundational decisions, reports Ryan Fonseca for Think ForwardOver 200 environmental organizations are calling for Gavin Newsom to “immediately fix major problems” SB 131, the new law that exempts advanced manufacturing projects from CEQA reviewHere’s the letter urging cleanup on SB 131The last day to give public comment on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor project is August 30! Share Godfrey’s video, made by Alex Michel. Check out LA Forward Institute’s action toolkit for everything you need to make a comment.This week’s episode is produced by Olive GreenspanSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, start a paid subscription today at thinkforward.la!All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Alissa, Mike, and Rachel talk about how LAUSD plans to protect students from their federal government. ICE crashes Gavin Newsom’s redistricting press conference. DC is invaded by Trump, just like LA leaders warned would happen. Then: DIY crosswalk battles and why you should support a subway beneath the Sepulveda Pass. (Just say no to Fred Rosen’s monorail!)The first day of school included training teachers and volunteers on how to patrol campuses A 15-year-old disabled LAUSD student was detained outside Arleta High School by ICE at gunpoint and, thanks to the intervention of the principal, later releasedLA Daily News: “Amid ICE raids, LAUSD implementing new safety measures aimed at ‘safe passage’ for students”“Wake up, America,” Gavin Newsom warns the rest of the country at his redistricting press conference as ICE swarms outside — listen to last week’s episode for more on Newsom’s redistricting planThe statement from the Japanese American National Museum is, of course, iconicAn astonishing photo by LA Taco’s Lexis Olivier-Ray shows Border Patrol Sector Chief Gregory Bovino standing before Barbara Kruger’s mural in Little Tokyo that reads “Who is beyond the law?”Washington Post: “Pentagon plan would create military ‘reaction force’ for civil unrest”“A senior administration official, as well as other officials, told Rolling Stone that it is a priority of Trump that these kinds of military deployments -- in times of relative calm -- become normalized in American political culture, according to Rolling Stone“Some fear that when Los Angeles hosts the Olympics in 2028, Trump will put homeless people in detention camps,” the LA Times writesStreetsblog LA on the Stoner Park DIY crosswalk battles:  “So, if you want to get a crosswalk installed in your neighborhood, the city's fast-track process seems to be: get your neighbors to paint it unofficially (with the help of the LA Crosswalks Collective), then the city will scrape it away and install it officially.”In 2001, artist Richard Ankrom changed a confusing sign on the 110 freeway and no one noticed for nearly a year. When Caltrans eventually updated the sign, his change was incorporated into the new sign. Watch Ankrom’s documentary Guerrilla Public ServiceStreetsblog LA on the new traffic circle construction to start next year at the Koreatown intersection where 9-year-old Nadir Gavarette was killed: “For more than a decade, safe streets advocates have pushed the city to calm traffic to make Fourth Street safer for people who walk and bike.”Here are the latest renderings for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor project, this Reddit post is really helpful for understanding all the options, and Nick Andert made an excellent video about the difference between subway and monorailMeet Fred Rosen: “Rosen, who expects his calls and emails to be returned, preferably pronto, decided to make it clear, 'I will not go gently into that good night.' He sent lengthy, hostile missives to Wiggins, with top local officials as well as his moneyed neighbors cc’d: a mix of finance titans, real estate moguls, and plenty of Hollywood heavyweights, including former MGM CEO Harry Sloan, former Disney Media Networks co-chair Anne Sweeney, Mandalay Entertainment chair Peter Guber, and writer-producer Darren Star.”The 90-day comment period will end on August 30, here’s where you can comment. The last in-person meeting for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project will be Monday, August 18, at the Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center at 6 p.m. Check out LA Forward Institute’s action toolkit for everything you need to make a comment.This week’s episode is produced by Olive GreenspanSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. Become a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la so we can keep doing this show every week. All opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the individual co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Mike and Godfrey are joined by Spectrum 1 News’ Kate Cagle to talk about new “Trojan Horse” immigration raids, Trump launching a new LA28 White House task force while continuing to bash LA, and the escalating war over the potential redistricting of congressional seats in Texas and California. Plus, Kate discusses her recent interview with LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.Federal agents continued their reign of terror, using a Penske rental truck as a “Trojan Horse” to target day laborers and raid a Home Depot near MacArthur Park. An embedded Fox News reporter accompanied the agents. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli insisted the raids will continue, despite a federal court order that halted indiscriminate apprehensions in LA Kate interviewed Essayli, who said that running from ICE agents is sufficient reason for them to stop someoneHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced she was removing age limits for ICE recruits to boost recruiting for the massive expansion of the agency. One of those new recruits is former Superman actor Dean CainThe Wall Street Journal details how detainees are often shuffled from site to site, vanishing into an opaque ICE detention systemTrump established the LA28 White House task force, and announced that he would be the chair. At a press conference, he bashed LA Mayor Karen Bass as “not very competent,” praised a ban on trans athletes competing in the games, and received a collection of 1984 Olympic medals from LA28’s chair, Casey WassermanBass shared her reaction with Fox 11’s Elex Michaelson, essentially saying “nothing to see here”LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano had a more pointed reaction —  as he describes Wasserman: “I haven’t seen such a suck-up since the last time I vacuumed my dad’s pool” — and calls for LA to withdraw from hosting the gamesNOlympics LA released the findings of a new poll showing support for hosting the games among Angelenos is waningAt Torched, Alissa talks with civil rights attorney Connie Rice, who recently wrote a letter to city officials warning that hosting the games will have potentially dire fiscal consequencesWith Texas Republicans attempting to redraw congressional district maps before the 2026 midterm elections, Gavin Newsom is pushing to redraw California’s map to add Democratic seats. Top Democrats are embracing the plan, while former GOP governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes it.  Leading anti-gerrymandering group Common Cause is internally split and searching for a path forwardNewsom’s proposal has an uncertain path, requiring quick legislative action and approval from voters in a special electionKate’s podcast for LA Times Studios, Rebuilding LA, tracks local fire recovery efforts. On the latest episode, Kate talks with LA County Supervisor Lindsey HorvathJoin LA Forward’s Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, August 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. on ZoomThis week’s episode is produced by Olive GreenspanSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, you can subscribe at thinkforward.laAll opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the individual co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Alissa, Mike, and Godfrey discuss the next era for LA’s homeless services with a newly named interim CEO for LAHSA and a terrifying executive order from the Trump administration. Then LA’s charter reform commission is finally underway, starting with tackling much-needed infrastructure reforms. And Kamala Harris won’t run for governor — so what (and who) defines the race now?LA Councilmember Traci Park has filed a motion to assess evacuation routes after last week’s tsunami advisory that seems to take aim at denser housing (no one tell her that scientists now recommend “vertical evacuation” where you go to higher floors of a building, as Alissa wrote in 2018)Gita O’Neill is the new interim LAHSA CEO and some people are not happy about that choice; LA CAN put out a series of blistering statements opposing her appointment A new Trump executive order on homelessness is very alarming because federal grants will now only go to cities that ban urban camping — and a Trump appointee specifically told LA County their funding was at riskCelebrating the order is Joe Lonsdale, the Palantir cofounder on Rick Caruso’s Steadfast LA board who shops anti-camping ballot measures around to states; here’s his thread praising the decision Meanwhile, ICE is using LAPD databases to track immigrantsLA’s charter reform commission got off to a contentious start with a leadership battle, before pivoting to a deep dive on questions of infrastructure, planning, and powerAlissa wrote about Investing in Place’s 16 recommendations for public space including a five-year Capital Infrastructure Program, two-year budget, and possibly dissolving the Board of Public Works? Read Investing in Place’s reportJoin LA Forward’s Capital Infrastructure Program working group with a special meeting on Monday, August 4 from 8 to 9 p.m. on Zoom with Investing in PlaceFair Rep LA has a schedule of all the upcoming charter commission meetingsKamala Harris announces she will not run for California’s governorPolitico: “The governor’s race truly begins”Gavin Newsom wants to force a special election to redistrict the state to favor Democrats, although it’s politically riskyListen to Mike’s upcoming episode of What’s Next, Los Angeles? featuring journalist Karen Ocamb on philanthropist Wallis Annenberg’s legacySupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, you can subscribe at thinkforward.laAll opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA ForwardThis week’s episode is produced by Olive Greenspan

Alissa and Mike sit down for a full assessment of recovery efforts six months after the January fires — and discuss why a key rebuilding effort went off the rails. Plus, we check in on the accomplishments of the fire-recovery billionaires, and try to figure out why one of those billionaires, Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, announced he’s taking the paper public.Cleanup was astonishingly fast, but as this LA Times summary of progress notes, only 800 rebuilding permits have been filed so far across both burn zones One reason: there are a lot of concerns about what people are returning to, both when it comes to the toxicity of their homes and the future of their communitiesThe UCLA Blue Ribbon Commission Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery that was convened by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath released its six-month fire recovery report with one topline recommendation: create a special Resilient Rebuilding Authority at the state level. Here are some extremely good explainers from UCLA’s Emmett School of Law on what a rebuilding authority could do and how it would have aided Woolsey Fire recoveryThat effort, SB 549, has now stalled, in part due to conspiracy theories amplified by reality star Spencer Pratt, and State Senator Ben Allen talked to KCRW’s Madeleine Brand about what’s nextMeanwhile, Altadena’s land is being gobbled up by outside developers and lots are losing value for those who want to sell and efforts to rebuild smarter and to have families collaborate and source materials more sustainably are largely left up to homeownersAnd while there haven’t been any significant charges for rent gougers, LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is going after Airbnb for price gougingListen to Kate Cagle’s podcast, “Rebuilding LA”Six months after the fires, the LA Times reached out to nearly a dozen city, county and state agencies involved with evacuation planning. “All either did not respond to requests for comment, could not point to an evacuation analysis in line with the state’s guidelines for AB 747 or indicated the responsibility for doing the work lies with other agencies”Many big name philanthropists have gone missing but Department of Angels, Evan Spiegel’s partnership with California Community Foundation, seems to be carrying out important workThe block captain model is powerful and Altatogether is coordinating it in AltadenaBillionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong went on The Daily Show to announce that he’s taking the LA Times publicStatus: “Jon Stewart torched media executives for bowing to Trump — then handed Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, one of the worst offenders, an unchallenging interview minutes later”This week’s episode is produced by Sophie Bridges and Olive GreenspanSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward and by listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, you can subscribe at thinkforward.laAll opinions expressed on the show are solely those of co-hosts and may not represent the views of LA Forward

Alissa, Rachel, and Sophie come bearing (some) good news as 2000 National Guard troops are withdrawn from LA and a federal court ruling invokes a temporary restraining order that stops ICE agents from racial profiling. Plus: Children’s Hospital LA closes a clinic that’s served trans kids for 30 years, and Trump’s transportation department tries to revoke California’s high-speed rail funding.Trump orders 2000 National Guard troops to leave LA — but 2000 National Guard troops and about 700 Marines still remainThe New York Times talked to a some Marines and National Guardsmen who said morale is so low that soldiers are shitting in hummers; while the Los Angeles Times reports on the widespread boredom of those deployed to the “Los Angeles mission”A federal temporary restraining order says ICE needs probable cause to retain someone and cannot rely on other discriminatory factors “including apparent race or ethnicity; speaking Spanish or English with an accent; presence in a particular location like a bus stop, car wash, or agricultural site; or the work the person does.” LA Taco’s Lexis-Olivier Ray reports that a similar temporary restraining order in Kern County is workingEconomic analysis on the ICE raids by CalMatters: California saw a 3.1% drop in private-sector employment in June, a decline that the state hasn’t seen since the pandemic or the 2008 recession. “As a campus we recognize the significant harm that has resulted from these events and reaffirm our commitment to supporting our students, faculty, and staff and prioritizing your safety and well-being”: Cal State LA allows students to switch to online learning LASD is now handing over prisoners to ICE, claiming sanctuary laws apply but there are “exceptions for cases that involve criminal offenses”LA Public Press: “LA bus operators vow to shut doors on ICE to keep immigrant riders safe”Children’s Hospital LA’s Center for Transyouth Health and Development will close on July 22 due to Trump administration threatsThe history of CHLA providing gender-affirming care is astonishing — they’ve been doing this for 30 years, serving many low-income families LA County is trying to scramble money for a 988 hotline for trans youth after Trump ended funding for the national one in JulyPolitico: “Four hours inside Newsom’s head”Trump’s Department of Transportation is trying to claw back $4 billion in high-speed rail funding, even though Newsom says revoking the money is illegal. The state is now suing to stop themAlissa’s thoughts on the fake high-speed rail train from LA to NYCHow Caltrain’s electrification and faster, more frequent service boosted ridership 53 percent year over yearThis week’s episode is produced by Sophie BridgesSupport for LA Podcast is provided by LA Forward, and listeners like you. The reporting and analysis you hear in the show is put together by our rotating cast of producers and co-hosts every week.. If you want to help us bring more independent voices to California media, you can subscribe at thinkforward.laAll opinions expressed on the show are those of co-hosts alone and do not necessarily represent the views of LA Forward.