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Alissa and Mike are joined by guest co-host Laura Raymond for a whole episode on homelessness and housing. Gavin Newsom orders cities to ban visible homelessness, again. Is Measure ULA’s “mansion tax” stifling housing production in the city of LA? And post-fire Altadena is championing new models of property ownership to combat speculation and displacement. Help us to produce a new LA Pod episode every week – start a paid subscription at thinkforward.la today!
"There are no more excuses." Gavin Newsom wants homeless people to go away but isn’t necessarily offering permanent housing
"Tough Talk, Bad Policy": Mike’s story on Newsom’s ongoing attempts to criminalize encampments
Under Karen Bass’s leadership, the Mayor’s Fund pivoted to homelessness prevention, and, according to a new LMU study of 30,000 program participants, is keeping people housed: "Nearly 75% of survey participants reported improved housing stability after seeking help from We Are LA"
LAist reported that auditors in Judge David Carter’s court couldn’t verify 1,400 new shelter beds. LAHSA issued a statement claiming the funding data about the shelter beds has been shared
Whistleblowers at LAHSA claimed that outgoing director Va Lecia Adams Kellum "withheld accurate data about Mayor Karen Bass’ signature homelessness program, Inside Safe, 'because [Adams] Kellum did not want Mayor Bass to look bad'"
LACAHSA, the LA County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, is LA’s regional housing agency that’s funded by one-third of Measure A dollars. You can find upcoming meeting information here
"We are setting up the infrastructure where we can actually create more affordable housing." Read Alissa’s Report Forward interview with LA County Supervisor and inaugural LACAHSA board chair Holly Mitchell: "What is LACAHSA and how can it prevent homelessness?"
The United to House LA city dashboard includes all sorts of information about what Measure ULA dollars are doing
UCLA Lewis Center’s report: "The Unintended Consequences of Measure ULA"
See the United to House LA coalition’s letter of opposition to state legislation AB 698
"Compounding Disaster: A Spatial Analysis of Housing Risk and Speculation in Post-Fire Altadena": a new report by SAJE
"As developers swoop in post LA fires, one nonprofit offers an alternative to Altadena sellers," writes Josie Huang in LAist
State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez introduced SB 658, which would create a Community Opportunity to Purchase Program
Alissa’s Report Forward on social housing models in Vienna
Community ownership and land banking are the topline recommendations of a preliminary report from the UCLA Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery. A LA Times story about the preliminary report includes commentary from Mike
"In Altadena, the fire’s embers have been extinguished, but a new threat is spreading. In order to stave off an impending land grab and community displacement, state and local leaders must act quickly to establish a community land banking strategy." Doug Smith’s essay for Think Forward
"The right kind of government action can peel back layers of inequality and redirect our region towards a more just, environmentally resilient future." Alfonso Directo’s essay for Think Forward
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Mike, Alissa, and Rachel discuss how LA’s budget crisis could lead to an LAPD with fewer officers and more accountability around its helicopter fleet. Metro hires a chief for its new in-house police department. Plus, why LA County approved a $4 billion settlement for thousands of sexual abuse claims, and what this means for survivors.
Support LA Podcast -- become a paid subscriber today at thinkforward.la
It is almost certain that LAPD will be reduced to its lowest numbers since 1995, despite LA Mayor Karen Bass’s goal to hire more officers
A JPL study on the "effectiveness" of LAPD helicopter patrols was conducted in the 1960s. The authors later said the study was flawed and the study findings — which include statements like: "The citizens of Los Angeles accept helicopter patrols as a necessary part of the City’s police system and strongly favor their continuation" — are still presented as facts on the LAPD website
UCLA researchers at the Carceral Ecologies Lab have determined that police helicopter surveillance disturbs physical and mental health
City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s 2023 helicopter report showed that LAPD’s program costs nearly $50 million annually while most of the flight time is not devoted to high-priority events
LA City fire union leaders including Freddy Escobar were suspended after an International Association of Fire Fighters audit showed over $800,000 expenditures without receipts
Bill Scott is Metro’s new police chief and he wants to hire 700 officers
Meanwhile Metro is testing new fare gates and weapons screening at some stations now
"Instead of privatizing good union jobs, those dollars should be staying in-house:" Striking LA County workers list of demands
LA County approves $4 billion sexual abuse settlement, the largest in history, and now survivors are being blamed for costly settlements
"I cannot forget that for weeks survivors were told that seeking justice for our abuse will bankrupt the state. How is that our problem? Why do survivors need to be reigned in?" Rachel’s piece about efforts to roll back AB 218
On Friday, May 30, Rachel will join Francesca Fiorentini for The Bitchuation Room Live in Los Angeles at the Elysian Theater — get tickets here
Congratulations to LA Podcast producer Sophie Bridges for being named a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist in audio reporting!
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Scott, Hayes, and Alissa dive into LA City budget fallout: how positions were eliminated, which departments are getting funded, and why LA’s liability payouts are so much higher now. 100 days out from the fires, LA hits major recovery milestones. And former LA County sheriff Alex Villanueva is evaluated for emotional distress.
The mayor’s budget summary FINALLY DROPPED 12 days later. On page 47, a letter notes that “there has been confusion” over animal services funding, and the budget hearings confirmed that $5 million had been restored to keep shelters open
Alissa’s story about 24 percent of positions in the transportation department being eliminated, with city staffers describing “DOGE-like” cuts
Meanwhile Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto went to Sacramento to ask for a budget bailout (but didn’t manage to meet with Governor Newsom)
“Clearly the request — which must have originated in City Hall — uses the fires as a smokescreen to rationalize a bailout for a deficit that is fundamentally the result of years-long fiscal malpractice,” writes Dan Walters at CalMatters:
A big Los Angeles Times investigation found that Freddy Escobar, president of the fire union UFLAC, made over $424,000 in overtime benefits as he claimed LAFD was underfunded
Karen Bass and Rick Caruso made nice to announce the rebuilding plan for the Palisades Recreation Center. Caruso also announced his mall would reopen in 2026
“They haven’t asked me to do anything in a month and a half, nothing, zero,” said LA’s recovery officer Steve Soboroff in his exit interview with Julia Wick at the LA Times
The city and state are claiming the fire recovery is the fastest in U.S. history
New York Times: “How do you rebuild a place like the Palisades?”
Former LA County sheriff Alex Villanueva sued the county last year because he was placed on “do not hire” list after publicly harassing several county supervisors
As part of that suit, the LA Times’ Keri Blakinger reported a psychiatric evaluation that concludes Villanueva has "many attributes of a 'white collar' psychopath"
Become a paid subscriber and help us continue to make LA Podcast episodes weekly at thinkforward.la
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa and Mike are joined by guest co-host Oscar Zarate, director of external affairs at CHIRLA, to discuss how workers are mobilizing for immigrant rights on May Day. The Real ID deadline is on May 7, creating another barrier to travel in Trump’s America. And the first phase of LAX’s long-awaited rail connection has an opening date, while Inglewood’s pricey people mover gets revamped as a much better transit solution.
Join CHIRLA and other immigrant rights advocates at May Day 2025 on Thursday, May 1, International Workers Day, starting at 9 a.m. at Olympic Blvd and Figueroa Street downtown: Instagram, Facebook
"Humanity flows in the streets on May Day within us and among us. We embrace it to create a deep sense of solidarity and interconnectedness with one another.” Victor Narro, CHIRLA’s former workers rights project director, reflects on the history of May Day in LA
If you see immigration enforcement, call CHIRLA's rapid response number: 1-888-624-4752
Mike’s episode of "What’s Next, Los Angeles" on the Fighting Oligarchy rally which includes Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez speaking about the city’s budget priorities (AHEM)
Los Angeles Times: "What is stopping Trump from exiling you to a foreign prison?”
There’s been efforts at the federal level to create a registry to track immigrants and share immigrant taxpayer data with the IRS. Local nonprofits are fighting back. CHIRLA joined a lawsuit to protect LA’s sanctuary city status and Inclusive Action for the City joined a lawsuit to stop the IRS from disclosing information
"Under Real ID, an international criminal with a valid passport can automatically travel around our country as he or she wishes. But your neighbor who can’t find her certified birth certificate can’t fly Southwest to Phoenix to watch spring training baseball,” writes Joe Mathews at Zocalo
If you learn one thing from this show: YOU CAN STILL USE A PASSPORT TO BOARD A PLANE
Trump is threatening to require Real ID for voting and the Republican House passed the SAVE Act which would require a passport or other proof of citizenship to vote. Meanwhile, Huntington Beach is trying to require voter ID right here in LA County
The LAX/Metro Transit Center opens June 6, although as Metro’s video points out, the people mover into the airport won’t open until 2026
The new website for the bus-focused Inglewood Transit Connector, which formerly included a people mover, and Alissa’s thread breaking all the changes down
The Inglewood people mover began to lose steam after Rep. Maxine Waters pulled her support last summer, citing Eno Transit analysis showing costs of $470,000 per rider by 2040
Mike will introduce author Alec Karakatsanis before he reads from his new book “Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News” at Occidental College on Thursday May 1 from 7 to 9 p.m.,details here
Get your tickets to LA Forward's Spring Into Action garden party fundraiser on Saturday, May 3 and hang out with your favorite LA Podcast co-hosts!
Better yet, become a paid subscriber to support the podcast at thinkforward.la! All "Patron" level subscribers will get two free tickets to the Spring Into Action event on May 3.
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Mike, Godfrey, and Rachel watch LA Mayor Karen Bass’s State of the City address and discuss why a speech that was hyped as a "fundamental overhaul of city government" didn’t deliver on that promise. And a first look at the city’s budget includes major layoffs and department cuts to cover a billion-dollar funding gap.
Check out Bass’s proposed budget :cao.lacity.gov/budget
Watch the State of the City address: mayor.lacity.gov/SOTC2025
The New York Times: "Los Angeles is rebuilding, but new crises are mounting and Mayor Karen Bass has been haunted by her absence when the fires started. This week, she is trying to reset"
Shine LA is Bass’s new volunteer effort for "cleaning, greening, and preparing our city for the world stage," starting this weekend
The city’s unarmed response pilot programs are funded in the budget (so far). Join LA Forward’s Unarmed Crisis Response working group to protect them
LAist’s look at how liability payments have tripled in recent years
A scathing audit of Vision Zero, the city’s plan to end traffic deaths by 2025 (which obviously did not happen) points to major failures in leadership and funding priorities
Alissa’s story about the city’s capital infrastructure plan, or CIP, and how the first one will be focused around making improvements for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games
"Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday proposed laying off 1,647 workers and closing some city departments in the fiscal year that starts July 1. It's the most austere budget since the city was wracked by the 2008 recession," writes LAist
Meanwhile LA residents are likely facing higher trash fees and an increase in streetlight fees
A new UCLA survey shows Bass's unfavorability ratings soaring after years of being the most favorably ranked local elected official, leading many to question her political future as she faces a recall effort
Give public comment at upcoming Budget & Finance Committee meetings on April 25 at 1 pm at Van Nuys City Hall and on April 28, 4 - 8 pm, at City Hall
CD5 (Yaroslavsky) is hosting a series of budget conversations, so is CD14 (Jurado), and CD1 (Hernandez) is asking for videos from constituents about their priorities
Join your LA Podcast co-hosts at LA Forward's Spring Into Action garden party fundraiser on Saturday, May 3
And support the podcast directly by becoming a paid subscriber at thinkforward.la, the new home on the web for LA Podcast episodes! All "Patron" level subscribers will get two free tickets to the Spring Into Action event on May 3.
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Alissa, Mike, and Rachel talk about how the Trump administration is attempting to stoke fear and uncertainty at the port, schools, and cultural organizations — and how some local institutions are resisting. Plus: LA28 is getting challenged on Olympics venues, and LA’s budget-busting $2.2 billion convention center expansion lives to see another day.
LA Times: "As a center of global trade, L.A. could be in for a bumpy ride after Trump tariffs"
“Expensive cars, expensive trains, expensive bikes, expensive everything,” writes Streetsblog
Rebuilding after the fires is also going to get more expensive
At least 600 student visas have been revoked, with at least 83 California campuses, and the federal government seems to be targeting Muslim students
The Guardian: "Gaza protesters sue UCLA for civil rights violations after ‘brutal attack’ in 2024"
A House investigation requested information on USC’s 5,993 Chinese national students, saying the students posed a "direct threat to our national security”
USC also removed DEI from its list of values and replaced the phrase with “community”
But some institutions refuse to back down: “Our community is based on diversity, equity is guaranteed to us in the Constitution, and inclusion is what we believe in,” said Japanese American National Museum board chairman Bill Fujioka
More on the JANM’s program that lost its funding and how you can support the museum
LA Times: "Federal agents sought access to students at two Los Angeles elementary schools this week and were denied access”
Spectrum’s Kate Cagle reported that Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the federal agents claimed they had permission to question the students -- which was a lie
Alissa’s coverage of LA28 venue battles including beach volleyball in Santa Monica and sailing in Long Beach (and since we recorded, Galway Downs in Temecula suddenly learned it was no longer the equestrian venue)
LA Daily News: "$2.2 billion LA Convention Center expansion moves forward as council votes to keep project alive”
Listen to Mike’s most recent episode of "What’s Next Los Angeles” on LAHSA funding with guests LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
And join LA Forward for a city/state budget-focused zoom with Kenneth Mejia on April 15 and a community happy hour on Monday, April 21 for a first look at the Mayor's budget proposal
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Hayes, Alissa, and Mike are joined by guest co-host Carla Hall, former Los Angeles Times editorial board member, to discuss LA County’s dramatic decision to pull funding from the LA Homeless Services Authority. Plus County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is making big moves in a role known for anything but. And a discussion about the future of the LA Times.
LA County votes to move $300 million out of LAHSA and start new homeless agency
"We are making forward movement. We must keep building on this and confronting our challenges, together.” Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman urged the Board of Supervisors not to defund LAHSA
Preliminary reports from LAHSA show unsheltered homelessness went down 5-10% again
After we recorded, Va Lecia Adams Kellum resigned as LAHSA director
Judge Carter discusses naming a receiver as LA’s “homelessness czar"
LA Public Press: "Unhoused LA residents react to LAHSA’s unraveling"
Patt Morrison asks why LA can’t accomplish big things
Carla's last opinion piece: "To understand homelessness, listen to homeless people. Here’s what I learned"
And Carla’s last piece as editorial board member: "Stop finding ways to kill the Venice Dell homeless housing project and get it built instead"
Nieman Lab: "The LA Times adds AI counterpoints to its opinion pieces and guess what, there are problems”
48 more journalists take buyouts at the LA Times: “Tremendous amount of institutional knowledge lost”
"Notably, these buyouts will further hollow out the Times’ Editorial Board, which, starting in April, will have no writers left,” writes Laura Nelson at the Guild Eagle, the publication of the LA Times union
And yes, LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong went on Tucker Carlson
Produced by Sophie Bridges
Check out this episode and all future ones on our new website, www.thinkforward.la
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Alissa, Mike, and Rachel discuss proposed changes to LA city’s slur-strewn public comment process. Karen Bass found her deleted text messages sent during the fires, but what conversations are we still missing? And Metro advances an incomplete street for Vermont Avenue.
LA Times: "LA City Council seeks crackdown on the N-word and C-word at meetings”
In 2014 Michael Hunt was paid a $215,000 settlement after wearing a KKK hood to a city council meeting
Adam Smith’s original songs have elevated public comment to an art form
The LA Times asked Mayor Karen Bass for her text messages during the fire, then two months later the city said she had deleted them, then a few weeks later she found the messages after all, but the LA Times is still suing the city for unlawfully withholding the messages and other public records
Coverage of Vermont Avenue’s bus rapid transit project from LAist and Streetsblog LA
Metro’s letter to LA City saying it won’t include HLA improvements for Metro projects on city streets
Data from Metro shows that new bike lanes increase bus ridership
Alissa’s story on how the city’s first capital improvement plan will be focused on Olympics infrastructure
The Dodgers are going to Trump’s White House to celebrate their world championship
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Godfrey, and Rachel gather on the first day of spring to try and figure out what the hell Gavin Newsom is doing with his new MAGA-platforming podcast. Plus, new LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman won’t resentence the Menendez brothers until they apologize for "all the lies that they have told.” And some real estate influencers want LA to suspend the Measure ULA transfer tax after the fires — can the City do that?
Supporters held a rally for the Menendez brothers after a resentencing hearing was delayed by LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman
ABC: "DA says he would reconsider resentencing only if Menendez brothers admit to 'lies'"
Mike’s interview with former LA County DA George Gasçon on why he reopened the case
Separately, Gavin Newsom ordered a risk assessment as part of a clemency review, something he talked about on his new podcast
Yes, Gavin Newsom has a new podcast: This is Gavin Newsom
CalMatters: "Gavin Newsom’s MAGA-curious podcast mystifies listeners — and sets Democratic lawmakers on edge”
Politico: "Gavin Newsom is getting in Republicans’ heads”
Paul Mitchell’s polling on how much Newsom is tanking his approval ratings
Former Republican strategist Dan Schnur told Spectrum’s Kate Cagle that says Newsom is trying to position himself as a moderate — and get in with young men — ahead of a potential presidential run
Brokers have been calling for a suspension of ULA ever since the fires happened, with realtor-influencers like Ben Belack making the case on Instagram
Breitbart directed the question to LA Mayor Karen Bass, who said she was looking into suspending ULA “maybe temporarily.” But can she? (No)
The city’s ULA dashboard shows nearly $600 million in revenue, with the majority coming from single-family home transactions
LA is looking for new revenue streams to fill its $1 billion budget shortfall
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Scott, Hayes, and Alissa look back on how the pandemic has changed LA, five years later. Then, a scathing audit of homelessness services at the city and LAHSA, a famous content creator’s burglary raises questions about LAPD response rates, and the brazenness of Huntington Park’s corruption scandal, "Operation Dirty Pond."
Listen to the March 16, 2020 episode of LA Podcast: “SoCal Distancing”
Coverage of the court-ordered audit of LA’s homelessness programs in the Daily News, LAist, and LA Times, plus the audit report ordered by Judge David O. Carter
Leaders at the county and city are calling for new oversight, with LA County leaders voting on whether to pull funding from LAHSA
Statement from LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and statement from LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman
Meanwhile, the number of homeless people who die in LA County has reached seven deaths per day
On "LA In a Minute” Evan Lovett said 911 didn’t pick up for an hour, then followed up with a correction, then talked about what happened next. The day before he asked what’s happening to the spirit of LA
The LA Times updated its story on Lovett clarifying 911 picked up after 78 seconds, but most local news outlets did not
One way to improve emergency response rates is by dispatching unarmed responders. LA’s pilot program is at risk of being zeroed out in the new budget. LA Forward is holding a teach-in on unarmed crisis response on March 25 at 7 p.m. RSVP here
Operation Dirty Pond: 11 Huntington Park locations were searched in an LA County District Attorney corruption probe
Huntington Park is reeling from the fallout with four former city employees suing for retaliation and constituents screaming at officials at a recent city council meeting
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Rachel, and Mike recap former LAFD chief Kristin Crowley’s failed attempt to appeal her firing and discuss the political repercussions from the fire union, UFLAC. LA Mayor Karen Bass faces a recall campaign. And revenue shortfalls are forecast for LA, meaning leaders will have to take action to address the city’s park funding crisis.
Crowley lost her appeal to overturn her dismissal by LA Mayor Karen Bass; now she’ll take a new job as assistant chief of the Valley Bureau
LA Times: “Bass aides were warned of growing fire danger before she flew to Ghana”
And a follow up by the LA Times, published after we recorded: “Why is Mayor Karen Bass deleting her text messages?”
Meanwhile, as a reminder of where to place blame, LA County sued SoCal Edison for allegedly starting the Eaton Fire
Now Bass faces a right-wing recall with a bonkers campaign ad
LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia writes a dire revenue forecast: “Eight months into the current fiscal year, our best estimate is that revenue will fall approximately $140 million short of the adopted budget.” Also of note: “Our short-term focus on year-to-year balance neglects the need for a multi-year transition to service models that allow the City to live within its means”
LA is 88th out of 100 U.S. cities in the Trust for Public Land’s annual rankings for park equity and access
An LA City parks needs assessment is currently being conducted, you can join meetings at parks and online
Alissa’s story on LA’s park funding crisis for Torched
LA County’s Measure A, which voters approved in 2016, just secured 623 new acres of green space
The council is also considering CEQA exemptions for temporary and permanent projects related to the Olympics (which was supposed to be a “no-build” Olympics)
Compare LA’s lack of plans to the city of Long Beach’s Elevate ’28, a capital infrastructure plan timed to make citywide improvements by 2028
And as an update to a previous discussion, Bass now says she’s committed to getting charter reform on the November 2026 ballot and is looking for people to join the charter reform commission, you can apply here
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Hayes, Rachel, Mike, and LA Pod producer Sophie Bridges discuss the ongoing political soap opera over the firing of LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley and lament that deeper questions are getting lost amid the drama. Plus, a big victory for LA County tenants, and more evidence of racism in the LAPD.
Mayor Karen Bass fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, then Crowley appealed her dismissal
Crowley’s appeal vote, originally scheduled for last Friday, has been changed to Tuesday, March 4
Libby Denkmann's deep dive into sexism, harassment and retaliation in LAFD in 2021 is important context for the events that led to the appointment of Crowley in 2022
Listen to the LA Podcast episode from 2021 detailing the allegations
The Keep LA Housed coalition organized to win tenant protections in LA County and is gearing up to change the formula landlords use to hike rents
Community Coalition’s Alberto Retana shared his thoughts about the attacks on Bass, and called on Angelenos to focus on the real villains who are exploiting the crisis: billionaires.
Four LAPD officers are being investigated for "allegedly making racist and sexist remarks while working with new officer recruits,” according to the LA Times
Putting on his professor hat, Mike recommends commentaries and op-eds about racism in the LAPD by civil rights lawyer Connie Rice, and abolitionist essays in the New York Times and The Atlantic
Thanks to everyone who filled out our listener survey! Follow us on Instagram, share clips from your favorite episodes, and be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Hayes, and David discuss the local impacts of Elon Musk’s federal government takeover and reminisce about how he got his start right here in LA. And how other local billionaires are sucking up to Musk, including the one who owns the Los Angeles Times. Plus, new air and water quality testing results.
Please fill out the LA Podcast listener survey to let us know what we're doing well and how we can improve!
Join Big City Heat and LA Forward for LA Power Hour, a live comedy show where we fix all of LA’s problems forever. Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m at the Elysian Theater in Echo Park. Tickets are $15, buy them here before they sell out.
South Coast AQMD’s air toxics testing results: “When levels of air toxic metals were above typical levels, the AQI was “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or worse 98% of the time.”
LA County Public Health’s most recent town hall and all local public health testing results for air, water, soil, and beach sand
How to get your soil tested as part of research by the Community Action Project LA
Alissa’s air quality story for Torched back in January
Protests against Elon Musk’s takeover are being organized locally by the Federal Unionists Network and at Tesla stores, including the Americana at Brand
Musk’s business partner Rick Caruso has brought on Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia to donate modular homes to his rebuilding nonprofit. And Gebbia is also taking a role in Elon Musk’s White House
“It’s no secret that the owner of The Times, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, has been voicing his political opinions and, at times, misrepresenting our journalism — a stark change from when he saved the paper in 2018.” Read more from the Los Angeles Times Guild
The Wrap: ”LA Times Owner’s Comments About Reporter on Dr. Drew Show Could Stoke Further Harassment, Guild Says”
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Mike, and Godfrey discuss yet another new LA rebuilding effort focused on climate — and why this one could be different. Plus, California becomes even more uninsurable, and city leaders are colluding to stop affordable housing in Venice. And remembering Donald Shoup, the UCLA professor who changed the way LA looked at parking.
UCLA’s new Blue Ribbon Commission "to promote a safe, resilient recovery” announced by LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
The Science Moms Super Bowl ad that benefitted California Community Foundation’s wildfire recovery fund
LAT: “Palisades checkpoints to remain, Bass says, reversing course hours before reopening”
LAT: After critics blast move to pay L.A. wildfire recovery czar $500,000, he’ll do it for free"
“Lawmakers shouldn’t use the fires as an excuse to slow down on clean energy,” writes Los Angeles Times columnist Sammy Roth
The FAIR plan, California’s insurer of last resort has run out of money
California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara confirmed that the state’s insurance customers will see temporary fee increases to cover the FAIR plan
Remembrances of legendary parking reform advocate Donald Shoup from UCLA, the Los Angeles Times, Henry Grabar, and Alissa’s piece at Torched
The High Cost of Free Parking video by Vox
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Rachel, and Godfrey talk about the protests that are drawing attention to Trump’s mass deportation policies when California’s elected officials are not. Then: Rick Caruso launches his nonprofit, Steadfast LA, into a field that grows more crowded each day, and how Mayor Karen Bass should be thinking about rebuilding LA City infrastructure.
De Los: "Why LA students walked out of school and protested mass deportations"
Boyle Heights Beat on how LAUSD is working to protect immigrant families
Here’s how you can order red cards or print your own
LA Times: "Who’s in charge of Palisades fire recovery? The answer has gotten complicated"
New rebuilding initiatives: Rick Caruso’s Steadfast LA and the Department of Angels, led by Snap’s Evan Spiegel and California Community Foundation’s Miguel Santana
Rick Caruso on the Joe Rogan Experience
Joe Mathews: “Why Didn’t L.A. Plan for This?”
Designing the Future of LA City: A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for LA, an LA Forward Institute teach-in
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Mike, and Hayes ask the big questions: is the fire department underfunded, who is really in charge of LA’s recovery, which electeds are taking all the blame, and why? Plus, emergency tenant protections are once again shelved by LA City Council.
Hayes’s Big City Heat story: “The question no one is going on TV about”
"24 hours that changed Los Angeles” by the Los Angeles Times’ Laura Nelson
UCLA study: "Altadena’s Black residents disproportionately hit by Eaton fire”
How Steve Soboroff, the city’s rebuilding czar, is going to help the Palisades
Alissa on Gavin Newsom’s LA Rises announcement at Torche
The Rent Brigade is a group of volunteers fighting price gouging
LAist: "New fire eviction protections sent back to committee"
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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On January 8, 2025, Angelenos woke up to a city that had been irrevocably transformed overnight. On a special live show recorded on Zoom, Alissa, Mike, and Rachel discuss the fires, the city and county response, and where LA goes next. Also joining: Eater LA reporter Mona Holmes on Altadena, Hayes on housing, and Public Counsel’s Faizah Malik on emergency housing justice initiatives
The Guardian on LA’s “perfect storm”
NPR: What LA did right before the fires — and why it wasn't enough
Julia Wick on LA Mayor Karen Bass’s fire response: "Only time will reveal the severity of the political fallout."
“Recovering Together:” Mike’s most recent newsletter includes a long list of resources
Alissa’s newsletter includes a story about the fires and questions about hosting the Olympics
Eater LA’s Mona Holmes wants you to eat at restaurants
Also on Eater: “Customers Are Not Coming In”: LA Restaurants Reach a Breaking Point Due to the 2025 Wildfire
De Los (LAT): "Advocates gather to demand equitable fire recovery for long-time Altadena residents, immigrants and others”
NYT: Shattered in the Fire: A Historic Black Haven
Hayes has a story about searching for the real arsonist and an pre-fire story about building housing in safer areas
Public Counsel’s comprehensive fire recovery resources
77 tenant groups are demanding emergency renter protections with Keep LA Housed
Mike Davis's provocative essay, The Case for Letting Malibu Burn, with a new postscript written after the Woolsey Fire
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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It’s the final episode of 2024! Scott, Alissa, Rachel, and Mike discuss the biggest (or most under-reported) stories of the year including the implosion of local media, trust in elected officials, 2028 Olympics leadership, and the breakdown of LA City services. Plus, the co-hosts make some predictions for 2025 and beyond.
Take Mike’s local media survey! Mike will be interviewing journalists on his podcast, What’s Next, Los Angeles?
The Guardian: “LA Times owner asks editorial board to ‘take a break’ from writing about Trump - report"
California Democrats shifted right due to the state’s cost of living: "A recent report from the Legislature’s fiscal advisor, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, says that living costs have risen nearly 20% since January 2020, driven by a 41.5% jump in housing and utility costs."
LAT columnist Mark Barabak on "how organized labor boosted California Democrats"
The Wrap: "Billie Eilish Dumps Casey Wasserman After Scandal Over Extramarital Affairs” & “Casey Wasserman Says He Won’t Step Down as LA Olympics Chair"
Alissa’s Torched story on Executive Directive 9
Investing in Place on LA’s "Comprehensive, Multi-Year Capital Infrastructure Plan”
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa, Rachel, Mike, David, and Hayes discuss last week’s election results, including the déjà vu-inducing national swing to the right, a mixed bag of state props, and many local progressive wins, including the passage of Measure A. And then: where we're finding hope and focusing energy in the weeks ahead.
LA County election results
California State election results
The AP VoteCast data on the Latino vote nationally and @Vanessid’s thread on the disaggregated data
LA Times: “This election showed LA voters are fed up with City Hall corruption and scandal”
The Rachel Maddow Show: “Ballot measures deliver big wins for progressive policy priorities”
Hayes wrote about getting "off the feeds and into the streets”
Rachel recommends broadening coalitions and fighting back against Trump’s Games with NOlympics LA
Mike wrote about looking for silver linings and interviewed Assemblymember Isaac Bryan for the next What’s Next, Los Angeles?
Alissa recommends volunteering at your local LAUSD school and organizing with Angelenos for Green Schools, Trust for Public Land, and the LA Living Schoolyards Coalition
David invites everyone to join LA Forward’s Election Debrief & Processing event on Tuesday, November 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom and getting involved with future in-person events all over the county — just find a group and plug in!
Produced by Sophie Bridges
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Alissa and Rachel are joined by Mike Bonin, Godfrey Plata, and David Levitus to talk about all the tricks and treats on your ballot, including the key local races in next week’s election, a slew of state props, and very consequential county and city measures. Plus, some exciting changes are in store for the podcast!
LA Forward Voter Guide
"What is LACAHSA and how can it prevent homelessness?" Alissa’s Report Forward piece on the new housing authority funded by Measure A
The "more powerful offspring of Measure H”: read Hayes Davenport on Measure A (bonus: audio discussion with Scott!)
Join us for the LA Forward & LA Podcast Ballot Party in Grand Park on Sunday, November 3, 2-4PM.
Alissa’s new newsletter about LA and mega-events, Torched
What’s Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin featuring interviews with George Gascon and Ysabel Jurado
"Now is the time to keep talking about policing in Los Angeles" from Mike’s newsletter
Let us know what you want to hear on the show! Follow and DM us at @thelapod and @laforward
And be sure to vote by Tuesday, November 5!
Produced by Sophie Bridges.
- Visa fler
