1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Radio seven ninety KABC. Let's get right into today's California Report, 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: which you can subscribe to for free at Randywangradio dot 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: substack dot com. And I don't usually do this, but 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: I just made a late change to the California Report, 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: so if you got it in your email, I have 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: updated it and you can check it out. And the 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: update is simple. But since they made a video about it, 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: I decided to post it. Today is Saint Patrick's Day. 10 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: And when I got to work, I noticed on my 11 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: YouTube feed that Fox eleven was showing a live shot 12 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: of the Temple Bar in Dublin, and it warmed my 13 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: heart to see that because, as you may know, I 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: spent three magical days in Dublin in December and seeing 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: the revelers out there. I mean this was like in 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: the afternoon, but now it's about midnight, which means the 17 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: Temple Bar is still rolling. Like a lot of bars 18 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: in and proper they close probably before midnight, I think 19 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: eleven pm. A lot of places Temple Bar opened late. Yes, 20 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,639 Speaker 1: Temple Bar is touristy, but Temple Bar is a good time. 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: And let me just say, on this Saint Patti's Day. 22 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 1: Some of you may be celebrating with corned beef and cabbage. 23 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: Some of you may be celebrating with bangers and mash. 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: Some of you may be celebrating with Jamison or guinness 25 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: or both. If you're under twenty five and do an 26 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: Irish car bomb. If you do that and you're over 27 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: twenty five, you need to go to a meeting. But 28 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 1: I got to tell you tonight, we're gonna do like 29 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: a shepherd's pie, because that seemed like healthy ish but 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: still kind of festive. But if I really had the 31 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: time and the energy and I wasn't too careful about 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: what I was eating right now, you know what I 33 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: would do to celebrate Ireland. I would try to make 34 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: the best thing I ever ate in Ireland, and that 35 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: is spice bag. Spice bag is something that I learned 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: about from the locals in Dublin. When you've had a 37 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: Guinness too many, you go to the Chinese fast food 38 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: place like Sean Street Food and you get spice bag. 39 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: And spice bag is a bag full of chips or 40 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: as we call them in the States, fries and little 41 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: chicken tenders, which, by the way, They can be done 42 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: gluten free with Chinese five spice and onions and peppers, 43 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,959 Speaker 1: and sometimes there's a little curry sauce on it and 44 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: you just get the bag. You walk back to the 45 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: Temple Bar area while you're eating your spice bag and 46 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: you're revived. It's magical food. Of the three nights we 47 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: were in Dublin, we had spice bag two nights. So 48 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: I just added to the top of the California Report, 49 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,679 Speaker 1: even though it's not California. But hey, the Temple Bar 50 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: makes me feel I wouldn't say homesick because I'm from here, 51 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: but I miss Ireland. I can't wait to go back, 52 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: and I only did Dublin. There's so much much else 53 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 1: to do, the Cliffs of Mora, There's so much I 54 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: want to see. Anyway, let's move on to the proper 55 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: California report, including the not so surprising news that LAUSD 56 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 1: is starting to put out layoffs because they're facing an 57 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: eight hundred and seventy seven million dollar budget deficit. This 58 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: is coming at the same time that Cicely meyerk Cruz 59 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: and the UTLA are saying that they need a massive 60 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: raise or they're going to go on strike. Hey, Cecily, 61 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: but what are you going to do about the fact 62 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: that the district doesn't have any money and they have 63 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: to lay people off. Well, that means that even if 64 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: you get your raises a whole bunch of teachers, including 65 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: the newer teachers, they're probably gonna get laid off first 66 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: that money. Okay, I don't think she cares, but we've 67 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: seen this game play out in all different parts of 68 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: the state. It's LAUSD's turn, and LAUSD, which is in 69 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: a really precarious situation right now because the district's head 70 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: negotiator is the superintendent, Alberto Carvallo, who's currently on administrative 71 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: leave because he got investigated by the FBI. Remember that 72 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 1: search war into his house. Remember the possible ties to 73 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: an AI chatbot that was supposed to teach the kids algebra. Yeah, 74 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: it's not looking good for LAUSD. I'm sure you will now. 75 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: We told you about this story yesterday and I did 76 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: post an update to it as residents in Hollywood are 77 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: pretty upset that even though they weren't on Hollywood and Highland, 78 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: they were on some of the outside streets of the 79 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: area where it's pretty much the only place you can 80 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: park as a local they got towed, and some locals 81 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: allege they got towed and there weren't even signs. One 82 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: of the locals talked to Matthew Siedorf yesterday at Vox 83 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,239 Speaker 1: eleven and said that people operating the tow trucks didn't 84 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: understand why they were being told to tow the cars, 85 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: but they were being told to tow the cars. Each 86 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: one of these is a four hundred dollars fine, which 87 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: is such an unbelievable portex and since, as many have 88 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,239 Speaker 1: pointed out, this was all to celebrate the glitterati, maybe 89 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: we could let those fees slide, or maybe we find 90 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: out who ordered all the towing, especially on streets that 91 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,239 Speaker 1: did not have no parking signs. Hollywood's such a mess. 92 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: I have very distinct memories of when a close friend 93 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: of mine used to live in Hollywood near the Pantagious, 94 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: like on the other side of Franklin at Argyle, and 95 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: I remember just having to look for parking would take 96 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: four ever. What a mess. Honestly, I understand why they 97 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 1: have the oscars in Hollywood at Hollywood and Highland and 98 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: the Dolby Theater, but couldn't you move it somewhere else? 99 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: I just went to that intoit Dom. That's a great time. 100 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: Go to SOFI, go to another place where they have, 101 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: like you know, they don't have to close off a 102 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: very busy part of the city to do this. But 103 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: then again, Inglewood, well, Inglewood's dealing with it. There's a 104 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: lot of traffic, but they can deal with having three 105 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: major events at all three of those venues all at 106 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: the same time. Inglewood's a fun part of town. It's 107 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: got issues, but there's a reason that everything big is 108 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: going there and not to La And for as much 109 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: as Karen Bass wants to celebrate the World Cup coming 110 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: here and the Olympics coming here, aren't the majority of 111 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: those events happening in Inglewood and not the city of 112 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. It's like when Oakland wanted to celebrate that 113 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: the NBA All Star Game was coming to the Bay Area. 114 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: It was going to San Francisco, but there was going 115 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: to be a fan event at the Oakland Coliseum. Now, 116 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: as we roll into the third week of the war 117 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: in Iran, you're going to constantly be seeing stories about 118 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: people very upset about the spike and gas prices. And 119 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: while there's plenty of blame on all sides of the 120 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: political spectrum for this. The reason that the gas prices 121 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: are so high in the state of California is California's 122 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: environmental laws that include cap and trade, artificially increasing the 123 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: cost so they can build the high speed rail and 124 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: give out vouchers for e bikes, the cleaner burning fuel, 125 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: which I'm suspect on because how is it that all 126 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:38,119 Speaker 1: the other states, including Texas, have cleaner air than California, 127 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: but they're not burning that cleaner burning fuel. I just 128 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: it's a little strange to me. And of course these 129 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: seventy cent gas tax. Matt Mahan has called for the 130 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: gas tax to be suspended. Of course the Republican candidates 131 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: have called for that as well. And the thing that 132 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: I always have to point out, according to the Legislative 133 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: Analysts Office, this tax which you feel if you are 134 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: at the pump every week. I'm not. I have an 135 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: electric car. It's one of the benefits. There are drawbacks, 136 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: but one of the benefits is situations like this don't 137 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: really affect me. But the Legislative Analyst has seen that 138 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: this tax only raises about seven billion dollars, and it 139 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: goes up, it goes down every single year because more 140 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: and more people are getting fuel efficient cars, whether that's hybrids, 141 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: plug in hybrids, or electric cars. And for a budget 142 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: of three hundred and forty billion dollars, I feel like 143 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: you can make a whole lot of residents real happy, 144 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: real quick by getting rid of this thing and finding 145 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: other ways to pay for our roads and infrastructure, like 146 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: all the other taxes that we're paying. I just did 147 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: my taxes. I know how much money I gave the 148 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: state of California, and I'm not really seeing a return 149 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 1: on investment. But here we go. This is going to 150 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: be debated every single day until this war ends, as 151 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: the gas prices creep higher and higher and higher. And 152 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: I wanted to put this story in here because you 153 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: hear all the time that we need to be building 154 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: more housing, we need to be building more housing. Well, 155 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: sometimes the side effects of we need to be building 156 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: more housing is some of the old landmarks are just 157 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: gonna go away, like an old classic theater in Newport 158 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: that is being demolished for high rise condo towers. And 159 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: while yes, you probably need more condos in Newport Beach, 160 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: it is a little sad that some of the things 161 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: that added to the charm of the places that we 162 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: grew up in are just they're not going to exist anymore. 163 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 1: I mean already, the you know, the iconic architecture of 164 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, you can barely see anywhere outside of like 165 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 1: Pans Restaurant on Los Sienega. And this is a cute 166 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: little story in Ventura, there's a jewelry store where you 167 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: can pay not with cash, not with card tarheita, see 168 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: I'm learning my Spanish, but you can pay with sea glass. 169 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: If you go to the beach and you collect sea glass. 170 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: If it's high quality, you can trade it in to 171 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: get your own jewelry made. You can use it for 172 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: store credit to buy jewelry, or you can even get 173 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 1: cash value. So hey, all you meth heads out there 174 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: that are stealing copper wire, start combing the beach for 175 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: sea glass and find a legitimate way to make your 176 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: meth money. Now, we got to talk about what's going 177 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: on in the bay, and this is something that's been 178 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: talked about statewide, but at San Francisco's term as. Matt 179 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 1: Haney and Rafael Mandolin had a press conference yesterday announcing 180 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: that they are putting forth an ordinance that will be 181 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,199 Speaker 1: voted on by the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco 182 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: to allow Amsterdam style cannabis cafes, although if you really 183 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: want to call them Amsterdam style, you would just call 184 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: them coffee shop. 185 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. I don't know. 186 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: If you've ever been to Amsterdam, it's a lot of fun. 187 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 1: I wouldn't go in December again, but I would definitely go. 188 00:10:55,720 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: It was freaking cold. But in Amsterdam, all the places 189 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: where you get the weed they're called coffee shops, So 190 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 1: if you're actually trying to find coffee, it can be 191 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 1: a little confusing. But the idea here is when Prop 192 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: sixty four passed for some reason, we made it so 193 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: you can buy cannabis from these stores, but you cannot 194 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: consume it in the stores, and you can't sell food 195 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: or drink in the stores. We're not talking about alcoholic drink. 196 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: We're talking about non alcohol drink. So the idea is, 197 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: with a law that was passed by Matt Haney and 198 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: the legislature in Gavin Newsom, that now cities and counties, 199 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: if they want to, could have these ordinances for the 200 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 1: local cannabusinesses. I did not make up that term to 201 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: have cafes where people can socially come together and smoke 202 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: and eat and drink and have a good old time, 203 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: and maybe that'll work. I just know from my experience. 204 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: I haven't smoked pot in it's twenty twenty six. Was okay, 205 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 1: it's been nine years. I have not touched the stuff 206 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: in nine years, but I smoked it for about ten years. 207 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: I maybe it was different for you. I was never 208 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: a social person. You know, alcohol, for whatever you want 209 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: to say about it, is a social lubric and it 210 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: will make you more comfortable talking to people. It's not 211 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: necessary for that, but it does bring some people out 212 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: of their shell. Pot always made me more introverted, more quiet, 213 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,559 Speaker 1: definitely as I got older, more in my head. The 214 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: last thing I want to do is sit around a 215 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: cafe with a bunch of strangers. As we all exchange, 216 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: we all exchange, what the coughing and all the spit, 217 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: all that goes on. I'll tell you a true story 218 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: because there before legal pot, there were some of these 219 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,079 Speaker 1: cafes in the medical world. In fact, there was one 220 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: in North Hollywood and my buddy shout out Adam Acadosius, 221 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: the original og stoner. He invited me in a bunch 222 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: of his friends to go to this cafe where there 223 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 1: was music and there was snacks, and there was everyone smoking, 224 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: which at that time involved everyone passing around bongs and 225 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 1: doing nail hits. Don't if you don't know what a 226 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: nail hit is, don't ask. I'm embarrassed that I know, 227 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: and this is a true story. A day later, I 228 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: woke up feeling sicker than I had in a very 229 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: long time. I was supposed to go with my then 230 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: girlfriend now wife for an adventure in Lake Arrowhead, and 231 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: I had to bow out because I needed to go 232 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: to the doctor. And I went to the doctor, and 233 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: the doctor told me, at the age of twenty eight, 234 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: that I had mono. I got mono not from making 235 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: out at a high school party. I got mono from 236 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: sharing bongs at a cannabis cafe. Explaining that one to 237 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: mine now wife was very, very embarrassing, and what are 238 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 1: you you know? She didn't never take too kindly for 239 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: me doing the wacky tobaccy, and eventually she was right. 240 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 1: But hey, if that's your vibe and you think this 241 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: is a good time, great. What I do know is 242 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: we've made it really difficult for legal cannabis businesses to 243 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: operate because the regulation has been so strict and the 244 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: taxes have been so heavy, and we have not been 245 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: enforcing the illegal cannabis market that there is less legal 246 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: pot being sold now than there used to be. There's 247 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: more illegal pot being sold now than there used to be, 248 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: and people are literally turning in their licenses because we 249 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: made it so difficult. It's why the this nonsensical idea 250 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: in the City of La to have a ballot measure 251 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: for you to vote to change a word in the 252 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: law so the city of La can go after the 253 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: illegal cannabis businesses for tax money. It's real crazy. In 254 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: San Jose, the Nvidia conference has begun and that is 255 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: their big AI show off where they're going to show 256 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: all the robotics, all the applications, all the jobs that 257 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: it's about to take away. They're going to show show 258 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: them off in style in San Jose and Nvidia apparently 259 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: this year is supposed to bring in one trillion dollars 260 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: in revenue, which is good news for the State of 261 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: California's budget, But what does it mean for your job 262 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: going forward? Who knows? And this is another the federal 263 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: government needs to get their crap together, and that's both 264 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: sides of the aisle. Stop blaming one side for all 265 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: this nonsense. It's both sides that come together and come 266 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: to a compromise to fund DHS so the TSA officers 267 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: can get paid. And if we can't do that, let's 268 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: do what they're doing in San Francisco where the TSA 269 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: is privatized. Because right now TSA agents are privately contracted 270 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: at SFO, they're getting paid. The ones at SJC, the 271 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: ones at OAK, the ones at LAX, they're not privately contracted, 272 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: they're not getting paid. And that's ridiculous. A program that 273 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: I really like in San Francisco, and it was started 274 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: on the London breed. But Daniel he's also going with 275 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: it is vacant to vibrant, where you make it real 276 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: easy if there's an empty storefront to turn that into 277 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: a pop up, to get somebody in there, so get 278 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: some commerce, going to get somebody that wants to start 279 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: a business and maybe wants to dip their toe into it. 280 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: We should be doing a hell of a lot more 281 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: of that in Los Angeles, but we don't. And that's 282 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: why every strip mall has at least one or two 283 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: four least signs and in fartin in Martinez, California, the 284 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: neighbors are considering closing a pickleball court because everyone's complaining 285 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: that people are really loud when they play pickleball. We've 286 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: told you about this story before, but once again Caltrain 287 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: is getting flacked because people who use Caltrain with their bicycles, 288 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: like bicycles that have seats so they could take their 289 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: kids to school. They're being told no oversized bikes on 290 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: Caltrain coming soon. And I don't think that's a smart one. 291 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: And in Saint Helena in Napa, a bunch of neighbors 292 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: opened up their pipes to turn on their sink, turn 293 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: on their tub and saw brown, stinky water. And it's 294 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: just a reminder that this state has not invested in 295 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: maintaining its infrastructure and a lot of our pipes are 296 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: one hundred years old, and that's a disaster waiting to happen. 297 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 1: We told you for weeks and weeks about strike a Palooza. Well, 298 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: the strike in Dublin is settled, but the strike in 299 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 1: Totomas and Twin Rivers and Sacramento is still going on. 300 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: And I put up this piece from ABC ten that 301 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 1: involves somebody from the Association of districts. That explain something 302 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: to me, because you know how the teachers' unions all say, well, 303 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: these districts are sitting on so much money in the bank, 304 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: that should be our money. Well, according to at least 305 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 1: what this guy said, that's all bond money, and that 306 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: bond money statutorily has to be spent on capital improvements 307 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 1: like school buildings. It cannot be spent on salaries, so 308 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: they can't use that money. But the teachers' union think, well, 309 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: then why don't you take the money you were going 310 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 1: to spend on capital improvements and spend it on us? 311 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: And no one should have a rainy day fund because 312 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,719 Speaker 1: of course the state can bail us out. Dana Williamson, 313 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: Gavin Newsom's corrupt chief of staff, who was indicted on 314 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: several counts of stealing money from Javier Besera. She apparently, 315 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 1: when she left Gaven Newsom's office under investigation, got a 316 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: sixty thousand dollars payout for over four hundred hours she 317 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: accrued in vacation time that she did not use. In 318 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: the two years she worked there. She was making three 319 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars a year. Some of these government employees, 320 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: including a crooked chief of staff are getting way sweetheart deals, 321 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: and you wonder why the budget's so crazy. Elk Grove 322 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: was named the best place to live in California, apparently 323 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 1: because it has a lot of parks, so hey, people 324 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: like walking outside. It's a good time. And the San 325 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: Diego City Council has approved lowering speed limits on twenty 326 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: percent of city streets. And while we don't want anybody 327 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: to get hurt in an accident, two points on this one. 328 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 1: Are we enforcing this because I don't see a lot 329 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: of traffic cops out these days? And two do we 330 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: take any consideration when we talk about pedestrian fatalities? How 331 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: many of them are homeless people jumping out into the street. 332 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: And I say that because that's what Karen Bess said 333 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 1: when she was asked about the fact that more pedestrian 334 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: deaths are happening than homicides in La even she admitted 335 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: it's homeless people jumping out in the middle of the 336 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: street in the middle of the night. An Escondido business 337 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: owner broke down all the different categories of e bikes 338 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: and did you know the ones that kids are using 339 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: to terrorize You aren't even technically e bikes. That's right, 340 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: they're e motorcycles. And a San Diego Unified teacher has 341 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: a new idea using AI to help the kids in class, 342 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: which means no one's gonna learn anything because chat GBT 343 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: can write the book report for you. That's today's California Report. 344 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: Get it at Randywangradio dot substack dot com. It's the 345 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It is the 346 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk Radio seven ninety KABC. 347 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: Don't forget to subscribe to my substack at Randywangradio dot 348 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: substack dot com for the daily dose of the California Report. 349 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: Our next guest is running for mayor of Long Beach, 350 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: the seventh largest city in the state of California. Chris Sweeney, 351 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Newsplitz. 352 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 2: Hey, I appreciate you having me on the show. Thank 353 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 2: you so much. 354 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: So let's start off. Introduce yourself to the audience. Tell 355 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: us who you are, what your background is, and why, 356 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: oh why you want to run for mayor. 357 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. So, I'm a Southern California native. I actually lived 358 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 2: in Lombach forromos two decades. Now. I got up here 359 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 2: on a track scholarship to Lombee State. Lanstrack A Lumbee State, 360 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 2: went to Lumbee State, and I never went back home. 361 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 2: And I actually grew up in San Clementy, San Juan Capistrano, 362 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 2: kind of bouncing around with my family, moving around. Yeah, 363 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 2: and I just chose Long Beach as the place I 364 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 2: wanted to, you know, build my dreams, start my family, 365 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: and start my business. Actually, I'm a small business owner. 366 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 2: I've been a small business owner for roughly ten years 367 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 2: now in Long Beach and had a lot of ups 368 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 2: and downs, a lot of learning experiences, a lot of roadblocks. 369 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 2: But you know, I wouldn't change anything that I've gone 370 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: through and just absolutely loving life right now. And yeah, 371 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 2: and I love this city. The city is giving me 372 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: all the opportunities that I have. I've the relationships I built, 373 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 2: just all the success that I've ever had, which is 374 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 2: personal life of my business. You know, I just owe 375 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 2: it to the people of Long Beach. 376 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: Love to hear it. Why don't we start with that, 377 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 1: because I'm curious to pick your brain as a small 378 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: business owner. How is the city of Long Beach to 379 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: deal with? 380 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 2: Oh, you know, it's it's been difficult, still facing difficulties, 381 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 2: you know, with multiple issues that we face, you know, 382 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: which is you know, homelessness, you know, open drug use, 383 00:21:55,119 --> 00:22:00,439 Speaker 2: human defecation. I myself actually been assaulted more than ten times. 384 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 2: I've you know, called in the police department. And it's 385 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 2: not something to complain, you know that I'm bragging up 386 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 2: bud gees like over fifty times for some serious issues 387 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 2: that you know have happened here at my storefront. But 388 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 2: not just that, no permanent issues, uh, you know, no 389 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 2: zero transparency on completion of you know, projects happening in 390 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 2: our city, things that you know, not only affect businesses 391 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 2: but residences and you know, people's daily lives and their routines. 392 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 2: For example, when I closed Es Girl on my storefront 393 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 2: business right meals over in downtown Long Beach, we got 394 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 2: slap pot notices right away that oh, we're doing street 395 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 2: construction run in front of your business. And that was 396 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 2: frustrating to read. And so I said, okay, well, how 397 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 2: long is this going to take? And they said roughly 398 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: three months, but actually I think it was sooner than that. 399 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 2: But the project ended up lasting six months. Nearly six months. 400 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 2: We had signs on both ends of the street. No 401 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 2: sidewalk access. Uh, you know, I had no foot traffic 402 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 2: really coming here. The street was blocked off. It was 403 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 2: just a nightmare. And you know, I just want to 404 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 2: open up. I just want to just work and contribute 405 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 2: to my community. And yeah, and then it's it's been difficult. 406 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: I got to imagine not being able to get literal 407 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: foot traffic in your business was a little bit of 408 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 1: a hinderance. 409 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 2: It really was. But we kind of have a different 410 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 2: business model than a lot of you know, regular restaurants. 411 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 2: You know, I do a lot of work with sporting events, 412 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 2: sports teams, major sports teams. You know, I do catering 413 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 2: for professional athletes. So there's a lot of stuff that 414 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 2: you know, kind of helped out balancing that you know, 415 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 2: zero foot traffic that we have in those first couple 416 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 2: of months of opening up. But yeah, it's just, you know, 417 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 2: it's adapting, and you know, I feel like we're constantly 418 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 2: adapting down here to constant changes that are occurring, you know, 419 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,479 Speaker 2: you know, not just here, but across our city. 420 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,719 Speaker 1: Now, you've lived in Long Beach a long time, and 421 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure I know part of the answer to 422 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: this question. But since you are running against an incumbent 423 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 1: in Rex Richardson. Do you think Long Beach has gotten 424 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 1: better or worse since Rex Richardson took over? 425 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:27,199 Speaker 2: You know, I truthfully feel like it's gotten worse. You know, 426 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 2: just in the three years of me being in downtown, 427 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 2: it's gone worse. You know, where I live in the 428 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: District five. You know, I'm seeing things that I didn't 429 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: see five years ago happened, you know, I was, I 430 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 2: actually was a resident in Belmont Shore for a while. 431 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 2: I'm seeing things in Belmont that's occurring now that I 432 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 2: never thought would even help happen in Belmont Shore. You know, 433 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 2: Northtown Long Beach. I know I have you know, family 434 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,880 Speaker 2: members and close friends that live in Northtown and they're 435 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 2: feeling neglected up there, you know. And then just look 436 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 2: at the traffic wisions that are occurring with this is 437 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: the status went out. It's like the highest it's been 438 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 2: in the last decade, you know, And a lot of 439 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 2: changes happen. I'm seeing less officers on the street, you know. 440 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 2: And I talked to our officers, and I talked to 441 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 2: our fire department. You know, people are overworked right now. 442 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 2: They are overworked, and and I think, honestly, a lot 443 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 2: of people are just fed up what we're seeing and 444 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 2: just no accountability, no transparency occurring, and it's frustrating. It's 445 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 2: frustrating as someone who's been in the city for almost 446 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 2: two decades. It's frustrating as a business owner, and it's 447 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 2: it's frustrating as someone who's invested in the city, not 448 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 2: just business wise. But you know, I've done a lot. 449 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 2: You know, I love my city, I love the community. 450 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 2: I'm always there for when they need me. You know, 451 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 2: we did a lot for the fires in LA And 452 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 2: you know, just I'm just always available and I'm always 453 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: here for the people that need me. And I feel 454 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:58,479 Speaker 2: like a lot of the people in our in our 455 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 2: neighborhoods want me of e their voice. 456 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Chris Sweeney, he's running for mayor of 457 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: Long Beach. Since you talked about the police, let's let's 458 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: bring that up. If you were a mayor of Long Beach, 459 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:18,360 Speaker 1: what would you do to deal with the staffing shortages 460 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: at Long Beach PD? 461 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, See, staffing shortages is ridiculous. From what I understand. 462 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 2: Pre COVID we had roughly over a thousand officers from 463 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 2: what I am understanding, and I'm hearing different numbers from 464 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 2: reputable sources, so I think there's actually no transparency on 465 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 2: what the actual number is. So I'm hearing roughly eight 466 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 2: hundred officers and I'm hearing we have six hundred and 467 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 2: seventy two. So I you know, and I'm trying to 468 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 2: get the actual number of how many officers we truly have. 469 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 2: And there's a difference of having an officer working for 470 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: the city and then who's actually patrolling our city. I was, 471 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 2: you know, you're sitting less street bike officers on our streets. 472 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 2: We're seeing a higher rate of traffic collisions, stop signs, 473 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 2: red lights, you know, all these street takeovers, but you're 474 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 2: not seeing that many street officers or officers on you know, 475 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:15,239 Speaker 2: bikes anymore motorcycles, I'm sorry, not bikes. And you know 476 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 2: we need more officers. It's a fact. You know, we're 477 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 2: hosting the biggest event twenty twenty eight. You know, we 478 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 2: have LA twenty eight coming. I call it LB twenty 479 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 2: eight because we're hosting I think ten plus events here 480 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 2: plus the Paralympics, and you know that's going to bring 481 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 2: thousands and thousands of people to our city. We already 482 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 2: host bands, work Towards brings ten thousand people to downtown 483 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,639 Speaker 2: Long Beach, and you know, we're we're inviting you know, 484 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 2: more high rises being built up, constant living structures being 485 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 2: built up, and when are we going to hire more officers? 486 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 2: You know, owning a business, and I'm gonna give you 487 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 2: an example. You know, Let's say I have two barises 488 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 2: working in the front of my staff, you know, in 489 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,359 Speaker 2: front of my house, and I'm planning on having a 490 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 2: party of three hundred people here. I'm not going to 491 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 2: keep it two, just the two members working up front. 492 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 2: I need to hire more staff members to control that 493 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 2: crowd and then give service to the crowd. It's the 494 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 2: same concept as you know, inviting people and all these 495 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 2: events for a city. But we're going to need more officers. 496 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 2: We're going to need more firefighters. I mean, these guys 497 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 2: are overworked. And again I have relationships with a lot 498 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 2: of people and in both industries, and and they're exhausted. 499 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 2: I mean, twenty one calls in one day for a 500 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 2: fire station is absolutely ridiculous. 501 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 1: You know, many many cities throughout the entire state are 502 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: dealing with this same thing, and that ends up being 503 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: part of the problem here is there ends up being 504 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: a bidding war for officers once they get out of 505 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 1: these academies, where certain cities are offering all kinds of incentives, 506 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: other cities are offering other kinds of incentives. What do 507 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 1: you think can be done to attract more talent specifically 508 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: to Long Beach? 509 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 2: Well, listen, we have the three major city these you know, 510 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 2: coastal cities in California, San Diego, San Francisco, and Long Beach. 511 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 2: There's no reason why we shouldn't and you know, entype 512 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 2: officers to want to work for us. I mean, one 513 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 2: of the first issues is obviously the budget deficit we're facing. 514 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 2: You know, my first plans is do an inward auditive. 515 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 2: Where's our where's this money going? Where can we how 516 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 2: can we allogate these vacant positions and fill these vacant positions? 517 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 2: What can we do? Is there any positions that we 518 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 2: that are that are not filled that we can replace 519 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 2: or get rid of, you know, And it's just there's 520 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 2: so many loopholes, and I just feel like, yeah, it's 521 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 2: it's frustrating. And first and first, first and foremost, you know, 522 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 2: we just got the beautiful academy that just opened up. Uh, 523 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 2: and it's supposed to how they think one hundred officers 524 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,960 Speaker 2: are saying. And I actually was personally there. I got 525 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 2: to visit the academy. I met our Sheriff Luna, I 526 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 2: met Chief McDonald, I met uh, you know, our current 527 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 2: chief Wally, incredible guy. But you know, I think that 528 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 2: right there is the first step of you know, wanting 529 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 2: more officers coming here is that beautiful academy that we 530 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: just opened up, and it's beautiful, and you know, pay 531 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 2: it's got to be competitive, you know, And I think 532 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 2: that's a that's going to be a topic of discussion too. 533 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 2: And you know, these people are out there, you know, 534 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: fighting for their lives working you know, sixteen hours, twelve 535 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 2: hour shifts, working doubles, and then they go home and 536 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 2: you know, to their family, and you know, some of 537 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:34,120 Speaker 2: these officers, I mean even firefighters are exhausted. Again, that's 538 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 2: not healthy for having an officer of firefighter working the 539 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 2: streets just depleted of energy. And I think, you know, 540 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 2: it's a priority that we definitely need to get more 541 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 2: public safety staff members on board. Now. 542 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 1: One issue that a lot of people might think about 543 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: when it comes to public safety in Long Beach. While 544 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: Long Beach has maybe the most beautiful downtown in all 545 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 1: La County. It has had some very high profile crime 546 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 1: incidents over the last few years, and part of the 547 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 1: problem might be that Long Beach is the end of 548 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: the line for La Metro. Do you think that adds 549 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 1: in a complication to trying to keep the city safe. 550 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I you know, I've brought this up at meetings. 551 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 2: You know, I've sat down with some significant you know, 552 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 2: you know, well known property owners of downtown Long Beach 553 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 2: and throughout Long Beach. And I'm not going to name drop, 554 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 2: but one person in particular, you know, we sat in 555 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 2: our car and we just wanted to count, you know, 556 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 2: how many homeless were pushed off the end of the 557 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 2: line of that Metro and it was it was a 558 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:41,960 Speaker 2: high number. I think we counted twenty six that first one, 559 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 2: and then the second train there was about fifteen. And 560 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 2: you know, I'm actually here in downtown my shops on 561 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 2: Fourth and Elm and roughly I think it's like four 562 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:56,520 Speaker 2: blocks away from the end of the line. And I mean, 563 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 2: you ask some of these people that are out here 564 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 2: on our streets, you know where they're from a lot 565 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 2: of them are notf from Long Beach a lot of them, 566 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 2: you know, Moreno Valley, Riverside, you know, out of the 567 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 2: city Pedro just across the riverbed la you know. And 568 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 2: and I think that you know, not having law enforcement 569 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 2: or you know, just set of eyes there, you know, 570 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 2: are going to enforce law in that metro, it's it's 571 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 2: disruptive to our community. I mean, look at Pine Avenue. 572 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 2: It's a ghost town right now. It's insane. I think. 573 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: I think you make a really strong point with that. 574 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 1: And let's get to one more topic before we run 575 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: out of time here, because one of the other things 576 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: people might think about Long Beach and Long Beach is 577 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: such a fun place, especially especially the ports, especially the 578 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: area with Queen Mary and Gladstone's and everything else. But 579 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:55,240 Speaker 1: you know, sometimes when I go to an event down there, 580 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 1: I start thinking, boy, it'd be fun to live here. 581 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 1: But Long Beach is is, especially if you want to 582 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: live downtown, is not cheap by any means. What do 583 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: you think the mayor of Long Beach can do to 584 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: make it easier to buy into Long Beach for people 585 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 1: to move there and afford a place to live. 586 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, and that's that's kind of a frustrating 587 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 2: topic as well, because again, you know, the city, we 588 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 2: are on the front coast, we're seeing you know, we're 589 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 2: looking at the water. We have a ton of events coming. 590 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 2: But it all comes down. I think there are sales tax. 591 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 2: You know, our sales tax is extremely high. For the 592 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 2: people that are here, they keep you know, promoting, you know, 593 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 2: we just promoted this new tax on property owners and 594 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 2: you know structural business owners as well. But the sales tax, 595 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 2: you know, it's already higher than it. You know, a 596 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 2: lot of places already throughout California. You know, people that 597 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 2: live here are not even shopping here. That some people 598 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 2: are going to Orange County or you know, other Lakewood 599 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 2: or whatever to avoid the higher sales tax here. You know. 600 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 2: And I want to pose something and it's gonna not 601 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 2: only benefit you know, citizens here and you know businesses 602 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 2: as well. But you know, let's streamline the business process 603 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 2: of opening up a business. Let's get rid of all 604 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:18,280 Speaker 2: these vacant store funds. Let's get the economy, economy flowing naturally, 605 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 2: you know, bring in natural sales tax revenue to our city. 606 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 2: Don't punish our citizens for you mishandling funds and wanting 607 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 2: to raise sales tax I think that right there is 608 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:34,399 Speaker 2: the first step to make it affordable for people here 609 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 2: to live and also you know, housing services. And I 610 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: think so people don't know this about me, but you know, 611 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:46,400 Speaker 2: I struggled with homelessness for a bit, you know, a 612 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 2: little bit out of college. I actually went to a 613 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 2: rehab facility and I was in cos Samasa and it 614 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,759 Speaker 2: was a detok center fifteen days and you know, they 615 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:00,320 Speaker 2: what they did was they it was a reform pative 616 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,879 Speaker 2: program where they helped you, you know, get a Social 617 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 2: Security number if he didn't have one. It you know, 618 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 2: helped you get a job. It helped you, you know, 619 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:08,640 Speaker 2: get a suit if he didn't have one for a 620 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 2: job interview. I just feel like if we literally stop 621 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 2: the uh I'm sorry, pause that process or not positive process, 622 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:20,920 Speaker 2: but catch it before it gets worse, is what I'm 623 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:22,960 Speaker 2: trying to say. So, people that are literally on the 624 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:24,880 Speaker 2: verge of becoming homeless, what can we do for those 625 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 2: people that can't afford living here before they hit the streets. 626 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 2: And it's more expensive to get someone off the streets 627 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:32,320 Speaker 2: than it is to put them in housing, I believe, 628 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 2: and I just think we have all these housing developments, 629 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:37,840 Speaker 2: so called housing that we have in Long Beach. In 630 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,759 Speaker 2: from what I'm told talking to experts and people that 631 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 2: are involved with the homelessness and stuff, that a lot 632 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,280 Speaker 2: of people are. You know, like we have a building 633 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:47,359 Speaker 2: here in Long Beach, so we spend twenty seven million 634 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 2: dollars to remodel roughly around twenty three twenty seven. I'm 635 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:55,160 Speaker 2: getting different numbers and it's supposed to have seventy two people, 636 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 2: and I'm told that there's only five homeless people. Are 637 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 2: people that are trying to get housing that are stay 638 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:03,879 Speaker 2: in this facility. The system's broken. It's been broken. It's 639 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 2: been broken for a long time. And I just feel like, 640 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 2: you know, we're collecting all these grants, nothing's happening, and 641 00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:13,799 Speaker 2: it's frustrating. It's frustrating to see it and seeing post. 642 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:15,720 Speaker 2: Friends of mine too suffer from it as well. 643 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 1: I feel, and what you're saying, we're out of time. 644 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,239 Speaker 1: Chris Sweeney, he's running for mayor of Long Beach real quick. 645 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:23,680 Speaker 1: How can people get a hold of you when they 646 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 1: want to learn more about your campaign? 647 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 2: So swingy for LB dot com. That's s w e 648 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 2: E n E Y for LB dot com. You can 649 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 2: check out our social media Chris for Long Beach on 650 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 2: Instagram TikTok all that good stuff. But yeah, give us, 651 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:44,319 Speaker 2: give us a you know, we have our information up 652 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 2: there if you want to get ahold of us. We're 653 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 2: trying to answer as many questions as we can. Again, 654 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 2: being transparent sounds great. 655 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:52,759 Speaker 1: We are completely out of time, but we'll have you 656 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,279 Speaker 1: back on soon. Chris Sweeney running for Long Beach, Mayor 657 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 1: of Everybody. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on 658 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,120 Speaker 1: KABC seven ninety KABC while we comes Bonnie Ray to 659 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 1: the Hollywood Pantagious Theater on October twentieth. Tickets run sale 660 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,759 Speaker 1: Friday at ticketmaster dot com. But right now, caller number 661 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:08,839 Speaker 1: nine at one eight at eight seven ninety five two 662 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 1: two two gets a pair of tickets to the show. 663 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 1: Tickets furnished by Needa Lander Concerts. Good luck dialing. It's 664 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 1: the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. Have a 665 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:20,879 Speaker 1: wonderful Saint Patrick's Day, Have a safe Saint Patrick's Day. 666 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 1: We'll see you tomorrow. It's the News Blitz with Randy 667 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: Wang on KABC