1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: radio seven ninety KABC. Let's get right into today's California 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: report at Randywangradio dot substack dot com. Well, today was 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: the day that La Metro voted to approve the plan 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: to extend the K Line linking Crenshaw to West Hollywood 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: and then to Hollywood. And apparently there was a lot 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: of backroom wheeling and dealing over the last twenty four 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: hours because of this massive pressure campaign from a lot 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: of people running against Karen Bass for mayor, like Nithia 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,639 Speaker 1: Rahman and Ray Huang, because Karen Best didn't want this 11 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: thing to be going through some quote historic neighborhoods. But 12 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: let's start with the good things. If you look at 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: the proposed map, it's pretty exciting because this would connect 14 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: major parts of the county together in a way that 15 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: the train would actually be usable. For instance, if you 16 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: are in anywhere that uses the Redline, like in Hollywood, 17 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: it would be a quicker way to get to that 18 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: Lax Line because the K Line is where that Lax 19 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: Line is. It would connect Torrents to places like West Hollywood. 20 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: It would have a station at the Hollywood Bowl. How 21 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: fun is that if you live in the valley, you 22 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: still have to take a bus all the way till 23 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: North Hollywood before you could enjoy any of this. But 24 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: that's all pretty exciting. That being said, here's the problem. 25 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: There is no funding for this proposed line. There is 26 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: no estimated date when they would start construction on this 27 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: proposed line, which means there's no date when they would 28 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: estimate finishing construction. So for as much public input as 29 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: this gotten, apparently they crashed the Metro website so you 30 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: couldn't even watch the meeting today. You had to call 31 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: in and listen to it on the phone. That's great, 32 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: and I'm glad that everyone's really excited. In an ideal world, Yes, 33 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: it would be great that you could easily get from 34 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: Torrents to West Hollywood. That's really cool. That you would 35 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,519 Speaker 1: have lines that would connect places like Cedar sy and 36 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: I that's great. But without funding in a real timeline 37 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: of when this is going to happen, you're going to 38 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: have a lot of people who supported this getting very 39 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: angry and getting impatient when they find out they're not 40 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: even their children will get to ride this thing. And 41 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: that's what's the problem with LA Metro for years now. 42 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: The vision is large, but the city is so large, 43 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: and building rail in this city, let alone this state 44 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: takes so long. Tunneling under cities take so long. And 45 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: whether it's the physical aspect of the tunneling or it's 46 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: going through all the environmental views, because believe you me, 47 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: anybody that wants to sue these projects over sequa can 48 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: whether they're warranted or not, whether they want this stuff 49 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: going on under their city or not. Because yes, while 50 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: ideally more transit that takes you to more places is great, 51 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: we also know what it brings. Santa Monica is a 52 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: perfect example of this, and it's something that Metro really 53 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: has to get a handle on. But Santa Monica had 54 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: a big celebration when the Expo line was finished. That's 55 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: the line that connected downtown LA to downtown Santa Monica. 56 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: And while that's super convenient and in fact you can 57 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: take it from downtown LA to USC to Culver City 58 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: to Santa Monica, from downtown LA to the beach, that's 59 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: what they promised, it also meant that now Santa Monica 60 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: was the end of the line, and when you're the 61 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: end of the line on La Metro, all of a sudden, 62 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: you become a destination for where the homeless get dropped 63 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: off when the train shut down, and that has been 64 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: pretty darn devastating for Santa Monica. You can look and again, 65 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: correlation does not always equal causation. We know that's true, 66 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: but you can definitely correlate that the rise in the 67 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: crime that we've seen in Santa Monica, the homelessness, the overdose, 68 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: what have you. So much of it can be connected 69 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: to when we connected public transit. Now, there were a 70 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: few other things as well. There were a few years 71 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: we weren't enforcing the fares. If we had locking faregates 72 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: at every single entrance and exit on these trains, that 73 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: would be a start. That's sort they're doing up in 74 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: the Bay Area with bart Hey. That rhymed, So that's 75 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: one problem. Funding is another problem, because even with the 76 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: dedicated sales tax money they're getting from two different sales 77 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: taxes measure M and going back before that, measure R, 78 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: and both of those are supposed to also have money 79 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: for the completely unfunded Subpulvita transit corridor. They're going to 80 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: need more money than that, so they're going to have 81 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: to find it somewhere they're going to have to either 82 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: raise even more taxes, and that's just to get it 83 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: to a point where they start construction in ten years 84 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: and maybe it's done in twenty and So while it's 85 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: great to be planning ahead, because part of the problem 86 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: with this agency is there wasn't a whole lot of 87 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: planning for a really long time. They've been talking about 88 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: the Supulvita Corridor since I was a baby, since before 89 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: I was a baby. But ultimately you also have to 90 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: start pragmatically thinking about the future because I don't know 91 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: how relevant rail transit is going to be in ten 92 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: definitely twenty years. The revolutions are here and they will 93 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: be expanding. I know that people like to make fun 94 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: of them. Heck, we've had our own fun talking about 95 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: the way mos. But autonomous driving is here, and it 96 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: could completely change the way our roads look like. It 97 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: could completely change the way a lot of people think 98 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: about transit because when these things are done at scale, 99 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: and there are more of these out there than people 100 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: who own their own car, there may be people that 101 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: choose not to own a car because you can hail 102 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: a ride from anywhere cheaper than it would be owning 103 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: a car or any other kind of system, and when 104 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: you have that in the convenience of going door to door, 105 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 1: how exactly is rail going to compete with that the 106 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: bus system even if, and by the way, as much 107 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: as I don't like it and I think it screws 108 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: over drivers, if you really want a quicker way to 109 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: increase all this transit, it would be so much faster, 110 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: as much as again I don't like it, but if 111 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: you're just talking pragmatically about how do we get more 112 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: people in this system quicker building rail takes forever and 113 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: ever and ever. 114 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: The bus only lanes, which. 115 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: Again I don't like, but it seems to be a 116 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: way quicker way to get to that, and then maybe 117 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: someday you convert that to rail, although that's what they've 118 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: been saying about the Orange Line, and I don't think 119 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: that's ever going to happen. But this is not funded 120 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: and it's going to take such a long time that 121 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: I don't know if anybody should really be celebrating just yet, 122 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: but they are. We're all excited now. The real pain 123 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: comes of realizing for all the people advocating for this, 124 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: by the time the train from Torrens to West Hollywood 125 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: actually exists. 126 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 2: You will be way, way, way too old. 127 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: To go dancing at the abbey. 128 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: Now. 129 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: One of the stories that we've been covering pretty extensively 130 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: thanks to Fox Elevan's Hero reporter Matthew Seedorf is the 131 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: woman living in a storm Grain and the reaction that 132 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: this story is getting because it is one of the 133 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: most deplorable conditions we've ever seen of anybody that's experiencing 134 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: homelessness in Los Angeles. And finally, now that they've sealed 135 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: the thing and apparently they've offered this woman services and 136 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: she refused, because of course you can refuse. We can 137 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: put Britney Spears in a conservatorship for ten years, but 138 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: we can't do it for this woman. What exactly did 139 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: care Court do? What exactly did the reforms to Lanter 140 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: and Petris do? If you cannot force this woman into 141 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: seeking help. That being said, Karen reacts to the video 142 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 1: and said, this is tragic. This is so awful. I 143 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: can't believe anybody's living like that. But here's where I 144 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: cry fell. Matthew Sidorf publicized this story thanks to Juan Nala, 145 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: friend of the show Clean La with Me, who saw 146 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: this on one of his cleanups. It got on the news. 147 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: People were obviously outraged, and then this city took action. 148 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: The sanitation crews came out, the has met teams came out, 149 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: they closed up and poured concrete over the exposed manhole cover. 150 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: The city knew about this, not just because of all 151 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: the blight that's already down there, but all of the 152 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: residents who've been interviewed on the local stations, whether it 153 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 1: be Fox eleven or KTLA's been down there as well. 154 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: They all say they've been calling their member of the 155 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: city council, the mayor's office, dialing three point one, reporting 156 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: like people stealing power down there, like people tapping into 157 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: fire hydrants, or people who have reported the woman living 158 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: in the sewer drain. So the city knew about this, 159 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: and the city, including Karen Bass, knew about this, and 160 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: they did nothing until they were forced to because of 161 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: the overwhelming embarrassment when those images hit the TV. At 162 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: the same time, Karen Bass, who is facing a tough 163 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: re election campaign, is trying to pull out all the stops, 164 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: including announcing an initiative to install sixty thousand solar powered lights. 165 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: And while that sounds great, first ask yourself the question, 166 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: why do we need to replace those lights? 167 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 2: What happened to the lights that were there? Oh? That's right. 168 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: We are victims of rampant copper wire theft with no 169 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: real solution how to deal with that except for replacing 170 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: lights with solar lights, which by the way, only works 171 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: for smaller street lights. For taller street lights, they don't 172 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: know exactly what to do about that. And there's also 173 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: another issue tucked into this fun little announcement of how 174 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: we're going to keep LA bright again and we're going 175 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 1: to have these solar powered lights, is how they're going 176 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: to pay for it, because the city's broke. They're facing 177 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: another two hundred and fifty million dollar budget deficit, and 178 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: they've already cut street services and the Bureau of Lighting 179 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: to the bone. So where are they getting this money? 180 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: An assessment on your property taxes? Again, I don't know 181 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: how exactly they passed that, but they're going to jack 182 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: up the costs of everyone owning a home to pay 183 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: for their incompetence of not dealing with this. And I 184 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: cry foul at anybody that says this is a really, really, 185 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: really hard crime to crack, because it's true, there are 186 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: so many people out there just stealing copper wire all 187 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: over the place, and apparently it's very quick to do 188 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: so it's going on at the encampment with the women 189 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 1: living in the sewer drain. But it's not like any 190 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: other good or commodity. You can't sell stolen strands of 191 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: copper wire on eBay. You're probably not putting them on 192 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: a flatbed truck and driving them to New Jersey like 193 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: one guy in Sacramento did with catalytic converters. No, you're 194 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: probably selling them to local junkers, local smelters, and local recyclers. 195 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: And this is where the city and the City Attorney's 196 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: office has a lot of play, because those are all 197 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: licensed businesses and we should know exactly who they are 198 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: buying from. But we don't seem to ever want to 199 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: crack down on the buyers of the copper. I want 200 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 1: to go after both. I want to go after the 201 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 1: people stealing it, and I think the way you have 202 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: to calculate that is because the copper itself is worth 203 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: so little, but the cost to replace it is so high. 204 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: We need to change the laws, and I know they 205 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: already did, but they're still not tough enough. Instead of 206 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: the value being based on what the selling value is. 207 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: The value when you steal copper wire should be based 208 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: on how much a cost to replace. So even though 209 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: you only stole a couple hundred dollars worth, really you 210 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: stole thousands and thousands of dollars worth. Elevate that to 211 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 1: felony theft. It should be an automatic felony. You're destroying 212 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: city property. And on the same end, you need to 213 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: shut down all of these businesses that are buying and 214 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: smelting the copper and probably selling it right back to 215 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: the city who needs it so they can put up 216 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: more lights on the sixth Street bridge. Now in the 217 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: Altadena area, where people are still suffering and trying to 218 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: rebuild from the awful eaten fire, comes a true insult 219 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: to injury. Inside Altadena is a neighborhood that's governed by 220 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: an HOA, and the neighborhood had a lot of damage, 221 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: a lot of lost homes, a lot of damaged homes, 222 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: and apparently the HOA thought it was a great idea 223 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: to because they need money to rebuild their facilities, pass 224 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: on a twenty four thousand dollars assessment to all of 225 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: their HOA members. An assessment by the way, of twenty 226 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 1: four thousand dollars that you need to pay in thirty days. 227 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: I'm so glad I don't live in an hoa. But 228 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: how exactly are you supposed to pay that when you 229 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: don't even have the money to rebuild your home because 230 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: your insurance company still hasn't paid you out. What a nightmare. 231 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: And this is a big story that broke yesterday. The 232 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: trial is over and in the big landmark case where 233 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: a girl who was a teenager when they filed this 234 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: law suit, who's now in her early twenties, successfully got 235 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: a jury to agree that Meta and YouTube were liable 236 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: in creating an addiction that was detrimental to her mental health. 237 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 2: And this is huge. 238 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: And by the way, if you're wondering why it's only 239 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: Meta and YouTube, it's because the other companies that were 240 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: named in this suit, notably Snapchat and TikTok, settled before 241 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: this thing went to trial. But they're going to be 242 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: liable for millions and millions of dollars. And this is 243 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: just the first case, the first of many. And I 244 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: really don't disagree with the jury here. I mean, we 245 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: all know how detrimental social media has been to us, 246 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:56,119 Speaker 1: to adults, to all of us. Think about the developing 247 00:15:56,160 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: brains and how addictive this stuff is, and specifically the 248 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: Instagram culture, the Facebook culture, the bullying that is had 249 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: from it. There is so much damage that has been 250 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: done to this up cunning generation. This generation is facing 251 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: a mental health crisis like we have never seen before, 252 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: and your damn right, social media is at the heart 253 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: of it. 254 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 2: Now. 255 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: You could make an argue, is it the platform or 256 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: is it the lure of fame which now infects so 257 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: many more people because it's so much more theoretically accessible. 258 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: But the platform should be held responsible at this point 259 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: because they know what they're doing. And does that mean 260 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: we need to change the way social media works because 261 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: of the liability? Now, are they going to ban children 262 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: from using social media? Might have to We're going to 263 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: see now. I say all this with the meta aspect 264 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: of it Facebook, I mean YouTube and that's Google. But 265 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: YouTube being named of this lawsuit I was always a 266 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: little fused by. But you know what, I am quite 267 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: addicted to YouTube and I got to imagine a lot 268 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: of other people are as well. But isn't that similar 269 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: to being glued to a television? I guess but there 270 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: are likes, there are comments, there are ways to be 271 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 1: a content creator, and yeah, all of that drives into 272 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: a major, major addiction. And finally, the city of Los 273 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: Angeles is approving installing one hundred and twenty five speed cameras, 274 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: and right off the bat, the terms Los Angeles and 275 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: speed don't go together. I drive these streets every day. 276 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: I can't tell you the last time I was able 277 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 1: to go the speed limit. But what's interesting here is 278 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: this is obviously a revenue generator and not a serious 279 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: way to deal with dangerous roads and dangerous drivers. And 280 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: I'll tell you why, because because while these cameras will 281 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: give you automatic fines if they catch you going over 282 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: the speed limit, what they won't do is put a 283 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: point on your record. They don't want to limit your 284 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: ability to be a reckless driver. They want to just 285 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: charge you for it. And that is where I think 286 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: that if you really want to go after the awful 287 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: bad drivers that are out there, and I see them 288 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: every single day, and it's a lot more bad behavior 289 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: than just speeding. We're talking about lane changing without signaling, 290 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: cutting people off. There are some truly awful drivers that 291 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: are going on out there. But We don't want to 292 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: limit their ability to drive. What we want to do 293 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:46,239 Speaker 1: is charge them for it because we need more money. Now, 294 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: let me give you a quick rundown of what else 295 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: is in today's California report, including Oakland thinking about using 296 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: drones to clock dout crack down an illegal dumping. Good 297 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: luck with that. Daniel Luriy in San Francisco wants to 298 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: expand the ambassador program. 299 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 2: While I can't. 300 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: You know, I thought the whole point of all of 301 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: these programs in prison was to educate you for a 302 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: real job. If the only job you can get out 303 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: of prison is to be an ambassador, we got to 304 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: rethink that whole system. The former in and out Burger 305 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 1: on Hagenberger has been bought and it's going to be 306 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 1: an Indian fast food place. A Samitteo neighborhood does not 307 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: want a DETOC center in their neighborhood, because of course 308 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 1: they don't. And once again Ashley Zavala is raising the 309 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: alarm on the lack of transparency in the Capital Annex project. 310 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: There's a lot more on there. Check it out today 311 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: Randywangradio dot Substack dot com. It's the News Blitz with 312 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on KABC. 313 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 2: Come it up next. 314 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,719 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Barcohonna joins us, so stay with us. It's the 315 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It is the 316 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk Radio seven ninety KABC. 317 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: Make sure to subscribe to my substack for the daily 318 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: California Report at Randywang Radio dot substack dot com. Our 319 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: next guest is a conservative California mom who's making her 320 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: voice heard all over the place. You can get her 321 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: on Instagram at Elizabeth from California and on x at 322 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: e Underscore Barkohanna, Elizabeth Barkohonna, Welcome back to the News Blitz. 323 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 3: Hi, Randy, thanks for having me back. 324 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: So let's start with the landmark decision in this huge 325 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: case in Los Angeles where a jury has decided that 326 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: Meta and Google were determined to be negligent and failed 327 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 1: to warn users, specifically children, of the dangers associated with 328 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: using their platforms, to the point where the plaintiff said 329 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: that these platforms other ones as well, but they settled 330 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: were detrimental into the developing brain of a child. You're 331 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: a mother, and what's your reaction to something like this. 332 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 3: I completely agree with this, and I'm glad that the 333 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 3: jury found the way it did, because you know, the 334 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 3: issue in the case was whether it was a substantial cause, 335 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 3: not the only cause. And the you know, the fact 336 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 3: that all of us parents have to constantly monitor and 337 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 3: look over the shoulder of our kids to see what 338 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 3: they're watching, even when you know, we use these tools 339 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 3: for education, which they do in school, and it's not 340 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 3: like the kids are supposed to be on Instagram at school, 341 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 3: but there's all kinds of stuff on YouTube where they 342 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 3: use it for educational purposes and then the kids, you know, 343 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,719 Speaker 3: get served this content which is really a lot of 344 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 3: advertising towards them, and it's unregulated in the same way 345 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 3: that a lot of other types of industries advertising towards 346 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 3: children is regulated. And the way that they have these 347 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 3: products designed is that you know, things like they have 348 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 3: endless scrolling or a continuous feed where it's like, you know, 349 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 3: instead of you having to select the next video, it 350 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 3: automatically comes up for you, and that is determined according 351 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 3: to an algorithm. And all, especially conservative content creators, understand 352 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 3: the type of control and data that they have on 353 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 3: users and on the creators in terms of what their 354 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 3: content is all about, down to very specific and powerful information, 355 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 3: and instead of them using that information to protect children, 356 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 3: they're using it to market to them and to profit 357 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 3: off of them and expect the entire burden on parents, 358 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 3: which is completely unrealistic to put it all on us. 359 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 3: And the existence of parental control apps and third party 360 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 3: software and stuff that you can install on the kids' 361 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 3: devices is proof in and of itself that there is 362 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 3: a danger here. So I think that overall this is 363 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 3: a very good development, and I'm disappointed to see so 364 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 3: many people, including the defendants, blaming the parents when they 365 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:08,719 Speaker 3: could have or objecting to government regulation. The case that 366 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 3: came down from New Mexico was a government in a 367 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 3: government enforcement action and they don't want government interference. They 368 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 3: could self police and they are refusing to and went 369 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 3: to trial and took a risk and they lost. 370 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,719 Speaker 1: They definitely did. And you're right the people who are 371 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 1: out there defending Meta and Facebook saying that, well, no, 372 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 1: there are so many different factors that lead to the 373 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: mental health crisis that we're seeing with young people right now. 374 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 1: But you know, we didn't have this twenty years ago, 375 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: and we didn't have the crisis that we're having now. 376 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: It's also pretty damning that in discovery, the planeff's attorneys 377 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 1: found documents inside YouTube that showed that they compared their 378 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: algorithms to slot machines, which we don't allow children to use. 379 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 3: Obviously, its don't surprise me at all. 380 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 2: It's just wild. 381 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: Now we've seen a massive payment here, a massive you know, 382 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,679 Speaker 1: damages here. There's going to be appeals, of course, but 383 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: this is going to be the first of many, many, 384 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 1: many trials like this. Do you think at this point 385 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 1: the move is that state, federal, and local governments need 386 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 1: to put on more guard rails and put in more 387 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: regulation for these meda for these social media companies, or 388 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 1: do you think just the risk of liability now that 389 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: this has been a landmark trial, is going to get 390 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: these companies to change their behavior. 391 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 3: Well, Meta has said that they're going to appeal. So 392 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 3: a trial court decision does not have precedents on anything 393 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 3: going forward. It's just proof that this type of novel 394 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 3: theory of product design defects could succeed. And so yes, 395 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 3: other people are going to bring this case, and so 396 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 3: they're going to use an appeal as a way to 397 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 3: choose that precedent because an appellate court ruling, does you know, 398 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 3: I don't don't I think that's the best strategy. I 399 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 3: think the best strategy for them is to actually implement 400 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 3: the things that the reasonable things that the parents have 401 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 3: been begging them to do for quite some time. To 402 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 3: be honest, and as you mentioned at the top, you know, 403 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 3: TikTok and snapchat, they didn't have to go to child 404 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 3: because they settled, so obviously they offered something to It 405 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 3: was confidential. We don't know the terms of the settlement, 406 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 3: but obviously they must have offered something to satisfy the 407 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 3: parents in this case. And Facebook and Google refused to 408 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 3: do that, probably because they're profiting from this and they 409 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 3: want to protect those profits at the expense of children. 410 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:50,639 Speaker 3: And I think that's a really weird pr strategy, to 411 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 3: be honest, to declare war on American mothers. 412 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 1: And then I've seen there there's been a lot of 413 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: action on your social media about this. Let's just get 414 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 1: it out there. What do you say to all the 415 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: people are like, well, just keep your kids off it. 416 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 3: I am one of the strictest mothers I know, and 417 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 3: I cannot keep my kids off of it. It's ubiquitous, 418 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 3: not only at home. Even though I do limit what 419 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 3: they can watch and how long they are on it. 420 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 3: But they're using it at school, They're using it as 421 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 3: an educational tool at school. And you know, I love 422 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 3: our teachers, but teachers every school are not going to 423 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 3: be watching the kid the same way that a parent would. 424 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 3: In addition to that, there are bad actors who create 425 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 3: content specifically for children. I'll give you an example. My 426 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 3: daughter likes to watch makeup and hair, you know, styling tutorial, 427 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 3: very innocent. But if a transactivist decides that they want 428 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 3: to target little girls and they do a makeup tutorial 429 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,439 Speaker 3: that is attractive to little girls, and then that shows 430 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 3: up in young girl's feed because it's part of the 431 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 3: the algorithm shows that's the type of content that this 432 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:22,199 Speaker 3: little girl is watching. Then all of a sudden, this 433 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 3: transactivist content now will show up in other places because 434 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 3: the algorithm, the algorithm thinks that she likes that content creator. 435 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 3: And so this is also and we know that this 436 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:39,159 Speaker 3: is a big issue, the social contagion of attracting you know, 437 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 3: adolescent and young girls to the trans movement because of 438 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 3: you know, discomfort in their body, which is normal for 439 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 3: threteen years and and so you know, that's just one 440 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 3: example of a million things, and I as a mom, 441 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 3: you know, now I'm in the position of do I 442 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 3: let my daughter watch, you know, fifteen minutes of a 443 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 3: hair and makeup tutori'all, or you know, not let her 444 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 3: watch anything because I'm afraid of what may pop up 445 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 3: on her screen. I don't think it's realistic for most people, 446 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 3: and it's quite judgmental, to be honest, for parents to say, 447 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 3: you know, we're not going to give our kids any 448 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 3: access to YouTube until they're eighteen years old, Like that's 449 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 3: completely unrealistic. 450 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Elizabeth Barkohonna. You can get her on 451 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: Instagram at Elizabeth from California and on x at e 452 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: Underscore Barkohanna. Now in the California governor's race, there was 453 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: supposed to be a debate this week. We are less 454 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 1: than three months away from the primary, We're less than 455 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: two months away from the ballots getting sent out, and 456 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: so there was a debate scheduled to happen, airing on 457 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: ABC Television in Los Angeles and taking place at USC 458 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: in Southern California. There were questions as to the eligibility 459 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: to get on this debate, but there were people. The 460 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: people excluded from the debate, complaining that everyone that was 461 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: invited happened to be white, and the candidates who were 462 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: lower polling and of color were not invited. That led 463 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: to members of the legislature complaining to USC to the 464 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: point where everyone threw their hands up said debate canceled, 465 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: good luck next time. What do you make of everything 466 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: that happened this week? 467 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 3: I was very disappointed in that because, in my opinion, 468 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 3: debates are a sign of respect to the voter. The politicians, 469 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 3: the people campaigning need to earn the votes of people. 470 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 3: In California. Now, debate is one of the most important 471 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 3: things because that's when you see all the candidates standing 472 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 3: up next to each other and you can really make 473 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 3: a good comparison. And so USC had this criteria and 474 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 3: it was based on not only polling but also fundraising. 475 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 3: So we know Sire has spent almost one hundred million 476 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 3: dollars already and he can't crack ten percent, but because 477 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 3: he has so much money that he what he made 478 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 3: it through. The other issue is but Sarah. I think 479 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 3: this was really an internal fight among Democrats. People in 480 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 3: the establishment were angry about the Sarah making it excuse me, 481 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 3: the Sarah not making it and Matt Mahan making it. 482 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 3: Both of them are in the last poll were at 483 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 3: three percent, so they are not they were not in 484 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 3: the top five or six candidates in terms of polling, 485 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 3: but they let Matt Mahan come in and not Javier Bessera. 486 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 3: And so the usual they go to their old playbook, 487 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 3: accuse you of racism. That's their cancel culture go to 488 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 3: and then we end up, you know, with a canceled 489 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 3: debate at the last minute, and I think that that's 490 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 3: really a shame. Fortunately, though we'll have other opportunities. 491 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: It's so interesting what happened at the last minute there 492 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: because you can definitely look at this from one way 493 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: in that you know, yes, the candidates of color were excluded, 494 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,479 Speaker 1: although it's the California Democratic Party that also told all 495 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: the candidates of color to drop out. But also you 496 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: can look at this thing from the very simple spectrum 497 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 1: of they did have a set of rules, but they 498 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:38,959 Speaker 1: changed them at the last minute to allow Matt Mayhen 499 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: into the race. Because Rick Caruso, who happens to have 500 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: a lot of strings he can pull at usc is 501 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 1: the biggest backer of Matt Mayhon. 502 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, yes, that's what it's all about they were mad 503 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 3: about him getting in and the Sarah not. 504 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: Now, this, of course isn't the only big race that 505 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: is taking place on the ballot. We also have an 506 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: LA Mayor's race that people will be getting their ballots 507 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: out in just a couple of weeks, and the polling 508 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: has shown Karen Bess with very low support, one poll 509 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,600 Speaker 1: at nineteen percent, one poll at twenty five percent support. 510 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: And then depending on which poll, you're either seeing Spencer 511 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 1: Pratt in second place or you're seeing Nathie Rahman in 512 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: second place. What do you make of the state of 513 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:25,240 Speaker 1: the LA Mayor's race right now? 514 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 3: Okay, so we just talked about the governor's race, which 515 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 3: is a partisan race that's like a normal primary, and 516 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 3: that we were going to vote on June second, and 517 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,480 Speaker 3: then the top two contenders are going to go to 518 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 3: face each other in November. Different election process with the 519 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 3: LA Mayor's race because it's non partisans. So in the 520 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 3: non partisan races, if a candidate gets more than fifty 521 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 3: percent of the vote on June second, the race is over. 522 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 3: If no one gets over fifty percent of the vote, 523 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 3: then the top two candidates will go off, will go 524 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 3: into a runoff in November. So that's why when you 525 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,720 Speaker 3: mentioned who's in second place, that becomes important because bas 526 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 3: is not pulling at higher than fifty percent. So what 527 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:22,000 Speaker 3: we also saw is that even though she is the 528 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 3: highest candidate pulling, and remember there's like twenty five or something, 529 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 3: there's a lot of candidates running for mayor, but these 530 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 3: are the top three. And what we saw is that 531 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 3: even though she's top pulling, a majority of people do 532 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 3: not approve of her, which is a problem because because 533 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 3: people don't really know Spencer Pratt or Ramen. And and 534 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 3: that's really important because the more you hear the more 535 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 3: voters here from Pratt, the more they like him, and 536 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 3: the more voters here from rom In they dislike her. 537 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 3: So it's very important for voters to kind of get 538 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 3: to know them. I don't know if there's going to 539 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 3: be a debate with all of them on the stage. 540 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 3: I know that the Democrats side has been hosting some 541 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 3: forms and debates. But this is a very, very risky 542 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 3: situation that we're in because that obviously is a failed mayor. 543 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:28,640 Speaker 3: But Ramen is very closely aligned with a lot of 544 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 3: the same special interests that have created the problems that 545 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 3: we're having in Los Angeles. 546 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 1: Now, you're totally right about that. And as hopefully people 547 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: get more educated about this race, as people start paying 548 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 1: attention to it, because the ballots will be in the 549 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 1: mail in just a few weeks, they'll start to really 550 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: research who these people are. Because the more people do 551 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,360 Speaker 1: look into Spencer Pratt, there is a lot to like there. 552 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: And the more people do look into Nythia Rahman, her 553 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 1: track record is being one of the to use in 554 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,920 Speaker 1: alex Vina Wavaism architects of destruction in the city of 555 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,279 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, the more there really is a lot for 556 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 1: her to celebrate. 557 00:35:10,719 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 3: That's right, that's right, and you know, we can give 558 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 3: examples like she won't enforce the fearing of encampments near 559 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 3: sensitive sites. She blames car manufacturers for people stealing catalytic 560 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:26,360 Speaker 3: converters out of the cars. Right now, in Los Angeles, 561 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:28,240 Speaker 3: you know, we have an issue with our street lights 562 00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 3: going out because criminals have stolen the copper wiring out 563 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:36,880 Speaker 3: of our public street lights. And so instead of the 564 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,240 Speaker 3: city going after the criminals and putting them in jail, 565 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 3: which they don't do because it's racist to put people 566 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:48,720 Speaker 3: in jail, they have now voted to raise taxes to 567 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:52,879 Speaker 3: pay for the repair required to the city lights. 568 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,960 Speaker 1: You're totally right about now it's happening once again where 569 00:35:57,360 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 1: we have to pay for their mistakes. We are out 570 00:35:59,719 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 1: of time, but I love speaking with you. Elizabeth from 571 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:07,880 Speaker 1: California on Instagram e underscore barko'honna on x Elizabeth Barkohanna, 572 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,319 Speaker 1: thank you so much as always for spending some time 573 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 1: with us. 574 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:12,960 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Randy anytime. 575 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's 576 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: gonna be a hot one this weekend. Maybe you want 577 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 1: to go down to the beach. Maybe you want to 578 00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:23,840 Speaker 1: go down to San Diego to Ocean Beach. Ob is 579 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:25,880 Speaker 1: so much fun and the dog Beach is such a 580 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: good time. Oh, the dog Beach is closed because of 581 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:32,600 Speaker 1: sewer discharge. Right here, it's the News Blitz with Randy 582 00:36:32,640 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 1: Wang on KABC. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang 583 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:39,959 Speaker 1: on KABC. What's coming on in theaters this weekend? They 584 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: Will Kill You, a horror thriller starring Patricia Arquette and 585 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:46,480 Speaker 1: Heather Graham and Zazzi Beats. A woman takes a job 586 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:48,719 Speaker 1: as a housekeeper in a New York City high rise, 587 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 1: unaware of the building's history of disappearances. Oh Boy, here's 588 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:56,440 Speaker 1: one for you, Forbidden Fruits. It's described as a horror 589 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:59,760 Speaker 1: comedy about girls that are running a secret. 590 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 2: Which call in a mall. Oh boy. 591 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:06,720 Speaker 1: There is also some great anniversary showings at certain local theaters, 592 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:10,720 Speaker 1: including the fortieth anniversary of stand By Me, the twentieth 593 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:14,760 Speaker 1: anniversary of The Mummy Returns. Wait, we're doing the anniversary 594 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: of a sequel film? 595 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 2: Sure? Why not? 596 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 1: On streaming, You've got the Big Hannah Montana twentieth Anniversary special. 597 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 1: And on Disney Plus they're premiering season two of Daredevil 598 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:27,759 Speaker 1: Born Again. I gotta watch that. I've never done the Daredevil. 599 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:30,960 Speaker 1: And send help that great richid Way Adams movie that's 600 00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:31,920 Speaker 1: coming out on streaming. 601 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 2: It's the news Blitz. See you tomorrow.