1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: And very happy Wednesday to you. At twelve oh seven 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: in the West, it's the John Phillips Show, Live from Fresno, 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: broadcasting from our sister station k MJ in the Central Valley. 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Mister Randy Wing is in Culver City. 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: John, We've got bad news for the City of Dumpy. 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 3: You know this has really been an issue for the 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 3: City of Dumpy. 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 2: Excuse me, because a civil grand jury is found that 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 2: the City of Oakland is completely terrible when it comes 10 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 2: to cleaning up illegally dumped garbage. 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: Well, I mean it's not just that for mare on this. 12 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: Let's go to a report from k TVU Fox two 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 2: in the Bay. 14 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 4: Here we go, Well, city of Oakland needs to do 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 4: a better job tackling it's long standing illegal dumping problem. 16 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: Well that's an understatement. The people who live there are 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: going duh. 18 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 4: That's the conclusion of the Alameda County civil grand Jury, 19 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 4: which is now demanding. 20 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: Did we need a civil grand jury to research that 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: Oakland is terrible at enforcing illegal dumping laws? 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: No? What twelve people on planet Earth are unaware of 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: that fact. I mean, this is one that the OJ 24 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: jury could get right. 25 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 4: In answers from city officials. Kat d's Henry Lee live 26 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 4: for us in Oakland tonight with what some recommendations are 27 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 4: from this panel. 28 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 5: Henry Well, no one expects Oakland to completely stop all 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 5: illegal dumping, but the. 30 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: I mean, let's not lose our sanity here, The. 31 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 5: Alamedy County Civil Grand Jury says, with a better approach, 32 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 5: the city could significantly reduce the issue to a more 33 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 5: manageable level. 34 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 6: The problem has grown over the last ten eleven years. 35 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 5: Rick Smith served as four person of the Alameda County 36 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 5: a civil grand jury, which released a report this week 37 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 5: with sobering statistics about illegal dumping in Oakland. 38 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 6: There was about three point two million pounds of trash 39 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 6: being collected back in twenty fifteen. That number is now 40 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 6: twenty million pounds. 41 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: Whoa could you imagine having to spend your days serving 42 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: on this jury and listening to nothing but statistics about 43 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: illegal dumping in the city of Oakland. 44 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: The amount of garbage that was collected that was illegally 45 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 2: dumped in Oakland in fifteen years went up sixfold. 46 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: If I had to serve on that jury, I would 47 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: be performing a one man production of twelve angry men. 48 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 5: The grand jury says, Oakland spent about twenty five million 49 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 5: dollars on cleanup at first, but that the city's illegal 50 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 5: dumping enforcement has been quote inadequate and abysmal. The panel 51 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 5: says the city needs to write more citations and remove 52 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 5: restrictions that barre Oakland police from sharing license plate reader 53 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 5: data to go after illegal dumpers. Yallamany County Prosecutor Casey 54 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 5: Bates is advisor to the civil grand jury. 55 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 7: The purpose of the report was to identify places within 56 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 7: city government where we thought there was maybe the left 57 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 7: hand not working well with the right hand. 58 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: Well, that is how the City of Oakland operates well. 59 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: And you know how this works. If you're the district attorney, 60 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: you cannot prosecute someone unless the cops arrest someone and 61 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: give you the case. You can't do it on your own. 62 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 8: You know. 63 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: The image on the screen right now is why I 64 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: can't wait for this show to be broadcast live on video. 65 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: You see a typical street in Oakland covered in garbage 66 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: with an empty recycling bin with John what's the logo 67 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: on that recycling bin? 68 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: It looks like California Wate Solutions. 69 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 6: That's right, absolutely absolutely, because. 70 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: One of the reasons why there is so much illegal 71 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: dumping in Oakland is that it costs so much to 72 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 2: dump your garbage in Oakland because of crooked contracts that 73 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 2: elected officials have given to the Dong family. 74 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: This image that we're looking at right now is totally ridiculous. 75 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: Oakland looks like Miami after it got hit by Hurricane Andrew. 76 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 5: We saw these piles of trash Tuesday and near twenty 77 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 5: first Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in the City of San 78 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 5: Antonio neighborhood. So here's part of the problem. These two 79 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 5: giant bins are for recycling. This one is for organic waste, 80 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 5: but this tiny one is for trash. 81 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: And the City of Oakland has decided that we need 82 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 2: to give you the equivalent of a tiny little wastebasket 83 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: for your actual trash, and then there's surprised that everyone 84 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: just dumps it on the street. 85 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 5: I'd be way too small for the average family. Just 86 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 5: last week, the city announced it's getting nine million dollars 87 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 5: from San Francisco foundation crank Start to help tackle illegal. 88 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: Dealt No, crank Start is not a foundation that gets 89 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 2: people hooked on meth. 90 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: Well, Barbara Ferrara has narcan for that, imping. 91 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 5: Some of the money will be used for a pilot 92 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 5: program to boost the size of trash bins for free 93 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 5: the grand juries as many residents. 94 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: So we're going to have philanthropic money used to give 95 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: people bigger trash bins because the ones that they're giving 96 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 2: out to the residence right now don't fit any of 97 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 2: the garbage. 98 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:36,359 Speaker 1: Well, that whole situation is crooked, and if you start 99 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: pulling it too many strings over there, you're going to 100 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 1: get some people in trouble. So let's bring in the 101 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,559 Speaker 1: philanthropic money and buy bigger trash bins instead of, oh, 102 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: I don't know, having the trash collection company do it. 103 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 5: Are choosing smaller trash bins to save money. 104 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 6: As you might surmise that larger trash bins would could 105 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 6: be part of the solution. 106 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 5: In a statement Tuesday, Oakland may Or Barbara Lee said, 107 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 5: in part, I will continue fighting for cleaner neighborhoods, stronger accountability. 108 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: Hey there's everybody's favorite word. Oh yeah, she must be 109 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: fond of Rob Bonta's work. 110 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 3: Accountability. 111 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 9: Accountability, accountability. 112 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 2: This is why we're naming our exclusive podcast the Accountability Podcast, 113 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 2: because it's everybody's favorite word and it means nothing. 114 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 5: And a city government built to deliver for Oakland. This resident, 115 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 5: who wanted to be identified only as Jay, hopes the 116 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 5: city delivers on its promise soon. 117 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: Every time I have that's a guy, it's someone whose 118 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: gender isn't easily identifiable, who looks like they could have 119 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 1: been a love child from famous comic Sam Kennison. 120 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 2: To see it, I'm just like, well, it's been there 121 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 2: for years now, so no one else wants to deal 122 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 2: with it. 123 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 3: Now, I may take a community to pick up trash. 124 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 5: One of the Civil Grand Juries recommendations is that Oakland 125 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 5: needs a single point person, a garbagezar, if you will 126 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 5: to handle all illegal dumping issues. Whyve in Oakland? Henry 127 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 5: Lee KTVU Fox two News, going all. 128 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 2: Right, who wants to be Oakland's trash czar? 129 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: Not me? 130 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 2: Also the fact that we cannot use the current cameras 131 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: that we have to go after the people that we're 132 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 2: catching on camera illegal dumping. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. 133 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: Well, maybe if Shang is looking to get back in 134 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: the city government, this could be the job for her. 135 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: Shanghy, you like picking up trash, right, That's right? 136 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: I like that. 137 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 10: That is amazing. 138 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: Now, speaking of the mayor's office in Oakland. Barbara Lee 139 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: is also making headlines. 140 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: Barbara Lee speaks for me wants to consolidate power in 141 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: the city of Dumpy. Excuse me, Oakland, because currently the 142 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 2: city charter says that the mayor doesn't have enough power 143 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: and she wants more power. For more on this, we 144 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: got a report from KPIX in the Bay. 145 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 11: Debate right now in Oakland that could change how the 146 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 11: city is run. The city Council could decide tonight to 147 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 11: send a measure to the November ballot that would strengthen 148 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 11: the mayor of powers. That proposals already facing pushback from 149 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 11: some members of the council. 150 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 2: This is a lot They're not going to give away 151 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: their power for free. 152 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: Especially to an eighty year old grandma. 153 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 12: Quite frankly, I look at the meeting underway right now 154 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 12: where they're hearing public comment on the resolution. John Ramo 155 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 12: spoke with both the city leaders on both sides of 156 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 12: this proposal. 157 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 9: You won't find a lot of people in Oakland who 158 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 9: think the city is well run. 159 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 2: But well once again, understatement of the year, I. 160 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: Sid hell, no, baby boy, let me get up one 161 00:08:58,720 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: out of here. 162 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 9: How you feel about changing the way things are done 163 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 9: may boil down to who you do or do not trust. 164 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 9: Two weeks ago, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee made a rare 165 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 9: appearance before the city Council to promote a ballot initiative 166 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 9: that would give her a lot more power over the 167 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 9: operation of the city Oakland. 168 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 13: It's at a turning point and the status quo needs 169 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 13: to change. 170 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 9: The proposal would convert Oakland to a strong mayor form. 171 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 2: Is it ags to say that she looks exhausted every 172 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 2: time I see her on TV? 173 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: And she doesn't appear on TV all that often from. 174 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 9: A government where the mayor becomes chief executive with power 175 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 9: over the city administrator and virtually all aspects of the 176 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 9: city's operations. 177 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: See right now. 178 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: The city is run in a way that the mayor 179 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 2: appoints the city administrator, and the city administrator is the 180 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: actual boss of the city. And let's say you have 181 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 2: a giant pile of garbage in your neighborhoo, and you're 182 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 2: a member of the city council like Noel Gaio. You 183 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 2: cannot call sanitation, you can't do anything. You can have 184 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: your own staffers pick up the trash, but you can't 185 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 2: direct any city departments to do anything that has to 186 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 2: go through the city administrator, which is currently a vacant 187 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 2: position because Justin Johnson, Shanghy's appointee just resigned because he 188 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: was sending texts about how big the asses were of 189 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 2: the women he was working with. 190 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: Well, usually that's how small cities are run, where they 191 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: have a city manager form of government, because the members 192 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: of the council are usually people who have day jobs. 193 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: You're working as a realtor, you're working as a small 194 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: business owner, you're working as a whatever. So you can't 195 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: be responsive to the day to day issues that pop up. 196 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: So you have a city manager, who in theory is 197 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: someone who is educated on municipal government and they're the 198 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: ones that are in charge of the day to day 199 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: operations of the city. Now Oakland is a big city. 200 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: However you have to look at who has run that 201 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: city in the recent past. Would Oakland be better off 202 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: if Shang Tao had more influence in power over that 203 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: city government. 204 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 2: Well, she told us what the big problems with the 205 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 2: city were. 206 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: The baraucracy is real. Well, that's true, but she was 207 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: also one of the big problems. Poor Shanghy Oakland b 208 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 1: and Barbara Lee's a problem too. 209 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 2: And not nearly as entertaining. 210 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: And we still got. 211 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 10: Our Oakland A's baby. 212 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 13: Now, you know, this proposal is not about concentrating power. 213 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: Yes it is, you want more in the. 214 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 13: Hands of any one elected official. It's about structural change, 215 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 13: clarifying responsibilities so the public knows who is accountable when accidents. 216 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: There's everybody's favorite word again that means nothing and is. 217 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:03,239 Speaker 13: Needed and how government can more effectively delivered constituent services. 218 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 9: Council members would simply pass legislation, but even then the 219 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 9: mayor would have veto power that could be overridden only 220 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 9: with a super majority. Not surprisingly, some council members object 221 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 9: to the idea of having city services taken out of 222 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 9: their hands. 223 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 2: Then what is a council member even for than to 224 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 2: act as a punching bag to absorb bad vibes? 225 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 4: And I'm pretty. 226 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: Well given the condition of that city, yeah, that's exactly 227 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: what I would expect. 228 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 2: You get paid to be a punching bag for bad vibes. 229 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: That is a very good description of a city councilperson. 230 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 9: You go to taking a punch, But I don't know 231 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 9: why anybody would want that job, And. 232 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 10: To further concentrate power in the hands of one individual 233 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 10: is the perception that a lot of Oaklanders have right now. 234 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 10: So then we are then once again fighting an uphill 235 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 10: battle about trust in local government. 236 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 2: But you guys don't want this because all of a sudden, 237 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 2: if you change the way the government is structured, you 238 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 2: can't blame everything on Oh well, this is just the 239 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 2: way the charter is. 240 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: There's nothing we can do. Here's the problem. Just take 241 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: the structure out of the equation for a moment. The 242 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: people who are being elected to these offices are awful. 243 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter what it says in the charter. If 244 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: you elect someone like Shang Tauer to run your city, 245 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: she's going to run it into the ground. If you 246 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: elect someone like Barbara Lee to run your city, she's 247 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: going to run it into the ground. So you're not 248 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:37,119 Speaker 1: tackling the number one problem, which is the voters in Oakland. 249 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: They continue to elect people who can't do the job. 250 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 14: Absolutely. 251 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 9: Absolutely. The council member Charlene Wang says she's no relation 252 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 9: supports the idea simply as a way to break the 253 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 9: city's current dysfunction. 254 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 10: We need to empower a mayor to be a real 255 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 10: change maker and to break through red tape and the bureaucracy, 256 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 10: and we need to empower them to make change. 257 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: That's how you pronounce it. Well, if she supports it, 258 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 1: you know this woman plans on running for mayor at 259 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,359 Speaker 1: some point in the future. Oh one percent, the baraucracy 260 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: is real. 261 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 9: Professor Dan Lindheim teaches at the Goldman School of Public 262 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 9: Policy at UC Berkeley. He served as Oakland City administrator, 263 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 9: but has a hard time thinking the change would make 264 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 9: much of a difference. 265 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 8: Some of the debate I think is a little overwrought, 266 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 8: and I don't really think that Oakland will be better 267 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 8: or worse because of it. I don't think Oakland's problems 268 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 8: are because of its bizarre charter the city. 269 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: I think that's a really strong point, because everyone's playing 270 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 2: for the same team, and if everyone was working together, 271 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 2: you could do simple things like keeping the city safe 272 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: and picking up the garbage. 273 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: No kidding. 274 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 9: His charter is a weird hybrid system created when Mayor 275 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 9: Jerry Brown decided he didn't want to attend council meetings anymore. 276 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: Even when he mayor of Oakland, he was a cantankerous 277 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 2: old coot. 278 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 9: Lindheim supports the idea of the proposal in concept. 279 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 2: Even although you ask people in recent history, he was 280 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: one of the best mayors they. 281 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: Had, probably the last good one. 282 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 9: If he doesn't think he will make a huge change, 283 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 9: But with the defeat of Measure E earlier this month, 284 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 9: he has his doubts. The voters will be keen to 285 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 9: give anyone too much power. 286 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: That's right. 287 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: In an election year where the City of La and 288 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 2: the County of La doubled down in a sales tax 289 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 2: increase and decided to lock out Spencer Pratt, Oakland may 290 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 2: have seen enough is enough because for the first time 291 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 2: ever they shot down a parcel tax increase. 292 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: Good for them. 293 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 8: My guess is the council is going to be respectful 294 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 8: toward the mayor to put it on the ballot, and 295 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 8: then they're going to campaign against it. 296 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 9: The measure would do other things as well, such as 297 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 9: paying council members more while prohibiting them from having other jobs, 298 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 9: and creating a budget office at sit. 299 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 2: Well, there's one where to get everyone on board. Oh, 300 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 2: if we pass this, you all get a raise more 301 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: money for you, which is interesting because I thought the 302 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 2: City of Oakland is broke, So where are they getting 303 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: the money to all of a sudden give raises to 304 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 2: all members of the city council couch cushions the hall. 305 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 9: But if power is the true capital of politics, it's 306 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 9: shaping up to be quite a battle. 307 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 11: And the proposal already passed one preliminary vote by the 308 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 11: council is expected that this evenings vote will send the 309 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 11: issue to the voters to decide. 310 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: So there you go. 311 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: It looks like voters in Oakland in November we'll get 312 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: to vote on if they want to give Barbara Lee 313 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: more power. Now they'll also be voting in November if 314 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 2: they want to keep Barbara Lee for a full four years, which. 315 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: I mean they probably will. Who are we kidding? How 316 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: fun would that City of Dumpy? It's the John Phillips Show. 317 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: It's the Jihn Phillip Show. Eight hundred two two two 318 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 1: five two two two is the telephone number. What eight 319 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two. If you'd 320 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: like to email the show, you can do so at 321 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: Johnny Don't Like show at gmail dot com. That's Johnny 322 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: Don't Like Show at gmail dot com and Randy. Starting 323 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: in July, you'll be able to watch us perform the 324 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: show live on the net. That's right. 325 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 2: We are starting to broadcast live on video July first, 326 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 2: two weeks from today, you'll be able to watch us 327 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: live on YouTube, on Twitter, on Facebook, and much much more. 328 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 2: We'll have it on the website as well. You can 329 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 2: see all the crazy stories that we're reacting to as 330 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 2: well as listen to them on the radio. Live video 331 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,880 Speaker 2: streaming of the John Phillips Show from noon to three 332 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 2: every single day starts Wednesday, July first. 333 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: It's the Giant Phillips Show. It's the John Phillips Show. 334 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: Eight hundred two two two five two two two East 335 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,360 Speaker 1: telephone number what eight hundred two two two five two 336 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: two two. We have a lot of exciting things going 337 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 1: on over here at the radio station, including Randy a 338 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: standalone podcast that's going to begin next month. 339 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 2: Starting July first. Not only are we doing our fifteen 340 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 2: hours a week that's going to be broadcast live on 341 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 2: social media and YouTube with The John Phillips Show on 342 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 2: radio and on video, but we're also going to be 343 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: launching an exclusive podcast, the Accountability Podcast with John Phillips 344 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 2: and Randy. 345 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 3: Wang Accountability, Accountability, Accountability. 346 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 2: With all of the extra content that we never seem 347 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 2: to have time to get to in our three hour 348 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 2: show every day. So it's going to be brand new content, 349 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 2: exclusive content, and you'll be able to get it wherever 350 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts, as well as getting it on YouTube, 351 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,719 Speaker 2: Google on YouTube. 352 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 1: And coming up, coming up in just a couple of weeks, 353 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: we're also going to be running in a five k 354 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: for the Union Rescue Mission. 355 00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 2: I just got the email today said do you want 356 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 2: to do the five k or the ten k? And 357 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 2: I'm like, let's do the five k. Not trying to 358 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 2: go crazy here, but hey, we're lacing up for something 359 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 2: that really matters, the Union Rescue Missions five K in 360 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 2: Griffith Park. It's gonna be this Saturday, June twenty seventh. 361 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 2: I think we're getting there at like seven am, so 362 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: it's not gonna be too hot. It's gonna be a 363 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 2: great morning for a great cause. We will be there 364 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 2: in person, running, walking, or something in between. Join Team KABC, 365 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: stop by and say hello, we'd love to meet you. 366 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 2: Every step supports the incredible work that our friends at 367 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 2: the Union Rescue Mission are doing right here in Los Angeles. 368 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 2: If you want to sign up for the five K 369 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 2: ten K run walk, go to RM dot org slash 370 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 2: run Walk. That's r M dot org slash run Walk. 371 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 2: And hey, let's make a difference together and have a 372 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 2: beautiful morning Saturday, June twenty seventh at Griffith Park. In 373 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 2: the meantime, what do you say we make a couple 374 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 2: listeners very happy? Well, let's do that right now. Seven 375 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 2: ninety KABC welcomes britt Floyd, The Moon, The Wall, and 376 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 2: Beyond at the Greek Theater on July tenth. Tickets are 377 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 2: on sale now at ticketmaster dot com. But right now, 378 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 2: caller number nine at one eighty eight seven ninety five 379 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 2: two to two two gets a pair of tickets to 380 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: the show. Tickets furnished by Live Nation. Good luck dialing. 381 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: Let's go to Travis in Oakland. 382 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: Travis, Hello, Hey, John and Randy. 383 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 14: I love the show, but you gotta quit picking on 384 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 14: the city of Dumpy were you was shot it down? 385 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 2: Uh? Oh, Travis, I think your phone's cutting out. 386 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 14: Who took down? Pamela Price? 387 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 2: Call? 388 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 14: She is running for mayor. So there is hope for 389 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 14: the city of Dumpy. We could bring it back to 390 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 14: the city of Oakland if we work hard. So let's 391 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 14: let's get some hope out there for our city. What 392 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 14: do you say. 393 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 2: I'm all for it. I want to I want Oakland 394 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 2: to be a safe place. I want it to be 395 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 2: a well functioning place. I hear so many stories about 396 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 2: what a great food city Oakland is, and I want 397 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 2: to feel safe enough to go up there and enjoy 398 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 2: it all. 399 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 14: With you. But I guess sometimes you gotta tell. 400 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: The All right, Well, thank you for the call. We 401 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:18,159 Speaker 1: appreciate it. 402 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: We talk about Dumpy because we love Dumpy. 403 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: And speaking of places we love in air quotes, Downtown 404 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: LA has recently made the news. 405 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 2: Downtown LA, according to a new study, is the deadest 406 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 2: downtown in the world. 407 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: Well, it's certainly deater than Downtown Disney that I can say. Now. 408 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 2: Is it the deadest downtown because nobody's going there, or 409 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 2: is it the deadest downtown because a lot of it 410 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 2: is filled with fentanyl fueled zombies? 411 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: Well? Yeah, if you're a big fan of the music 412 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: video Thriller and you want to see all the zombies 413 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: in person, Downtown LA is the place for you. 414 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 2: For more on this, we go to a report from 415 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: KTLA in Los Angeles. All right, I'm got to turn 416 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 2: this up here, we go. 417 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 15: I got the city of Los Angeles. Well, it's lost 418 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 15: a little bit of its luster. 419 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: What luster. 420 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 2: I'm born and raised here, so I'm totally jaded. But 421 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 2: I don't consider LA a city the way that San 422 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,479 Speaker 2: Francisco is a city. It is a loose collection of 423 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 2: neighborhoods with a mountain in between it. Now, you're younger 424 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 2: than me, But when I grew up here, and I 425 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: have lived here my entire life in the state of California, 426 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 2: not in the city of Los Angeles, but in different 427 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 2: independent municipalities, my parents never took me to downtown LA 428 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 2: until La Live was there. Before La Live and Staples 429 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 2: Center and Disney Concert Hall and all all of the 430 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 2: entertainment attractions and started popping up during Dick Reardon's ten 431 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 2: year as mayor of Los Angeles. There was no reason 432 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 2: to go there unless you were an attorney or you 433 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 2: worked in financial services and accountant whatever. 434 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 1: It wasn't a destination. 435 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 2: Well, and from about two thousand until twenty fifteen, downtown 436 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 2: was turning into a really happening place. There was a 437 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 2: lot going on down there. There were a lot of 438 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 2: restaurants and clubs and bar openings. You had events going 439 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,679 Speaker 2: on at Staples every single night the convention hall was packed. 440 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 2: But that was over a decade ago. All right, let's 441 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 2: find out why. 442 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 1: Let's break it. 443 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 3: Down more than a little bit. According to this report, 444 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 3: if you feel that downtown LA is not a very 445 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: cool place to hang out, well, apparently you're not alone. 446 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 2: There's no way if I had friends from out of 447 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 2: town come to stay with me in La, there is 448 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 2: no way in the world I would say let's go downtown. 449 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: Nope. 450 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 2: I would say let's go to old town Pasadena. I 451 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 2: would even say, let's go to downtown Burbank, let's go 452 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 2: to the let's go to downtown Long Beach, but not 453 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 2: downtown LA. 454 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 3: A report out this week finds that downtown LA is 455 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 3: one of the deadest downtowns in the world, which, if 456 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 3: you know downtown LA pretty well, you might say, okay, 457 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 3: where's the news there. All right, let's get into that. 458 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:39,479 Speaker 3: About two thirds of respondents to the Gensler City Pulse 459 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 3: survey described downtown LA as vibrant. But that compares with 460 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 3: eighty percent. 461 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 2: Wait, two thirds of people in this poll said downtown 462 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 2: LA is vibrant. 463 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: They must have called people who don't live here. 464 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: I can't tell you anything that's vibrant outside of La live. 465 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 2: What is vibrant about downtown LA? Nothing vibrancy scores for 466 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 2: they tell you what happened. I had to go to 467 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 2: downtown LA a couple of weeks ago. My brother invited 468 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 2: me to this convention for video games what have you. 469 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 2: And it wasn't at the convention center, but it was 470 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 2: around the corner. As I was driving back to get 471 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 2: on the one ten freeway, my GPS said, make sure 472 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 2: you take a right turn on Olive to get on 473 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 2: the freeway. And I get to an intersection where there 474 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 2: is so much graffiti on the street signs you can't 475 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 2: read them. That is not uncommon down there, so I'm 476 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 2: pretty sure I turned on Olive. 477 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 3: The likes of New York and Chicago. Gensler, an urban 478 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: planning consulting firm, says downtown LA is eleventh lowest in 479 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 3: the US for being you know, cool, and twentieth lowest worldwide, 480 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 3: well below the likes of Sydney and Shanghai. Kelly Ferrell Man. 481 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 2: Once you've been to some real cities, you realize just 482 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 2: how excuse me Oakland, dumpy, Los Angeles, well. 483 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: Especially downtown LA. If you live in a neighborhood that 484 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: you happen to like, where the vibe fits your personality, 485 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: it can be good. But downtown LA is just a 486 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: place where I see the problems. I see the homelessness, 487 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,479 Speaker 1: I see the traffic, I see the crime, I see 488 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: how dirty it is. I just don't see the benefits 489 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: of it. Typically, if you live in an area that's 490 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: built vertically, there are benefits. You could walk to any 491 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 1: number of things you'd want to go to, but you're 492 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: almost isolated down there. Try finding a grocery store or 493 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:43,159 Speaker 1: a fill in station in downtown Los Angeles. Those sorts 494 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: of things are difficult to find down there. So if 495 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: you live there, I would imagine it could be a 496 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 1: real pain to do basic things. 497 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 3: A Jing, director of Dancler's LA office, told The La 498 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 3: Times that the city's downtown has well become more downtrop 499 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 3: because businesses have moved elsewhere. And that's list. 500 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, of all the places that got hit during COVID, 501 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,600 Speaker 2: you've seen some recovery in San Francisco, they still have 502 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 2: room to grow. But La Downtown LA, I think, is 503 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,160 Speaker 2: a higher office vacancy rate than anywhere else right now, 504 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 2: because what do you get from being down there? 505 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 3: To an exodus of workers and residents, which in turn 506 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 3: has wiped out many restaurants and shops. 507 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 2: And as a former I mean, what does it say 508 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:33,160 Speaker 2: that a majority of the major sports franchises in Los 509 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 2: Angeles aren't even in Los Angeles. They're the Inglewood Clippers, 510 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 2: the Inglewood Rams, and the Inglewood San Diego Chargers. 511 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: And don't forget about the two teams that play in 512 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: Orange County, the Angels and the Ducks. Everyone forgets about 513 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 1: the Angels and the Ducks. 514 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, Johnny for downtown Denizen myself from when the 515 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 3: La Times was there. 516 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 2: It's been over twenty five years. Can we get rid 517 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 2: of the La Angels thing? Well, there's a movement Nanaheim 518 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 2: to do that. They had better luck when they were 519 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 2: the Anaheim Angels. 520 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: That's true, that's when we won the big Enchilada. 521 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 3: It too has left downtown LA I can attest that 522 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 3: the area is just not so fun. Of course, there 523 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 3: are pockets of fun and some pretty cool stuff that 524 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 3: can be found down there. 525 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,800 Speaker 1: Can you give me a citation? And by the way, 526 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 1: his La Times moved to El Segundo. They're not even 527 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 1: down there anymore. Yeah, he just said that but yes, 528 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 1: this is true. The LA Times isn't even in the 529 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: city of Los Angeles. 530 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 3: But generally speaking, it's not New York, it's not Chicago. 531 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 3: What can we do well, Needless to say, I've thought 532 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 3: about this and thought about this, and I've come up 533 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 3: with a suggestion, although it's not an easy suggestion. 534 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 1: You know. 535 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: Before we get to his nonsensical suggestion, I just got 536 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 2: to say, being born and raised here, I didn't know 537 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 2: any better. The time that I have spent recently in 538 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 2: San Francisco and the trip that I took over winter 539 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 2: to go to places like Madrid. Now I know what 540 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 2: real cities are like, and I'm real jealous. 541 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: Oh they can be quite fun. Although I will say 542 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: this in defense of downtown LA the practices that most 543 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: big cities employed during COVID did a lot of damage 544 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: to a lot of downtown's all over the globe. Thanks Babs. 545 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 3: My solution to this is aggressive rent control. 546 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: Oh come on, all right, laz we'll hear you out. 547 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 3: Stop stop, hey, let me finish. This would be the 548 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 3: way that you lure back the young and hip into 549 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 3: the downtown area. And after they arrived, presumably the businesses 550 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 3: will all come back to cater to them, and these 551 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 3: would be the cooler businesses, restaurants, boutiques, things like that. 552 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 2: So we need to bring more people into downtown that 553 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 2: don't have any money. 554 00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: That's what we need. We need to import more NiTi 555 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: Rama voters. 556 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,719 Speaker 3: Would it work well demographically speaking? 557 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, we need. 558 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 2: A whole bunch of artists that don't make any money. 559 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 2: I don't know if you've ever seen rent Lazarus, but 560 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 2: those kids who were paying no rent to live in 561 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 2: that building also were paying no money to eat at 562 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: the restaurant. 563 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: You see. He's emblematic of why people feel so hopeless 564 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: in the city now, because even when they're smart enough 565 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: to identify the problem, which many of them are not, 566 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: the solution that they offer would make the problem so 567 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: much worse. 568 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 3: Studies have shown that's one way to do it. Would 569 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:44,440 Speaker 3: landlords and developers get behind this? Not a chance? No, 570 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,000 Speaker 3: you don't have to clean it up? 571 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: Well, well there's one solution, Yeah, how about that. Listen 572 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 1: to the lady there, Lazarus. How about making it safe 573 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: and clean. If you make it safe and clean, maybe 574 00:30:57,840 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: people will want to go down there. 575 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 2: Maybe you fix all the lights that are broken due 576 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:06,480 Speaker 2: to copper wire theft, including on the sixth Street Bridge. 577 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 2: Maybe you start enforcing the laws to make sure people 578 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:12,959 Speaker 2: don't do that. Maybe you do something about the endless 579 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 2: problem of graffiti. But it certainly doesn't feel safe there 580 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 2: during the day and especially at night. 581 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: Well, they do the same thing with the metro. What 582 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 1: should we do to get people to ride the trains again? 583 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: Should we make it safe? Should we make it clean? No, 584 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: we don't have time for that. Let's have commemorative World 585 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: Cup tickets. 586 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 2: The twenty dollars tap cards that don't actually have any 587 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 2: fares on them. 588 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 15: Yep, the cleanup for sure, But you know, downtown La 589 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 15: used to rely so heavily on foot traffic. I was 590 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 15: reading the La Business Journal recently that vacancies in office 591 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 15: spaces are approaching something like forty percent, right, and so 592 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 15: the people just aren't there, right, and so there are 593 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 15: discussions about turning those. 594 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 2: And those businesses that moved they're not moving back. 595 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 1: Well, think about this. If you are a professional and 596 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: you're in high demand, and you have job offers from 597 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,680 Speaker 1: multiple firms, and one firm will let you live in 598 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:15,840 Speaker 1: your community and work in your community. One firm will 599 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: let you work at home and the other one says, 600 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 1: we want you to go through a gauntlet of zombies 601 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: every time you go to the office in downtown Los Angeles. 602 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: You're not going to attract the best employees. 603 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 15: You're just not office spaces into residential housing, commercial spaces, 604 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 15: and in more residential housing. But how do you get 605 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 15: the people back there? 606 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: First? 607 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 3: I think one of the problems with downtown LA is 608 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 3: it's got multiple personalities. You've got the financial community on 609 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 3: Bunker Hill, but there's really not much going on there. 610 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 3: You got the razzle dassle of crypto dot com arena. 611 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: But it doesn't It is the stupidest name. 612 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 2: Get much farther than I mean, if you needed any 613 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,480 Speaker 2: other sign that going to downtown LA will just lead 614 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 2: you to getting scammed. 615 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 1: The arena is named after a crypto bank. 616 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 3: Things that are there, Broadway Man, that's just faded glory there, 617 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 3: and then you got skid Row. You put it all together, 618 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 3: it's a hard thing to market, it's a hard thing 619 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 3: to characterize. Bringing young people back into that area. Then 620 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:18,760 Speaker 3: you can start getting shopping streets. 621 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 1: The young people all move to Phoenix last. And also 622 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 1: don't discount the fact that it is a traffic crunch 623 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: on the freeways around downtown LA twenty four to seven. 624 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 1: I think their working assumption is that these young hipsters 625 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: will ride the buses if they move down there, and 626 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 1: that's just not true. They're going to have their cars, 627 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: they're going to pay a fortune for parking, and they're 628 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:45,760 Speaker 1: going to spend half of their life sitting in that traffic. 629 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: I live about twenty miles away from downtown LA. On 630 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: a Saturday morning, it took me an hour to get 631 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: down there. An hour. It is a horrific traffic situation. 632 00:33:57,960 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 1: Anyone that's ever. 633 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 2: Been on the one ten and in downtown where there 634 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,280 Speaker 2: are so many confusing options as to how you actually 635 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 2: stay on the freeway, it is a night metter navigate 636 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 2: every single day. And if you take an off ramp 637 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 2: and it's the wrong off ramp, all of a sudden 638 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 2: you've ended up in skid row. 639 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 3: Shopping streets are the key to an urban city center. 640 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:21,479 Speaker 1: So there you go. 641 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 2: Downtown LA named the daentis downtown and possibly the entire world. 642 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 2: If you want to weigh in on that, give us 643 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:34,839 Speaker 2: a call at eight hundred two two two five two 644 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 2: two two What eight hundred two two two five two 645 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 2: two two. Your calls coming up right here on the 646 00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:44,880 Speaker 2: John Phillips Show. It's the John and Phillips Show. 647 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 1: Eight hundred two two two five two two two is 648 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,759 Speaker 1: telephone number on eight hundred two two two five two 649 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:54,480 Speaker 1: two two. If you'd like to email the show, you 650 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: can do so at Johnny don't like show at gmail 651 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 1: dot com. That's Johnny don't like show at gmail com. 652 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:02,959 Speaker 1: And Randy, you're monitoring the mail bag. 653 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,920 Speaker 2: Ken writes in at Johnny don't like show at gmail 654 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 2: dot com. I think they misspoke. The word in downtown 655 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 2: La is not vibrant. They meant to say violent. That 656 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 2: would certainly make more sense. Seriously, when I was up 657 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 2: in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and I 658 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 2: was just wandering around Union Square, I was able to 659 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 2: walk to a cafe and get that Cubano croissant at 660 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 2: Juniper on Knob Hill. I was able to really enjoy 661 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 2: the city. I'm like, even though there's a lot of traffic, 662 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 2: even though things aren't perfect, because I know which neighborhoods 663 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:38,760 Speaker 2: to stay out of, this feels like a real city 664 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,239 Speaker 2: and I have never felt that way in La Now. 665 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 2: Maybe part of the problem is I have lived most 666 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 2: of my life in the damn suburbs, but LA just 667 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 2: does not have that energy. 668 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:53,440 Speaker 1: Well, go back to the prescription that David Lazarus gave us, 669 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 1: which was strict rent control. He thinks that strict rent 670 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:02,000 Speaker 1: control would make Los Angeles, Downtown LA specifically more appealing. 671 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: When you have strict rent control, there is zero motivation 672 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 1: for landlords to dump any money at all into their 673 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:15,759 Speaker 1: properties because the government is limiting how much you can 674 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:20,480 Speaker 1: make off it. So why repaint the building, Why add 675 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: new shiny stuff to your property? Why fix up your lawn? 676 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,960 Speaker 1: Why do all of the things that landlords do to 677 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:32,920 Speaker 1: attract a premium? And the answer is they won't. They'll 678 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:37,439 Speaker 1: allow it to become dilapidated, they won't fix it. They're 679 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:42,280 Speaker 1: never going to refresh it. And the neighborhood just looks 680 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 1: like something that has an absentee landlord. It looks like 681 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 1: something that no one's investing anything in. That doesn't attract 682 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:53,319 Speaker 1: people to those neighborhoods. It makes people think that these 683 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:58,760 Speaker 1: neighborhoods are not desirable, are places that no one cares about. 684 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:04,040 Speaker 1: And for whatever reason, he wants to double down on 685 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:08,040 Speaker 1: that in downtown LA, which would make all of the 686 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:12,920 Speaker 1: problems that they currently have worse. But he doesn't seem 687 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 1: to know that. All right, we've got two more hours 688 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:20,280 Speaker 1: coming up on the John Phillips Show, the Fixed California Hours. Next, 689 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:23,879 Speaker 1: former La County Sheriff alex Van Waiva joins us, don't 690 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 1: you go anywhere.