1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: radio seven ninety KABC. We're here every single day from 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: five to six talking about the local issues that matter 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: to you most and taking your phone calls at eight 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two, your emails 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: at Randy Wangradio at gmail dot com, search for the 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: KABC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: to the California Report at Randywangradio dot substack dot com. 9 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: And with that, let's get into today's California Report for Tuesday, 10 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: March tenth, twenty twenty six, and we start in southern California, 11 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: where it has happened yet again, a preventable tragedy. How 12 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: many times, especially in Hollywood over the last year, have 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: we talked about abandoned vacant homes that have been taken 14 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: over by squatters and the neighbors complain and nothing is 15 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: done about it. They call the city council, who happens 16 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: to be Hugo Soto Martinez. They call LAPD. Everyone says, oh, 17 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: there's nothing we can do about it. Which if that's true, 18 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: if it is true that our laws are so tenant 19 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: friendly that we cannot do anything about trespassers on private property. 20 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: That's a huge issue and we need to change our laws. 21 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: You remember that story. It almost seemed like just so 22 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,919 Speaker 1: insane that you would think it's made up, but it's true. 23 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: Many years ago, because of California's squatters laws and squatters' rights, 24 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: there was a couple that moved into an airbnb in 25 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: Redlands for thirty days, and after those thirty days, they said, hey, 26 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: we technically live here. Now let's see how long we 27 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: can ride this thing out. And because of California's eviction laws, 28 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: it can take up to a year to go through 29 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: that process. So we had squatters living in this building. 30 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: The neighbors were complaining about all kinds of different things, 31 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: including which doesn't seem to be a big deal, but 32 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: stealing electricity for some reason, that's just fine in the 33 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: city of Los Angeles, even though it creates a massive 34 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: fire hazard. And we've seen stories about homes in Hollywood 35 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: where you had drug activity, you had violent activity. There 36 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: was one neighbor that accused that the vacant home there 37 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: was snuff films being made in there. I don't think 38 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: she actually knew what that meant. But ultimately, what always 39 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: happens happened here. A fire broke out because squatters like 40 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: to start fires, and the house burned down, and tragically, 41 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 1: the neighbor's house burned down, and the family wasn't home, 42 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: but they had five dogs in the house and two 43 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: of them died. And that right there has me even 44 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: angrier about this. Hugo Soto Martinez knew about this, and 45 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: Hugo so too. Martinez didn't do anything about this. And again, 46 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: if it truly is that the state laws are so 47 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: one sided that there's nothing we can do about obvious trespassing, 48 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: let alone stealing of utilities, then we need to change 49 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: our laws. If it's just once again local government refusing 50 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: to do their job, that's a whole other story. And 51 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: you have opportunity, you have agency. If you live in 52 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: Council District thirteen, you can choose to not vote for 53 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: Hugo Soto Martinez. Now let's move on to the Bay 54 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: Area where strike Apalooza continues. This time it's in the 55 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: city of Dublin, where Eric Swalwell is from, because he'll 56 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: tell you about his Dublin Scrubland story every single time 57 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: he gets on the campaign trail. But you have another 58 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: teacher's strike, another district with falling enrollment, because that's what's 59 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: going on in most of California, especially in the Bay Area. 60 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: People cannot afford to have kids, and the ones that can, 61 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: they can afford to go to private school. But again, 62 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: I understand, the cost of living here is high and 63 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: you're trying to retain your workforce, and there are bidding 64 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: wars for teachers, just like there are bidding wars for 65 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: cops now. But if you don't have any more funding 66 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: coming in, what exactly are you supposed to do? And 67 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: I say that at the same time that we're spending 68 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: more on education than we ever have in the state 69 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: of California. In fact, because of Prop ninety eight, when 70 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: the state brought in more money than expected last year, 71 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: I meant even more money went to education. And my 72 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: question will always be if it's not going to the 73 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: teachers and it's not going to the students, because we 74 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 1: constantly hear every single union cycle while we got a 75 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: lower class sizes, where is all this money going. Is 76 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: it going to hold up the massive bureaucracy that administers 77 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: a lot of these school districts. That is very possible, 78 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: And I thought this story was interesting, but train is 79 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: receiving a lot of pushback from their riders because of 80 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: restrictions on what kind of bicycles you can bring onto coltrain, 81 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: which is a great way for a lot of people 82 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: to commute from Silicon Valley to San Francisco. And they've 83 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: actually elect to fry electrified that rail and it works 84 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: a hell of a lot better than it used to. 85 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: But they are backtracking on these restrictions that were supposed 86 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: to take effect because the locals are pissed. And look, 87 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: the fact that you've got standing room only on those 88 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: trains is good, but a lot of people are using 89 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: them because you still can't walk to a cow train station. 90 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: So if you're using a bicycle, it makes sense. You know, 91 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: in safe neighborhoods like the Silicon Valley where this is 92 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: actually doable. Something like this could never happen and will 93 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: never happen in Los Angeles. And this is an interesting one. 94 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: We've got a Sacramento for this story where Gavin Newsom 95 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: needs nineteen million dollars of your money and my money 96 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: for an advertising campaign. This advertising campaign is supposed to 97 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: promote California tourism, and there's nothing wrong with that. Let 98 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: me just say, there's a huge return on investment in 99 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: many cities and states and municipalities do the same thing. 100 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: So there's nothing wrong with promoting tourism. But what this 101 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: is about is what Gavin says is going after misinformation 102 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 1: and disinformation for all the criticism there is of California. 103 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: And sure you can go after all the critics of 104 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: California from outside of the state, but how about all 105 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: the critics of California from born and raised Californians like 106 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: yours truly are John Phillips or there are plenty of 107 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: people criticizing the state from within. But I always find 108 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: it a little suspect about these big ad campaigns because 109 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: it reminds me of the COVID days. And this is 110 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: a little inside baseball, But there's an important point here. 111 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: Gavin Newsom spent all kinds of money on PSAs. Every 112 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: time there was some new initiative with COVID, he was 113 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: spending all kinds of money and it would go towards 114 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: a lot of nonprofits to produce these PSAs. But also 115 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: it has to do with the media buying. Where are 116 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: you spending these dollars? And I don't know why exactly, 117 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: but there was a really weird thing going on where 118 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: you know, in twenty twenty, COVID was going on, all 119 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: radio stations are having a really hard time making their 120 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: budgets because who's going to advertise when there are no 121 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: businesses allowed to be open. Gavin was spending a lot 122 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: of money with one specific radio company and using state 123 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: money to almost prop up the budgets of a company 124 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: called iHeartRadio. They own a lot of our competitor stations, 125 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: although I used to work there, there's no real competitor. 126 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: You know, everyone in the radio family is very tight knit. 127 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: But I bring this up because Gavin Newsom did a 128 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: lot of business for iHeartRadio, and years later, who's producing 129 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: his podcast iHeartRadio? Is iHeart going to be getting any 130 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: of this PSA money? Not in California probably, but in 131 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: their other markets. It's definitely interesting who these contracts get 132 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: steered towards, because we're talking about millions and millions of dollars. 133 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: And Maria Elena Derazzo, State Senator out of Los Angeles, well, 134 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: she has been making headlines because she is pushing back 135 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: in its Gavin Newsom's freezing of the medical for people 136 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: in the country illegally programmed. So a few years ago, 137 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: the legislature passed medical for everyone in the country illegally, 138 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: not just the children, not just the elderly, anybody that 139 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: qualifies under the income restriction thresholds. And that program started 140 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: to take effect in twenty twenty five, and almost immediately 141 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: we saw a huge deficit in medical where Gavin Newsom 142 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: had to take out billions of dollars of loans from 143 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: the state reserve to be able to keep that program afloat. Well, 144 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: in order to stop the bleeding, Gaven Newsom announced that, Okay, 145 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: we're going to freeze enrollment for the illegal immigrants to 146 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: medical starting in twenty twenty six, and in twenty twenty seven, 147 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: the people on that program that are in the country 148 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: illegally will have to pay a thirty dollars a month premium, 149 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: which I don't know what you pay for your premium. 150 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: Mine is significantly more than that. And I should consider 151 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: myself lucky because I see what my wife pays for 152 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,719 Speaker 1: her premium. And it really leads to a larger discussion 153 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: of our healthcare system in this state, let alone. This 154 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: country is a mess, and I don't know what the 155 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: answer is. I don't know if universal you know, single 156 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: payer healthcare is really more cost effective. A whole lot 157 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: of other countries do it. Here's what I will say, 158 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: what we've got going on right now is single payer. 159 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: For a certain class of people, a third of the 160 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 1: state gets free healthcare. And for the people if you 161 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: know anyone that's been on medical it's better coverage than Medicare. 162 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: It's better coverage that you can get on the Affordable 163 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: Care Act and you don't have to pay. And there 164 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: is this bizarre thing going on where our social safety 165 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: net in California is so generous that there's actually an 166 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: incentive to not rise out of poverty. Because if you're 167 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: at a certain threshold of income and you are making 168 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: very little money, well, you might qualify for Section eight, 169 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: you might qualify for food stamps, you'll qualify for medical 170 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: and all other kinds of programs that we put out 171 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: to help these people. And if you are tart, if 172 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: you're trying to rise out of that, if you decide 173 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: you are going to become gainfully employed and try to 174 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: start building yourself up, you will actually hit a point 175 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: where you make too much money for some of these services, 176 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: but you're still barely getting by, but because those services 177 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: were so generous, now you're losing money. I remember very 178 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,839 Speaker 1: famously many years ago when I worked at a different 179 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: radio station, KFI, and I was making three hundred dollars 180 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: a week. A big news story at the time was 181 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 1: that all of this fraud with EDD was coming out 182 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: where people were using their EDD cards an excuse me, 183 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 1: not EDD EBT cards for strip clubs, for pot stores, 184 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: for liquor stores, because you could use that cash benefit 185 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: for anything, treated it like an ATM. So I wanted 186 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 1: to see how easy it was to get one of 187 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: these cards. And again I was making about three hundred 188 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: dollars a week, not a lot of money, even in 189 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: twenty ten, and so I went down to the Valley 190 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: Welfare office and the first thing that I noticed was 191 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: every car in that parking lot was nicer than mine. 192 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: When I was in the waiting room, everyone who was 193 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: standing there had the newest iPhone. But this is the 194 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: part that I found so interesting, because again I selfishly 195 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: wanted one of these cards because I was a fat 196 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 1: pig at the time and was eating so much fast 197 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: food that I was spending probably fifty dollars a day 198 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: on fast food, which adds up when you're only making 199 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: three hundred dollars a week. Okay, that I had to 200 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: be spending less, you know what I'm thinking of it 201 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: in today's numbers, I was probably spending twenty dollars a day, 202 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: but still I was spending a massive portion of my 203 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: income on fast food. And you started to see all 204 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: of these signs for EBT taken here. So I was like, well, 205 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: if I can get one of these cards, I can 206 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: get like four to six hundred dollars a month in 207 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: fast food for free. So I turned it all my forms. 208 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 1: I said, I'm struggling, I need assistance, and they said, well, 209 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 1: you make twelve hundred dollar a month. That's too much money. 210 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: If you made eleven hundred dollars a month, you'd qualify 211 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: for these six hundred dollars worth of benefits. So it 212 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: would actually have been an incentive for me to make 213 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: less money so I could qualify for the benefits. And 214 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: that is where I think our system in California is 215 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: overly generous to some at the bottom. But if you're 216 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: in the middle, especially the lower middle, you are hurting. 217 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: And you could argue all the skyrocky premiums that most 218 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: people are paying unless you happen to have a really 219 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: good union contract. Well, you're subsidizing all that other healthcare. 220 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: So I don't know what the answer is, but I 221 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: don't know that what we're doing makes any sense with that. 222 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: And Sacramento City is going through quite a issue here 223 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: where the mayor and the city manager want to put 224 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: up all of these homeless villages, but the city council 225 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: did not approve them, but through an emergency ordinance, they're 226 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: able to push them through whether they make sense or not. 227 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: And the city council is simply saying here, well, you're 228 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 1: putting up a bunch of tiny homes without any services, 229 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: without any social services, without any way to help these 230 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 1: people and get them out of homelessness. And a little 231 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: fights a bro in there. And in Natomas we have 232 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: yet another strike at Palooza for the first time in 233 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: that district's history. The Tatoma Teachers' Union. They're looking to 234 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: go on strike the same thing. They want more money, 235 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: they want better benefits. They also want better healthcare. Speaking 236 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: of healthcare, if you're wondering why when Gavin Newsom ran 237 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: for governor, he almost immediately abandoned when he won his 238 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: pitch for universal, single payer health care. It's because Gavin 239 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: Newsom was put into office by the support of all 240 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: the major unions. And here's the thing. Do you know 241 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: who doesn't like single payor healthcare the unions? Because the 242 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: unions fight for these incredibly beneficial and generous health care policy. 243 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: I should know. I'm in sag After. My premium for 244 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: healthcare for myself is pretty darn low. Now. Sag After 245 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: screwed everyone over, including retired actors and the families of 246 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: actors in twenty twenty when they started to say I 247 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 1: don't care if who I don't care if you're married, 248 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: if your spouse has available healthcare, they have to take that. 249 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: They don't get to get on your generous plan. But 250 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: that's sag After. There are plenty of public employee unions 251 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: that have really good healthcare plans and they don't want 252 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: to give those up for bargaining chips. And that is why, 253 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: at least with the current leadership, even though some people 254 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: say they want it, you're not going to say single 255 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: payer in the state of California. And when we come back, 256 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: we'll talk about what's going on with the gas crisis. 257 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: As California gas prices are skyrocketing. It's the California Report 258 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: right here on the News Blitz with Randy Wang on 259 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: Talk radio seven ninety KABC. It's the News Blitz with 260 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on KABC. Let's get back to today's care 261 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: California Report at Randywangradio dot substack dot com. The gas 262 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: crisis is getting worse by the day in California, even 263 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: though the entire country is seeing an increase in gas 264 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: prices because of the war in Iran, because California is 265 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: so dependent on foreign oil, we are seeing it spike 266 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: incredibly here, which has one lawmaker making it trying to 267 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: make it easier to put e eighty five ethanol in 268 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: your car, and I can already hear the emails that 269 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: are being written. Let me just tell you right off 270 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 1: the front, a lot of cars are not compatible with 271 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: this alcohol fuel. It's corn alcohol fuel, and it could 272 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: destroy your engine. The mileage can actually be worse. But 273 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: apparently what the lawmaker wants to do is make it 274 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: easier for you to buy these conversion kits that for 275 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: a few hundred dollars in a professional installation, will convert 276 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: your car into an engine that can take this ethanol 277 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: and enjoy it, because, as you can see, ethanol is 278 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: a hell of a lot cheaper than gasoline right now. 279 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: But is this the answer? I don't think so. And 280 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: Kevin Kylie made a whole lot of waves when he 281 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: announced that he is running as an independent a no 282 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: party preference in the re election in twenty twenty six 283 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 1: for his congressional district, but he also is changing his 284 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: party status to an independent for the term he is 285 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: serving right now. He talked to Alex Michaelson about what 286 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 1: exactly that means. Alex Michaelson's like, you get a caucus 287 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: with Hagem Jeffries And He's like, well, no, So I 288 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: don't know what's going on here, but it certainly is interesting. 289 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: While I love the idea of more independent minded thinkers, 290 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: the way our system works right now, I feel like 291 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: he's just going to get drowned out from it, and 292 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 1: he's getting hate on both sides from it. But we'll 293 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: see where it goes. I really thought that what Kevin 294 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: Kylie did when it comes to putting forth a bill 295 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: that would ban Jerry Manderin, should have been heard on 296 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: the House floor and we should have stopped all this 297 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 1: nonsense and we keep talking about the soaring gas prices. 298 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: Part of the reason the gas prices are so getting 299 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: crazy here is because of regulations like cap and trade, 300 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: and cap and trade is something that artificially increases the 301 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: cost of your gasoline so we can spend money on 302 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 1: the high speed rail or vouches for e bikes. I'm 303 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: not making this up. And new regulations to make carb 304 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: even mors, to make the cap and trade, cap and 305 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: invest even more expensive from the California Air Resources Board, well, 306 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: those are expected to drive even more refiners out of 307 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: the state and we've only got a few left. And 308 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: e biking is definitely one of my pet peeves. There 309 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: is a video that emerged of teenagers poppin' Wheeli's on 310 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: their e bikes on the five Freeway. I do not understand, 311 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: in a state that loves to regulate everything, why are 312 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: we not regulating the hell out of these e bikes? 313 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: And I wonder how many people took advantage of that 314 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: rebate program that was supposed to take cars off the 315 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: road and just ended him giving their kid a free 316 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: two thousand dollars bike that they have used to terrorize 317 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: their neighborhoods. I don't like e bikes. I think they've 318 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: been a net negative for society. In the crime blodder, 319 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: crazy story of a crazy woman who shot up Rihanna's 320 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: house and luckily she's a bad shot and she missed. 321 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: And of course yet another street takeover in downtown LA 322 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: near the former Staples Center, where the apartment building next 323 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: door said I don't like this. They started saying knock 324 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: it off, and the mob went crazy and stormed. The 325 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: building is starting attacking security guards. That's today's California Report. 326 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: You can read it and share it with your friends 327 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: at randywangradio dot substack dot com. I put this together 328 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: every day for you, so check it out Randy Wang 329 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: Radio dot substack dot com. It's the News Blitz with 330 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on KBC. It is the News Blitz with 331 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on Talk Radio seven KABC. We're here every 332 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: single day from five to six talking about the local 333 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: issues that matter to you most and taking your phone 334 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: calls at eight hundred two two two five two two two, 335 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: your emails at Randy Wang Radio at gmail dot com. 336 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 1: Search for the KABC News Blitz wherever you get your 337 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: podcasts and subscribe to the California Report, my daily curated 338 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: list of all the stories I found interesting in the 339 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 1: state of California at Randy Wangradio dot substack dot com. 340 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: Our next guest is running for the California Assembly in 341 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: District fifty one. Michael Garretty, Welcome to the news Blitz. 342 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: Thank you all right, So let's start off with just 343 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: a little education. Where is Assembly District fifty one? What 344 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: is the constituency you are running for? 345 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 2: Okay, that's a great question. The eighty fifty one. All 346 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 2: Assembly districts in Los Angeles Countway have about a half 347 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 2: a million population and normally they have around three hundred 348 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 2: thousand registered voters. Eighteen fifty one runs from the beach 349 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:16,959 Speaker 2: in Santa Monica straight in through West La Beverly Hills, 350 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 2: West Hollywood, and Hollywood and goes right to the edge 351 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 2: of the five Freeway of the border of Glendale. 352 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: So that's where you're running. Now, let's get to who 353 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: you are and why it is you want to run 354 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: for the Assembly. So introduce yourself to the audience. 355 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 2: Okay, Well, the reason I want to run is I 356 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 2: don't want my children to be forced to leave California, 357 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 2: and I don't want your children to be forced to 358 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 2: leave California, and if we don't do something, well, heck, 359 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 2: it's already happening, but if we don't do something, it's 360 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:55,439 Speaker 2: going to continue to happen. 361 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 1: So that's why you're throwing your hat into the ring. 362 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: That's why you want to go in to the Assembly. 363 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: Because it is too expensive to live here. 364 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 2: You're right, it's first of all, it's not affordable, and secondly, 365 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 2: our jobs are going away, and both of those things 366 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 2: that are going to kill the state. They're also going 367 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 2: to kill the tax base of the state, which is 368 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 2: going to only leave more burden on every person who 369 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: remains in the state. So we have to reverse both 370 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 2: of those problems. 371 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: Okay, so let's say you make it to Sacramento, you're 372 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: in the Assembly. What can the California State Legislature do 373 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: specifically on the cost of living? How would you be 374 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: able to make things cheaper in the state of California. 375 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 2: Great question. Well, the first thing is that if we're 376 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 2: going to be successful in making changes, we have to 377 00:22:55,119 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 2: elect a Republican governor. If we don't elect a Republican governor, 378 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 2: the motivation for change is going to be vastly lest 379 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 2: there's gonna be a lot of talk, but not a 380 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 2: lot of action. Secondly, if we were where to elect 381 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 2: the Republican governor, that man or woman would not be 382 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 2: able to do anything unless we also achieve two other objectives, 383 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 2: and those are to break the veto proof supermajorities the 384 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 2: Democrats and joy in both the Assembly and in the 385 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 2: state Senate. If we don't break those supermajorities, the governor's 386 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 2: hands are tied. 387 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 1: So we've got to break the supermajority. We need a 388 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: Republican governor. Let's say all of that happens. Let's say 389 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: all that hits, what specifically are the laws that need 390 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: to be changed to make it more affordable in the 391 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: state of California. 392 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 2: Okay, Well, the first thing in general, I won't go 393 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 2: with the specific is in general, we've got to decrease 394 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 2: regulary legislation because it impacts us everywhere. Take, for example, 395 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 2: a tax to increase a gasoline price. Gasoline prices affect everything. 396 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: It's not just what you pay at the pump, it's 397 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 2: the cost to move everything to stores or anywhere else, 398 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 2: grocery stores, whatever. Because virtually all goods and goods in 399 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 2: state of California anywhere else are moved by truck. So 400 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 2: that's just one little example. Reduce regulatory legislation. A second 401 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 2: thing we've got to do, which will help is to 402 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 2: increase jobs. But if you want to just speak about 403 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 2: other legislation, is there some specific area of legislation that 404 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 2: you're referring. 405 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: To, Oh, I'm this is you know, this is going 406 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: to be your expertise here, because there are definite laws 407 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: that are on the books that push forth certain regulatory reforms. 408 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: For instance, right now you have all the refiners in 409 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: the state who are threatening to leave based on new 410 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 1: regulations from the California Air Resources Board. Well, the California 411 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: Air Resources Board is just carrying out the wishes of 412 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: the California legislature and Gavin Newsom to hit certain climate goals, 413 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: and that is making it so the cap and trade 414 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: fees which were extended to twenty forty five to fund 415 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:24,239 Speaker 1: the high speed rail, are going to be going up 416 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: even higher, increasing the cost of gasoline. So would would 417 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: you work towards eliminating cap and trade, eliminating the gas tags? 418 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: What are these what specifically on those issues? Is that 419 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: where you're. 420 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 2: Going basically, it's broader than that. Those are specifically correct things. 421 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 2: But I don't know if you know who doctor Thomas 422 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 2: Soul is, but he likes to say there are no solutions, 423 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 2: there are only trade offs, and in California we have 424 00:25:53,760 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 2: serious trade offs. We can pursue a very costly environmental 425 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 2: and social agenda and we can continue to see costs 426 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 2: rise and affordability decrease, or we can reduce regulatory legislation 427 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 2: across the board, strength the size of government ultimately and 428 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 2: watch affordability increase. 429 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Michael Garritty. He is running for California's 430 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: fifty first Assembly district. His website is Save hyphenlos Angeles 431 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: dot com. In twenty twenty four, an overwhelming majority of 432 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 1: voters passed Proposition thirty six on the ballot. We're talking 433 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: more than seventy percent in all fifty eight counties. That 434 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: being said, Gavin Newsom was opposed to it, most of 435 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: the legislature was opposed to it. And even though Prop 436 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: thirty six, the increasing of penalties for certain drug crimes 437 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: and retail crimes with treatment mandated felonies for the drug 438 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: crimes and going harder on fentanyl has not been funded. 439 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: There aren't the treatment beds that we need for Prop 440 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: thirty six to work. If in Sacramento, would you work 441 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: towards fully funding Prop thirty six? 442 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely? 443 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: And on other issues on public safety, where do you 444 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: think California needs to go? 445 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,360 Speaker 2: Okay? Well? On public safety? You know, as you know, 446 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 2: the big most of the control on public safety when 447 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 2: you're talking about crime is at the municipal and county level, 448 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,880 Speaker 2: because the sheriff's departments and the police departments work for them, 449 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 2: and so the state can avoid passing legislation, in fact 450 00:27:52,160 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 2: reverse legislation that is soft on crime. So that's something 451 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 2: that can be done on the state level. On the 452 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: local level, it's got to come from there. We have 453 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 2: to encourage local government to enforce the laws that we 454 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 2: already have. If you look at my district Assembly District 455 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:18,880 Speaker 2: fifty one, it consists of four cities. Of the part 456 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 2: of it is Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, 457 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 2: and then it's West Hollywood, Beverly Hills in Santa Monica. 458 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 2: In those areas, all of those areas are currently in 459 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 2: violent crime twice the national average. Violent crime has been 460 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 2: slightly declining nationally, yet it's rising throughout Assembly District fifty one. 461 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:48,600 Speaker 2: Because of mostly local policies as opposed to state policies, 462 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 2: Santa Monica has had the biggest rise. If you look 463 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 2: at the last ten years, violent crime in Santa Monica 464 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 2: has gone up by approximately fifty percent. Well, we have 465 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 2: to work with local government to improve law enforcement and 466 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 2: criminal prosecution. 467 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Michael Garrity. He is running for Assembly 468 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: District fifty one. You can check out his website Save 469 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: hyphen Los Angeles dot com. Now, if you were an 470 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: elected member of the Assembly, you would be representing major 471 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: portions of Hollywood, and the film and television industry is 472 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: suffering in southern California right now. The Lacity Council recently 473 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: passed some new ordinances that would lower permit fees make 474 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: it easier to get a permit. But this state is 475 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: having a real hard time staying competitive with states like 476 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,719 Speaker 1: Georgia and even New York, and of course overseas or 477 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: productions in Canada. What can be done at the state 478 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 1: level to make sure that that industry stays in Los Angeles. 479 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 2: Well, that's a great question. If you look at the 480 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 2: motion picture industry or the entertainment industry, really in La 481 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 2: County between twenty two and twenty twenty four, we lost 482 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 2: about thirty percent of all the jobs, approximately forty two 483 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 2: thousand jobs. So one of the threats, of course, is AI. 484 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 2: AI is putting tremendous pressure to reduce jobs. The other 485 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 2: problem is just shipping jobs out of California because we 486 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 2: don't we're not competitive with a lot of other states, 487 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 2: and that's something we can attack. So regarding the industry 488 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 2: in particular, one thing that I would do is I 489 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 2: would enact a Hollywood Jobs Growth Bill, and the purpose 490 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 2: of this would be a tax credit to encourage businesses 491 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 2: in the entertainment industry to spend as much time trying 492 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 2: to create jobs in California in their industry as they're 493 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 2: spending to reduce jobs in California through AI and through 494 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 2: shipping jobs out of the state. 495 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: Last question before you go, you are asking the voters 496 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: to put you in a legislative body. That's what the 497 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: California legislature is. They write the laws and the governor 498 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 1: enforces the laws. So that being said, if you are 499 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:23,239 Speaker 1: elected in the California Assembly, what do you think the 500 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: first piece of legislation is that you would be authoring. 501 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 2: That would be it. My first thing is to help Hollywood. 502 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: There you go. The website is Save hyphenlos Angeles dot com. 503 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: Save Hyphen los Angeles dot com. Michael Garrety running for 504 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: California Assembly District fifty one. If you live in Santa Monica, 505 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: parts of Beverly Hills, Hollywood, parts of the Valley, he 506 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 1: is the person that would represent you in Sacramento, so 507 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: check out his website, Save hyphenlos Angeles dot com. Michael Garretty, 508 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on with us US today. 509 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 510 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's 511 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. We will 512 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 1: continue to interview candidates for all kinds of different offices, 513 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: not just Assembly and State Senate and Congress, but we 514 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: also want to talk to people running for local offices. 515 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 1: That's county offices, city offices, and we're not just talking 516 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: about the City of Los Angeles. I want to talk 517 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,120 Speaker 1: to people that are running for some of these smaller 518 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: cities as well, because it is so difficult to get 519 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: any kind of coverage and what goes on in the 520 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: eighty eight other cities in Los Angeles or any of 521 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 1: the cities in Orange County, LA takes up so much 522 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: of the room. So if you know someone that is 523 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 1: running for office and they want to talk about their 524 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 1: platform and explain why they are putting themselves into politics, 525 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 1: reach out to us at Randy Wang Radio at gmail 526 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: dot com and hey, do I have something nice for you? 527 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: Right now, seven NINETYABC welcomes Tyler Henry, the Hollywood Medium 528 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 1: and evening them Hope and Healing at the Redondo Beach 529 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 1: Performing Arts Center on September thirteenth. Tickets are on sale 530 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 1: now at AXS dot com. But right now call he 531 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: number nine at one eight a' eight seven ninety five 532 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: two two two gets a pair of tickets to the show. 533 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: Tickets furnished by the Canyon where Music meets the Soul. 534 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 1: Good luck dialing. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang 535 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 1: on KABC. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. 536 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 1: Sometimes I do this on Mondays or if I run 537 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:43,160 Speaker 1: out of time. Sometimes I do this on Tuesdays. But 538 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: I like to share with you the best thing I 539 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: ate last weekend. Now, sometimes I get into a little 540 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 1: bit of a rut, which can be a good thing 541 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 1: if you're, you know, trying to stay healthy, is you know, 542 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 1: eating a lot more at home, doing a lot of 543 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: meal prepping, but sometimes you just got to try new 544 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: things and you got to go out. And it's something 545 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 1: that I really want to push myself to do more of, 546 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 1: because even when my wife and I do go out, 547 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 1: we have our few places that we like and well 548 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:17,240 Speaker 1: that's usually about it. And one of the funny things 549 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:21,799 Speaker 1: is we're such suckers that we limit ourselves to the 550 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 1: places that we can go for lunch or brunch because 551 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 1: we need to take our dogs everywhere with us. We're 552 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 1: those people. They love it. They love going out to 553 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:35,360 Speaker 1: a patio. We have a little portable dog bed and 554 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: we put them under the patio and we got to 555 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,880 Speaker 1: pit fire in Woodland Hills or Eureka in Woodland Hills 556 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 1: or heck, even the Tapanga Social isn't supposed to be 557 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: dog friendly, but everyone brings their dogs in there. And 558 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: the margarita bar out on the outside, that's a ton 559 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: of fun. Would be really cool to do a live 560 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:53,200 Speaker 1: broadcast from there one day, but it was so windy 561 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: this weekend that for once, we're like, we can't bring 562 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: the dogs. What are we gonna do. We can't go 563 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:01,919 Speaker 1: to any our regular places because if we went there 564 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:05,440 Speaker 1: without the dogs, we'd feel bad. And that is when 565 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 1: I remembered in the back of my head a recommendation 566 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: that I got from this very show that I kept 567 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 1: not doing anything about because I have told you many, many, 568 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 1: many times of my love affair with tequila, specifically the 569 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: tequilas that I have fallen in love with in New 570 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:28,480 Speaker 1: Mexico at Joe's Tequila Bar in Santa Fe. But you know, 571 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 1: most of the it's all from Mexico. But they just 572 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 1: have a really good tequila selection and a really great 573 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: tequila bar. And I remember about a year ago talking 574 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 1: about how much I love that tequila bar. And in Dallas, 575 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 1: Las Almas Rotas is another great mescal bar and just 576 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: great vibe, knowledgeable people. Finding people that are really into 577 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:53,760 Speaker 1: tequila is great. So about a year ago somebody called 578 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 1: in and said, well, Randy, since you're so into tequila, 579 00:35:57,040 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: you've got to go to Daisy, And I say, Daisy, 580 00:36:01,719 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 1: what is that? I didn't know that in my own 581 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: backyard in Sherman Oaks was a fancy tequila bar. So 582 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:13,759 Speaker 1: I remembered that and did nothing about it for the 583 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: longest time because I just get busy, and then we 584 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 1: weren't drinking most of the summer. But since it was 585 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 1: windy and we couldn't take our dogs, I told my wife, 586 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:25,040 Speaker 1: We're going to Daisy. They've got brunch. We're checking it out. 587 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:28,239 Speaker 1: First thing I noticed, because I'm on Venture Boulevard near 588 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 1: Cedrosa is boy, this is my old stomping grounds. The 589 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 1: place that Daisy is now used to be called the Sherman. 590 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:38,720 Speaker 1: In the place next to it, which is mister Furley's, 591 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,239 Speaker 1: used to be called mad Bolts, And I remember them 592 00:36:41,239 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: because I would go to those bars with my friend 593 00:36:43,239 --> 00:36:45,680 Speaker 1: Cassie and we'd have a couple of beers. I think 594 00:36:45,680 --> 00:36:47,719 Speaker 1: at the time we were drinking like shock Tops or 595 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:50,279 Speaker 1: Blue Moons, and then we go across the street and 596 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 1: play laser Tag. Did that all on mushrooms once. That 597 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:58,719 Speaker 1: was an experience. But we get into Daisy and immediately 598 00:36:58,719 --> 00:36:59,880 Speaker 1: it was like, do we sit in the chairs to 599 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:01,960 Speaker 1: sit at the bar? I really like to sit at 600 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:04,360 Speaker 1: the bar. I love to striking up a conversation with 601 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,560 Speaker 1: the bartender, and the bartender could not have been friendlier. 602 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 1: I'll tell you the first thing that he said to 603 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 1: us was off putting because my wife really likes the 604 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 1: salt rim and he says, we don't do salt rims here. 605 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 1: We put in a saline solution that gives you that 606 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: flavor without the salt rim. And while they did taste salty, 607 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:24,879 Speaker 1: my wife likes the texture and being able to lick 608 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: the salt off the glass. But that being said, she 609 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: got a skinny margarita and it was fabulous. I got 610 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 1: their salsa verde margarita and it was beautiful. It was spicy, 611 00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:40,000 Speaker 1: it was savory, it was delicious. They weren't too sweet, 612 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 1: my kind of margarita. But then it was time to 613 00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:46,120 Speaker 1: graduate to the NYE host and their tequila list. It's uh, 614 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 1: no celebrities, no additives, no bs, so every single one 615 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:53,759 Speaker 1: on the list is something of high quality. We got 616 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 1: some great recommendations, including a top of Theo extra and 617 00:37:56,760 --> 00:37:59,840 Speaker 1: Jehoe that I've never had before. It was beautiful, and 618 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 1: for lunch, we tried their Caeso fundito, which is incredible 619 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,920 Speaker 1: and really really just. It was great. Didn't even make 620 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:11,680 Speaker 1: us feel too heavy, but it was. It was divine. 621 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:14,960 Speaker 1: And then tried their chila kuilas with a salsa Macha 622 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: and Duck carnitas and that was the best thing I 623 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:23,640 Speaker 1: ate this weekend. It was incredible. Daisy and Sherman Oaks 624 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:25,960 Speaker 1: is a good time. Thank you to whoever recommended that. 625 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:29,560 Speaker 1: It's The News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC