1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: radio seven ninety KABC. Let's get into today's California report 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: at Randywangradio dot substack dot com. You've heard us talk 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: about them, but I'm swear it's getting more and more 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: prevalent every single day. I don't know why so many 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: kids got an e bike for Christmas, but it is 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: turning so many teenagers into little monsters. And that's why 8 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: more and more Orange County residents are sounding the alarm 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: that the kids are not driving safely. The thing with 10 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 1: these e bikes is they can be easily modified to 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: go way faster than you think. A bike that's supposed 12 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: to have a governor that stops at twenty miles an 13 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: hour can be modified to go up to fifty miles 14 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: an hour. Kids aren't wearing helmets. They're riding what are 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: practically motorcycles with zero training or zero licensing. And the 16 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: thing I'm going to constantly remind you is the State 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: of California encouraged this. The State of California, through the 18 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: California Air Resources Board, actually put forth something which was 19 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: a voucher program with cap and trade money to incentivize 20 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: more purchases of e bikes and an incredibly misguided attempt 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: to get cars off the road. What happened was a 22 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,839 Speaker 1: whole bunch of parents found a two thousand dollars free 23 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: Christmas gift for their kids, and now streets are terrorized. 24 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: You're starting to see a lot of neighborhoods figuring out 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: new regulations, including age limits, including a school district in 26 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: Newport Beach that wants to straight up ban them. And 27 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: I really think we got to get to a point 28 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 1: because no kid can buy one of these themselves. If 29 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: a child causes injury or harm on one of these 30 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: e bikes, the parents must be held responsible. 31 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: Now I find this. 32 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: Story to be a little weird, but there was a 33 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: big dust up over the weekend between Chad Bianco, who's 34 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: the Riverside County sheriff and running for governor, and Bob Bonta, 35 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: the California Attorney General, because Chad Bianco claims that there 36 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: were some shenanigans in the twenty twenty five special election 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: for Prop fifty. Now I don't know if there really were. 38 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: That was a landslide election in every single county. Apparently 39 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: there is a report from some citizens groups that say, hey, 40 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: there's more ballots that were counted than were really counted, 41 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: so they wanted to do a recount. Bonta says, Hey, 42 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if that really makes any sense. You 43 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: might just be sewing division and making people not believe 44 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,959 Speaker 1: in our elections. And I think a few things could 45 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: be true here. 46 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 3: One. 47 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: Bonta loves shutting down investigations. He did it with alex 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: Vinaweva in the investigation Oftshila Cuele and the crooked nonprofit 49 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: through Patty Giggins that was getting taxpayer money to run 50 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: a sexual harassment hotline off the La Metro. But also 51 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: at the same time, is Bianco doing this because he's 52 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: looking for attention and all those videos are going viral 53 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: of people exposing fraud. 54 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's definitely possible. 55 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: Now, gas prices have been on everybody's mind as they 56 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: go up and up and up. As we are now 57 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: into what week four of this war in Iran. Boy 58 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: feels like deja vu, doesn't it. 59 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 3: Well. 60 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: One of the moves that's being done to calm oil 61 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: prices is the federal government announced restarting oil drilling off 62 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: the coast of Santa Barbara. And this has people in 63 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: that region a little nervous because, well, it's those offshore 64 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: oil wells in Santa Barbara where you had some really 65 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: awful spills, including just ten years ago at Refugio, And 66 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people that just don't want to 67 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: see that again. 68 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: And it don't blame them. 69 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: And I've been seeing this story everywhere. You know, it's 70 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: tragic anytime time that somebody dies in police custody. But 71 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: Inglewood is dealing with a situation where somebody was pulled 72 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: over for a traffic stop. Something happened to the point 73 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: where this man was detained, put in the back of 74 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: a police car, and by the time they got him 75 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: back to the station, they realized he wasn't breathing. The 76 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: parents of the family are freaking out. They want to 77 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: know what happened. And what makes this so different from 78 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: other police departments is Inglewood PD still doesn't have body cams. 79 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 3: Now. 80 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: I don't know why that is in twenty twenty six, 81 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: but you know, we should want to find out exactly 82 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: what happened here. Could be nothing to farius, It could 83 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: have just been a medical emergency. I don't know, but 84 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: the family is going to ask nothing but questions. Hopefully 85 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: this is a point where we realize and with all 86 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: the money that Inglewood is bringing in, they should be 87 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: able to afford body camps for their police officers. Just 88 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: everything needs to be as transparent as possible, and that's 89 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: what we're looking for. And this story is interesting. In 90 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: Rancho Cucamonga, there is a little bit of a feud 91 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: going on with a brewery that happens to be very 92 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: close to a neighborhood and the neighbors who don't like it. Now, 93 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: in the neighborhood's defense, they say, since the brewery moved in, 94 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of drunk people wandering around their neighborhoods, 95 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: and drunk people who drink too much tend to do 96 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: things that might be irritating, like I don't know, vomiting 97 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: or going number one on somebody's lawn. 98 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 2: That's not good. 99 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: On the other hand, the brewery claims that their patrons 100 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: are being harassed by the neighbors to the point where 101 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: the neighbors are king the cars of people attending the brewery, 102 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: people are getting yelled at. There's just it's one of 103 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: these situations where there are no heroes, there are no villains. 104 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: Everyone's just kind of being an a hole to each other. 105 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: But that's the little battle that's going on right now 106 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: on Rancho Cucamonga. Apparently this bury has another location where 107 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: it doesn't have these issues, but because this one is 108 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: so close to a neighborhood. 109 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 2: The locals don't like it. 110 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: Now in the Bay Area, we're starting to see some 111 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 1: proof points when it comes to technology and law enforcement. 112 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: And thanks to changes in the laws voted by the 113 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: voters in twenty twenty four, the police in San Francisco 114 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: were able to start using flock cameras, in real time 115 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: information centers and police drones and there really is now 116 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,799 Speaker 1: some pretty damning evidence that over a thousand arrest made 117 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: thanks to drone technology in just the last couple of years. 118 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: And the fact that you can respond so quickly, you 119 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: can respond way faster than a black and white. It's 120 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: also aerial, so it doesn't have to abide by traffic 121 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: laws or red lights are having to get people to 122 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: pull over, especially in a very dense, busy city like 123 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: San Francisco. I think this is great, and honestly, I 124 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: think all the police departments need to move in this direction. 125 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: There are a few reasons where you still need a helicopter, 126 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: swift water rescue being one. But for the most part, 127 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: I think we could save a whole lot of money 128 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: in our police departments by investing in drones. 129 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: And we don't really need. 130 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: The expensive helicopters anymore, as much as I like them. 131 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: Believe you me, they can track a car way better. 132 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: In fact, San Francisco PD isn't even doing high speed 133 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: chases anymore. They have the ability to. But the drones 134 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: have been so much more efficient, And I know that's 135 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: a hard thing to swallow in Los Angeles, where we 136 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: take pride in our high speed chases, but I've just 137 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: had enough of them. I think there are ways to 138 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: shut those things down, and maybe drones will be a 139 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: way to do that. 140 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 3: Now. 141 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,559 Speaker 1: Some people are worried about surveillance states, and some people 142 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: are worried about the fact that everyone's on camera all 143 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: the time. And to that, I say, you know you 144 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: have a listening device in your phone right and it's 145 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: constantly listening to everything you say, or you're voluntarily posting 146 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: all of your information in your location on social media. 147 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: Privacy's gone now. Speaking of technology, there were some protesters 148 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: in the Bay Area over the weekend who want all 149 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: of the big AI companies to pause their development of 150 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: this technology because they call AI a danger to the 151 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: human race. Now, I don't know if we need to 152 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: go as far as terminator here, but where you can 153 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: go is that this emerging technology is going to be 154 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 1: so disruptive to our lives in very good ways but 155 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: also very bad ways. We are looking at thirty to 156 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: forty percent of all jobs going away in the next 157 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,359 Speaker 1: ten years and that kind of disruption. 158 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: How do you prepare for that? What do you do 159 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: for that? 160 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: It has a lot of people freaking out. It's like 161 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: to what jobs will be? The jobs it still exists? 162 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: So never been a better time to work in eight 163 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: vac repair or plumbing. But there are so many categories 164 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: of jobs that are just going to go away completely, 165 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 1: especially any task that is repetitive. So if you find 166 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: yourself in a job where you're doing the same thing 167 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,359 Speaker 1: every single day, maybe on a computer, you could be replaced. 168 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: Just start planning for a backup plan, because we can't 169 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: all make a living by taking pictures of our feet 170 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: on only fans. Now, speaking of AI, and Vidia wrapped 171 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: up their big conference where they're showing just how incredible 172 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: this technology can be all the things that AI can 173 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: do when it comes to robotics, and all the jobs 174 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: that it can replace. So yeah, people are starting to 175 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: freak out. And here's one job that is going to AI. 176 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: In Antioch, they're having a shortage of dispatchers for nine 177 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 1: one one calls and non emergency calls to the police station. 178 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: So since they're having that shortage, they've decided to incorporate 179 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 1: AI chat bots into the non emergency line. Apparently it 180 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: has keywords, so if even though you call the non 181 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,479 Speaker 1: emergency line and if it sounds like you're in an emergency, 182 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: it'll transfer you to a human. But I don't know 183 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: about you. If you've ever had to deal with a 184 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: phone tree in your life, you'll know that this technology 185 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: is not great. Yet someday it might be. I'll tell 186 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: you I have. You know, I played Dualingo a lot 187 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: because I want to learn more Spanish and go back 188 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: to Spain, and they have like all of these things 189 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: now where you're chatting with an AI chat bot to 190 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: learn Spanish. It's not great, but it is getting better 191 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: all the time. But usually when you call let's say 192 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: American Airlines, because you need to add your advantage number 193 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: to a reservation because you booked it on Alaska, and 194 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: if you book it on Alaska, you can't change it 195 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: on the website, something I have to deal with a lot. Well, 196 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: just trying to get to a human can be very difficult. 197 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: I feel like the impulse of anyone that calls the 198 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: Antioch Police Department looking for a report that they need 199 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: taken and you're hearing the phone tree, You're just gonna 200 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: scream into the phone as many times as you can 201 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: get human, speak to human, give me a human. 202 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 2: And you know what, there. 203 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 1: Are certain things that AI is just not going to 204 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: be able to do. Like a quick thinking nine to 205 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: one one dispatcher in the East Bay that got a 206 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: call from a man who said his wife just fell 207 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: into labor. They're in their bathroom and it looks like 208 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 1: this baby's coming now. So the dispatcher sent out the ambulance, 209 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 1: of course, but then she walked the father to be 210 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: on exactly what he needs to do to safely deliver 211 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: this baby in case the ambulance doesn't get there in time. 212 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 2: And it happened. 213 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: They successfully delivered the baby and there was a little 214 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,719 Speaker 1: reunion where mommy and daddy and baby went to go 215 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: meet the nine to one to one dispatcher who helped 216 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: to bring him into life, and that's a pretty cool story. 217 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 1: That is great and for all of the awful things 218 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,199 Speaker 1: that nine to one one dispatchers have to hear on 219 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: a daily basis, it is such a stressful job. It's 220 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: also a job that you're wondering why there's still going 221 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: to staffing shortages because the standards are so high. To 222 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: get into that field, the training can take about a year, 223 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: so it's a really stressful job. So anytime there's a 224 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: story like that where you really did something that you 225 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: can be proud of and that that really led to, 226 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: you know, a life changing moment for the better, that's 227 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: just great. Nine one one operators, it's a really, really, 228 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: really hard job. And Alameda County, it looks like the 229 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: conversation is moving forward with this potential thirty dollars an 230 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: hour minimum wage on the ballot? 231 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 2: Would that pass? 232 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: Anything's possible at this point, although there's going to be 233 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: so many things on your ballot, there might just be 234 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: ballot proposition fatigue. We've talked about the pros and cons 235 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: of this, and I understand the cost of living is 236 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: really really really high, But thirty dollars an hour is 237 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: still not enough to help you buy a house. It 238 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: might help you a little, but it might also mean 239 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: that now you're paying more taxes and you're qualifying less 240 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: for social programs. And yeah, I'm with you on the argument. Well, 241 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: if your employer pays you so little that you're on 242 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: medical and you're on food stamps, aren't we just subsidizing 243 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: the employer. And yes, I want to have that conversation. 244 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: I've always found it interesting that you work for a 245 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: company like Walmart, one of the biggest employers in the world, 246 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: and they pay most of their employees very very little, 247 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: to the point where a lot of their employees qualify 248 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: for food stamps. Those food stamps they can use at Walmart. 249 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: I don't like any of that. That's like a three 250 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 1: way subsidy. So yes, there's definitely thoughts there. And I'll 251 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: say this about the thirty dollars airmenum wage. I was 252 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:10,199 Speaker 1: recently in Europe in Dublin, Ireland. Had a great time 253 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: and one of the things that I remember about Dublin 254 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: whenever we were going to the different pubs and listening 255 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: to the trad and getting a Guinness is boy. The 256 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: seats moved quickly. You were able to find a seat 257 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: at almost any bar, even when it was crowded, because 258 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: the tables turned quickly. You know what happened here In Europe, 259 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: or at least specifically in Ireland, bartenders are paid a 260 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: pretty decent living wage and tipping is not a thing 261 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: because they're paid a pretty decent wage. So everyone gets 262 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: their pints of guinness and then they apple pay and 263 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: then they go and nobody's sitting there running along bar 264 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: tab and you can just move from bar to bar 265 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: and have a great time. So you know, if there's 266 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: a trade off here because once again, like you know, 267 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: we have to subsidize the service industry who's not making 268 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: any love to live on by tips. Would it be 269 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: easier if it was just a flat rate, maybe it 270 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: would be. All I'm saying is that it was really 271 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: cool to have to go bar to bar to bar. Now, 272 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: I will say I do like when you do get 273 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: exceptional service that you can tip well, and at restaurants 274 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: you can still tip. But it was something to think about, 275 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: and you know, I it's a tough conversation to have 276 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: because as we're getting to a point where more and 277 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: more jobs are going away. Isn't a thirty dollars an 278 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: hour minimum wage only going to accelerate that? Probably in 279 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: San Jose because so few people are having kids, and 280 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: the people that do have kids are probably able to 281 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: afford to put them in private school. More and more schools, 282 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: especially elementary schools, are going to close, because of course 283 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: they are. And it was real hot up and down 284 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: the state. But that didn't stop hundreds of fans of 285 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: going to Sonoma County and going to taste Pliny the Younger, 286 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: the newer version of Pliny the Elder. So Russian River 287 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: brewing is famous up there, and people go crazy for 288 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, and it's a 289 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: pretty darn decent ipa. 290 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 2: But standing out in the. 291 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: Sun for hours and hours and hours for a beer 292 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: not my ideal Saturday, but good for you. Now in Sacramento, 293 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: California has a department that's supposed to investigate why gas 294 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: prices are so high. It's one of the things that 295 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: Gavin got past in a special session when he said 296 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: the oil companies were out to scrow you. And yeah, 297 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: there's some gas stations that are charging seven dollars eight 298 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: dollars and we have a whole department of bureaucrats to 299 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: investigate that, which should tell you everything that's wrong with 300 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: the state because we created a brand new bureaucracy and 301 00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: what does it do. Nobody knows. I mean, they did 302 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: put out recommendations that then Gavin put forth in another 303 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: special session. And remember the whole we're going to prevent 304 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: price spikes by making refiners have extra supply on hand 305 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: at all times, even though they didn't have the storage 306 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: facility for it. And so they said, we're going to 307 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: have to move out, and then two of them moved out. Yeah, 308 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: Gavin's bureaucracy did that. One one of these strikes in 309 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: strike a Palooza has ended. Twin Rivers is set to 310 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: join the classroom Monday. It looks like once again the 311 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 1: teachers got what they wanted and now they say they 312 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: can retain teachers because they're not going to go somewhere else. 313 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 1: But now there's going to be another district that says, hey, 314 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: look what they're paying Twin Rivers, let's go on strike. 315 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: And the lawsuit is moving forward. You see, Davis women's 316 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: equestrian team has a title nine lawyer now saying that 317 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: this university, by getting rid of the women's Division one team, 318 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: is discriminating in a way that you're not allowed to 319 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: because of Title nine. And the school knew about it 320 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: because the same report that they cited that said they 321 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: have to close this team said that they're gonna get 322 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: sued to high Heaven if they tried to. So keep 323 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: on going. You see Davis Women's equestrian team. Fun fact, 324 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: did you know that in the Olympics there is no 325 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: men's horse jumping and women's horse jumping. It is the 326 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: only gender neutral sport. And here's an awful story. San 327 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: Diego is suing the operators of a group home because 328 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: this place, which is being advertised is having rooms to 329 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: rent for nine hundred dollars, is like a super slum 330 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: in one building where people are putting up tents in 331 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: the backyard and they're living in stairwells, and there's a 332 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: whole bunch of people living in horrific decrepit conditions. And 333 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: apparently there's been complaints about this property for ten years, 334 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: which makes you wonder why it's so hard to shut 335 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: something like that down. 336 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 2: And I do love this. 337 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: There's a project called the Buy Nothing Project, and it 338 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: is a website kind of like the old free section 339 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 1: on Craigslist where if you get that's something you want 340 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: to get rid of, tell someone about it, put it 341 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 1: on your lawn. You want to get something for free 342 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,400 Speaker 1: that someone probably is going to give away, look it up. 343 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: Maybe they have a dresser they're not using. And I 344 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: do love that. And as we all get to a 345 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: point where AI takes all of our jobs, the free 346 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: barter economy is only going to rise. 347 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 2: There's a lot more. 348 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: Check it all out Today's California Report at Randywangradio dot 349 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: substack dot com. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang 350 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,959 Speaker 1: on KABC. So here's the deal. On Friday, we were 351 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: preempted for basketball, but that didn't stop me. I made 352 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: an exclusive podcast version of that day's California Report. Check 353 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: it out by searching for the KABC News Blitz wherever 354 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. It is The News Blitz with 355 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on Talk Radio seven ninety KABC. Make sure 356 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 1: you subscribe to the substack at Randywangradio dot substack dot com. 357 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: And if you want to check out the podcast exclusive 358 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: version of Friday Show, check it out by searching for 359 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: the k ABC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts. 360 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: Our next guest is running for Glendale City Council. He 361 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: previously ran for Congress. You can check out his website. 362 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: Vote doctor Alex dot com. Doctor is spelled out and 363 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: if you cannot spell that, I don't know if you're 364 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: voting doctor Alex. BLANKI and welcome back to the news Blitz. 365 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you, glad for you back. 366 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 2: Doctor Alex. 367 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: Why don't you go ahead and reintroduce yourself to the 368 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,959 Speaker 1: audience to anyone that doesn't know you and tell us 369 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: who you are and why you want to run for office? 370 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 3: Of course, thank you. My name is Alex Blekian. 371 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 4: My patients call me doctor Alex, and I am running 372 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 4: for Glendale City Council for three reasons. To punish reckless 373 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 4: drivers that are endangering us, to lower the electricity rates 374 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 4: that are bankrupting us, and to protect the single family 375 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,719 Speaker 4: neighborhoods from these dentse housing developments that are popping up 376 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 4: everywhere along our city. City council is more interested in 377 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 4: auditioning for higher office rather than listening to our demands. 378 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 4: So we are getting this grassroots effort to kick them 379 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 4: all out, all of the incumbents and replace them with 380 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 4: people who actually represent the neighborhoods. 381 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: Well, let's start with one of the first issues there. 382 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: You mentioned it the electricity rates. How did the electricity 383 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: rates in Glendale go up seventy five percent in just 384 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 1: the last couple of years. 385 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 3: Similar to most of California. 386 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 4: We were promised this renewable energy dream without the plan 387 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 4: actually being fleshed out. So fighting climate change sounds really 388 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 4: good on paper, but not if it's raising our electricity rates. 389 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 4: So we were sold this clean energy dream, but it 390 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 4: turns out it's just we're not producing as much energy 391 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 4: as we need and. 392 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 3: We are having to pay for it ourselves. 393 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 4: It used to be that Glendale would provide abundant energy 394 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 4: not only for its citizens, but also its neighboring cities, 395 00:21:58,560 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 4: so that we. 396 00:21:58,800 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 3: Would sell it for profit. 397 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 4: But with the new rede of our power plants, the 398 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 4: majority on the city council has decided that fighting climate 399 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 4: change on the other side of the world is more 400 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 4: important than delivering efficient, reliable, cheap energy here. 401 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 3: And as a result, we're all suffering. 402 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 1: Well, and we're also getting to a point where, you know, 403 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: we're becoming ever more reliant on electricity everywhere, but especially 404 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: in Glendale, to the point where what they replaced all 405 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: of their gas buses and city vehicles that were hybrid 406 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: with all electric and sonew they're on the grid as well. 407 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 2: All the time they. 408 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 4: Did we bought a two million dollar electric dump truck 409 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 4: because the diesel dump truck, the one diesel dump truck 410 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 4: that Glendale City used, was apparently ruining you know, sea 411 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 4: levels everywhere. But yeah, so they're spending a lot of 412 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 4: money to buy new cars that are zero emissions, even 413 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 4: though the state has not mandate us to do that. 414 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 4: And so not only are people's electricity rates going higher, 415 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 4: but now you have all these electric city vehicles that 416 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 4: are having to be plugged in and guess who's having 417 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 4: to pay the electricity bills for those we. 418 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: Are Now, if you get on the city council, what 419 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: can you do to change that course to lower people's 420 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: electric bills. 421 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 4: So when we get on the city council, and it's 422 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,400 Speaker 4: not just me, there are three seats up for grabs, 423 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 4: So there are people like like minor candidate's like Beth 424 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,640 Speaker 4: Brooks and Patrick Murphy that I encourage people to look into. 425 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 3: But as soon as we get on. 426 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 4: So our new power plant that is scheduled to go 427 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 4: online July of this year. California allows cities a certain 428 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 4: amount of waste production. So for example, your city gives 429 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 4: you a single garbage can that you're allowed to fill 430 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 4: every week. So California State gives Glendale a certain emissions cap. 431 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 4: And so we were given a fourteen emissions cap on 432 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 4: five gas engines. 433 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 3: That's for our redo or our power plant. 434 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 4: Well, the five gas engines were minimized to three gas engines, 435 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 4: but that fourteen percent cap was still applied, even though 436 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 4: we can work three gas engines essentially twenty four percent. 437 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 4: So as soon as we get and we can apply 438 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 4: to the states to ramp up electricity production with their 439 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 4: brand new engines so that we can produce that elect 440 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,160 Speaker 4: excess electricity, sell it to the neighboring cities, and then 441 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 4: buy down the rates for the rest of us. 442 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 3: Here within city limits. 443 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: We're speaking with doctor Alex Blakian. He is running for 444 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 1: Glendale City Council. Now, Glendale is a beautiful city and 445 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: there's a lot of fun stuff to do there. But 446 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure one thing that everybody listening would agree with 447 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: is once you get into Glendale, driving can be kind 448 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: of a pain, and parking can be even tougher. Is 449 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: that a fair assessment of the city of Glendale? 450 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 3: That is very correct. 451 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 4: A lot of people complain and they say there's a 452 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 4: conspiracy that they're trying to turn Glendale into a fifteen 453 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 4: minute city. That's impossible because you can't get anywhere from 454 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 4: anywhere in Glendale within fifteen minutes. I live not too 455 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 4: far from the one to thirty four entrance, and one 456 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 4: particularly bad day, the two miles took me about twenty 457 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 4: two minutes to traverse. How are the current city council 458 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 4: members worsening the situation? 459 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 3: So you mentioned parking. 460 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 4: They are considering they're looking at selling off city parking 461 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 4: lots to the highest bidder so that they can turn 462 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 4: those into high rise apartment buildings, and of course with 463 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 4: no minimum parking requirement. So not only are they selling 464 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 4: off that area that we have parking, but they're also 465 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 4: not replacing it space for space. The current streets, the 466 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 4: large arteries, glen Oaks Avenue, Central Broadway, they are going 467 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,199 Speaker 4: to remove one lane of traffic in each direction to 468 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 4: put a. 469 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 3: Dedicated bust line. 470 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 4: If you've ever been to the Americana and the Glendale Galleria. 471 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,399 Speaker 4: That corner on Central and Broadway in Glendale is an 472 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 4: absolute zoo, you. 473 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 3: Know during holiday season. 474 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,160 Speaker 4: If you can imagine having one lane removed from each 475 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 4: side at that intersections strictly for a bus. 476 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,880 Speaker 3: I mean, it's crazy what they're doing in the. 477 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: City and what could a fresh, newly installed, common sense 478 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,919 Speaker 1: city council do to change that trend. 479 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 4: What we do is we prioritize city. You know, we 480 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 4: prioritize city over ourselves. So the people in the city, 481 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 4: they don't want reckless fast drivers, they don't want increased congestion, they. 482 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 3: Don't want dense housing. 483 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 4: So what we do is we actually listen to the 484 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 4: people and we advocate for local control rather than just 485 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 4: lying down and taking it when Sacramento tries to impose 486 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 4: their one size fits all edict or you have very 487 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 4: ambitious city council members who are simply using Glendelle City 488 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 4: Council as a stepping stone for higher office rather than 489 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 4: serving their friends and neighbors across the city. 490 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: We'll speak with doctor Alex Balakian. 491 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 1: You can go to his website vote doctor Alex dot com. 492 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: That spell doctr now one of the issues that you 493 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: are really passionate about is the fact that there is 494 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: a lot of awful reckless drivers in Glendale right now 495 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 1: and not a whole lot of punishment for them. 496 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 3: Correct. 497 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 4: I mean, there's an Instagram account called only in Glendale, which, 498 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 4: to my shock and surprise, manages to find an overturned 499 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 4: car at a city intersection, a different one every single 500 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 4: day to post. So our reckless driving problem here is legendary, 501 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 4: very well known across other cities. The solution that has 502 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 4: been handed down from Sacramento is putting speed cameras everywhere. Now, 503 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 4: speed cameras, fine, I guess they're going to go ahead 504 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 4: and send you a ticket in the mail a few 505 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 4: days later, but a visible police presence, motorcycle cops giving 506 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 4: not just speeding tickets, but reckless driving tickets that are 507 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 4: one thousand dollars, one thousand dollars fines, the loud exhaust 508 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 4: laws that are already on the book that are not 509 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 4: being enforced. We have a very wonderful police department that 510 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 4: is not being supported by the current council members, again 511 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:11,239 Speaker 4: because they want fudgection for higher office, and it's much 512 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 4: more fashionable to say, you know, defund the police rather. 513 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 3: Than getting behind them. 514 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 4: So one thing we should do is post more motorcycle cops, 515 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 4: give them much more freedom to write reckless driving tickets, 516 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 4: and let them know that the city attorney is going 517 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 4: to defend them. And what I tell people is, motorcyclops, 518 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,360 Speaker 4: a visible police presence will deter other crimes, not just leeing, 519 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 4: but it will deter property crimes, it will deter violent crimes. 520 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 4: Speed cameras will not deter any of those other crimes. 521 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: Well, and from what we've seen is we really haven't 522 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: seen that much you know, results when it comes to 523 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: the enforcement with speed cameras. So you're saying, you get 524 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 1: a common sense city council in there and they will 525 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: let the Glendale PD do what they're paid to do. 526 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 4: Exactly, you encourage them to uphold the law. You don't 527 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 4: need more laws to write. There are plenty of laws there, 528 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 4: but you just want to tell them that we will 529 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 4: have your back when you write these tickets. And also 530 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 4: separate from that, I grew up in Glendall, like graduated 531 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 4: from Glendale schools. Every year we had the remains of 532 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 4: a mangled car that was put on the grass Island 533 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 4: on Glen oaks to remind everybody, not just the high 534 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 4: school students who are getting their driver's permits, but remind 535 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 4: everybody else that this is what happens when you drive recklessly. 536 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 3: So simple things like that, bringing those back. I think that. 537 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 4: Education would also go a long way in desuring reckless driving. 538 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: Well, you know what you got to do is I 539 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: just followed this only in Glendale account that you mentioned, 540 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: and you got to get a digital billboard that just 541 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 1: shows these pictures over and over and over again while 542 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: you're stuck on the one thirty four. 543 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's amazing the level of dysfunction. But again, if 544 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 4: you don't have a visible police presence that is cracking 545 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 4: down on them, people aren't going to learn. So enforcement 546 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 4: and education are going. 547 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 3: To be key. 548 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 2: Now. 549 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: One of the things that a lot of people are 550 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: thinking about when it comes to big city governments, but 551 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: it's also true for medium and smaller city governments is 552 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 1: rooting out corruption, getting rid of the waste, fraud, and abuse. 553 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: What do we see in Glendale when it comes to 554 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. 555 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 4: Well, in Glendale, I'll start with the basics. In our 556 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 4: city charter, it says that every contract worth more than 557 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 4: a million dollars needs to be audited by the Audit Committee. 558 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 4: Out of the I think almost one hundred million dollar 559 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 4: plus contracts, only three of them have been audited. So 560 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 4: it's just one of those things where the laws run 561 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 4: the books, we simply have to enforce them. We simply 562 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 4: have to hold ourselves to account. 563 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 3: And also there's a lot of lack of. 564 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 4: Transparency where you have backdoor negotiations being done with donors 565 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 4: when those negotiations should actually very transparent calls for funding 566 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 4: for contract, et cetera. So there's very low hanging fruits 567 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 4: in this relatively I'm not gonna say corrupt, but this 568 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 4: prone to corruption city with the current council that we have, 569 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,400 Speaker 4: who just don't even enforce the existing laws that run 570 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 4: the books. 571 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: Doctor Alex, I'm gonna give you sixty seconds make your 572 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: pitch to the voters. Why should people in Glendale send 573 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: you to city council? 574 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,160 Speaker 4: Thank your andy again. I am doctor Alex Bleckian. My 575 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 4: patients call me doctor Alex, and I'm running for city 576 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 4: council for three reasons. Lower electricity rates, limit dent housing, 577 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 4: and punish reckless drivers. You can go to our website 578 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 4: vote doctor Alex dot com where you can order a 579 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 4: lawn sign. And remember there are three seats up for grabs, 580 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 4: not just one, so it's not enough simply to elect me. 581 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 4: I would highly encourage you to look at life minded 582 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 4: candidates such as Beth Brooks and Patrick Murphy so that 583 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,200 Speaker 4: we can have a three person majority on day one 584 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 4: and hit the ground running. 585 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 2: There you go. 586 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,719 Speaker 1: The website is vote doctor Alex dot com. Vote doctor 587 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: Alex dot com. Doctor Alex Balakian, thanks so much for 588 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: joining us, and good luck in June. 589 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 3: Thank you appreciate it. 590 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's 591 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It was 592 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 1: a big weekend at the box office Project Hail Mary, 593 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: the Ryan Gosling sci fi adventure, which has incredibly good reviews. 594 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: I've had people tell me I gotta go see it. 595 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: Eighty million dollars in its opening weekend. Those are numbers 596 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 1: you don't really see these days, so good for Project 597 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 1: Tale Mary. A lot of people excited about that one 598 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: Hoppers has moved down to second place. They still brought 599 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: in seventeen million. I'm gonna butcher this name, but Duran 600 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: Dar the Revenge came in at third with ten million dollars, 601 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: which was all in nine hundred and eighty seven theaters, 602 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: and I've never heard of it so great, Ready or not? 603 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 1: Two Here I come comes in fourth place at nine 604 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 1: million dollars. Reminders of him at fifth place, Scream seven 605 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,880 Speaker 1: rolling in at sixth place. Goat is still making people 606 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: go at three point four million dollars. The Pouk Pout 607 00:33:18,640 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: Fish in ninth place. I guess it's not that well known, 608 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: but I'm super curious about it because it's Nick Offerman 609 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: as an animated fish undertone in eighth place. The Weathering 610 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 1: heightset ninth at tenth place, and there is your top ten. 611 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: When we come back, I'll give you a little meal 612 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 1: prep Monday, it's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. 613 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It 614 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: is going to be another really hot summer week here. 615 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 1: Isn't it still technically winter? I don't even think spring 616 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: has started yet. But I did a marathon meal prepping 617 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: session because I knew my wife was going to be 618 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: really busy and if we didn't get they're all knocked out. 619 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,640 Speaker 1: On Sunday, it was just gonna be. You never want 620 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 1: one of those situations where you're starving for lunch and 621 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:08,880 Speaker 1: you don't have anything prepared, so you just start grazing 622 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 1: in the kitchen. We've all been there. Hell, sometimes I 623 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 1: do have lunch prepared and I'm still grazing in the kitchen. 624 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,440 Speaker 1: But I'm trying to be really good. I mean, I'm 625 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:20,320 Speaker 1: going to pilate seven days a week, so I'm really 626 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:23,280 Speaker 1: starting to get that mindset of being in good shape, 627 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,719 Speaker 1: and that means making good decisions when it comes to 628 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: meal prep. I made three salads and I think they're 629 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: all awesome. One of them was a Thie Crunch shrimp 630 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:38,839 Speaker 1: salad where I took that Trader Joe's I'm gonna screw 631 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 1: up this name cruciferous Crunch collection, look at that for alliteration. 632 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:47,920 Speaker 1: I took that and some onions and bell peppers and cilantro, 633 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:53,720 Speaker 1: and I made a healthy Thaie peanut style dishing dressing 634 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 1: with this Peebe peanut butter protein powder that my wife uses, 635 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 1: and I put that with and I season the shrimp 636 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 1: with like chili garlic and seracha and soy sauce. So 637 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:08,320 Speaker 1: there's one salad and I'm very excited about that because 638 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: you know the crunchy vegetables like that which that has 639 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:16,960 Speaker 1: like broccoli slaw and coal slaw and brissels sprouts, those 640 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,239 Speaker 1: all just soak up that dressing over days, so that 641 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,839 Speaker 1: one you can just leave dressed. Then I also made 642 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 1: a smoked salmon barbecue salad, so I smoked two pieces 643 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: of salmon on my trigger. I go at like one 644 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,320 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty degrees until they get to about one forty, 645 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 1: and then you just shred it and toss it in 646 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: with black beans, corn, tomato, onion cilantro. Put that over 647 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: greens little range dressing, and then your barbecue sauce of choice. 648 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: We have some salt lick here that's very good. We 649 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:51,239 Speaker 1: also have some rooties which I got from when we 650 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: had routies in New Mexico once. And then we've got 651 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 1: a bottle to take home and we smuggled it in 652 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,279 Speaker 1: a wine skin. Oh I need ruties, it's real good. 653 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 1: And then I made a curried chicken salad. So I 654 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:05,360 Speaker 1: took chicken breasts and chicken thihce put them in the 655 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,440 Speaker 1: pressure cooker because that's the fastest way to get shredded chicken. 656 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 1: And then I added celery, onions, apples, and then a 657 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,959 Speaker 1: dressing that consisted of part Male Park Greek yogurt, part 658 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: lime juice, and just a ridiculous amount of curry powder. 659 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:24,520 Speaker 1: And I know some people like to put raisins in 660 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: that I'm not a raisin person. I was thinking about 661 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 1: if I wanted to add some more fruit besides the apples, 662 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: I could add blueberries, but the apples on its own 663 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 1: were great. So those were my meal prep salads this week. 664 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:43,279 Speaker 1: A curried chicken salad, a barbecue smoked shrimp salad, and 665 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:48,399 Speaker 1: a tie crunch shrimp salad. And they all turned out 666 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:53,479 Speaker 1: great and I'm getting excited about lunch every single day. 667 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:57,239 Speaker 1: Thank y'all so much for being a part of this 668 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: show and tuning in. If you want to send me 669 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:01,880 Speaker 1: a message you can eat, email me at Randy Wangradio 670 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 1: at gmail dot com. Thanks for subscribing to the substack. 671 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: We made it to one hundred and fifty subscribers on there. 672 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 1: I love doing this thing every day and it's great 673 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:13,239 Speaker 1: show prep. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on 674 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:14,480 Speaker 1: KABC