1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: Hey, look, amotz. This is Diosa and you're listening to 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: look at Tora Radio. In this week's episode, we interview 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: mayoral race candidate Nythia Rahmen. She currently holds a seat 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: in La City Council and represents District four. Council Member 5 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: Nythia Rahmen filed her candidacy for the mayor's race on 6 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: the final day in February, shocking every politico across Los Angeles. 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: She's running against Democratic incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. In this interview, 8 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: council Member Nythia Ramen shares the days leading up to 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: her filing. 10 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 2: I had felt this sense of increasing frustration with the 11 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 2: limitations that I was facing at city Hall, and I 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: thought we would have an opportunity during this mayoral race 13 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: to talk about it, to talk about the direction of 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: the city, to talk about whether people felt like things 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: were moving in the right direction in. 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: LA, and her stance on leasing and the Feds in La. 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: Whether it's the World Cup or whether it's the Olympics, 18 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 2: we are actually inviting federal law enforcement here. How does 19 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 2: the Mayor's office ensure that these events are happening in 20 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: a way that's safe for Angelino's. 21 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: The City of La is in a budget deficit. There's 22 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: a myriad of issues Angelino's are facing every day, like housing, affordability, 23 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: public safety, ice, kidnapping our neighbors, and the humanitarian crisis 24 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: that is homelessness. But amidst these concerns lies across roads, 25 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: a chance to stick to the status quo or enact 26 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: change and redefine the City of LA's future. In this race, 27 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: we find a diverse set of candidates. Even reality TV 28 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: star Spencer Pratt is running for LA mayor. Every candidate 29 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: demands our scrutiny, not just our support. Now is the 30 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: time to familiarize ourselves with these candidates, not just through 31 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: their campaign promises, but through their past actions and future potentials. 32 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: It's our collective responsibility to be informed, to ask questions, 33 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: and to make a voting plan with our friends and family. 34 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: It's a midterm electioneer and this is an important race 35 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles. We know that not all of our 36 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: listeners are LA based, but we do think this mayoral 37 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: race is important because Los Angeles is often a test 38 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: ground for politics and policy. Here's our interview with council 39 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: member and mayoral candidate Nitthia Ramen. 40 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 2: This is Nitia Raman candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, 41 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: and you're listening to look at the radio. 42 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us today. We're really 43 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: thrilled to be in conversation with you, and to start 44 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: us off, you know a little bit about us. We 45 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: are born and raised Angelina's. I'm a first generation Angelina. 46 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: My mom is from Mexico, my dad is from Peru. 47 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: Mu's family has been here for several generations. And I'll 48 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: let her chime in when she wants to. We want 49 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: to start by asking you what's the La story you 50 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: want to tell and what is it about Angelino's that 51 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: you love the most? 52 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I you know, I'm not a native Angelino. 53 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: I moved here as an adult, and I like to 54 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 2: say that I love Los Angeles with the fierceness that 55 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: only a transplant can have because I've lived in other 56 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: places and I know what the city offered me and 57 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: my family and the ways in which the opportunities that 58 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: it offered us were so different from what I had 59 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: seen in other places. And that's really what I love 60 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: about LA is that it has been and it is 61 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: a place that welcomes people into it, that allows for 62 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: people to seek out their ambition and their dreams and 63 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: doesn't ask you who your parents are, what your pa 64 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: degree is, you know what qualifies you to do it. 65 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: It really opens itself up to build your dreams here 66 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: in a way that I have not seen in any 67 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: other part of the world. And it is it for me. 68 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: It's so inspiring to live here. 69 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 3: Thank you for that. Yeah. I'm a third generation Angelina 70 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 3: if you count. My grandmother came here when she was sixteen, 71 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 3: and my mom is born and raised in the Los 72 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 3: Angeles and I'm born and raised in LA And I'm 73 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: wondering if you can name for us some of the 74 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: qualities that you think Angelina's have that motivate you to 75 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 3: lead us. 76 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. So one of the things that inspired me the 77 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: most about Los Angeles is how generous people are to 78 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: others here. When I first ran for office, i ran 79 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: because I started this volunteer group in my neighborhood to 80 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 2: help people who are experiencing homelessness. And we were just 81 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: wandering from from tent to tent in on the street 82 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 2: and in the parks near my home, and we were 83 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,679 Speaker 2: giving out breakfast burritos, hot cups of coffee, and trying 84 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 2: to connect people to resources like services or shelter when 85 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: it was available, and for that volunteer group, we had 86 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 2: to turn away people. There was such an incredible need 87 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 2: to give back and to respond to the crisis of homelessness, 88 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: not with anger, not with a desire to see, you know, 89 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: the visible signs of poverty immediately disappear from their neighborhood, 90 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: but from people to say, I want to help and 91 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 2: I want to do something about it in a way 92 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 2: that really helps people move indoors and get off the streets. 93 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 2: And that to me was so inspiring. It's one of 94 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: the reasons that I initially ran for office, and it's 95 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 2: one of those things that continues to inspire me about 96 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: Angelino's is their willingness to give and their willingness to 97 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 2: be generous to others. We've seen it over and over 98 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 2: again too in how we vote for, you know, for 99 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: new measures to help other people. So we've voted for 100 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 2: taxes for affordable housing, we've voted for taxes for people 101 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: who are experiencing homelessness, and we've done that more than once. Really, 102 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: I think because of that generosity of spirit, and one 103 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: of the reasons why I feel like I, you know, 104 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: I feel so lucky to be an elected official here 105 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: is because I want to honor that spirit of generosity 106 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: by delivering a government that really delivers on the outcomes 107 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 2: that people need, that really does show up and help people, 108 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: that really does get people indoors and off the streets 109 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: and you know, into shelters, that really does try and 110 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: lower the cost of living in this extraordinarily expensive city. 111 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. Before we dive into the intricacies 112 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: of your campaign and why you're running, we want to 113 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: ask you to describe your perfect day in La, whether 114 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: that's doing something, going somewhere, dining somewhere. We would love 115 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: to know what's your perfect day in La. 116 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: I have two little ones. I have ten year old 117 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: twins who are fourth graders, and I think my perfect 118 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: day in La really looks like spending the day with 119 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,559 Speaker 2: them and my husband, going for a maybe a hike 120 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: in Griffith Park or in Deb's Park where you can 121 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: walk up the hill, walk past a pond and then 122 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 2: there's a swing where you can swing and you have 123 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,559 Speaker 2: a beautiful view in front of you, and then maybe 124 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: going for a brunch afterwards. But everything about the light 125 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 2: in La, watching my children walk up and down these 126 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 2: incredible mountains that go through this city. I have so 127 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: many memories of doing this with my children that in 128 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: my mind feel magical because of the quality of the 129 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: light and the way in which I remember those occasions 130 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: and remembering them at different ages doing the same walks fabulous. 131 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 3: Yes, we love our hikes in LA It's one of 132 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,239 Speaker 3: my favorite ways to spend a day here as well. 133 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 3: And if you can hit a hike and the beach 134 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 3: at the same time, that's like peak Los Angeles. 135 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: Peak Los Angeles. 136 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 3: Yes. 137 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: Doing the stairs in Santa Monica maybe, and then cutting 138 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 2: down to the. 139 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: Water, yes, a movement in our beautiful city. Well, we 140 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 3: just want to thank you for joining us here at 141 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 3: look at LA Radio. It was big news when you 142 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: filed your mayoral candidacy. You filed on the last day 143 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 3: possible to file, and we were curious if this was 144 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 3: strategic or did something specifically happen that inspired you to run. 145 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 2: I've been feeling it was not pre planned or wasn't 146 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: something that I had been kind of contemplating for months. 147 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: For me, I had been struggling with in my role. 148 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: So I've been a city council member now for five years, 149 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 2: a little over five years I have you know, I 150 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 2: finished my first term and I'm in my second term. 151 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 2: And I will say that, especially over the last couple 152 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: of years, I felt a real sense of frustration with 153 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 2: the way that things are moving in the city of 154 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: Los Angeles, a real sense of after when I first started, 155 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 2: it was right after COVID and or you know, we 156 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 2: were still in the middle of pre vaccine COVID, and 157 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: then vaccine started coming and things were opening up again. 158 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: And my first couple of years in office really felt 159 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 2: like moments of positive change in LA. We were able 160 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 2: to get out there and do work for residents, for 161 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 2: constituents that felt like we were making real progress in 162 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: the district. That what felt like we were addressing some 163 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 2: of the biggest needs that people were facing, whether it 164 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 2: was addressing basic services, or whether it was providing people 165 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: a chance to have more security in their rental units 166 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 2: by passing expanded tenant protections, whatever it was, it felt 167 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 2: like a time of building, of possibility and of positive change, 168 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 2: and of being able to deliver results for constituents. But 169 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: I will say over the last couple of years, it 170 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 2: does not feel like I have been able to deliver 171 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 2: for my constituents in the same way, partly because of 172 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: decisions made by our current mayor and some of our 173 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 2: city leadership that have left us with really depleted resources 174 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 2: to be able to serve residents of Los Angeles at 175 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 2: a time when the city is facing enormous needs, and 176 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: that has been really frustrating. Those frustrations really deepened during 177 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 2: the fires watching those play out, realizing that the city 178 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 2: could have done more to be prepared in advance of 179 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 2: them and to respond better with accountability, with urgency, with 180 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 2: being present for residents after them during the ice raids, 181 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 2: feeling like the city wasn't doing enough to meet that moment. 182 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 2: But over the course of this last year also was 183 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 2: seeing that we weren't really able to deliver on some 184 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 2: of the most essential services that people need at these 185 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 2: times because of budget decisions that had been made by 186 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 2: the mayor and city leadership that left us with really 187 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 2: really depleted resources to be able to do things like 188 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: fixed potholes and turn on street lights thirty thousand of 189 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 2: which are off across the entire city. Really the essentials 190 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 2: of living in La we are not able to provide 191 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: at a time when we have much more complicated things 192 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 2: to do and to address here in LA, including addressing homelessness, 193 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 2: addressing the cost of living crisis, all of that, and 194 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 2: so I had felt this sense of increasing frustration with 195 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 2: the limitations that I was facing at city Hall, and 196 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 2: I thought we would have an opportunity during this mayoral 197 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: race to talk about it, to talk about the direction 198 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: of the city, to talk about whether people felt like 199 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 2: things were moving in the right direction in LA, whether 200 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 2: they felt like the city was responding to them with 201 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 2: the same urgency that they were feeling. I think that's 202 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 2: what really pushed me to get in at that very 203 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 2: last moment, seeing that there wasn't going to be a challenge, 204 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: that we were just going to move forward into the 205 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: next four years with the same situation that we were 206 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: in over the last couple of years. 207 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: There's a really interesting arc that you shared about twenty twenty. 208 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: There was, of course the pandemic, which devastated Los Angeles 209 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: in other places, but then that energy of movement building 210 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: and getting vaccinated, and they're being a vaccine rollout and 211 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 1: people being outside again, and they're being this re energized 212 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: feeling of in the city. Right to now post twenty 213 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: twenty five post fire recovery and the ice rates. Right, 214 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: it was obviously a very challenging year for communities across 215 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. So, if elected mayor, how would you handle 216 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:53,079 Speaker 1: one disaster preparedness and two what would be your plan 217 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: to protect all LA residents from these unjust ice rates. 218 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, so disaster preparedness, I think is something that you know, 219 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 2: we the Mayor's office is ultimately I know from my 220 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 2: time there, they are. You know, there's there's frontline agencies 221 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 2: that are public safety agencies that are designed to respond 222 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 2: to them to issues when we have them, But the 223 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: mayor's office is the executive authority, is ultimately the anchor 224 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 2: of those issues. And so when you have a situation 225 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 2: like unprecedented wins, you know that they're coming. When you 226 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 2: have as you're having today and tomorrow, extraordinary heat in 227 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 2: Los Angeles, extraordinary heat, these are all various kinds of 228 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 2: emergencies that the city is facing, and it is the 229 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 2: mayor's office's role to ensure that we're prepared to the 230 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 2: fullest extent possible before those emergencies and to make sure 231 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 2: that our city resources are being deployed appropriately. And I 232 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 2: think you know, if I'm mayor, My role will be 233 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: one that I have played in my district to a 234 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 2: lesser extent as the council member. But really trying to 235 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 2: make sure, Okay, there's torrential rains coming. Are we making 236 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:10,479 Speaker 2: sure that our hillsides are protected, there's significant winds being predicted. 237 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 2: Are we making sure that we have contact with the 238 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 2: fire department, that they are absolutely ready to deploy as needed, 239 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 2: that they're keeping their staff in place in response to this, 240 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 2: and even more actually stepping back and saying, are we 241 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 2: planning for these emergencies? Because this kind of event in 242 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 2: Los Angeles is becoming more frequent because of climate change. 243 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 2: These are extreme weather events, but it's thirty five degrees 244 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 2: hotter today than it normally is in March, and this 245 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: is becoming increasingly the norm. These are all the kinds 246 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 2: of things that I feel like a resilient and a 247 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: robust emergency response need to be thinking about in the city, 248 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 2: and they have to be thinking about it in different 249 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 2: ways depending on who's impacted. There's a different response for 250 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 2: fire risk and for mudslide risk, which impacts primarily hillside neighborhoods, 251 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: versus extreme heat, which impacts neighborhoods in places like South 252 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 2: la that don't have a lot of tree cover, in Pacoima, 253 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 2: which is hotter, significantly hotter, up to ten degrees hotter 254 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: than the rest of the city, how do we make 255 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 2: sure that we have cooling centers in those places? How 256 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 2: do we make sure that we're activating transit for people 257 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 2: to get to cooling centers and to be safe, and 258 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 2: to make sure that they are safe in these kinds 259 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 2: of emergencies. The Mayor's office really has to anchor that 260 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 2: work and to drive it forward with the urgency that 261 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 2: this moment in Los Angeles, as we're facing increasing climate risk, 262 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 2: really demands. You asked also about ice response, and I 263 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 2: think that there is a role that the city can 264 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 2: play and that the Mayor's office can play that is 265 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: more robust than the one that we've taken on in 266 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 2: many ways so far. I think that we have regulations 267 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 2: and rules in place for how law enforcement should be 268 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: operating in our city. If they are not following those rules, 269 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 2: can we use our city attorney or work with the 270 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: state Attorney general to be able to prosecute harmful action 271 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 2: by the federal government locally? That to me is a 272 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 2: missed opportunity. What is our city doing with its own 273 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 2: prosecutorial authority to make sure that we're holding federal law 274 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: enforcement accountable for the rules that they should be following. 275 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 2: And what we've seen is that in some of those cases, 276 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 2: the courts have agreed and have actually limited federal actions 277 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 2: in cities. But the city has to step up and 278 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: take those actions. And I think that that's incredibly important. 279 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 2: We need to be pushing far more to be doing 280 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: that kind of prosecutorial work, and the city attorney, pushed 281 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 2: by the mayor, can do it. They just have to 282 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: take up that space and really press forward on it. 283 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: I also think that there are big unanswered questions about 284 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 2: major athletic events that are happening. Major world events are 285 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: happening in the city where we, by the design of 286 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 2: those events, are inviting federal law enforcement into our city, 287 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 2: including ice, whether it's the World Cup or whether it's 288 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 2: the Olympics, we are actually inviting federal law enforcement here. 289 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 2: So how does the mayor's office ensure that Angelino's So 290 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 2: many of us are immigrants. I'm an immigrant to America. 291 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 2: So many of us are immigrants, so many of us 292 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 2: have mixed status families here. How does the Mayor's office 293 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 2: ensure that these events are happening in a way that's 294 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 2: safe for Angelino's. What is our role, what is the 295 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 2: city's role in ensuring that safety? And I think I 296 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 2: would be doing two kinds of things. One is I 297 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 2: would be messaging to Angelino's every day that these events 298 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 2: would happen, but they would never happen at the expense 299 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: of the safety of Angelino's, and I would be very 300 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 2: up front and clear and vocal about that. And the 301 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 2: second is that I would be engaging proactively with FIFA, 302 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 2: the World Cup, and the federal government, and with the 303 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 2: LA twenty eight leadership and with the federal government to say, 304 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 2: how do we ensure that your presence here is not 305 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: going to endanger us as a city, is not going 306 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: to endanger the people of Los Angeles, who deserve nothing 307 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 2: more than ultimate protection that work needs to happen. We've 308 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: seen that proactive engagement with the federal government has resulted 309 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 2: in better outcomes for residents in other cities. We've seen 310 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 2: it in New York, We've seen it in Boston, We've 311 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,439 Speaker 2: seen it in San Francisco. We should be doing the 312 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 2: same thing here. Particularly in Los Angeles, which is a 313 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 2: home to so many immigrants. 314 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere. 315 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 2: Look, Amorees, We'll be right back. 316 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 3: I think that one of the pieces with regards to 317 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 3: safety of Angelino's has to do with a mass unidentifiable 318 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 3: ice agents essentially kidnapping Angelina's off of the streets. And 319 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 3: even though the state of California did pass a law 320 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 3: banning federal agents from wearing masks, our chief of police 321 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 3: here in La has said that he wouldn't enforce it. So, 322 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 3: if you are elected mayor, how would you hold the 323 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 3: LAPD accountable and would you demand that the chief of 324 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 3: police enforce the mask ban on ice agents. 325 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I just want to say I found those 326 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 2: comments incredibly disrespectful to Angelino's. The chief of police is 327 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 2: the embodiment of public safety for Angelinos, you know, he 328 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 2: is the person that really is the city's kind of 329 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 2: visible face of public safety. And for him to say 330 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 2: at a moment when so many Angelinos are feeling so 331 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 2: much fear, when these mask kidnappers are operating on our streets, 332 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 2: to kind of dismiss regulations and laws that were put 333 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 2: in at the state level to try and keep us 334 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 2: safer to say, oh, I'm not going to enforce that. 335 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 2: I thought that was completely unacceptable. That language was unacceptable. 336 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: And I don't think he gets to pick and choose 337 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: which laws he gets to implement. If laws are being 338 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 2: put in place to keep Angelino safe, I think you say, 339 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 2: I will uphold those law to all laws, to the 340 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 2: fullest of my ability, because I know that that's what 341 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 2: Angelina knows need. And so I found those comments to be, 342 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, really unacceptable for the Again, the 343 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 2: kind of the key individual in public safety here in 344 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 2: the city of Los Angeles. I didn't hear from our 345 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 2: mayor a pushback on that, you know, I didn't hear 346 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 2: from her kind of a strong comment saying no, we're 347 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 2: here to keep Angelino safe. And I think that's really 348 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 2: what we need to be doing. And I think the 349 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 2: mayor has the authority to hold the chief of Police accountable. 350 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,919 Speaker 2: She appoints him. She's the person who picks and chooses 351 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: who is in that role, and between her and the 352 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,959 Speaker 2: police mission, that's really where primary accountability lies for operations 353 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 2: for LAPD, and the mayor really needs to use her role. 354 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: And that's what I would do if I were in 355 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 2: that role. To use my role as mayor to push 356 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: for accountability, to make sure that LAPD is doing everything 357 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 2: that they can do to keep Angelino safe, to implement 358 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 2: laws that are designed to protect us in these incredibly 359 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 2: dangerous and scary times, and to underscore that our law enforcement, 360 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 2: our local law enforcement, is here for the protection of 361 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 2: Angelino's Thank you. 362 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: You mentioned that when you started campaigning in twenty twenty, 363 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: when you were running for election for city count the 364 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 1: very first time that you started by volunteering. Obviously, homelessness 365 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: is a huge issue here in the City of La 366 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,600 Speaker 1: and La County, and according to the Los Angeles Homeless 367 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: Service Authority, homelessness has gone down by three point four percent, 368 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: but it's still a stigering forty three thousand population in 369 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 1: the city LA. And I know that in your position 370 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 1: in city Council you have worked on legislation and initiatives 371 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: for homelessness. So I'm wondering how that would differ as mayor, 372 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: if elected, and how you would continue to address this 373 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 1: homelessness crisis in the City of Los Angeles. 374 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 2: So we have expended a huge amount more on homelessness 375 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 2: over the last few years than we have in previous years. 376 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: During a time when homelessness has risen by significant numbers, 377 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 2: and I think our increased expenditures are increased investments in 378 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 2: things like building more shelter beds and bringing more resources 379 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 2: to the table have resulted in people moving indoors and 380 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 2: off the streets, which is really exciting. But what we've 381 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 2: done is to spend an extraordinary amount of money and 382 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: not create a system that's really working as effectively as 383 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 2: possible to get as many people indoors and into safety 384 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 2: as possible, as quickly as possible. And I've pushed for 385 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 2: that at the city and met Resistance and actually creating 386 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,479 Speaker 2: that system, but I think it's really important to do it. 387 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 2: The way in which the city is responding right now 388 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 2: to homelessness is among the most expensive and not the 389 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 2: most effective way to respond to this issue. Some of 390 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 2: the hotel and motel rooms that are funded through the 391 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 2: Inside Safe program can cost eighty to one hundred thousand 392 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 2: dollars a year per person per bed, and that is 393 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:36,479 Speaker 2: an enormous expenditure. We can actually spend significantly less than 394 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 2: that and still bring people indoors and bring them into 395 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 2: safety and actually have better outcomes. Almost half of people 396 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 2: who are coming into shelters right now, are actually returning 397 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 2: to the streets. We need to actually have oversight and 398 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 2: information about the way that our system is working in 399 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: order to ensure that the money that we're spending is 400 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,399 Speaker 2: actually going towards what we want, which is helping the 401 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 2: largest number of people possible and making sure that they're 402 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 2: getting the services they need to succeed indoors and in safety. 403 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 2: I've tried to build out that system over the last 404 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 2: couple of years in City Hall. I pushed for and 405 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 2: secured through legislative action, Homelessness Oversight Office within the city, 406 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 2: identifying for the first time a place in city Hall 407 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 2: that would be overseeing this massive amount of money that 408 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 2: we're spending. We're spending five thousand percent more on homelessness 409 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 2: than we did just a few years ago, and we 410 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 2: have no staff at the city to really oversee those 411 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 2: dollars and make sure it's working. A year after we 412 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 2: have created that office, that office still has no staff, 413 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 2: so we still don't have people who are managing these dollars, 414 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 2: who are making sure that it's working, And to me, 415 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:54,679 Speaker 2: that is an unacceptable lack of urgency on what I 416 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,640 Speaker 2: think is the humanitarian crisis of you know, of Los 417 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: Angeles over the last years, one that has grown so much, 418 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 2: one that has sadly defined Los Angeles in kind of 419 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 2: our public perception, and I think we absolutely need to 420 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 2: make progress on it. 421 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 1: I completely agree in what you're saying about the public 422 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 1: perception and how that has come to define Los Angeles. 423 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: And you mentioned that there's so much money being spent 424 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,479 Speaker 1: on very expensive measures or band aid solutions, right like 425 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: the hotels and the motel contracts. What would be the 426 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: alternative if you were elected. Would it be permanent support 427 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 1: of housing, would it be more shelters? How do we 428 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: get the buy in from the council districts that may 429 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: not want these types of hands on solutions in their neighborhood. 430 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 2: So yeah, and I think it's really important to make 431 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 2: sure that we're investing in what works, because I think, 432 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 2: you know, when I first started this conversation with you, 433 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 2: I talked about ensuring that we are honoring the generosity 434 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 2: of Angelina's with a government that really works to deliver 435 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 2: on outcomes. And I really believe in that if you 436 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 2: trust the city with your dollars, with your tax dollars, 437 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 2: we should be making sure that we're really working for you, 438 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 2: that we're serving you to the greatest extent possible, and 439 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 2: that trust is really important to me. There are interventions 440 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 2: that you can put in place for homelessness that cost 441 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 2: a third or less of what some of our more 442 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 2: expensive interventions cost. One of the most effective is a 443 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 2: short term voucher. So this is a two year voucher 444 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 2: that can cover your rent in an apartment that also 445 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 2: has attached case management. The outcomes from that relatively cost effective, 446 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: and it's also incredibly effective at keeping people indoors. Most 447 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: of the people who are funded through these voucher programs 448 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 2: stay in their apartments, they stay housed, and over time 449 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 2: they're able to transition to either being able to get 450 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 2: a job and pay their rent themselves through reunification with 451 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 2: family members and maybe moving back in with cousins or 452 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 2: other family or they're able to actually move into permit 453 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 2: support of housing that they may need over the long term. 454 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 2: But whatever the option is, these short term voucher programs 455 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 2: are very very effective at keeping people indoors, and they're 456 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 2: relatively cost effective, and they don't face the same kind 457 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 2: of resistance from neighborhoods that other kinds of interventions do 458 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 2: because it's just a voucher in an apartment building that 459 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 2: may already exist, and the case management services are really 460 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,639 Speaker 2: there to help people succeed in those situations. So for me, 461 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,199 Speaker 2: that's the kind of intervention where it promotes dignity for 462 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 2: people who are experiencing homelessness. You have privacy, you have independence, 463 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 2: and you're able to succeed because you have the tools 464 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 2: you need to succeed. 465 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for explaining that further, I think 466 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: helps contextualize the different options that the city can provide. 467 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: I want to because we've kind of dancing around the 468 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 1: talk of budget right and how it's being allocated, I 469 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: want to ask you now about the budget. As we 470 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: all know, the City of la is in a deficit, 471 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: and there's a lot of criticism of how the budget 472 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: is allocated here after year with parks, Breck and Parks 473 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: being at the bottom, lighting and public transportation, all those 474 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: budgets being reduced while other budgets are increased. And so 475 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 1: I'm wondering what your approach would be and how you 476 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,360 Speaker 1: would prioritize what gets funded. 477 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 2: So much of our budgeting at the city has been 478 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 2: really frustrating for me. Because so much our budgeting has 479 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 2: been politically motivated. It's been about funding those groups that 480 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 2: fund local elections, and in LA the most powerful player 481 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 2: in our local elections is our police union. And so 482 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three, when our new contract was written 483 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 2: with LAPD, the mayor approved a contract that actually provided 484 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 2: the LAPD more money than they had asked for, knowing 485 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,719 Speaker 2: that that contract would cause us to have hundreds of 486 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 2: millions of dollars in shortfalls in the years ahead. And 487 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 2: that's exactly what has happened. I voted against that contract. 488 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 2: I voted against that budget, and now we are facing 489 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 2: Last year, we faced a billion dollar budget deficit where 490 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 2: we're paying an absolutely enormous amount for a smaller number 491 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 2: of officers than we had before, so less able to 492 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 2: deliver on some of the public safety outcomes that some 493 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 2: people may have wanted with that investment, and significantly less 494 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 2: able to deliver on so many of the other services 495 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 2: that Angelina is considered to be essential. Street Lighting is 496 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 2: a huge part of public safety. Potholes, safe streets, investments 497 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 2: in sidewalks, investments in parks, investments in after school programs, 498 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 2: investments by the way we are fund now in this 499 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: Trump administration, which is so much harsher, so much more 500 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 2: aggressive towards immigrants than the last Trump administration. We're actually 501 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 2: funding less in immigration defense than we did during his 502 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 2: last time in office because we have less money to 503 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 2: do that because we paid so much for this contract. 504 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 2: So for me, my priorities would be very different. I 505 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 2: think we can fund a city where we're funding these 506 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 2: different parts of our city infrastructure appropriately, where we fund 507 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 2: public safety, but we fund holistic public safety, so we 508 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 2: fund we have armed officers responding when you need armed officers, 509 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 2: and a fully fleshed out system of unarmed response that 510 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 2: can come when you need help when you don't need 511 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 2: an armed officer to come, when you're having a mental 512 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: health crisis, when you're having when you want to help 513 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 2: somebody who is going through something but it needs immediate 514 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 2: support but does not need an armed officer. You can 515 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 2: fund that for the entire city. You can fund enough 516 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 2: nine to one to one call takers to pick up 517 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: calls and be responsive at those moments, and you can 518 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 2: fund all of the other services that the city is 519 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 2: supposed to provide and that Angelinos depend on the city 520 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 2: to provide. And that to me is a vision of 521 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 2: Los Angeles that feels, i don't know, really beautiful and generative. 522 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, it does feel within reach, right because we know 523 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: that city budgets, especially with a city like Los Angeles, 524 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: that the budget can is there if it's allocated correctly, 525 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,480 Speaker 1: so it can provide those essentials that a lot of 526 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: Angelinos want and just make living in La is such 527 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: a better place. Don't go anywhere, look, amorees, We'll be 528 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 1: right back. I want to go back to something that 529 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: you mentioned earlier, which is the Olympics and the World Cup. 530 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: It seems like such a superfose event to be having, 531 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 1: considering everything that's going on with the federal administration. However, 532 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 1: I do know that there are so many opportunities for 533 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:24,239 Speaker 1: local businesses and how it will bring a lot of 534 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 1: dollars to the LA economy. So I'm wondering how you 535 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 1: ad mitigate those two things. 536 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there's there's two kinds of things that 537 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 2: we can do with the Olympics to make it us. 538 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 2: You know, it is happening, We've signed the contract, it's 539 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 2: going to be here in two years. So how do 540 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 2: you make sure that La City is not on the 541 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:47,720 Speaker 2: hook for overruns in the budget for LA twenty eight, 542 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 2: which is how the contract was written. This is not 543 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 2: how I would have written the contract, but this deal, 544 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 2: which was cut you know, ten years ago, essentially said 545 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 2: that for any expenditures over the budget that they didn't make, 546 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 2: that the City of Los Angeles would be on the 547 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 2: hook for the first two hundred and seventy million of 548 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 2: cost overruns, that the state would be on the hook 549 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 2: for the next two hundred and seventy million, and then 550 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 2: anything above that is all back on the City of LA. 551 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 2: So the City of Los Angeles is potentially liable for 552 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 2: hundreds of millions of dollars in cost overruns if LA 553 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 2: twenty eight doesn't make its budget or if it goes 554 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:28,160 Speaker 2: over its budget, and so I think, you know, as mayor, 555 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:31,760 Speaker 2: I would work extraordinarily hard. It would be laser focused 556 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 2: on making sure that LA twenty eight is meeting its budget, 557 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 2: and that if it is not, that we are working 558 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 2: to ensure that we're actually making changes to the budget 559 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 2: so that the City of LA and residents of Los 560 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:48,400 Speaker 2: Angeles aren't paying for overages for an event that was 561 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 2: planned really without considering them. As part of the contract 562 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 2: that we signed with LA twenty eight. The second is 563 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 2: making sure that business opportunities that are coming in, investments 564 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:01,600 Speaker 2: that are coming in are linked to Angelino's I was 565 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 2: very happy in my first couple of years on the council. 566 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 2: I supported a new effort, a kind of a business 567 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 2: procurement system, an update to it that was designed to 568 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,800 Speaker 2: make it easier for small businesses to apply for city dollars. 569 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 2: And that system, which is called ramp. It is kind 570 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 2: of a mechanism through which we can ensure that local 571 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 2: businesses are getting access to these opportunities. And I have 572 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:34,839 Speaker 2: been pushing over the last few years to ensure that 573 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 2: we're signing up small and local women own minority owned 574 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 2: businesses into the system, that they're aware of opportunities, that 575 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 2: we're doing trainings, and there have been a number of 576 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:48,960 Speaker 2: trainings across the city to make sure that people understand 577 00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 2: how to use it and how to get access to 578 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 2: those procurement opportunities, and making sure that our procurement process 579 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 2: is really focused on giving money back to Angelinos from 580 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,840 Speaker 2: these events. I think, you know, I think there's a 581 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,360 Speaker 2: big opportunity here. We have more work to do, but 582 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 2: I think there's a pathway to ensure that these dollars 583 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:08,800 Speaker 2: are actually coming back to our local economy. 584 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 1: Okay, I appreciate that breakdown. So you went to Harvard, 585 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:17,760 Speaker 1: you went to MIT, you're an urban planner by trade, 586 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 1: and you're a city council member. The mayor is an 587 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:26,239 Speaker 1: executive position, and how do you plan to govern and 588 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: how would you move the city forward? 589 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 2: So the mayor's office has authority that you know, we 590 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 2: talk about a lot of people talk about the City 591 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 2: of Los Angeles as having a weak mayor system, but 592 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,720 Speaker 2: the mayor's office actually has a significant amount of power, 593 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 2: and if used right, I think it can be a 594 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 2: situation through which the mayor's executive authority can be implemented 595 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:53,440 Speaker 2: in ways that generate accountability and good outcomes for Angelina's 596 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 2: The mayor has the ability to appoint, to hire, and 597 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:01,279 Speaker 2: fire every general manager of every department. The mayor has 598 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 2: the ability to set the priorities of every single department 599 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 2: because they have a lot of incoming priorities from different 600 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 2: council members and from the public. And it's the mayor's 601 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:14,720 Speaker 2: role to say, these are the two or three most 602 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 2: important things that you have to do. You have to 603 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 2: make sure and do these two or three things this 604 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 2: is the absolute most important things for every single department. 605 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 2: The mayor has the ability to create accountability metrics through 606 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:32,319 Speaker 2: which progress on those efforts will be measured, and whether 607 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 2: it's anything from delivering on kin, cleaning streets and turning 608 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:41,760 Speaker 2: lights back on to more complicated things like issuing permits 609 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:46,239 Speaker 2: for new affordable housing. You can clearly set out what 610 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,120 Speaker 2: are the priorities that you need to deliver on for 611 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:52,640 Speaker 2: Angelina's and general managers should be held accountable to those outcomes, 612 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 2: and if they're not, you replace them. And I think 613 00:36:56,320 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 2: using that executive authority is something that the mayor's office 614 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,040 Speaker 2: has an obligation to do in order to make sure 615 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:07,239 Speaker 2: that we can deliver for Angelinas. I would also say 616 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 2: that I think a good mayor and if I were mayor, 617 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,400 Speaker 2: this is exactly what I would do. You would surround 618 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:17,759 Speaker 2: yourself with support. You surround yourself with people who have 619 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:22,160 Speaker 2: management experience, who are able to ensure with deputy mayors 620 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 2: who have that kind of executive experience in order to 621 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:29,640 Speaker 2: make sure that the city is really functioning for the 622 00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 2: people of Los Angeles. I think that's part of your 623 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,239 Speaker 2: obligation as a leader to make sure that you have 624 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 2: the leadership in place in the city to make sure 625 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,760 Speaker 2: it's functioning, and I feel like for too many people 626 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,799 Speaker 2: the experience of working with the city or trying to 627 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 2: get something from the city is just frustration. You go 628 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:50,080 Speaker 2: to a help center and no one is there. You 629 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 2: call three one one, or you try and use the 630 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:57,440 Speaker 2: app and it doesn't work. Like every single time somebody 631 00:37:57,440 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 2: tries to lean on the city and it fails them, 632 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,399 Speaker 2: they lose their faith in the power of the City 633 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:04,640 Speaker 2: of Los Angeles to be able to serve them, and 634 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:07,880 Speaker 2: I think again, we have to work to retain that 635 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:09,640 Speaker 2: faith and to care for people. 636 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,880 Speaker 1: Thank you for that. So this question is both related 637 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 1: to you as a city council member and of course 638 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 1: if elected mayor, are you in support of expanding the council. 639 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:22,320 Speaker 1: I know that that is a part of the conversation 640 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: right now. So I'm wondering, since you have the insight 641 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 1: of being on city council but then are also running 642 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:31,800 Speaker 1: for mayor, what your perspective is on expanding the City 643 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:33,000 Speaker 1: Council of Los Angeles. 644 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:35,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm absolutely in support of expanding the city council. 645 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,719 Speaker 2: I think that a more larger city council would be 646 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:42,560 Speaker 2: more representative of different parts of Los Angeles. I'll take 647 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 2: my own district as an example. I represent a district 648 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,320 Speaker 2: that goes right now from northern Silver Lake to Resida, 649 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:51,279 Speaker 2: going through the southern San Fernando Valley, going through the 650 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:56,839 Speaker 2: Hollywood Hills. Very different neighborhoods with very different needs, and 651 00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:59,160 Speaker 2: we do the best that we can and trying to 652 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 2: represent everyone and really trying to advocate and fight for everyone. 653 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:04,839 Speaker 2: That there's two hundred and sixty thousand constituents in each 654 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:09,280 Speaker 2: of these districts and often very large and disparate geographies. 655 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:12,760 Speaker 2: I think smaller districts would enable council members to serve 656 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:16,400 Speaker 2: their constituents better, would enable them to be present in 657 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:20,360 Speaker 2: every single neighborhood of their district much more frequently, would 658 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:24,880 Speaker 2: enable constituents to be able to be closer to their representatives, 659 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:29,520 Speaker 2: and also for council members to be more representative of 660 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:33,120 Speaker 2: the diversity of Los Angeles. It would enable, for example, 661 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:36,440 Speaker 2: for there to be districts that could regularly elect an 662 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:39,719 Speaker 2: Asian representative. There's a significant population of Asians here in LA. 663 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:44,840 Speaker 2: Very few districts that are able to regularly elect representatives 664 00:39:44,880 --> 00:39:48,200 Speaker 2: that are really responsive to the diversity of those neighborhoods, 665 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:51,319 Speaker 2: and I think having more districts would actually enable us 666 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:53,319 Speaker 2: to draw the line such that we could do that. 667 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:58,040 Speaker 1: Thank you, I appreciate that perspective. So my final question 668 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 1: for you is about your twenty twenty campaign and how 669 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 1: it relates to your twenty twenty five campaign. So twenty twenty, 670 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:09,560 Speaker 1: it was a grassroots campaign. You defeated the then incumbent, 671 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:12,360 Speaker 1: and you just rose and there was a lot of 672 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:16,120 Speaker 1: excitement around your win. And now you have five years 673 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:18,600 Speaker 1: of experience and five years of being an elected official. 674 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:23,439 Speaker 1: Yet I've noticed you don't exactly identify with the political establishment. 675 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:26,000 Speaker 1: So can you tell me more about that stance. 676 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:29,439 Speaker 2: Still, I do feel like an outsider, even having been 677 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:33,520 Speaker 2: in city hall for the last five years, And there 678 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:39,080 Speaker 2: is a political culture in Los Angeles where I think 679 00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,160 Speaker 2: once you're in the in city hall that you don't 680 00:40:43,239 --> 00:40:48,400 Speaker 2: question the actions of other people that you vote in 681 00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 2: unison all the time, there has been, and there continues 682 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:57,319 Speaker 2: to be a pressure for everyone to vote together. When 683 00:40:57,320 --> 00:40:59,400 Speaker 2: I first got elected, I started changing that. I voted 684 00:40:59,520 --> 00:41:02,360 Speaker 2: no more times in my first year than my predecessor 685 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,640 Speaker 2: had voted, I think in his entire time on Council 686 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:09,600 Speaker 2: and since then, we you know, I think more new 687 00:41:09,680 --> 00:41:12,440 Speaker 2: voices have been elected and a lot of us have 688 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:19,360 Speaker 2: been pushing back against what has often been never challenged 689 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:25,000 Speaker 2: in city hall. In my run, right now, I feel 690 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:28,640 Speaker 2: like I still feel very much like a you know, 691 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:32,200 Speaker 2: a political outsider. The big kind of vested interests that 692 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:36,200 Speaker 2: support local elections, all of them are supporting our current mayor. 693 00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:39,479 Speaker 2: But when I talk about the fact that I feel 694 00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:41,840 Speaker 2: like Los Angeles is not moving in the right direction, 695 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:44,920 Speaker 2: that we lack urgency at city hall to address the 696 00:41:44,920 --> 00:41:48,640 Speaker 2: issues that are facing LA, whether it's the extraordinary cost 697 00:41:48,719 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 2: of housing or whether it's our response to homelessness. In 698 00:41:52,239 --> 00:41:55,600 Speaker 2: all of these cases, I feel like residents of LA 699 00:41:57,200 --> 00:41:59,680 Speaker 2: agree with that perspective, that they don't feel like they 700 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:04,040 Speaker 2: have a city hall that's really fighting for them. I'm 701 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:06,920 Speaker 2: not going to be a politician forever. I think whatever 702 00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:09,960 Speaker 2: job I hold in December will be my last political job. 703 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:14,040 Speaker 2: I'm not here to maintain relationships in city hall. I'm 704 00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:16,040 Speaker 2: really here to serve the people of Los Angeles, and 705 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 2: those relationships are the ones that matter to me the most. 706 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:21,520 Speaker 2: And I think right now I want to fight for LA. 707 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:23,239 Speaker 2: I want to make La better. I want to make 708 00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:26,040 Speaker 2: sure that the city is responding to people in the 709 00:42:26,040 --> 00:42:29,400 Speaker 2: way that they need and I think we can do 710 00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 2: better than what we've been doing. 711 00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:34,799 Speaker 1: Thank you for that very thoughtful answer. So how can 712 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 1: people support your campaign if they want to learn more? 713 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:42,239 Speaker 2: Well, so you can learn more about me on my 714 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 2: social media accounts or on my website Nitia for the 715 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,440 Speaker 2: City and it Hya, Nitia for Thecity dot com or 716 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:52,560 Speaker 2: Nitia for the City, on Instagram and everywhere else that 717 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:57,200 Speaker 2: you're online. And if you really want to support us, 718 00:42:57,640 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 2: come out, sign up to be a volunteer on the 719 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:03,680 Speaker 2: website site, share our posts on social media, make sure 720 00:43:03,719 --> 00:43:06,320 Speaker 2: that we're being you know, this perspective, a new perspective 721 00:43:06,320 --> 00:43:10,200 Speaker 2: and outsider perspective is really being lifted up in conversations 722 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:13,880 Speaker 2: around the mayor's race. We have an election on June second. 723 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:16,840 Speaker 2: There's a lot of people who never vote in mayoral 724 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:20,000 Speaker 2: primaries and then they wonder why the city stays the same. 725 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:24,319 Speaker 2: And I would encourage everyone to get informed and to 726 00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:27,239 Speaker 2: vote on June second, to make sure that you're taking 727 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:31,000 Speaker 2: an active choice in the future of the city. And 728 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:34,480 Speaker 2: if you feel like you know my voice, my urgency, 729 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:36,799 Speaker 2: my work ethics speaks to what you want to see 730 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:39,920 Speaker 2: from the City of Los Angeles, how you want the 731 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 2: City of Los Angeles to serve you and to address 732 00:43:42,239 --> 00:43:44,680 Speaker 2: the most urgent needs that you're facing. Then vote for me. 733 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:48,680 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Council Member Nathia Rahman, mayoral candidate 734 00:43:48,719 --> 00:43:51,240 Speaker 1: for the City of LA It's been a pleasure chatting 735 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:51,920 Speaker 1: with you today. 736 00:43:52,080 --> 00:43:53,680 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. This was such 737 00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:54,640 Speaker 2: a wonderful conversation. 738 00:44:16,239 --> 00:44:17,640 Speaker 3: Look at all already, go 739 00:44:22,040 --> 00:44:23,360 Speaker 2: Look Alandia