1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: Radio radio radio. He's a Myth and Bullshit, a radiophonic 2 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: novella local radio hosted by Malamoola Locomotives. Welcome to season 3 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: six of local radio podcasts next Door Look at Thought. 4 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: Our radio is a radiophonic novella, which is just a 5 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: very extra way of saying a podcast. I'm Theosa and 6 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 1: I'm mala um. So some quick updates. You can follow 7 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: us on all socials Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, all of it. 8 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: We're there, we're act and we're as active as we 9 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: can be. 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So today we 25 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: are continuing our Latinas in Politics series. This is the 26 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: second episode, the second installment of season six. Last time 27 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: we talked to onsas at nan this running for a 28 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: council District one one CD one c D one UM 29 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: for the l A City council race. And today we 30 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: will be talking to Nicole Lopez who's running for Congress. 31 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: She's running for District forty two and so we're going 32 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: to be hearing from her today. However, we also had 33 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: some observations, you know, as we like continue our Latinas 34 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: in Politics series, and we notice that Latinos are running 35 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: at like high rates for elected office. Right simultaneously, we're 36 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: also seeing another pattern and so we wanted to discuss 37 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: that for a little bit before we bring on our guests. 38 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, one of the reasons why we do this series, 39 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: and it's been a while because you know, we have 40 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: to wait until the next election cycle, and when folks 41 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: start campaigning, we noticed a that a lot of the 42 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: Latinas running for public office, including Nicole Lopez, are not 43 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: getting tons and tons of coverage, are not getting um 44 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: lots of interviews or lots of press. The stories are 45 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: not being covered. And we think it's important to hear 46 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 1: from these candidates because so many of our listeners are 47 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: Latin X people who live in the city and County 48 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: of Los Angeles, in the districts that these women seek 49 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: to represent, and nowhere else are we seeing like their 50 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: stories really being banked. Are we really seeing like a 51 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: place where we can hear from all of them and 52 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: like at length. So the other thing is that there's 53 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: a lot of old guard Latino politicians that we're we're 54 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: cleaning house right now. We're sending them to prison, we're 55 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: voting them out, we're launching investigations, they're getting subpoenas, and 56 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: we're trying to bring in some fresh blood, some new faces. 57 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: And these women have never are held elected office before. 58 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: You know, these are fresh faces, fresh platforms in politics 59 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: in l a and even at the national level. So 60 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: we hope that you learned something and it helps to 61 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: inform your voting process. I'm screaming to be clear, we 62 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: are not sending anybody to prison. Um, not a specific 63 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: We do not support the Carsonal state. However, the royalty 64 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: there are there is a trend right now where Latino 65 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: formerly elected officials are also Latino are being you know, 66 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: investigated by the FBI, um sent to prison, all those things. 67 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: That's happening. It's happening. Let's give me clear. We are 68 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: not doing that. However, that is a trend and we 69 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: did talk about that last season when we interviewed Mariah 70 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: cas that for the Sellout where she dived does a 71 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: deep dive into Jose We s are um a former 72 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: city council person as well for l A City. So yeah, 73 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: there's definitely a trend, which is also why we want 74 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: to put our energy behind the Latinos that are running, 75 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: the fresh faces, the folks that have values that are 76 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: aligned with ours and that we want to support and 77 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: make sure that they're getting the reach that they deserve 78 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: because a lot of the mainstream media, mainstream press doesn't 79 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: always give support to you know, smaller candidates, fresh candidates, 80 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: more progressive candidates. Obviously, they call it politics for a reason, 81 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: like there's a lot of politics behind who gets interviewed, 82 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: who gets endorsed, right, and so we're excited to support 83 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: another fresh young face. Um and so a little bit 84 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: more about Nicole Lopez. She was born and raised all 85 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: over District forty two, which we'll get into the details 86 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: of that district in a bit um. And she's got 87 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: at least one story from her childhood attached to almost 88 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 1: every city in the district. If you live in l A, 89 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: you know what it's like to move around city to city. 90 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: Nicole constantly saw her family, friends, and community struggle with 91 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: lack of access to quality healthcare, fear of deportation, rising 92 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: student loan depth, and during the pandemic in particular, minimal 93 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: support for workers rights. These are the platforms that she 94 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: is getting behind. These are what her platforms are, platforms 95 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: and values are based on. She's for the people, and 96 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: so we're excited to introduce her and bring her on 97 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: so you can learn more about Nicole Lopez running for 98 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: the forty two district and friends, and and and and 99 00:06:35,279 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: and and and and and and um from it and 100 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: all right, everyone, we have the immense honor and privilege 101 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: to welcome our next guest Nicole Lopez. She was born 102 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: and raised all Over District forty two, and today she's 103 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: going to be talking about her campaign. Welcome Nicole, Thank 104 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: you so much. It's like it's such an honor to 105 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: be here. I've been a huge fan of this podcast 106 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: for a very long time. Um, I've been following you 107 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: all for a while. And yeah, I love what you 108 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: all are doing and I think this platform is so important. 109 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: So thank you all for doing this. Thank you Nicole 110 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: for being back on Look a thought our radio. This 111 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: is actually our second crack at recording. We had a 112 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: couple of little technical difficulties with our zoom cloud. It happens. 113 00:07:55,720 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: But actually we're very happy to be talking with you today. Uh. Um, 114 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: it is May, so we are all sort of just 115 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: checking in and kind of recovering from the school shooting 116 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: that took place this week, and we will probably talk 117 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: about that later in the episode. Um, but first we 118 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: want to give you a chance to introduce yourselves to 119 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: our listeners. UM, A lot of whom live in the 120 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: l A area and could potentially be future constituents of yours. Right, 121 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: and yes, it is a really heavy day today, um, 122 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: and it's been a heavy past few weeks. You know, 123 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: this is one of many mass shootings that has has 124 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: happened UM recently. So UM, yeah, it's a very heavy day, 125 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: and you know, we're all checking in ourselves and talking 126 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: about our mental health as a huge priority during this time. 127 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: But UM, yes, I'm running for Congress. I'm running for 128 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: Congress and District forty two, which include roots cities in 129 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: southeast l A and Um, the city of Long Beach, Lakewood, 130 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: Signal Hill, um Downey, Bell Bell Gardens, um Cuta, hay 131 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: Hindon Park, so a lot of these cities I grew 132 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: up in. UM. I've traveled through all these other cities 133 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: throughout the campaign, but it kind of just feels like 134 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: I'm taking my you know, weekly drives as I do 135 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: because I've lived here my whole life. My family has 136 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: been here for many generations. My grandmother lives in the 137 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: same house that she raised my dad in Um, which 138 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: is also in the district. So that's gonna be really 139 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: cool to have my Awadita vote for me in the election. UM. 140 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: But yeah, I'm running for Congress to represent the community 141 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: that raised me, the community that taught me the importance 142 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: of giving back. UM, and I would be honored to 143 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: represent these cities that have so much personal history and 144 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: meaning to me. But also there are commune to ease. 145 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: They are communities that really are often forgotten about and 146 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: marginalized by elected officials. Um And it would be an 147 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: honor of mine to be able to change that for 148 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: for this community. Thank you so much, Nicole again for 149 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,439 Speaker 1: being here. So one thing that I love about your campaign, 150 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: your visuals, your website, your Instagram also is the aesthetic 151 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: of it. Right It's it feels like you're targeting us 152 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,479 Speaker 1: like gen Z, well not me, but gen Z millennials, 153 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: you know, like our demographic, and um, can you tell 154 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: me why that's important for you to Perhaps I don't 155 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: know if this is the case, but at least for me, 156 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: I feel like you're centering this pop this demographic in 157 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: your campaign practices. UM. So can you tell me why 158 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: that's important to you? Right? Well, there's so many reasons, 159 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: UM as to why I decided to, like you said, 160 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: pursue that aesthetic and make it a huge priority of 161 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: mine in my social media especially. Um And at first, 162 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: I'm not going to lie like I wanted to do, 163 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,079 Speaker 1: like the typical you know, red, white and blue, politician 164 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: graphics that a lot of candidates do, because I thought 165 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: that's what I had to do right to be taken 166 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: seriously or something like that. And then I realized, well, one, 167 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: this is kind of boring to me, and if it's 168 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: boring to me, then it must be boring to other 169 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: people too. UM to kind of see the same kind 170 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: of graphics or UM text or whatever copy for social 171 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: media UM over and over again. And I think a 172 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: lot of that comes from the belief that we don't know, 173 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: you know, how to run a campaign. I've never run 174 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: a campaign before. This is my first time even you know, 175 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 1: working in a campaign, let alone running for office UM. 176 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: And I thought about, you know, why has have I 177 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: been so turned off from participating in campaigns? And it's 178 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: often because I don't feel like I speak the language. 179 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: I don't feel like I understand you know, all these 180 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: political terms or what have you. But I think that 181 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: it's really important for me, especially because yes, my campaign 182 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: is really focused on targeting voters and UM community members 183 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: who are often not brought into the campaign world or 184 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: into the politics world. So I do create content for 185 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: my sister who's gen z UM. I do create content 186 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: for even my mom and my Aualita who have never 187 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: voted for congressional candidate before UM and having to be 188 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,959 Speaker 1: accessible to them and have them feel like they can 189 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: engage with the content UM and find it interesting. You know, 190 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: that's kind of the bare minimum that I think a 191 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: lot of candidates should be doing. So it is a 192 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: huge priority for me to have content that is UM 193 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: relevant to what's going on in the news and what 194 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: the issues that are affecting my community members. But it's 195 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: also just plainly accessible, whether it's through the language or 196 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: the graphics UM. And that's a huge party for me 197 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: across the board. So I might not talk like a 198 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: politician or how politicians are encouraged by their fancy consultants 199 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: to talk UM, which is often very distances like the 200 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: politician from the voters. But it's been working out. People 201 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 1: you know, are like, I can finally understand what politicians 202 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: are talking about or what UM what bills are being introduced. 203 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: I understand it because you explain it in a way 204 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: that doesn't intimidate or push people off and make them 205 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: feel like if you don't have a policy major you 206 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: can engage in this campaign. And that's the exact opposite 207 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: of what we want to do. We want to make 208 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 1: sure that anyone UM from any background feels like they 209 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: can engage with our campaign. Nicole, what would you say 210 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: are the I guess core pillars of your campaign? What 211 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: are the issues and the needs of your community that 212 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: you're really honing in on and focusing on in your 213 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: messaging and in getting your mess in getting a word 214 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: out there about who you are and why you're running. Right, So, 215 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: I have often been asked this question in different forms 216 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 1: of you know what it? What are the top three 217 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: issues that you're fighting for? And it's really hard to 218 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: just choose a few, because, to be honest, even if 219 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: I did choose a few, there are other issues that 220 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: are just as important that are affecting our community members 221 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: and they're all interest inter connected. Right. So we can 222 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: talk about UM climate change, but then if we talk 223 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: about climate change, we also have to talk about UM 224 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: environmental racism. And if we talk about the minimum wage, 225 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: we also have to talk about how people are barely 226 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: making it with being under insured or not being insured 227 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: at all. UM. So there there are so many issues 228 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: that are affecting my community UM, and so that it's 229 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: hard for me to choose just a couple, But I 230 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: think that the main focus for me is to bring 231 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: to light the stories of the community members that UM 232 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: are really living and trying to survive in a country 233 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: and a city and a district that often neglects even 234 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: their most basic needs like meeting affordable housing, meeting access 235 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: to grocery stores with healthy food options, UM, having access 236 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: to a hospital, UM, and having even just the right 237 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: to walk around their block and have UM fresh air. 238 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: You know, there are communities in Southeast l A that 239 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: you walk outside and there's this horrendous smell from the 240 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: factories that puts you off from even taking a daily walk. 241 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: So there are so many issues, but it really comes 242 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: down to the fact that our elected officials have often 243 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: taken our community for granted UM and refused to engage 244 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: with community members and really asked them, what do you 245 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: need from us? What do you need for us to 246 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: be fighting for on Capitol Hill? UM. You know, I've 247 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: I've talked to you a few local leaders, and a 248 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: lot of them say I've never even spoken to my 249 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: congress person. I've never even had them come and knock 250 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: on my door. So that's something that we're trying to 251 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: change and ensure that folks feel that we're not only 252 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: here to ask for their vocal more importantly, we're here 253 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: to listen to them and take those concerns seriously and 254 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: bring them to to Capitol Hill. Thank you so much 255 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: for giving some background on that. UM. I know that 256 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: one of your UM one of your pillars is also 257 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: for supporting small businesses and you know, creating quality education. 258 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: Can you expand on that a little bit please? Yeah, 259 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: of course. So, my family has owned a small business 260 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: in the district for decades since one UM and during 261 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: the pandemic, we almost lost our small business. And you know, 262 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: our whole family, not just my immediate family, but our 263 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 1: extended family or theas are pretty most everyone eats from there. 264 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: Everyone works for the small business, for our family business, 265 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: and so we would if we would have lost that business, 266 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 1: it would have been catastrophic for our family. UM. And 267 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: what we saw happen was that we didn't know who 268 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: to reach out to to ask for help. You know, 269 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: a lot of small businesses didn't even know that they 270 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: could qualify for p PP loans when those are being offered, 271 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: and as a result, a lot of UM Latina businesses, 272 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: black owned businesses, women owned businesses had to close down, 273 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 1: and as I spoke to more and more business owners 274 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: in the area, they were like, I just didn't know 275 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: what to do. You know, we were in the middle 276 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 1: of um A pandemic and we were scared to go 277 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: to work, so we had to lessen our hours UM 278 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: And then also we just didn't have customers coming in, 279 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: so we didn't we weren't able to make the money 280 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: we needed to pay rent or pay for our utilities 281 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: UM or pay for employees. So it really demonstrated to 282 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: me how the federal government failed these small businesses. It 283 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: failed making making an effort to contact them and let 284 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: them know what opportunities they had to keep their businesses afloat. 285 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: And also the elected officials in the area weren't doing 286 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: their job of doing community outreach to these businesses to 287 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: help them out. So that's a huge pillar of mine 288 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: helping small businesses because not only at a personal level, 289 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: my family was impacted by the lack of federal support 290 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: UM for small businesses, but also I think it's unfair 291 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: that people lost their livelihood just because they didn't have 292 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: a contact in Washington, d C. That they could reach 293 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: out to for help. And then when it comes to 294 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: quality education, Shan, I think that has it's multifaceted, So 295 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: that includes being able to afford to go to college 296 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 1: if that's something that you would like to do. Not 297 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: having student debt um pin you down and drown you 298 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: after you do graduate from college. I have student loan 299 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: debt that I don't know how I'm going to repay. 300 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: And I know there's people who have even more student 301 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: loan debt that keeps them up at night. And I 302 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: think it's long overdue that we cancel all student loan debt. 303 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: I don't think that five thousand dollars ten thousand dollars 304 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: is enough. I think at this point, year three into 305 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 1: the pandemic, we really should be looking at canceling all 306 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: student loan debt. And then in addition to that, you know, 307 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: at just the beginning levels of UM education, we should 308 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: have univeral universal pre K. We should have UM better 309 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: funding for our public schools, and that's across the board, 310 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: not just in the wealthiest of communities or the widest 311 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: of communities. We should have quality public schools where children 312 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 1: feel safe, where they feel that they can learn, and 313 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: that they can thrive UM in an environment that is 314 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: well resourced, and that also includes providing fair pay to 315 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: our teachers. So, like I said before, we can talk 316 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: about one issue, but it really just expands to a 317 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: whole array of other issues that need to be addressed 318 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: in order to even get this one issue over the 319 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: finish line. So speaking of which, right, we start talking 320 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: about one issue and it opens up into every other 321 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 1: possible issue. So now we're talking about schools, we're talking 322 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: about teachers, we're talking about resources and funding in the 323 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 1: federal government. At the top of our interview we mentioned, um, 324 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: you know, like I have on my TV on right now, 325 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: it's on silent, and there's still coverage of the shooting 326 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: in Texas, and though the shooting took place in an 327 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: elementary school, very young children, teachers, federal government, gun control, Uh, 328 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,239 Speaker 1: there was a shooting in Buffalo last week, and you know, 329 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: you sort of mentioned at the top of our interview 330 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: before we started recording that you have some thoughts right 331 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 1: on the things that the federal government can be doing, 332 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: um about gun control, about school shootings and mass shootings 333 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: in general. So I love it if you could share 334 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: some of your perspective on what we're dealing with today 335 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: and the past couple of weeks and how you like 336 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: plan on enacting those ideas UM if and when you know, 337 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 1: when your election. Yeah, I mean it's absolutely horrendous right 338 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: that young children UM are in danger in their schools 339 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,919 Speaker 1: now And this has been going on for a while. 340 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: You know, we had Columbine decades ago, we had Sandy Hook, 341 00:21:55,800 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: and now we have the UM Texas and it's it's 342 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 1: unacceptable that even after Columbine, even after Sandy Hook, even 343 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: after UM Florida, we have not done anything as a country, 344 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: let alone UM are elected officials have done anything to 345 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: ensure that these tragedies are not happening as frequently or 346 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 1: at all. And I think that you know, step one 347 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: is creating more restrictions on who can access firearms. Why 348 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: does an eighteen year old have access to an A 349 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: R fifteen? They can't. They can't even get a drink 350 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: at a bar or rent a car, but they can 351 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: buy an assault rifle. That makes no sense to me, 352 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: and it's completely unacceptable, and to be frank, it is 353 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: a big part the fault of elected officials who are 354 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: being bought out by the n r A. You know, 355 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 1: they get millions of dollars of donations to not pass 356 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: legislation that would keep us and keep our children safe. 357 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: And so we need to hold this elected officials accountable 358 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: by not re electing them, um, and ensuring that when 359 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: folks are in office, that they are passing legislation that 360 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: ensures these types of tragedies don't happen. So I know 361 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: that the House of Representatives has passed some form of 362 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: gun reform legislation and now it's up to the Senate 363 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 1: to vote on it. So putting pressure on your senators 364 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: for California, that Senator Padilla and Senator Diane Feinstein calling 365 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: them up and letting them know that this is a 366 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: priority and that this bill needs to be called to 367 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: a vote immediately. Um. But also, like I said, playing 368 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: restrict putting the restrictions on who can access weapons. I 369 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: don't think that, like I said, an eighteen year old 370 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: should be able to access an assault rifle, let alone 371 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: any kind of handgun. So why are we letting that happen. 372 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: That should be a federal regulation. Um. But also holding 373 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: these manufacturers manufacturers accountable for producing these weapons. So I 374 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,679 Speaker 1: think it's long overdo that our federal government has a 375 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: response to this. I'm really tired of the thoughts and prayers, 376 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: especially coming from the Republican Party, because thoughts and prayers 377 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: don't keep our kids safe. I'm sorry to say, they 378 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: just don't. So it is time that take they take 379 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,680 Speaker 1: real action, which means passing legislation UM at the state 380 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: level at the federal level to ensure people who have 381 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: horrible intentions don't have access to these types of weapons. 382 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: Thank you, Nicole. I second that, UM. I think it's 383 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,360 Speaker 1: like a very heavy day for everyone, especially if you're 384 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: UM and on social media. You know, this is definitely 385 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: the conversation and it can be very well overwhelming. So 386 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: just reminder to our listeners to take care of themselves, 387 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: you know, and do what you need to do to 388 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: feel feel better, UM and be grounded in community. UM. Nicole, 389 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: My last question for you is how can folks support 390 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: your campaign? How can folks be connected with you as well? Right? 391 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: And I second what you just set up. Taking care 392 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: of ourselves. If you need to check out today or 393 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: for the rest of the week, whatever it may be, UM, 394 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: please do that and reach out to your network and 395 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: your community for support, because that's, to be honest, the 396 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: only way we're going to get through any of this, 397 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: whether it's the pandemic, the global health crisis and a 398 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: global climate change, or um what we're seeing right now 399 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 1: with gun violence. So yes, I think that that's essential. 400 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: That's priority number one is that we're all taking care 401 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: of ourselves. But also we are also electing folks um 402 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: who will do their job, and so I hope to 403 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: be able to do that for my community. And if 404 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: folks want to support our Camp Pain, we would appreciate 405 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: all the help. We need volunteers to help us go canvassing, 406 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: to do phone banks, to do text banks, so folks 407 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: can learn more about the campaign on social media um 408 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: on at Lopez for Congress and that's Lopez with the 409 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: number four Congress and we're posting all the time about 410 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 1: any volunteer opportunities. But also if folks want to check 411 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: out our website, Nicole Opus for Congress dot com, there's 412 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,199 Speaker 1: more information there. But you know, top priority for me 413 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 1: is that folks are taking care of themselves, and if 414 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:38,440 Speaker 1: they have the time and um the capacity to help 415 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: out with our campaign, I would really appreciate that the 416 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: election is coming up very soon, so we need folks 417 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: out on the field to help us UM engage with voters, 418 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: so any help would be appreciated, but please take care 419 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 1: of yourself before anything else. Nicole Lopez running for Congress, 420 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,919 Speaker 1: Thank you once again for stopping by. Go out and 421 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,439 Speaker 1: register to listeners and get your ballots in.