1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Look ready, O la la loka moorees, I'm viosa and 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm mala. Today. We are in conversation with Council Member 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: Uniss Ernandez. On September ninth, twenty twenty five, the Supreme 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 1: Court overturned a federal judge's order that prohibited federal agents 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles from stopping and questioning people based on 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: their immigration status. Essentially, this ruling empowers federal agents to 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: racially profile anyone. In a press conference with Chidla Aclu 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: and Dolan and others, Council Member Nissa sat Nandez condemns 9 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,599 Speaker 1: the Supreme Court's ruling, saying this decision codifies bigotry and 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: reversing individual liberties. Here's Council Member Etnandez. 11 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 2: This isn't about making America great again. Over seventy percent 12 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 2: of the people ice tising custody. I've no criminal records. 13 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: It's never been about criminals. Has never been about people 14 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: who have anything on the records. 15 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 3: It's been about who they don't want to see in 16 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 3: this country anymore. 17 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: They're starting with Latinos and they. 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: Will be in twenty twenty two. Since she's been in office, 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: she has passed progressive policy. She is the first openly 20 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: abolitionist on council and has been showing up for her 21 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: district and broader la in the wake of ice raids 22 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: all over Los Angeles. In this interview, we talked to 23 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: her about how she and her office are responding the 24 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: power the federal government has in cities and states, and 25 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: also how she's taking care of herself as a brown 26 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: woman in city council. Here's our interview with council Member 27 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: Onisis and Nandez. 28 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 4: This summer ice raids have created fear, empty spaces and 29 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 4: a city on edge. Many in our community are left 30 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 4: wondering how and why federal agents have access to this power, 31 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 4: an ability to move so freely in our neighborhoods, nappings 32 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 4: on the street, to entering school graduations and school grounds, 33 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 4: as well as hospitals. In this episode, we dive deep 34 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 4: into what's actually happening behind the scenes, unpacked the legal realities, 35 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 4: and the urgent need for community protection. Council Member Hernandez, 36 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 4: thank you so much for joining us today. Can you 37 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 4: please say hello to our listeners. 38 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: I thank you so much for having me today. 39 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 3: This is the only to say none discuncilwoman for the 40 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 3: first here in the city of Los Angeles. 41 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. 42 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: It has been quite an eventful summer in Los Angeles 43 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: and continues as we can get closer to fall. It 44 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: seems that it's going to continue to be eventful, and 45 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: especially for immigrant communities, for Latino communities and just folks 46 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: in LA right, and so just want to start by 47 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: asking how are you doing, how are you feeling, and like, 48 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: how are you staying grounded as an elected official but 49 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: also a person who has been doing the work even 50 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: before you were elected. 51 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: Well, you know, this is the it's been tough. 52 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 3: The immigration rates have been going on for over ten 53 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: weeks now, and a lot of it has been in 54 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 3: my district, from the home depot in cybrus Park to 55 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 3: the home depot in Westlake to the neighborhood of Westlake. 56 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 3: MacArthur Park was overrun with them for a TikTok video. 57 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 3: They brought their horses flags. It's been terrifying for my 58 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 3: district in particular, but throughout the southern California region up 59 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 3: the state and now what we're seeing in DC and 60 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 3: in other parts of the country. And for the first 61 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 3: three weeks of this, it was really touch and go. 62 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: I don't think people understood the seriousness of what was happening. 63 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 3: Where As local elected as a part of the government structure, 64 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 3: we were trying to prevent martial law from taking hold 65 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 3: of the city. We were working to prevent the federalization 66 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 3: of our local law enforcement of LAPD and the sheriffs, 67 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 3: as we've seen happen in DC. That's what we were 68 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 3: trying to prevent. And we saw time and time again 69 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 3: where I felt like the federal government was creating opportunities 70 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 3: to increase the hostility and violence, to create more reason 71 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 3: for them to be here. I was there when they 72 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 3: were at Dodger Stadium, when you know, we had to 73 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 3: figure out a plan to make sure that didn't escalate 74 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: so the National Guard wouldn't be at Dodger Stadium outside 75 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 3: of people's homes. And now we're at a place where 76 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 3: we have a restraining order in place. We're still seeing though, 77 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 3: there are what appear to be indiscriminate raids happening throughout 78 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 3: the region, even after the restraining order, as we saw 79 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 3: them in West Say Home Depot when they jumped out 80 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 3: of the Penske truck. We know that those videos, pictures witnesses. 81 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 3: That evidence has been collected by the attorneys on our 82 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 3: restraining order case and is being submitted to the courts 83 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 3: to see what are the next legal steps. There is 84 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 3: really no playbooks in this country for when our own 85 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 3: armed forces are used against its own people, its own citizens, 86 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 3: its own commune members. 87 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 2: You know where has existed in though in other parts 88 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: of this. 89 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 3: Country and the world, I mean where this country has 90 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 3: taken over or helped put people in power, you know, 91 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 3: when we have removed like presidents and leaders and other 92 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 3: countries that kind of takeover. There's that's that's what this 93 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 3: feels like. And so for a long time we were 94 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 3: for weeks again what's the pathway to protect our people? 95 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 3: So when you ask me how I'm doing, you know, 96 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: it's I'm the daughter. I'm I'm the daughter of immigrants, 97 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 3: my community. You everybody knows someone who's an immigrant in 98 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 3: the city where city of immigrants. Whole industries and economies 99 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 3: are built by the hands and labor of immigrants. 100 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 2: So I know what impacts all of us. 101 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,799 Speaker 3: And I'm feeling better now, But it was quite difficult 102 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: because just how close all the impacts are. You know, 103 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 3: people I know people that have self deported and just 104 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 3: because it's it's just too much. And so how I 105 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 3: stay grounded is by going out there and being with community. 106 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 3: There are people who aren't documented, who are mixed immigrant status, 107 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 3: who are showing up in community for their community, even 108 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 3: as terrified as they are out at vigils. And so 109 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 3: I do I go back to those places where community's 110 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 3: at to be next to brave people. So hopefully that 111 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 3: rubs off a little bit on me, because you know, 112 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 3: in these moments where you're kind of faced with, well, 113 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 3: the federal government has all the power. 114 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: What do you do if you're local elected like you 115 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: don't want to feel powerless. 116 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 3: So that's where I go back to the people community 117 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 3: MacArthur Park, West Sick or all of our neighborhoods. 118 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 4: But it's been rough the locations within Los Angeles that 119 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 4: you mentioned where ice raids have taken place, where the 120 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 4: National Guard has shown up, Dodger Stadium, MacArthur Park, Little Tokyo. 121 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 4: What is the message that is being sent to our 122 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 4: community when these of the city are used as hunting 123 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 4: grounds and as photo ops by these federal agencies. 124 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: We have to know that it's very intentional. 125 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 3: We have to recognize that what they're doing is exploiting 126 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 3: harms that have occurred in the past and letting people 127 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 3: know we can go into any neighborhood and take over 128 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: a park. And that's on that day I said in 129 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: a press province, we are the canary in the coal 130 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 3: mine Los Angeles. What you see happening here is going 131 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 3: to happen in other places because of their new ice 132 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 3: budget that they have. It's in the billions upon billions, 133 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 3: and so it's not on accident that they're literally bringing 134 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 3: out federal immigration enforcement on the same sidewalk in Little 135 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: Tokyo where people were taking from the neighborhood and put 136 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: into camps. It's not by accident that they went to 137 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 3: MacArthur Park, which is the Ellis Island of the West Coast, 138 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 3: which they did nothing but walk the park and scare 139 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 3: little kids that were a summer camp like this is 140 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 3: not by accident. And at Dodger Stadium of being already 141 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 3: a place where it was that was taken from community, 142 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 3: you know, Laloma, Bishop and Palo Verde, and to see 143 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 3: them being there again felt like a trap. 144 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: I was there. They give different reasons why they wouldn't leave. 145 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 3: First, they said communities blocking the driveway, we can't leave, 146 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 3: which was not true. Then they said our keys are 147 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 3: locked in the car, we can't leave. No locksmith ever came. 148 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 3: When they left. It felt like they wanted something to 149 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 3: escalate on such an iconic place in the city. And 150 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 3: I say that to say that Project twenty five is 151 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 3: not like people talk about it like if it's not real. No, 152 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 3: A lot of this has been planned for a long time. 153 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 3: Think about the we have a checks and balances in 154 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 3: our government are judicial brands, which is one of the 155 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 3: checks and balances. For years, they have been laying the 156 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 3: groundwork to replace judges, to be more conservative, to be Republican. 157 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 3: It's not by accident that you know are being given 158 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 3: in their favor. They've built this up. So I do 159 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 3: believe in many cases they are a few steps ahead 160 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 3: because they've. 161 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 2: Been planning for so long. 162 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 3: So I know that's a long answer, but it's what's 163 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 3: happening is calculated and surgical, and we have to I 164 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:14,959 Speaker 3: think in Los Angeles we've done a good job of 165 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 3: not falling into the chap of escalating the situation to 166 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 3: create a perfect environment for them. 167 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: Right, don't go anywhere lokomotives. 168 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 5: We'll be right back, and we're back with more of 169 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 5: our episode. 170 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: I have a follow up question about what you just 171 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: said about Los Angeles as a city and like you, 172 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: as a city council member, of course, not falling into 173 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: the playbook of creating a situation where it needs to escalate. 174 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: But we have seen videos of them collaborating with Border 175 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: patrol and ice agents and so, and I think that 176 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: scares a lot of people because legally they're technically not 177 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: supposed to do because we're a sanctuary city. And so 178 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 1: what are your thoughts on that and the fear that 179 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: people are feeling while they're watching this, either in person 180 00:09:59,120 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: or on. 181 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: Thank you for bringing that up. 182 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 3: And actually, as a council, we do have certain roles 183 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 3: that we play when it comes to accountability and law enforcement. 184 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 3: The main holders of policies and procedures and accountability for 185 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 3: LAPD is the Board of Police Commissioners. So I've been 186 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 3: meeting with the Board of commission plice commissioners to ask 187 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 3: them questions like why do you have police on horses 188 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 3: with wooden batons stomping on people and smacking them. 189 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: In the head. 190 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,199 Speaker 3: Why are you using tear gas when you didn't use 191 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 3: it in twenty twenty when there was other protests happening. 192 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 3: What happened from twenty twenty to these protests that you 193 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 3: have escalated your tactics so severely. Why does it look 194 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 3: like you are assisting federal agents in the abduction of 195 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 3: people from our city, like in downtown when they literally 196 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 3: picked up this woman off her feet and threw on 197 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 3: the back of a car, and she had nothing to 198 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 3: do with the situation. 199 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 2: She was just trying to get to work. So I've 200 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 2: been meeting with. 201 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 3: The Board of Police Commissions commissioners to say you need 202 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:57,719 Speaker 3: to work and draft policies that are clear as date, 203 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 3: black and white. What does lp do do in a 204 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 3: scenario when if they are called through nine one one 205 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 3: to stop to respond to a call where it appears 206 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,599 Speaker 3: people are getting kidnapped by unidentified people? Right, what is 207 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 3: your protocol to identify those people to get their identification 208 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:17,839 Speaker 3: so in order for them, in order for us to 209 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 3: have those conversations. I also put in some motions to 210 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 3: say LAPD Board, a police commissioner, city attorney, we need 211 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:31,079 Speaker 3: to know if we are participating in the in unconstitutional 212 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 3: actions by LAPD being there are we allowing the federal 213 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 3: government to take on constitution actions like taking people based 214 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 3: off the race and so that motion is in there. 215 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 3: The motion around the identifying law, you know, masked federal agents, 216 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 3: that is in there. What to do around the use 217 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 3: of force, the different tactics that are that are being used. 218 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 3: We put in a motion to address that and to 219 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 3: get us in more information on them. But also again 220 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 3: having the meeting with the Board of Police Commissioner is 221 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 3: so important because they draft the laws and we know 222 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 3: that a lot of entities don't want to poke the 223 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 3: bearer of the federal government, so they're acting so cautious. 224 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: But by acting so cautious that we could be. 225 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 3: Participating in unconstitutional acts, which the restraining order that the 226 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 3: judge put forward says, we're happening in our city and 227 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 3: so I don't want us to. 228 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 2: Be tied to that. 229 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 3: So we've done those motions. They're moving through. We're working 230 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 3: with the commission to figure this out. But we have 231 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:36,079 Speaker 3: a role in that accountability and I take it very seriously. 232 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 3: There's videos, there's pictures, and we know people have gotten hurt. 233 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,599 Speaker 3: And one of the main reasons why we're broken this 234 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 3: city is because of liability costs. Liability costs that come 235 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 3: from cases primarily by police overuse of force, people getting hurt, 236 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 3: people getting killed by LPD, and we cannot afford that 237 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 3: fiscally either. 238 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 2: So it's a prior of mine. 239 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: I'm working on it, and I put those motions forward 240 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 3: with my colleagues, Ulso the Martinez, and I think this 241 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: is about Houdado as well. 242 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 4: Now, I'm sure that there are listeners out there who 243 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 4: have wondered this summer. I know I have asked this 244 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 4: question of myself and watching everything unfold this summer, how 245 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 4: is it legally that an entity like ICE is able 246 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 4: to just enter into LA and do whatever they want? 247 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 4: In essence, what is the legal mechanism or the lack 248 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 4: of a llegal mechanism that allows for those conditions to 249 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 4: play out the way that they have this summer. 250 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 3: Well, what we've seen is that in the city they 251 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 3: they use different laws in the books that were used 252 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 3: during the time of wars to give give an excuse 253 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 3: on why they needed to bring the National Guard and 254 00:13:58,440 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 3: the Marines to the city. 255 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: They they use the uh there. 256 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,599 Speaker 3: Was people who were protesting, right and it got a 257 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 3: little bit hot in downtown. Maybe a few blocks nothing more. 258 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: They use that also to legitimize their presence of National 259 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,719 Speaker 3: Guard and the Marines here in the city. And so 260 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 3: when we talk about the escalation, it's because we saw 261 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 3: how it was going to I was being utilized by 262 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 3: them through different laws and court cases to legitimize their presence. 263 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 2: So when you when you ask, like how how they 264 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: could be here? How could they do what they want? 265 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 3: They are one they're the federal government, and they they're 266 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: the constitution and other laws give them the power to 267 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 3: supersede some of the power that we have even though 268 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 3: we are we are a city and a state. 269 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: That is, we are not. 270 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 3: Independent of this country, but we have our sovereign rights 271 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 3: and protections. Those weren't enough to stop what they are 272 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 3: saying is enforcement of federal immigration law that they can 273 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 3: do anywhere our sanctuary city. So each state in the 274 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 3: country and wherever they're a sanctuary city, they each one 275 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 3: is drafted differently. Some of them are much stronger, but 276 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 3: because of how strong they are, they're more more susceptible 277 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 3: to a lawsuit. The way that the one in the 278 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 3: city was written, we wanted it to be much stronger, 279 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 3: but this is the ordinance that we got from the 280 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 3: city attorney was one that was drafted to, you know, 281 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 3: not poke the federal government or aka give them an 282 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 3: excuse to sue us, which it didn't stop them. They 283 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 3: still suit us on sanctuary city. But people thought that 284 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 3: sanctuary city was like a blockade that that would prevent 285 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 3: the federal government from coming in and no, Sanctuary City 286 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 3: is more about stopping the city from using our resources, 287 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 3: our staff, time, our property, and our data to help 288 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 3: enforce federal immigration law because we are superseded by federal law. 289 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 3: So people have to know that the federal government has 290 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 3: the power to do this and. 291 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 2: They are doing it. 292 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 3: And that's why when I say all the things that 293 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 3: I've said so far, it's not an exaggeration. This is 294 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: what we are going through. And I think the closest 295 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 3: compared to is Handmaid's Tale. And I don't say that lightly. 296 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 3: Like people need to understand what's happening. It's already going 297 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 3: to other strong democratic cities in the country, New York 298 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 3: what we're seeing so and it's not stopping. 299 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: Right. 300 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 3: You think that the courts would save us checks and balances, 301 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 3: but it's it's not happening. Because we're talking about authoritarianism. 302 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 3: We're talking about authoritarianism takeovers. So I just want to 303 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 3: be clear and candid, not exaggerating, but it's. 304 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere, locomotives. 305 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 5: We'll be right back, and we're back with more of 306 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 5: our episode. 307 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: And that's, you know, one of the things we really 308 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: appreciate about you council and brand and on this even 309 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: before you were elected into office, you've always kept it real. 310 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: Your values are at the forefront of what you do, 311 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: and that's one of the reasons we admire you and 312 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: are so happy to have you on the podcast. And 313 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: so I want to just go back about this years 314 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: ago now when you were campaigning, but just about your 315 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: origin story and how your daughter of immigrants an LA local, 316 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,880 Speaker 1: and how that is integral to how you're working. It's 317 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: integral to how you show up as a council member, 318 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: and so I want to ask you more about that 319 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: in your story. 320 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 3: So, I was born and raised in LA in Council 321 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 3: Districts one, and I've lived here my whole life. I 322 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 3: have a decade of experience working on policy, primarily on 323 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 3: criminal justice. 324 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 2: Reform and abolition. 325 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 3: Why because I grew up in Highland Park and a 326 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 3: lot of my friends and were impacted by gangs, the 327 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 3: foster care system. They you know, they're veterans, they fought 328 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 3: in Afghanistan and Iraq wars came back at mental health 329 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 3: needs and other you know, problematic substances. So I've seen 330 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: my loved ones be impacted by different issues, but the 331 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 3: main thing they were impacted by was the lack of 332 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 3: services and care, stable housing. And I thought when I 333 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 3: went to college, I was going to be a cop 334 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 3: because I was like, I could have been the cop 335 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 3: that wouldn't have arrested my friend for selling weed. I 336 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:10,199 Speaker 3: could have been the cop that would have helped him 337 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 3: get a job because he was impacted by a fostercire system, 338 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 3: or when there was intimate partner violence in my home 339 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 3: that I could have helped keep peace and safety in 340 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 3: that home instead of saying, hey, we've been here for 341 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 3: this before. 342 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: We got more important things to do. But in college 343 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 2: I learned I was like, oh, man, there's. 344 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 3: Data, vocabulary, examples of what I experienced in my friends 345 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 3: experience growing up, and it happens everywhere. So that was 346 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 3: a long journey to me ending up and doing the 347 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 3: work I was doing with nonprofits before I started running 348 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 3: for office. I co founded an organization called La Defensa 349 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 3: to try to get progressive judges elected in La County 350 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 3: because we saw that the judges were our biggest roadblock 351 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 3: to implementing laws to provide care, to bring people home 352 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 3: from incarceration, and remove barriers. And I did that work 353 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 3: again because of my loved ones I saw being impacted. 354 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: I am a survivor of violence. 355 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 3: I also grew up in this neighborhood where gentrification wiped 356 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 3: everybody out, businesses, homes in two thousand and eight, and 357 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 3: so those experiences coming in a place of well, I 358 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 3: got to try to fight for people whose voices are 359 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,120 Speaker 3: not heard, people who are been marginalized, people are seen 360 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 3: as less than because of perhaps their experiences in their life. 361 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 2: And that's been my whole career. 362 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 3: And during COVID, I saw that there was a big 363 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 3: gap in leadership, right, Like the people struggling were struggling 364 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 3: even even more during COVID, and there was no long 365 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 3: term solutions implemented during. 366 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 2: COVID that could help our communities stay housed. 367 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 3: Like that would outlive that moment, right And I knew 368 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 3: the Senora is getting the cancel in the recycling Bin 369 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 3: weren't going to be able to survive another four years 370 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 3: under the same type of leadership, and so I said, 371 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 3: you know what, I'm going to try to run for 372 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 3: city council. And a lot of people told me not 373 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 3: to do it. They said, wait your turn. You know, 374 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 3: he has one more term left. But like I said, 375 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 3: I knew people weren't going to be able to live 376 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 3: here anymore or if we're just continue to solve our community. 377 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 2: Now I'm running again. 378 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 3: But if you would ask my first year how I'm doing, 379 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,399 Speaker 3: I would have been like I I Evan hated here 380 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 3: because it was very hard, Like these seats are not 381 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 3: built for someone like me. I'm a woman, latina, a 382 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 3: plus sized woman, young, like I'm progressive, the most progressive 383 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 3: on the council. And so I think like the first year, 384 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 3: there was a lot of things thrown in my way 385 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 3: and some things that I tipped. 386 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 2: On myself which are difficult. 387 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 3: And now in year two and now I'm entering year three, 388 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 3: I'm in midway of year three. I feel like we 389 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,199 Speaker 3: built a team, like we build experience, so we get 390 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 3: hit with waves, right, But it's because it's like every 391 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:43,719 Speaker 3: day is like going up a hill. 392 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 2: But it's I see the changes that we make. 393 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 3: I see like now, like because the ways that I 394 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 3: vote now more council members vote that way, or we 395 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 3: have conversations that we would have never had if I 396 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 3: didn't ask the questions, And so it makes it worth it, 397 00:20:58,440 --> 00:20:59,959 Speaker 3: even though it's probably one of the hardest things I've 398 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 3: ever done and do, and but it's for our people, 399 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 3: because if not, we're just on the menu and not 400 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 3: at the table. And so I'm just grateful for the 401 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 3: opportunity to get to fight, even though sometimes as lonely 402 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 3: or uncomfortable or exhausting. 403 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 2: If it's not us fighting for us, then we're just 404 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 2: for sale. 405 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 4: Really incredible words from you, Counselwoman Hernandez. Thank you for 406 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 4: your service and for your willingness to continue serving, because 407 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 4: I know it's not an easy job and it's not 408 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 4: an easy year to be in this position that you're in. 409 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 2: So thank you for being a. 410 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 4: Voice and for coming on the show, for talking about 411 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 4: the work that you're doing, what's been going on behind 412 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 4: the scenes this summer, and for informing our listeners about 413 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 4: your plans to run again. 414 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. 415 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 3: And I think the last thing I'll say is that 416 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 3: I appreciate you all, you know, having this show to 417 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 3: be able to digest it for for your listeners right 418 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 3: that maybe are tuning in for other pieces of culture 419 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,439 Speaker 3: or just you know, just listening to you two icons, right, 420 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 3: But thank you for this opportunity to share. And I 421 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 3: hope that people get more engaged, especially politically, because powerful interests, 422 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 3: powerful people and rich people, they are more than happy 423 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 3: for our people to be disengaged. They don't care if 424 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 3: you can afford to live in this city or not, 425 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 3: because they know that there's rich people that can. And 426 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 3: so the conditions and quality of our life from the 427 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 3: trees to the streetlights, so the sidewalks, to your rent 428 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 3: to how much you pay for your garbage pickup, all 429 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:44,240 Speaker 3: of that is determined by local policy and oftentimes that 430 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 3: can be influenced by special interests in rich people if 431 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 3: you are not at the table. So it's not even 432 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 3: for my campaign, but just get politically engaged. There's still 433 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 3: time and they don't want us to. So it's resistance 434 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 3: to plug in and try to influence power in this way. 435 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: I do have a follow up question for you, council member, 436 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: and on this because I you know you are like 437 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned you're a younger Latina on the council, you're 438 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: the most progressive, and I'm wondering how do you handle 439 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: like criticism that comes at you online in person, both 440 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: like from all like all around, right, like from progressives, trolls, 441 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: even conservatives, like how are you taking care of yourself? 442 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: And like how do you handle all of it? Because 443 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: it's a lot of pressure. 444 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 2: You know, that's a that's a that's a great question. 445 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 3: And you know, I don't have the magic pill to say, look, 446 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 3: this is this is what I have done to figure 447 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 3: it out. But I'm at a place where I recognize 448 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 3: that one not everybody's going to be happy, but I 449 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 3: have to learn what's going to make me happy. And 450 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 3: knowing that the work we're doing, knowing that we're helping 451 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 3: keep people in their housing, that is that those are 452 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 3: the things that I've remind myself when it's constantly like 453 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 3: about what I look like or what I'm wearing or 454 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 3: what I'm doing, Like mostly it's what I look like. 455 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 3: And so there's people that I know that are just 456 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 3: the bods, people that are trolls, and I have to 457 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 3: I am the one that gets to decide how much 458 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 3: weight I put behind you and if I think, if I, 459 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 3: if I, and this happens over time, right, you don't 460 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 3: just figure it out. 461 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 2: But over time I've. 462 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 3: Learned to put less weight into those things because if 463 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 3: I hadn't, it would have probably like you know, it 464 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 3: breaks you, like it just kind of wears you down 465 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 3: over time. But you know, I do things that bring 466 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 3: me a lot of joy. My partner brings me a 467 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 3: lot of joy. We do a lot of fun stuff 468 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 3: and you know, travel to see like parks and going 469 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 3: to concerts, going to movies. That is also just a 470 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 3: reminder of like I'm a human being, like I'm not 471 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 3: just this politician as like because it because honestly, it 472 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 3: feels like once I was in this role, like I 473 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 3: lost my humanity. Like it's you're no longer a human being. 474 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 3: You are this council member and that's it. And so 475 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 3: it's been reminding myself, no, I'm a person and I'm 476 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 3: not perfect, and that's okay, and I'm not here. I'm 477 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 3: here to help my people and to fight for my people, 478 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 3: and that means all the people in my district but 479 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 3: also the generations that will come behind it. So I 480 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 3: don't have the magic peel other than just trying to 481 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 3: put effort into feeling joy and putting effort into not 482 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,880 Speaker 3: giving all the toxicity any weight. 483 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 4: That's a beautiful answer a council member. Thank you so 484 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 4: much again for being vulnerable also and not being afraid 485 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 4: to get a little personal. I think it's important for 486 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 4: everyone to remember that our elected officials are people with 487 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 4: lives and feelings and fears. And we had the opportunity 488 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 4: to speak with Representative Garcia, Linda Garcia from Texas, and 489 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 4: she shared some of her fears and got a little 490 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 4: bit emotional on show as she talked about how she 491 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 4: fled Texas with her son and she's in Illinois and 492 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 4: they've been fielding bomb threats and threats of arrest by 493 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 4: Governor Abbott. I'm wondering if you have any words for 494 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 4: those Texas Democrats who are in the midst of that 495 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 4: process of trying to fight for democracy in their own way. 496 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 3: Yes, what I would tell them is to stay strong. 497 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 3: You know, they are at the forefront of trying to 498 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 3: save democracy, trying to save you know, not a perfect country, 499 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 3: but a country where at least we have freedoms that 500 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,880 Speaker 3: don't exist in other places. And so they are doing 501 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 3: the right thing. They have to trust that that and 502 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 3: I just hope that they stay united because the powers 503 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 3: in numbers, the power. 504 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 2: Is with them. 505 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 3: They are the people and they are representing our entire 506 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 3: country right now. So I just I'll pray for them, 507 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 3: hope God bless them and that they remain strong. 508 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 1: To our locomotives, our listeners based in La and beyond, 509 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 1: we are with you and will continue to cover the 510 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: issues affecting our communities, amplify those stories and be a 511 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 1: space for you until next time. Besitos Loka do A 512 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: Radio is executive produced by Viosa Fem and Mala Munios. 513 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 5: Stephanie Franco is our producer. Story editing by me viosa 514 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 5: creative direction by Me Mala. 515 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: Look At Radio is a part of iHeartRadio's Michael Dura 516 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:27,439 Speaker 1: podcast network. 517 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 4: You can listen to look At Radio on the iHeartRadio 518 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 4: app or wherever you get your podcasts. 519 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 1: Leave us a review and share with your Prima or 520 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: share with your homegirl. 521 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,360 Speaker 4: And thank you to our local mores, to our listeners 522 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 4: for tuning in each and every week. 523 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 5: Besitos Loka