1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Coolz Media. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 2: Hi everyone, welcome, VIC can have it here. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 3: It's me James today with a terrible cold as you 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 3: can probably tell, but still very important to listen today 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 3: because I'm talking to andre Na, an organizer from Ktown 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 3: for All Up in LA, and we're going to talk 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 3: about the fires in LA and the. 8 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 2: Meat laid response and what you can do to help. 9 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 2: So welcome to the show Andrena, thank you for having me. James. Yeah, 10 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: thanks for being here. I know you guys are really 11 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 2: busy right now. 12 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 3: So to begin with, like in case this has missed people, 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 3: and there's a lot there's a lot of news happening 14 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 3: right now, can you explain what's been going on in 15 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 3: LA with respected the fires for the last two or 16 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 3: three days. 17 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: So about three or four days ago, we got a 18 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: warning that we were going to be experiencing high winds 19 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: up to fifty miles per hour, which is nuts, and 20 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: they were going to be coming from the desert. So 21 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: this is just like a barrage of hot wind. So 22 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: we were preparing to have to replace tents and tarps 23 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: because you know, man made structures that people are surviving 24 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: with cancer that kind of wind. But when we hear 25 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: that wind here in southern California, we immediately think fire, sadly, 26 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: because any little you know, a cigarette, but an electrical spark, 27 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: you know, like when it's this dry, it's enough to 28 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: cause devastation, which is exactly what's happened. There are about 29 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: seven fires right now spread around the perimeter of Los 30 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: Angeles County that have been started and then spread massively 31 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: by these giant winds everywhere. So the embers are being 32 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: picked up. Thankfully the wind has settled down, but the 33 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: wind itself has prevented, you know, the big water tinkers 34 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: from flying, which is led to the massive devastation that 35 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: you saw in the Palisades and other areas. You know, 36 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: the entire water we being grounded for a while. It 37 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: just meant that it was burning with no control, relying 38 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: on on the ground firefighters. So what we've seen is 39 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: just mass devastation, thousands of homes lost. I think there 40 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: is a death tally, thankfully very low in about tannish. 41 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: I think I've heard from this morning with confirmation, but yeah, 42 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: that's all we're facing right now. 43 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's pretty devastating, like whole neighborhoods have gone, right, 44 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: I think I thought like two thousand structures have already 45 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 3: been burned. And like, as you said, if people aren't 46 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 3: in the United States or aren't familiar with how fire 47 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 3: is fort like out here in the Western United States, 48 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 3: it's a lot of air dropping fire retired in and 49 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 3: air dropping water, which without that, it's very hard to 50 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 3: get enough water to where it needs to be. And 51 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 3: I believe at one point that actually ran out of 52 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 3: water in water towers right up in Palisades. 53 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, the fire hydrants ran dry in some areas, which 54 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: is terrifying to think of. And we were warned, I'm 55 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: in the Korea Ton neighborhood. We were warned about low 56 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: water pressure. And I do know that some areas in 57 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, particularly in that region, are being worn to 58 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: boil water and that their water is unsafe to drink 59 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: right now. 60 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I've seen that too. There was a water boil 61 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: warning for yeah, lots of places. So as a result 62 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 3: of these fires and all the destruction they've caused, I 63 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 3: think I saw it, was it one hundred and fifty 64 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 3: thousand odd people have been displaced now, is that? 65 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 2: Is that right? Is that a good number? 66 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: I saw something large like that of just the people 67 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: that have been evacuated. Right north of me was the 68 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: Sunset fire, and that was very concerningly close to their 69 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: career ten neighborhood that is generally never concerned about fires 70 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: because we're so in the concrete jungle, like we're so insulated. 71 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: I think that's the closest we've come to devastation. And 72 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: we were really stressed out last night just keeping an 73 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: eye on the news because that's, you know, not even 74 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: two miles away from the core of the densest neighborhood 75 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: of Los Angeles. 76 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 2: Right. 77 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess again if people aren't familiar, like, fires 78 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 3: destroy property and kill people every year here, and the 79 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 3: climate change has meant that they have become worse and worse. 80 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 3: But in the middle of a city, you're genermanly not 81 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 3: worried about fires because the resources will be spent to 82 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 3: defend that property. Right, Like, this is to the very 83 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 3: unique situation to see huge parts of a city burning down. 84 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, particularly the Palisades, which is historically a significantly wealthy neighborhood, 85 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: you know, a den of celebrity and Hollywood elites. It 86 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: seeing it devastated just kind of sends home the point 87 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: that you know, you have wealth that insulates you from 88 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 1: the worst of what we're facing, but that only goes 89 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: so far. I saw that there was a couple of 90 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: wealthy people on Twitter begging for private fired fighting forces 91 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: to come save their homes. Famously, the same ones that 92 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: are talking about tax evasion and how smart they are 93 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: to do real estate, you know, maneuvering to not pay 94 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: into the social system that helps in these times. Clearly 95 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: we're severely underfunded and severely undermanaged when it comes to 96 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: the government stepping in during these emergencies. 97 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, and like, that's something I want to address because 98 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 3: I think in every natural disaster that I've covered, the 99 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 3: reason it becomes a disaster, I guess is because the 100 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 3: state's incapable of responding in a way that protects people. 101 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: And in almost every case it's people who have to 102 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 3: step up and look after one another. So we should 103 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 3: talk about the response of the LA city and county governments, 104 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 3: and then I'd love to talk about the mutial aid 105 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 3: response after that. 106 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, from what we've seen here in Kaytown, if you 107 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: weren't immediately evacuated, there's nothing. All of our outreach folks 108 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: that were out talking to all of our unhouse neighbors 109 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: here in the area, which are in the hundreds, first 110 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: of all, didn't know what was going on. They saw 111 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: the sky, they assumed there was a fire nearby, but 112 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: they didn't know the swath of the devastation and that 113 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 1: we were generally threatened as well. They didn't have any supplies, 114 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: and in some areas of Los Angeles we've heard as 115 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: of this morning and yesterday that sweeps have continued. So 116 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: the city has continued throwing away tents from the people 117 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,679 Speaker 1: living on the streets, and then for the house people 118 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: that have been displaced. There are shelter designations that they've 119 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: set up. Pen Pacific Park is one of them for Hollywood, 120 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: there's one in Pasadena, you know, and the like. But 121 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: it seems to be, you know, a hodgepodge of you know, 122 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: disorganization and a lot of you know, mutual aid folks 123 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: on the ground being the ones to direct people and 124 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: gather the supplies. I have not heard of, you know, 125 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: a very formalized system. There is no word on any 126 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: kind of significant assistance for people who have lost their 127 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: homes at the moment, I don't know if the Red 128 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 1: Cross is gonna set a staging zone up or anything. 129 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: But I do know that the people who are setting 130 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: up you know, places for people to go, food, water, 131 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: even pet care things like that have been just random volunteers. 132 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 1: You know. I'm in this chat group Mutual ADLA that 133 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: spurred you know, literally just on signal the day that 134 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: the fire started, that has a thousand people on it 135 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: mobilizing and distributing and volunteering to move people from one 136 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: area of the city to the other. You know, I 137 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: have this person who needs a place to stay, Like, 138 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: who's got a list of places that are open, because 139 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: when you have disasters this big, you need help quickly. Yeah, 140 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: and bureaucracy just doesn't you know that that's not built 141 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: for that. 142 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not. 143 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 3: And like we've definitely seen that there was just a 144 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 3: failure of the state to respond like in the way 145 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 3: that it needed to as quickly as it needed to. 146 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 3: And it's really it's wonderful to see people picking up slack, 147 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 3: Like of course it is. It's really beautiful that people 148 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: show up for each other in these times. There's something 149 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 3: about that that I obviously, like find really affirming. 150 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 2: That's maybe why I do this for a living. 151 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 3: But yeah, it's really beautiful to see It doesn't mean 152 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 3: that we should forget that. Like the state has capacity 153 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 3: that it is using, as you said, to displace people 154 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 3: who are unhoused. It could be using that capacity to 155 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 3: bring masks to people, to bring food to people, to 156 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 3: create shelter for people. It's not it's choosing to harasp 157 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 3: people who live on the street. 158 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, and this is. 159 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: Something we see repeatedly. You know, it hasn't rained in 160 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: LA for about eight months, but when it did rain, 161 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: we had historical rains last year, in particular, we had 162 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: a cold front where folks die every time, and we 163 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: know folks are going to die every time it rains 164 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: here in LA. We have more people that die of 165 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: hypothermia and Los Angeles than New York and San Francisco 166 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: combined every year. Because hypothermia actually doesn't require it to 167 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: be freezing this set end. It just requires you to 168 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: be in around sixty degrees and be wet, which is 169 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: very common on the streets here of LA. We've seen 170 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: people get frostbite from having their skin against cold concrete, 171 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, over the night while it's raining, and our 172 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: electeds know this. When I first started doing this work, 173 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: there was a slogan that we were chanting for a 174 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: day in LA and that was the number of unhelped 175 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: people that died every day, and now we're at about 176 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: six or seven. We request, you know, through the Freedom 177 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: of Information Act, requests the coroner's report every year of 178 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: how many people died, and that number is only growing. 179 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: And the government knows this. They know every time we 180 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: have a heat wave that there are seventy thousand people 181 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: sleeping on the streets, sleeping in their cars. They know that. 182 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: During the winter, you know, people are out there in 183 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,839 Speaker 1: the cold and the rain. And I talk to people 184 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: who aren't into the organizing space and they ask me like, well, 185 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: aren't there you know, insert service here that you think 186 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,959 Speaker 1: there should be, you know right now during the fires, 187 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: Like aren't there vans picking people up and taking them 188 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: to shelter? And it's like that would be wonderful. When 189 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: there's not. There's never any vans picking people up, you know, 190 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: even when they open up cooling shelters and warming shelters. 191 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: The number one barrier we heard from people in the 192 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: streets is how would I get there? And when I 193 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: get there, they make me not bring my stuff in, 194 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: so it's all going to get stolen. There's just all 195 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: of these barriers that the city is just completely you know, 196 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: purposely neglecting. They could talk to any of us on 197 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: how to a successful you know, warming or cooling shelter, 198 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: they don't, you know, they have no interest in what 199 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: we have to say. In fact, our city council person 200 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: here in Kytown doesn't respond to any of our inquiries 201 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: at all. She just flat out doesn't respond to us 202 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: whenever we email her with concerns or questions. And that's 203 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: kind of how we've been, you know, working just with 204 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: the knowledge that we don't have this support of this agency, 205 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: and in fact they are opposition. You know, we're the 206 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: ones having organize around them and what they're doing. 207 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's sadly not that dissimilar here. Like every time 208 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 3: it rains, people will die. Every time we have a 209 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 3: heat wave. I remember they found the remains of an 210 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 3: house person a couple of years ago, and they thought 211 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: the person had been burned like by fire, and it 212 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 3: turned out they had just been exposed to massive amounts 213 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 3: of heat. And yeah, I remember a couple of years ago, 214 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 3: to give an anecdote, it was I think above one 215 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 3: hundred degrees in town. It was so hot and I 216 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 3: was in the riverbed, like I had this big insulated 217 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 3: backpack to get people cold water, and just like dozens 218 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 3: of people, we're in terrible distress. And yeah, there was 219 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 3: no presence of police fire, anyone to help. Right Like 220 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 3: we have these sometimes billion dollar police departments in these cities, 221 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 3: and people are still unsafe and they don't feel safe 222 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 3: reaching out to any government agencies because these government agencies 223 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 3: are the same ones that you say that throw away 224 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 3: that shit, that destroy all the little things that they've 225 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: been trying to build up to get onto, you know, 226 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 3: like a better situation in life. 227 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think there's this sense of like apathy 228 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: that has built, and rightfully so from the people that 229 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: live on the streets where we've you know, relayed messages 230 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: that we've heard like hey, two one one says they 231 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: have one hundred shelter buds tonight, call and see if 232 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 1: you can get in, and they're like, okay, you know, 233 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: like I'll give it a shot, you know, and it's 234 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: very well received because we understand the amount of disappointment 235 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 1: these people have gone through when they do the care 236 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: plus sweeps, which which is in itself such an evil name, 237 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: when they throw all their stuff away when they show up, 238 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 1: and they do care. Plus they show up with a 239 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 1: social worker first, which if I was a social worker, 240 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: I'd be kicking and screaming about how damaging that is 241 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: that right before they throw away everything that an non 242 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: house person owns, they send in a loan social worker 243 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: to write their names and maybe their numbers down and 244 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: tell them that the shelters are full, but they'll get 245 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: back to them, and then they have all of their 246 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: belongings to them away. I can't imagine the harm that 247 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,679 Speaker 1: has done for just trusting services even when they're available, 248 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: you know, accessing them and then giving them your information. 249 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: Have one person who rightfully so told me they have 250 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: trauma about filling out forms because they've done this three 251 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: hundred times, you know, they said something incredible. They've been 252 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: counting about how many times they've filled the same forms 253 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: out to have it lead nowhere. And I can't imagine, 254 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: you know, that kind of resilience. Now, with this devastation, 255 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: there's going to be a lot of homeowners who are 256 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: going to experience that firsthand. I'm seeing a lot of 257 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: people that are homeless for the first time ever in 258 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: their lives, Like in their late fifties. And these are 259 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: people that have owned homes, that have worked careers, that 260 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: have you know, lived their whole life as you're supposed 261 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: to in the United States, and then in their elder 262 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: years before some sort of disaster or social Security doesn't 263 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: pay anymore, and they are severely shocked when I tell 264 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: them what the landscape of our social safety net looks like. 265 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: I've had people ask me like, where do I go 266 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: to sign up for free housing? And I have to 267 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: tell them, you know, the wait list for vouchers is 268 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: fifteen years long and it's a lottery. The list is 269 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: closed because it's so full. You can apply to senior housing, 270 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 1: but that's about a ten year wait. You know that. 271 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: I have to be the one to tell them that, 272 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: and that's sort of shock. I think is going to 273 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: be hitting a lot of folks that have never tried 274 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 1: to access services before. 275 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, let's take a little break here for some 276 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 2: advertisements and then we'll come back. All right, we're back, So. 277 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think anyone who's familiar with the situation facing 278 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 3: unhouse people in southern California will understand that there is 279 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 3: not a safety net, and that's about to become more 280 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 3: profoundly obvious than ever for thousands of people. Let's talk 281 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 3: about the way that people are helping to take care 282 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 3: of one another, because I think that's that's what always 283 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 3: happened to these situations. So let's talk about the mutual 284 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 3: aid effort. Maybe you could talk about some of the groups, 285 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 3: talk about some of the things you've been doing, and 286 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 3: then I want to get on to how people can 287 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 3: help if they're in town, and how people can help 288 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 3: if they are a long way away. 289 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, in LA, we have a very robust network of 290 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: mutual aid groups that have been built by force, honestly, 291 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: via this government. I think a lot a lot of 292 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: them have started up to step in. Just there's no 293 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: denying all over LA that there's this crisis. Because you 294 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: walk outside of your house and there are people sleeping 295 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: on your street. You know, there's people digging through your garbage. 296 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: So we've seen this blossoming of mutual aid groups all 297 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: over the city, and we in times of crisis, you know, 298 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: will spark up a signal group that grows from zero 299 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: to thousands of people overnight that are willing to jump 300 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: in and get their hands dirty, to coalesce and find resources. 301 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: You know, here's where we're buying masks. This star is out, 302 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: don't go to this one. Go to that one who's 303 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: reimbursing people for gas, et cetera, et cetera. And it's 304 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: normal people. You know, I have a full time job. 305 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: My friends here in k Town for All. Some are teachers, 306 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: some are in the movie industry, you know, some are 307 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: random lawyers you know that will take their time out 308 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: to do this work. And I think that it's beautiful 309 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: in the sense that we get people the help they need, 310 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: and it's never enough, which is crushing. Here in Ktown. 311 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: We give supplies to about four hundred or so on 312 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: house people a week minimum, and that is hygiene supplies, 313 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: tense blankets. We connect them to any services that they 314 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: might ask us to connect them to, driving them to 315 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: the hospital, et cetera. And this has been going on 316 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: for the last five years. And Ktown for All specifically 317 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: started as a counter protest because there was an attempt 318 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: to build a shelter here in Koreatown and some homeowners 319 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: organized against it. They marched down Wilshire and shut it down, 320 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: and our founders found each other because they were the 321 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: only five people holding up. We want shelter signs and 322 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: just started doing distribution themselves. And I think that's one 323 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: thing that I would really suggest to folks is it's 324 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: not as intimidating as it seems to start one of 325 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: these projects. It's literally you and a couple of friends 326 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: who decide that you're going to do something, and you 327 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: acknowledge that you can't do everything and that you'll never 328 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: be able to meet the need because what we need 329 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: is a government who cares about people. But in the meanwhile, 330 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: we're going to do the best we can, and the 331 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: lives of the you know, now four hundred or so 332 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: people that we see every week are a little better 333 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: because we decide to do that. 334 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's really important to say that. Like 335 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 3: it can seem really overwhelming. This is an email I 336 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 3: get almost every week, like how do I start a 337 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 3: mutual aid group? But like, if you can make a sandwich, 338 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 3: then you can you can start a mutual aid group. 339 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 3: Like just go and feed people who are hungry, if 340 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 3: someone's cold, give them a blanket. Like it doesn't have 341 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,959 Speaker 3: to be like you don't have to read seventeen books, 342 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 3: you know, and be like starting a five h one, 343 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 3: C three and stuff. 344 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 2: You just need to do things. 345 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 3: And I think, especially like we're going into a new administration, 346 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 3: we're going to see the state being more hot style 347 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 3: to people who already marginalized, And like, the best advice 348 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 3: I have for people is to get off the internet 349 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,959 Speaker 3: and to get into the streets and just do something. 350 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter if you say you won't be able 351 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 3: to do everything, not right away, maybe one day we will, 352 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 3: but like, doing something is a lot better than doing nothing, 353 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 3: and I guarantee it there is also much better for 354 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 3: you and you're met. Like I feel so much better 355 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 3: when I'm able to help people. I wouldn't be able 356 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 3: to do the job I do at the border if 357 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 3: I wasn't also able to help people. It helps me 358 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 3: feel like I'm not part of the problem, I guess, 359 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 3: or like we're doing something about it at least. What 360 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 3: are people doing right now to help people who are 361 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 3: impacted by the fires? Like what are the needs that 362 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 3: are arising and how are people meeting them? 363 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, Ktown for all focuses here in the k 364 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: Town neighborhood, and what we've particularly focused on is mass distribution. 365 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: People are sitting and it's literally raining ash in some 366 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: areas and are sitting in the sut so there's that. 367 00:18:55,000 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: There's basic tent and tarp gathering meals. So many emergencies 368 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 1: services shut down during disasters that you know makes sense, 369 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: but a lot of food kitchens that people would get 370 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 1: meals from are not open right now. So it's getting 371 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: people food, getting people water just enough to survive. In 372 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,959 Speaker 1: other areas, folks are gathering supplies. There's all Power Books 373 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 1: that is a big distribution site right now. Po Mutuoid 374 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: out in the Palms area is doing a lot of 375 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: really great work. The South Bay got swept last night, 376 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,479 Speaker 1: so South Bay Mutuo Aid Club is replacing tens this morning. 377 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,679 Speaker 1: There's a lot of the Pet Mutuo Aid groups who 378 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: are gathering pet food and finding foster homes for a 379 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: lot of the found dogs and cats. It's just I mean, 380 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: I can't even list the amount of people right now 381 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: that are like in their vehicles doing drop offs to 382 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: you know, the Sidewalk project. There's a big skid Row 383 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: distribution point that is building up, crowdsourcing insulin, things that 384 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: like you don't think about that people ran out of 385 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: their house that they need to live, they don't have 386 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,239 Speaker 1: time to go get a prescription right, you know at 387 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 1: a primary care provider like that we need albuterol that 388 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: people are having asthma attacks. So there's these kind of 389 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: burdens that mutual aid projects get around because people a 390 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: don't have to fill out any forms, they don't have 391 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: to wait. If we have it, you're going to be 392 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: handed it. And you know, even medical providers as part 393 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: of our projects, have become a really big support as 394 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: people on the streets are often very disabled. We have 395 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: a lot of folks at diabetes, like diabetic open wounds, 396 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: like just very horrible injuries that need constant care. All 397 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 1: Power Bookstore has a free clinic, All Power Clinic and 398 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: they offer free medical care and come with us on 399 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: our roots here in Ktown to offer free treatment for folks. 400 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: And I think that's something that is going to only grow, 401 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: as you said, as this administration occurs. Homelessness rose eighteen 402 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: percent in the last year, and that's only been the 403 00:20:56,520 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: case every year since we started counting there. There is 404 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: no way this administration is going to institute rent control 405 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: or anything that keeps people from being displaced. One mutual 406 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: aid project that I think people overlook often is the 407 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 1: tenants unions, the LA Tenants Union mobilizing to care for 408 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: their members, checking in on their disabled members. These kind 409 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: of community based organizations where people know people, they know 410 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 1: who to check up on, they know who's vulnerable. Those 411 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: kind of organizations are invaluable in emergencies like these. 412 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, And like I one good thing that can 413 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 3: come out of this is that we can build stronger communities, 414 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 3: right and we can hopefully folks who are finding themselves 415 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 3: dependent on mutual aid for the first time can realize that, 416 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,239 Speaker 3: like they can participate in that. And I know there 417 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 3: are folks already where who have lost their homes who 418 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 3: are still out there helping other people, driving around, rescuing 419 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 3: people and stuff. 420 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think we say this all the time 421 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 1: in the homelessness space. You know, you're closer to being 422 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: homeless than you are to be a billionaire. And I 423 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: think this is one of the most direct examples. Like 424 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,360 Speaker 1: these people might have been well off maybe a month 425 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: or two ago, and then now they have zero. You know, 426 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: they're going to be fighting with insurance companies for maybe 427 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: five years, you know, if some of them, and hopefully 428 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 1: you know, they end up recovering. But I hope they 429 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 1: don't forget that climate change and emergency disasters are a 430 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: great equalizer. And the people that show their faces, they're 431 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: not the politicians, they're not the lobbyists, they're not you know, 432 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: the Democratic Party, you know, TM. It's your neighbor who 433 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: has a mask for you. It's me, someone random from 434 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 1: down the block who got a couple friends together, who 435 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: has water for you. You know, like, that's who comes through, 436 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: and that's who you need to care for all the time, 437 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: including your unhouse neighbors that are around you all the time, 438 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: who live in your community and who face this emergency 439 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: every day. You know, they don't know where they're going 440 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: to sleep every night, they don't know where the next 441 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: meal is coming from. Every day. They get their stuff 442 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: destroyed by the state, you know, regularly, if not once 443 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: a week, very frequently. And I hope this is really sad, 444 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 1: but I hope it forces some empathy in people who 445 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: otherwise don't think about themselves in this context of being 446 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,959 Speaker 1: a human that needs food, water, and shelter, you know, 447 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: the basics. 448 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, talking of food, water and shelter, those are the 449 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 3: things I need as well, and so to pay for them, 450 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:31,719 Speaker 3: I have to pivot to ads. 451 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 2: Now, Okay, we're back. I think that was a really 452 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 2: good plug for the Quai Muti ladies. 453 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 3: Important and hopefully there are people who are listening right 454 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 3: or people who are finding themselves for the first time 455 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 3: interested in helping seeing a crisis. A lot of people 456 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 3: like will ask me if they can come help at 457 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 3: the border, and of course you can, but you should 458 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 3: also help in your own community because there are people 459 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 3: who need you there, and obviously that's very true in 460 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 3: LA right now. So I want to give some resources 461 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 3: some ways people can help. If people are listening in LA, 462 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 3: what are some like I know there are all kinds 463 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 3: of efforts, but what are some concrete things they can 464 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 3: do or some places they can go If they're in 465 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 3: a situation where they're not massively impacted by the fires 466 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 3: and they want to help other people, what are some 467 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:26,880 Speaker 3: things they can do? 468 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 2: You're free to. 469 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: Follow kitown for All on Instagram. We are constantly uploading 470 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: on our stories year round, fundraisers, resource requests, go fundmes, 471 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: et cetera. We really try to stay connected with the 472 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: La Mutual Aid Network, and honestly, once you follow one 473 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 1: of us, you kind of follow all of us because 474 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: we're very supportive of each other's effort. Mutual Aid LA 475 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 1: is a good hub. They have a magazine that gets 476 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: published every month that has a list of mutual aid 477 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 1: programs all over LA. If you can't come out on 478 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 1: physical outreach with us, which we do on Saturdays every 479 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: Saturday except the first Saturday of the month when we 480 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: do our planning meeting, you're free to help us, you know, 481 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 1: connect with others. You're free to help us financially. But 482 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: we also you know, funny you mentioned this, James, But 483 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:16,920 Speaker 1: if you DM us and you're like, hey, I want 484 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: to talk to someone about starting a project in my region, 485 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to hop on a zoom with you. 486 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: Tell you how we do our distribution, tell you how 487 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: we make our maps of encampments, tell you how we 488 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 1: you know, fund and routsource. Always happy to find that 489 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: knowledge and people messages all the time. Can we start 490 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: a Neighborhood for All chapter? Yeah, And we're like, we're 491 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: so honored that you would do that. Please don't ask, 492 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 1: but you're totally welcome to. And so we have Pasadena 493 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: for All that is doing great work, and Pasadena for 494 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: All is definitely always in need of support. They are 495 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: in a huge disaster zone Altadena, Pasadena, Like all those 496 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: areas are been evacuated, Palms mutuid But yeah, if you 497 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:00,719 Speaker 1: want to stay connected, you know, I'll follow us on 498 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: Instagram Ktown for all, same Twitter, same on Blue Sky, 499 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 1: and will hopefully be your input into the La Mutual 500 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: Aid scene. We're always so happy to support anyone else 501 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: doing this work. And while we focus in the Ktown neighborhood, 502 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: LA is a giant place. And if you have any 503 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 1: neighborhoods in Los Angeles that you feel passionate about or 504 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,640 Speaker 1: need extra attention, you know, we'll always be the ones 505 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 1: to uplift those. 506 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's really cool. I think it's really important that 507 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 2: we share. 508 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 3: Like one of my friends, when we were doing border stuff, 509 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 3: made a website where we documented all the stuff we 510 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 3: did so that it was open source and available to people, 511 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 3: like how we built shelters and how we cooked and yeah, 512 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,159 Speaker 3: we don't need to reinvent the wheel every time, Like 513 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 3: we can all help each other get that start and 514 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 3: not make the mistakes so we all made. So that's 515 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 3: really cool that people can reach out to you. What 516 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 3: about if they're a long way away and they just 517 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 3: want to send some money they want to help and 518 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 3: they've got money they want to share. 519 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're always welcome to venmo us Ktown for all. 520 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 1: Same on Venmo, we have a PayPal link, We have 521 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,199 Speaker 1: a website, kton for all dot org. We are five 522 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: oho C three. If you'd like to donate in our 523 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: you know, in some kind of corporate fancy way, feel 524 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: free to dm us. We just got that figured out. 525 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: But yeah, all of our money gets spent directly on 526 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: material goods. We don't have any employees, we don't have 527 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: any overhead. Our volunteers are up to their necks and 528 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: baby wipes usually when we get you know, sock donations 529 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 1: and things like that. And honestly, we prefer it that 530 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: way just because you know, we know what nonprofit requirements 531 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:36,679 Speaker 1: are like and that kind of burden that that place 532 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: is on mutuoid projects and we're trying to avoid them. 533 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: So every time still goes to supplies. And I know 534 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:47,640 Speaker 1: every mutuoid project Jtown Action in Japantown as well, operates 535 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: in a very similar model. I would just suggest people 536 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: get plugged in to mutuoid La. They follow us on Instagram, 537 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: feel free to send any money. Work constantly on our stories, 538 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: uploading go fund and venmos and stuff. I really appreciate 539 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,399 Speaker 1: their help, you know, out of the country, and hope 540 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 1: that one day orgs like ours are not needed anymore 541 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: because we live in a great world. 542 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that'd be nice. 543 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 3: Is there anything else, like, do you have any bottlenecks 544 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 3: or particular shortages that you want to shout out that 545 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 3: the audience can maybe help you with. 546 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: We're always looking for staples, So those are tents and 547 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: tarps constantly. Those are often the most expensive items people 548 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: have to purchase. Tents go about thirty to forty dollars 549 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: each one, and the government throws a lot of them 550 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: away every week. So those items, feel free to always 551 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: DM me if you have some that you would like 552 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: to drop off. But I will say mutual aid orgs 553 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: are really good at building connections directly with vendors, and 554 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: we usually get like a discount and buying in bulk. 555 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: So I would really love to shake people from their 556 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: fear of donating cash. Yeah yeah, I know a lot 557 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: of folks feel comfortable like buying an item because you 558 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:02,719 Speaker 1: know that that's the item that's given out. But sometimes 559 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: we get a better deal buying a thousand of those 560 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: tenths and your dollar goes farther, so you know, tense 561 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: blankets and again, don't be afraid to do this by yourself, 562 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,479 Speaker 1: Like you can go to home Depot and buiotent and 563 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 1: hand it to someone. You can go to home Depot 564 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: and buy masks right now and hand them to someone. 565 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 2: You don't have to. 566 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 1: Wait for a group like this to be around and 567 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: to help, particularly if you're a neighborhood needs you. 568 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's a really good message. It's a good 569 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 2: place to end. 570 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 3: Just to remind everyone, it's at Ktown for All on 571 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 3: Instagram and Ktown for All on Venmo. 572 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 2: Right, yep, great, thanks so much. 573 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. It Could Happen Here is a 574 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 1: production of cool Zone Media. For more podcasts from cool 575 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: Zone Media, visit our website Coolzonmedia dot com, or check 576 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,479 Speaker 1: us out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 577 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 1: you listen to podcasts. You can now find sources for 578 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: It Could Happen here listed directly in episode descriptions. Thanks 579 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: for listening.