1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Can if I am six forty, you're listening to the 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: John Cobelt podcast on the iHeartRadio app. You can hear 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: us every day between one and four o'clock and then 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: after four o'clock John Cobelt's show on demand on the 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: iHeart app. It's same as the radio show. You listen 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 1: to what you missed. Yesterday, we became aware of a 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: post by the mayor of Santa Monica, Lena de Grete. 8 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: I have talked a lot about Santa Monica over time. 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: It's been a barometer of how life in the Los 10 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: Angeles area has just gotten almost intolerable, especially in the 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: last five years, but I would go back about ten 12 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: years where we started noticing the signs of the decay, 13 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: and it's powered more than anything else by the incredible 14 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: number of homeless people, just the frightening, scary drug addicts 15 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,639 Speaker 1: and mental patients running around. The crime. Now we know 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: how much a crime there is with all the NAHB apps, 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: so we don't have to rely on the police, you know, 18 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: every six months to give us their phony numbers. Everybody 19 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,839 Speaker 1: and they're scared. Everybody I know is constantly talking about 20 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: the crime. And I live very close to Santa Monica, 21 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: and every fun thing we used to do was in 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: Santa Monica, and the Palisades Palasades has been allowed to burn. 23 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: Santa Monica is in a state of decay, and the mayor, 24 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,479 Speaker 1: Lenna ne Grete, took over in December, posted we're playing 25 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: going to play a short clip of what she posted, 26 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: and when she talks about a certain host, my picture 27 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: pops up on the video. 28 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 2: Someone just recently said it at dinner the other night 29 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 2: that we live in this massive echo chamber online if 30 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: we disagree with someone, we just click away to people 31 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 2: who think exactly like us. But in real life, disagreement 32 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: requires patients, politeness, and care. We can't just exit the 33 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: room and go to another room where everybody agrees with us. 34 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 2: This matters and politics. Just this morning, I saw KFI 35 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: radio host who has a large audience tens of thousands 36 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 2: of listeners, blamed ten years of what's been happening in 37 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: Santa Monica on myself as the mayor and city council, 38 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: everything from homelessness to storefront closures in Santa Monica, public safety, 39 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: and this shows no understanding of how a charter city works, 40 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: how the rotation of a mayor works. I mean, I've 41 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: only served as mayor since December. This type of misrepresentation 42 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: misleads thousands of listeners and it poisons public trust. 43 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: All right, let's get Lenna Degreda on the mayor Santa Monica. Welcome. 44 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 3: How are you great? How are you? Thank you for 45 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 3: having me on? 46 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: All right? Well, tell me what are you upset? Why 47 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: are you upset with me? What am I saying? What 48 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: am I saying? That is wrong? 49 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 3: So I'm not upset with you personally. I was one 50 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 3: example of many where often people don't understand the lay 51 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 3: of the land in terms of charter city, part time 52 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 3: council members versus full time acted mayors versus appointed mayors, 53 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 3: and broad straightments like you know, the last ten years 54 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 3: of what's been happening in Santa Monica is the fault 55 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 3: of the mayor and the city council can mislead people 56 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 3: into thinking at the next election that the people, all 57 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 3: of them, myself included, aren't electable the next year, right, 58 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 3: And instead, I think it's important at least for me 59 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 3: as mayor to demystify how government works, where the responsibility lies, 60 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 3: what solutions are actually possible, and who can make those happen. 61 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: But when people with big microphones like this station, you 62 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 3: have a lot of amazing listeners. Many of our police 63 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 3: officers and city staff also listen to you share information. 64 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 3: I think we all have a responsibility just to make 65 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 3: sure that it's accurate and it's not just like you know, 66 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: clickbait or you know, fueling the topic of negativity that 67 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 3: everybody wants. And I, for one, I'm somebody if you 68 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 3: follow the votes or follow the conversation, it's often six one. 69 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: I'm not a seasoned politician. I'm a small business owner. 70 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 3: I lived in rent Control, born and raised in the 71 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 3: city of my whole life. One of the reasons I 72 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: ran was because people were doing meth and defecating in 73 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 3: front of our family owned music store. So when I 74 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: hear stuff like that, it's unfortunate because I only heard 75 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,679 Speaker 3: about it because people were tagging me saying, why haven't 76 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 3: you solved all this? And in the past ten years. 77 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 3: On my past ten years, I haven't even been on 78 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 3: council for four. 79 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: Years, let alone four years is a decent amount of time. 80 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: I mean that's an entire presidential term. Well, let me 81 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: ask you this, if if you're the one vote, that's 82 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,119 Speaker 1: voting for the same policy. What's wrong with everyone else? 83 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: Because you just said you got into politics because of 84 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: what was happening people, you know, defecating right in front 85 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: of your home or your business. Why has this been 86 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: allowed for the last ten years? What is going on 87 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: with the other six people on the council. 88 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 3: So the folks that have been elected in, there was 89 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 3: two that were already on council, right, and then there 90 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 3: was a few new people who got elected in in December. 91 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 3: So but to go back ten years, I'll say this one. 92 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 3: Our city charter is such that you elected part time 93 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 3: city council, right, they get about eighteen thousand dollars a year. 94 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 3: We get no staff support. And so these people have 95 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 3: other full time jobs. And I say that just to 96 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 3: point out that people have other full time jobs. And 97 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 3: it ebbs and flows. What type of folks you get. 98 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,239 Speaker 3: You either get folks that are politically motivated and maybe 99 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: moving on to something else. So this is their opportunity 100 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 3: to make a showing of themselves and push forward policy 101 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,119 Speaker 3: that's going to get them to the next thing, whether 102 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,799 Speaker 3: that be Assembly, Congress, Senate, or you have someone who's retired. 103 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 3: Maybe it's to stay relevant. Maybe it's for attention, I 104 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 3: don't know, or you get you know, someone who wants 105 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 3: to do it because this is their community and they 106 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 3: want to serve. But you have to really want to 107 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 3: do it because you're giving your time for so to 108 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 3: that point, the folks that have been here before, over time, 109 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 3: I think we have had progressive policies that just don't 110 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 3: make sense. We're supposed to be nonpartisan. It's not supposed 111 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 3: to be rudder blue. I tried running independently. Everyone said, 112 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 3: oh no, that won't work. You have to run. You know, 113 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 3: I was always a registered Democrat. Final I'll run as 114 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 3: a Democrat. But the problem is we've had progressive policies 115 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 3: put in place, sure in our city, and that has 116 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 3: been the air. But what has happened with Santa Monica 117 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 3: with homelessness is not just that there's layers right, there's 118 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 3: the county. There's state policies that tie the hands of 119 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: our police department. So we have a train you just. 120 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: For a second, Yeah, because we can't go to Santa 121 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: Monica anymore. We go to Manhattan Beach. They don't have 122 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: that problem there. Good. I I well, I'll get to 123 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: that in a second. I work in Burbank. We don't 124 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: have that problem here in Burbank, part of La County. 125 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: Manhattan Beach is beach town. They simply don't put up 126 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: with it. I know. I've talked to the people who 127 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: run that town, and I see what they do. Here 128 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: in Burbank. We had one guy camp outside the station. 129 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: We saw him from a window and the Burbank police 130 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: had him gone in like half an hour. And that's 131 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: been it that I've seen for like, let's say, the 132 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: last five years. So it can be done. And I 133 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: appreciate you trying to explain the process to me, but 134 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: you're explaining process. All I know is my wife and 135 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: I count. 136 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: It's important. 137 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: Well, the process is important, but what's the outcome? Why 138 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: is the outcome of. 139 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 3: This process is important? Because you have to understand that 140 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 3: a city manager runs the city. We hire the city manager, 141 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: the city attorney, and the clerk, but the city manager 142 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 3: hires the chief of police, the fire chief. We have 143 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 3: a new city manager and we're already seeing changes and 144 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 3: you're going to see a different Santa Monica very soon. 145 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 3: But to your point about Manhattan Beach and Burbank, I 146 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 3: know all those council members and I lived adjacent to 147 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: Manhattan Beach before, and I visited on a weekly basis 148 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 3: to visit family members. The difference you cannot compare us 149 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 3: to Manhattan Beach. Santa Monica has also had a homeless problem. Well, 150 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 3: let me tell you, they don't have a train that 151 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: dumps people off at the end of the night. At midnight, 152 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 3: people ride the train from LA and to go back 153 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: to your point. When I was just as a business 154 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 3: owner with my father, we didn't want that train in 155 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 3: because we saw what would happen. Sure, the idea of 156 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 3: you know, having better transportation is nice, but we knew 157 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 3: what was going to happen. So you're bringing people in 158 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 3: from skid row from downtown LA who are riding the 159 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 3: train to seek shelter, and then it stops running and 160 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: at the end of the night they have nowhere to go. 161 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 3: The other issue is we have the majority eighty percent 162 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 3: of the services in the spa of LA. So Manhattan 163 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 3: Beach doesn't have the people concerned and the homeless shelter 164 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 3: and all the things that we have. So if you 165 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 3: have services, I've said this before, if you build it, 166 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 3: they will come. So when people get out of county jail. 167 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 3: They're given a list of places they can go to 168 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 3: get showers, to get a phone service, to have a locker, 169 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 3: to get connected to services. A majority of them are 170 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 3: in Santa Monica and in Venice, so that's where they come. 171 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 3: We have the beaches. But to your other point about 172 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 3: the police addressing someone within thirty minutes right away, the 173 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 3: community has set the tone for what they wanted, or 174 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 3: so they have set, but that has since shifted very recently, 175 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 3: even more so. 176 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: I mean the community set the tone. What what what? What? 177 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 1: What is it they asked for? They asked for people 178 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: to walk around and now to run around screaming. 179 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 3: But they elect people that say, for example, when I 180 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 3: was saying during COVID, when we took out you know, 181 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 3: the ability from Grant's pass, you had to allow people 182 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 3: to have a bedroll to sleep, right when we had 183 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 3: the option to put that back in that you that 184 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 3: was going to be included in our list of things 185 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 3: you cannot have because then it's considered an encampment. And 186 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 3: we have strong encampment laws in Santa Monica, which is 187 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: what you we don't see the encampments you see in Venice, 188 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: or if you know you're driving down Sentinela and you 189 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 3: would see on one side there's encampments, on the other 190 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 3: side there's not. Because we have those strong laws of 191 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 3: what you can't have as an encampment. My colleagues wanted to, 192 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 3: you know, put that back in there so that people 193 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 3: can have it. And in the past people have thought 194 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 3: it was an inhumane you. 195 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:25,239 Speaker 1: Know they but excuse me, I honestly, I mean this sincerely. 196 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: I don't understand because my wife actually terrified to walk 197 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: through Palisades Park, which overlooks the cliff and the beach, 198 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: right it's on the cliff overlooking the beach. Terrified to 199 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: sit on the beach in a beach chair because of 200 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: all the crazy people things we used to do all 201 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: the time we can't do. Terrified of walking down. 202 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 3: The promenade, I mean the promenade, terrified. Listen. I get 203 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 3: what you're going and where you're saying. And I know, 204 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 3: you know, we have John Ally who has a business 205 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 3: there that uses his girlfriend to put you know, banners 206 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 3: and political things, and I get that, but does that 207 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 3: make people want to come there instead of just leasing 208 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 3: out your building? What I will. 209 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: Hold on? Can I have to take a break I'm 210 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: way behind, so stay on for another segment because we've 211 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: only scratched the surface here. Uh. We have Lennin de 212 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 1: Grette on the Mayor of Santa Monica. 213 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI A 214 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 4: M six forty. 215 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: We're going to continue here with the Mayor, Lenin the 216 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: Grete of Santa Monica. Uh. You mentioned in the last 217 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: segment that changes are coming to Santa Monic. Describe these changes. 218 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 3: So we have a new city manager. We've done some 219 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 3: internal reorganization because that's important to make sure that we're 220 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: operating efficiently. People are in the right jobs. So that's 221 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 3: that has happened already. Our police department has set four 222 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 3: priorities that they're focusing on. One is proactive policing and visibility, 223 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 3: so being out there and seeing them. We've already seen 224 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:06,679 Speaker 3: an increase an arrest just with that, addressing you know, 225 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 3: home ticketing. Of course, you know they're going to do 226 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 3: traffic safety stuff. They're still going to do community engagement 227 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 3: and the homelessness. But the proactive policing, in my mind, 228 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 3: is something that's been needed for a long time. We 229 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 3: need to have people on our beaches we need to 230 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 3: have people in the downtown area, and we need to 231 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 3: be able to see them on foot. I used to 232 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 3: run a store, you know, the Lucky Brand store in 233 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 3: the promenade in the nineties, and we had more foot 234 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 3: patrol with our public safety officers who weren't sworn. So 235 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 3: we're bringing that back. We're hoping that sooner than later, 236 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 3: we're going to have a substation at the mall. You know, 237 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 3: those are the things that we help people will feel 238 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 3: safe seeing police physically. That are health sport things. But 239 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 3: I wanted to say that we have a system systemic barriers. 240 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 3: We have judges releasing people because jails are overcrowded. We 241 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: have service providers barely nibbling around the edges around this 242 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 3: issue of you know, people looking like they're outside and 243 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 3: in the sane asylum on the streets, and the medical 244 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: infrastructure to achieve these people just doesn't exist. So this 245 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 3: statewide reform, like the governor's proposal on redefining gravely disabled matters. 246 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 3: But even that won't work unless the county and the 247 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 3: state really put real money into facilities where people can 248 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:23,239 Speaker 3: be treated and stabilized detoc centers, medical detos, and hospitalization. 249 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: So Penamonica, the public gave them billions of dollars to 250 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: do exactly that. So where did the money go? 251 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 3: Well, I don't you're asking me. I mean, I'm not 252 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 3: the I don't run the county. I don't work for 253 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 3: the state. That's my point. We you know, civic engagement 254 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 3: is a shared responsibility, like people need to demand more 255 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 3: of every level. 256 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: Let me let me ask you this. Do you earn 257 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: of your colleagues? Do you ever contact Karen Bass and 258 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: say I do I had there's two billion dollars missing? 259 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: Where did it go? Karen? 260 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I'm happy to answer the questions. And actually, 261 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 3: because I know how you feel, but I will say 262 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 3: I supported Nathan Hofkman, who's our new DA. I speak 263 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 3: to Karen Bath about how I feel when during the 264 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 3: fire as we worked. I just had dinner with Lindsay Horvav. 265 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 3: You know we're friendly, but we disagree on things like 266 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 3: needles in the park and harm reduction. And I bring up, 267 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 3: just like I did at the Hollywood Chamber Forum, publicly, 268 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 3: I ask one, will the county reinvest Fellers instead of 269 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: in harm reduction and handing out smoke hits and needles, 270 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 3: but rather putting people in substance use to sort of 271 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 3: programs that get them sober and clean and detik. 272 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: Okay, and I understand you're on the correct side of 273 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: the issue, but you're dealing with a county supervisor who 274 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: actually wants needles handed out the drug addicts in public parks. 275 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: Insane doesn't even begin to describe that idea. 276 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: But I would save that for her. Right like, we're 277 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 3: on the phone, me and you, so I hear your point, 278 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 3: and pretty soon, I think because of the funding cuts 279 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 3: to the Department of Health, we will probably see that 280 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 3: program go away because of that. But they believe in 281 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 3: it because they believe it's a touch point to get 282 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: pe to talk to them. Now, I have personal experience 283 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 3: with people in my family that will tell you themselves 284 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 3: who are in sobriety that that doesn't work. I think 285 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 3: it's ridiculous, it's nonsensical, and we need common sense solutions. 286 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 3: You don't hand out drug paraphernalia to people suffering from 287 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 3: drug abuse in a park. That more obvious. 288 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: It'd be one thing if they handed out the needles 289 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: and conducted their experiments, you know, somewhere in an enclosed area, 290 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: far away from families. And children. But why do they 291 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: do it in a public park? 292 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 3: Is the reasoning? 293 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: Well why they're. 294 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, they say they need to meet people where they're at. 295 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 3: And I always say, listen, do we meet the person 296 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: who's working two jobs that can't take off a day 297 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 3: work to renew their driver's license at the DMV? Do 298 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 3: we knock on their door and meet them where they're at? 299 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 3: So that idea and philosophy and these ideals are where 300 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 3: we've gotten away from ourselves. So as it pertains to 301 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 3: Santa Monica, I think the changes we'll see is that, look, 302 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 3: a city manager runs the city. The city council hires 303 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 3: these three important people, the city attorney, the city clerk, 304 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: and the city manager. But essentially the city manager runs 305 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 3: the city and well police department. The hands have been tied, 306 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 3: but I'm I'd love. 307 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: To talk about that. Can you hang on another segment? Yeah, 308 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: all right, hold on, Lenna Negrette, she's the mayor of 309 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: Santa Monica. We'll talk further about this because I just 310 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: had that incident the other day trying to call the police. 311 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobels on Demand from KFI AM sixty. 312 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: With the Mayor of Santa Monica, Lena Negrete. Let's you 313 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: mentioned put the police in the last segment. Here's my 314 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: quickly police story. Every morning I do go to Santa 315 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: Monica because there's a bagel shop I really. 316 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: Love and did it you got to give them pop. 317 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: It is It's New York bagel. Oh yeah, DELI okay, 318 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: all right. I'm mill sure in twenty third And to 319 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: get there from where I live, I got to make 320 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: a left turn on twenty sixth Street and I'm coming 321 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: out of a side street and I look up that 322 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: one day and in front of me is a beautiful house, 323 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: stone house, and sitting on the stone wall is a 324 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: really crazy homeless guy with tons of possessions, and he's 325 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: agitated and he's getting up and he's waving his arms, 326 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 1: you know, the whole dance. And I know there's a 327 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: lot of kids that walk along that stretch, and there's 328 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: people just walking every morning doing their exercise and whatnot. 329 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: And you're not going to see him. You're going to 330 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: be walking and he'll just suddenly jump out of the bushes. 331 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: And he looked he looked dangerous to me, and I 332 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: called nine one one and I got interrogated like I 333 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: was the problem. Well what's he doing? I said, Well, 334 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: he's jumping up and down. It's like, well, are you 335 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: more upset about that? Or are you're more upset than 336 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: he's on private property? I go, he's looking menacing on 337 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: private property. Both of them like, what's wrong with you? Well, 338 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: do you want to you want somebody to come out? Well, yes, 339 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: I want somebody to come out. I wantn't to call 340 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: you to tell a story to a friend. I mean, 341 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 1: I got hassled for like a couple of minutes by 342 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: the nine to one O operator or a woman, and 343 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 1: she had a really snarky uh tone to her voice, 344 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: like I was making trouble. And by the way, nobody 345 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: showed up for like two hours, and then they sent 346 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: me a message. And honest to god, he looked really 347 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: dangerous and scary and I'm not going to be able 348 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: to wrestle him to the ground. I don't. I don't 349 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,640 Speaker 1: understand that response. I don't understand why a cop car 350 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: isn't there in a minute and he's thrown in the 351 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: back and taken somewhere else. I don't get that. Nobody 352 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: I know gets that. 353 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 3: I get and I feel totally fill your frustration I've 354 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 3: actually been in similar circumstances. One thing that's happening is 355 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 3: nine one one dispatch is going to be moved under 356 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 3: the police department now, and that's a big deal because 357 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 3: that's that aids when they show up to calls, but 358 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 3: also how they respond to people calling in. So that's 359 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 3: one thing that is changing. Another thing in terms of 360 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 3: when they show up. It has to do with triaging calls, right, 361 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 3: So it may not seem like this and it's frustrating, 362 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 3: but when they're not staffed properly and we have you know, 363 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 3: a call with a person with a weapon and a 364 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 3: robbery that's an action or whatever the case may be, 365 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 3: that call that has someone on there, although very important, 366 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 3: like you say, gets triage and is down the line. 367 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 3: So that's part of it. Is called prioritization. I get that. 368 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 3: You know, oftentimes residents will say, well they don't respond, 369 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 3: not making excuses, but that's the reality to it, right, 370 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 3: So it's not neglect. 371 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: It's just you she's doing twenty questions, well what is 372 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: he doing? Well? Is hess saying? Is he threatening? It's like, oh, 373 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: come on, you think I'm doing this for I just 374 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: want to go get a bagel. And this is the 375 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: welcome to Santa Monica ambassador. As soon as I crossed 376 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: the line, well, we don't want that. 377 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 3: We're going to make it more talloweeny and less scary. 378 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 5: We'll see. 379 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: Let me, let me, let me tell you what my 380 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: wife and I've gone through over the last few years. 381 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: So you understand because we love I've heard you. 382 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 3: I've heard I listened to your show. I've heard it. 383 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 3: Your wife used to come to the promenade every week 384 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 3: and I and then I get that. 385 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: And in the Santa Monica Place which is now three 386 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: quarters empty and that's gone, and and uh and main 387 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 1: Street it is scary, and the beach is scary, and 388 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: every everything is scary. 389 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 3: You have heard this, and I know now I'm on here, 390 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 3: and I would love to keep listening to your commercials 391 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 3: as we go to commercial. But I'm happy to address 392 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 3: it because I think everyone knows how you feel. Right, 393 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,239 Speaker 3: they listened to your show, and I agree, and I 394 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 3: have the same sentiment. 395 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: Well, tell me, when's it going to be fixed? The 396 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: Supreme Court says they have no right to be sleeping 397 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 1: in public areas. So if the Supreme Court said so, 398 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: there's nothing to hide behind. Just get them out. Why 399 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 1: why won't they do that? 400 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 3: So the Supreme Court can say sleeping in public areas, 401 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 3: but that doesn't mean that you can't arrest someone for 402 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 3: just being homeless, right, So that's the biggest problem. So 403 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,120 Speaker 3: even when police do respond to things, state and county 404 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 3: policies of limit what they can do and limit what happens. 405 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 3: Next officers arrest the one, but without jail capacity or 406 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 3: mental health beds, or not being able to hold a 407 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 3: person who's on parole, the person's often back on the 408 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 3: street the same day, which is a cycle that's frustrating 409 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 3: for officers and residents. But what I will say is 410 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 3: this Top thirty six Nathan Hogman, the new DA. There's 411 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 3: now you know, two offenses in the past with having 412 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 3: drugs on a person narcotics. We now have the ability 413 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 3: to go a step further on that third arrest where 414 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 3: they will serve a longer jail time sentence. But we 415 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 3: have to reassess some of the programs that we have, 416 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: like care Court. I don't know how effective that is 417 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 3: when you only have half a dozen people graduating here 418 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 3: and there out of the program. In terms of. 419 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I've read that it's only helped like a couple 420 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: one hundred across the state over several years. Now it's 421 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 1: been next to nothing. 422 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 3: It may I think we have to reassess the programs 423 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,959 Speaker 3: we have. But as it pertends to Santa Monica, we 424 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 3: do have this sale bridge program now where instead of 425 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 3: like walking away from an individual you know you can't, 426 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 3: you can't. Just unfortunate the laws don't allow them to 427 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 3: arrest them just for being homeless. But what I would 428 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 3: like to get to a point is like, how do 429 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 3: we say, hey, we've offered you services, it's not safe 430 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 3: for you to be on the street. 431 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: It's not coming. Well, let me put it this way. 432 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: The thing is, we're not going there anymore. My wife 433 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: won't go there. Okay, so we're not going to the beach, 434 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: we're not going to the park, we're not going to restaurants, 435 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 1: we're not going to the shopping center. We're not We 436 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:28,959 Speaker 1: just can't go. And you can tell me that all 437 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: the reasons. But there are other places that don't seem 438 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: to have this problem. So I mean, if you guys, 439 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: and I understand where you are, you're not with the 440 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 1: other council people. But at some point we just give 441 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: up and say, hey, I guess they just don't want 442 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 1: normal people come coming and spending hundreds of dollars on 443 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: dinner or shopping spree or enjoying the beach. I guess 444 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: you don't want us because nothing has changed now for 445 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: years and years, and I'm just trying to understand why 446 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: they don't want us anymore. 447 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 3: Well, I want to answer your question before we have 448 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 3: to keep going to commercial. But I get it, and 449 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 3: I and I know that you know, the way things 450 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 3: get reported can make Santa Monica sound like a war zone. 451 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 3: That's simply not the case. We're three of ninety thousand 452 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 3: people with millions of visitors every year, right, the vast 453 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 3: majority of people who enjoy the promenade, the pier, the parks, 454 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 3: they go home stafe. But I hear you. We have 455 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 3: challenges with homelessness, we always have, but now it's sentinel 456 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 3: and that it looks even different with mental health and 457 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,679 Speaker 3: nowhere for them to go with people suffering from you know, 458 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 3: mental illness and addiction on our streets. It's real. I 459 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 3: don't downplay it, but to say Santa Monica is so dangerous. 460 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: Also, come on, come on, no, no, no, hold. 461 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,959 Speaker 3: On how the progress that we're making too. I hear you. 462 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 3: It's seventy percent empty in the mall. There's a new 463 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 3: person that's taken over it a new entity. We've got 464 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 3: things coming. We hope that helps. 465 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: We have friends help business. We had friends whose relatives 466 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: came from out of town. They remembered the promenade. It 467 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: just happened. Two weeks go. They go to the promenade. 468 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 1: They are horrified. They ran away. 469 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 3: And do you go to Westwood, you go anywhere else. 470 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 3: A lot of the closures of stores is not just 471 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 3: one thing, it's a multitude of things. That's also the 472 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 3: fact that the lease options there. I tried moving my 473 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 3: small business to the promenade, but the days of shopping 474 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 3: at a thirty thousand square foot gap are gone, and 475 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 3: landlords have to give different creative leases to people. You 476 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 3: can't get twenty one bucks a square foot. You got 477 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 3: to look at a five dollars a square foot lease. 478 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 3: That's more than a five year lease option. It's just 479 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,360 Speaker 3: the reality of Also, it's not just here, but yes, 480 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 3: the scary element. I hear you, So what you're going 481 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 3: to see now is north again. 482 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: I go to Manhattan Beach. 483 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 5: It's the same county it's the same state, it's the 484 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 5: same laws, and somehow their shops are thriving, the restaurants 485 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 5: are thriving, the beaches are clean, their strand where you 486 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 5: can walk. 487 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 3: Is that The only thing that's silly about that is 488 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 3: to not notape the fact that they don't have a 489 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 3: homeless shelter, they don't have a train, they don't have 490 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,440 Speaker 3: that system that is leaving people in their city. I mean, 491 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 3: come on, that's a common sense thing. 492 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: And the politicians in Santa Monica haven't gone to Metro 493 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 1: and tried to negotiate some kind of different system so 494 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: they at the end of the night they don't drop 495 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: hundreds of homeless people. 496 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, it's called tap and tap out. They have 497 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 3: to now check whether or not people have paid. Is 498 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 3: it effective? No, But last night at dinner talking to 499 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 3: the county supervisor, they have a new deputy chief coming 500 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 3: in and a police department. We have an MO you know, 501 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 3: or our police can get on the platform. So to 502 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,679 Speaker 3: your point, hold on, you're asking questions. I hear you 503 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 3: want to keep repeating the experiences you had, and I 504 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 3: don't doubt those I'm not discounting them. But what I'm 505 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 3: saying is you're asking the question right. That's why you 506 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 3: have me on and I'm telling you those are the 507 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 3: changes that we're trying to make at our capacity. But residents, voters, 508 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: people like yourself also need to understand it's not a 509 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 3: pointing finger game. It is also about other levels of 510 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 3: government that need to get involved. So we are working 511 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 3: with Metro. Our police will be on the platform. They're 512 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 3: going to have a deputy chief now our deputy officer 513 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 3: who will be running the police department on the Metro. 514 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 3: We're helping with the tap out that they're not just 515 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 3: waiting until they get to Santa Monica, but making sure 516 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 3: if they didn't pay, that they get off at another stop. 517 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 3: That's not just in Santa Monica, but outside of that. 518 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 3: One thing I have said, if you and I opened 519 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,159 Speaker 3: up a Hamburger shop and we had one hundred Hamburger patties, 520 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 3: we would know that we could serve one hundred Hamburgers 521 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,120 Speaker 3: that day, and that's it. We have never asked ourselves 522 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 3: as a city, how many homeless people can we actually 523 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 3: serve and get into services. So until we figure that out, 524 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 3: this will be a constant problem because we need to 525 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 3: figure out what number can we actually serve. We're sitting 526 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 3: around eight hundred and fifty homeless people at these point 527 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 3: in time counts, but we have loads of people coming 528 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 3: in during the day on the train and using all 529 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 3: the services. Are we cannot be the person the city 530 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,959 Speaker 3: that has all the services for the entire region. It 531 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 3: needs to be regional support. But we need detoxpeds more 532 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 3: than we need these shelf insert day programs where people 533 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 3: can come and take a shower. Yeah, that's great to 534 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 3: get connected to some service provider who talks to them, 535 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 3: who maybe has a meeting with said we need people 536 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 3: in medicalized care. 537 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 1: Lanta. I really appreciate you coming on and I'd love 538 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 1: to talk with you again sometime on the air. 539 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 3: I love the conversation. 540 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: All right, running out of time, gotta do the news. 541 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:23,719 Speaker 4: You're listening to John Cobelts on demand from KFI AM 542 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 4: six forty. 543 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 1: We just had Lenna Nigrette on for the whole hour 544 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 1: of the Mayor of Santa Monica. If you just tuning 545 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: in you missed it, you should listen to this on 546 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: the podcast. We'll post it in a little bit on 547 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: the iHeart app. Moistline is eight seven seven Moist eighty six, 548 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: eight seven seven Moist eighty six. That's a good place 549 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: to react to our parents appearance. I really appreciate her 550 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: coming on and I think she got a lot in 551 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 1: but I don't see. I don't see what's the person, 552 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: what's the entity? Well, who's gonna take response ability for 553 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: ending this era? This era is terrible. We didn't used 554 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:07,919 Speaker 1: to have it, and now it's overwhelmed a lot of 555 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: neighborhoods and cities and it's got to end. And I 556 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: don't hear anybody trying to end it. You know, I 557 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: really don't understand. I don't understand why people vote for 558 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: progressive government when the end result is the destruction of 559 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:30,199 Speaker 1: your city, when the end result is all these illegal aliens, 560 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:34,439 Speaker 1: these mental patients, these drug addicts, these criminals running around 561 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: frightening the hell out of everybody. And you know, people say, oh, 562 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: don't go there. That's the last thing I was trying 563 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: to say to the mayorage, like, we just don't go 564 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: there anymore. I mean, you know, if the other council 565 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: people are cool with that, all right. I mean there's 566 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: I know, there's a lot of reasons stories are going 567 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: out of business, but one of the big reasons in 568 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: Santa Monica is the drug addicts and the mental patients 569 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: running around like crazy and the crime they commit. I'm 570 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,239 Speaker 1: sorry that is I know. The LA Times refused to 571 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: mention it in their story twice. They've done two stories 572 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: now in a week, and twice they refuse to mention it. 573 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: Trust me, here in the real world, it is overwhelmingly 574 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: the reason. Nothing else is close, nothing else matters. But 575 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 1: this is the progressive movement, and those progressives at the 576 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: LA Times will not acknowledge the destruction that the progressives 577 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: in the Santa Monica government have wrought. Well, it's your city, 578 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: not mine. I just used to visit there a lot, 579 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: and now I don't as much. And the other day 580 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: there was a crazy person in front of the bagel shop. 581 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: That's the last thing I do in Santa Monica is 582 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: by a bagel there. And there was a crazy guy 583 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: talking to himself. And if I got to see that 584 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: guy every day, Well, there's other bagel shops, you know. 585 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: Eventually you find other restaurants, you find other shopping districts 586 00:29:56,840 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 1: to walk in, you find other beaches. That's what you want. 587 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: You got it. See you later. Michael Kurser is the 588 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 1: News Conway's next, live in the KFI twenty four hour Newsroom. Hey, 589 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: you've been listening to the John Cobalt Show podcast. You 590 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: can always hear the show live on KFI Am six 591 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: forty from one to four pm every Monday through Friday, 592 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 1: and of course, anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app