A week after polls closed, the results of a lot of elections are becoming and apparent, and there have been some wild developments! There have been blowouts, nail-biters and big surprises, and Alissa Walker and Godfrey Plata join Mike Bonin to review and discuss it all. The resounding victory of Measure HLA. An edge-of-your-seats finale to the Nithya Raman re-election campaign. A huge surge for progressives in multiple races. A closely watched anti-gay campaign in Glendale. And a helluva lot more.

Check the chapter markers to find the segments of the show you're most interested in.

One of the most high-profile races on the ballot is the one for Los Angeles County District Attorney, where incumbent George Gascon – a progressive reformer – is being challenged by a large field of candidates.

What does a District Attorney really do? How does the position impact criminal justice? How much does it impact crime, and in what ways? And what is a progressive prosecutor? Why is reform needed and what does it look like? In this episode, we talk about that and more, including why it important – crucial even – to re-elect George Gascon.

Mike talks with Marissa Roy, the podcast’s resident legal analyst, as well as Tracee Porter, who has been through the criminal justice system, and talks about what harms it caused her, and the rest of society.

In Los Angeles, there is a deadly crisis on our streets. People from all walks of life – grandparents, elementary school children, service workers, pastors, artists – are falling victim to a rampant killer. Incredibly, elected officials are doing almost nothing about it, but voters can change that – right now.

The killer is traffic violence, and it is on the rise. In 2023, 337 people were killed in automobile crashes in Los Angeles. It’s the worst year on record, with more people dying from car crashes than from murder. In fact, car crashes are the number killer of children in Los Angeles County. An additional 1,559 people were severely injured last year. Voting yes on the Healthy Streets initiative – Measure HLA – would be a huge step to address this crisis and keep our streets safe.

In this episode, Mike talks with Michael Schneider of Streets for All, the lead proponent of the measure. They discuss what it would do, why it is necessary, and how the opposition if full of lies and exaggerations.

You've seen the waves of anti-LGBTQ+ hate in Florida and other places, but did you know it is happening right here in Greater Los Angeles? For the past few years, anti-LGBTQ+ hate has been growing, thanks to the influence of Proud Boys, J6 insurrectionists, and right-wing provocateurs with groups like LibsofTikTok and Gays Against Groomers. And now, two of the leaders of the anti-LGBTQ+ movement, which has been terrorizing parents, students, teachers and school officials, are running for seats on the Glendale School Board.

In this episode, Mike talks about what has happened over the past few years with parent Angie Givant, teacher Alicia Harris and LGBTQ+ activist and GUSD alum Erik Adamian. And then later in the show, Angie and Alicia will join me to talk about the dynamics and the particulars of the school board race.

Further Information

GUSD Parents for Public Schools website
GUSD Parents for Public Schools twitter
GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society

WNLA: Who is Really Behind the Anti-LGBTQ+ protests in LA? (June 12, 2023)
Guardian: ‘Chaos campaign’: how an Armenian enclave became the center of an anti-LGBTQ+ battle
Daily Beast: How Far-Right Extremists Are Targeting Pro-LGBT Schools
Glendale News-Press: Advocates Denounce Hate Speech, Harassment Across GUSD

The Real Jordan Henry: Extremist in Glendale
The Real Aneta Krpekyan

The last in my series of 2024 primary election candidate spotlights: Heather Hutt

Since 2020, L.A.'s 10th council district has had a revolving cast of councilmembers, both elected and appointed. The City Council appointed Heather Hutt to fill the post in September 2022. She is now running to represent the district as its elected councilmember.

Before serving on the council. Hutt served in senior roles for several public officials, most notably as state director for then-US Senator Kamala Harris, chief of staff to Councilmember Herb Wesson, and district director to state Assemblymember and Senator Isadore Hall. She has the endorsement of Mayor Bass, the council’s progressive bloc, and also the council’s most conservative members. She was born and raised in the 10th district – and she is also a single mother to 3 sons that she raised in the 10th district.

She and I served together on the council for about 90 days at one of the most politically tumultuous times in modern LA history.

Her website is here: https://www.heatherhutt.com/

Since 2020, L.A.'s 10th council district has had a revolving cast of councilmembers, both elected and appointed. Now, voters finally get to choose a permanent, voting representative on the council.There is a big and impressive field of candidates – and on this episode I talk with Reggie Jones-Sawyer.

An Assemblymember representing South Los Angeles since 2012, Jones-Sawyer revived the chamber's Progressive Caucus and has chaired the Public Safety Committee, where he was pushed major legislation to reimagine public safety and promote alternatives to incarceration. Prior to his election to office, Jones-Sawyer was an officer with the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. He served for several years in various capacities for the City of Los Angeles, including as deputy mayor, an assistant general manager, and director of real estate.

You can find out more about his campaign here: https://www.reggieforla.com/

The elections are here -- and in the City of Los Angeles, seven of the 15 council seats are on the ballot, and five of them are pretty spirited. Mike is joined by journalist and political strategist Jasmyne Cannick and Democratic Party activist and former council candidate Marco Santana to discuss what's at stake, break down each of the races, and dish a bit.

Some context on the elections:

Council District 14: Your guide to the L.A. City Council District 14 race (LA Times)
The Seething Anti-Blackness of Kevin de León
Council District 10: Laist Coverage
Council District 12: Ethics Showdown in District 12 City Council Race
Council District 4: LA’s Corporate Class Wants to Reverse Progressive Gain
Council District 2: LAist Coverage

Jillian Burgos is an essential healthcare worker, and a small business owner. She graduated from Emily’s List Ignite Change Fellowship and Los Angeles Democrats inaugural TAP Academy and now a 2023 New Leaders Council fellow. Jillian ran for office and was elected to the NoHo Neighborhood Council as the Arts Organization Representative. Shortly after she was appointed as Treasurer, Chair of the Outreach Committee and Housing and Services Committee. Since then she has created a Tenant Rights Workshop in partnership with The City of Los Angeles, Abundant Housing LA and SAJE, helped pass several Neighborhood Purpose Grants that fed many of NoHo’s Unhoused, and brought mental health services and mentorship to schoolchildren with PESA.

You can learn more about her at her campaign website: https://www.jillianforthevalley.com/