Los Angeles may be on the verge of some major changes to how its city government actually works — changes that could affect everything from who holds power at City Hall to how decisions get made and services get delivered. Raymond Meza, who chaired the commission behind those proposals, joins me to walk through what’s being proposed. That’s on this episode of WNLA.

The City Charter is essentially the city’s constitution — which defines how power is divided, how decisions get made, and how different parts of government interact.The Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission has just wrapped up months of work and sent a package of recommendations to the City Council — proposals aimed at making city government function more effectively.

Those recommendations take on some of the biggest structural questions facing Los Angeles: the size of the City Council, the balance of power between the council and the mayor, oversight of the LAPD, how the city handles budgeting, and how to address long-standing concerns about infrastructure, governance, and public corruption.

Raymond Meza and I take a deep dive into the proposals and what they could mean for the people of Los Angele.

https://reformlacharter.lacity.gov/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

He is a businessman, an environmental advocate, and a former presidential candidate, and has emerged as an early Democratic frontrunner in the race for governor of California. He is running on a message focused on affordability, government performance, and economic fairness. Tom Steyer joins me to talk about his campaign.  We talk about a lot of issues you don't hear about on the statewide campaing trail - child welfare, play equity, the struggles of staying in college while holding down a fulltime job, gentrification, and more.

https://www.tomsteyer.com/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

She is a sitting City Councilmember who has focused on homelessness. housing and government reform -- and now she's running for mayor of Los Angeles. Nithya  Raman joins me for a conversation about her campaign and the direction of the City on this episode of What's Next. Los Angeles, 

Raman was first elected in 2020 to represent Council District 4. She defeated an incumbent in a race that drew national attention. Before joining the council, she was a housing advocate and co-founder of the SELAH neighborhood homelessness coalition and she worked in urban planning and on policy focused on homelessness and housing systems. On the City Council, Raman has been closely associated with efforts to expand renters’ rights and housing reform, overseeing the city's approach to homelessness and promoting increased transparency and oversight of city government. Her tenure has also included debates over development, public safety, and the pace and effectiveness of city services. She entered the mayor's race at the very last minute, arguing that Los Angeles needs to accelerate its response to the housing and homelessness crisis and to improve how City Hall delivers services, and engages with residents.

This conversation was recorded before a live audience as part of a fireside chat with public leaders, organized by the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State LA.

https://www.nithyaforthecity.com/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

Today we continue our look at the race for the State Senate seat held by Ben Allen, who is termed out of office after 12 years representing a sprawling district that includes the South Bay the coastal Westside, and neighborhoods like Fairfax and Hollywood.

Today’s guest is Mike Newhouse, an attorney and longtime neighborhood advocate from Venice.

Newhouse is a land-use attorney and small business owner who has been active in community organizing on the Westside for many years. He previously served as president of the Venice Neighborhood Council and was a founding leader of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils, a coalition representing neighborhood councils across much of the Westside. Newhouse has also served as vice president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and president of the West LA Area Planning Commission. He describes himself as a non-ideological, “common-sense Democrat” focused on practical solutions to issues like housing, public safety, and the cost of living.

I sat down with Mike Newhouse recently to talk about his campaign. Here is that conversation.

https://www.newhouse4ca.com/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

A community organizer and faith leader focused on housing and affordability is running for mayor. Reverend Rae Huang joins me to talk about her campaign. That’s on this episode of WNLA.

Huang has spent two decades bringing people together across faith communities, neighborhoods, and movements to advocate for dignity, fairness, and a more inclusive city. As Deputy Director at Housing NOW! California, she directed statewide campaigns to expand affordable housing and prevent displacement in working-class communities of color. She helped lead efforts behind major legislative and budget wins, including expanded tenant protections under SB 567 and the passage of California’s social housing study bill, SB 555. She has also organized with Clergy for Black Lives and the People’s Budget LA, worked alongside hotel and service workers through Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, and helped launch the Healthy LA Coalition, which secured pandemic relief for families who might otherwise have been left behind. Huang also played a role in organizing fire recovery efforts in Los Angeles.

She says her campaign is focused on strengthening community-driven solutions to make Los Angeles more affordable, more sustainable, and safer for every resident.  Toward the end of the discussion, we discuss how she maintains grace and faith in the world of activism and politics.

https://www.raeforla.com/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

Our in-depth conversations with candidates seeking your vote continues . . In this episode, more on the race for the State Senate seat held by Ben Allen, who is termed out of office after 12 years representing a sprawling district that includes the South Bay the coastal Westside, Malibu and Santa Monica, and neighborhoods like Fairfax and Hollywood.

Today’s guest is Sion Roy, a physician and member of the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees.

Roy is a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he treats patients and trains future doctors. He was first elected to the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Roy is the son of immigrant parents and has described himself as a first-generation American whose family’s experience with education and opportunity helped shape his career in medicine and public service. He has also served as president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association and has been active in efforts to expand healthcare training and workforce programs through Santa Monica College.

His campaign website is: https://drsionroyforsenate.com/ and IG is https://www.instagram.com/drsionroy

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

We’re bringing you conversations with candidates running for mayor of Los Angeles — recorded live in front of an audience in a series of fireside chats. These conversations are conducted in my capacity as executive director of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA. They’re designed to be longer, more in-depth discussions about the nature of public leadership, the challenges facing the city and the ideas candidates have for addressing them.

The race for mayor comes at a pivotal moment for Los Angeles. The city is still grappling with a homelessness crisis, immigration raids,concerns about public safety, and cuts to basic services. Voters will be deciding whether to give Mayor Karen Bass another term — or to choose a different direction.

Today’s guest is Adam Miller, a tech entrepreneur and nonprofit leader.

Miller is the former CEO of Cornerstone OnDemand, an education software company he helped build into a global business. After leaving the company, he co-founded Better Angels, a nonprofit focused on addressing homelessness and developing new models for affordable housing. He entered the mayor’s race in early 2026, arguing that Los Angeles faces a set of management challenges — from housing and homelessness to public safety — and needs stronger leadership at City Hall. Miller describes himself as a Democrat and an outsider candidate, and has said the city has the resources and talent it needs, but lacks effective execution and accountability in government.

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

It is election season again, and that means more candidate spotlights so you can get to know the people who are asking for your vote. Today, in the debut episode of a new season of What's Next, Los Angeles: John Erickson, candidate for State Senate in District 24. 

SD24 is the seat being vacated by Ben Allen, who is termed out of office after 12 years representing a sprawling district that stretches from Rancho Palos Verdes and the South Bay, the coastal Westside, Malibu and Santa Monica, and neighborhoods from Westwood and Fairfax east to Hollywood.

The first candidate we’re speaking with in this race is Erickson, a councilmember and former mayor of the City of West Hollywood. Erickson has served on the West Hollywood City Council since 2020 and was re-elected in 2024. During his time in office, he’s supported efforts to expand affordable housing, strengthen tenant protections, and maintain West Hollywood’s role as a center of LGBTQ political life. He points to raising the city’s minimum wage as one of his signature achievements. Erickson served as the city’s mayor from 2024 to 2025. Before entering elected office, he worked in public affairs and advocacy, including as a vice president at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. He now serves as chief of staff for the Alliance for a Better Community.

Campaign Website: https://www.johnerickson4senate.com/

This episode is produced and edited by Daniel Huecias, sponsored by LA Forward. Research provided by the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA.

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

He has served the 9th City Council District in Los Angeles for years as a council deputy. He has managed political campaigns. And he racked up a ton of endorsements from elected officials. Today I talk with candidate Jose Ugarte.

In this third installment of interviews with candidates to succeed retiring councilmember Curren Price, I speak with Jose Ugarte, A top aide to  Price, Ugarte is a visible face at City Hall, in the district and in the media. He has served Price off and on since 2013, handling district projects and constituent services. Prior to that, he worked as a district deputy to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. He has taken several extended leaves of absence from government to work as a consultant for political campaigns, including those of Price, Rendon, Assemblymember Mike Fong and former Assembymember Miguel Santiago. 

An immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, Ugarte says he will focus on serving the immigrant and low-income communities of the 9th District, and wants to be the "transportation councilmember” with a vision for more Metro rail lines in the 9th District.

Ugarte was recently the subject of an investigation form the city ethics commission, which found that he failed to disclose outside income from his consulting business. He and I discuss that, as well as his biography, and his vision for the city and distinct, in the interview.

Campaign website: https://ugarteforla.com/

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

He is a housing justice advocate who has been a community organizer since he was a kid – and now he is running for Los Angeles City Council. I talk with Estuardo Mazariegos, candidate for Council District 9 in the City of Los Angeles, on this episode of WNLA.

Today is the second installment of our series of interviews with candidates running to succeed Curren Price on the LA City Council. The 9th Council District in Los Angeles stretches from the southern edge of Downtown Los Angeles, through South Central, all the way toward Watts. The communities of Central-Alameda, Vernon-Central, South Park, Green Meadows, and Vermont Square all call District 9 home. The district is among the most diverse and youngest in the city, with over three-quarters of residents identifying as Latino, a significant Black community, and many families with roots across Latin America and beyond. Nearly 40% of District 9 residents live below the federal poverty line, making it the city’s poorest council district, and many households face challenges of housing insecurity, limited access to good jobs, and environmental burdens.

With Price completing his third and final term, the seat is open for the first time since 2013. The primary election will take place on June 2, 2026, and the runoff, if needed, will be in November. This year, the field features community leaders, non-profit executives, and policy advocates all vying for votes. The candidates include Jose Ugarte, Estuardo Mazariegos, Elmer Roldan, and several others—each bringing their own vision for the future of South LA.

Today’s guest is Estuardo Mazariegos. He is the Los Angeles co-director of ACCE, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, a grassroots organization working to organize and fight for  California's traditionally underserved residents, including communities of color, low-income and working families, and the undocumented population.

Estuardo is a an immigrant from Guatemala who was carried across the Rio Grande as a child by his mother. As you’ll hear in the interview, he says he learned to be a community organizer as a young child and has never stopped being one. He is known for his leadership in housing justice initiatives and organizing efforts, working with ACCE and other grassroots groups to address local community issues and advocate for social change

https://www.estuardo4la.com/

Nov 5 - Elmer Roldan

Nov 12 - Estuardo Mazariegos

Nov 19 - Jose Ugarte

What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.