What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin

June is LGBTQ Pride Month.  It is time when those of us in the queer community celebrate who we are. It is a time of joy and empowerment. And a time for reflection – of thinking about how far we’ve come, and how far we’ve gone back again,

It is also a time to celebrate our heroes. That is why, in this episode, I speak with Lu Lipmen, a non-binary 13 year-old who is fighting back against the wave of anti-trans hate. They discuss how they face the hate and vitriol -- and how they respond with such courage, poise and determination.

Lu is an inspiring person, and this is a very special episode. I hope you enjoy it.

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

Vulnerable Californians are in the crosshairs. That’s one of the big takeaways from Governor Newsom’s latest budget proposal -- the May Revise.Last week on this podcast, we focused on the proposal’s impact on transportation, housing and climate. Today we’re looking at its impact on vulnerable and low income Californians, and the news is pretty ugly.

Among those likely to suffer if the Legislature doesn’t make changes are low income families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, people who are unhoused, survivors of domestic violence, and foster youth, and immigrants.

Our guest on this episode is Chris Hoene, executive director of the California Budget & Policy Center – a well-respected organization that does research and analysis of state policies, with an eye toward equity and impacts policies have on people who are vulnerable.

Read the California Budget & Policy Center latest report here: https://calbudgetcenter.org/issues/california-budget/

For more on the Los Angeles City Budget, check out this week's episode of LA Podcast, with Mike, Alissa Walker and Godfrey Plata. 

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

Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled his latest budget proposal. What does it mean for mass transit, for housing, and for the fight to save the climate? We will get into with Eli Lipmen, executive director of MOVE LA.

Transit Advocates Warn of Fiscal Crisis After Newsom Passes on Emergency Funding: https://www.kqed.org/news/12040042/transit-advocates-warn-fiscal-crisis-after-newsom-passes-on-emergency-funding#:~:text=Newsom%20include%20%242%20billion%20in,of%20Fund%20California%20Public%20Transit.)

First Reviews of the Governor’s Revised Budget Are In: https://cal.streetsblog.org/2025/05/15/first-reviews-of-the-governors-revised-budget-are-in

Governor Newsom unveils proposal to cut red tape and fast-track housing and development: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/14/governor-newsom-unveils-proposal-to-cut-red-tape-and-fast-track-housing-and-development/

Gavin Newsom lays down the law on housing construction: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/housing-dividing-california-democrats-newsom-00350811

Newsom’s budget cuts anger allies and leave the state’s chronic deficit unresolved: https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/05/newsom-budget-chronic-deficit-unresolved/

Newsom says bailing L.A. out of budget crisis is ‘nonstarter.’ Bass remains hopeful: https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-05-17/newsom-no-money-for-la-budget

Move LA: https://www.movela.org/

Festival Trail: https://festivaltrail.org/

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

In the face of an onslaught of attacks on civil rights and civil liberties and social justice programs, are you feeling demoralized, or helpless, or isolated?

If so, you are not alone.  In this episode, we talk with Rudy Espinoza, executive director of Inclusive Action for the City, about his personal and political search for the courage to stand up, and about the strength he finds in solidarity.

LINKS

Inclusive Action for the City

Rudy's essay in Nonprofit Quarterly

Info on the May Day events across the country

LA Forward Spring Into Action Event - May 3

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

Last weekend, a crowd 36,000 strong flocked to downtown Los Angeles, filling Gloria Molina Grand Park, surrounding Los Angeles City Hall, and stretching a half mile down Spring Street. 

From all around Southern California they came to hear and to cheer Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and to amplify the message that America needs a government that fights for its people, and not its billionaires.

This stop on the Fighting Oligarchy tour was the largest Sanders or AOC rally, ever, anywhere. 

We’ll recap, play some highlights, and contextualize the momentous event on this episode of WNLA.

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

Los Angeles County is creating its own Department of Homeless Services – and pulling hundreds of people and hundreds of millions of dollars out of LAHSA – the joint city-county homelessness services agency.

Is it a big and long overdue step to maximize taxpayer investments in solving homelessness? Or is it a rushed and divisive move that threatens recent progress in bringing our unhoused neighbors indoors?

We’ll discuss that with Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and with Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield – on this episode of What’s Next, Los Angeles?

Some Great Links

This week's LA Podcast with me, Alissa Walker, Hayes Davenport and special guest co-host . . . Carla Hall, who just left her gig as the last member of the editorial board at the LA Times.

LA Times: County supervisors create new homeless agency, despite warnings from L.A. mayor

LAist: Head of LA homeless services resigns days after county votes to pull $350M from troubled agency

LA Public Press: Unhoused LA residents react to LAHSA’s unraveling

LA Times: Feds to look into potential fraud and corruption in Southern California homeless funds

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

Did you know that as a resident of Los Angeles, you have an attorney? The City Attorney is elected to represent and fight for the people of Los Angeles and to serve as the City’s lawyer. Deputy Attorney General Marissa Roy recently announced her campaign for Los Angeles City Attorney, campaigning to protect workers from wage theft, renters from illegal evictions, and consumers from fraud. 

Marissa is running against our current City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. In stark contrast, Hydee has opposed affordable housing for Los Angelenos, sued journalists, prosecuted protesters, and surveilled the emails of her employees.

Find out more about Marissa and her campaign here. You can also follow along on social media on Instagram and X. 

Links and Additional Reading

What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin, The Trouble with Hydee

Capital & Main, The Landlord Behind Massive Los Angeles Eviction Has Spent More Than $1 Million on City Elections

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

Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez has been at the forefront of some of the biggest political battles of the past two years. From winning an Olympic wage for tourism workers, fighting for the rights of street vendors, and championing renter protections, he has been a warrior for the working class.  I talk with him on this episode of WNLA.

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

On the eve of her retirement after six decades of public service, Jackie Goldberg reflects on the history she made as an organizer and an elected official, and offers insights an advice to a new generation of activists. 

Goldberg is ending a career that stints on the Los Angeles school board, the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Assembly. She has been a trailblazing LGBT official and a key progressive leader. In a wide ranging interview with Mike, Jackie shares a history rich with lessons about persistence, collaboration, and staying true to your values. 

Mike and Jackie sat down to talk on November 18, her 80th birthday. The next day, she led the LAUSD board to pass emergency resolutions protecting immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community from the incoming Trump administration.

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

In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the critical issue of racially biased traffic enforcement in Los Angeles, often referred to as "Driving While Black." Our discussion focuses on the systemic challenges faced by drivers of color, who are disproportionately targeted and affected by traffic stops in the city.

Joining us are two esteemed experts in the field: Chauncee Smith of Catalyst California, and Leslie Cooper Johnson of the Community Coalition.

Together, we explore:

- The historical context and current state of racially biased traffic enforcement in Los Angeles.

- Real-life stories and statistical data that highlight the severity of this issue.

- Innovative policy proposals and practical solutions aimed at reducing racial disparities in traffic stops.

- The role of community involvement and advocacy in driving systemic change.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and hear from our experts on how Los Angeles can move towards equitable and just traffic enforcement policies. Join the conversation as we seek to pave the way for progressive change in our city.

MORE INFO:

PUSH-LA: https://pushla.org/

Catalyst California: https://www.catalystcalifornia.org/

Community Coalition: https://cocosouthla.org/

Council File Index (search for file # 20-0875): https://cityclerk.lacity.org/m.clerkconnect/#/cfmsSearch

Los Angeles Times op-ed “Why traffic stops can be deadly for people of color”by Frank R. Baumgartner, Derek Epp and Kelsey Shoubt. 

Washington Post ran an op-ed titled “Get police out of the business of traffic stops.” TJ Grayson and James Forman Jr.

New York Timesop-ed, “Police Officers Shouldn’t Be the Ones to Enforce Traffic Laws by Sarah Seo.,

Slate: The Myth of the Dangerous Traffic Stop Is Killing Black Men in America by Mark Josef Stern. 

North Carolina Times-News: “What would happen if cops didn’t make certain traffic stops? This North Carolina city offers a case study.” 

In 2019, the LA Times reported that data showed a black person in a vehicle was more than four times as likely to be searched by police as a white person, and a Latino was three times as likely. That same year, the LA Times detailed the problem of racially disparate enforcement in LAPD’s Metro unit.

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