This week on The Signal, we revisit two Los Angeles races as the November election approaches. Angela Gonzalez-Torres returns to discuss California’s 34th Congressional District, cost of living, immigration, campaign money and accountability. Then Los Angeles City Council District 9 candidate Jose Ugarte talks about public safety, homelessness, housing, transit, labor and the impact of the 2028 Olympics on South L.A.
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TRANSCRIPT
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
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MUSIC INTRO
We'll run by a handful of greedy bankers and CEOs who nobody elected. What can't possibly last?
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MUSIC INTRO
I'm going to tell you what I'm French.
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MUSIC INTRO
But you really only have to remember to.
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DINO
Do what's going on. L.A., welcome back to The Signal. News, information and analysis. This is Dino. I'm your host with the most. And I want to welcome everybody, listening across Southern California here on 90.7 FM, 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara, 93.7 FM in San Diego County. And of course, my friends over at 99.5 FM Ridgecrest, China. Lee, today we have a great program lined up for you and this is a fun drive edition of The Signal.
00:00:48:03 - 00:01:12:19
DINO
Now, I want to remind everybody why it's so important that you continue to be a sponsor of this important news outlet. But before we get to that, I want to let you guys know what's coming up today. We're going to continue our conversation with candidates we've had. Geez, dozens at this point, probably candidates from across the political spectrum, from Congress to Senate to local city.
00:01:12:21 - 00:01:42:01
DINO
And today's episode, we're actually inviting folks back, folks that we talked to, during the, primary leading up to the primary, my first guest will be Angela Gonzalez-Torres, who's running for Congress. And as you know, hey, given, we're, sitting congressman there, Jimmy Gomez, a run for the money. And we'll get into that shortly with Angela.
00:01:42:07 - 00:02:06:05
DINO
And then in the second part of the program, we're going to have, a candidate from Los Angeles City Council, District nine, Jose Ugarte who is also in house in the studio, ready to go. And then you may recall, last week we had the candidate who is running, also for the seat. Masariegos ,Estuardo Masariegos, who was in studio as well.
00:02:06:06 - 00:02:38:19
DINO
But before we get to all of that, we want to do an important reminder. I'm going to ask my producer, Arnella Barbara, to jump in here. And Nela, you know, nella has been working on this project for quite some time myself. I've been around public radio now, coming up on 20 plus years, and I can't tell you enough as to why how vitally important this is, as not only just because we have our radio program here and dozens of other radio programs, but keep in mind that this broadcast station has been on the air since 1959.
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DINO
It is by far the most progressive news organization on this part of the planet, and without this, you won't hear the voices of progressive candidates like or say, like, I'm kind of like everybody else who's been on this, airway. Now, I'll tell us why.
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ARNELLA
Now, I'm going to speak to all of you guys from from my heart for a moment. You're listening to The Signal on Kpfk 90.7 Assemblies Angeles, a station that is 100% listener sponsored. That means the person who can help keep us on the air is the person listening right now. And it's you. Our goal today is $1,000 in one hour, 100 listeners.
00:03:23:12 - 00:03:50:13
ARNELLA
Giving just $10 would get us there. You don't have to request a book. You can simply call and say, I would like to help. So go to your phone. (818) 985-5735. Option one no. Option two. Option one would be to the studio, but we can take your information and run over to the subscription. So option two let me say that one more time (818) 985-5735.
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ARNELLA
Option two I would like you to know what it takes to keep the station going. And this is not all. We pay $10,000 a month in rent for a tiny space. We used to have an entire building. Now we have less than a half of the floor. We have an 11,000 trans transmitter bill. And rent for the transmitter site as well.
00:04:13:11 - 00:04:39:13
ARNELLA
We are so short staffed that each of us does 5 to 6, sometimes seven different jobs. I am here seven days a week, often 12 to 15 hours a day. I am a host, a madre, and a producer. I'm production assistant. I work on events, outreach and fundraising. I send the mail, I write and record promos, I edit, I clean our break room and office.
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ARNELLA
I do whatever I can to help keep Kpfk on the air. I am paid for some of my time, but I choose to volunteer about half of it because I believe this station matters. Nobody asked me to do that. I do it because I care about the voices you hear right here on air, and because I care about you, our listeners.
00:05:04:17 - 00:05:38:23
ARNELLA
But I cannot or we cannot keep the station going by ourselves. None of us can. This is where you jump in. So please call 8189855735818985 Kpfk. Option two. Again, our goal is thousand dollars. Let's reach it together. Please don't think someone else will do it. Someone else may be thinking the very same thing. You are listening. You can be the person who calls and Dino back to you.
00:05:39:01 - 00:06:07:08
DINO
You know, when we when I first came to this broadcast operation. Now many know the first time I ever stepped into the studios, I guess was about 30 years ago. And then, eventually did come to support the, the radio broadcasts, both locally and at the national level. I've seen it grow and evolve and develop, and we're currently living at a moment in which public media is losing all funding.
00:06:07:10 - 00:06:43:16
DINO
Newsrooms are shrinking. Independent voices are fighting to stay on the air, to stay, just to be able to tune in has become a difficult challenge for many. So we're asking you to stand with listener powered community radio and help us keep the signal strong. Every Saturday I come in here 12 to 1, my producer Nellis, helping me develop this program, helping produce the content, contacting guests and, you know, we're able to bring you some unique voices that otherwise, you know, if not for a political momentum, they might not get those voices.
00:06:43:16 - 00:07:07:04
DINO
And we always try and bring in folks. You know, I had folks say to me not too long ago during the primary, say to me, well, why are you bringing that candidate if they don't have a chance? And I remember thinking, yeah, because we're not like the mainstream media. That only goes to those who they or you think has a chance.
00:07:07:05 - 00:07:30:08
DINO
If that's the purpose, then what? What what the hell are we doing here? So it's about bringing independent voices, about bringing public radio to the masses. So every Saturday, 12 to 1, if you tune in and I know many of you do, help us out. Make a donation. You can go to the website Kpfk, Georgie kpfk.org. Let them know it's for the signal news, information and analysis with Dino.
00:07:30:10 - 00:07:56:20
DINO
And maybe if you do make that donation, now I can, increase my banana intake and my grape intake, which is how she pays me, to more than two bananas a week. And with that, we're going to bring in my guests. Who's in studio and who? Has been working really hard for more than just grapes and bananas that I get around this place here.
00:07:56:22 - 00:08:04:04
DINO
Angela Gonzalez-Torres, who was first with us back. When was that? Uncle? I know.
00:08:04:06 - 00:08:05:08
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
I know, maybe may.
00:08:05:10 - 00:08:06:15
DINO
May had to be May.
00:08:06:16 - 00:08:07:05
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yeah.
00:08:07:07 - 00:08:13:09
DINO
And you're running for Congress. Tell us about the seat that you're running for.
00:08:13:13 - 00:08:43:19
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yes. I'm so happy to be back. Honestly. Yeah. It's been a great campaign so far, and I'm running to be the next U.S. House representative for Los Angeles. My name is Angela Gonzalez-Torres, and I am running to represent the heart of Los Angeles. This district encompasses northeast L.A. Where I'm born and raised, East L.A.. Very importantly, unincorporated parts of East L.A., where federal representation is quite literally one of our only representations.
00:08:43:21 - 00:09:09:05
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And all through Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Westlake, Pico Union, Glassell, Cypress Park. You know, it's it's where a lot of people get food and coffee and maybe stop by a brewery. And where a lot of organizing has happened for generations. And my family, has been part of that work. I'm fifth generation Angeleno for generations in Highland Park, so I'm really excited.
00:09:09:05 - 00:09:09:11
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yeah.
00:09:09:17 - 00:09:35:20
DINO
You said you clearly define being from the community now, Angela, you know, when the primary came around, the sitting congressman Jimmy Gomez finished with 46%. You finished with just slightly under 31%, let's say 31%. And now the two of you are going head to head into November. So let's start there. Yeah. Right. What did that primary campaign teach you?
00:09:36:00 - 00:10:02:21
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yes. First of all, I mean, we were able to successfully prevent the incumbent from breaking 50% for the first time in nearly a decade. I did that, totally, like out funded, right? I think we had, one seventh of the, of the campaign, funding that he had. And I did that while working two jobs because that's what many Angelenos are experiencing right now.
00:10:02:21 - 00:10:25:10
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
You know, the cost of living is really getting in the way of us being able to truly live our lives. But we've been fighting for this seat for nearly a decade. Some of us, were volunteers for Kenneth Mejia, our current city comptroller, who ran for this seat. Volunteers for David Kim, who nearly unseated Representative Gomez the past three election cycles.
00:10:25:12 - 00:10:47:22
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And I think it's really what I learned the most was that this district C 34, was the only district that iPAC, the pro-Israel lobby that now a lot of people are talking about across the country. This was the only district they targeted last election cycle in 2024 with nearly $3 million. And we nearly unseated the incumbent then.
00:10:48:00 - 00:11:10:10
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And so now, with the conversations shifting with our coalition growing, with, you know, Representative Gomez has never been challenged by a Latina from East L.A., northeast L.A. we know how to stretch a dollar. We know how to, you know, really organize. And I think organized people, defeats organized money. And, and so we're looking forward to November 3rd.
00:11:10:12 - 00:11:29:07
DINO
Now, he did come in with 46%. I think the political climate has changed in part because of his own shenanigans. And that's just, as a matter for transparency, we all know the news has been clear about the trouble he's in, but we'll get to that to that in a few minutes. As I said, you came in with 31%.
00:11:29:09 - 00:11:36:02
DINO
So there's still that gap, right? How do you close that gap? What is it you're doing to bring that.
00:11:36:04 - 00:12:05:06
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yeah. Closer I totally that's exactly what we were thinking. And part of it is acknowledging that news, the allegations of Representative Gomez under an ethics violation or under, an ethics investigation for, sexual misconduct and harassment, that dropped the day of the primary election, when a lot of people voted by mail already. And so we did get a lot of, community members, people saying we did not hear about your campaign.
00:12:05:07 - 00:12:33:10
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
I, we were in a crowded primary, but, with the coalition that we've been able to build, we've hit the doors, you know, starting June 3rd, the day after, the primary election, have knocked thousands of doors, we are very grateful for the national progressive support that we have as well. That has really amplified our campaign because we are truthfully competing with name recognition.
00:12:33:10 - 00:12:59:23
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Right. I think the average Angeleno has said, they just vote for this incumbent because they've seen his name on mailers. And so we've really been taking that seriously and rooting our campaign in education, like letting people know not only who their congressmember is, what his, current, you know, status in terms of being mired in scandal is but more importantly, what a Congress member is and can do.
00:12:59:23 - 00:13:11:15
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And a lot of people have, really resonated with us, not only letting them know about our campaign, but more importantly, what Congress should be doing right now and standing with working families.
00:13:11:17 - 00:13:42:09
DINO
Now, just to be clear, or as a matter just for those of you who may have not heard about this, the allegations, stand. Well, there's a bipartisan House Ethics Committee that announced that it is reviewing whether Gomez engaged in sexual misconduct and inappropriate sexual contact with a congressional staffer. The origin of the probe is such that, it follows, media reports alleging Gomez was seen kissing a younger aide back in 2023.
00:13:42:11 - 00:14:11:08
DINO
Attorneys representing the accuser later stated that the encounter involved sexual harassment and assault, directly disputing Gomez's characterization of the interaction. This, according to Spectrum News. Now, here's one interesting, I think note that, is worth sharing, and that is that Gomez did. In fact, according to Wbal news, acknowledge making personal mistakes outside of his marriage that caused pain, to his family.
00:14:11:08 - 00:14:34:22
DINO
So, you know, these allegations are pretty serious. They've been so heated and there's multiple news sources across the interwebs that that, have, indeed confirmed this. What have you heard in the community, when you're engaging voters and community members around this issue or your just your candidacy in general, have you heard anybody express concern over this?
00:14:34:23 - 00:15:16:03
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yes. I think even, across the spectrum, the political spectrum, the age range of voters, I think what we are hearing is a particularly from people in, in our communities of East L.A., in northeast L.A. and Koreatown, where we've been canvasing the most, and we've now expanded to Eagle Rock and downtown L.A.. But I think, what we are hearing is that this is just another, sign of a pattern of bad judgment of Congress member Gomez accepting, you know, PAC funding, funding from corporate real estate developers while people can't pay their rent in, in neighborhoods across the district.
00:15:16:05 - 00:15:51:03
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
But I think people are really taking it seriously because this district is also home to, not only one of the largest immigrant populations in the country that is disproportionately, affected by, you know, that kind of harassment, unfortunately, and underrepresentation, when we, have learned from, you know, women empowerment programs and shelters that we have, they have never heard of more stories coming forward about, sexual assault and, and other allegations like domestic violence.
00:15:51:05 - 00:16:15:09
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Then now, unfortunately, as, the Trump administration is really cutting some of these empowerment programs, people are really looking for help. And, and this students are expressing this is happening on their campuses. That's in the news. Elders are really, addressing their their disappointment. They like me. I voted for Gomez the first time I've been very transparent about.
00:16:15:15 - 00:16:40:06
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
I thought he could do the job. I think this is a really important thing that we acknowledge that we have a representative that is not only, accepting campaign contributions from some of Trump's biggest donors, but unfortunately, like Trump has found himself under investigation for very serious allegations. Someone has come forward saying the affair or or situation was non-consensual.
00:16:40:08 - 00:17:01:12
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And where unfortunately, his voters are not going to be able to, see some of those ethics findings until after Election Day. But people are taking it very seriously. That based on what he's already admitted to, which is, lying and cheating and, and spending a lot of his time in Congress hiding from our community, that really demands accountability.
00:17:01:14 - 00:17:16:07
DINO
Now, Angela, you touched on the immigration issue. You've continued to be very direct and use direct language about, this, and abolishing, is when you say abolish Ice. What does that actually mean?
00:17:16:07 - 00:17:16:15
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yeah.
00:17:16:17 - 00:17:25:11
DINO
And, you know, for those who are saying, look, you know, this is an issue of federal policy, help us understand how that applies.
00:17:25:11 - 00:17:52:05
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yes, I know for for me, as the daughter of a deportee, even having experienced my father's deportation nearly a decade ago, I would have never imagined we would be seeing what we are seeing today and abolish Ice is something we've been saying for a long time because, we need to dismantle and defund that department that is really rooted in family separation rather than, immigration or even public safety.
00:17:52:07 - 00:18:16:01
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And that's been proven with even just the recent news in Texas of, of a delivery driver on behalf of DoorDash being shot in the back and potentially paralyzed, for the rest of his life, by Ice agents. And I think that what we need to do is, is look at what is possible, via the legal system.
00:18:16:01 - 00:18:45:11
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Right. We need to hold accountable these Ice agents. Our teams. Small but mighty, and maybe not, backed by the resources that a current Congress member is backed by. But we're tracking every instance of this misconduct. And murder and attempted murder on behalf of these federal agents. We are looking at the conditions in which, you know, that the administration is conducting, itself in detention centers right now.
00:18:45:11 - 00:19:12:12
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Mothers are being, shackled while giving birth, immediately separated from their children postpartum. There's cases of children obviously being detained that we are keeping an eye on as well, because there will be an opportunity for us, in Congress to hold accountable, you know, these acts that have already happened, but really push for a just and fair, pathway to citizenship.
00:19:12:14 - 00:19:39:07
DINO
My guest is Angela Gonzalez. Stories. Candidate for Congress, California's 34th district. Yeah. Running against, the sitting congressman, Jimmy Gomez. And, you know, we're going through Angela is, returning to the signal. She was here during the primary. It's important to note that, you know, she ended up finishing with 31% of the vote, which is very significant, folks, because, Mr. Gomez only came in with 46.
00:19:39:09 - 00:20:11:18
DINO
And, you know, for the first time in a significant period of time, Mr. Gomez has now having to defend his position. And we're discussing the changing political climate, and one of which includes, Angela, the issue of affordability and housing. Yeah. And one of the things that we've heard on this program from folks before, whether it's through the audience or somebody sends in a comment, you know, look, in the district, people are dealing with rent issues, groceries, health care, transportation, a lot of which everything, in fact, has gotten so much more expensive.
00:20:11:20 - 00:20:23:04
DINO
However, there are those that say, well, wait a minute, members of Congress don't control rent in L.A., for example, right? So what can a member of Congress do when it comes down to an issue like that?
00:20:23:06 - 00:21:02:03
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yeah. I'm so excited to show what a Congress member can do when they are actually immersed in our communities, working with a bloc of representatives, not only in Congress to address these things, which we could do, in terms of like stop price gouging in our grocery stores, we need to abolish super PACs. I think that, when we talk about sending billions and millions of dollars abroad, that needs to be, invested equitably in communities across districts like C 34, Los Angeles, where a lot of people like myself, I was just talking about working two jobs, while running for Congress.
00:21:02:05 - 00:21:23:21
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
But that's not sustainable. And we've been doing the work, and there's a lot of incredible people doing the work in Los Angeles that needs a federal representative that will work with them and not against them. And so that starts now. By not accepting any of that, those campaign contributions that unfortunately, our current representative, Jimmy Gomez, is in the pockets of those profiting off of and perpetuating our problems.
00:21:23:21 - 00:21:44:23
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And so we're excited to work with a block of, representatives in Congress, incoming members that are really holding the line, in lowering the cost of living for, constituents across, you know, the United States. But here in Los Angeles, we need to expand that as well, make sure every level of government is talking to each other.
00:21:45:00 - 00:22:16:09
DINO
Now, you did touch on this again here. We're talking about now corporate money and governing. Right. Part of your campaign, identity, is rejecting corporate money and arguing that you're accountable to voters rather than these large donors that you've, touched on. And let's talk a little bit about that. As Representative Jimmy Gomez has received, according to one source, 2.1 to $2.6 million in total financing from and we touched on this pro-Israeli political action committee and affiliated super PACs.
00:22:16:11 - 00:22:30:19
DINO
Now that's just a drop in the bucket. Yeah. How does your campaign square up with such, yeah, political environment that's clearly dumping millions and millions of dollars into established political members?
00:22:31:00 - 00:23:06:16
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yeah, we are going directly to voters, because a lot of times that outside money does not translate into votes. We're seeing that in other parts of the district where they're not expecting, students and working families and elders to organize and to really, really research the name of these PACs. Right. So aside from a PAC and the pro-Israel lobby, Representative Gomez is one of only five House Democrats, along with every single Republican endorsed by leading the future, a super PAC, cofounded by OpenAI and Palantir.
00:23:06:16 - 00:23:32:18
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
You know, this conversation around AI's threats on our jobs, our, you know, terms of surveillance, that is the root of corruption in our politics. You know, that corporate money, but it does not work when we have, already organized around an educational campaign to where we're letting people know that they have the power to research, who is funding these campaigns?
00:23:32:18 - 00:23:55:14
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Who's at the bottom of these mailers? Because they will try to make their name sound, positive, like leading the future. We know they're trying to steal our future, and we know that, big money, like, in terms of our city comptroller, race, he was up against millions of dollars as well. We're following in his footsteps. He's a, a great mentor in this campaign, too, because, we know what is possible.
00:23:55:14 - 00:24:11:15
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And and the heart of Los Angeles has voted for change. And and this is a safe blue district, a really progressive district. And that's why we've nearly unseated Gomez every election cycle, since he was initially sworn in. Because we don't want big money in our politics now.
00:24:11:15 - 00:24:38:18
DINO
And then on that note, we were briefly chatting before we went on the air. I was sharing my observations as somebody who follows politics and our team here of energy drink fueled, researchers, you know, we were we were kind of putting a comparison out there. And, and there's, at least within the signals crew, a consensus that he doesn't seem to be campaigning, like, aggressively, like, as if he's even concerned.
00:24:38:20 - 00:24:53:08
DINO
By the way, we have extended an invite to have them join us. We haven't heard from, his office or the campaign, for that matter. Is he underestimating your candidacy in this? In this race? Angela.
00:24:53:10 - 00:25:12:20
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
I don't know. I mean, if anyone can find him, I think we should ask him that. I. I'm looking for him to. For a debate, an in-person town hall. We'll call it a meeting at this point, but, I think, honestly, what I think is that, look, his chief of staff has resigned. Could not. Hang on seven more weeks before the election.
00:25:13:01 - 00:25:35:13
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
His dad caucus that he's really had, you know, some of the more corrupt decisions he's made behind, it's falling apart. I think it's really a moment where we've asked him to simply sign on to block the bombs, because that is what the majority of voters in this district across the country want to see. And he's refused because I think he really expected a pack.
00:25:35:13 - 00:25:59:12
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
The pro pro I or big I, crypto lobby to continue to bail him out. And I don't think it's going to happen this time. I think he knows it's not going to happen this time. We're we're, canvasing his neighborhood, you know, the the areas in which, he lives in, and frequents and everybody knows, and they are really, turning their back on him because we're just ready for change.
00:25:59:12 - 00:26:18:01
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And and we want people who will be focused on passing meaningful policies and not just mired in scandal and trying to hide from the community because they're under investigation for ethics violations. Again. So I don't think he's underestimating us. I think he's, hiding because he knows what we are capable of doing.
00:26:18:03 - 00:26:33:16
DINO
And on that note, how do people get more involved, learn more about your campaign? Because I do want to have I do have one final question, to to ask some for you. But before we get to that, how do people learn more about the Angela for Congress, campaign?
00:26:33:16 - 00:26:59:22
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
Yes, it's at Angela for congress.com. We are canvasing every Saturday and Sunday. We are mailing out postcards, to high propensity voters, people who we can't reach, via canvasing so folks can find all of that on the website. And I'm accessible. I've had the same number since I was in fourth grade. People know where to find me if you need, you know, if you need to know how to chip in our average donations about $30.
00:26:59:22 - 00:27:02:08
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And we're really we're really putting that to good use.
00:27:02:10 - 00:27:20:21
DINO
And when we talk about Chip in, I want to remind everybody that this is a special edition of our, program, The Signal news, information, analysis, our, politics tacos and beer edition, and Angela y is, independent public media. So important to tell us why it's so important.
00:27:20:21 - 00:27:41:11
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
I mean, even you talking about. Nobody thought we could, you know, secure a safe top two position in the primary elections. And you gave us a platform to share our policies, our priorities, who I am as a person. You know, as a lifelong Angelino running to represent the community I was raised in. And that happens in independent news.
00:27:41:11 - 00:28:00:18
ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES
And this is an important time for everyone to step up, because there are you know, the corporate forces that are really trying to consolidate media and that really, dictates what stories can be heard. And you guys are the real deal. So I'm grateful I, I'm, I subscribe to a bunch of, public independent news, because I think it's important.
00:28:00:20 - 00:28:24:14
DINO
I want to thank my guest, Angela Gonzalez-Torres, running for the 34th Congressional District. She is a candidate for that office. And a lifelong Angelino who joins us here on the signal back, before the primary and now here leading up to the November. And I want to turn it over to my producer, our Nella Barbara, to remind you guys of why it's so important to support public radio.
00:28:24:14 - 00:28:50:07
ARNELLA
Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, thank you. Angela, this was absolutely amazing. We used to ask for your support during three fund drives a year. Now we are asking every fifth week. And if you wondered why, this is why we have to keep asking so that we can keep broadcasting and we are broadcasting. For you, our listeners, I know you might be tired of hearing a pledge pitch.
00:28:50:12 - 00:29:24:18
ARNELLA
Believe me, I would love nothing more than to do the shows, bring you the stories and and no, all the bills were covered, but they aren't covered yet. So I'm standing here speaking to you honestly and asking you to make a call. (818) 985-5735. Option two. Today we have three books that we are offering. We are offering Christmas when the revolution Comes a fight for the future of the working class.
00:29:24:18 - 00:29:58:13
ARNELLA
We are offering that for a donation of $120. It's a signed copy of Chris Smalls and plus the full unreleased one hour long conversation. He recorded with Kpfk and Erin Aubry Kaplan. Smalls goes well past the headlines, getting fired after speaking up about Covid safety at Amazon, launching the Staten Island campaign the day after Bessemer lost 300 more than 300 days organizing at the bus stop.
00:29:58:13 - 00:30:31:14
ARNELLA
And so, so much more. It's a really good book. We both read it, know and I. So for a donation of $120, you can get Chris Smalls book When the Revolution Comes A Fight for the future of the Working Class. Now, the next one is our very own, I like to call it Kpfk, and she has a show, so Harley Colbert, car breaking ice, community defense against state terror, and MAGA.
00:30:31:14 - 00:30:59:16
ARNELLA
You can get it for $100 donation. You can pledge you can get it like for $10 a month. So that means in ten months you're going to have a book paid off. Journalist and Pacifica program host Sonali Colbert Carr presents her conversations with over a dozen movement organizers, lawyers, artists, labor leaders and scholars on the frontlines of the fight against ice brutality.
00:30:59:16 - 00:32:06:10
ARNELLA
And Dino covered ice brutality so many times over and over. And we are not done yet. The third book that we are offering, Dino, do you want to chime in? You know, the third book that we are offering is Klein and Taylor and Times Fascism and the fight for the Living World for a $130 donation. Explore the, the Klein and Taylor explore how the religious fundamentalists, Silicon Valley technologists, and ethno nationalist are united in their belief that some kind of cleansing cataclysm is coming, whether through the manifestation of messianic prophecy, the rampage of a resource and job consuming artificial intelligence, or the puppet puppet perpetrated existential threat of immigration and cultural replacement, my,
00:32:06:11 - 00:32:10:01
ARNELLA
tongue is tied up. That's, I'm purged.
00:32:10:03 - 00:32:30:15
DINO
That's, Yeah, you're right. I mean, look, I'm first. And look, folks, that has been at this for now, several days, the entire station, the entire team. And, you know, look, let me jump in there because, yeah, it's important to remind everybody, you know, we already touched on it. This is a fun drive edition of The Signal. This station has been around for 60 years.
00:32:30:15 - 00:32:38:07
DINO
60 plus years. It was, one of the first real progressive voices, of Los Angeles, of the West Coast.
00:32:38:07 - 00:32:41:10
ARNELLA
Sorry for interrupting. Since 1959.
00:32:41:10 - 00:33:13:23
DINO
1959. And here's the thing, y'all. It literally helped pave the way for broadcast operations. Its sister station at Berkeley. This one paved the way for broadcast operations that today and for the greater part of the last 60 years, really made a difference in creating a balance in what you have with the proliferation of micro technology, people getting 32nd videos that describe, you know, news sources, whether they're valid or not, things have changed.
00:33:13:23 - 00:33:41:15
DINO
And with that has come, attacks on the last remaining real progressive voices still on terrestrial radio. And Kpfk is one of them. Millions and millions of dollars have been defunded from these type of operations. We are exclusively listener sponsored and the way it works. Right. Instead of maybe that extra, you know, coffee, drink, that extra sandwich, that extra cocktail, you can make a donation, you can make a $20 donation or $25 donation.
00:33:41:15 - 00:34:08:01
DINO
You can go on the website kpfk.org, or call KP, or call 9855735. Option two and become a subscriber member. And when you do that, you can have access to a. You have our analysis talking about the end times fascism and and the fight for the living world times fascism. It's a book. It's a gift. There's dozens of opportunities there of what you can get.
00:34:08:01 - 00:34:19:06
DINO
But I say look it because you support independent media, give because you support programs like The Signal, news, information and analysis. And look I'm going to say it give because you support me. We.
00:34:19:06 - 00:34:20:07
ARNELLA
Yes indeed we.
00:34:20:07 - 00:34:31:20
DINO
Appreciate your support. And with that, let's get back to the radio programing.
00:34:31:22 - 00:34:53:04
DINO
And joining me now is Jose Ugarte Los Angeles City Council, district nine, Jose was with us, back in May, I believe it was May.. Right Jose?. Yeah. Leading up to the primary, we actually had, the other gentleman who was running for the same office, Jose Mazariegos. But I want to welcome you back to The Signal.
00:34:53:06 - 00:35:09:07
DINO
And so, yeah, lots of happen since you and I last met in this very studio, and walked me through it. What, as I as the previous candidate for the congressional seat. What was the takeaway from the primary? What did you learn?
00:35:09:09 - 00:35:17:06
JOSE UGARTE
A lot of candidates. A lot of candidates ran eight candidates in total. I came in first place, 40% of the vote.
00:35:17:08 - 00:35:21:08
DINO
Oh, that's a pretty straightforward lesson outcome.
00:35:21:10 - 00:35:42:23
JOSE UGARTE
What I learned is that there's a lot of issues in the city. There's a lot of issues. People ran for different issues. Public safety, homelessness, social issues, immigration issues. And, eight candidates ran for the right reasons. And I was the only one that said, look, I know every single one of them. I grew up with them.
00:35:42:23 - 00:36:05:16
JOSE UGARTE
I seen them work in different levels of government, different nonprofits, different community, events. And I came in first place because I knew I was the only one that said, look, I know every single one of you. I work with you guys in different capacities. And that was true. Because you fast forward now or what, 38 days away from election, I consolidated a lot of support, a lot of people that didn't support me.
00:36:05:18 - 00:36:22:07
JOSE UGARTE
They know me, that I was a good guy, that they just ran because they wanted to have their their input on city government. And now I'm giving it to them. I'm giving it to them, consolidating them to making sure that everybody's voice is heard. And here we are now, 38 days away from Election Day. I am running hard every day.
00:36:22:07 - 00:36:33:01
JOSE UGARTE
I have community meetings. I have meet and greets, block club meetings, and they're going great. The community is responding well to our campaign and and it shows.
00:36:33:03 - 00:36:57:17
DINO
Now we'll say, you know, this actually is something that, your opponent material was brought up last week when he was here in the studio. This idea of an inside, outside city hauler. And your argument seems to be the reverse, right? He's saying what? Look, he was an organizer. He's ready to govern. And in your case, he's saying, look, he's been there.
00:36:57:17 - 00:37:17:14
DINO
And has he governed? What? You know, how do you mitigate this? Right. On the one hand, there does seem to be a new wave of folks, coming in who will say, look, it's time for change. It's time to let go of the old, bring in the new. Sometimes that that does, in fact translate to residents. Yeah, yeah.
00:37:17:14 - 00:37:28:19
DINO
To, to not only to the public but also to this issue that, an experience might be something they're willing to try. What's the argument to that.
00:37:28:21 - 00:37:46:20
JOSE UGARTE
The specific situation you take. So he says, oh, he helped raise him in old age. He helped cap, rent control. He helped, hotel workers get them in a wage. The city did that. The city did all that. The councilman that I used to work for, current price did all that. He's the one that voted on it.
00:37:46:20 - 00:38:04:06
JOSE UGARTE
He was the one sitting there. He did all that. So when he says all this stuff, it sounds sounds like he he did help he organize. He brought people to City Hall to speak on it. But the councilman himself is actually one of the retro legislation. I helped him write the legislation. We we helped make the deals, we help get the votes, and we got it done.
00:38:04:08 - 00:38:25:06
JOSE UGARTE
So when when people say, oh, they want they want this, they want that, it's the reality is that the council member is the one that did it. Elected officials, one that does it. And if you're going to take credit for it, you got to give credit where credit is due. If Councilman did that and give him his credit, he he raised minimum wage to $15 an hour back in 2014, the biggest wage increase the city has ever seen.
00:38:25:06 - 00:38:43:07
JOSE UGARTE
He raised the minimum wage for hotel workers about two years ago. Biggest minimum wage, 13, $25 an hour with health care and benefits. That's what the city did. Nine council members voted on it, and the and I work there, so people always hear me, oh, you work for the city, and you take the good with the bad.
00:38:43:09 - 00:38:56:10
JOSE UGARTE
You and and it's true. Yes. I work for the city. There's some bad things. City did. But also good things that he did. If you're going to talk about the good things, let's talk about the good things. So I take full credit for for all the good things and the bad things. I'll, I'll, I'll try to fix.
00:38:56:10 - 00:38:58:11
JOSE UGARTE
And that's why I'm running. That's why. Okay, so I did.
00:38:58:15 - 00:39:15:08
DINO
Well, I can do that. So I and let's talk about that being that you brought it up so big part of your case. Yes. Is that you're ready to go on day one. I've heard you describe that, and you work with council member Curran Price, but CD nine residents also know that there's been a lot of problems there.
00:39:15:08 - 00:39:37:19
DINO
Right. And the issue of course, touching, not necessarily touching on his challenges, legal, political. Otherwise, I'm not asking you to respond to them, but how do you separate yourself from the record of the office? We know that there was good. I have always said politicians are people, too. You do good. And sometimes there's mistakes that happen.
00:39:37:21 - 00:39:48:03
DINO
But is there some point of separation here that is worth noting? Or do you kind of embrace the challenges and say, look, I'm going to roll with it?
00:39:48:05 - 00:40:07:22
JOSE UGARTE
Yes and no. I always said the biggest difference is that I'm Latino. I'm an immigrant. I was born in Mexico, came to South Central. I was four years old and a father, councilman is twice my age. He doesn't have kids. He has different issues. African American. He he he cares about different issues. So I'm totally different on on that case.
00:40:07:22 - 00:40:25:17
JOSE UGARTE
And we have different policies that we take care of. But I work for him. I work for him for about ten years. I left about a year ago and I helped on immigration issues, on labor issues, on project labor agreements, and was making sure that we had good, good pay and benefits and health care for our community, local hire programs.
00:40:25:17 - 00:40:42:04
JOSE UGARTE
I worked on all those issues. His case, everybody knows it's a personal issue between him and his wife, that he voted on some things that his wife worked on. But I tell everybody, look, when Donald Trump is trying to take away a due process in this country, we still have it here in L.A. and he still has to go to court.
00:40:42:06 - 00:40:55:19
JOSE UGARTE
He he's innocent until proven guilty. And he has to do his thing. And the court case came and people saw all the names on there. I have two of my colleagues that I feel for them because they have to go to court, but my name is not on their names on anywhere in his papers. And people understood that.
00:40:55:19 - 00:41:10:09
JOSE UGARTE
People read that and they found out that I had nothing to do with it. So they're like, okay, Jose's nothing to do with it. Why are we blaming him for something that's going on? And people are not dumb. People read this stuff and the L.A. times writes about it, and another guy ain't never going to tell someone that they're guilty.
00:41:10:09 - 00:41:26:00
JOSE UGARTE
Especially when I really believe down deep down the side that he's not. He just has to go to prove it to to 12 jurors. And what if one of them 12 if one of them says no, he's not, then he's off. And that's going to be tough for for the prosecution to prove that. But look, the councilman gave me a good opportunity.
00:41:26:00 - 00:41:33:08
JOSE UGARTE
This immigrant from Oaxaca that grew up in South Central. And I always respect that. And I'm trying to to now respect the community that they raised me.
00:41:33:10 - 00:42:04:08
DINO
Now, you touched on the fact that, you do guys not only have some different policy perspectives, but the demographic. Right? One of the issues that we discussed with your opponent is that district nine has an enormous historically important black community presence, black political representation in LA. And while the district itself has now become overwhelming, overwhelmingly Latino, tell us about that particular relationship.
00:42:04:08 - 00:42:12:22
DINO
How do you maintain the relevance to the African-American community? Given this demographic shift? It continues to grow.
00:42:13:00 - 00:42:26:05
JOSE UGARTE
I think that's why I did so well, I this is my story. I, my parents brought me to South Central, Adams and Central when I was four years old. I grew up in a black neighborhood. My neighbors were black. My friends were black. I played football, I played basketball, I didn't play soccer. I didn't grow up in East L.A. northeasterly.
00:42:26:05 - 00:42:47:18
JOSE UGARTE
I grew up in a different community, and that community raised me. When I was 25 years old, I joined LCP and people like, why did you do that? Because I was fighting for the Dream act, was fighting for licenses for undocumented people. And I went to the meeting and they they supported my initiatives and my issues. I didn't grow up around Tyler Gaddis.
00:42:47:19 - 00:43:06:09
JOSE UGARTE
And those are northeast. He's still a, Pico Union there. MacArthur Park areas in South L.A. we had an LCP. We had African-American nonprofits and organizations that do good thing, and that's why I joined. I also joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which was formed by Doctor King because of the Montgomery Bus boycott. I am now a board member.
00:43:06:09 - 00:43:22:09
JOSE UGARTE
I'm the only Latino board member. There are people like, why are you born rescue? That's my local nonprofit, local nonprofit that cared about my issues. Civil rights issues. And that's the connection that I have with my community. And nobody else had that. And it's totally different from any other person running because I'm a Latino from South Central Latino.
00:43:22:09 - 00:43:37:13
JOSE UGARTE
That worked in government for a black elected. This it's on the black, nonprofits that know the issues. 35 years ago, my neighborhood's all black. 35 years later, neighbors are Latino now. But the issues are still the same. Poverty, crime, trash, still the same.
00:43:37:15 - 00:44:03:20
DINO
That you mentioned. Crime. Rather, you talk about public safety. CDD residents are dealing with much, broader definition of safety issues. There's of course, issues of violence, homelessness, street conditions. These exist all across the city. Tell us about your public safety record and how you see that transferring to if and when you are elected to, to this position.
00:44:03:22 - 00:44:18:04
JOSE UGARTE
The first thing we want to do is ban RVs, campers and trailers. It's it's a hard stance that I'm taking. But my district goes all the way to Alameda. You cross Alameda, you get to City of Vernon, city of Onion Park, city of South KC. Dealing with those four cities have bans on RVs, campers and trailers.
00:44:18:04 - 00:44:30:09
JOSE UGARTE
And we're here. We're in Glendale. I think this is had no worries. There's a ban on them. All right. What happens if you come to the city of L.A. sign? And if you're a resident, live in the city of L.A. and you just cross the border to another city, you're like, why is the city so clean? Why is it thriving?
00:44:30:09 - 00:44:45:05
JOSE UGARTE
You're just like, what is the city of L.A. doing wrong? And that's what we're doing. We're not taking these hard stances on just simple issues. We're just trying to be on the same playing field. And if it's something simple, ban RVs, campers, and trailers. Because the reason, the biggest reason why? Where do you use a restroom? Where you throw away the trash.
00:44:45:05 - 00:45:07:06
JOSE UGARTE
And it's all around our community. We see it a lot. And also parking is a huge issue in an RV and a camper and takes about 2.5 parking spaces in South Central. And if there's a ban on as simple as putting up a sign that says no more campers are RV's and trailers in South L.A., it's going to alleviate sort of so much trash, so much funding that we used to, to to help them clean up the areas and stuff like that.
00:45:07:06 - 00:45:16:13
JOSE UGARTE
And there's areas for them to park. There's safe parking zones all around our city, but there's rules. There's no drugs, there's no drinking and smoking. It's a lot of them just don't rather live on the streets.
00:45:16:13 - 00:45:28:09
DINO
And so is that the answer for those critics that say, well, you're just pushing the problem down the road because you want them out of your district and are going to push it on to another district. But you're saying that there are indeed places where people can go.
00:45:28:09 - 00:45:56:14
JOSE UGARTE
There is. Absolutely. And I just saw a report this morning came out that we have 50,000 homeless people. We house about 20,000 homeless people a year. So that means that we're getting 30,000 homeless people every year. And the solution, the they're not the solution. The their overall report was that people were coming from out of state, people coming from other states, other other counties, and the coming in L.A. because we don't have strong issues against against camping and RV parking.
00:45:56:16 - 00:46:12:06
JOSE UGARTE
We're kind of open where anybody wants to park whenever he wants public property, and we try to fix that with just giving them housing. And it hasn't been working the last seven years. We spent about $7 billion on housing and it hasn't worked. So we have to have just the same playing field. I say we got to when people say it's just a Band-Aid.
00:46:12:06 - 00:46:29:20
JOSE UGARTE
Josey and I said, I have a three year old daughter. I put a Band-Aid on her when she scratches her knee, but she learns a huge lesson not to scratch your knee because she's going to get a Band-Aid. But it's something that it's tough, but the city hasn't done it. It's just some simple, on public safety is is that I can actually do that immediately within the first hundred days and see how it goes.
00:46:29:20 - 00:46:45:02
JOSE UGARTE
I say, look, we tried certain things. It didn't work. The job, a politician to realize when he's wrong. That's the biggest thing. I hate politicians that double down, that say, no, no, no, I'm gonna keep going. I'm gonna keep putting money into it. And it just gets worse and worse and worse. Politicians realize when he's wrong and he has to make changes and they're tough changes.
00:46:45:02 - 00:46:46:02
JOSE UGARTE
And that's what I want to do.
00:46:46:04 - 00:47:11:22
DINO
And I'll say on that issue, we're talking housing now. You know, a huge component of what this problem that we're talking about, CD nine desperately needs housing. But development also creates enormous pressure on working class communities. We're talking zoning locations. How do you build, you know, more housing in a place like city nine that's very, concentrated. It's very robust.
00:47:12:00 - 00:47:29:03
JOSE UGARTE
There's a couple new laws that came in. SB 79 is huge for me. My opponent does not support it. It's SB similar and basically allows housing or long transit corridors. South L.A. doesn't have too many transit quarter. That's why I say I want to build a train dance lesson. I grew up a couple blocks away from Slawson, and they used to be train tracks there.
00:47:29:03 - 00:47:54:10
JOSE UGARTE
They're private train tracks, and you see the train every once in a while. We got rid of them. We put a walking path and now there's a beautiful walking path people can basically ride from, from Long Beach line all the way to Crenshaw, and it takes about an hour to get there. But imagine a train on there that someone can go from the alley river all the way to Venice Beach, and across is my district in half, and you don't have to rely on, cars or busses or busses 90% of the time.
00:47:54:12 - 00:48:15:00
JOSE UGARTE
Trains 100% of the time, you can tell your employer you're going to be 10% of the time too late. You're getting fired. If you tell you you're your teacher, you're going to get a bad grade. So we need trains. We really need trains in our community. And with that train we come housing. We build housing all along that that housing those corridors to make sure people don't have to rely on cars and they can just jump on a train, go to work, go to school or just go to the beach.
00:48:15:02 - 00:48:28:20
JOSE UGARTE
But I really want to convert that delay. I lived in Highland Park for about a year when I was in college, and I needed a car to go to school and what, 15 years later, nobody uses cars anymore. I had to park because is a beautiful train that takes you anywhere, takes you anywhere in the city. That's what I want to have.
00:48:28:20 - 00:48:36:23
JOSE UGARTE
South L.A. have suddenly needs their own equity with with transportation, that we don't have it. So I'm going to be a big councilmember to, to support, more trains.
00:48:37:00 - 00:49:08:09
DINO
I remember, actually, you mentioned those old train tracks down, Slawson in fact, part of my upbringing was, I grew up right there. Edison Junior High School. I was on 67th and central, just south of of, Gage and Slauson. I remember those tracks. And, yeah, you know, I don't go past those locations a lot anymore, but I remember the first time that I saw the walk bike path and thinking, oh, man, that's that's that's smart, that's cool.
00:49:08:09 - 00:49:24:02
JOSE UGARTE
Disputes over. But an elevated train on top of that, But 15ft in the air, elevated like a monorail. And just take this so you know the place, displace anybody, and it cost us a lot. It saves us a lot of money. Instead of digging in the ground, you just have an elevated train that takes us anywhere.
00:49:24:04 - 00:49:26:09
JOSE UGARTE
I know it took about four years of Bill.
00:49:26:11 - 00:49:53:02
DINO
Now talking about labor. And let's go a little bit further on on the issue of endorsements. Your endorsement list has grown considerably since the primary, since you were last in that very chair. Labor unions, democratic organizations, immigrant rights, housing, other elected officials, community organizations are all lining up, is there what's the return on investment in a scenario like that?
00:49:53:02 - 00:50:16:22
DINO
In other words, what, you know, the million dollar question in moments like this. You know, we were talking to Angela earlier and her assertion that the money that's coming in from some of these interest groups are inevitably lead to a reciprocity of sorts from elected officials. How does that, how do you see that?
00:50:17:00 - 00:50:33:13
JOSE UGARTE
There's some people, some elected officials do it and they'd be like, hey, looks fun in my campaign. I gotta help them out. It it depends what kind of person you're choosing. Like, for me, I got a check from the police Protective League, which the police union, LAPD police. You. I returned it and people. Why did you return it?
00:50:33:14 - 00:50:48:05
JOSE UGARTE
It's because they. I don't want to be beholden to them, all right? I do not want to be beholden. I want someone to say for $1,000 about your vote. I do, on public safety. I do think that growing up in South Central and, domestic violence and domestic violence. Household. We need a police officer come and show up.
00:50:48:05 - 00:51:03:23
JOSE UGARTE
Russell was going to die. I want a good police officer. I want more woman police officers. More officers on horse patrol, bike patrol, foot patrol, more community safety partnership officers. But I want good officers. And then I want a police reform. I want to be able to fire that officers as a council member right now, that's what we're fighting right now.
00:51:04:01 - 00:51:18:00
JOSE UGARTE
The police unit is like that. And as a councilman won't be able to fire someone if I see someone on video, a police officer doing something bad, I want to be able to. Hey, you no longer on the force. I don't want to put them on. What do they call them? A one year off duty, on payroll force.
00:51:18:01 - 00:51:35:10
JOSE UGARTE
And then you're there back a year later. That's not what I want to see. So let's talk about it. It's. It's a person you're choosing. You're choosing a person that can that can be beholden to someone or not be home to someone. I worked in labor for almost 15 years of my life. I started at the labor federation.
00:51:35:12 - 00:51:57:08
JOSE UGARTE
I support better wages, benefits, local higher health care, free health care for I support all that stuff. And I never going to sway from that. That's that's the number one thing. Well, when businesses met with me, the city for two things. They asked you for a clean and safe place to do business. That's it. And I thought, as a government official, if we haven't done that, helps business like that, then we're failing.
00:51:57:10 - 00:52:04:01
JOSE UGARTE
They didn't ask for lower wages, didn't ask for anything. They asked for a clean, a safe place to do business. And I have a plan. And they believed in me.
00:52:04:03 - 00:52:24:15
DINO
My guess is we're still got to take Kennedy for Los Angeles City Council district nine. Who's here? A following the visit we had from the other candidate for the same district, IEstuardo Masariegos was last week. And as we close out, we'll say, speaking of business owners, speaking of investments in the community, Olympics are around the corner.
00:52:24:15 - 00:52:47:17
DINO
This is something that, we've been covering here on the signal. And, you know, they're coming. It's going to be an enormous public and private investment happening around the downtown L.A., South L.A. region. Your district CD nine is smack in the middle of all that jazz. That's about to happen. What commitments, should the residents be expecting from you if you're hired?
00:52:47:19 - 00:52:54:00
DINO
Particularly for workers and small businesses, if and when the Olympics, start making their massive investments.
00:52:54:00 - 00:53:08:20
JOSE UGARTE
First is personal to me because it's about eight years ago. Well, we're requesting of Olympics to come to LA. Our office did a whole video. We brought students who came to the Coliseum, and and we brought high school students and said, look, future Olympians want the Olympics to come here to South Central. And we got them.
00:53:08:22 - 00:53:26:13
JOSE UGARTE
So I helped bring the Olympics out today and something I'm going to be proud of for the rest of my life. And this is the first time that in the history of the world that we've had three Olympic ceremonies being open at the same location 1930s, 1980s, and now in 2028 at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, right in my backyard.
00:53:26:15 - 00:53:42:10
JOSE UGARTE
They're bringing 6000 jobs. 6000 jobs, good paying jobs to my community. I'm fighting right now to make sure the local and the community of 15 to 20% local, I'm fighting right now for them to pay to clean the streets of for after they're gone, and fighting right now to make sure they have ambassadors up and down the streets right now.
00:53:42:10 - 00:53:58:21
JOSE UGARTE
We we, we have ambassadors that they have whistles and that kind of keep the community safe. And as a councilman, I got to make sure I keep them. I keep them on their toes. But I also I don't want Donald Trump to come in here and put an ice age in every corner in South Central. That's going to be scary.
00:53:58:23 - 00:54:16:21
JOSE UGARTE
So we're kind of it's a is an a weird situation where we, we're not trying to have the federal government to come in here and do all that stuff. We're trying to still keep control and making sure that they pay for city services clean of the district. The neighbors are always complaining that they would come in and clean up the homeless encampments, and they're gone, and they'll be right back.
00:54:16:23 - 00:54:22:07
JOSE UGARTE
That's that's not what I want. I want to make sure for the next two years after Olympics is gone, they clean up the community.
00:54:22:09 - 00:54:41:23
DINO
And for the next two years, we're going to have to, try and stay on the air ourselves and Hoosiers as we close out. Let me ask you, why is public media so important? You're familiar with this format? We are a public station that looks for donations and contributions to stay on the air. Give us your pitch as to why support independent media.
00:54:42:01 - 00:54:58:05
JOSE UGARTE
Right now, the way this country is doing is we're we're blocking media from and reporting at the white House. On if you saw that of so we got a supporter public media. Public media is our number one real source of information, a number real source to get the, the nitty gritty, what we really want to hear.
00:54:58:07 - 00:55:12:08
JOSE UGARTE
Nothing. No strings attached, attached to corporations, attached to anybody. It's just real people talk about real results and real issues. So please support our public media. I do it myself every every couple months I do I support so make sure everybody does too.
00:55:12:10 - 00:55:23:21
DINO
Well, I want to thank my guest. We'll say we'll go to Los Angeles City Council District nine candidate for the seat and wish you all the best of luck. Thank you for joining us again here on The signals.
00:55:24:02 - 00:55:25:18
JOSE UGARTE
Gracias, Dino. See you soon.
00:55:25:20 - 00:55:42:17
DINO
And let me remind everybody. And listen, you know, we're able to bring you this type of programing because we're independent media, as both Angela mentioned, you know, this is the operation, folks. This is the mission. This is the homework assignment. And they'll tell us why.
00:55:42:19 - 00:56:07:10
ARNELLA
Now, do you know, I want you to take a breath for a second because I want to talk to the people listening. Every week. You pour your heart into the signal. You bring guests to this microphone because you believe their voices matter. And they do. You are asking questions because you care about the answers and you trust the people listening to care too.
00:56:07:10 - 00:56:39:03
ARNELLA
So I'm talking to you now. You, our listeners, wherever you are. Maybe you are in your car. Maybe you are at home, maybe making a lunch. Maybe you've been listening so closely that you stopped what you were doing. If Dino has ever brought you a conversation that made you think, made you feel less alone, or made you want to do something, this is your moment to answer him, call 889855735.
00:56:39:03 - 00:57:09:03
ARNELLA
Option two. There is (818) 985-5735. Option two. You know what I love about radio Dino? Can't see you. He doesn't know who's out there until you let him know. He puts this show into the world with faith that somebody on the other end is listening. Well, we know you are listening. Now. Let him feel it. Pick up your phone and make a donation to Kpfk in honor of the signal.
00:57:09:05 - 00:57:38:15
ARNELLA
Give what you can, whether that is a little or a lot. And if you can become a monthly supported, do that. Your gift tells Dino. Keep bringing these guests in. Keep asking those questions. I am here with you. 818955735 option two and call. Now I want you to think of a guest you heard on this show. Maybe you didn't know their name before Dino introduced them.
00:57:38:15 - 00:58:09:00
ARNELLA
Maybe their story gave you a new way to understand something happening in our community. Maybe you heard someone say out loud what you've been thinking for years. Those moments take work. Dino finds the people, prepares for the conversations, shows up and gives them room to speak. Then he shares it all with us. Saturday after Saturday after Saturday. Today we have the chance to give something back and I mean today.
00:58:09:02 - 00:58:28:07
ARNELLA
Not after the show when another errand comes up, not tonight. When you have to remember where you put the number. The phone is right there. So pick up the phone while I'm talking. (818) 985-5735. Option two. Dino, back to you.
00:58:28:11 - 00:59:05:09
DINO
And as we're ready to, you know, sign off. Look, folks, you know, as Nela pointed out, like, we have wonderful gifts, we have all these exciting things that you can help contribute towards and you get something in return. But at the end of the day, really what it boils down to is this broadcast operation and my last in my final 30s I, you know, join this movement of independent media support, public radio support, communicate community radio support, Kpfk, go to Kpfk, Dawg and donate 9855735 option to do it for the show.
00:59:05:09 - 00:59:10:00
DINO
Do it for the station. Do it for independent media. Do it for me. Thank you. We'll see you next.
00:59:10:00 - 00:59:11:20
ARNELLA
And do it for yourself as well.
