Host Dino opens this episode of The Signal by asking a sobering question: what does it mean to lose to the Trump administration? Listeners and guests weigh in on disinformation, attacks on media, and the chilling effect on our communities. In the second half, Politics, Tacos & Beer sits down with L.A. City Council District 11 candidate Faizah Malik to talk housing, safety, and building an L.A. where working families can stay and thrive.
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TRANSCRIPT
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
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ANNOUNCER
It right here on Kpfk. Your only real independent voice on the airwaves in Los Angeles. Please go to Kpfk.
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ANNOUNCER
Dawg, and click donate to join The Circle today. Hey, this is Michael O'Keefe. You're listening to Kpfk 90.7, Los Angeles 98.7, Santa Barbara, 93.7 San Diego and 99.5 Ridgecrest and China Lake. Radio powered by the people. The whole 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 with you. But you really only have to.
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MUSIC INTRO
Remember you're two words.
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MUSIC INTRO
Come on.
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DINO
Welcome to the Signal. News, information and analysis. I'm your host, Dino. Today we start the program by turning to you, the audience, on a topic that's weighing on all of us. What does it mean to lose to the Trump administration? What does it look like? Are we losing? Now, this is an important topic that keeps coming up in one form or another.
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DINO
And it came up for us here at the show this week. So we decided to take it to the audience and see what you all are thinking during the second half of the program. We turn our attention to the political series and my favorite series. So far. Politics. Tacos and beer. A space where we bring Los Angeles political figures, candidates, thinkers and others to the table or in this case, to the broadcast studio.
00:01:46:03 - 00:02:07:09
DINO
We talk politics. We talk community. And yes, we ask the sacred question what does tells your story? We'll be chatting with Armani, who is running for Los Angeles City Council 11. Now, these are often times called candidate profiles. I like to think of them a little bit different. You know, let's get to know our fellow Angelinos, our neighbors.
00:02:07:11 - 00:02:24:00
DINO
Just get to know that person willing to take the job that most of us would never even touch, and for which we will be responsible in electing and trusting with our vote. So stay with us. We're going to get right into it, and we'll be right back.
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MUSIC INTRO
Yeah, that's my thing. I bet he never get it. I said, I'm looking for that promise. I believe I know she ain't no la la la la song. I love them all. You see. Oh. What's up?
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DINO
Welcome back. I'm your host, Dino, here on the signal. News, information and analysis. So, you know, I want to start off with this first topic of discussion. And I really want to get you all's audience perspective, your input. And that's this issue of what does it mean to lose to the Trump administration. Now let me give you some background, some important context for many.
00:03:06:17 - 00:03:34:05
DINO
As many of you know here on The signal, we've been covering the topic of what is the authoritarian or what is now the authoritarian regime of the Trump administration. And we have to call it for what it is. There's no denying authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo.
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DINO
And in this case, and in this country that all points to the Trump administration. It's about reducing what democracy looks like. It's about reducing the separation of powers. Civil liberties, the rule of law. This is something that we've tracked since the very beginning, when we all knew or were concerned about the Trump administration taking power. And we've seen this.
00:04:04:17 - 00:04:37:10
DINO
We've seen this time and again. And it seems to be ramping up. One of the things that got me thinking about this particular topic was how we as a community, whether it's members of the individual, members of our community organization or members of our community, the nonprofit sector, or the academic community, our industry news, information analysis, media, journalism, how have we been impacted?
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DINO
Now look, a dime a dozen. You can hear any other radio program, this one including we've covered these issues. We've had local community organizations, directors, advocate attorneys, elected officials, senators, Assembly members. We've covered this topic. But something that keeps coming to mind is how do we how are we as individuals feeling about this? Let me give you some additional context and why this issue has been bugging me, bugging me not only as a radio host, as a person.
00:05:12:21 - 00:05:48:13
DINO
That's part of the journalism infrastructure of the Pacifica Foundation and just news in general, but also as a member of our community. I, my day job, as one would say, I work in the nonprofit sector and the organizations that I navigate with have had these deep rooted conversations around how do we prepare for the Trump administration? What do we do in the event that they come after us?
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DINO
And this has become such an important, vital component of just about every conversation out there, because it is happening. And my concern is how is that impacting our jobs? How is that impacting our work? You know, earlier this week, there was an incident in which the Trump administration targeted yet another news organization here in Southern California. And I consider all these organizations news journalism, part of our extended family, our network that covers these type of, this, this vital component of this democracy that we call, American democracy.
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DINO
And the Trump administration essentially attacked this particular news organization, and in doing so, made allegations that were false or misleading. Now, let me put it in context.
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DINO
Last year, I rather a couple of years ago, The Washington Post, during the first Trump administration or at the end of the Trump first Trump administration, the Washington Post did an analysis of Donald Trump during his first presidential term, particularly as it pertains to false or misleading information. And in this analysis, Washington Post fact checkers documented a total of 30,573 false or misleading claims made by Donald Trump himself.
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DINO
I mean, think about this. More than 30,000 in a four year period in which his administration reigned. What does that break down to? What? Let me give you some facts here. In the first year, he averaged about six claims per day, and the second year that had more than doubled and averaged about 16 claims per day. By the third year, we were up to 22 claims per day that were false or misleading.
00:08:12:10 - 00:08:56:12
DINO
By the president of the United States, first term Donald J. Trump, and by the final year, the president. The now second term President Donald Trump, averaged 39 false or misleading claims per day, nearly half the total number of claims across his entire presidency. This is what we're dealing with. So this recent incident that I mentioned just a few minutes ago when I reached out to my colleagues at this news, are going to say, you just say, hey, why don't you come on and let's talk about it.
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DINO
What does it feel like to be attacked? Let's talk about what it is that we, as news organizations, have to do to prepare and be careful and, and and they weren't ready to have that conversation because out of abundance of caution, they wanted to make sure that they crossed other I's and or crossed other T's, dotted their eyes.
00:09:19:01 - 00:10:02:10
DINO
And it started it made me think back to the beginning of this year when I myself was involved through the nonprofit, circles that I navigate in actual litigation to sought to prevent or stop Trump from his draconian, targeted, illegal, targeting of citizens and other undocumented folks. And then we heard tons of incidents in which other media organizations, non-profits, academic institutions, we've had guests on this very show talking about the attacks on academia, in which we outlined just how bad it's gotten.
00:10:02:12 - 00:10:06:16
DINO
You know, for some added perspective.
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DINO
So let's look at what some of these incidents have been in New York City. There was an assault in Federal Plaza on September 30th, when Ice agents at the Plaza shoved two journalists Hospitalizing, a photographer who was covering a process at a detention that was happening real time at that moment in Chicago, rubber bullets and other chemical agents were used against individuals, including journalists in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Press Club documented more than 30 injuries to journalists, along with illegal bag searches blocked access interference during process protests that were happening in L.A. in fact, as a photojournalist covering some of the protests here in L.A. at the time, I myself was a victim of
00:11:05:18 - 00:11:37:16
DINO
a projectile shot at me by a, an officer. So brings me back to the question, are we losing to the Trump administration? I want to hear from you. I want to know what you think. 8189855735818985 Kpfk pressed that little option one and as you do, join me for a few calls before we go to our guests in the second half hour, which is going to be.
00:11:37:16 - 00:11:56:01
DINO
And one of the reasons I think this really connects well is that we're going to be talking to a person who is courageous enough to take on the challenge of going into office. We're not going to discuss whether or not, you know, we don't know what's going to happen in the future. But one thing is for sure, they are looking to get into office now.
00:11:56:05 - 00:12:25:23
DINO
And sometimes not just journalists and photographers and others who serve on the front lines on what is happening on the street. Sometimes they themselves, as elected officials, serve on the front lines of what's happening. In government. Writing from Las Vegas on Instagram, said being attacked by Trump shows you are visible, impactful and impossible to ignore. Ronnie from Las Vegas.
00:12:25:23 - 00:12:55:19
DINO
You are doing something right for the people from the great state of Nevada. Ronnie says, hey, listen, if you are being attacked, it's because you're doing it right. 8189855735818995 Kpfk hit option one. And again I want to hear from you all. John in Santa Monica. Talk to me. John, what do you think? Are we losing the fight against Trump as is right now?
00:12:55:21 - 00:13:27:13
JOHN
Oh, absolutely. And what's interesting is Trump is the logical, maybe not the logical, but he is a result of globalism, open borders. And the theory that I remember so much from, Madeleine Albright and, this was a Clinton. I mean, this was a Republican and a Democrat idea that we can outsource our jobs to the cheap of slave labor.
00:13:27:15 - 00:13:52:13
JOHN
We can import slave labor, and that we're all going to be like, you know, like Elon Musk says, nobody's going to have to work anymore. He said that like two days ago. And the United States went from a manufacturing nation. I'm a union welder, okay. And so I'm trying to make things. If you graduate from LA Unified School, you can't make anything you can't measure.
00:13:52:16 - 00:14:12:12
JOHN
You don't know basic math and language. You can't read a manual. So our society is what's happened to all rich societies over the millennia is that they get fat and lazy and they get into an imaginary world, you know, I was at UCLA, I have a college degree from UCLA, and all I heard was all about how great communism was.
00:14:12:14 - 00:14:33:13
JOHN
And they never talked about Stalin or Mao or the Khmer Rouge or anything. It was just this idea, we're going to have free popcorn and everything's wonderful. And so what Trump, Trump got in and he said, hey, we need to bring our jobs back. 90% of our medicines are made by the Communist Chinese making $2 a day.
00:14:33:15 - 00:14:58:17
JOHN
And it's time we reverse those policies and become a nation of makers of things and so on. So I think the attraction that Trump has had, especially amongst young people and, Latinos and blacks, is that the welfare society and the utopian Marxist, you know, a model, they've been trying that and it's not working.
00:14:58:19 - 00:14:59:19
DINO
So, so, John, so.
00:14:59:19 - 00:15:26:16
JOHN
I think about 15 million people came across the border during Biden's time. They're all going to get Medicare. They're all getting subsidized rent, and they're all competing for services, which drives up the cost of housing, drives down the cost for workers. And I remember Cesar Chavez. I mean, you know, if I go back to the 50s, Cesar Chavez had closed the border because every union leader.
00:15:26:18 - 00:15:27:11
JOHN
No, no.
00:15:27:16 - 00:15:55:12
DINO
So, John, let me get this straight. So what you're saying is that the the neoliberal economic reforms that we saw during the rise of the 80s and conservatives at the time that actually saw the at that period, the greatest job loss that we experienced in this country and subsequently paved the way for the economic challenges under that administration, have now, in your view, led to these such these conditions that we have here today.
00:15:55:14 - 00:16:42:24
DINO
By the way, John has made some incredible claims there. The US job market plummeted, has plummeted under Trump. Trump's leadership, 70% lower job growth, unemployment the highest in nearly four years. So, you know, this is one of the things that I think goes back to what I was pointing to a few minutes ago that we are looking at an administration has essentially convinced individuals like John from Santa Monica that there are others you can blame for what is happening in this country, and in doing so, redirect the attention from those in power who are exclusively responsible.
00:16:43:01 - 00:17:04:11
DINO
CNN just conducted an analysis last week that describes how Trump keeps lying, while literally accusing others in the same sentence. Think about that for a second. President Donald Trump tells a lot of lies. We know this. I was just pointing out how many.
00:17:04:13 - 00:17:47:10
DINO
And in the process of doing so, he will literally turn around. And he does both at the same time. That is not true. And in rebuttals, whatever, he's confirming not to be true. He then tells a lie himself. (818) 985-5735. We're talking about what does losing look like? Are we losing the battle of information, of news analysis, politics? The Trump administration has gone out of its way to ensure that every aspect, every corner of government there are able to influence.
00:17:47:10 - 00:18:18:23
DINO
The L.A. 28 Committee just added some conservative members to its committee here in Los Angeles. (818) 905-5735. Give us a call. Let us know what you think. Coming up on the show, on the episode in the second half of the program, we're going to turn our attention to our political series, politics, Tacos and Beer and Space, where we bring L.A. leaders, political figures, candidates and other stakeholders to the table to get to know them a bit more personally.
00:18:19:00 - 00:18:43:08
DINO
We'll be chatting with Priyamani, who is running for L.A. City Council District 11, and I like to think of it as more than just a candidate profile. You know, I want to get to know Faiza and what drove her to politics. You know, that's one of those things that we've asked this question of other candidates before. And I always find the answers, illuminating and quite frankly, sometimes encouraging.
00:18:43:10 - 00:18:50:06
DINO
Let's take a brief break. We'll be right back and, stay with us.
00:18:50:08 - 00:19:22:23
MUSIC INTRO
I'm going to tell you what I'm saying. You are listening to. But you really only have to remember to talk to a signal. There's a signal. Coming up with Mighty Dino only on Kpfk, 90.7 FM, Los Angeles I in the US. I live in Beaumont. The same year that I got some say that I'm a five year old and.
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MUSIC INTRO
¿Será que no quiere pensar en lo que pudiera pasar? Si la mayoría en la nación, empieza a gritar ¡Revolución!
00:19:32:22 - 00:20:08:13
DINO
Welcome back to listening to the senior news information analysis. I'm your host, Dino. And today we're talking what does it mean to lose to the Trump administration? I was referencing early on in the first part of this segment, a particular incident in which a news organization became concerned with responding to an attack. So much so that, at least for the time being, they don't want to talk about it out of fear that the Trump administration or its accolades may come back in attack.
00:20:08:18 - 00:20:32:05
DINO
And this is a legitimate fear. And let me be straight by no stretch of the imagination am I referencing this as a criticism that it is bad that they did that now? Not to the contrary. As colleagues, I totally respect and understand that here on the signal on our radio program. We've had this conversation many times. You know my producer, let's let's get at him.
00:20:32:05 - 00:20:54:11
DINO
Let's go. Let's do it. Even Sly, our audio engineer, has told me, do you know? Let's do this, man. Let's cover this. We're not going to back down. Backing down out of political concerns that an authoritarian government might come after us. Not a bad thing. Rather is a strategic thing. Peter, on line two. Peter, what do you think?
00:20:54:11 - 00:20:57:13
DINO
Are we losing to the Trump administration?
00:20:57:15 - 00:21:33:21
PETER
Yes. But thank you for taking my call. Yeah, I just wanted to comment on all of this, talk that the administration is, talking about the the virtues of capitalism and how, how dangerous socialism is. I it makes me think of the 2000 made collapse as Obama was taking office, as they were transitioning to the Obama admin and the economy, literally just the wheels came off.
00:21:33:23 - 00:22:06:22
PETER
And what did they do? Because of the, subprime, disaster, they they ended up bailing out Wall Street and bankers and they come on. So they got socialism. It was socialism for the elite and the rich and all of the, working class folks who were trying to purchase homes were left with, to compete. And, and in the dog eat dog world of market capitalism.
00:22:06:24 - 00:22:14:08
PETER
So it's all smoke and mirrors. Oh, look what they're saying. As you say, they lie constantly.
00:22:14:10 - 00:22:39:22
DINO
Thank you. Peter, let's go to Ben. Ben from Winter Park. Ben. So far, Ronnie from Las Vegas. John and his, anti-immigrant, sentiments from Santa Monica. And, and Peter, we all seem to be in agreement that there is some degree of, of loss happening here to the Trump administration. Is there is there a silver lining in all of this?
00:22:39:24 - 00:22:47:05
BEN
Well, in my, comment about this is this is what growth looks like.
00:22:47:07 - 00:22:49:11
DINO
Tell me more, Ben. Why?
00:22:49:13 - 00:23:18:07
BEN
Well, because a lot of growth is accompanied with, setbacks. Sure, sure. And that's where we learn. And I've always thought, you know, this cabal of serpents has been with us from the beginning. Even told about and the Bible. But what I'm thinking is that the whole objective of our human existence is to learn how to live with those, shall we call them destructions or serpents?
00:23:18:09 - 00:23:25:17
BEN
Either way, we've got to learn how to live with them. You know, humor is a great way to do it, right? Sure. I appreciate it. I got to.
00:23:25:17 - 00:23:47:13
DINO
Say, I'm going to have to borrow that. The cabal of serpents, as a way of describing what's happening in the country today. You know, Ben, I was sharing with the audience, you know, I've used this as a reference. On many occasions, the Washington Post documented a total of 30,500 false or misleading statements made during the first administration.
00:23:47:13 - 00:24:09:01
DINO
And we already have fact checkers from. Yeah, you know, the The post and CNN and other sources with a lot more resources who are closely following and documenting the ongoing lies that we're hearing every day. Ben, from Warner Park, I appreciate, thank you, chairman. And the, you know, that cabal of serpents YouTube. This kind of Dave.
00:24:09:03 - 00:24:15:12
DINO
Dave, on the on the line, Dave would say you,
00:24:15:14 - 00:24:19:06
ANNOUNCER
I'm calling about. I'm calling about baseball.
00:24:19:08 - 00:24:21:11
DINO
You're jumping ahead of us, Dave.
00:24:21:13 - 00:24:25:08
DAVE
Here and CD 11. Want to get rid of her? You want to get in?
00:24:25:08 - 00:24:29:01
DINO
Oh, my God, Dave, we haven't even heard from her.
00:24:29:03 - 00:24:41:10
DAVE
Yeah, and I'm already calling because we are going to hear he's going to be our next council person. And we we want that because we're really tired of, Tracy Park and her nonsense, you know?
00:24:41:14 - 00:24:42:05
DINO
Okay, Dave.
00:24:42:05 - 00:25:06:15
DAVE
So so we can, go ahead taking my, money. And they laundered it through the, lifeguards, the police, policemen's association, the lifeguard Association, and from the, other associations. And they used this they did a smear job against, Aaron. Darlene. So we want to, we want to stop that from happening. Now.
00:25:06:15 - 00:25:07:13
DINO
Where do you live, Dave?
00:25:07:13 - 00:25:13:12
DINO
You know, obviously you live in the district, out on the west side. What part of the district do you live in?
00:25:13:14 - 00:25:14:08
DAVE
Venice.
00:25:14:10 - 00:25:28:11
DINO
Okay, so you're in Venice? God, yeah. And your support for Pfizer, which, again, we haven't quite gotten to that segment, but this is a great segue for us, to to get into this topic.
00:25:28:11 - 00:25:30:15
DAVE
Thank you for having her on your show.
00:25:30:15 - 00:25:44:15
DINO
Yeah, we're we're we're looking forward to it. And she, are you supporting her because of what she represents? And again, we'll get to that. Are you supporting her because you don't want Tracy Park of.
00:25:44:17 - 00:25:48:11
DAVE
We. We don't want Tracy Park. And we want buy her out.
00:25:48:13 - 00:25:49:09
DINO
Okay.
00:25:49:11 - 00:25:50:14
MUSIC INTRO
We'll we'll we'll get into it.
00:25:50:14 - 00:25:53:06
DINO
We'll get her on the line now. And,
00:25:53:08 - 00:26:10:00
DAVE
We're tired of tired of nonsense and and her taking money from the GLP behind everybody's back, sharing that we can't we can't prove that. But where we we there's strong indications that she did do exactly that.
00:26:10:02 - 00:26:10:12
DINO
All right.
00:26:10:15 - 00:26:13:19
DINO
Well, over we we're not going to make the claim against er and.
00:26:14:00 - 00:26:19:02
DINO
We'll let you make that claim. We're going to stay away from it for now. But we are you right. We're going to take a.
00:26:19:02 - 00:26:20:08
DINO
Brief break.
00:26:20:10 - 00:26:28:11
DINO
And, get, get folks on the line and let her know that she already has a friend. I'm here on the seat. No, stay with us. We'll be right back. Oh, yeah.
00:26:28:11 - 00:26:35:21
MUSIC INTRO
We're we're on trail.
00:26:35:23 - 00:26:59:06
MUSIC INTRO
I'm going to tell you. Going to stand. You are listening to. But you really only have to remember I took it to the signal that the signal is coming with Mighty Dino only on Kpfk, 90.7 FM, Los Angeles.
00:26:59:08 - 00:27:06:01
MUSIC INTRO
I need us on Monday. Same yours.
00:27:06:03 - 00:27:09:16
MUSIC INTRO
Said. I got some Senator Johnson and I said, I.
00:27:09:18 - 00:27:48:11
DINO
Welcome back the signal. News, information and analysis. I'm your host, Dino. Or is the the production, the production crew here did the promo. The mighty Dino. I feel like I should wear a cape now. What do you think, sly? Right. I keep so, Welcome back. Yeah. So, listen, we're turning out to our political series, Politics to Consume Beer, which is the speech we created here on the signal to invite LA leaders, candidates, politicians, thinkers, and other stakeholders to the on air table and talk about politics, but not just politics, community.
00:27:48:13 - 00:28:23:02
DINO
And of course, that huge important question what talk? Tell us your story. And what's your favorite taco? So yeah, our guest today is someone who has already shaped the lives of thousands of families across Los Angeles. Pfizer Malik is a public interest attorney and one of the leading housing justice advocates on the West Side for more than 15 years, she has fought to keep Angelenos in their homes, expanded access to affordable housing, and strengthened protections for renters who are oftentimes pushed to the margins of our city.
00:28:23:04 - 00:28:47:03
DINO
This is something that's a hot topic here and in L.A., in California, all across the country, but no place perhaps more than as we see the unaffordable living that is California, the unaffordable living that is L.A. her work has helped build policies that bring stability and opportunity to working families, and has created real accountability in the local system.
00:28:47:05 - 00:29:14:01
DINO
Is now running for L.A. City Council District 11. Her friend Dave, who jumped on the line and actually kind of helped us, introduced a topic I got on there, he said, look, we're tired of the status quo. We want somebody new. In Phase I's the One. District 11 stretches from Palisades to Brentwood to Sawtelle, Mar Vista, Venice, Ladera, Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista and a few other regions.
00:29:14:01 - 00:29:22:05
DINO
Her campaign focuses on restoring what she describes trust in the city, but is not working to the signal.
00:29:22:07 - 00:29:24:18
FAIZAH
Hi. Thank you for having me, Dino.
00:29:24:20 - 00:29:32:18
DINO
Well, thank you for joining. I don't know if you got a chance to hear. You already had to have one fan who I was throwing out a little dust and dirt for.
00:29:32:20 - 00:29:41:13
FAIZAH
I did, I did, I was listening, and, I'm so excited that people are ready for a change in district 11.
00:29:41:15 - 00:30:08:05
DINO
Well, listen, you know, I'd like to start these, these particular type of interviews with one, you know, with one big question. Right. And I have always fascinated I've been in one form of politics or another, usually through media for 20 plus years, if not longer. And, if I throw in the activist years as a student, 30 plus years, did Pfizer wake up one day and say, you know, I'm going to be a politician?
00:30:08:05 - 00:30:10:11
DINO
How did that come about for you?
00:30:10:13 - 00:30:36:18
FAIZAH
Yes. Well, no, I didn't hear your question. I did not grow up thinking I was going to run for office. And, to be honest, I mean, I'm I was born and raised here in Southern California. My family immigrated to LA in the 1970s. My dad is Pakistani and my mom is Indian, Burmese. And, I grew up here, in Los Angeles, in Southern California.
00:30:36:20 - 00:31:03:09
FAIZAH
And I didn't really ever see people looking like me in government at all. And frankly, you know, my family was just trying to make, a living for themselves. They were trying to establish themselves in this country. And Los Angeles, really. And I have so much L.A. pride because L.A. really allowed immigrants and immigrant families like mine to be able to build their roots here, to build a life for themselves.
00:31:03:11 - 00:31:25:13
FAIZAH
And then so I was able to be born here and then go to college and, law school. And I became, you know, all of that. But, I when I moved back here after spending my early legal career on the East Coast, I have just really seen that dream get further and further away for too many people.
00:31:25:13 - 00:31:28:01
DINO
Right, right. And so so let me let me ask.
00:31:28:01 - 00:31:34:12
FAIZAH
Actually, affordability has just gotten worse. And so that's, that's actually what has led me to decide to run for office now. Okay.
00:31:34:12 - 00:32:06:13
DINO
I'm digging that. Okay. Great. And yes, I sounds like the quintessential absolute first of all, L.A. girl, props to you. But you know, Pakistani, Indian, Burmese. So girl, you are the immigrant success story. Your parents are the immigrant success story. Let me ask you this. Is there one particular incident event? It sounds like issue we've already identified that has really shaped this commitment to public service.
00:32:06:15 - 00:32:30:21
FAIZAH
Yeah, I think I mean, there's there's a couple reasons. There's a couple of things. So, you know, my grandfather was, a big community leader who helped kind of build some community institutions for the Muslim community here in LA, including the Masjid in Inglewood. And so that's sort of my family roots, watching my grandfather invest in the community and try to build up the community.
00:32:30:21 - 00:33:13:14
FAIZAH
And that's why I'm a community development lawyer. I think, the institutions we need are built from the community. And then, you know, my work, I work on housing because I think I view that as one of the most essential things that people need in society. And, since I've been, back in public, back in Los Angeles, I've been a lawyer at Public Health Law, which is a very big legal aid organization, very familiar with the work I've been doing is working with renters to advocate for more housing stability for them, advocating for, protections to, prevent people from being evicted into homelessness, advocating for affordable housing.
00:33:13:16 - 00:33:47:12
FAIZAH
And it's really the last piece that I have seen, our Los Angeles leaders really fail on. And in particular, that's why I'm running against my council member who is opposing and has opposed building more affordable housing in the district, including this project called Venice Joe, which is a big affordable housing project on public land. But the city itself wanted to build, starting in 2016, it on a public parking lot that is barely used, and the city said, let's build affordable housing there.
00:33:47:14 - 00:34:11:08
FAIZAH
The they put out a bid that were nonprofit, affordable housing developers that responded. They've been going through the city and state processes and getting the funding to build that affordable housing project. And council member Park ran in 2022 on opposing that project, including opposing shelters. And that seems backwards to me. And that's when I see the opposition to that.
00:34:11:10 - 00:34:31:15
FAIZAH
I actually think, you know, people are wondering, you know, I'm spending all that money, taxpayer money to build affordable housing. And why haven't I seen it built? And I think that's the disconnect that we have to get people to see. And and when they don't see their taxpayer dollars actually build the solutions they think they're, they want, that's when they lose trust in government.
00:34:31:15 - 00:34:36:05
FAIZAH
And so that's what I want to restore. And we have to actually deliver on the things we're saying.
00:34:36:07 - 00:35:05:22
DINO
And phase out. Your district is, I think, unique in that unlike other districts, let's say closer to, la proper downtown L.A. and other areas on on, as I like to say, a south of the ten freeway. You guys have a lot of real powerful interests on the West Side that I could see would why they would oppose, you know, public housing or public, projects like the ones you're describing.
00:35:05:24 - 00:35:10:12
DINO
What has been that experience? What is that experience like over there?
00:35:10:14 - 00:35:33:09
FAIZAH
Yeah. You know, to be honest, I, I'm a mom, I have little kids. And so I'm talking to parents all the time. Of course, because of my work, I end up talking about housing and homelessness a lot with parents on the Westside. And, you know, what I hear actually is compassion. People want compassionate solutions to our homelessness and housing crisis.
00:35:33:11 - 00:36:02:16
FAIZAH
I think people also are hungry for information on, the causes and the solutions. And so I what I when I see the opposition to projects like that and style or other housing projects to me is the information gap. I think when people get the information that housing solves homelessness, they're willing to kind of engage in that conversation to actually push for the solutions.
00:36:02:16 - 00:36:31:02
FAIZAH
And, and the other thing that has been really effective in my conversations, when we talk from a budget perspective about how we could spend our taxpayer money to continue towing RVs that are the only homes people have or we could be spending our taxpayer money to build the shelter and housing that would help get people permanently off the streets and into, you know, out of the RVs and into housing, which is what everybody wants.
00:36:31:02 - 00:36:52:24
FAIZAH
I mean, people living in the tents don't want to live in the tents. They want to be living in housing. So, I think that that's what I really want to connect for people on the West Side and for voters. But, actually, if we invest in these long term solutions to our crises, everybody's better off not create safety for everybody equipped security for everybody.
00:36:52:24 - 00:36:55:00
FAIZAH
And when I'm talking to parents.
00:36:55:02 - 00:37:16:19
DINO
That resonates for, as you said, something, you mentioned that you're a mom, and I know you spent some time, on, out in the field and activities with your kids and, you know, I was talking to another candidate recently here who we profiled on our show, who was talking about, and I thought this was so cool.
00:37:16:21 - 00:37:48:06
DINO
He said that he had a sit down with his partner and he's also a parent, a new parent. And he said that, that they made an agreement on what it's going to take for them to really make this happen. And it was like a promissory note to his wife that he would be there for the appointments and he would be there for that, you know, and it just it resonated with me as a parent myself, who's now, you know, getting ready to be an empty nester, just how important these issues are.
00:37:48:06 - 00:37:59:08
DINO
Right? And for you, how has that informed your decision to move this forward or to move forward? As a parent who is looking to help guide this city?
00:37:59:10 - 00:38:29:04
FAIZAH
Yeah, I mean, my kids are the reason why I decided to run. I think now I'm considered kind of in a sandwich generation. I think people can empathize. I have my parents are aging and they're retiring, and I have kids in elementary school now, and I'm an elder millennial, so very much a product of my generation. And, I think for us, we're staring ahead at kind of worsening climate crisis.
00:38:29:04 - 00:38:58:11
FAIZAH
Sure, worsening affordability crisis for our kids. You know, at our federal level, just like more toxic politics. Violence. And that scares me for my kids. And that's also why it was motivating to me and my husband, frankly, after the, you know, I decided to just go for it after Trump won in November again, because, we were looking around like, okay, what do we do now?
00:38:58:12 - 00:39:22:18
FAIZAH
He's won the second time. And, and I think, my response to that was just, okay, we have to be in these seats of power. We have to contest for these elections on up and down the ballot. We need millennials to step up. We need younger folks to step up, because we are the ones parenting the next generation.
00:39:22:18 - 00:39:47:03
FAIZAH
And so my husband was very supportive of me, and he was very much like, whatever it takes, you people have been asking you to run. I believe in you. Of course, I have a really robust social safety net here now, too, because my parents live here. I have family, so I have a lot of community support and that is what makes it possible for me as a mom to run.
00:39:47:05 - 00:39:56:06
FAIZAH
And I think it also shows why the stakes are so high that, it's what's going to take is that actually, do we need to invest? Seems worth it.
00:39:56:08 - 00:40:23:01
DINO
My guess as far as our my league, she is running for city council District 11. This is part of our ongoing series here on the signal where we cover those that are courageous enough to take on the challenge that is running for city office. Our series politics was in beer, where we invite candidates, we invite other stakeholders to come and let us know and get to know them on a more personal level.
00:40:23:01 - 00:40:42:11
DINO
Yes, we'll get to it. You know, we'll get to the topics at hand. We'll get to, why or what the platform is. But some of these questions for me are very important because I can sometimes we lose sight of the fact that, you know, at the politicians are still people. You know, you all are parents and families.
00:40:42:11 - 00:41:01:21
DINO
And sometimes if we just get to know folks a little bit better on that level, I think it makes a lot more sense. But then again, that's my own little, $0.02 to it. But speaking of campaigns, right. So what are your campaign, goals or one of the things you emphasize, phrases that you need to restore trust in City Hall?
00:41:01:23 - 00:41:09:01
DINO
And I think we've touched on it already, but what does accountability look like for you?
00:41:09:03 - 00:41:37:08
FAIZAH
I think, I mean, to go back to just the housing issue. I think people, see, a lot of lack of leadership in City Hall right now. They're kind of wondering, well, we're taxed a lot. It's very expensive to live here, and yet it feels like our roads are crumbling. We are not building housing. Who is in charge?
00:41:37:10 - 00:42:02:08
FAIZAH
And I think people are right when they say that. And so I think what that's why I really want to focus. I think transparency is going to be really key. And I think the difference really between me and and Tracy is that I believe in investment in our social services, I believe in investment in housing, and I want to make sure that we're delivering on it for people.
00:42:02:08 - 00:42:29:16
FAIZAH
And so that requires showing people our work like, this is how much we've spent. This is this is how we're going to build a unit. This is the progress. Because I believe that this is a worthwhile investment. So transparency is really key, I think accessibility of elected officials to that's why local politics is so important. Like, you know, you might not be able to have access to your congressmember, but you have access to your council member.
00:42:29:16 - 00:42:50:11
FAIZAH
Right. They have a direct impact on your life. And so, accessibility is really important being in the community. And, I think that's a key part of it, not shying away from having, you know, being asked hard questions. And so I definitely welcome meeting with everybody.
00:42:50:13 - 00:43:10:17
DINO
So let me let me ask you one of those, those hard questions. And maybe it's not that hard actually. But so okay let's fast forward. I, I got my, my, my secret, ball here. Crystal ball. And, it's day two. You got elected two days ago. And, I sit here and say, okay, Pfizer, you've made it.
00:43:10:17 - 00:43:17:09
DINO
What's your first three priorities? And this year, coming up?
00:43:17:11 - 00:43:38:02
FAIZAH
Yeah, I think the number one thing for me is and for the city of Los Angeles and actually for our country is just an affordability crisis. And so, my number one focus is going to be on housing stability and affordability, even though the West Side and Council District 11 is one of the it is the wealthiest district in the city.
00:43:38:04 - 00:43:59:20
FAIZAH
It does it's it's half renter. And so I hear from too many people that they are being priced out of CD 11, and they have to live in another part of the city. And so that just creates downstream effects everywhere, impacts all over the city. And so we need to make sure people are able to stay housed. And there should be affordable housing here in city 11.
00:43:59:22 - 00:44:22:15
FAIZAH
And that's. So I'm going to make sure we actually prioritize that, not just talk about it. I also think on homelessness, I want to see the services reach people. And so I think we need stronger oversight of our homelessness funding to make sure it's actually doing what people want it to do, which is, getting the mental health services to people, the supportive housing.
00:44:22:15 - 00:44:49:01
FAIZAH
And, you know, instead of just focusing on sweeps and clean ups, let's focus on helping people. And then, you know, I already talked about transparency and accountability. That's a really big thing. And then the last piece that I really want to see expanded upon in the district is really sort of thinking about reframing safety and the safety feelings, people, you know, the need for safety people are articulating away from just more policing.
00:44:49:03 - 00:45:13:08
FAIZAH
I think we have to think about what creates safety in a community. It is investment in our sidewalks and our safe infrastructure. It is, street lights and, and and you know, when someone's having a mental health crisis, crisis. It's we don't need to send police there. We could have unarmed crisis responders, which has been very effective in other parts of the city.
00:45:13:10 - 00:45:30:23
FAIZAH
And we could do that as a and then the police can be available to solve violent crime. And they prefer to do that. So we should think about different solutions to safety. And I think we should really have that conversation in the 11. I think people would be receptive.
00:45:31:00 - 00:45:54:00
DINO
Stay with us, folks. We're, we're going to take a short break. Our guest is Faiz Ahmad, who is running for City Council District 11 here in Los Angeles, part of our ongoing series, politics, Tacos and Beer, in which we bring you the individuals who are courageous enough to run for office and quite frankly, are much, much stronger, bigger people than I am.
00:45:54:00 - 00:45:59:09
DINO
And I'm pretty big. Stay with us. Will be right back.
00:45:59:11 - 00:46:19:18
MUSIC INTRO
I'm going to tell you what I'm saying. Estas escuchando. But you really only have to remember to work towards the signal. Con el poderoso vino solo por copy of the car. 90.7 FM, Los Angeles.
00:46:19:19 - 00:46:24:13
MUSIC INTRO
I'm not sure I can get.
00:46:24:15 - 00:46:34:23
MUSIC INTRO
A government general. I need us every time. I'm not saying you're tired.
00:46:34:23 - 00:46:35:15
MUSIC INTRO
I got some say.
00:46:35:17 - 00:46:56:12
DINO
Welcome back to the signal here on KP 90.7 and FM. The signal, our weekly broadcast every Saturday. News, information, analysis. I'm your host, De Niro. And this time apparently it also Dino, which have my production crew here is cracking me up. By the way, I hadn't heard these until now, so our guest is fine. Someone who's joining us, from the West Side.
00:46:56:12 - 00:47:23:11
DINO
She is a candidate for City Council District 11, part of our ongoing series. Politics, Tacos and Beer, in which we bring you the folks willing to make that change. Pfizer. Let's go into that complicated topic, and I think you can relate to. I just haven't heard, the first part of this interview, as a child of immigrants, as an Angelino, I mean, we are under attack by every metric and measure.
00:47:23:13 - 00:47:41:20
DINO
Our communities are under assault. And, you know, district 11 includes many immigrant families, many workers. And your position on federal enforcement actions in and in L.A. is is going to be one of those topics that's going to continuously come up. Please let us know. Where are your thoughts on that?
00:47:41:22 - 00:48:15:04
FAIZAH
Yeah, I strongly oppose all of the immigration enforcement actions and raids that are terrorizing our families and workers, including on the West side. You know, we have voted to city council did pass the sanctuary city ordinance, which I strongly support, and we need to make sure it actually has teeth, and we're enforcing it and making it stronger where we can and not using any resources to collaborate with Ice, including LAPD resources.
00:48:15:06 - 00:48:39:20
FAIZAH
I think it has been really heartening to see so many community members rise up to protect our immigrant neighbors. And at the same time, we have seen a lot of instances where it's been, where people have been unsure of LAPD is protecting our federal enforcement agents or the community. I think our, you know, our law enforcement should be first and foremost protecting the residents of Los Angeles.
00:48:39:22 - 00:49:10:21
FAIZAH
And so we need to city council should have strong oversight of that, including the mayor. And we should also be passing stronger policies where we can to limit information sharing with federal agencies. Making sure that we are funding legal support for any families that have been impacted by the raids and including social services. A lot of people have been struggling to work now and therefore now can't make rent.
00:49:10:23 - 00:49:29:03
FAIZAH
And so those families now need rental assistance. And, you know, but I've been really heartened to see this community rising up to defend each other. And I think that's the stuff we need to replicate and build on right now, which is it's so powerful. It's so Los Angeles. You know, the way people have been showing up right now.
00:49:29:05 - 00:50:05:09
DINO
And and it's it's it's inspiring. I mean, it's definitely inspiring because it just reminds you that, you know, in moments like this when we're under political assault, under physical threat of violence, under intimidation, you know, having folks stand up is so inspiring and motivating because it reminds we remind one another that we're not alone. And speaking of standing up, when reviewing your, your website, you've accumulated quite an impressive list of endorsements.
00:50:05:09 - 00:50:07:24
DINO
Tell us who's, backing you on this.
00:50:08:01 - 00:50:39:21
FAIZAH
Yeah. I am so proud of the, you know, coalition that we've been building. I have been endorsed by the working families Party very proudly and, Democratic Socialists of America. In addition, I have the backing of Abundant Housing Los Angeles, which is a housing advocacy organization. I have the backing of a number of labor unions, including, most recently, we announced that I am endorsed by the L.A. County Federation of Labor.
00:50:39:21 - 00:51:04:10
FAIZAH
And they very rarely back challengers to incumbents, especially in a primary. I did not, and I think that showed that we that I am I mean, there's two candidates in the race and I am the candidate that is the candidate for workers and the candidate for labor. And so we're going to keep building that coalition because I think ultimately right now in our country, we're looking at their crises.
00:51:04:10 - 00:51:13:06
FAIZAH
And it's just a crisis, the same crisis facing all working people. And so we need to be banding together right now. So I'm really proud to be building that coalition.
00:51:13:08 - 00:51:29:14
DINO
And we're clearly seeing a rise and a moment for the Democratic Socialists of America movement. Is that something that tell us about your participation or your involvement in that particular effort now?
00:51:29:16 - 00:51:52:00
FAIZAH
Yeah, I mean, so I've, as a housing lawyer, I was really fortunate to start working with a lot of DSA members on our recent campaign to lower the rent cap. So one, you know, it takes it took multiple years. But last week, the city council finally voted to lower the rent cap for millions of tenants and rent stabilized units.
00:51:52:02 - 00:52:15:01
FAIZAH
That is 42% of LA residents, which is huge. And we're going to the rent cap was lowered so that it can never be above 4%. Previously, it could go up 10% under the city formula. And DSA residents, DSA members actually came came to tenant groups and said, we want to work on this campaign, let's build a coalition.
00:52:15:01 - 00:52:38:17
FAIZAH
And so I it was it was really powerful the way we built that and won that last week. And so, you know, I think that's what DSA to me is fighting for in Los Angeles, which is an LA for working people, not the billionaire class. We definitely need that in Los Angeles. We need to be building a city for working people.
00:52:38:19 - 00:52:55:01
FAIZAH
And, so yeah, very proud to have their endorsement. And ultimately, I think the thing also as, you know, DSA and I agreed we need to be building a government that serves everyday people, not, billionaires.
00:52:55:03 - 00:53:14:20
DINO
So as we begin to wind down in the next couple of minutes, a few more questions that I think are some of the more important ones. First of all, since this is politics that goes in beer, you know what what what la what defines you when we talk about carne.
00:53:14:20 - 00:53:15:17
DINO
Asada.
00:53:15:22 - 00:53:31:04
DINO
Carnitas, I'm guessing carnitas. Obviously not. Smells like American, but, you know, there's lengua, there's all these wonderful, you know, culinary and experiences. And the taco scene of La, which, which, which not quite defines you.
00:53:31:06 - 00:54:05:12
FAIZAH
Yeah. I love a carne asada. And, I love our street vendor culture here in Los Angeles. It is so iconic. And, my mind just immediately went to the the street vendors that are in front of the Whole Foods on Lincoln Boulevard. There you go. And and it's, it's just, community. It's, my favorite fun fact about Asada that I learned was that it, came from, you know, Middle Eastern culture.
00:54:05:14 - 00:54:06:17
DINO
Oh, yeah.
00:54:06:19 - 00:54:13:11
FAIZAH
So party asada and Shwarma are similar. Yeah, they're they're related.
00:54:13:13 - 00:54:29:21
DINO
Yeah. I was on an a trip with my kids to Latin America, and we stopped in Mexico and I pointed to to a vendor and I said, do you realize that that's part of our deep roots with our Lebanese brothers and sisters in the Middle East? And my I think it was my oldest who looked at me and said, what are you talking about?
00:54:29:21 - 00:54:49:05
DINO
And when we got into it, it was just like this whole renewed sense of appreciation for the taco all of a sudden to demonstrate its deep roots. And by the way, I got to say this because if not, I'm not going to make it out of the studio alive. Vegan tacos as well. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my producer is a vegan and she immediately typed it up on the screen.
00:54:49:07 - 00:54:51:09
DINO
What's up with the book by the name?
00:54:51:09 - 00:55:01:18
FAIZAH
I said, go ahead. There is one more. There is. There's a recent effer I also want to highlight, the, it's called, Latino Muslim Unity.
00:55:01:20 - 00:55:02:23
DINO
Oh, please tell us that.
00:55:02:23 - 00:55:13:15
FAIZAH
There's a community organization started by a writer. Who, me? That the Palestinian women and, oh, she started this movement are bringing Taco trucks to Ma. Oh.
00:55:13:17 - 00:55:15:01
DINO
This is an offshoot right.
00:55:15:01 - 00:55:24:00
FAIZAH
In the Muslim and Latino community. And I just think it's so special and so Southern California.
00:55:24:02 - 00:55:47:09
DINO
Yeah, I remember the writer. Yeah, following some of that on social media. And I remember, making a drive out to I think it was obviously Orange County somewhere, for one of their events and, Yeah. Okay. Appreciate that. So final question here. So tell us, how do folks get involved? Where's the website? How do they volunteer?
00:55:47:11 - 00:55:50:18
DINO
All the good stuff, as we sign off.
00:55:50:20 - 00:56:12:10
FAIZAH
Yeah. Well, thank you so much, Dino, for having me on today. This was super fun to be able to chat to your listeners. People can find more information about me and or to sign up to volunteer and donate on my website by the. For a Wacom. We are a clean money campaign. I'm not taking money from real estate developers.
00:56:12:10 - 00:56:35:23
FAIZAH
I'm not taking money from fossil fuel industry. I'm not taking money from lobbyists. I'm actually money from corporations. So it's really people, that are funding this campaign. And also that's how we're going to win through Doorknocking. So I really encourage people to volunteer. And my you know, I'm ultimately I'm running because I want the West Side to be a place where everybody has a future.
00:56:36:00 - 00:57:00:19
FAIZAH
I want the West Side to be a place where everyone can afford to live and raise their families and thrive and have opportunities. Our teachers, our health care workers, nonprofit workers, college grads, young people. I artists. That's something that is near and dear to my heart. And what I hear consistently across everybody is that way too expensive to live on the West Side now.
00:57:00:21 - 00:57:26:04
FAIZAH
And so we need to be investing in the solutions to create the affordable housing that we need. We need to keep people housed. We need, an alley that makes room for everybody. And that's that's really what I'm going to I'm running to do. I want to create livable neighborhoods, but livable neighborhoods for everybody, not just people that have money in the city.
00:57:26:04 - 00:57:33:10
FAIZAH
And, that's what I think ultimately is what we love about living in know and and that's how that's that's what I want to represent.
00:57:33:10 - 00:57:36:21
DINO
City Hall one more time. The website Faizah?
00:57:36:23 - 00:57:45:18
FAIZAH
Faizahforla.com that's spelled for I v F a i z a h f o r l a . com
00:57:45:20 - 00:58:10:00
DINO
Thank you. My guest has been Faizah. Malik running for L.A. city a Los Angeles city Council district 11. And I want to thank her and all of you who participated in today's program. And as we prepare to close out, I want to remind everybody and bring this back to the thread that tied this hour together. We begin with a conversation about what it means to lose ground, during this difficult Trump administration and the real consequences that follow.
00:58:10:01 - 00:58:33:01
DINO
We have watched the targeting of media intimidation and dissent of of individuals, the deliberate harm inflicted on immigrant communities. And in times like this, it becomes easy to feel powerless and overwhelmed. But every election, every policy discussion and every moment, a civic engagement is an opportunity to move this city forward. And I ask that you please not forget that.
00:58:33:03 - 00:58:46:08
DINO
Stay positive, help each other out. And I want to thank my producer Nella Barbara, studio engineer Sly River, and of course, stay tuned for my favorite car show, the Car Show.
00:58:46:10 - 00:59:04:10
MUSIC INTRO
Look at myself. I'm in this movie. These hat. And they look at me and I do it in it's own through. And they say, no president. So let's get getting there.
00:59:04:12 - 00:59:25:06
ANNOUNCER
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Hey, just wait and see. Someday we'll be. Oh.
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