What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin

In this new age of repression, are you a dissident? What does that mean? What does it require? And how dangerous is it? In this episode, we talk with Ami Fields-Meyer, co-author of “So You Want to Be A Dissident? [https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-weekend-essay/so-you-want-to-be-a-dissident]” in the New Yorker. Ami also recently hosted a conversation titled “Concentration Camps and the Machinery of Repression: Lessons for Saving Democracy” with Julia Pitzer and Erica Chenoweth. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/ESiZOQBZUYA?si=W5n9iC0HXAgCkSO9 [https://www.youtube.com/live/ESiZOQBZUYA?si=W5n9iC0HXAgCkSO9] What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin [https://www.mikebonin.com/], in partnership with LA Forward [https://www.laforward.org/].

June is LGBTQ Pride Month.  It is time when those of us in the queer community celebrate who we are. It is a time of joy and empowerment. And a time for reflection – of thinking about how far we’ve come, and how far we’ve gone back again, It is also a time to celebrate our heroes. That is why, in this episode, I speak with Lu Lipmen, a non-binary 13 year-old who is fighting back against the wave of anti-trans hate. They discuss how they face the hate and vitriol -- and how they respond with such courage, poise and determination. Lu is an inspiring person, and this is a very special episode. I hope you enjoy it. What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin [https://www.mikebonin.com/], in partnership with LA Forward [https://www.laforward.org/].

Vulnerable Californians are in the crosshairs. That’s one of the big takeaways from Governor Newsom’s latest budget proposal -- the May Revise.Last week on this podcast, we focused on the proposal’s impact on transportation, housing and climate. Today we’re looking at its impact on vulnerable and low income Californians, and the news is pretty ugly. Among those likely to suffer if the Legislature doesn’t make changes are low income families, senior citizens, people with disabilities, people who are unhoused, survivors of domestic violence, and foster youth, and immigrants. Our guest on this episode is Chris Hoene, executive director of the California Budget & Policy Center [https://calbudgetcenter.org/]– a well-respected organization that does research and analysis of state policies, with an eye toward equity and impacts policies have on people who are vulnerable. Read the California Budget & Policy Center [https://calbudgetcenter.org/]latest report here: https://calbudgetcenter.org/issues/california-budget/ [https://calbudgetcenter.org/issues/california-budget/] For more on the Los Angeles City Budget, check out this week's episode of LA Podcast, with Mike, Alissa Walker and Godfrey Plata.  What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin [https://www.mikebonin.com/], in partnership with LA Forward [https://www.laforward.org/].

Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled his latest budget proposal. What does it mean for mass transit, for housing, and for the fight to save the climate? We will get into with Eli Lipmen, executive director of MOVE LA. Transit Advocates Warn of Fiscal Crisis After Newsom Passes on Emergency Funding: https://www.kqed.org/news/12040042/transit-advocates-warn-fiscal-crisis-after-newsom-passes-on-emergency-funding#:~:text=Newsom%20include%20%242%20billion%20in,of%20Fund%20California%20Public%20Transit.) [https://www.kqed.org/news/12040042/transit-advocates-warn-fiscal-crisis-after-newsom-passes-on-emergency-funding#:~:text=Newsom%20include%20%242%20billion%20in,of%20Fund%20California%20Public%20Transit.)] First Reviews of the Governor’s Revised Budget Are In: https://cal.streetsblog.org/2025/05/15/first-reviews-of-the-governors-revised-budget-are-in [https://cal.streetsblog.org/2025/05/15/first-reviews-of-the-governors-revised-budget-are-in] Governor Newsom unveils proposal to cut red tape and fast-track housing and development: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/14/governor-newsom-unveils-proposal-to-cut-red-tape-and-fast-track-housing-and-development/ [https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/14/governor-newsom-unveils-proposal-to-cut-red-tape-and-fast-track-housing-and-development/] Gavin Newsom lays down the law on housing construction: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/housing-dividing-california-democrats-newsom-00350811 [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/housing-dividing-california-democrats-newsom-00350811] Newsom’s budget cuts anger allies and leave the state’s chronic deficit unresolved: https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/05/newsom-budget-chronic-deficit-unresolved/ [https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/05/newsom-budget-chronic-deficit-unresolved/] Newsom says bailing L.A. out of budget crisis is ‘nonstarter.’ Bass remains hopeful: https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-05-17/newsom-no-money-for-la-budget [https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-05-17/newsom-no-money-for-la-budget] Move LA: https://www.movela.org/ [https://festivaltrail.org/] Festival Trail: https://festivaltrail.org/ [https://festivaltrail.org/] What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin [https://www.mikebonin.com/], in partnership with LA Forward [https://www.laforward.org/].

In the face of an onslaught of attacks on civil rights and civil liberties and social justice programs, are you feeling demoralized, or helpless, or isolated? If so, you are not alone.  In this episode, we talk with Rudy Espinoza, executive director of Inclusive Action for the City, about his personal and political search for the courage to stand up, and about the strength he finds in solidarity. LINKS Inclusive Action for the City [https://www.inclusiveaction.org/] Rudy's essay in Nonprofit Quarterly [https://nonprofitquarterly.org/overcoming-fear-and-seeking-solidarity-how-we-must-defend-our-communities/] Info on the May Day events across the country [https://maydaystrong.org/] LA Forward Spring Into Action Event - May 3 [https://www.laforward.org/spring] What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin [https://www.mikebonin.com/], in partnership with LA Forward [https://www.laforward.org/].