How Government Really Works - Venice, Homelessness, Olympics: Los Angeles Councilmember Traci

Santa Monica City Council Race - Topic: Homelessness - Doug Trussler, Ashley Oelsen, Lana Negrete

Homelessness in Santa Monica is an issue everyone has an opinion on, and the numbers went the wrong way last year: up, while the county and the rest of the West Side went down. On this episode of Meyerside Chats, three guests bring three lenses to the same problem. Doug Trussler co-founded Bison Capital, owns a small business on Pico, and is running for City Council — he brings the economic lens. Ashley Oelsen is a conservation biologist on the city's Sustainability and Environmental Justice Commission who helped lead neighborhood organizing around the Ocean Avenue supportive-housing fight — she brings the data and neighborhood lens. Lana Negrete is a current councilmember and former mayor — she brings the inside-City-Hall view on policy, public safety, and the day-to-day trade-offs of governing. Full disclosure: Lana is my business partner at MyGovTools. We agree on plenty and disagree on plenty, and we keep the conversation productive either way — which is exactly the point of the show. We get into the county's harm-reduction program, the "homeless industrial complex" and the missing data, where the next dollar should actually go, the Ocean Avenue win, public safety and police culture after 2020, the civil-rights questions nobody wants to answer, and the uncomfortable choices that would let us look back in five years and call this a success. 🎙️ Meyerside Chats — civic conversation that bridges divides. 🔗 http://evanmeyer.io [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2hScU8tZDg3YUdrdXlwRjU5VmtuaEJST25Vd3xBQ3Jtc0trUHpTbG9vVkNZcFFNdkFQWjZyQmY3d3VJdjk0SnNaa19VcnEwVWlRbjlTaTBsV0NTRHRGR1g2Rm9qczhQNkhQMjB2aGUtMDdEUUZFYjdNelBSVV9Pdk40b21ua2VzUFI2czllSW9pSlM0WGN5dG52WQ&q=http%3A%2F%2Fevanmeyer.io%2F&v=hQ-jSbe1MwM] 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM] Cold open: three angles, one problem (+ disclosure) 01:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=104s] What is Santa Monica getting wrong that its neighbors get right? 05:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=301s] Lana on the county, harm reduction, and "needles and meth pipes" 09:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=575s] Models to copy: Bell, Salvation Army, regional support 11:03 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=663s] Doug: the homeless of today aren't the homeless of ten years ago 12:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=721s] Ashley: other cities are buying beds in Santa Monica 12:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=763s] Lana's idea: charge the states back 13:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=824s] The Ocean Avenue win — why the pushback worked 16:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=985s] Ashley on organizing the neighborhoods (not just NIMBY) 18:58 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=1138s] Doug: a slow-motion natural disaster 19:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=1195s] Body brokering, insurance, and the rehab pipeline 21:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=1317s] Where should the next dollar go? 25:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=1517s] Ashley: the "homeless industrial complex" and the missing data 28:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=1710s] Are the numbers even accurate? 30:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=1828s] Psychiatric beds, the Manor, and controlling the programs 33:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=2025s] Public safety first? Maslow's hierarchy on the street 39:21 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=2361s] SAMO Bridge, Exodus, and police culture after 2020 47:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=2852s] The civil-rights question: rights, responsibilities, the social contract 48:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=2925s] Ashley on 5150 holds — when help breaks trust 50:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=3030s] Doug: we need more friction 52:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=3127s] Lana: compassion can't mean tolerating harm 58:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=3490s] Lightning round: the uncomfortable choices 01:02:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ-jSbe1MwM&t=3770s] Closing Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

How Government Really Works - Venice, Homelessness, Olympics: Los Angeles Councilmember Traci

How does local government actually work — and what does it take to turn around a neighborhood like Venice? In this episode of How Government Really Works, Evan Meyer sits down with Los Angeles Councilmember Traci Park for a candid conversation about Venice, public safety, homelessness, business recovery, the 2028 Olympics, AI in government, and the realities of getting things done inside LA City Hall. Traci discusses the progress she says Venice has made since the height of the pandemic-era encampment crisis, the challenges around RVs and chronic homelessness, the need for stronger mental health and addiction treatment tools, and why public-private partnerships may be essential to modernizing city government. We also cover how Venice became part of the 2028 Olympics plan, why local businesses need to be included in major event opportunities, how AI is being tested in the permitting process after the Palisades fire, and why local elections can directly shape quality of life. This conversation is about what happens behind the headlines: the tools councilmembers actually have, the limits they run into, and how residents and businesses can engage before decisions are made. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk   Chapters 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk] Intro 00:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=44s] Venice’s turnaround and why livability comes first 02:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=165s] Encampment interventions and unsheltered homelessness on Ocean Front Walk 04:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=297s] RV enforcement, vehicle impounds, and legal challenges 06:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=412s] Baywatch filming, Venice’s image, and local economic opportunity 07:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=472s] Venice Fest, pedestrian plazas, World Cup, and Olympics activation 09:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=544s] How the 2028 Olympics could benefit Venice businesses 11:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=687s] Using the Olympics to fix streets, sidewalks, and infrastructure 12:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=766s] LA’s budget deficit and public-private partnerships 13:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=834s] Outdated city technology and opportunities for modernization 16:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=977s] AI permitting, Palisades rebuilding, and tech partnerships 17:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1072s] Can local government lead on AI policy? 19:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1169s] Why government usually lags behind technology 21:42 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1302s] Public comment, misinformation, and AI for transparency 24:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1442s] Why residents should pay attention to local government 24:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1499s] How effective advocacy happens before City Council meetings 25:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1535s] Internal City Hall politics and council dynamics 28:49 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1729s] The fragile path to getting eight votes on City Council 31:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=1893s] Homelessness, civil rights, public safety, and consequences 34:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2059s] Addiction, mental health, and the limits of housing-first policy 36:45 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2205s] Why treatment-based recovery housing matters 37:47 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2267s] Homelessness funding, audits, and accountability 39:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2395s] ULA, housing production, and unintended consequences 42:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2538s] Why voters need to research ballot measures carefully 44:03 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2643s] RV interventions and the next tangible homelessness steps 46:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2775s] Playa Vista pilot program and vehicle dwelling interventions 47:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2855s] Testing pilot programs before scaling citywide 49:05 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=2945s] Hampton and Rose: what it actually takes to clear an encampment 51:41 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=3101s] 4118 zones, bridge housing, and enforcement limits 53:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=3235s] Cleanup operations vs. housing interventions 56:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=3397s] Why Traci Park wants another term 57:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=3450s] The progress, fragility, and future of Venice 59:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=3596s] Palisades fire recovery and rebuilding challenges 01:02:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWFYxpyKDk&t=3736s] Final thoughts, local elections, and how to get involved Filmed by/at ‪@thekinn‬ [https://www.youtube.com/@thekinn]  tracipark.com YouTube: @meyersidechats  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Stop Blaming Presidents. Fix the Incentives - Startup Playbook for Fixing Politics | Neil Thanedar

Why is politics so broken — and why do we keep blaming our presidents for everything? Is dark money the real problem… or is it the incentive structure behind the system? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Neil Thanedar [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#] — Executive Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, author of Positive Politics, and a founder who went through Y Combinator — to explore campaign finance reform, political incentives, direct democracy, and how everyday citizens can move from outrage to action. Neil draws a powerful parallel between startups and politics — asking: what if there were a “Y Combinator for politics”? A structured accelerator that helps ambitious optimists launch campaigns, pass ballot initiatives, and build real civic momentum the same way founders build companies. As the son of U.S. Congressman Shri Thanedar — and someone who helped guide and advise his father’s congressional campaigns — Neil brings firsthand insight into how incentives, messaging, fundraising pressure, and party structures shape political decisions long before legislation is ever passed. We unpack: • Why presidents get too much credit — and too much blame • How money and party incentives drive political behavior • Whether you must pick a political party to succeed • Direct democracy and ballot initiatives as reform tools • The “Y Combinator for Politics” concept • Applying startup discipline to civic reform • The human reality of serving in Congress • Why action beats social media outrage If you care about political reform, startup thinking, civic engagement, or breaking the red vs blue blame cycle — this conversation is for you. Check it out, and please subscribe to support our mission: https://youtu.be/zkpyJUEYWJ8 ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:30 Changing Political Incentives 06:45 The Startup Mindset in Politics 09:30 What If There Were a Y Combinator for Politics? 14:00 Why Most Candidates Quit After One Loss 18:40 Complaining vs Civic Action 22:00 The Presidential Blame Cycle 27:30 Direct Democracy & Ballot Reform 32:00 Do You Have to Pick a Party? 38:00 Fighting Corruption Without Becoming Toxic 46:00 Inside Congress: The Human Reality 52:00 Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” 55:00 Final Takeaways Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Changing the Algorithm, Rebuilding American Unity & the Psychology of Belief | Adam Mizel

Are we truly as divided as we’re told — or are we being conditioned to believe we are? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan sits down with Adam Mizel — longtime CEO, investor, and co-founder of US United — to explore how media incentives, cognitive bias, and social algorithms amplify division while drowning out unity. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful idea: we can change the algorithm. Adam argues that polarization isn’t just political — it’s cultural and psychological. Social media rewards outrage. News cycles reward conflict. Labels replace people. But what if millions of Americans deliberately posted stories of cooperation, compassion, and bridge-building once a week? What if we overwhelmed the system with unity instead of anger? They explore: * What a “fact” really is — and why definitions matter * How media and incentives distort perception * Why politics has become identity * The psychology behind tribalism and confirmation bias * The wealth and power dynamics that fuel division * The “Unity Seats” concept at sporting events * How storytelling and lived experience shift minds * Why self-work is the starting point for cultural change If division is profitable, unity must be intentional. This episode challenges you to rethink how you consume information — and how you contribute to the algorithm shaping our culture. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  02:00 US United & The Mission of Unity  07:45 What Is a “Fact”?  12:00 Media Manipulation & Algorithmic Incentives  18:30 Politics as Identity  24:00 Abortion & Moral Complexity  35:00 Wealth, Power & Democracy  47:00 Self-Work & Psychological Awareness  55:00 Changing the Algorithm  59:30 Unity Seats & Cultural Solutions If this conversation resonates, share it — especially with someone who sees the world differently than you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

ICE Eviction, Healthcare Grift, and Government Transparency | Controller Mark Pinsley

In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Mark Pinsley, the elected Controller of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for a wide-ranging conversation on transparency, public trust, and how government financial systems really work when you look under the hood. Mark explains why his office uncovered unpaid rent tied to ICE’s use of county buildings, how a simple breakdown in contracts and oversight led to years of missed payments, and why fiscal accountability must remain separate from political pressure—even when the headlines get loud. We also dive deep into: * Why 70% of county spending goes to law and order * How jail phone commissions and healthcare middlemen distort incentives * The hidden role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and how Lehigh County saved millions by auditing them * What government efficiency efforts get right—and wrong—when compared to initiatives like DOGE * Why transparency changes behavior before laws ever do * How political labels collide with the reality of independent oversight * The rising personal risks faced by local officials—and how we lower the temperature This conversation isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about systems vs. incentives, people vs. power, and what it actually takes to earn public trust in government again. Video here:  https://youtu.be/1Crt-mysGG8 00:00 Intro – What a County Controller Actually Does 01:10 Evicting ICE: How the County Discovered Unpaid Rent 02:25 Contracts, Oversight Failures, and Government Blind Spots 04:05 Separating Fiscal Oversight from Political Polarization 05:40 ICE, Community Trust, and Reporting Crime Without Fear 08:50 Citizens vs Residents: How County Spending Really Works 10:40 Where County Money Actually Goes (71% to Law & Order) 13:30 Balancing Objectivity and Personal Convictions as Controller 15:30 Public Defenders vs Prosecutors: A Budget Fairness Problem 16:45 Why Mark Identifies as a Democrat (and What That Really Means) 18:10 Populism, Corporate Power, and Anti-Trust Failures 20:40 Why Independents Can’t Win (Yet) + Ranked Choice Voting 22:10 Modernizing Government Systems: Process Before Software 23:30 Tools of Oversight: Excel, Python, and Catching Errors 24:45 Legacy Systems, Data Access, and Why IT Bottlenecks Matter 26:00 DOGE: Good Idea, Flawed Execution 28:10 Can Government Really Cut $2 Trillion? 29:40 Who Should Pay More Taxes—and Why 32:10 Wealth, Assets, and Buying Influence 34:00 Money in Politics and the Limits of Reform 36:30 Why Transparency Is the Real First Step 39:15 Civics Education and Who People Blame (Wrongly) 41:50 Where Mark Gets His News—and Why He Trusts None of It 43:40 Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Hidden Healthcare Grift 46:30 How Lehigh County Found $3M in Healthcare Savings 49:00 Giving Credit Where It’s Due on Healthcare Transparency 51:40 Receiving a Death Threat: The Cost of Public Service 54:30 Gratitude, Perspective, and Cooling the Temperature 57:00 Closing Reflections on Democracy and Trust Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.