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<v Speaker 1>You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.

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<v Speaker 2>KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.

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<v Speaker 3>This is Michael Monks Reports.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm Michael Monks from KFI News with you till nine

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<v Speaker 2>o'clock tonight. I'm so glad that winter is back in

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<v Speaker 2>southern California after the horror of a brief visit of

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<v Speaker 2>summer this week. Not a fan, not a fan of that.

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<v Speaker 2>I like a full winter because it's so mild and wonderful.

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<v Speaker 2>Today was great. Love me some clouds like a cool breeze.

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<v Speaker 2>Had a great nat with the window open, needed it.

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<v Speaker 2>It was another busy news week, very tired, and we

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<v Speaker 2>got another busy news week ahead. Tuesday morning. La City

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<v Speaker 2>Hall ousted fire chief Kristin Crowley is going to plead

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<v Speaker 2>for mercy and her job back. It's been eight days

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<v Speaker 2>since Mayor Bas fired the veteran firefighter, saying Crowley had

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<v Speaker 2>not been well enough prepared to defend the Palisades against

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<v Speaker 2>the wildfire in January and that she did not informed

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<v Speaker 2>the mayor well enough about just how serious the threat was.

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<v Speaker 2>So these two have been kind of at it quietly

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<v Speaker 2>for a while, and since this public spat between Bass

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<v Speaker 2>and Crowley emerged shortly after the palisades were destroyed. Questions

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<v Speaker 2>have been raised about who knew what when, with a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of emphasis on the fact that just about all

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<v Speaker 2>of us knew there was a serious threat of fires

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<v Speaker 2>before Mayor Bass left for Ghana, where she was asked

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<v Speaker 2>to go to represent the US as that country's new

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<v Speaker 2>president was to be inaugurated.

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<v Speaker 3>She is since said that trip was a mistake.

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<v Speaker 2>We all know the mayor was halfway across the world

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<v Speaker 2>when the warnings became a reality and a crisis was

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<v Speaker 2>unfolding across La County. The timeline of warnings, what information

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<v Speaker 2>was shared when the fire department, excuse me, with the

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<v Speaker 2>fire department, by weather officials, and then in turn with

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<v Speaker 2>the mayor and other city leaders. That is likely going

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<v Speaker 2>to play a significant role in Tuesday's appeal hearing at

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<v Speaker 2>La City Hall. So we're going to do a run

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<v Speaker 2>through of that tonight. But before we go back to

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<v Speaker 2>the beginning of the warnings, which by the way, started

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<v Speaker 2>all the way back on December thirtieth, I want to

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<v Speaker 2>go to La City Hall now well City Hall on

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<v Speaker 2>January seventh, that's the day the fire in the Palisades

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<v Speaker 2>broke out, there was a city council meeting that day

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<v Speaker 2>was a Tuesday, after all, and this is what happened.

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<v Speaker 2>At the end of the meeting, where council members usually

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<v Speaker 2>just make some general announcements about what's going on in

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<v Speaker 2>their districts. You will hear council President Markquise Harris Dawson

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<v Speaker 2>call on council Member Tracy Park, who represents the West

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<v Speaker 2>Side and the Palisades. All right, with a cleared desk,

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<v Speaker 2>Are there any announcements members, any announcements?

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<v Speaker 3>Council Member Park.

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<v Speaker 4>Quick announcements on the developments on the Pacific Palisades fire.

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<v Speaker 4>This is growing very rapidly. It is now at over

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<v Speaker 4>two hundred acres. It is threatening homes and infrastructure and lives.

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<v Speaker 4>Voluntary evacuations are currently underway. We expect mandatory evacuation orders.

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<v Speaker 2>To be following shortly.

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<v Speaker 4>So my message to residents in the area is to

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<v Speaker 4>pack your bags, be ready to go. This is an emergency.

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<v Speaker 4>So thank you very much for that into all of

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<v Speaker 4>our partners at the Fire Department and the EOC for

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<v Speaker 4>springing into action.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you.

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<v Speaker 3>So there you go.

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<v Speaker 2>On the day of the fires, that was the highest

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<v Speaker 2>sense of urgency. We heard at la City Hall there

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<v Speaker 2>was a fire. It was growing, it was spreading, it

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<v Speaker 2>was threatening. This is also important because Harris Dawson, as

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<v Speaker 2>council President, was acting mayor of the city that day.

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<v Speaker 2>Remember Mayor Bass is in Ghana. Council president is acting mayor.

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<v Speaker 2>He has come forward to say he called on Mayor

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<v Speaker 2>Bass to get rid of Crowley weeks before she finally

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<v Speaker 2>did it. He wasn't happy with what the chief had

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<v Speaker 2>to say about the fire department's budget. He also stood

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<v Speaker 2>behind Bass during the press conference a week ago where

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<v Speaker 2>the mayor dismissed Crowley, and he wasn't alone. Three other

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<v Speaker 2>council members were there too, and that is also important.

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<v Speaker 3>We're going to get into that now.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not surprising that Harris Dawson is backing the mayor here.

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<v Speaker 2>He followed her as leader of the Community Coalition more

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<v Speaker 2>than twenty years ago. When Bass was first elected to

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<v Speaker 2>the State Assembly. She had previously led that organization, so

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<v Speaker 2>they go way back. But he is facing criticism too

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<v Speaker 2>because as council president, he gets to schedule when Crowley's

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<v Speaker 2>appeal takes place, and his first attempt was not well received.

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<v Speaker 2>When he took over as President of the council. Harris

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<v Speaker 2>Dawson responded to some requests from the community that we

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<v Speaker 2>need to have some council meetings in van Nis at

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<v Speaker 2>the City Hall and van Nis and yesterday Friday was

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<v Speaker 2>the second time they did that this year. But since

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<v Speaker 2>they were there, President Harris Dawson figured why not have

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<v Speaker 2>this high profile fire chief appeal hearing there too, but

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<v Speaker 2>not immediately after the council meeting, which usually ends around

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<v Speaker 2>one maybe two o'clock at the latest, but at five

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<v Speaker 2>o'clock in the afternoon on a Friday in the valley.

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<v Speaker 2>Think about traffic conditions, Think about people's availability. Think about

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<v Speaker 2>the council members themselves. They represent all of la Would

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<v Speaker 2>they hang out in van Nis for a few hours?

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<v Speaker 2>Would they be able to go home or to their offices?

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<v Speaker 2>Five o'clock on a Friday was the original announcement. So

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<v Speaker 2>some council members spoke against that decision. Firefighters certainly spoke

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<v Speaker 2>against it, and members of the community spoke against that decision.

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<v Speaker 2>So just as quickly as that meeting for yesterday was announced,

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<v Speaker 2>it was canceled and it has been rescheduled for the

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<v Speaker 2>regular city Council meeting that takes place on Tuesday morning

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<v Speaker 2>at ten o'clock in downtown La at La City Hall. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>there are three important things at play on Tuesday as

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<v Speaker 2>I see it, And what do I know? I don't know,

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<v Speaker 2>but this is what I see. Three things that are important.

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<v Speaker 2>We've got the timeline of the warnings and the fire itself.

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<v Speaker 2>So what was the Weather Service saying? What do they

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<v Speaker 2>tell the fire department and other emergency responders? And what

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<v Speaker 2>was explaining to the Mayor's office and other city leaders.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what The second important thing is the response itself.

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<v Speaker 2>We saw the palisades burned down, and again this isn't

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<v Speaker 2>erasure of the Eton fire. We're talking specifically about the

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<v Speaker 2>one in La City limits because of what's happening on Tuesday.

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<v Speaker 2>What about those thousand firefighters? Should they have been sent home?

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<v Speaker 2>Was there something more the fire department could have done?

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<v Speaker 2>The response is going to be important. And lastly, the

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<v Speaker 2>third item the math, the math of the whole thing.

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<v Speaker 2>There is a certain equation at play. Former Chief Crowley

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<v Speaker 2>will need ten of fifteen council members to say yes,

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<v Speaker 2>you can have your job back. So those three items

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<v Speaker 2>are what I see is the most important aspects of

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<v Speaker 2>the conversation that's going to take place Tuesday morning, maybe

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<v Speaker 2>afternoon at La City Hall, and that is what we're

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<v Speaker 2>going to dive into.

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<v Speaker 3>Next.

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<v Speaker 2>I'll explain a little more about those three things.

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<v Speaker 1>You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.

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<v Speaker 2>KFI AM six forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.

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<v Speaker 2>This is Michael Monks Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI News.

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<v Speaker 2>We are with you till nine o'clock tonight. I will

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<v Speaker 2>be live at La City Hall on Tuesday right here

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<v Speaker 2>on KFI, covering the appeal by ex fire chief Kristen

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<v Speaker 2>Crowley to the La City Council as she asks for

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<v Speaker 2>her jomp back after being fired by Mayor mass eight

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<v Speaker 2>days ago.

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<v Speaker 3>Tune in. We will have this whole thing covered for you.

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<v Speaker 2>That day before we took a break, I said, I

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<v Speaker 2>anticipate three things to be of the most importance at

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<v Speaker 2>Crowley's appeal on Tuesday. The timeline of the warnings in

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<v Speaker 2>the fire, the response to the fire, and the math.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to start this segment by talking about the timeline.

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<v Speaker 2>What did the government know, what did they know from

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<v Speaker 2>the Weather Service, and what did the Fire Department know

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<v Speaker 2>what does city leadership know? Bass says she didn't know

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<v Speaker 2>how serious it was going to get. She says Crowley

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<v Speaker 2>failed to tell her. Kay, if I has obtained the

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<v Speaker 2>full details from the National Weather Service forecast office leading

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<v Speaker 2>up to the fires, and so I want to do

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<v Speaker 2>a quick recap and explain how it may or may

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<v Speaker 2>not be as relevant to the facts, but it will

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<v Speaker 2>certainly be an important part of the conversation on Tuesday.

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<v Speaker 3>We're going to go back to Monday, December thirtieth.

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<v Speaker 2>That was really the first major tickle that we had

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<v Speaker 2>in the back of our throats that something bad was happening.

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<v Speaker 2>It was one o'clock in the afternoon. The National Weather

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<v Speaker 2>Service did their fire call. They sent their summary notes

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<v Speaker 2>to regional fire departments and emergency responders with a note

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<v Speaker 2>that basically says, this growing potential for very warm and

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<v Speaker 2>gusty Santa Ana winds with a moderate threat for red

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<v Speaker 2>flag warnings for Tuesday, January seventh through January tenth. So

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<v Speaker 2>that was on December thirtieth that we get the first

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<v Speaker 2>inclination that we've got conditions that may be right for fires,

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<v Speaker 2>but that isn't necessarily significant in this region on its

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<v Speaker 2>face all by itself. We have these things around here.

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<v Speaker 2>On Wednesday the first, they update their notes at the

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<v Speaker 2>Weather Service and inform their partners at the fire departments

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<v Speaker 2>and the emergent z responders moderate to high risk of

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<v Speaker 2>red flag warnings over La in Ventura Counties from Monday night,

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<v Speaker 2>January sixth through Friday, January tenth.

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<v Speaker 3>So they talk about how high.

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<v Speaker 2>The winds could get at this point and what the

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<v Speaker 2>chances are of those wins reaching certain speeds. That's on Wednesday,

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<v Speaker 2>January first, that's sab seven days before the fire breaks out.

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<v Speaker 2>The next day they basically reiterate their point. Thursday, January second,

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<v Speaker 2>they send their notes out to the fire departments, the

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<v Speaker 2>emergency responders moderate to high risk of red flag warnings

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<v Speaker 2>over La in Ventura Counties, again concerning we want to

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<v Speaker 2>be aware of those things, but not unusual. On Friday

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<v Speaker 2>the third, the White House announces that La Mayor Bass

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<v Speaker 2>is going to represent the country in Ghana, where that

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<v Speaker 2>country is set to inaugurate a new president. On the

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<v Speaker 2>same day, the National Weather Service issues fire weather watches

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<v Speaker 2>for much of La in Ventura Counties.

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<v Speaker 3>Again not unusual.

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<v Speaker 2>We're not screaming, We're not running for the hills, but

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<v Speaker 2>it's something we want to pay attention to. By that

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<v Speaker 2>afternoon on Friday, they've updated the fire departments, they've updated

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<v Speaker 2>the emergency responders. During their one o'clock fire call, Damaging

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<v Speaker 2>north to northeast winds. An extended period of red flag

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<v Speaker 2>conditions are likely over portions of southwest California next Tuesday

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<v Speaker 2>through Friday, they say. On Friday, January the third, they

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<v Speaker 2>emphasize the heavy winds that we might have and those

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<v Speaker 2>sorts of things. They also note that areas that do

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<v Speaker 2>not typically see strong winds will be more vulnerable with

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<v Speaker 2>this event due to strong and potentially long duration of

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<v Speaker 2>upper level winds support. That's National Weather Service type language,

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<v Speaker 2>but basically, if you don't usually get these big wins,

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<v Speaker 2>you're going to feel some of them during this week.

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<v Speaker 3>That's what they are projecting.

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<v Speaker 2>On Saturday, January fourth, Mayor Bass leaves La for Ghana

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<v Speaker 2>in the National Weather Service that afternoon updates their fire

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<v Speaker 2>summary to say damaging north to northeast winds, an extended

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<v Speaker 2>period of red flag conditions likely over portions of southwest

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<v Speaker 2>California next Tuesday through Friday. Fire weather watches and effect

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<v Speaker 2>for much of La and Ventura Counties. So really, what

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<v Speaker 2>was there to tell Mayor Bass before she left that

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<v Speaker 2>would have had her stay here and drive a fire

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<v Speaker 2>truck to the Palisades and put it out. That's going

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<v Speaker 2>to be an important piece of this conversation. What was known,

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<v Speaker 2>what needed to be known, what more could have been known?

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<v Speaker 2>These are concerning messages, right. We want to pay attention

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<v Speaker 2>to these forecasts, but are they any different than what

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<v Speaker 2>we might have any other time of year. On Sunday,

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<v Speaker 2>January fifth, Bass arrives in Ghana, and on that day,

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<v Speaker 2>red flag warnings are issued for much of La in

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<v Speaker 2>Ventura Counties, with fire weather watches still in effect Thursday

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<v Speaker 2>night into Friday. On their one o'clock afternoon fire call,

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<v Speaker 2>the National Weather Service notes widespread damaging north to northeast

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<v Speaker 2>winds and long duration of red flag conditions likely over

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<v Speaker 2>many portions of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties between Tuesday

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<v Speaker 2>and Friday. They emphasized some of the wins that we

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<v Speaker 2>might see in various parts of the region. Monday is

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<v Speaker 2>when things really got serious, when it was clearly something different.

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<v Speaker 2>If you had only been paying a little bit of

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<v Speaker 2>periphery attention. Monday was the wake up call that these

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<v Speaker 2>conditions look serious enough, because that is the day. At

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<v Speaker 2>three twenty four in the afternoon, the National Weather Service

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<v Speaker 2>upgraded the forecast to a particularly dangerous situation. They abbreviated PDS,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's a long title, but it is a very

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<v Speaker 2>rare issuance and obviously significant, particularly dangerous situation. Red flag

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<v Speaker 2>warning for portions of La and Ventura Counties, Life threatening,

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<v Speaker 2>destructive widespread windstorm Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday afternoon with

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<v Speaker 2>dangerous PDS. Red Flag Warning conditions for portions of La

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<v Speaker 2>and eastern Ventura Counties. That was just before three thirty

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<v Speaker 2>afternoon on Monday, and the LA City Emergency Alerts. This

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<v Speaker 2>is important. The City of Los Angeles their emergency Alerts

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<v Speaker 2>sent out the note about this situation by sharing a

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<v Speaker 2>link to the Fire Department detailing this stuff, and Mayor

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<v Speaker 2>Bass herself her social media also shares her first statement

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<v Speaker 2>about the conditions. Half an hour after that. Okay, so

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<v Speaker 2>the PDS is issued just before three point thirty on

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<v Speaker 2>Monday afternoon. LA City Emergency alert shares that information by

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<v Speaker 2>linking to the Fire department. At seven o'clock in the evening,

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<v Speaker 2>Mayor Bass shares her first statement about it all about

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<v Speaker 2>a half hour after that, albeit from Ghana, So it

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<v Speaker 2>wasn't until Monday, the day before the fires hit, that

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<v Speaker 2>we knew we were in a particularly dangerous situation, an

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<v Speaker 2>official term by the National Weather Service. And then, of

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<v Speaker 2>course we get to January seventh. By this point, the

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<v Speaker 2>fact that Bass is in Ghana is really irrelevant. The

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<v Speaker 2>argument that we've been hearing is whether she should have

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<v Speaker 2>gone did she have enough information? Did this city? Did

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<v Speaker 2>Marquis Harris Dawson, the council president, did the fire department?

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<v Speaker 3>Did we?

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<v Speaker 2>As for the response component of the appeal, Crowley will

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<v Speaker 2>have to defend her decision about the one thousand firefighters

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<v Speaker 2>who were reportedly sent home rather than being dispatched to

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<v Speaker 2>the Palisades. Firefighters say, look, we had nowhere to put

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<v Speaker 2>these guys and gals. Budget cuts have limited the number

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<v Speaker 2>of trucks and equipment there would have been nowhere to

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<v Speaker 2>put these firefighters.

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<v Speaker 3>Will that argument hold?

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<v Speaker 2>That's what we're gonna have to see, because that's been

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<v Speaker 2>hit pretty hard to along with Crowley's statements about the

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<v Speaker 2>budget itself, which is directly related to this, and whether

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<v Speaker 2>she should have said what she said when she said

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<v Speaker 2>it to the media, and then there's the math. Crowley

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<v Speaker 2>needs ten city council members to vote in her favor

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<v Speaker 2>to reinstate her four members. We're at the press conference

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<v Speaker 2>with Mayor Bass announcing the firing, and a fifth has

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<v Speaker 2>since come forward to say he believes the mayors within

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<v Speaker 2>a right to fire department head, so she can't lose

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<v Speaker 2>anybody else. I'll be watching for city Councilmen Tracy Park

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<v Speaker 2>who represents the Palisades, and Councilmen Monica Rodriguez, who maybe

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<v Speaker 2>Rowley's potentially biggest allies on Tuesday, and I will be

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<v Speaker 2>at city Hall. We will have live coverage right here

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<v Speaker 2>on KFI from the scene of this appeal. Hope you'll

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<v Speaker 2>tune in for that. And up next, if you're supportive

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<v Speaker 2>of President Trump and you're against Governor Newsom and you

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<v Speaker 2>think all illegal immigrants should be deported, and you're a

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<v Speaker 2>California voter, you are any significant minority in the state

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<v Speaker 2>of California, we are gonna have details on this exhaustive

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<v Speaker 2>state wide poll.

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<v Speaker 1>Next, you're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.

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<v Speaker 2>KFI AM six forty. We are live everywhere on the

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<v Speaker 2>iHeartRadio App. This is Michael Monks Reports. I am Michael

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<v Speaker 2>Monks from KFI News with you till nine o'clock tonight.

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<v Speaker 3>Thanks for joining us.

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<v Speaker 2>If you want to join our conversation, whether it's about

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<v Speaker 2>what we expect to see on Tuesday or anything you

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<v Speaker 2>anything else you hear over the next hour and a half,

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<v Speaker 2>hit us up, open up that iHeartRadio app. Click on

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<v Speaker 2>the talk back button. We'll play some of your messages

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<v Speaker 2>throughout the duration of this show. How popular is President Trump? Well,

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<v Speaker 2>if you look at the rolling average the poll of

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<v Speaker 2>polls basically on five point thirty eight, which analyzes polsters

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<v Speaker 2>and combines polls along with their own algorithms to figure

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<v Speaker 2>out a broad sense of where the country is. Donald

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<v Speaker 2>Trump currently stands with a forty six and a half

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<v Speaker 2>percent favorable rating as of today, with forty eight point

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<v Speaker 2>three percent of the responsive public against him. Responsive meaning

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<v Speaker 2>responded to these polls that have been combined. And yes,

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<v Speaker 2>that has dropped. That has dropped in recent days. So

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<v Speaker 2>he is trending in the wrong direction. Maybe after yesterday.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know how quickly they've got some polls in

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<v Speaker 2>after what happened in the Oval office. I know that

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<v Speaker 2>was a polarizing display. Depending on which side of the

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<v Speaker 2>aisle you are on, you probably saw something you liked

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<v Speaker 2>or something you didn't like. It looks like Californians in

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<v Speaker 2>general don't like that and don't like President Trump in general.

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<v Speaker 2>There is a new statewide poll that has come out

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<v Speaker 2>from the Public Policy Institute of Californians, their pPIC Statewide Survey,

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<v Speaker 2>and they've got a lot of information that really shows

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<v Speaker 2>California is still not in lockstep with much of the

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<v Speaker 2>country as it relates to what led to President Trump

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<v Speaker 2>being elected in the first place. So we just said

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<v Speaker 2>that President Trump himself nationally has a favorable rating and

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<v Speaker 2>approval rating, if you will, of about forty six and

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<v Speaker 2>a half percent. That is how many people respond favorably

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<v Speaker 2>to the question do Americans have a favorable or unfavorable

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<v Speaker 2>opinion of Donald Trump?

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<v Speaker 3>Forty six and a half. Here in California, it's a

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<v Speaker 3>little bit lower.

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<v Speaker 2>According to this survey, thirty percent of Californians the job

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<v Speaker 2>performance so far of President Trump, and that is about

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<v Speaker 2>the same has supported his job performance in twenty seventeen

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<v Speaker 2>after he took office for the first time, so not

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<v Speaker 2>much has changed in that respect, what I thought was

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<v Speaker 2>pretty interesting from this poll, this statewide survey was what

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<v Speaker 2>Californians deemed to be the top problem facing the United States,

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<v Speaker 2>Because leading up to the twenty twenty four election between

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<v Speaker 2>President Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris, the economy

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<v Speaker 2>seemed to dominate. People concerned about inflation, the cost of groceries,

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<v Speaker 2>their economic prospects, looking bad jobs, and also immigration.

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<v Speaker 3>Those were key issues.

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<v Speaker 2>And when you look at the top three in this

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<v Speaker 2>survey of what Californians say are the most important problems

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<v Speaker 2>in the United States right now, both of those are

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<v Speaker 2>in the top three, They're just not number one. Nineteen

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<v Speaker 2>percent say the economy unemployment in jobs is a top issue,

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<v Speaker 2>and fifteen percent say immigration is a top issue. But

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<v Speaker 2>thirty one percent, which is the top in this poll,

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<v Speaker 2>say political extremism threats to democracy the top problem facing

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<v Speaker 2>this country right now, although half of California's do say

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<v Speaker 2>the cost of living and inflation, housing costs, the availability

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<v Speaker 2>of housing, and also the environment are important issues for

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<v Speaker 2>the governor and the legislature to be working on this year.

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<v Speaker 2>And we should also note that a majority of the

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<v Speaker 2>respondents to the Public Policy Institute of California's statewide survey

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<v Speaker 2>do say the state is moving in the right excuse me,

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<v Speaker 2>in the wrong direction. Seven in ten expect that California

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<v Speaker 2>will be facing some financial problems over the next twelve months.

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<v Speaker 2>When we think about the state budget in California, lots

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<v Speaker 2>of conversations about that.

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<v Speaker 3>Right, what are the priorities?

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<v Speaker 2>Republican lawmakers have criticized the Democrat majority for focusing on

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<v Speaker 2>trump proofing California the directive of Governor Newsom while the

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<v Speaker 2>state is facing significant budget problems anyway. Four and ten

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<v Speaker 2>of California just think the state budget situation is a

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<v Speaker 2>big problem, so they name health and human services and

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<v Speaker 2>public education as their priorities for state spending. Fifty one

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<v Speaker 2>percent of adults and fifty percent of likely voters prefer

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<v Speaker 2>to pay lower state taxes and have fewer state services,

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<v Speaker 2>and the pPIC reports after reading a brief descript of

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<v Speaker 2>the budget, fifty eight percent of adults and fifty seven

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<v Speaker 2>percent of likely voters favor the budget plan. Seven to

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<v Speaker 2>ten favor spending two point seven billion dollars of the

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<v Speaker 2>ten billion dollars in proposition four state bond funds for

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<v Speaker 2>water and wildfire projects and fifty two percent of adults

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<v Speaker 2>and likely voters think that it is a bad idea

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<v Speaker 2>to use state reserve funds to balance the budget. When

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<v Speaker 2>we look at how Californians respond to this poll and

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<v Speaker 2>respond to the jaw performance of presidents, it's really not surprising.

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<v Speaker 2>This is obviously a Democratic stronghold as a state, but

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<v Speaker 2>Trump is particularly unpopular. I noted moments ago that at

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<v Speaker 2>both in twenty seventeen and here in twenty twenty five,

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<v Speaker 2>is approval rating in California is at thirty percent. Both

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<v Speaker 2>times thirty percent approval at the start of both of

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<v Speaker 2>his terms in office. When Joe Biden started his term

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<v Speaker 2>in office at this time in twenty twenty one, he

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<v Speaker 2>had a seventy percent approval rating in California. So did

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<v Speaker 2>Obama when he started in two thousand and nine. It

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<v Speaker 2>dropped a little bit. In twenty thirteen, for his second term,

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<v Speaker 2>Barack Obama had a sixty five percent approval rating. But

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<v Speaker 2>let's go back to George W. Bush. He wasn't very

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<v Speaker 2>popular among Democrats, especially at the start of his second term.

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<v Speaker 2>But in two thousand and five, at the start of

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<v Speaker 2>his second term, George W. Bush had a forty six

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<v Speaker 2>percent approval rating among California voters. That should show how

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<v Speaker 2>unpopular Donald Trump is statewide, that he's even that much

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<v Speaker 2>farther behind.

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<v Speaker 3>George W. Bush.

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<v Speaker 2>So what does that mean as the state legislature shapes

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<v Speaker 2>its priorities? Does that suggest that Republican lawmakers will have

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<v Speaker 2>a harder time getting some of their issues placed in

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<v Speaker 2>the budget, reining in some of the issues they're concerned

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<v Speaker 2>about because Democrats see that statewide, cumulatively, the Trump brand

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<v Speaker 2>is not very popular. You, as a listener may be thinking,

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<v Speaker 2>I like Trump, I don't like what nwsmance is doing.

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<v Speaker 3>This survey says.

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<v Speaker 2>You'ren't quite a minority. The other thing that I found

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<v Speaker 2>pretty interesting and maybe even sad out of this survey

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<v Speaker 2>is also not surprising. But think about those key campaign

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<v Speaker 2>issues from twenty twenty four, economics right, the price of eggs,

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<v Speaker 2>concerns about where the economy is headed. Maybe last year,

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<v Speaker 2>if you asked a random pool of twenty people, even

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<v Speaker 2>between Democrats and Republicans, how many people would you think

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<v Speaker 2>would say the economy's good. Things are good, We're moving

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<v Speaker 2>in the right direction. And what would be the political

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<v Speaker 2>makeup of those folks? While President Biden is in office,

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<v Speaker 2>and now that President Trump is in office, and you

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<v Speaker 2>asked that question to the same group, what is the reply?

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<v Speaker 2>Is it the same math but different people? Probably because

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<v Speaker 2>that's what this survey suggests. Folks who were optimistic about

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<v Speaker 2>the economy last year are not optimistic about it this year.

418
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<v Speaker 2>Folks who were pessimistic last year are optimistic this year.

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<v Speaker 2>Has anything changed other than the president? Are eggs cheaper?

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<v Speaker 2>Is your rent cheaper? Are we all just floating in

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<v Speaker 2>the political wins waiting for our guy to get back

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<v Speaker 2>into office? I find that very boring. Just as a journalist,

423
00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:08.839
<v Speaker 2>I wish we all paid a little more attention to

424
00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:13.839
<v Speaker 2>the issues that impact us directly and how those issues

425
00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:17.480
<v Speaker 2>become the issues that they are. And part of that

426
00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:21.960
<v Speaker 2>is on us as journalists to be better at explaining

427
00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:26.119
<v Speaker 2>those things without looking like you're running cover for one

428
00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.160
<v Speaker 2>politician or another.

429
00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.119
<v Speaker 3>It's difficult.

430
00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:31.759
<v Speaker 2>This is a weird environment we live in where a

431
00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:34.960
<v Speaker 2>tweet can go viral with all the wrong information. You've

432
00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:38.279
<v Speaker 2>already seen it, and you believe it, and you never

433
00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:42.440
<v Speaker 2>stop believing it. The tough environment we live in, and

434
00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.640
<v Speaker 2>that's how you get stats like that, That's how you

435
00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:47.960
<v Speaker 2>base your entire personality around an elected official.

436
00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.839
<v Speaker 3>Boring.

437
00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:53.519
<v Speaker 2>Let me know what you think about those results. Pull

438
00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.680
<v Speaker 2>out the iHeartRadio app, click on the talkback button. We'll

439
00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.960
<v Speaker 2>play some of your messages also if you'd like to

440
00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.960
<v Speaker 2>weigh in on what you expect to see on two

441
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.359
<v Speaker 2>Tuesday at LA City Hall when ex fire chief Kristen

442
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:06.640
<v Speaker 2>Crowley goes before the La City Council and asks them

443
00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:10.599
<v Speaker 2>to give them to give her her job back after

444
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:14.039
<v Speaker 2>she was fired last week by Mayor Karen Bass. Up next,

445
00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:16.839
<v Speaker 2>you heard me talk last week about the Convention Center

446
00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:18.680
<v Speaker 2>in downtown LA and how it's an important part of

447
00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.160
<v Speaker 2>the twenty twenty eight Olympics and how they thought they

448
00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.880
<v Speaker 2>were going to spend a lot of money to make

449
00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:25.240
<v Speaker 2>it better before the Olympics before saying no, we can't,

450
00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:28.519
<v Speaker 2>we can't afford it. Well, some workers say you better

451
00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:31.559
<v Speaker 2>find a way to afford it because the jobs that

452
00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:34.240
<v Speaker 2>would be a part of it are important to us.

453
00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:39.559
<v Speaker 2>And also La Metro looking to make the subways safer.

454
00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:42.279
<v Speaker 2>They're expanding some of their security efforts. We'll talk about

455
00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.279
<v Speaker 2>that next week.

456
00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:47.160
<v Speaker 1>You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.

457
00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:51.359
<v Speaker 2>KFI AM six forty Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app.

458
00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:54.359
<v Speaker 2>I'm Michael Monks from KFI News and this is Michael

459
00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.240
<v Speaker 2>Monks Reports.

460
00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.920
<v Speaker 3>We're with you till nine o'clock to night.

461
00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:01.119
<v Speaker 2>Last week we talked a lot about about the downtown

462
00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:04.559
<v Speaker 2>Los Angeles Convention Center and how it's going to play

463
00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:07.799
<v Speaker 2>a pretty significant role. It's hosting multiple events for the

464
00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:11.160
<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty eight Olympics. But the city had the idea

465
00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:15.279
<v Speaker 2>that maybe we could make it better before the Olympics

466
00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:17.480
<v Speaker 2>show up. This has been a problem in downtown for

467
00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.880
<v Speaker 2>a long time. Downtown civic boosters have said, look, this

468
00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:23.279
<v Speaker 2>convention center is just no longer competitive. We're losing out

469
00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:25.599
<v Speaker 2>to mid size cities in the middle of the country,

470
00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:28.680
<v Speaker 2>and we're Los Angeles and we are not getting the

471
00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:32.359
<v Speaker 2>types of conventions that we need to have here. And

472
00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:36.920
<v Speaker 2>so the city launched this exploration. Can we spend about

473
00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:41.079
<v Speaker 2>a billion dollars get this project going now and have

474
00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:44.599
<v Speaker 2>it finished in time for the twenty twenty eight Olympics.

475
00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:48.279
<v Speaker 2>Because if we start this thing and we find that

476
00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:52.000
<v Speaker 2>the Convention Center is under construction in twenty twenty eight

477
00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.839
<v Speaker 2>when the games are supposed to take place, we will

478
00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:55.759
<v Speaker 2>have to find different venues it will make us look bad.

479
00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:01.279
<v Speaker 2>So they were up against a very tight timeline. This

480
00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:03.839
<v Speaker 2>city administrator was very optimistic that this was a project

481
00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:06.839
<v Speaker 2>that could be accomplished with some borrowing and they would

482
00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:09.160
<v Speaker 2>make the money back in a variety of ways over

483
00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:13.279
<v Speaker 2>the next thirty years. Basically, but then the fires happened

484
00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:17.000
<v Speaker 2>and the city has already spent fifty four million dollars

485
00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:20.960
<v Speaker 2>as part of this analysis and basically the recommendation now

486
00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:25.039
<v Speaker 2>from the city administrator's offices, let's pause this. We don't

487
00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:27.279
<v Speaker 2>think that we can do this in time without disrupting

488
00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:30.279
<v Speaker 2>the Olympics. Well, some folks are upset about it, not

489
00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:32.680
<v Speaker 2>just the downtown boosters who pushed for it and hope

490
00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:35.480
<v Speaker 2>that it was going to come to attract more conventions,

491
00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:39.319
<v Speaker 2>maybe create some more jobs, have some significant economic impact

492
00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:43.640
<v Speaker 2>on downtown in the Greater Metro area. The union workers,

493
00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:47.599
<v Speaker 2>they are not happy about the pause in this project

494
00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:50.960
<v Speaker 2>LAOC Building Trades. They say they represent forty eight local

495
00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:54.720
<v Speaker 2>unions with one hundred and sixty thousand members. They want

496
00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:57.119
<v Speaker 2>this back on. This was a one point four billion

497
00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:01.839
<v Speaker 2>dollar proposed project, and the union say this would have

498
00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:07.160
<v Speaker 2>created more than seven thousand union jobs that would have

499
00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:13.599
<v Speaker 2>been created under a labor agreement, and without the project

500
00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:18.119
<v Speaker 2>moving forward, those jobs are not coming downtown, so they

501
00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:22.720
<v Speaker 2>want to see this go back on. They say that

502
00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:28.599
<v Speaker 2>they would be able not only to help build the

503
00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:33.920
<v Speaker 2>convention center, the renovation, but also fire recovery that was

504
00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.799
<v Speaker 2>one of the main issues here. The city said, look,

505
00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:40.279
<v Speaker 2>we don't think we can meet the timeline. It's not

506
00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:43.839
<v Speaker 2>just the staggering costs and the risk. It's the fact

507
00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:49.359
<v Speaker 2>that so many city workers, like engineers, their focus has

508
00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:52.920
<v Speaker 2>been shifted. We have a significant part of the city

509
00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:56.319
<v Speaker 2>to rebuild, and that's not really negotiable.

510
00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.599
<v Speaker 3>The trades people say, do it all.

511
00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:04.400
<v Speaker 2>They put out a press release and they say the

512
00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:06.559
<v Speaker 2>expansion made progress in the past few months with the

513
00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:11.559
<v Speaker 2>la City Council approving pre design work, and that it

514
00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:14.079
<v Speaker 2>would set the center nicely to hold the events for

515
00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:18.319
<v Speaker 2>the twenty twenty eight Olympics, where it was so host judo,

516
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:26.359
<v Speaker 2>table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling and fencing. We're expecting another update

517
00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:32.319
<v Speaker 2>on this situation this month, but the trades union people

518
00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:35.680
<v Speaker 2>are going to be showing up to continue to push

519
00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:41.599
<v Speaker 2>that this project move forward. There have been some estimates,

520
00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:43.559
<v Speaker 2>and these are always a little Murky right. These are

521
00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:46.720
<v Speaker 2>numbers that come out and they're hard to quantify, but

522
00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:51.079
<v Speaker 2>they say the project would add one hundred and sixty

523
00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:54.319
<v Speaker 2>five million dollars in visitors spending every year and would

524
00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:56.960
<v Speaker 2>create more than two thousand jobs on an ongoing basis

525
00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:59.640
<v Speaker 2>of not just the seven thousand jobs that would work

526
00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:02.039
<v Speaker 2>in the con instruction area around it, but two thousand

527
00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:04.960
<v Speaker 2>jobs on an ongoing basis. We heard from all the

528
00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:08.880
<v Speaker 2>chamber types. We heard from hotel owners and small business

529
00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:11.079
<v Speaker 2>owners that this was something that was needed, would increase

530
00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:13.160
<v Speaker 2>foot traffic in downtown LA in area that needs it.

531
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:16.799
<v Speaker 2>But now that project is on palls, the workers are unhappy.

532
00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:20.480
<v Speaker 2>It is not a final decision yet and this is

533
00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:23.440
<v Speaker 2>an issue that we will continue to monitor and update

534
00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:26.559
<v Speaker 2>as news on the progress or lack thereof of the

535
00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:30.440
<v Speaker 2>Downtown Los Angeles Convention Center moves forward or does not

536
00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.799
<v Speaker 2>move forward.

537
00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:33.599
<v Speaker 3>Speaking of Downtown.

538
00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:39.960
<v Speaker 2>LA, at Union Station and Metro headquarters, this week, the

539
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:42.799
<v Speaker 2>Metro Board of Directors, which is made up of county supervisors,

540
00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:45.279
<v Speaker 2>at least city council people, and other elected officials around

541
00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:49.599
<v Speaker 2>the area, they've decided to expand their security system that

542
00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:54.279
<v Speaker 2>allows for the detection of weapons keep in mind, speaking

543
00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:57.559
<v Speaker 2>of the Olympics, this is supposed to be the no

544
00:33:57.759 --> 00:34:03.039
<v Speaker 2>car Olympics in Laws Angeles. Obviously we're known for our traffic.

545
00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:09.440
<v Speaker 2>But city leaders, county leaders, they want the visitors coming

546
00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:12.000
<v Speaker 2>in for the Olympics to take the trains, to take

547
00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.960
<v Speaker 2>the buses, and they know that's going to take a

548
00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:17.840
<v Speaker 2>lot of infrastructure to make that happen, because you can't

549
00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:21.199
<v Speaker 2>even get Angelino's on those things right now, right because

550
00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:25.719
<v Speaker 2>it doesn't always feel safe, even if it is, even

551
00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:27.679
<v Speaker 2>if the stats say now there weren't there weren't any crimes,

552
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:32.840
<v Speaker 2>this month still feels a little weird, right Well, they're expanding

553
00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:38.679
<v Speaker 2>this weapons detection. Metro began the pilot program last August

554
00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:42.039
<v Speaker 2>at Union Station and at the APU Citrus College station

555
00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:46.599
<v Speaker 2>to test the effectiveness of this screening system. One of

556
00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:49.480
<v Speaker 2>them had passengers walk through a set of sensors and

557
00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:55.559
<v Speaker 2>another used closed circuit video feeds to detect people carrying weapons.

558
00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:59.559
<v Speaker 2>And Janis Hahn, who is a county supervisor and the

559
00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:04.519
<v Speaker 2>current chair of the Metro board, she said neither system

560
00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:08.800
<v Speaker 2>detected any passengers carrying weapons during five months of testing,

561
00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:15.239
<v Speaker 2>but that both systems detected police officers and security officers

562
00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:21.400
<v Speaker 2>service weapons with one accuracy. And the guy who runs

563
00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:26.159
<v Speaker 2>Metro's security and law enforcement side, Robert Gummer, he's told

564
00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:31.280
<v Speaker 2>the board security officers witnessed some people leaving the Metro

565
00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:36.159
<v Speaker 2>stations when they saw or were told that the weapons

566
00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:39.159
<v Speaker 2>screening systems were in use. So he is saying that

567
00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:43.440
<v Speaker 2>that suggests that basically putting up a sign that we're

568
00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:46.360
<v Speaker 2>looking for your weapons is enough to deter people from

569
00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:49.280
<v Speaker 2>getting on. So now this pilot program is going to

570
00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:53.119
<v Speaker 2>expand to other high traffic transit stations for one year,

571
00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:57.000
<v Speaker 2>so they're going to test this for one year more.

572
00:35:58.599 --> 00:36:01.519
<v Speaker 2>And Han issued a statement after the board voted. She says,

573
00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:03.760
<v Speaker 2>you can't bring a weapon to a concert or a

574
00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:06.679
<v Speaker 2>Dodger game, and you shouldn't be able to bring a

575
00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:11.199
<v Speaker 2>weapon on Metro. The weapons detection technology we are already

576
00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:14.840
<v Speaker 2>testing at some Metro stations works and is showing promise

577
00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:17.880
<v Speaker 2>and deterring people from even attempting to bring guns and

578
00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.800
<v Speaker 2>knives onto Metro. Writer's safety needs to be our priority,

579
00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:26.280
<v Speaker 2>and it is time to put this technology in more stations.

580
00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:28.199
<v Speaker 3>There you go.

581
00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:32.079
<v Speaker 2>In our next hour, we are going to turn our

582
00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:35.239
<v Speaker 2>attention to Hollywood. It won't be an entertainment show in

583
00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:37.920
<v Speaker 2>the sense of an Oscar's reviews, so to speak. But

584
00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:42.320
<v Speaker 2>whether you like it or not, I haven't seen any movies, Heather.

585
00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:45.199
<v Speaker 2>I don't know anything about what's going on. I was

586
00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:47.760
<v Speaker 2>telling our producer Matthew Toffler, like, I can't really do

587
00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:50.559
<v Speaker 2>an Oscar segment because I haven't made it to the

588
00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.639
<v Speaker 2>theater in.

589
00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:54.079
<v Speaker 3>A long time. You've been a little busy.

590
00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:56.000
<v Speaker 2>Well, I'll tell you. If it were the Emmys, I'd

591
00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:57.840
<v Speaker 2>be all over. I love television. I'm much more of

592
00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:00.199
<v Speaker 2>a TV guy because I can stream it. I don't

593
00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:04.000
<v Speaker 2>believe the house. It's it's perfect for me, but it's

594
00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:08.079
<v Speaker 2>neither here, aren't there? Regardless, Hollywood is important to Los

595
00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:09.920
<v Speaker 2>Angeles in a lot of ways. Hollywood is what people

596
00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:12.800
<v Speaker 2>think of outside of this area when you say Los Angeles,

597
00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:15.639
<v Speaker 2>and it is struggling, even though Sunday is going to

598
00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:19.320
<v Speaker 2>be a big night for Hollywood, the biggest night. In fact,

599
00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:24.119
<v Speaker 2>every year, Hollywood's not doing well here, fewer jobs, fewer productions,

600
00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:27.400
<v Speaker 2>and now local officials and state officials want to do

601
00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:30.000
<v Speaker 2>something about it, and that thing is to throw money

602
00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:31.519
<v Speaker 2>at Hollywood.

603
00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.079
<v Speaker 3>Will it work?

604
00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:34.320
<v Speaker 2>We're going to dive into that in our next hour

605
00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:39.519
<v Speaker 2>here on Michael Monks Reports on KFI AM sixty

606
00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:42.559
<v Speaker 1>KFI AM six forty on demand