RHYMEFEST TURNS TEN TOO, LOS ANGELES

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Let the city know! This summer, both J.T. the L.A. Storyteller and Rhymefest Los Angeles turn ten years young in the game; our coming together is thus going to be the hip hop and Los Cuentos event of the summer. The entire block and every family is invited!

Yours truly also extends the biggest shout out to 2Mex, of L.A.’s Visionaries, who is just now recovering after not one but two successful open heart surgeries. L.A. Fresh forever.

Also, be sure to follow Jono Film to see the debut of our commemorative video for the Rios brothers on August 17th, 2024 at @jono_film.

To make a one-time donation to my nonprofit work for working-class communities in The City, do so here. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast for as little as $5 a month, check out my page at Patreon.

Until the next time, stay vigilant and stay tuned!

J.T.

WHO CAN JUDGE ME IN L.A. COUNTY? FEATURING GEORGE A. TURNER

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George A. Turner is a father of three and is originally from the city of Inglewood, where he continues to live with his family. Turner has served as a Public Defender for L.A. County for the last 16 years and is now running for L.A. County Superior Court Judge, Seat 39. To learn more about Turner and his campaign, visit his website here. To follow his campaign, do so on IG. You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

To make a one-time donation to my nonprofit work for working-class communities in The City, do so here. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast for as little as $5 a month, check out my page at Patreon.

Until the next time, stay vigilant and stay tuned!

J.T.

WHO CAN JUDGE ME IN L.A. COUNTY? FEATURING ERICKA WILEY

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Ericka Wiley is running for Superior Court Judge Seat 48 this November after serving as a Public Defender in Los Angeles for nearly 24 years and garnering over 47% of the vote this past March. We discuss how Wiley entered the race to begin with, just what she believes qualifies her for the Superior Court Judge Seat over her opponent in the race, Renee Rose, Wiley’s thoughts on L.A.’s homelessness and mental health systems, and even her favorite L.A. film, Boyz N the Hood. You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

(0:35) Introductions
(3:28) Wiley’s worked as a Public Defender since 1999
(6:53) Public Defenders vs Public Pretenders
(10:09) Are Los Angeles and California just going soft on crime now?
(15:14) Ericka Wiley Vs Rene Rose for Superior Court Judge Seat 48
(20:05) Given her life experience, would Wiley be an advocate or an activist judge?
(23:09) In L.A. County, isn’t homelessness just out of control, regardless of who is judge?
(27:18) What do services for unhoused and mentally ill people in L.A. County look like today versus what they looked like yesterday?
(33:05) La Defensa and the Defenders of Justice Slate
(35:29) Is La Defensa, the PAC, just made up of wealthy benefactors?
(37:34) IF YOU LIVE IN L.A. COUNTY YOU CAN VOTE FOR L.A. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE SEATS
(41:28) Ways you can support Ericka’s campaign leading up to November
(44:09) L.A. LIGHTING ROUND QUESTIONS

To learn more about Ericka Wiley and her campaign, visit her website here. To follow her campaign, do so on IG.

To make a one-time donation to my nonprofit work for working-class communities in The City, do so here. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast for as little as $5 a month, check out my page at Patreon.

Until the next time, stay vigilant and stay tuned!

J.T.

SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE RIOS BROTHERS OF EAST HOLLYWOOD – LOS CUENTOS WRAP-UP

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On Wednesday, July 3rd, the Rios-Vela family attended the first court hearing for the alleged and primary suspect behind the murder of The Rios Brothers, Marcos Navarro, 33 years old. It was an extremely emotional day, yet Amalia Vela in particular spoke out with clarity and courage about what she seeks in terms of accountability for her two slain children. You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

(2:00) Amalia Vela speaks. We listen.
(4:52) Ivan Robles speaks. We listen.
(11:45) Uplifting Alex and Eliana Rios, Sergio Rios’s two twin toddlers.

For your own reference, you can watch the full press conference with the Rios-Vela family alongside District Attorney George Gascón’s office on June 10th here.

And you can donate to the fundraiser for Alex and Eliana, Sergio Rios Jr.’s two children, at this link.

Last but not least, you can read our tribute to the Rios brothers via Making a Neighborhood here.

J.T.