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.

LAUSD MARCH 2024 PRIMARIES: RECAP

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With L.A. City Council recapped, let’s place LAUSD elections from March into perspective. LAUSD has a board of seven members, each of which is elected every four years. The board meets regularly on Tuesday afternoons, and by a long shot, its most important job is managing L.A. Schools’ annual budget, which in the 2023 – 2024 fiscal year was nearly $19 billion dollars. You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

(1:08) We’re talking about LAUSD this time. Here’s why
(5:18) Board Seat, District 1: Sherlett Hendy-Newbill vs Khallid A. Al-Alhim
(12:17) Board Seat, District 3: Scott Mark Schmerelson vs Dan Chang
(17:50) Board Seat, District 5: Karla Griego vs Graciela “Grace” Ortiz
(21:52) Career Politicians really irk J.T.
(25:56) Board Seat, District 7: Tanya Ortiz Franklin

On a more personal note, this week, on June 21st, the Rios family of East Hollywood buries their two sons, Sergio and Ricardo Rios. Please consider supporting the family as they navigate a new world for Sergio Rios’s two children, each barely more than two years old.

This installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast is dedicated to the ongoing, living memory of Sergio Rios Jr. and Ricardo Rios.

J.T.

CAN THIS PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN BECOME A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE IN L.A. COUNTY?

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Los Angeles could definitely use more Public Defenders in the County’s Superior Court, where judges overwhelmingly hail from the prosecutorial side. Before you leave the Superior Court Judge section of your ballot blank, tune into this podcast to learn about Natasha Khamashta’s write-in campaign and that of her colleagues’, the Defenders of Justice.

Natasha Khamashta is a Palestinian-American Public Defender who’s served in this role for over 20 years; she is running for Superior Court Office No. 93. The only thing an eligible voter needs to do is write in “Natasha” in the write-in ✍🏽 candidate section on this part of the ballot to elect her for the seat. Recall that any eligible voter in L.A. County, no matter the zip code, can cast a vote for the 10 Superior Court Judge offices up for election this Tuesday, March 5th; you can also vote this Sunday or Monday, depending on what’s better for your schedule through your local Vote Center, which you can locate here.

(0:02) Welcome Natasha Kamashta to J.T. the LA Storyteller Podcast!
(0:24) A race quite unlike any other for elections taking place this Tuesday, March 5th for L.A. County voters
(0:43) How one finds themselves running as a Write-In Candidate for a Superior Court Judge Office
(2:00) Natasha Kamashta’s Palestinian American heritage as a major influence on her decision to run
(6:50) Just to be sure, how do voters actually write in a candidate for a political office?
(8:19) For the record, what does an L.A. Superior Court Judge actually do for people who live in Los Angeles?
(12:00) Remember, any eligible voter, regardless of where they live in L.A. County, can vote for Superior Court Judges
(12:52) Historically, most Judges at the Superior Court have actually been former prosecutors
(15:05) For the record, what inspired Kamashta to become a Public Defender to begin with?
(18:38) Kamashta’s visit to Palestine during law school was another big factor in leading her to become a Public Defender
(21:02) Why do Public Defenders actually seem to be overwhelmed by the amount of cases they’re assigned?
(24:37) Despite its continual shortcomings, are there still some strengths to the judicial system?
(26:29) The judicial system can and does save lives, especially in terms of gender and those who face major challenges with their families
(28:16) For the record, what would separate Kamashta from her opponent when it comes to this Superior Court office?(31:59) With all this said, how do we vote for Kamashta for Superior Court Judge Office No. 93 again?
(33:41) Thanks once again and “see you” on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5th!

Learn more about Natasha at www.natasha4judge.com, and keep up with her campaign’s Cuentos on IG here. To make a one-time donation to my nonprofit, Quien Es Tu Vecindario, please do so via onevecindario.org. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, check out my PATREON.

J.T.

ELECTING A SOCIALIST FOR PRESIDENT

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In the first official update from yours truly since our special Election Journey to El Salvador, let’s get into some final details for L.A. County’s March 5th Primary Elections and how to vote–including at the last minute–between now and then. Plus, we rebroadcast the Launch Party for Claudia De La Cruz and Karina Garcia’s campaign out of New York City with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which was initially broadcast on January 28th, 2024. You can vote for the pair in California–including at the last minute–through the Peace and Freedom Party ticket and keep up with De La Cruz and Garcia’s campaign on IG. Check back soon for the official show-notes!

(0:33) Hey, what’s going on Los Angeles? It’s J.T.
(1:00) I’m back from El Salvador
election Journey out to my father’s homeland of El Salvador this past January late January through early
(1:25) Thanks again to each and every single supporter whether you donated online or whether you came out to our spectacular movie night out with Midnight Books in Boyle Heights
(1:55) Now, Election Day is just 7 days away, and generally speaking, they’re low turnout affairs
(4:04) Nonetheless, let’s go over some key notes for voters to keep in mind about the process
(4:32) Firstly, you do not have to vote in every race for your ballot to be counted
(5:35) You also do not need to wait until Tuesday, March 5th to vote! You can do so now, right away! I myself voted this past Sunday
(8:13) Next up, a brief note about Write In Candidates and say, the Democratic Party process for this versus that of the Republic Party
(9:47) Now, consider Claudia De La Cruz’s campaign with the Peace and Freedom Party in California
(11:49) Last minute voting, also known as Conditional Voter Registration
(13:57) With this said, let’s consider tracking your vote
(14:04) Re: the lesser of two evils argument when it comes to the Presidential Race
(15:16) Voting with pride and enthusiasm instead of with shame and embarrassment
(18:30) In that vein, this episode features a rebroadcast of none other than Claudia De La Cruz and Karina Garcia, who are Democratic Socialists running for President out of NYC. Enjoy!
(20:02) P.S. Did you hear about my first-ever Vote By Mail party? In East Hollywood; Wednesday February 28th
(21:06) With that said, from Los Angeles to New York, it’s J.T.
(21:21) Carla Reyes: Good morning to the West Coast…
(28:03) Lucy Ceballos Felix out of Texas for Claudia De La Cruz and Karina Garcia
(31:40) Miya Tada, out of the People’s Forum in New York and New Jersey
(33:40) Stephanie Weatherbee, International People’s Assembly
(41:49) Juana López out of Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, pre-gentrification; Latina Institute
(45:21) Amari Butler, pro Palestine student organizer with the Harvard African and African-American resistance organization
(51:26) Nathali Hrizi, Public School Educator, San Francisco 
(59:15) Dr. Jared Ball, Black Power Media; author of The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power
(1:04:45) Nisreen Muntasser, Mamas for Palestine
(1:11:20) Vijay Prashad; author of Red Star Over the Third World
(1:14:18) Eugene Peryear, PSL Central Committee Member
(1:23:16) Karina Garcia, Vice Presidential candidate for the Vote Socialist 2024 Campaign
(1:36:07) Claudia De La Cruz, Presidential Candidate for the Vote Socialist 2024 Campaign

Last but certainly not least, to make a one-time donation to my team and I’s Vote By Mail Party in East Hollywood this Wednesday, February 28th, please do so here. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, check out my PATREON.

J.T.

a man wearing a earpod

Last Minute Reminders about Voting

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With only seven days to go before Election Day, according to California’s Secretary of State, as of Monday, February 26th, at least 5.7 million Vote By Mail ballots have reached voters’ mailboxes in Los Angeles County. Out of this bunch, some 311,853 ballots, or 5% of all ballots mailed, have been returned. For the 95% of the rest of you, then, here are just a handful of brief reminders from the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office.

On Your Ballot

  • You do not have to vote in every race.
  • Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.
  • Vote centers open for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties (which applies to L.A. County) beginning on February 24, 2024.
  • Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by March 12, 2024.

Write-In Candidates

  • A voter is entitled to cast a vote for a qualified write-in candidate for any party-nominated, voter-nominated, or nonpartisan office by writing, on the write-in portion of the ballot, the name of the qualified candidate.
  • To add a candidate, fill in the circle to the left of “Write-In Candidate” and write the name on the dotted line.
  • A list of qualified write-in candidates is available eleven days before the election here.

Additional Note On Last Minute Voting

  • Here’s an example to consider. If you’re registered with California’s Democratic Party, but between now and Election Day on March 5th, you have a change of heart regarding your choice for the Presidency and actually want to vote for say, Claudia De La Cruz, of the Peace and Freedom Party. Can you can write her name on the dotted line below the “Write-In Candidate” bubble on your Vote by Mail ballot and have that counted as an official vote for De La Cruz? NO, YOU CANNOT. However, you can still manage to vote for De La Cruz under Conditional Voter Registration (CVR).
  • Find De La Cruz’s name and other Qualified Candidates whose names will appear on L.A. County ballots, including for the presidential race and more here.

Conditional Voter Registration

From the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office:

  • Any eligible voter can go to any Vote Center in the County during the 11-day voting period.
  • Once at the Vote Center, the eligible voter [can] complete the CVR application.
  • The voter is then issued a CVR ballot to take to the new fully accessible Ballot Marking Device (like a voting iPad).
  • The voter’s experience reading and marking their ballot will be the same, however after the voter prints their paper ballot they will be instructed to return their paper ballot to an Election Worker.
  • As soon as the CVR application is verified, their ballot will be counted and the registration will become active.
  • The voter may then vote in any future election in which they are eligible to participate.

Tracking Your Vote

  • After submitting your vote, you can sign up to know the status of your ballot on the California Secretary of State’s part here.

For other questions, comments, or concerns, you can reach out to your local Vote Center, which should have more specific details on any of these particulars.

Otherwise, happy voting, Los Angeles!

J.T.