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.

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L.A. VS BARCELONA THIS SPRING

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This update notes the second day of SEIU Local 99’s work stoppage and strike, as well as the recent L.A. County Motion to rename Grand Park to Gloria Molina Grand Park in honor of the former L.A. City Council and L.A. County Supervisor’s legacy for local government and Latina women in Los Angeles.

Our update also reminds listeners that this Thursday, March 23rd we chat with the Council Member for the 8th district in Los Angeles, Marqueece Harris-Dawson (@mhdcd8). Items for discussion include policies engaging homelessness and housing insecurity in the predominantly Latino and African-American district, the new Destination Crenshaw initiative, L.A.’s relation to the city of Inglewood, and more.

Last but not least, we announce the Barcelona Barrios Excursion. That’s right, J.T. is headed to Spain for the first time ever and invites you to come with; it’s going to be an unforgettable learning experience.

Also, remember to submit your voicemail to the new J.T. Weather Report!

Here are the four easy steps to take when calling into the hotline:

I. Choose an interesting nickname for yourself to keep your anonymity.

II. Tell me which side of The City (or County) you’re calling from.

III. Tell me how you’re liking the weather, or if you’ve seen anything interesting through it like a downed power line, fallen tree, a pack of opossums, etc.

IV. Keep it under a minute! This helps us tune in to more reports rather than less.

***And if you’d like to keep your number anonymous as well, did you know that pressing *67 before you dial a number keeps your number blocked? That’s right!

Submit your voicemail to the J.T. Weather Report at (213) 458-5042.

For more of these updates and then some, follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!

And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/

J.T.

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OUTFEST FUSION FILM FESTIVAL, UTLA RALLY AT GRAND PARK, AND MORE UPDATES

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A reminder for this evening and then some.

First up, the Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival takes over Los Angeles online and in person starting next Friday; the festival is the largest of its kind for LGBTQUIA+ communities in the city and features “dramas, comedies, documentaries, short films, special events and more.” Mara Tatevosian (@maratatevos) (she/her/hers) is a fellow for Outfest Fusion’s 2022|2023 Film Programming Fellowship and a queer Armenian-Iranian-American filmmaker and curator. She has graciously volunteered her time to speak with us about Outfest Fusion tonight and you do not want to miss it.

Secondly, UTLA is having a rally this Wednesday, March 15th, 2023 at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles. See you there, maybe?

Next up, on Thursday, March 23rd, we chat with none other than the Council Member for the 8th district in Los Angeles, Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Items for discussion include policies engaging homelessness in the predominantly Latino and African-American district, the new Destination Crenshaw initiative, L.A.’s relation to the city of Inglewood, and more. Set a reminder because it’s gonna be another one to remember.

Finally, we received our 2nd Listener Report for the new J.T. Weather Report!

Here are the four easy steps to take when calling into the new hotline:

I. Choose an interesting nickname for yourself to keep your anonymity.

II. Tell me which side of The City (or County) you’re calling from.

III. Tell me how you’re liking the weather, or if you’ve seen anything interesting through it like a downed power line, fallen tree, a pack of opossums, etc.

IV. Keep it under a minute! This helps us tune in to more reports rather than less.

***And if you’d like to keep your number anonymous as well, did you know that pressing *67 before you dial a number keeps your number blocked? That’s right!

Submit your voicemail to the J.T. Weather Report at (213) 458-5042.

For more of these updates and then some, follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!

And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/

J.T.

EPISODE 91 – DR. ROCIO RIVAS FOR LAUSD BOARD DISTRICT 2

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For our 91st episode, Dr. Rocio Rivas (@RocioRivas1111) and I have an extensive discussion on public schools in Los Angeles, including the ongoing challenges posed by charter schools and the private “philanthropists” behind many of them. Originally migrated from Mexico to the K-town area at two years old, Rivas graduated from Reseda high school as the beneficiary of a busing program there and earned her B.A. in Political Science and Development Studies from UC Berkeley in 1996. In 2008, she also earned her PhD in Comparative and International Education from Columbia University. Rivas’ campaign for District 2 is endorsed by the United Teachers of Los Angeles; to learn more about her, you can visit her website. You can also volunteer for her campaign via this UTLA portal. Mail-in ballots for L.A. voters arrive as early as May 9th, 2022, and Election Day is June 7th, 2022.

J.T.

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EPISODE 61 – SOCIAL STUDIES WITH NICOLE GERRON

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In our 61st episode, we’re joined by LAUSD teacher, Nicole Gerron. Nicole and I talk about LAUSD’s progress in returning to the old routine over the last five weeks of the semester with students, as well as the district’s preparations for a full reopening in the Fall. We also touch on LAUSD’s food program for communities over the last year, Nicole’s Social Studies course on U.S. history, challenges for students and families in the next school-year for all stakeholders to keep in mind, and more. A fun conversation for educators everywhere, but especially in Los Angeles!

J.T.