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.

THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST MAYOR OF BURBANK

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On this installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast we speak with Konstantine Anthony, the former mayor of Burbank and a current representative at the Burbank City Council who is now running to replace Kathryn Barger for Los Angeles County District 5. Keep up with Council Member Anthony’s campaign through his IG, and find your Voting Center or Drop Box for Election Day here.

(0:30) Introductions, welcome Council Member Anthony to the podcast!
(1:20) Konstantine Anthony is the former mayor of Burbank who is now running for L.A. County Board of Supervisors Seat 5
(1:48) Among other things, the Supervisors run the County Department of Public Health and the L.A. County Jails, and also act as the governing body for unincorporated parts of Los Angeles
(3:56) L.A. County District 5 is also home to at least 83 unincorporated communities. What’s Burbank’s relation to this structure, for example?
(5:14) Burbank did a lot of work without too much support from the County, actually
(8:06) Let’s hear some more about Council Member Anthony’s time as a mayor for the city of Burbank, especially as the city’s first-ever Democratic Socialist Mayor
(10:53) Governance as a matter of pushing back in both directions
(12:29) Council Member Anthony’s rescinding of his endorsement of Adam Schiff as California’s next Senator 
(13:48) The popularity contest
(15:06) Council Member Anthony’s persistent presence on the picket lines
(17:22) To be sure, re: the issue of homelessness and rent insecurity in Burbank…
(20:42) L.A. City Council’s governing power on homelessness
(22:36) How did decriminalizing homelessness in Burbank sit with the Burbank Police Department?
(24:34) The importance of fiscal responsibility on the job, actually
(26:32) Taking on the L.A. County Sheriffs at the Board of Supervisors
(29:02) On L.A. District Attorney George Gascon.
(33:49) On the question of rent burden in Burbank, as well as the housing plan over the next ten years
(37:03) Stronger rental protections in Burbank, as well as the right to counsel for tenants
(38:32) What affordable housing needs to look like going forward, especially for immigrant families
(40:38) On housing versus jobs in County District 5
(44:10) Mixed-use housing with commercial space for jobs
(46:42) Speaking with residents in L.A.’s more expensive and unincorporated cities and getting their buy-in on more housing in their neighborhoods
(48:36) The importance of water conservation for County District 5, or the high desert region(53:07) To be sure, for the voters out there who just learned that there is such a thing as County District 5
(56:20) Thanks a ton again for your time, Council Member Anthony

To make a one-time donation to JIMBO TIMES, please do so through jmbtms.com. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, check out my PATREON.

J.T.

STRAIGHT OUTTA SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

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On this installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast we speak with Jillian Burgos, the treasurer of the North Hollywood Neighborhood Council, which is known to issue more Community Impact Reports than any other Neighborhood Council! Burgos has called Los Angeles home since 2009 and is now running a people-powered campaign to replace Paul Krekorian for L.A. City Council District 2 this March. Learn more about the campaign through her website, and check back soon to find the time-stamps for our convo.

(0:30) Welcome Jillian Burgos! Would you tell us about yourself, and when you first declared your campaign?
(6:27) Let’s talk about Council District 2, and which neighborhoods it includes
(9:16) Let’s also talk about the Neighborhood Council system
(15:38) The NC’s can actually make statements about living conditions, including Renter’s Issues
(17:25) A lot of renters in CD-2 are also actors and writers who were on strike recently 17:32
(23:11) What would Jillian Burgos do regarding illegal Airbnbs in the district?
(26:01) Among other things, coalition-building at L.A. City Hall
(29:30) What would Transit Justice in CD-2 actually look like in 5 – 10 years?
(32:04) With all this said, what really sets Jillian’s campaign apart from the rest of the pack?
(37:42) How folks can volunteer for or otherwise support Jillian’s campaign
(38:43) Volunteering and the importance of matching funds
(40:18) Is Jillian’s campaign the real grassroots campaign in CD-2 to support?
(42:16) Yes, indeed. Now on to canvassing!

You can also catch the latest from yours truly on L.A. County Districts 2, 4, 5 and the District Attorney’s office via Making a Neighborhood; and yes, Los Cuentos has wrapped up with Elections in El Salvador and I’ll have a report back soon! For now, to make a one-time donation to JIMBO TIMES, please do so through jmbtms.com. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, check out my PATREON.

J.T.