THE TENANT ASSOCIATION WITH PHOENIX TSO

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On this installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast we’re joined by Phoenix Tso, who chats with us about The Tenant Association, a new podcast on the Chinatown Hillside Villa Tenant Association, which formed in 2018 after residents there received a 300% Rent Increase without any prior notice from their landlord; in addition to the origins of the podcast and Tso’s investigative work, we consider the terms “affordable housing” and “eminent domain.” Tso notes that across the U.S., approximately 800,000 currently affordable units will lose their affordability within the next decade due to expiration dates for rent prices set in their housing covenants. Last but not least, Tso reveals the host of The Tenant Association to quite some cheer and even chuckling; it’s another can’t miss episode and you can also keep up with The Tenant Association here.

(1:07) Introducing The Tenant Association Podcast by the Los Angeles Public Press
(5:41) Outlining the story of the Hillside Villa Tenant Association
(13:30) “Affordable Housing” on a timer, not indefinitely affordable
(19:41) 800,000 “Affordable Housing” units in the U.S. are expiring within the next decade
(23:29) The use of “Eminent Domain” historically to rob communities of their right to housing
(30:25) How the Hillside Villa Tenant Association organized the fight against their landlord
(41:08) Final notes on the new podcast, as well as the HOST REVEAL!

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.

RAISING OVER $150,000 WITHOUT PAC MONEY IN L.A.

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Thanks to matching funds! Los Angeles, meet Ysabel Jurado for Council District 14.

(02:15) What is Council-District 14? Which neighborhoods does it include?
(03:42) Ysabel is another Highland Park native and graduate of Immaculate Heart High School
(05:38) Sharing the Highland Park area with Council-District 1, which takes the side south of York Blvd
(06:49) The reason Ysabel decided to run for this seat was to fight for her community (back in August 2022)
(09:33) What Ysabel’s hearing from community members about city politics
(11:39) Ysabel’s experience as a Tenants’ Rights Attorney fighting evictions during lock-down due to COVID-19
(13:06) On Social Housing in Los Angeles as a part of fighting the housing crisis
(14:52) Support the Eastside Cafe, which is fundraising to purchase more land back for El Sereno community
(17:20) Council-District 14 has the highest number of eviction filings out of all the districts; we need to enhance renter protections
(22:41) According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, since the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in California is $2,197, the median or minimum wage should be $42 an hour
(25:21) Ysabel has raised more than $150,000 for her campaign without PAC or corporate money
(26:18) What would Ysabel do with millions of surplus money in CD-14? Also, my humble Patreon plug!
(29:12) Protecting small, legacy businesses, including in Boyle Heights
(30:01) Dealing with resentment and frustration from community members re: resources for unsheltered folks
(34:58) L.A.’s Planning and Land Use Management committee accepted an appeal in Boyle Heights over Tiao Development’s proposed destruction of legacy businesses on Cesar Chavez Ave. to build market-rate housing
(39:14) Dealing with jadedness on housing and the idea that working-class communities cannot win against developers
(41:16) How Ysabel would serve on L.A.’s Planning and Land Use Committee
(43:04) Ysabel’s roots as a Filipina-American and how they inform her sense of land and stewardship rather than ownership
(45:27) Explaining how Tiny Homes are actually NOT housing
(50:40) How Ysabel will not allow for her identity as an Asian-American to be used as a “racial wedge” between her and Latinx communities
(52:28) At just over 50 days before mail-in ballots reach voters, what’s Ysabel up to?
(54:22) Follow Ysabel Jurado’s Campaign for Council District 14 on Instagram at @ysabeljuradola.

To make a one-time donation to my fundraiser for the 9th anniversary of JIMBO TIMES, please do so through jmbtms.com. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, please check out my PATREON.

J.T.

worried mad sitting on a concrete stairs

LARGEST EVER EVICTION IN L.A. SINCE “CHAVEZ RAVINE”

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Mike Bonin of What’s Next, Los Angeles joins us to talk about the impending eviction of at least 500 renters at the Barrington Plaza in West Los Angeles this September, which if approved would be one of the largest mass evictions in Los Angeles since the forcible displacement of residents in the La Loma, Bishop and Palo Verde communities–more commonly known as “Chavez Ravine”–between 1953 – 1959 in order to supplant Dodgers stadium on top. We also discuss the expiration of affordable housing at the Hillside Villa in Chinatown and its implications for L.A.’s affordable housing supply overall, and how the city attorney’s office can do more to defend L.A.’s renters from billionaire landlords.

To make a one-time donation to my fundraiser for the 9th anniversary of JIMBO TIMES, please do so through jmbtms.com. To support the production of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, do so through my new page at PATREON.

J.T.

CD-13 Residents Can Get Vaccinated at Lemon Grove Park Recreation Center this Thursday – Saturday, March 25th – 27th

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The Thai Community Development Center, in partnership with Council Member Mitch O’Farrell’s office, is holding its first three COVID Vaccination Clinics at Lemon Grove Park Recreational Center for residents who LIVE and/or WORK in Council District 13.

Council District 13 includes communities in East Hollywood, Hollywood, Thai Town, Little Armenia, Atwater, and Silver Lake.

​Eligible residents must register with Thai CDC first by calling Thai CDC at (323) 468-2555 or emailing cares@thaicdc.org or ada@thaicdc.org to schedule a date and time at one of the three clinics. Walk-ups will not be accepted.

Lemon Grove Recreational Center in East Hollywood, Los Angeles

THAI CDC and Mitch O’Farrell’s office are holding ALL three clinics at the Lemon Grove Recreational Center, 4959 Lemon Grove Ave, L.A., CA 90029. 

You are an eligible resident for Vaccination Clinics if you are 65+ OR if you:

  • WORK IN EDUCATION OR CHILD-CARE
  • WORK IN FOOD OR AGRICULTURE 
  • WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
  • EMERGENCY SERVICES
  • WORK IN HEALTH CARE
  • WORK IN JANITORIAL OR CUSTODIAL SERVICES *NEW*
  • WORK IN PUBLIC TRANSIT *NEW*
  • SEVERE HEALTH CONDITIONS

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Dates and Times are:

Thursday, 3/25, 11:30 AM to 2 PM

Friday, 3/26, – 9:40 AM – 11 AM

Saturday, 3/27, 9:20 AM -10:40 AM

Location: Lemon Grove Recreational Center, 4959 Lemon Grove Ave, L.A., CA 90029.

J.T.

EPISODE 44 – EAST HOLLYWOOD TENANTS UNION

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In our 44th episode, we chat with “Anon 1” & “Anon 2” of the East Hollywood Tenants Union, going over their origin stories with the organization, as well as some of the Union’s most recent actions, including a recent 7:00 AM protest in West Los Angeles outside a landlord’s residence calling for an end to all eviction attempts by their LLC. Speaking of actions, to support our just-announced storytelling series with This Side of Hoover, please visit our fundraiser HERE. And to tune into an additional podcast with JIMBO TIMES, join us on PATREON this Saturday, February 6th at 10:00 AM at patreon.com/jimbotimes.

J.T.