Talking Downey with Mayor Mario Guerra

Talking Downey
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  1. Sep 3

    John McKinney on 28 Years in the DA's Office and Running for LA City Attorney | Talking Downey

    In this episode of Talking Downey, Mario Guerra sits down with John McKinney — a 28-year Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney, veteran of over 100 jury trials, and candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney. John shares his story: growing up in Passaic, New Jersey, losing both parents by age five, being raised by his eldest sister alongside four other children, and working his way through Rutgers University and UCLA School of Law. He talks about prosecuting the Nipsey Hussle murder case in the Major Crimes Division, being demoted under DA George Gascon for speaking out, and being brought back by current DA Nathan Hockman to lead the Bureau of Specialized Prosecutions — 300+ lawyers across eight of the office's most well-known divisions. Mario and John go deep on the LA City Attorney race: the difference between the District Attorney and City Attorney roles, the contrasts between John and his opponent (experience, vision, ideology, and her ties to the Democratic Socialists of America), Ordinance 4118 and the fight over the city's anti-encampment law, and why five to seven people die on LA streets every day. If you care about public safety, LA's homeless response, and who runs the second-largest municipal law firm in the country, this episode is for you. Learn more or volunteer at McKinney4LA.com. Follow the campaign on Instagram: @johnmckinney_ Thank you for watching Talking Downey. Like, comment, and subscribe for more local conversations that matter. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro and welcome with John McKinney, LA Deputy DA and City Attorney candidate 00:52 Growing up in Passaic, New Jersey — losing both parents young 01:22 Raised by his eldest sister on paycheck-to-paycheck values 01:55 The crack cocaine years and navigating around trouble 02:21 Rutgers University to UCLA School of Law 02:52 Why prosecution over criminal defense 04:47 28 years as a prosecutor and 100+ jury trials 05:36 The George Gascon retaliation and demotion from Major Crimes 06:12 Prosecuting the Nipsey Hussle murder case 07:34 Nathan Hockman brings him back — leading the Bureau of Specialized Prosecutions 08:12 The eight divisions he oversees today 10:09 800 lawyers, still 200–300 understaffed in LA County 10:45 DA vs City Attorney — how the two offices actually differ 13:47 The race — an incumbent who didn't make the top two 14:33 Objective contrasts with his opponent 15:03 34 years old, zero jury trials 18:34 Two different visions for what the City Attorney is 19:03 The "public interest law firm" framing problem 20:03 A nonpartisan role, and 40 years as a Democrat 22:19 Ordinance 4118 and the refusal to enforce the anti-encampment law 24:26 Five to seven homeless deaths on LA streets every day 25:07 The homeless approach — court-ordered treatment, not jail 26:23 Endorsements — three former DAs, former city attorneys, city council members 28:03 A business-friendly City Attorney for young entrepreneurs 30:37 McKinney4LA.com and how to volunteer 32:22 The DSA membership and the co-governance pledge 34:52 Closing: a paycheck-to-paycheck kid becoming your attorney 37:55 Closing thoughts and what's ahead — Downey council race and 14 propositions

  2. Sep 3

    He Helped Fire Victims for Free. Now He's Running for Judge. | David DeJute on Talking Downey

    Most people don't vote in judicial elections — but judges affect your life more than almost any elected official. On this episode of Talking Downey, former Mayor Mario Guerra sits down with David DeJute, candidate for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Seat #87. DeJute is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, a Harvard Law graduate, a law professor at Pepperdine/Caruso School of Law, and someone who took a significant pay cut to run two disaster relief clinics — one after the Woolsey Fire in 2018 and another after the Palisades and Eaton Fires in 2025 — providing free legal help to victims targeted by predatory contractors. He also happens to be an openly gay man who's been with his partner for 40 years. He didn't put that at the top of his campaign. But it's shaped how he sees fairness, tolerance, and who deserves to be heard in a courtroom. This isn't a political episode. It's a conversation about integrity, what makes a good judge, why the court system matters to every single resident of LA County, and why one candidate says his job — if elected — is simple: call balls and strikes. 💬 To reach Mayor Mario: 562-706-4114 🔔 Subscribe — more election coverage coming, including all 14 propositions on the ballot. 00:00 – Welcome & Why Judges Matter to Your Life 00:34 – Meet David DeJute: Former AUSA, Law Professor, Seat #87 01:43 – Why He's Running: The Path to the Bench as a White Male 02:43 – "I Bring Diversity" — Married 40 Years, Raised a Son 03:15 – Growing Up Catholic in Ohio: Sexual Orientation & Becoming More Tolerant 03:58 – What Made Him Pursue Law: His Father Was a Judge 04:31 – Career Breadth: Trial Lawyer, AUSA, Sony Pictures, Pepperdine 05:27 – Pepperdine Disaster Relief Clinic: The Woolsey Fire (2018) 06:28 – The Palisades & Eaton Fires (2025): He Took a Pay Cut to Help 07:02 – Teaching Law Students Empathy — Practical Skills They Don't Teach in Class 08:10 – How Predatory Contractors Exploit Fire Victims 09:30 – "Sit Next to Them" — What Fire Victims Really Need From a Lawyer 11:25 – What Makes a Good Judge: His Father's Legacy on the Bench 12:36 – Fairness in a Divisive Time — Civility in the Courtroom 13:54 – His Time at the U.S. Attorney's Office: "Lying Was Not an Option" 14:15 – The Plaintiff Who Lost — and Still Shook His Hand 15:58 – Federal Grand Jury: He Served as Foreman 18:31 – The Grand Jury System & Why Prosecutorial Integrity Matters 20:09 – His Dad Said He Was "Too Nice to Be a Lawyer" — He Disagrees 22:09 – Real Advocacy: How You Treat Opposing Counsel Comes Back to You 23:46 – What Cases Go Before a Superior Court Judge in LA County 25:07 – New Judges Start at the Bottom: Traffic Court in Lancaster 26:17 – Final Pitch: Why Voters Should Choose DeJute 26:33 – Notre Dame, Harvard Law, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau 28:32 – The Baseball Analogy: "A Judge's Job Is to Call Balls and Strikes" 29:34 – Mario's Endorsement & Why These Judicial Races Matter 30:10 – Closing: 14 Propositions Coming — Stay Informed

  3. Sep 3

    Donna Tryfman on Public Defense, Jury Trials, and Running for Judge | Talking Downey

    In this episode of Talking Downey, Mario Guerra sits down with Donna Tryfman for a deep conversation on justice, courtroom experience, and public service. Donna shares her path as a senior public defender, her work in death penalty litigation, and what people often misunderstand about criminal defense. They also discuss judicial temperament, courtroom fairness, jury selection, election realities, and why she is running for judicial office. If you care about local courts, due process, and how legal decisions impact everyday life in our communities, this episode is for you. Thank you for watching Talking Downey. Like, comment, and subscribe for more local conversations that matter. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro and guest welcome 00:43 What a senior public defender does and how Donna got there 01:11 Death penalty defense work and the stakes of criminal litigation 03:50 Why she chose public defense over becoming a district attorney 05:03 Mitigation work, family background investigations, and jury trial volume 06:20 Biggest misconceptions about public defenders 08:38 Defending clients when guilt is assumed: ethics and mindset 10:00 Why Donna decided to run for judge 12:09 Why she chose this specific judicial seat (Office 131) 14:28 Election context, voter turnout, and what voters are looking at 17:09 Family roots, survivor values, and motivation for public service 20:38 Compton courthouse story and how juror questioning works 22:31 Central Grand Jury process and what makes it different 25:59 Peremptory challenges and how jury selection works in felony trials 27:55 Final thoughts to the audience 29:12 Where to find Donna online and follow the campaign 29:58 Closing remarks and episode outro

  4. Sep 3

    Is the Army Worth It in 2026? | From Downey High to the Army (Tracy Duran)

    In this episode of Talking Downey, Mario Guerra sits down with Staff Sergeant Tracy Duran, a proud Downey native serving at the Norwalk Recruiting Station. Tracy shares her journey from local student to Army leader, why she chose to serve, and what she has learned in 13 years of military experience. They discuss education benefits, JROTC impact, recruiting realities, misconceptions about military service, and how families can make informed decisions. This conversation is about leadership, discipline, opportunity, and giving back to the next generation. If this episode helped you, please like, comment, and subscribe for more community-centered conversations. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro and welcome with Staff Sergeant Tracy Duran 00:53 Tracy’s path after high school and joining the Army 01:55 College and education benefits through military service 03:19 Working with Downey and Warren JROTC students 05:35 Mentors and leadership at both high schools 07:16 Advice to young people considering enlistment 08:29 Why Tracy loves recruiting and serving locally 09:40 Returning home to Downey and giving back 11:12 Challenges youth are facing today and social media pressure 12:41 What’s next in Tracy’s Army career path 14:29 Battalion leadership and recruiting coverage across the region 16:11 School access challenges and military presence on campus 18:13 Counselor visit in San Antonio and changing perceptions 19:41 Why exposure and information matter for students and families 22:08 Biggest misconceptions about Army service 24:06 What Tracy tells families and students before signing 25:56 Legacy: how she wants recruits to remember her 26:37 Downey High memories and mentors that shaped her 29:57 Recruiting reality: hard work behind every contract 30:29 Closing thoughts and support for service members

  5. Sep 3

    He Ran Downey's Most Iconic Restaurant for 30 Years — Then Helped Rebuild the Whole Block

    Paul Granata — longtime Downey business owner and co-founder of the Downtown Improvement Association — sits down with Mayor Mario to talk Granada's Italian Villa, a 25-year-old letter that started a movement, and what downtown Downey looks like now vs. then. 0:00 Pre-show 0:59 Show intro – "Hi, I'm Mario Guerra" 1:23 Welcome Paul Granata 2:30 Paul's history as a Downey business owner 7:55 The 25-year-old letter that started the DIA 8:32 How Porto's changed downtown forever 9:27 Paul on Mario's passion & the slow process of getting things done 10:26 The Gateway Sign — 15 years in the making 11:17 Mario gets thrown out of a 7th grade basketball game (they still won) 13:23 Paul selling the buildings & his legacy in downtown Downey 13:53 Remembering Paul's dad & the Granada's family legacy 14:57 Downtown today — nightlife, the DIA, and keeping things clean 17:16 The graffiti hotline & zero tolerance policy 17:58 What's coming to the old Granada's spot 19:14 Paul's retirement — boat, golf, grandkids & a 94-year-old mom 19:56 The real pressure of running a restaurant (ft. Clark Bruner) 22:42 Granada's outdoor patio — ahead of its time 23:18 Final thoughts on Downey's growth and traffic 25:11 Outro & Mayor's Corner every Friday at 3pm 📍 Talking Downey with Mayor Mario — Stories from the heart of Downey, CA. 📞 Mario: (562) 706-4114

  6. Sep 3

    Downey's Most Talked-About Council Race | Carrie Uva Interview

    Carrie Uva is a lifelong Downey resident, Planning Commission Chair, and real estate attorney — and she just announced she's running for City Council. Mario Guerra sits down with Carrie to find out why she's running, who's backing her, and what she plans to actually change in Downey. Topics: • Why she's running for Downey City Council District 4 • Cross-party endorsements from both sides of the aisle • Trip to Sacramento • Campaign priorities • What makes her different from her opponent

  7. Jun 24

    Setting the Record Straight: I Was Forced to Respond

    After being publicly mentioned multiple times during recent meetings and political discussions involving Downey Councilmember Mario Trujillo, former Mayor Mario Guerra says enough is enough. In this special commentary episode, Mario responds to recent criticisms, addresses comments made publicly, discusses ethics conversations, commissioner controversies, public conduct, and shares why he believes it was finally time to set the record straight. Topics discussed include: • Commentary regarding discussions involving Mario Trujillo • Ethics reform and public accountability • Commissioner appointments and controversies • Recent political disagreements and public criticism • Leadership, representation, and community engagement • Why local government decisions matter to residents

    Setting the Record Straight: I Was Forced to Respond

  8. Apr 8

    Building the Future: Columbia Space Center's Vision with CEO Nader Moghaddam

    Downey’s legacy in space exploration is bigger than most people realize—and it’s about to get even bigger. In this episode, Mayor Mario and his guest dive into the incredible story behind the Columbia Memorial Space Center and the ambitious new “Inspiration” expansion. From a historic NASA mockup nearly being given away… to becoming a hands-on, immersive exhibit for future generations—this conversation reveals how passion, leadership, and community collaboration brought this vision to life.They also explore how this project goes beyond history, aiming to inspire careers in STEM, boost the local economy, and position Downey as a hub for innovation across the region.

    Building the Future: Columbia Space Center's Vision with CEO Nader Moghaddam
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