What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin

Mike Bonin
  • 3.7 (63)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Los Angeles is at a turning point. We are living in a defining moment. What happens next is up to us. Over the past few years, problems and challenges have shaken this city -- and tremendous opportunities for change have presented themselves. How do we rise to this moment and emerge a better place to live? What will it take to create a more just and a more equitable community? Working together, how are we going to create a stronger, forward-thinking Los Angeles? Mike Bonin, writer, teacher, progressive activist and former City Councilmember, looks at the issues and problems facing Los Angeles,  examines ideas, and talks with the people who will lead us to a brighter future. Produced in partnership with LA Forward.

  1. 1D AGO

    MICHAEL TUBBS - Candidate for Lt. Governor

    Today we turn to the race for lieutenant governor — an office that often gets less attention than governor or senator, but one that can play an important role in shaping state policy, economic development, higher education, and California’s political future. Today’s guest is Michael Tubbs. Tubbs first gained national attention when he was elected mayor of Stockton at age 26, becoming one of the youngest mayors of a major American city. During his time in office, he focused on issues like gun violence prevention, economic mobility, and poverty, and became especially well known for launching one of the country’s first guaranteed income pilot programs. Since leaving office, Tubbs has remained active in public policy, writing and speaking about economic inequality, education, and the challenges facing communities that have often been left out of California’s prosperity. He has also taught at Stanford and worked on statewide and national initiatives focused on opportunity and anti-poverty policy. Now running for lieutenant governor, Tubbs is arguing that California needs a new generation of leadership focused on affordability, economic opportunity, and making state government work more effectively for working people. I sat down with Michael Tubbs recently to talk about his campaign, his time as mayor, and how he sees California’s future. https://michaeltubbsforca.com/ https://mtubbs.com/ What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    1h 9m

  2. MAY 9

    Wendy Carrillo: Candidate for State Senate

    Today, we continue our focus on the race for the State Senate seat in District 26, currently held by Maria Elena Durazo, who is termed out of office. District 26 is a dense, urban district centered in Los Angeles, including Downtown LA, Boyle Heights, Echo Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s home to largely Latino and immigrant communities, with a mix of working-class families and renters, and it sits at the center of many of the city’s biggest challenges — from housing affordability and homelessness to economic inequality and access to public services. Today’s guest is Wendy Carrillo, a member of the California State Assembly. Carrillo represented the 52nd Assembly District from 2017 to 2024, covering much of Northeast Los Angeles. Before entering elected office, she worked as a journalist and communications professional, and has long been active in immigrant rights and community advocacy. In the legislature, she worked on issues including housing, labor, and immigrant protections, and has been part of broader debates in Sacramento over affordability and the cost of living. She’s now running for State Senate in a competitive race to succeed Durazo. And in this conversation, we also talk about something more personal — her experience with sobriety and recovery, and how that has shaped her life and approach to public service. What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    52 min

  3. MAY 6

    SARA HERNANDEZ: Candidate for State Senate District 26

    Sara Hernandez, an attorney, educator, and member of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, is running for State Senate District 26, ans she joins me on this episode of What's Next, Los Angeles. District 26, currently represented by Maria Elena Durazo, is a dense, urban district centered in Los Angeles, including Downtown LA, Boyle Heights, Echo Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s home to largely Latino and immigrant communities, with a mix of working-class families and renters, and it sits at the center of many of the city’s biggest challenges — from housing affordability and homelessness to economic inequality and access to public services. Hernandez has spent her career working at the intersection of education, housing, and public policy. She began as a middle school teacher in LAUSD, where she founded the nonprofit Helping Young People Excel, or HYPE, to support low-income students through high school and into college. Her work with students facing homelessness, food insecurity, immigration challenges, and barriers to opportunity led her to pursue a career in law and public service. After earning her law degree, Hernandez worked in Los Angeles City Hall, helping lead community revitalization efforts through investments in housing, transportation, infrastructure, and economic development. She now practices as a housing and environmental attorney and has done extensive pro bono work representing immigrants in asylum proceedings and assisting students navigating the DACA process. In 2022, she was elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, where she has focused on expanding access to education, increasing enrollment, connecting students to housing resources, and growing apprenticeship programs in the building trades. Hernandez is also active in grassroots organizing, including founding DTLA Strong, a community group that helped significantly increase voter turnout in downtown Los Angeles. https://www.sarahernandez.com/ What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    1h 6m

  4. APR 30

    SARAH RASCON: Candidate for State Senate District 26

    Sarah Rascon is community advocate and candidate for State Senate in one of Los Angeles’ most diverse and fast-changing districts. She is running on a message focused on affordability and access to opportunity. She joins me to talk about her campaign. That’s on this episode of WNLA. Today we turn to the race for the State Senate seat in District 26, currently held by Maria Elena Durazo, who is termed out of office. District 26 is a dense, urban district centered in Los Angeles, including Downtown LA, Boyle Heights, Echo Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s home to largely Latino and immigrant communities, with a mix of working-class families and renters, and it sits at the center of many of the city’s biggest challenges — from housing affordability and homelessness to economic inequality and access to public services. Today’s guest is Sarah Rascón, a candidate for State Senate. Rascón has been active in community and policy work in Los Angeles, and is running in a crowded field to succeed Durazo. Her campaign has focused on issues like the cost of living, housing, and access to economic opportunity — themes that are central to the district. I sat down with Sarah Rascón recently to talk about her campaign and how she sees the role of the State Senate in addressing those challenges. Here is that conversation. What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    50 min

  5. APR 29

    Ellen Evans: State Senate Candidate Spotlight

    A neighborhood leader and civil rights advocate, Ellen Evans is running for State Senate District 24. She joins me to talk about her campaign and the issues shaping the district.  Evans has spent decades working in her community as an organizer, advocate, and local leader. She is the co-founder of the Doheny Sunset Plaza Neighborhood Association, where she has represented more than 2,000 households and led efforts to improve public safety, address homelessness, and support responsible housing development. She also serves as Vice President of her local Neighborhood Council, where she has worked on land use, wildfire preparedness, and environmental protections. Evans’ background spans public policy, labor, and the arts. After graduating from Brown University, she worked as a union carpenter on major construction projects and later as a union apprentice film editor, eventually earning her M.F.A. in screenwriting from Columbia University. She has also been active in civil rights advocacy for decades, including work with Equality California Institute, where she helped lead efforts in the wake of Proposition 8. She says her campaign is focused on defending reproductive freedom and civil rights, fully funding public schools, tackling the housing crisis responsibly, investing in wildfire prevention, and growing the local economy to support working families and small businesses. https://www.ellen4senate.com/ What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    40 min

  6. APR 21

    ZENNON ULYATE-CROW: State Senate Candidate Spotlight

    Zennon Ulyate-Crow is a recent college graduate and housing advocate who is aiming to become one of the youngest members of the California State Senate. He joins me to talk about his campaign for the 24th Senate district seat. That’s on this episode of WNLA. Ulyate-Crow grew up in Topanga and has been involved in organizing and public policy work since he was a student. While in college, he focused on housing issues, helping to organize around student homelessness and affordability, and working on legislation aimed at expanding student housing across California.  He later worked in public service roles including as a commissioner in Santa Cruz and on a national political campaign, and has continued to focus his advocacy on housing, cost of living, and what he describes as government accountability.  Ulyate-Crow is running in a crowded field, arguing that younger leadership and a different approach to policymaking are needed to address issues like affordability and access to housing in California. https://www.instagram.com/zennonuc/ What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    49 min

  7. APR 16

    What's Up with City of LA Charter Reform?

    Los Angeles may be on the verge of some major changes to how its city government actually works — changes that could affect everything from who holds power at City Hall to how decisions get made and services get delivered. Raymond Meza, who chaired the commission behind those proposals, joins me to walk through what’s being proposed. That’s on this episode of WNLA. The City Charter is essentially the city’s constitution — which defines how power is divided, how decisions get made, and how different parts of government interact.The Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission has just wrapped up months of work and sent a package of recommendations to the City Council — proposals aimed at making city government function more effectively. Those recommendations take on some of the biggest structural questions facing Los Angeles: the size of the City Council, the balance of power between the council and the mayor, oversight of the LAPD, how the city handles budgeting, and how to address long-standing concerns about infrastructure, governance, and public corruption. Raymond Meza and I take a deep dive into the proposals and what they could mean for the people of Los Angele. https://reformlacharter.lacity.gov/ What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    1h 6m

  8. APR 14

    TOM STEYER: Gubernatorial Candidate Spotlight

    He is a businessman, an environmental advocate, and a former presidential candidate, and has emerged as an early Democratic frontrunner in the race for governor of California. He is running on a message focused on affordability, government performance, and economic fairness. Tom Steyer joins me to talk about his campaign.  We talk about a lot of issues you don't hear about on the statewide campaing trail - child welfare, play equity, the struggles of staying in college while holding down a fulltime job, gentrification, and more. https://www.tomsteyer.com/ What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.

    46 min
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3.7
out of 5
63 Ratings

About

Los Angeles is at a turning point. We are living in a defining moment. What happens next is up to us. Over the past few years, problems and challenges have shaken this city -- and tremendous opportunities for change have presented themselves. How do we rise to this moment and emerge a better place to live? What will it take to create a more just and a more equitable community? Working together, how are we going to create a stronger, forward-thinking Los Angeles? Mike Bonin, writer, teacher, progressive activist and former City Councilmember, looks at the issues and problems facing Los Angeles,  examines ideas, and talks with the people who will lead us to a brighter future. Produced in partnership with LA Forward.

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