Cudahy vice mayor questions where LA street gangs are in the fight against ICE, leading to major backlash
In a video posted to social media, Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez seems to address street gangs in LA, criticizing them for not organizing resistance to ICE raids in the region. The vice mayor and city councilmember of the small city located in southeastern Los Angeles County questioned why local gangs were not creating opposition to federal agents in the area, likening the agents to a gang that had stepped onto their turf. Gonzalez has received criticism for her statement, with the Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors calling for her resignation. Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss is Ruben Vives, reporter for the LA Times and Christian Wecker, active duty sergeant and director with the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
Zohran Mamdani declares victory in NYC’s Democratic mayoral primary as Cuomo concedes
Zohran Mamdani declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday night after Andrew Cuomo conceded the race in a stunning upset, as the young, progressive upstart who was virtually unknown when the contest began built a substantial lead over the more experienced but scandal-scarred former governor. Though the race’s ultimate outcome will still be decided by a ranked-choice count, Mamdani took a commanding position just hours after the polls closed. With victory all but assured, Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who ran an energetic campaign centered on the cost of living, told supporters, “I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City.” Joining us this morning to discuss is Brigid Bergin, senior politics reporter at WNYC.
What’s it like to fight wildfires? A new book offers an immersive firsthand account
Jordan Thomas spent the year 2021 battling fires up close. As a crew member with Los Padres Hotshots, Thomas experienced firsthand a historic wildfire season, which he details in his new book When It All Burns. Blending environmental science, Indigenous history, federal land policies, and the rise of the wildfire industry, Thomas crafts an account of our shifting climate reality. He also shares the camaraderie and courage of life on the front lines. Joining us today on AirTalk is Jordan Thomas, author of the new book When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World.
Under financial strain, local and state governments work to hammer out budgets
On both a local and state level, governments have been under financial strain in California. Schools in the state are funded based on how many students show up to class each day, and with LAUSD seeing a marked decline in enrollment over the past two decades there has been a significant budget crunch. In the face of this, the Los Angeles Unified board unanimously approved a $18.8 billion budget that relies on diminishing reserves to make ends meet on Tuesday. At the same time, Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislature leaders have reached a deal for a new California budget, which is set to go into effect on July 1. Joining AirTalk today to update listeners on the latest financial pictures coming out of local and state governments is LAist K-12 senior reporter Mariana Dale, and Sacramento Bee reporter covering California politics Nicole Nixon.
LA County experienced a historic drop in drug overdose deaths in 2024
Drug overdose deaths throughout Los Angeles County declined 22% last year compared to the previous year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Department of Public Health. It’s the most significant drop in county history, led by an unprecedented decrease in fentanyl-related deaths. The number of accidental overdose deaths or poisonings involving fentanyl decreased by 37% in 2024, the first reduction since county officials began routinely testing for the drug, according to the report. Methamphetamine-related overdose deaths decreased by 20% last year, compared to 2023. Fentanyl overdose deaths had previously surged from 109 deaths in 2016 to more than 2,000 in 2023, a crisis-inducing increase of 1,700%.This drop mirrors national trends with fatal overdoses steadily declining over the past year. But will these numbers stay? Today on AirTalk, we discuss LA County’s latest overdose numbers and how they fit within the national landscape. Joining us to discuss are Aaron Schrank, LAist health and housing reporter, David Ovalle, national reporter for the Washington Post focusing on opioids and addiction, and Brian Hurley, medical director of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Bureau part of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Serving pride: LGBTQ+ identity as defined through…food!
As we round out the end of pride month, we’ve been confronted with a very important question: What is queer food? That is the question, and title, of author John Birdsall’s new book, which traces the evolution of queer food through decades of revolution, liberation and devastation. Queer spaces became necessary in times of fear and persecution. As a result, community building and opportunities for joy were often expressed through food. Joining us this morning on AirTalk is John Birdsall, author of the new book What is Queer Food?: How We Served a Revolution. He also wrote The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard.
