What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin
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.
What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin
Driving While Black: Tackling Racial Bias in Traffic Enforcement in Los Angeles
In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the critical issue of racially biased traffic enforcement in Los Angeles, often referred to as "Driving While Black." Our discussion focuses on the systemic challenges faced by drivers of color, who are disproportionately targeted and affected by traffic stops in the city.
Joining us are two esteemed experts in the field: Chauncee Smith of Catalyst California, and Leslie Cooper Johnson of the Community Coalition.
Together, we explore:
- The historical context and current state of racially biased traffic enforcement in Los Angeles.
- Real-life stories and statistical data that highlight the severity of this issue.
- Innovative policy proposals and practical solutions aimed at reducing racial disparities in traffic stops.
- The role of community involvement and advocacy in driving systemic change.
Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and hear from our experts on how Los Angeles can move towards equitable and just traffic enforcement policies. Join the conversation as we seek to pave the way for progressive change in our city.
MORE INFO:
PUSH-LA: https://pushla.org/
Catalyst California: https://www.catalystcalifornia.org/
Community Coalition: https://cocosouthla.org/
Council File Index (search for file # 20-0875): https://cityclerk.lacity.org/m.clerkconnect/#/cfmsSearch
Los Angeles Times op-ed “Why traffic stops can be deadly for people of color”by Frank R. Baumgartner, Derek Epp and Kelsey Shoubt.
Washington Post ran an op-ed titled “Get police out of the business of traffic stops.” TJ Grayson and James Forman Jr.
New York Timesop-ed, “Police Officers Shouldn’t Be the Ones to Enforce Traffic Laws by Sarah Seo.,
Slate: The Myth of the Dangerous Traffic Stop Is Killing Black Men in America by Mark Josef Stern.
North Carolina Times-News: “What would happen if cops didn’t make certain traffic stops? This North Carolina city offers a case study.”
In 2019, the LA Times reported that data showed a black person in a vehicle was more than four times as likely to be searched by police as a white person, and a Latino was three times as likely. That same year, the LA Times detailed the problem of racially disparate enforcement in LAPD’s Metro unit.