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
Hugo Soto-Martinez: Warrior for the Working Class
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Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez has been at the forefront of some of the biggest political battles of the past two years. From winning an Olympic wage for tourism workers, fighting for the rights of street vendors, and championing renter protections, he has been a warrior for the working class. I talk with him on this episode of WNLA.
What's Next, Los Angeles? is produced and hosted by Mike Bonin, in partnership with LA Forward.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto Martinez has been in the forefront of some of the biggest political battles of the past two years. From winning an Olympic wage for tourism workers, fighting for the rights of street vendors, and championing renter protections, he has been a warrior for the working class. I talk with him on this episode of What's Next Los Angeles. Hi everybody and welcome. It's Mike Bonham. Thank you for joining me, and happy new year to you. May 2025 be for all of us a year of growth, of learning, and of solidarity. There are many challenges ahead, and we're going to need each other. I wanted to begin this podcast, the first of the new year, by talking with someone who's making a big impact on Los Angeles politics and on the lives of Angelinos. That's Ugo Soto Martinez. Born the child of immigrant street vendors and raised in South Los Angeles, Ugo started work at a young age in a non union hotel and became part of a successful effort to win union recognition there. Inspired by the power of collective action, he went to work for Unite Here Local Eleven, and that's the Hotel and Hospitality Workers Union. He spent sixteen years there, organizing with mostly immigrant women in the hotel industry to win health care, higher wages, and anti-harassment protections. Along the way, he became active in both his neighborhood council and in the Los Angeles chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. In 2022, as a first-time candidate, he challenged incumbent City Council Member Mitch O'Farrell, and he defeated him. In December of 2022, he took office as the representative of the 13th District, which includes dozens of neighborhoods, including Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Glassell Park, Hollywood, Silver Lake, West Lake, Wilshire Center, and Windsor Square. In his two years on the council, he has played a big role in winning better wages for tourism workers ahead of the coming Olympics. He's worked with Councilmember Nithya Raman to win historic renter protections in LA, and he stood up for street vendors and immigrants. He also took down a controversial barricade around Echo Park Lake and installed bike lanes and pedestrian safety projects in his district. Politically, he has worked hard in the last cycle to defend and expand progressive seats on the city council. Ugo and I sat down over the holidays to reflect on the past two years and to look ahead to the next. Before we get to the interview though, just a quick note. During part of the discussion when we discussed housing and land use, we got a little wonky. So when we talk about single family zoning or R1 zoning, we're talking about neighborhoods in Los Angeles where the city permits construction of only single family homes, not apartment buildings. Don't worry though, the interview is not a total wonk fest. He talks about how he still thinks the Olympics in LA might not happen. And he shares some damn good reading recommendations. Here's that interview. Councilmember Hugo Soter Martinez, thanks for joining me. Hey Mike, very happy to be here on your podcast. Happy to have you, really excited to have you.
SPEAKER_03How are you doing? I'm doing pretty well. We're uh we're into a recess right now, so we got a little bit of downtime. Um, but you know, it's been a busy year and looking for a little bit of time off.
SPEAKER_00It is. We're recording this on uh the the 23rd at a very, very uh uh quiet, barren city hall. But this will be airing first week in January, so uh happy new year.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, happy new year to you, too.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So I I wanted to sit down around this time. You've been in office two years, and it's been a time of big challenges and big opportunities, and you've had some really big accomplishments. But I was thinking as I was driving down here today how how different it was for you when you walked into this building than it was for, say, me when I walked into the building in 2013. Right? Uh we were beginning of the second Obama administration, the economy was good, the city didn't have any major crises, you know, Mayor Garcetti's agenda was back to basics. Uh you came in, it was uh uh in the wake of the pandemic, huge homelessness crisis, uh renters, small businesses still suffering, the the city had just endured the the political scandal of a of a century with with the tapes. When when you walked into the building, when you took office, were you like consciously aware of how big a moment in history it was?
SPEAKER_03No, uh it actually wasn't. Uh, you know, people, you know, some of my colleagues kept saying, Oh, you know, it's it's not the way it is normally. Uh, you know, you're walking into it's really intense right now, and uh, you know, obviously you have no perspective. And so it just felt normal. Uh it felt like that for many, many, many months. Um, but now, you know, two years later, um, it feels a lot more calmer. Um, you know, obviously gotten used to the job more, um, you know how the city works. Um, and so it I I did not know that. Um, and so having a two-year perspective is has been has been good because there's a lot that we can do when we're not sort of under this duress and uh you know, having um all these issues going on or all these things happening. So, but no, I did not know what I was walking into.
SPEAKER_00But but you're still in a pretty heavy moment in history, right? I mean, the the the the tapes have subsided a bit, the homelessness crisis is still pretty bad, income inequality is as bad as ever. Uh, and now we've got a second Trump administration, and LA is really sort of you know a focal point of of sort of the the counterpoint to to to Trump. Uh how how heavy a a burden does does that feel to have to to lead in such big and challenging times?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, it feels it feels very heavy because you know many of us um were around during the first Trump administration. Um, you know, I was working on um immigration uh and civil rights um during his first presidency. And um, you know, I'm recalling all the things we had to do in that moment and and you know, all the way through COVID until we we got rid of him, and now he's back. Um so yeah, it's it's gonna be interesting, but I feel incredibly uh blessed, and I'm very grateful that um because I was on the ground uh during his first administration, um, I know I know what's gonna happen, uh what's gonna happen uh on the ground uh with working class folks and specifically with folks that are immigrants uh in the in the city. And so again, I feel blessed and very grateful that now in this position, um, I can use some of that knowledge to inform the way the city can act and maneuver and what kind of policy we can create. So um it'll be intense, but um, but again, I I'm trying to carry the responsibility uh in the correct way.
SPEAKER_00I'm curious, everybody approaches the job as a council member differently, uh all shaped by their their personal experiences. Uh you you came into the council with a different profile than than than most. The composition of the council has different backgrounds now than it used to, but very very different background. You were an organizer, you grew up in in Los Angeles and South LA, working class background, uh child of uh of immigrants. Um how do you sort of view your role other than just being a council member? Like what sort of uh uh responsibilities do you feel?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, I I thought that's a great question. You know, it it feels it feels very heavy. Uh it feels like there's a lot of responsibility um uh, you know, that I'm putting on myself. Uh, but you know, we have an amazing team that does a lot of work. But, you know, it's for 16 years as an activist organizer in the labor movement, you always acted with a sense of urgency, you know, you're uncompromising to power those people in power. Um, you made it sure that you brought uh you bring people together under a common cause, um, that you're always acting from a place of building community and solidarity and really taking your ego out of it and just having your eyes on the prize. What's the what's the biggest, what's the goal that you're trying to accomplish? Um, and so I'm I'm trying to bring those values into City Hall. And so the way we've structured the team, uh, you know, the fights that we take on, um, you know, how we work with the community, uh when we make big decisions, all that is is super important to me. And um, you know, and and and that's been guided by um, you know, some of many of the things we learned in the civil rights movement. I've I've trained under Reverend James Lawson and trying to create the beloved community. And so um, you know, that's at the core of who I am as a person. And oftentimes it can be challenging here in City Hall because that is like the antithesis of what I'm trying to build sometimes. But uh, but uh but yeah, I'm trying, I'm trying to be true to who I am and you know how I was formed and you know why why I was chosen for this position.
SPEAKER_00When you took office and and and you walked in two years ago, um how did you decide what your your your first priority was gonna be?
SPEAKER_03Well, you know, a lot of a lot of it was campaign promises. Uh, you know, there were some things that were more relevant, more uh quicker on the timeline, um, which I'm sure we're gonna talk about today. But um, you know, I I think it's um and you know our slogan when when we ran was community power, and we debated about what our slogan was gonna be, because you know, that's so important in so many campaigns. But I thought that phrase really spoke to what I was trying to do. And um, you know, you know, obviously council members have power, but I know that the power comes from the grassroots. Um, you know, council members can make policy decisions, but who informs those poly decisions, policy decisions is usually because there's a coalition of folks pushing that. Um, you know, and so we really wanted to stay true to the community, and I think a lot of the priorities have been about that, right? The tourism ordinance, uh you know, doing uh bike lanes in the district, uh, how we approach homelessness, how we approach housing. Uh it's really about trying to root the community in these decisions.
SPEAKER_00You guys were in office for just a couple weeks. I think it was like maybe your third or fourth meeting when you uh took on a big package of renter reforms. Um you're the only renter on the council, right? I believe so, yes. Uh and um that that turned out to be the biggest package of renter protections that Los Angeles has approved in decades. Um and since then you've even built on that and and and done more renter stuff. Um how did your background as a renter inform your perspective on on what to do and how hard to push?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, I was you know, I was very lucky to a few of us were very lucky to come in um after these motions had been introduced and a lot of work had been done. And so I want to give a ton of credit to to you. Uh there was uh figuring this stuff out with Councilmember Raman, who you know stayed here uh to bring it to the finish line. But you know, it's um when you're a renter, uh you understand the power that your landlord has over you, right? Over um repairs and how sometimes you're afraid to to go to your landlord because they might take uh you know, you know, some might take a might retaliate for doing that. You don't want to call the city because then all of a sudden, you know, they're gonna make your life a living hell. They're gonna nitpick, you know, where you park or you know, what you put on your door, like just things like that. And um, you know, you even though I come from an organizing background, um, there were some times where I didn't want to pick a fight with my landlord. Um, you know, I was just like, you know what, let it be. You know, the water's leaking, the rains are gonna end in a few days, who cares? Um, but that's not how policy should be done. Uh policy should be done thinking about who is being affected by this, uh, you know, by the policies of the city. And so when we were talking about, you know, just cause evictions and uh, you know, a rent and debt threshold and relocation assistance, like I think it was really putting myself in my own personal experiences uh and trying to tap into that frustration and that anger that I think a lot of renters, who by the way, are the majority of the city, feel about you know how we're how they're being treated. And so uh I was trying to bring, I was trying to channel that um those personal experiences for the majority of people of Los Angeles.
SPEAKER_00Of the various uh renter initiatives you've done, which one do you think is most impactful?
SPEAKER_03Well, you know, so we did those three, which I just mentioned. Uh we did the Tan and Anti-Harassment Ordinance, uh, and we're doing a few more. But um, I think the package was was really amazing, you know. Um we as as I enter, as many of us entered into um the middle of that fight, you know, we thought we could win one, maybe, maybe two. We ended up winning three, you know, and uh that seemed uh you know unattainable before the elections. Um and then we built off of that. But I think that really put a stamp about how this council was going to uh treat tenants, and then everything after that has been uh just as amazing. But uh those first three were really phenomenal.
SPEAKER_00It really was amazing how how much you and sort of the progressive caucus did and how quickly. I mean, I I remember before I left, which was you know just two months before, and Nithya and I couldn't figure out a math that could get us to eight for this stuff. And it was like sort of a uh a comet streaking across the sky, and and all of a sudden stuff was moving in a way we didn't imagine before. Were you aware of how big that was when you were doing it?
SPEAKER_03No, not at all. Uh I I you know, I we got in there and we were like, okay, let's fight. You know, let's fight. We got to get all three. And um, you know, uh, I remember some of those internal discussions. Um, you know, it's like, are we being too crazy? You know, are we asking for too much? Like, is this is this really attainable? And, you know, uh, and and this is how a lot of times policy is made, right? You have different competing um uh opinions or different analysis of of of the field or how to get to eight votes. Um, but no, I had no idea. I just wanted to push for the the most we can get, um, leave nothing on the table and just fight like hell and um you know turned out we won all three. Uh and there's more renter initiatives still in the hopper, right? Absolutely. Uh, you know, we have um we have to look at our RSO formula. We haven't looked at it in in decades, right? Uh it's unfair that uh rent can go up to 8%, 10% uh, you know, if your landlord pays for utilities, it's outpaced inflation. Yep. 23 of the last 30 years. Uh, you know, wages haven't kept up. We need to look at our RSO formula. Absolutely. We're looking at social housing thanks to Measure ULA passing. We that's actually now on the table. You know, how do we take um you know the profit motive out of housing? I think that's gonna be another great one. And there's a few others um that my other colleagues are working on, but these are the ones, these are the two that I'm I'm the most passionate about.
SPEAKER_00Uh another issue I obviously want to talk about is is is fresh. It just happened a couple weeks ago. Congratulations on the the Olympic wage, the thank you, the tourism wage. Um uh that feel like giving birth.
SPEAKER_03Well, I'm gonna use my male privilege here and say no, it does not. Uh, but it certainly uh I have many grays uh to prove it. It has crossed my sideburn head barrier. It is now officially on my head. Uh but yeah, it was it was uh it was tough fight. Uh it was um, you know, again, not used to being on the inside and uh seeing how the sausage is made. But um, but yeah, that was incredibly rewarding and and very personal victory for me.
SPEAKER_00It it happened in December, so a lot of folks were paying attention to other stuff. Uh for those who aren't familiar with the details, explain what this does.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's this is about really uplifting and treating the tourism workers of the city with the respect and dignity that they deserve. And so uh it this vote puts them on a path to make $30 uh an hour uh by 2028. And it also creates a healthcare credit of $8.35 per hour so that they can actually afford health insurance for themselves and their family. And so this is gonna affect tens of thousands of workers. It's gonna put more, and you know, workers when they get money, they spend it. You know, it's like they don't wealth hoard like the billionaires, right? They go out there and they spend it in the economy. So it's gonna stimulate the economy, it's gonna create thousands of jobs, it's gonna put more tax dollars in our coffers because of the sales tax that they, you know, when they go out and spend. And so I think this is an absolute win-win-win for everybody. Um, this is for the workers that clean, you know, the the airport terminals, uh, the fook, the folks that cook our food, uh, you know, they're the biggest winners uh of all this.
SPEAKER_00How many people are impacted by it?
unknown23,000. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So total, it's 23,000 uh workers who are going to be impacted by that. Um, and obviously if you include their families uh and who benefits from that, we're talking about, you know, possibly hundreds of thousands of people.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, it's a big jump. I mean, it's a six, it's a significant jump. Uh when we did the the hotel worker wage, that was sort of council led. When we went for the citywide $15, there was no way that would have happened without Mayor Garcetti uh firing the starting gun, right? That that that took his bully pulpit to say we want to do this. Um But this happened, I mean the the mayor wasn't particularly certainly publicly engaged in this one. This was really uh sort of council and labor led. Uh can you tell me how you guys put together this this victory?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so it was it was a few council members uh who I think uh took the the lead. Um, you know, obviously council member price, who you know was a champion on these issues alongside you uh for the first time around, um, was it was present. Um, you know, obviously me coming from labor and my background, uh, I took a pretty prominent role. And then it was really making sure that the you know that the labor unions and the workers would come and I mean they were relentless. I mean, they would show up to every other committee meeting and they would continue to demand the report and why is it taking so long? And so they really kept kept uh you know all the council members accountable. You know, they were doing their lobbying, they're they did at the end they did a hunger fast. And so I think they did an excellent job of keeping this issue relevant and present in the media. You know, oftentimes um I think people in power uh depend on the issue to go away, and then the issue goes away, and so does the policy. But yeah, uh they played a tremendous role, and um uh you know, a bunch of bunch of council members also kept it uh active. And so uh, you know, finally we got it done. Uh the first vote at least.
SPEAKER_00And obviously, this is keyed to the Olympics. You uh sort of got not your start, but you you were sort of an early uh member of the the No Olympics movement in Los Angeles, uh very active with with DSA, a pin-wearing member of uh Dev DSA. Um what else to your mind does the city need to be doing to prepare for the Olympics to make sure that they benefit people in Los Angeles?
SPEAKER_03Well, yeah, well, look, I would say that if the Olympics are gonna come, right? Because I don't think that that is, you know, as obvious to folks, uh, there's a lot of issues. I certainly continue to have a lot of issues about how the Olympics is being rolled out. Um, and this is one of them, right? It's like if we're gonna have billions of dollars coming into the city, well, who's gonna capture that money? Yeah. It's it's I certainly I certainly don't want it to go to the wealthy, uh, because again, they're just gonna wealth hoard uh you know all that money. So this is a good start. But we also got to talk about uh how's housing gonna be affected, how is homelessness gonna be affected? If we're giving out these billions of dollars, who's gonna receive those contracts? Is it gonna be you know these multinationals that uh you know are just gonna give that money to their shareholders, or is it gonna be uh a certain percentage gonna be given to black, brown, uh minority-owned, LGBT-owned businesses who can benefit from that? And so there's so many more things about the Olympics that need to be figured out. And so if it's going to happen, it has to benefit the people of Los Angeles, uh, and you know, and not in some esoteric way. Like it has to be the people that I know every single day that are struggling to get by. They're the ones that need to benefit from that the most.
SPEAKER_00I'm struck by your saying if it's gonna happen. What's a what's a scenario that you envision where it wouldn't happen?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think that it has to be, we have to continue to ask ourselves this question, right? Is the Olympics going to benefit the people of Los Angeles? And as of right now, I think the answer is no. Uh, I don't see the the policies and programs in place where the people of Los Angeles are benefiting. Uh, you know, and and the the biggest one that I could look at is is who is who are getting these contracts? Yep. Who's gonna get that? I have yet to see that it is gonna be Alliance share going to be uh, you know, working class Angelinos, uh the black and brown uh you know folks of the city. Uh and so if uh if I have any say, I will continue to push and say, you know, if it's going happen and it has to be in this way. It's not a feta complete that it's going to be here. I think there's still a lot of decisions to be made about how that looks.
SPEAKER_00I've been struck by a couple things about the the the the sort of prospect of of the Olympics coming. One is from my perspective the city just is not ready at all. Not not not close to ready. And we have no money to to get ready.
SPEAKER_03Do you think you know I I think there is um you know I certainly feel that concern. Hearing from the members who did they're like we have a lot of work to do and uh you know I'm not surprised uh you know as you mentioned I organized with an Olympics and so I remember having um you know learning so much about what it was going to do and I understood that it was going to be such a huge task uh including right if there's any overruns to the Olympics is who's on the hook is us. Yes. It's the city. And uh I don't think there's been a single game that has stayed within their budget uh since I think the 80s. And so um history has shown us that um there will be overruns. Uh you know we're now talking about building stuff for the Olympics which we were said it would be a no-build Olympics. And so uh you know those those dollar amounts are starting to go up. And so um I think there's a lot of there's a lot of things we have to question. And and I will and I will question them because at the end of the day as I said right this if it's going to happen it has to benefit the people of Los Angeles. How old were you for the 84 Olympics? Oh I was I was one year old. So I don't remember So you remember it well. I remember well remember like the yeah no I was I was one year old but uh yeah didn't experience it.
SPEAKER_00It if you talk to people who were here then you you hear two different sets of memories right there's the there's certain people who remember it as this this great moment of uh sort of civic pride and and celebration and then there's a whole other slice of Los Angeles that remembers it a as sort of a a period of repression and and terror. That's right. I I hear a lot of civic dialogue about the first thing I haven't heard a lot of civic dialogue about the second thing and and and and how to prevent it. Right. What do you think the city needs to be doing to prevent that?
SPEAKER_03Well uh I think we we certainly need to look at you know how this is going to affect our budget. I mean I think the overruns uh the possibility of overruns is is absolutely there. Um again I mentioned who's capturing the wealth of that is it going to be working class angelinos uh is this going to cause uh displacement gentrification uh you know um you know us criminalizing our homelessness population what does our transit in trans uh transit system look like uh I think those are all things we need to be asking ourselves you know how will that look like because there's we can start trying to prevent some of those things from happening now right um I certainly don't want uh you know to relive uh the history uh that happened with the 84 Olympics again I was too young to remember but yeah uh again learning this in the Olympics you know how LAPD was uh you know terrorizing people in South Central where I grew up uh you know that's that's unacceptable that's not gonna I hope that doesn't happen again um there's been a lot of concerns about our our unhoused population right are you know are we doing what are we gonna do to get ready to see them put the city on stage you know and so um you know making the making poverty invisible uh something that happens a lot yep um you know our street vendors uh we've heard what happened when the Super Bowl was here they were criminalized uh you know DHS is gonna have access to the city now under Trump administration what does that look like uh so there's a there's a lot of things we we need to we need to look at the the security arrangement is absolutely is really scary yeah it is it would be scary even if it were Harris it's really freaking terrifying given that it's the Trump administration oh absolutely in a city where we have the largest undocumented population in the United States um you know we need to advocate for them uh you know that's estimated uh between 800 000 and a million people uh and you know those are the folks that make our economy run uh you know they they they you know clean our houses uh they take care of our children uh they cook the food uh you know and so we need to we need to make sure that their lives are also not gonna be affected by this so just a few weeks ago the council also passed a sanctuary city ordinance um how impactful do you think that actually is you know I think from what I've been hearing from the community is that they're excited right there they see this as a win um you know uh we a lot of these protections we had them through you know uh executive order or you know special orders but uh you know law laws matter having things on the books matter and so we are now we just signed it actually signed it last week into law right I was happy to be there with with our mayor yep um but that's the law of the land now uh and not only is it those protections are going to be more difficult to undo but it also sends a message to the people of Los Angeles that that they are valued that they're protected that we will protect them that we'll do everything in our power to make sure that they're not ripped apart from their families because you know this administration would like to think that everyone's a criminal and everyone's out here doing bad stuff but we know better. You know these about keeping families together and uh I think in that sense it was a great win uh but there's a lot more work to do.
SPEAKER_00I I I'm really scared about how some of the the the the the Trump immigration stuff is going to play out in in Los Angeles. I I see a scenario where the the city is freaking broke as it is Trump saying you're not gonna get federal funds unless you're cooperating with ICE. And that that's a real challenge for a lot of elected officials between their their stated values and the the things they want to be able to do. Right. Is there a a fear in the building about that dynamic coming?
SPEAKER_03Yeah I I think that fear is it's that fear is there. You know it is this administration is um you know they were there for four years. They know I mean they know how to use the levers now. They do uh and uh you know it's the fear is there but um at the end of the day you gotta like uh you have to do some soul searching just be like you know why did I come into office? Uh and you know you know my parents were undocumented when they came to this country um and I you know they were able to get their residency and citizenship and there were street vendors were able to buy a house um you know uh and now they both voted uh you know their kid you know we have six brothers and sisters we're all doing well that's what we're talking about right and so uh when this sort of you know this fear comes out uh I always remember my roots and like my upbringing and so that's that's what we're doing this for and you know there might be some consequences but you know surely it it is worth standing up for though that community when you're out in the community um how much of a a a sense of relief have people articulated that the sanctuary city thing passed yeah you know I've I got so many text messages you know saying thank you you know thank you for doing this uh people in the street you know say thank you for for what you did um you know and and and they feel protected they feel that the city of Los Angeles is standing up for them um and so I think that relief is real uh you know and I continue to hear it to this day but it's it's also not just about giving people relief but it's about empowering them to fight right um these fights are going to be long and they're gonna be hard but we want to make sure people feel that sense of relief but are just ready to throw down uh against this administration and even folks that are not personally affected by that uh there's a lot of folks out there that feel strongly about this that can use um you know their position their privilege to to do more right to fight more against the administration and so um but yeah certainly the community I think feels good.
SPEAKER_00You you mentioned street vending and you mentioned that your your parents were street vendors.
SPEAKER_03They were vendors when you were a little kid yeah so I as soon as I could remember uh my parents were street vending and that business uh stopped when I was 15 years old and it was because my dad sustained a back injury that left him disabled for life. But but yeah but my fondest memories uh with my family were out there vending with them. Uh what did they vent? So we vended everything you can think of. The primary our main staple was uh we sold fruit uh and so my parents would um my dad every morning would go to the produce uh market you know buy in bulk and chop it up and put it in bags or boxes and would go to the different both my mom and dad would go to the different textile factories uh in South Central uh where we lived uh 43rd and Main Street you know that sort of area uh but as you know they continued to vend they also diversified what they sold uh my mom started selling perfumes and like clothing for you know she catered more to the women right um my dad sold you know cigarettes and cassettes and music uh and you know eventually we started selling uh you know agua fresca so like you know like fresh right you know a flavored what a flavored fruit water uh and so we sold it all uh and then also worked on the weekends sometimes we would go to different parks and sell there and so yeah my parents were hustlers you know they did what they could and uh how much were they harassed oh all the time I mean I mean not all the time but it happened you know it wasn't um it wasn't the daily but uh it was enough that I remember those memories uh you know my dad coming home um it was mostly my dad my mom I don't think had very negative experience maybe they left her alone because you know she's a woman but yeah my dad would come and be like you know police harassed me you know the health department harassed me uh the gangs harassed me you know so it was enough it was frequent enough that I understood the fear that came from that um you know when he would come and tell the story to my mom never told it to me and I was obviously too young yeah but she would tell my mom you know this happened and you know there was fear there was fear so explain what uh legislation you got passed to to help vendors yeah so very proud of this um you know and I gotta give um you know uh CPC or Community Power Collective so much credit for this because they've been organizing the street vendors um for the last you know over over 10 years uh but uh we finally um got in line with the state and decriminalized uh street vending uh and so those uh those uh street the anti-vending zones that existed across the city are no more uh people can vend um you know without feel feeling the fear of uh retaliation from the city uh and we also reduced um uh the permitting uh sorry the permit fees uh for street vending from five hundred and something dollars uh down to twenty seven and so uh now street vendors can actually afford uh to get that you know permit so they can out there and vend uh and that was I think uh council member ramen was really a champion on that and you know I was happy to bring it home right with her uh and so and we're also um exploring a pilot program right now in in C D 13 in collaboration with Councilmember Ramen so we can create a model uh for what street vending should look like uh you know one that uh centers the street vendors but also takes into account you know the brick and mortars and you know the other issues that might come up with street vending but uh we will be centering uh the street vendors uh but that's all stuff that you know been happy to work on renters low-wage workers uh immigrants those are three groups that have not traditionally had uh uh a lot of muscle or champions at at City Hall big things have happened to to help and and and benefit each of those groups um and there's a lot of overlap um is is that an emerging political power in Los Angeles I I think so um you know it is it is a it is the majority of the people of Los Angeles without a doubt um but it's been a group traditionally not listened to in my opinion you know my opinion we had our you know our our one offs obviously you were a champion for for this group uh we had Jackie Goldberg um you know we have out we've had MRT obviously would do a lot of this work but no I I don't think power flows in that way um you know power isn't given to the majority it's given to people with money and influence uh and connections to city hall um and so but we're trying to change that uh I think that you know myself and many of the council members here represent uh people who are connected directly uh to those groups and we many of us have worked with those groups uh obviously our council president uh you know is is been a champion for for these issues and so uh council president marquise Harris Dawson um and so I I think we are coming to a place where we have enough of a of a group of folks uh that come from those experiences that are uh and I think that's a reflection of how our policies have changed as well.
SPEAKER_00You do uh a lot of stuff with uh national or statewide groups that sort of bring elected officials together you do stuff with DSA the Working Families Party you've you've you've done stuff with with local progress when you talk to uh people from other parts of the country are they aware of what's happening in Los Angeles?
SPEAKER_03Yeah no I love those three groups uh you know DSA Working Families Party Local Progress uh I think they're amazing um and I think they're aware of some of the work we're doing uh just as much as we are aware we're aware of some of the work that they are doing uh but you know I and when we convene uh when we come together we're able to get into you know the nitty-gritty and really cross pollinate ideas which is one of the best things about uh you know having these these um these convenings um but uh no I don't think we know to that level um but uh you know when we do get more information it always inspires us to to do more or uh to change things a little differently tweak our strategy but um but that's something we need to work on right we really got to get um into the weeds of what we're doing so you're at some conference somewhere and you meet an elected official from some other city and they say hey tell me what's going on in Los Angeles I hear there's there's there's big changes in the politics there.
SPEAKER_00What's happening? How do you answer that question?
SPEAKER_03Well I would say that um most recently an emerging working class coalition that is uh multiracial multi-generational uh class based uh is emerging and gaining a ton of power uh and that can be reflective of obviously who's won uh these are these seats uh but also the policies that we've passed um you know the renter protections that I mentioned um are just a great reflection of of that coalition uh measure ULA uh you know sort of renter labor alliance like extremely exciting um which then you know we help pass measure a at the county level uh and how we're really trying to form this coalition uh again multiracial multi-generational uh class based uh to really challenge uh you know the status quo of of this of this country uh and I think and there's a and there there's a tons of volunteers that are out there that are willing to donate their time either to door knock phone bank do art uh you know whatever it is uh that people are just hungry and active uh to be a part of it and that people are agitated and excited uh to do this work uh and uh and it's true uh and it's true and so that's usually how I uh you know try to explain what's happening in LA that I I believe is very special uh to this country we we just finished an election cycle and it was a it was a big moment for the progressives in Los Angeles because it was uh the re-election of Nithya was a big deal because it was defending a seat right very different running as a progressive as an incumbent than as an outsider and as an insurgent different dynamic to the campaign tons of special interest money spent against her we're now rolling into the next election cycle Europe uh uh Ionisus Hernandez is up um uh and then there's a bunch of open there's a couple open seats coming up is this a year where progressives uh hold the line and keep their seats or is it a a year where you can capture a couple? You know if any if if uh Isabel's win has showed us anything is that there is so much more hunger for these policies. Uh you know she ran an incredible race uh you know won by you know double digits and um you know and uh beat you know two uh you know sitting assembly people which I think is incredible it really speaks to her tenacity intelligence and uh you know strategic thinking um you know she was able to put together with her team but um but people are people are angry people are agitated uh you know it's like when you know 10% of people spend over 90% of their income on rent when the majority of people are rent burdened when we have more people die of traffic violence than homicides uh I mean I can go on and on the the litany of issues in in the city I think people are just fed up and they want change and I think the folks that have you know some of the folks have come in with that energy have given them some hope that we can actually pass policies that matter and so um I I think that we need to approach it with that sense of urgency and that you know our mouths need to be bigger than our stomachs always. And so I hope this is not the end. I hope that we can continue to build on this this coalition because um you know one getting one more seat matters you know getting two more seats matter uh yeah you know that's that could be really really um life changing for for millions of people in the city so no I I hope that there's more and I certainly will approach it with that sort of uh enthusiasm.
SPEAKER_00One one of the things I'm I'm struck by is since there's more of you now than than than than back five years ago not only can you deal with more issues but you can you can do the the sort of grunt work and follow up and make sure that not only does a policy get passed but it gets implemented and enforced right so a lot more work being done on the on the tenant anti-harassment ordinance than than there was before. But there's also in in in some sense I imagine there's a a level of competition among the progressives as well to sort of be the point person on this one. How do you guys coordinate?
SPEAKER_03Yeah you know obviously we're we're very different people uh we have very different life experiences um you know we share some passions but you know some are we were obviously more passionate about other things and uh you know than the other person but I think it's just a lot of coordination as as much as we can coordinate just coordinating what what is it that we're leading on what is it that you're leading on um and uh but it you know it's it's sometimes it's a challenge uh you know it's uh and you've been in this building um you know how fast pace it is how many things are happening how many things are on your mind and um I think oftentimes we just got to come take a little moment you know just 30 minutes and just kind of regroup again and move forward. But uh but sometimes it's it's challenging. But uh you know if we've been able to make it work um especially when we know um uh you know something a vote's coming up that we've worked on for a long time uh you know like for example the the tourism um wage right uh that's something that was very active for um uh for many different months uh you know the unions were playing their role I was playing my role Kern was playing his role and I think that was like a good example of how it's it feels like a like a a real coordinated orchestra right uh some of the uh the rancher protections feel that way um but now that we have more people you just have to be more disciplined and you know be on our game.
SPEAKER_00So your background coming into this job was as a union organizer. Yep um you did organizing you did negotiating that's a sort of different dynamic than a lot of people have when they come into the job what um what what strengths has that given you as a legislator and are there any ways in which that makes it harder to deal with colleagues who have a different perspective?
SPEAKER_03Sure no this is a that's a great question because I I do think um especially with some of the legislation this year right because the first year seems like it was so busy but this year how people um how people bargain uh has been really insightful um you know people are usually trying to get to a deal right be nice with each other get to a deal um and that's not the way I've been taught to bargain all right um you bargain from a position of strength uh you bargain uh with the mentality like you leave nothing on the table you want to go into bargaining getting every single cent every single detail for the worker um and that just means you gotta be a lot pushier uh a lot more demanding um which I think sometimes uh is not the way um you know thing the deals are cut here uh and so um you know it's that's a cultural thing but I don't I personally do not think that I am in the wrong um right and and and and I and I say this because this style has given us what we have in the city of Los Angeles. And I think most people would say they're not happy with that. And so we need a different style. We need a style where we are challenging Channeling that anger, that frustration from working people, and uh, you know, and I try to do it every single day. I'm trying to channel that anger. And so uh I think my method or and the method of other many of other folks here uh is the right one. And so um, but yeah, but that is a uh definitely a clash of cultures, I think, um, that I certainly don't agree with. I think my way is the right way.
SPEAKER_00Uh I'm curious about the flip side of that as well, because there's a sense among many progressives that to uh to compromise or to make a deal is having sacrificed your principles and and and sold out, right? That that's a a criticism you hear. You certainly see it online. As as somebody who negotiates, you get to a point where, okay, this is the deal. Um how has that dynamic been a force for you? Have you have you gotten a lot of pushback?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, a little bit. Um, you know, the the the one thing that I think we are doing well is that with our partners, uh, you know, the folks that that we represent, right? The larger coalition we represent, I think there's a lot of communication that goes to them um about what's happening in here, right? You gotta have that outside, inside strategy. Yeah. And so I I think with with our closest partners, the folks we talk to on a regular, I don't think we have those issues as as much. Um what I do hear is um, you know, the folks that maybe are not part of uh an organizing group and what they see is the finished product and maybe not something that they would have wanted to see. Um but I think that criticism is more of a function of, you know, have we brought that person into the process? You know, have we educated uh this person who feels passionate about you know the challenges and things that we had to maneuver to get this done? And I think if they knew that, they would have a very different perspective. Um, and also um having building the trust with that constituency. Uh, you know, I I understand that even though I've come from where I come from, um, I am now an elected official. And so there is deep distrust of the political process. But um, I think if we can bring people in, I think people will understand that we made the right decision, right? That that we didn't we got as much as we could. Right. Uh and at the end of the day, you know, I tell people it's you know, what we win is equal to the power that we build. Um if you know, if you weren't happy with what we got, well, that's because we didn't build the power to get it. Uh, you know, and so we got to just continue. And that's why I think organizing is always a thing we need to do um and not view it as a a short-term uh project. This is a decades-long project, you know. I want to be able to build something that outlasts my uh you know, my time in office, uh, because that is how we're gonna get to where we want to be. And it's not gonna be in a year or two years, you know, hopefully in 10 years when I leave this. It looks very different. But um, but yeah, we which we just have to bring more people into the process. And I think that distrust will sort of go away.
SPEAKER_00I want to ask about uh an issue where you've you've faced some criticism lately. Uh again, a lot of stuff that happened in in December. This is uh the the the housing issue, the the the chip. I can't I don't live in City Hall anymore, so I don't even know what the hell the the acronym stands for, but it was uh the the city uh considering where it would allow uh increased density or the capacity for increased density. And one of the the big hot issues was whether or not to sort of address the history of systemic racism, exclusionary zoning by allowing uh uh some apartment buildings in uh single family areas. And uh at the Planning Commission level, uh you or your staff sent a a letter and spoke in favor of this. At council, you you wound up voting against that provision. Tell me what your your thinking was on that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, this is a good example of what we just talked about. You know, so I grew up in South Central LA, um, uh an area that was traditionally redlined uh out of you know uh valuable resources. Um, you know, people of your black or brown, you can only buy there. So the racial covenant red line uh history, I know that very well. Um we know that it goes beyond what can get housed. It's how people are treated, it's how policies are created, it's how transportation is built. And so, you know, as someone who has lived in that, I understand it deeply. Uh, it's something that we have to change. Uh, you know, we cannot continue to ignore this uh sort of foundation of racial inequality that exists in America. And it's and it's tied to uh, you know, you know, white supremacy and so many different things. And, you know, I think we I think I certainly understand it from that perspective. And so, you know, we'll we'll work on that in the future. Now, this vote was was a difficult one um because as these discussions were uh evolving, uh R1 was never supposedly on the table, that it wasn't something that was being discussed. And in and that's when we put out our letter uh stating that it needed to be part of the discussion moving forward. Um but through the process, um uh the the planning commission actually revealed some maps that they I guess I guess they had been working on it. Yep. And that when those maps were revealed, it it came to surprise it surprised a lot of my constituents um because they had never seen those maps. Right. And so the decision was a difficult one for me because I also believe that when you make decisions, you state your position with your constituents and you work with them and make sure that they are heard, even if they disagree with you. Uh it's something we've done with the taking down the fence and you know the Hollywood bike lanes. And so they because it came out so late, they that process that I wasn't able to do that with them. And so what I ended up doing was well, do I choose to do something with R1 that I believe in, or do I stick to my values of being uh, you know, an organizer, leading with transparency? Uh, and ultimately I thought that uh had we had more time, I would have been able to do that with my constituents. And so I didn't get a chance to bring them along uh this process. And so I voted the way I did.
SPEAKER_00You think there's a chance that that comes back in the next couple of years?
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. Uh, you know, and this is something that that I was again discussing internally with my colleagues. I said, we cannot be in a position where we're having to do this at the last minute and where we we didn't have the votes. Like even if I would have voted for it, uh it wouldn't have passed, right? Um, but we know that the community plans are a space where these decisions can be made, um, which you know the community plans will, if folks aren't familiar, it's just you know, large swathes of the city that uh you know have a component of of re of changing the the zoning. And so we're gonna have them. Absolutely. Like we cannot ignore what R1 means to the city. Uh it's it's untenable at this time. And so as soon as any part of my district has a community plan that is engaged with it, I will walk in with a position that R1 needs to change. And now let's talk about how we do that. It's not about how if we're gonna do it, it's about how we're gonna do it in my district.
SPEAKER_00As that process was was unfolding, and you saw testimony from from different parts of uh of the city. Uh, were you uh uh surprised by the amount of power either in public or behind the scenes that sort of wealthy homeowners have in Los Angeles?
SPEAKER_03Yes and no. Um this has played out different times in council. Uh you know, a few months ago, um, there was a couple of ED1 projects that came up in in two different council districts. And that was the first time I got a taste. I was like, oh wow, this is a real reaction from people. Like they're really, really angry. Uh, which I didn't, I know obviously I didn't agree. I was like, well, you know, we shouldn't rezone R1. Um, and in my district, so in that case, yes, I saw that. Uh, and in my district, um, you know, literally weeks before this final vote, like I went into I did a couple of community town halls uh and they asked me about this. This is before, by the way, uh just you know, so folks know this is before we even knew that there was gonna be a motion introduced or anything. We were just dealing with what we had at the moment. Uh, you know, people were they were angry that uh that these maps had been revealed all of a sudden, but it it didn't feel like they were like, you know, burning uh, you know, they had pitchforks and and were and were upset, but you know, and so there was a an opening to have a conversation. Um, but that group was not a monolith. Some were very upset and against it, and then some folks were like, you know, let's talk about where we put it. Um, but um, so I guess yes and no, but but I think what we well, we what I what I haven't made very clear through this process, even with the town halls that that that um that I went at is like I believe we need to do this, right? It's just how we do it is is the most important thing. And so I, you know, commit to engaging you on this process. But um, and I think that's what people want. I think that they just want to be heard, they want to be included in the process, um, which you know unfortunately because the maps came out too late, what didn't happen this time.
SPEAKER_00You've you've now been on the council for for for two years. Uh there's a question I want to ask you that my students ask a lot. When I teach and there's an elected official who comes in, the thing I've found that my students are are most interested in is so you know, everybody has their own stylistic difference, but the the question they have for elected officials is what is your theory of change? And has it changed since you've been at City Hall?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, my my theory of change is that you have to empower work like just regular folks to recognize their own strength uh and that strength that they have when they come collectively and fight for a common cause. And and no, my my theory is change hasn't my theory of change has not changed, um, you know, which is you know, which is why we've structured our office the way we have. Uh, you know, if you look at our office, um, in all the different uh decisions that we've made, we've done it so that we include people through part of that process. Uh and so, and so no, I have um remain incredibly stubborn, uh, you know, to try to bring an organizing model into the office. Um uh despite many people have told me, you know, I've tried it, it didn't work, I've tried it, it didn't work. We tried to do it, it didn't work the way we wanted. Um, I do believe that the point in time we are right now in LA history is very different than in the 90s when this was tried. Um, and so I will continue to lead with sort of that organizing model um until until I can.
SPEAKER_00A couple personal questions before we wrap up. Uh in your arc as an organizer working for for Unite here, um uh there there's a moment I've heard you talk about, and I don't know that I've heard you talk about it publicly, where um I I think it was going in and and confronting the the the boss. You as a worker, yeah. Yeah, you you all of a sudden had a had a sense of your own power. Yeah. Can you tell that story?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, thank you. Um so you know, I was um, you know, I had been working in the hotel since I was 16 years old, um, after my dad had his back injury. And I worked that job from 16 to 23. Um out of high school, I went to college, went to UCR Vine, and it was my last year of school, and I was getting ready to graduate. And um, you know, Kent Kornmyer, may he rest in peace, um, and uh Noel Rodriguez came to me. I had a meeting with them. Uh, you know, they said this is the plan that we're gonna do to make sure that you have respect, right? Because I at that point I had expressed so much frustration and anger about my working conditions, and it seemed like, oh, this was just actually could work, you know, like bringing people together, you know, building the committee, you know, things like that. But I didn't believe it until we finally were gonna go public. Uh in other words, we were gonna let the company know that we were organizing, you know, underground or in a clandestine way. And um, you know, 40 of us, you know, marched from the union office, which is up the hill for where I worked, uh, and came in and we went straight to the door of human resources, and it was 40 of us, and in like in a uniform, cohesive unit, you know, we said, we're sick and tired of this abuse. We want to have a union contract, you know, that's gonna you know, alleviate all these issues. And the managers just absolutely flipped her top. I mean, just was incredulous, could not believe that we were doing this. Um, you know, we had been trained to just stay firm and just look at her straight in her eye. And uh, we sent the message, right? And I did this on my day off. And so when I came back to work, I was like, holy shit, I'm gonna get fired. Right? I'm gonna get fired. And the opposite happened. As soon as I walked into the door, every single manager was like, What did we do wrong? How can we change things? Like, how can I help you? What do you need for me? And it was just like a complete 180 of how I had been treated. And so, and I knew it wasn't because of me, it was because of what we had done as a group. And then subsequently, you know, we're in bargaining, we're negotiating our first contract. I mean, the things that we thought were impossible were possible. We won health insurance for every worker, we've got great wages, we lowered people's working conditions, like people could actually take breaks now, you know, not work through their lunch. Um, and and whenever something came up, an issue came up in the workplace, you know, that whatever disrespect, we would immediately just grab like 10 workers and go right into the bosses and say, you know, why can't you give this person a day off? It's her kids' quinceañera, right? Like, what do you can, you know, it's a doctor's appointment. Like, why aren't you paying their overtime? And the issue was immediately resolved. And so understanding that that power came through a collective is just something that has changed my life forever. Um, and it's something that I want to just build out in the district and really in the city of Los Angeles. And how long after that did you actually start working for Unite here? So a few a few months later, uh, you know, it it's I you know, whatever. I guess they saw something in me. Um, I don't know what it was, but you know, I was not a very good organizer at first, but that's a whole nother story. Um I was a good worker uh leader, but terrible organizer. Um, but yeah, just a few months later, uh I started working with them and um through much struggle and a lot of training and uh a lot of people who were my guides, and I spent 16 years there.
SPEAKER_00And at what point during that 16 years did you start to think, you know, maybe I should take the next step and run for office?
SPEAKER_03Well, it wasn't until uh Nithya won. Um, you know, I remember seeing that campaign because, you know, I was tapped into this, you know, multi-generational, multiracial, you know, class uh-led um organizations, uh including DSA. And uh, you know, I saw people just volunteering and I was like, well, I've never seen this before. And I've done a had done a lot of political campaigns with the union, and it just felt different. Um, and when she won, I it was just like a shock. I could not believe it. Um, and nobody could believe it. I mean, I mean, people thought it was a fluke, right? And but I was like, no, no, no, no. Like I have my feet on the ground and people are angry, people are upset, you know, they want change. And it wasn't until her victory that I really was like, I think I'm gonna do this.
SPEAKER_00What'd your parents say when you told them you were gonna run?
SPEAKER_03I mean, they were supportive. Uh, you know, my my mom has a third grade education, my mom, my dad has a fifth grade education. I I think they um were very supportive as parents. Uh, I don't think they understood uh, you know, how big of a role this was. Um and so they were just very loving with me and were like, you know, what you want, Mijo, lo que quieres, you know. Um obviously they have see had seen me go to Arizona, and I've been to Georgia and Florida, so they knew that you know I I I could do stuff, but I don't think they understood that you know I could run it and win. But but yeah, they're incredibly proud now. I mean, they see me on TV and they're like, I saw you on TV, you know. I was like, Thanks. Did they ever come to any events with you? Um, you know, I I try not to include them into that. Uh you you know this as a former council member, uh, you know, you sort of choose where you involve your family and where you could just be yourself. And so I I don't bring them as much because uh when I go to their home, uh I just want to be myself, you know, like just be just completely unfiltered Hugo Soto Martinez. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I had to ban my dad from going on to face Facebook and adding to the the conversations with the trolls.
SPEAKER_03That I would want to see. I would want to see your dad trolling the trolls. Oh man. That's great. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00No. Um you um I've often said you remind me a lot of my late father-in-law, who was a union organizer, uh, who was a a working class guy, but he was also extremely well read. I mean, he he read a couple hundred books a year. That's incredible. Uh you read a lot, or you used to before you were an elected official. Uh any particular book that that you consider sort of your your most uh uh foundational or transformative book? Oh my god.
SPEAKER_03Uh you mean like of all time? Yeah. Oh boy. Um you know, people should read the autobiography of Malcolm X. If you've never read that book, you should absolutely read it. It's in my top five. Um, that's a really good one. Um uh Martin Luther King's uh Strength to Love Um is just just a transformative book for me. Um and then um, you know, anything from Tik Not Han, I think people should read that. Um, you know, I like spiritual leaders, or Dr. King and TikN Han are two of them. Um I think those are great. Um and then um if you want to know about the civil rights history, read um uh you know Party in the Waters, uh, you know by uh I forget the author's name, but by Taylor Branch. Uh Taylor Branch did an okay. I I think the other book people should read is the the trilogy by Taylor Branch, uh, you know, covers the civil rights history. It's I mean those are thick books, uh, but you know, it just gives you a real insight about um, you know, I think the most transformative parts, uh sorry, the decade of of our country, which is the 60s, and how we can use that now. Uh but yeah, those three books I think uh are very key to me.
SPEAKER_00And in office you have much less time for pleasure reading because you've got briefing memos and tons of reports and stuff like that. You're you're about to start uh uh your sort of council recess for the for the holidays. Uh anything you plan on reading over the break?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, there's a couple of books. Uh I I want to finish reading uh 100 Years of Solitude. Uh I started reading it um you know a few weeks ago when I was in a meditation retreat, but I haven't been able to finish it. Um and I have um you know the Bernie Sanders uh book, I think you have to be mad at capitalism or something like that. I can't remember. That's on my shelf as well. Um and I'm also gonna read another book by uh Tik Not Han. Um I try to read him at least once a year. So those are my my books to read for hopefully I can get them done before the end of the year.
SPEAKER_00So um wrapping up, um this is the first episode of 2025 for this podcast. Name of the podcast is What's Next, Los Angeles? Uh, what is next for you on the council in 2025?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think we'll we'll continue to lead and be bolder. Um and now with uh the new addition of the squad, the new incumbent busser, uh, Isabel Jurado, I think uh, you know, we have a new uh a new perspective. I think she's gonna be invaluable uh to the work that we do here. And so I think people can expect that uh we'll continue to build on that multi-racial, multi-generational, you know, class-based uh agenda that uh the majority of people of Los Angeles are literally dying to see happen in the city of LA.
SPEAKER_00Awesome.
SPEAKER_03Ugo, thanks so much for joining me. Uh thanks so much, Mike. Appreciate you.
SPEAKER_00And that just about does it for this episode of What's Next Los Angeles? My thanks to Ugo for joining me, to Marta Ivery for editing, and to Los Angeles Forward for partnering with me and sponsoring this podcast. And of course, thanks to you for listening. Please like, follow, subscribe, and tell your friends. Also, please listen to the latest episode of LA Podcast, also brought to you by LA Forward. Alyssa Walker, Rachel Reyes, Scott Frazier, and I review some of the most important undercovered news stories of 2024, and we go out on a limb and make some predictions for 2025. That's available wherever you listen to podcasts. Until next time, take good care and peace.