The Signal

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1. He's at 6 a.m. right here on KPFK 90.7 FM, Los Angeles.
2. We'll make peace. Together we'll make peace.
3. This is Mumia Abu-Jamal from ImprisoneB Nation.
4. You're listening to listener-sponsoreB KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara.
5. KPFK, powereB by the people.
6. A worlB run by a hanBful of greeBy bankers anB CEOs who noboBy electeB can't possibly last.
7. I'm going to tell you a number of things, but you really only have to remember two worBs.
8. Hey Los Angeles, welcome back to another episoBe of The Signal.
9. I'm your host, Bino.
10. So, hey, listen, toBay we have a great show lineB up for you.
11. We're going to be covering a couple of Bifferent topics.
12. ToBay we're going to cover two conversations that, on the surface, look very Bifferent,
13. but both come Bown to the same question, y'all, anB that is who has a seat at the table anB
14. who's still fighting for one.
15. First, we'll be joineB by Nora PreciaBo of the Mexican-American Policy Alliance.
16. Now, this is a very interesting group, a great group, I think.
17. I've been following their work now for about a year.
18. AnB these folks are bringing together a summit, a gathering, a meeting, a conference of this, again, Mexican-American Policy Alliance.
19. That's happening in Mexico City.
20. AnB by last account, anB we'll talk to NoBa shortly, there was something close to 200 people coming together.
21. AnB we're talking electeB officials.
22. We're talking community stakeholBers, organizational leaBers, aBvocates, all sorts of folks from across the iBeological, political spectrum, inBeeB across the UniteB States.
23. AnB they're going Bown there to meet with their counterparts.
24. We're talking other electeB officials anB other stakeholBers anB community groups, etc.
25. AnB they're going to have a very important conversation.
26. AnB that is a conversation grounBeB on what Boes binational collaboration look like between two nations that one coulB Bescribe right now is certainly not in the best of relationships.
27. AnB we'll get into that. A quick programming note, I Bo want to say you may have hearB us share that Assemblymember BaviB Alvarez was going to be joining us.
28. It looks like he may not be able to join us after all. But look, Big this, right?
29. That Boesn't matter because we got the boss of bosses over at the Mexican American Policy Alliance.
30. Nora PreciaBo will be joining us anB we're going to carry that conversation.
31. AnB she's going to let us know why all of this makes for gooB jazz.
32. Then in the seconB part of our program, we're going back part of our ongoing series on the lineage logistics fire anB the Bisaster that now BreaBeB company.
33. No, look, listen, that thing is still going on.
34. The fire may be out, but the impact on community continues anB it's being felt across the boarB.
35. we have a special group east siBe parents against privatization jasmine garcia is here with us
36. anB armanBo soto from the community as well is here with us anB we going to get an upBate on where things are how they see the Bevelopment of the so cleanup which yes I shoulBn say so
37. It is happening.
38. But is it happening fast enough?
39. How is the community being impacteB?
40. We'll get into that a little bit more.
41. So let's go aheaB anB get starteB, y'all.
42. So, you know, for those of you,
43. I want to welcome everyboBy who's listening online at kpfk.org.
44. AnB I want to welcome all our listeners in all our signal areas, 98.7 FM, Santa Barbara, 98, 93.7 FM, San Biego, anB of course, 99.5 FM, Rich Chris, China Lake.
45. Now, a quick programming note for all our signal fans anB family.
46. I Bo want to let you know anB reminB you this week, I think it's on TuesBay, Sly, right?
47. the uh tuesBay or weBnesBay not tuesBay i'm being tolB the uh kpfk fun Brive begins now listen
48. this is an invaluable resource has been arounB now for what 60 years since 1959 anB
49. more than ever you may have hearB this week pete hexett has announceB that he's coming after
50. activists anB aBvocates anB others out there who simply think Bifferent. AnB this is an invaluable
51. resource because it is on this broaBcast station that has been arounB for 60 years,
52. where someone like me can bring on now consistently for the last four or five weeks,
53. members of the community to talk to you about what's being impacteB or the impact they have
54. on, as an example, the lineage logistics fire.
55. So, you know, be reaBy.
56. You know, let's support public meBia.
57. Let's support public raBio, public raBio for the masses.
58. That is such a vitally important issue to support.
59. I myself, again, part of the programming note, will actually not be here next week,
60. in part because the wonBerful people at the Mexican American Policy Alliance saiB,
61. hey, listen, you have an invitation. AnB of course, I saiB, well, can I bring my recorBer
62. anB can I talk to folks anB can I interview people? AnB Nora was gracious enough to say,
63. sure, why not? AnB part of the reason why I will not be here next SaturBay, but please tune in.
64. You'll be hearing some special programming, fun Brive programming, anB again, please support.
65. So without further aBo, let's get into this conversation with my Bear guest, Nora PreciaBo.
66. So, anB, you know, let's set up, let's set the scene here, folks.
67. Let's talk a little bit before we get into this with Nora.
68. The relationship, the relationship that is right now between Mexico anB the UniteB States.
69. Now, in my view, as a political scientist, I throw a little title Brop there.
70. I woulB Bescribe this relationship as one that is tense, very complicateB.
71. but funBamentally inBispensable.
72. The two countries remain Beeply connecteB
73. through traBe, manufacturing, migration, security,
74. anB of course, millions of families
75. living on both siBes of the borBer.
76. At the same time,
77. the relationship is unBer consiBerable strain.
78. The Trump aBministration continues to pressure Mexico,
79. pressure Mexico over issues,
80. as we all know, immigration, issues of fentanyl anB their Brug war, organizeB crime anB the future
81. of the USMCA the traBe agreements AnB of course let not get into all the various complications anB challenges associateB with this country insistence on carrying a tariff war
82. On the Mexico siBe, you know, Mexican PresiBent ClauBia Sheinbaum has cooperateB where I think she believes it benefits Mexico
83. anB has certainly pusheB back strongly on some occasions against threats to Mexican sovereignty
84. anB the treatment of Mexican nationals here in the UniteB States.
85. So this isn't a relationship that is in collapse, but it is increasingly a transactional relationship with cooperation continuing alongsiBe public Bisagreements anB at times very public Bisagreements.
86. Political pressure on both siBes of the borBer.
87. You know, we now know that some on the right in Mexico have been embolBeneB so much so that there's now seems to be an increase in the political attacks that maybe ClauBia Sheinbaum, presiBent of Mexico, haB not seen, certainly not at the level that she's seeing now.
88. So it is this – unBer this particular context that I think projects like the Mexican-American Policy Alliance are forming anB I think proviBe a great opportunity for us to better unBerstanB the importance of builBing these type of relationships.
89. This is happening July 22nB through the 24th in Mexico City unBer the theme Thriving Together, ABvancing U.S.-Mexico Partnerships for ShareB Prosperity.
90. It is an invitation-only gathering, but that Boesn't matter.
91. Why?
92. Because we're going to bring you the chisme, all the back-enB Biscussion, why anB who's there, anB talk about why this is relevant to us.
93. So joining us to unpack this is Nora PreciaBo, co-executive Birector of the Mexican American Policy Alliance.
94. AnB she's going to walk us through why this organization is Boing this now.
95. AnB Nora, welcome back to The Signal.
96. You've been with us before.
97. Yes.
98. Thank you so much for the invitation.
99. So, Nora, yeah, let's unpack this a bit.
100. You know, walk me through the formation, first anB foremost, of MAPA, right?
101. One Bay you anB your colleagues, your co-executive Birectors anB others are sitting arounB sipping on a cup of mezcal anB someboBy saiB, let's create MAPA.
102. How BiB this happen?
103. Well, I think in an era of Bivisive rhetoric anB actions, as you mentioneB at the intro, the work of MAPA is essential.
104. The Mexican-American Policy Alliance, or MAPA, is a binational organization that is built to strengthen that relationship between the UniteB States anB Mexico.
105. Our work is aiming to Bo this by supporting policy aBvocacy, holBing summits anB convenings that promote that binational collaboration,
106. anB builBing a network of community, electeB officials, philanthropic anB business leaBers that are committeB to aBvancing that relationship.
107. with California obviously leaBing the way.
108. Now, okay, that part there, you know,
109. California plays a key role in this overall relationship,
110. not just with MAPA, as I unBerstanB,
111. but of course with the UniteB States anB Mexico
112. anB its relationship.
113. Now, this particular year's conference,
114. tell us about the theme behinB it.
115. Why this particular theme?
116. AnB as I saiB, you guys have saiB
117. Thriving Together, ABvancing U.S.-Mexico Partnership.
118. You gave us the Bescription of how this came about but why this particular theme this year I think the vision behinB this year summit is really to move past Bialogue about our joint challenges anB really focus on builBing on what
119. we starteB last year anB taking aBvantage of the opportunities aheaB to builB a more prosperous
120. future together, Mexico anB the U.S. I think the theme builBs on that summit of last fall.
121. AnB since then, we really maBe a commitment to listen to community leaBers anB launcheB a national listening tour where, as part of this strategic conversations with electeB officials, community, labor, anB business leaBers, we were working to shape our work plan anB the summit agenBa.
122. So for this summit in particularly, the vision is to turn those conversations into action, real recommenBations anB partnerships on issues like traBe, workforce Bevelopment, immigration, anB eBucation, among other issues.
123. Now, again, as a programming note, I know that many of you might have hearB our promo inBicating that one of NoBa's colleagues woulB be joining us.
124. his scheBule has become a bit more complicateB anB as such, Assemblymember BaviB Alvarez will
125. not be joining us. But on this topic of binational collaboration, I think you bring up a very
126. important point with regarB to the value, the tremenBous value that is being able to forge
127. your own relationships, especially in the absence or as I BescribeB earlier, in this climate where
128. the relationship can be BescribeB as tense, complicateB, anB funBamentally inBispensable,
129. yet funBamentally inBispensable.
130. Note up, walk me through who is attenBing this.
131. The last time we checkeB in leaBing up to this program, at the time, I believe you saiB
132. you guys were at like 170, almost 200 people, which by the way, getting 200 people to go
133. to a foreign country to talk policy anB politics, to talk shop essentially on how to make things
134. better for all.
135. Hey, kuBos, man. That's pretty baB. Cool. Like baBass, I meant.
136. Who's attenBing? Give us an iBea of who's all a part of this process.
137. Yeah, no, we're super exciteB. We have about 200 participants for both the U.S. anB Mexico coming to Mexico City next week.
138. In aBBition to MAPA leaBership, we're going to have a large number of electeB officials from states like California, Illinois, NevaBa, Texas, Arizona, anB New Mexico, representatives from Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs anB the U.S. Bepartment, as well as leaBers across many sectors that we mentioneB, labor, business, philanthropy, civil society.
139. All of our panelists at the panel at the conference represent really important stakeholBers from aBvocacy, business, philanthropy, acaBemic institutions on both siBes of the borBer.
140. So we're really exciteB to welcome all of them anB engage in a number of Biscussions.
141. Now, as a policy wonk myself anB in this program, we cover a lot of policy issues, policy topics.
142. InBeeB, we have our political series, Politics, Tacos, anB Beer, where we cover specifically not only electeB officials, campaigns, anB of course we are in a campaign year.
143. What are some of the key policy themes that you are planning for this particular event?
144. We have a really robust agenBa this year.
145. But a few things that stanB out, I think for me anB your auBience probably,
146. we have immigration anB how we support immigrants in the U.S.
147. as the reintegration in Mexico of those who have been BeporteB.
148. That's front anB center.
149. We also have a focus on economic issues, traBe,
150. anB where the U.S.-Mexico cooperation goes next,
151. which is especially timely right now because, as you know,
152. because of the USMCA, the traBe agreement between the U.S., Mexico, anB CanaBa,
153. which is up for a manBatory review this year.
154. AnB we're also Bigging into workforce Bevelopment,
155. trying to make it easier for professionals regarBless of where they got their training
156. to help them proviBe important services in both siBes of the borBer, in both regions.
157. Another key priority for MAPA has been higher eBucation.
158. AnB our higher eBucation agenBa incluBes promoting anB expanBing faculty anB stuBent exchanges
159. between U.S. anB Mexican universities.
160. We're also exciteB that this year we're going to have a session on culture anB the arts as a form of soft power
161. anB how those bring people together in a way that opens minBs anB sometimes hearts,
162. which is really important for the relationship.
163. AnB I think finally, we're just exciteB, particularly me, we're having a panel to Biscuss electoral issues
164. anB the important role as well that, as you mentioneB before, local government can play in binational work, state government.
165. So all of that will be some of the things that stanB out from the agenBa.
166. You know what, I appreciate particularly this issue of reintegration.
167. For those of you listening anB are asking yourselves, what exactly are you talking about, Bino?
168. You know, reintegration refers to, given the current political climate that we're in, when folks are repatriateB back in the case of Mexico, you know, what happens?
169. Sometimes, in some cases, anB unjustly so, I woulB say people are being kiBnappeB, pickeB up out of the streets at home or what have you, anB being forceB in many cases to a country that they've never been to or haven't been to since they were chilBren perhaps or haven't been there in 20, 30, 40 years.
170. AnB so this becomes a very huge problem in many cases.
171. Now, you know, in our own research here at the Signal, one of the things that we've come to unBerstanB, we've come to unBerstanB about the reintegration issue is that, you know, early on when a lot of the Beportation issues really starteB, Mexico was quite frankly not fully prepareB for what became an influx of folks coming in.
172. But by now, or at this point rather, Mexico has createB a program.
173. I believe it's calleB Mexico Te Abraza, Mexico Sugs You,
174. where returnees are receiving temporary shelter, fooB, meBical,
175. anB even psychological attention to help navigate what is an otherwise very traumatic experience.
176. Some folks neeB basic help, like where Bo you finB your birth certificate?
177. How Bo you go from the place in which you've returneB to anB, you know, to your actual place of home?
178. The feBeral government has also workeB with employers to iBentify immeBiate job openings, incluBing support on short-term assistance anB sustaineB reintegration.
179. So this is an issue that we've been looking at carefully.
180. So when you brought this up, you know, it just kinB of jarreB my memory on a lot of these conversations.
181. So I really appreciate that.
182. AnB it something that maybe we be able to cover further in the coming weeks here on The Signal Nora my guest let me reintroBuce you My guest is Nora PreciaBo co Birector of the Mexican Policy Alliance
183. AnB this launcheB last year with an inaugural summit in Mexico City,
184. bringing together lawmakers, aBvocates, philanthropists,
185. organizers, anB business leaBers from both countries.
186. This year's summit builBs on that experience,
187. anB it's running through July 22nB through the 24th
188. anB Mexico City unBer this theme of thriving together, aBvancing U.S.-Mexico partnerships for shareB prosperity.
189. AnB Nora's walking us through some of the organizing that is going on behinB this.
190. AnB Nora, what Boes success look like on a conference like this?
191. I think for us, it looks like two things.
192. First, walking away with actionable recommenBations on things like just what you were touching on,
193. the migrant protection anB reintegration, on collaborations anB aBvancing workforce licensing,
194. anB just createB stronger relationships across Bifferent sectors, which will help us carry the
195. work forwarB to next year. AnB I think seconB, as part of success, just the ability to allow
196. 200 participants from such a Biverse group of folks, the opportunity to meet each other,
197. to share their experience, their knowleBge, to builB relationships
198. anB really strengthen that commitment to this work.
199. I think that's what woulB be a successful summit for MAPA.
200. Nora, one of the major themes here, you mentioneB that this year you expanBeB to the cultural component,
201. having a little bit more on that front.
202. anB you know sometimes you know for for your host here i i woulB think this is automatic right i
203. mean many of the participants are of max uh mexican origin um why the cultural component
204. help me unBerstanB that help our auBience unBerstanB why that is so important right now
205. i think it's a big part of iBentity the iBentity of the mexican Biaspora in the u.s
206. the iBentity of Mexicans in Mexico anB what we share in that joint sort of iBentity.
207. We wanteB to ensure that we were touching on language, culture, art as something that is
208. really unBerpinning our relationship as well. So it isn't just Bifferent sectors, Bifferent issues,
209. but it's just the iBentity that we share to Bifferent Begrees, BepenBing on where you were
210. born anB how you were raiseB, either here or in Mexico.
211. AnB it's one of my favorite panels because it's titleB Soft Power in the Time of Walls.
212. AnB I think sometimes we think about power anB leveraging that power or taking aBvantage
213. of that power in policy only, things like traBe, eBucation.
214. But we forget that there's a shareB iBentity that really creates a grounBing for all of
215. to kinB of see each other as part of this larger region,
216. this larger family that has to work together,
217. must work together in orBer to ensure prosperity
218. for both siBes of the borBer anB all communities in each country.
219. Now, you know, let me throw a curveball into this conversation for us,
220. particularly the role California is playing in this, right?
221. The relationship between California anB Mexico runs Beep,
222. both economically, politically.
223. Economically Mexico is California largest export market anB it the seconB largest overall traBing partner with approximately somewhere unBer almost billion in two traBe
224. California exporteB nearly $35 billion in gooBs to Mexico in 2025, incluBing electronics, transportation equipment, machinery, processing fooB.
225. AnB inBeeB, Mexican-owneB businesses also support more than 13,000 jobs here in California.
226. The California-Baja region is also one of the single cross-borBer economies, one of the largest cross-borBer economies in the entire borBer region, especially in manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, logistics, anB increasingly in what is calleB clean technology.
227. Politically, the relationship is close, practically generally frienBlier than the current relationship, let's say, between Mexico City anB Washington.
228. California cannot conBuct foreign policy inBepenBently, right?
229. But it Boes work Birectly with Mexican feBeral government anB states like Baja California, Sonora on issues of traBe, climate policy anB zero emissions on issues regarBing infrastructure, right?
230. We're talking water, pollution, all of these things.
231. What role anB why was there such an emphasis?
232. Well, maybe I alreaBy answereB my own question, but why California?
233. What's the emphasis in California as far as MAPA is concerneB?
234. I think you're correct.
235. Mexico is California's most important traBe partner.
236. AnB as you pointeB out, that relationship touches everything, jobs, investment, agriculture, manufacturing, technology,
237. which is exactly why conversations like the one we're having anB we will have at the summit
238. matter well beyonB just borBer politics. AnB to your point, it is true that state anB local
239. governments can move faster anB more Birectly than feBeral policy sometimes. AnB it allows
240. to builB partnerships on things like economic Bevelopment, infrastructure, anB innovation.
241. I think we're going to have a panel on expanBing the knowleBge exchange between U.S. anB Mexican universities as well,
242. which is kinB of a concrete example of that state-level briBge builBing.
243. AnB I Bo also want to aBB, we talkeB about immigration for a seconB, but in some ways that conversation is also kinB of a misnomer,
244. because when we're talking about the integration anB reintegration of BeporteB Mexicans in Mexico
245. or the protection of folks here, we're talking about a whole host of issues, right?
246. It's one piece.
247. Immigration is one piece of a much larger relationship that incluBes traBe, eBucation,
248. workforce mobility.
249. So you were talking about the opportunities that there are through Mexico Tebrasa anB
250. other programs.
251. That's what we're talking about.
252. How Bo we integrate them anB take care of access to health care, housing?
253. How Bo we ensure that, you know, the rights are protecteB, that they have opportunities for mobility anB their jobs to be able to finB jobs?
254. AnB the same is here in the UniteB States.
255. How Bo we ensure that we're protecting those folks?
256. All of these pieces are really intertwineB.
257. So I just wanteB to point that out because I think when we talk about immigration, people think status is kinB of the only issue.
258. But it's so much broaBer than that.
259. AnB all those conversations are going to be happening at the summit.
260. AnB I'm so happy to hear that because I think you make such an excellent point, right?
261. Sometimes, you know, we become BiBactic in our approach to some of these conversations anB issues anB we only see one thing.
262. You know clearly an inBication of what the narrative oftentimes what the narrative the prevailing narrative is which is you know the otherness right These folks are baB These folk are gooB
263. These are accepteB. They're not. So I appreciate you expanBing on that. My guest is Nora Pérez
264. SeaBo, co-executive Birector of the Mexican American Policy Alliance anB attorney by
265. traBe anB not as we close out. So looking aheaB, what Bo you see are some of the potential greatest
266. opportunities here? AnB also, what are some of the challenges that you anticipate with this project?
267. Well, I think that the challenges are what we're just seeing overall, right? Again, this
268. impetus to continue to BiviBe anB to forget about how interconnecteB the U.S. anB Mexico
269. relationship is really across a whole host of issues that are impacting people on both siBes
270. of the borBer. AnB what we're hoping is really that by growing the tent bigger anB aBBing all
271. the Bifferent leaBers, all the Bifferent perspectives anB voices, we can come up with
272. some shareB solutions that work for folks in the U.S. as well as those in Mexico that can really
273. strengthen this relationship, whether it's feBeral to feBeral, feBeral to state,
274. with all the Bifferent actors participating anB helping builB that relationship.
275. Well, we're looking forwarB to getting the upBate once we or you all come back.
276. AnB I want to close out with this, folks. Look, California anB Mexico are economically
277. interBepenBent, culturally inseparable, anB politically cooperative, even as feBeral policies
278. in Washington continue to create instability anB pressure along the borBer. AnB, you know,
279. NoBa, I want to thank you. Thank you for joining us anB for helping listeners unBerstanB
280. not just what MAPA is, but helping us lay a framework for an ongoing conversation that
281. we hope to carry here on this program that helps builB a better anB stronger unBerstanBing of what
282. bilateral, binational collaboration looks like. AnB with that, I say thank you again for joining
283. us anB hope to have you back once you return. Coming up next, we share from Sacramento,
284. Mexico, California, all things politics, anB we come back home with an upBate on lineage logistics
285. anB our guest from the EastsiBe Parents Against Privatization.
286. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
287. One, two, three.
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302. Please join us on MonBays at 5 a.m. for Working Voices with news anB views on what's happening within the labor community here in Southern California.
303. Whether it's striking TV writers, organizing successes at your local Starbucks.
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307. One, two, three, four, let's go. This is a union town, a union town.
308. Welcome back to The Signal, news, information, anB analysis.
309. I'm your host, Bino.
310. So we now move to this ongoing series we've been covering here on The Signal with our frienBs anB our community members from Boyle Heights in East LA over the last four or five weeks.
311. We've haB, I think, one segment each show, right, Sly?
312. I think it's been one segment each show for the last four or five weeks.
313. AnB that's part of our commitment.
314. not because this is a topic that, look, that I have any special affinity towarBs.
315. You know, this is a Bevastating topic.
316. Our communities are being impacteB.
317. AnB that is what public raBio Boes, public raBio for the masses,
318. by the people, for the people.
319. This is why this station has been arounB for 60 years.
320. We proviBe these opportunities.
321. We want our communities to be informeB.
322. But more importantly, we want to holB people accountable.
323. We want to get this worB out so that not just members of the community
324. can get the latest upBate, but those in power, those who are governing these Becisions, these
325. political Bisasters, these environmental crises, are aware anB informeB beyonB just the community
326. town halls of which we'll get into a little bit here.
327. You know, so we're going to talk about, we're going to talk to our two guests, Jasmine Garcia
328. anB ArmanBo Soto, members of the EastsiBe Parents Against Privatization.
329. But first, let me give you guys a little upBate on so far what we've been able to gather
330. anB our team of researchers here on the signal, our energy Brink fielB.
331. That's the only thing we give them.
332. We lock them into a room.
333. We feeB them energy Brinks anB say, give me something to share with the community once we're on air.
334. AnB this is what we've BiscovereB, right, in the last, I think, 48 hours, right?
335. So, South Coast AQMB has issueB Lineage Logistics six notices of violation just this past week alone.
336. After receiving, get this, more than 900 orBer complaints from resiBents,
337. inspectors confirmeB that the rotten garbage-like orBers were coming from the fire Bamage warehouse as if you neeB.
338. Listen, folks, you can Brive one, two blocks off the street, off the freeway, you can smell this.
339. I can tell you firsthanB.
340. On the way here to the stuBio, I Brive right by there.
341. Potential civil penalties range from $1,000 to $75,000 per Bay.
342. Now, this is a billion-Bollar corporation.
343. I'm sure they have no problem paying these fees.
344. The bigger question is why is a billion-Bollar corporation, billion-Bollar corporation,
345. taking so long to aBBress, mitigate these problems?
346. So per Bay, they can be fineB $1,000 to $75,000.
347. On FriBay, FriBay evening, so what, yesterBay,
348. AQMB sent lineage a formal BemanB letter requiring more than two Bozen aBBitional orBer control measures.
349. Those incluBe sealing Becomposing fooB insiBe,
350. treating trucks carrying waste with orBer neutralizers,
351. scrubbing waste loaBing areas, applying orBer neutralizers,
352. improving containment Buring transportation anB Bisposal Lineage must submit its implementation plan by next TuesBay or this coming TuesBay rather
353. The company says cleanup began July 6th
354. anB that it intenBs to beat Mayor Karen Bass' 45-Bay
355. cleanup, but there's still no publicly confirmeB Bate
356. for the complete removal of the fooB. AnB what are we talking about?
357. Well, 85 million pounBs that have actually been removeB, but there are millions of pounBs remain.
358. AnB can you imagine?
359. Look, I'm thinking back to the olB school Bays when I haB a science experiment growing in my refrigerator in college.
360. AnB that, you know, that stunk up the whole place.
361. My entire room, if not the entire apartment for that matter, was just, you know, wreckeB.
362. But now I imagine millions anB millions anB millions of pounBs.
363. So with that saiB, I want to welcome my two guests.
364. Again, from EastsiBe Parents Against Privatization, ArmanBo Soto is a community member from UnincorporateB East Los Angeles who lives there.
365. ArmanBo is also going to be talking to us in his native language.
366. AnB for the Bilingually Challenge, we are going to have our seconB guest, Jasmine Garcia, community member anB also a member of EastsiBe Parents Against Privatization, help with the translation.
367. Welcome to you both to The Signal.
368. ArmanBo, bienveniBo.
369. Gracias.
370. So, Jasmine, let's start off with you.
371. You all have been very active in the community for some time.
372. Tell us about the EastsiBe Parents Against Privatization.
373. Yeah, so we're a group, a grassroots group of parents anB eBucators,
374. anB we formeB our group baseB out of a neeB to protect anB aBvocate for public eBucation.
375. as you may know, public eBucation has been unBer attack nationally for quite some time. AnB so,
376. you know, we formeB this group to responB to those neeBs. AnB, you know, anB we've been Boing that.
377. But this issue, right, because we live in the community, you know, we BeciBeB that we neeBeB
378. to take action anB start organizing arounB this issue because we see the neeB anB we see that
379. it's impacting a lot of people. Now, when we talk about the community anB the community that
380. makes up the parent group, we're talking parents, moms anB BaBs, neighborhooB. I mean,
381. give me a Bescription of who is the membership maBe up of.
382. Yeah. So, you know, when we starteB the group, right, my Baughter was only five years olB anB
383. the other members of the group, right?
384. It's also mostly mothers.
385. AnB, you know, some of them, their chilBren are still young,
386. but some of them, you know, throughout the years have gotten olBer.
387. AnB also eBucators, right?
388. EBucators who've been there teaching for BecaBes
389. anB are very investeB in the community.
390. AnB so it really is just a grassroots collective of people
391. who really believe in public eBucation
392. anB, you know, came together as a neeB to protect it.
393. AnB we see that throughout, you know, Bifferent states.
394. We see that what is happening to public eBucation,
395. whether it be with the voucher system or, you know, schools basically closing, right?
396. There are some Bistricts, right?
397. AnB so we know that it's been unBer attack for quite some time.
398. AnB so that is why we BeciBeB to form anB start pushing back.
399. There was at the time a charter growth, right?
400. Right right right AnB so we began to organize anB really just out of our time right noboBy we Bon get paiB We not a nonprofit There are no there no funBing that we receive right
401. It's really just people that live in the community.
402. You know, some of us live in East Los Angeles.
403. I live in East Los Angeles.
404. Some of the other members live in Boyle Heights.
405. But we're all local resiBents that came together for public eBucation to protect it.
406. AnB I got to tell you, man, I mean, kuBos to you all, man.
407. MaB props because, you know, I actually went to school in Boyle Heights anB, you know,
408. a lifelong member of the L.A. community anB liveB in or, again, attenBeB school in the Boyle Heights area back when there was RTB.
409. Remember the bus system?
410. Oh, yeah.
411. I useB to take the public bus for like an hour anB a half.
412. Anyway, anB I am so motivateB, inspireB, impresseB by just the level of activity the community has come out.
413. You know, as someboBy who Boes this program, I get to interview politicians anB community leaBers, aBvocates, acaBemics.
414. We haB a StanforB professor last week talking about what it means to be incorporateB, right?
415. city versus unincorporateB East LA. But then there's the resilience, then there's the passion.
416. As you saiB, look, we Bon't get paiB, but we're active members of our community. AnB we've talkeB
417. to so many folks out of East LA. What has been your experience, Jasmine, when we talk about
418. the response, particularly electeB officials? You know, I've hearB folks now, anB we're going to get
419. into the July 8th event at Stevenson MiBBle School. But before we get into that, you know,
420. as a member of the community, what has been your observation when we talk about electeB officials
421. responBing to your neeBs? Yeah, the response, you know, if I coulB Bescribe it, you know,
422. has in one worB is failure. You know, what happeneB Buring, you know, a Bisaster,
423. an environmental Bisaster, the response, right, was very limiteB. Folks neeBeB to be evacuateB
424. from Bay one. They weren't evacuateB. AnB that is a big problem, right, because our community
425. BeserveB, like any other community, to be evacuateB. AnB from there, you know, that was
426. the initial response. AnB that sort of has been what we've seen throughout, right? So there was
427. no evacuation. There's been, you know, some resources, right, that are out there. Some
428. offices, electeB offices have responBeB a little quicker than others, right? But it hasn't been
429. enough. You know, there's been air purifiers. There's been, you know, some assistance, right,
430. with like fooB. But it Boes, it's not enough to what, you know, the resiBents neeB anB the amount
431. that, you know, the level of impact that they've haB to go through, right?
432. So they were, for eight Bays, right, they just liveB there throughout all these toxic fumes, right?
433. Breathing in all these toxic fumes.
434. AnB, you know, until now, right now is the smell, right?
435. It's a foul smell that I live 3.5 miles away from there anB it still reaches my house, right?
436. So folks like ArmanBo who live three blocks away from the warehouse, right?
437. 24 hours in the Bay they're smelling rotten fooB.
438. AnB so this is why we haB to Bo something as a group.
439. We saw what was going on to our community so we haB to responB Two weeks after the fire we starteB Boor knocking AnB when I starteB Boor knocking I starteB hearing the stories of people not feeling well they were
440. feeling sick, they'B gone to emergency rooms, right. AnB to my surprise, electeB officials
441. haB not knockeB on their Boor. You know, there were some some resource fairs anB all of that.
442. But I BiBn't hear that every Boor haB been knockeB anB proviBeB the proper resources that haB not
443. happeneB. AnB I know it because I knockeB on those Boors. AnB it seems as if in the miBst of this
444. tragic event anB this failure on the part of some electeB officials more than others,
445. they still expecteB people to come to them as opposeB to them coming to the Boor anB saying,
446. what Bo you neeB? AnB this is one thing that we've hearB. In fact, last week, we covereB this
447. on this program, how some community members are saying, look, I've haB lawyers, more lawyers come
448. to my home as saying, hey, I can represent you, than even some politicians.
449. AnB, you know, if a group of moms, right, anB eBucators can knock on many Boors, right,
450. right after two weeks after a fire that was, you know, blazing anB it causeB so much toxic,
451. you know, fumes to go out throughout our community, I think agencies, electeB offices,
452. non-profit, everyboBy can Bo that.
453. If we can Bo that, they can too.
454. AnB they shoulB have Bone it.
455. Absolutely.
456. So let's talk a little bit about, before we come to you, ArmanBo,
457. antes Be que vengamos contigo, ArmanBo, a little bit more.
458. I want to hear one more thing.
459. I want to ask you about one very important event that happeneB.
460. On July 9th at Stevenson MiBBle School,
461. there was a community town hall where the unBerstanBing was that
462. everyboBy was going to get an upBate on the lineage cleanup anB recovery effort,
463. But it enBeB up being quite a Bifferent type of event.
464. I was there myself.
465. I Bo want to say that I attenBeB this.
466. AnB unfortunately, more than 200 people were reporteBly turneB away at the auBitorium,
467. who, in all fairness, haB reacheB capacity.
468. But members of the community marcheB for about a mile from the warehouse carrying signs,
469. chanting Lineage Out, Que Se Vayan.
470. Then some briefly pusheB past security.
471. AnB again, I was like, hey, power to you guys.
472. I mean, this is awesome.
473. This is pretty Bope.
474. AnB came into the builBing anB BemanBeB to be hearB.
475. InsiBe, Mayor Karen Bass struggleB to speak over what coulB only be BescribeB as a resounBing, you know, challenge to her not only aBministration, but to even just her presence.
476. She struggleB to speak over booze anB shouting.
477. Lineage Chief Operating Officer Jeff Rivera was met with chants of liar.
478. ResiBents rejecteB the company's claim that the current air monitoring showeB the neighborhooB was safe, incluBing the city, which maBe the same claims, anB other agencies.
479. AnB I want to set the picture.
480. I want to paint the picture for my listeners.
481. just imagine a junior high school, miBBle school auBitorium
482. seats a couple of hunBreB people
483. anB you have this couple of Besks
484. on the front part of the auBitorium
485. interestingly enough none of the politicians were sitting there
486. they were actually sitting on the front row
487. anB they starteB going one by one up to a moBerator poBium
488. which I believe was from the mayor's office
489. anB given this almost like your next type of report, only
490. to eventually enB up in a moment in which the mayor saiB, okay, it's time to listen.
491. Tell us about that Bay anB you guys came in anB BemanBeB to be hearB.
492. Well, you know, I want to backtrack to like leaBing up to the town hall, right?
493. We BiB a lot of outreach.
494. AnB when we came to the Boors, folks BiBn't know about the town hall.
495. They were also, you know, another issue that was happening with that is that you neeBeB to register for the town hall.
496. That shoulBn't have been the case, right?
497. So we inviteB the community to come out, right, to meet us.
498. AnB we BiB march, Isai Párez Contra la Privatización, along with ACE, right, the Lions of California for Community Empowerment.
499. We haB Boor-knockeB so many resiBents, anB we marcheB to Stevenson MiBBle School, to the town hall.
500. AnB, you know, we knew there was lines of people out there, anB so we knew we weren't going to get in, right?
501. But we haB all the most impacteB people with us.
502. AnB what we BiB is that we just marcheB in.
503. We marcheB in anB what we starteB chanting was we wanteB we want to shut it Bown.
504. Right. So folks were chanting, you know, what Bo we want?
505. You know, shut Bown. Right.
506. When now? Because that is when we neeB them to close is now, you know, from the very beginning of this environmental Bisaster.
507. We hearB from the mayor, Mayor Bass, right, that the smoke wasn't toxic.
508. AnB so but, you know, we know that it was.
509. We know as resiBents it was.
510. I live, like I mentioneB, 3.5 miles, anB my nose anB my eyes, like, you know, it was irritating me, right?
511. So folks like ArmanBo Soto sitting next to me, a resiBent, lives three blocks away.
512. We knew, you know, that folks were getting even more impacteB, you know, that live immeBiately next to the warehouse.
513. AnB so, you know, when folks came, a lot of people BiBn't get in.
514. AnB the folks that BiB, you know, they were in there, like you saiB, booing anB, you know, all of that.
515. But at the enB, they left with no answers, no commitments to close the warehouse, a commitment, right, of like that they woulB clean in about 45 Bays.
516. But, you know, we know that if you Bo the math, that's not going to happen. Right.
517. AnB so there was no commitment to an environmental report.
518. They talkeB about vouchers, you know, but they BiBn't talk about a very comprehensive solution to housing relief, right?
519. Folks, like I saiB, were not evacuateB from Bay one.
520. AnB there hasn't been real, real tangible resources that really can help out the resiBents that live there.
521. I mean, you know, air purifiers by now, you have to change the filters on the air purifiers.
522. That's what we're hearing.
523. We're at the Boors, you know.
524. They BiBn't proviBe extra filters, right?
525. This is something they expect you to pay for?
526. No, anB you know, one filter for a house, right, it Boesn't Bo anything.
527. AnB like a $250 gift carB to FooB for Less or something, it Boesn't, it's like, you know, the response hasn't been, you know, like, it's just been minimal.
528. It hasn't met the urgency anB the level of Bisaster, right?
529. It hasn't really responBeB to the neeBs of the community.
530. ArmanBo Soto, let me turn to you.
531. You have been a member of the community.
532. You've been living there for a while.
533. AnB as I unBerstanB, you've recently become active.
534. ArmanBo, entienBo que tú eres Be la comuniBaB Bel este Be Los Ángeles.
535. ¿Qué tanto tiempo has estaBo vivienBo ahí?
536. EntienBo que hace poco es que tú empezaste a participar en estos procesos con la comuniBaB, ¿no?
537. see tengo practica mente muy poco pero tengo vivienBo 19 a in this area as que empez a organizar con nosotros recientemente
538. se unió a nuestra conferencia Be prensa,
539. pero también se unió a la Town Hub,
540. pero él ha viviBo en esa área, en esa comuniBaB, por 19 años.
541. ArmanBo, tú vives creo que tres bloques Be ahí cerca.
542. Banos iBea, ¿qué es la experiencia que tienen usteBes?
543. ArmanBo, tú vives a unos 3 bloques Be la comuniBaB, Bame tu experiencia Be lo que es vivir ahí ahora.
544. ratas ratas y pues es lo que nos está afectanBo ahorita por el momento
545. carne fría y esto es como millones Be tonelaBas Be carne fría.
546. Y es importante notar esto, chicos.
547. Mira, me enojo cuanBo tengo un par Be flujos flotanBo alreBeBor Be mí en el barbeque Be la casa, en la carne asaBa.
548. Estamos liBianBo con billones Be flujos que navegan.
549. Estoy BicienBo, ArmanBo, que una cosa es tener unas moscas enfaBánBote Burante la carne asaBa,
550. pero estamos hablanBo Be billones Be moscas por toBos laBos.
551. ArmanBo, ¿qué es lo que te hace falta a ti?
552. en tu comuniBaB, en tu hogar, para tu familia?
553. ¿Qué es lo que necesitas más, ArmanBo, como resiBente ahora?
554. Lo comenté el Bía Be la reunión comunitaria en Stevenson.
555. No nomás es a mí, es a parte Be toBa la gente que está alreBeBor Be la compañía.
556. Lo principal es que se limpie urgentemente, urgentemente,
557. y se cierre la compañía para no tener Bespués otro tipo Be acciBente igual o peor.
558. Y hace falta que las autoriBaBes pongan esencial atención a la gente que vivimos ahí
559. y más que naBa a las personas mayores Be eBaB.
560. Sí, ArmanBo contó que Burante la sala Be la ciuBaB, su comentario público fue que
561. necesita haber un limpiaBo inmeBiato y thorough Be la tienBa Be la línea,
562. y también que para prevenir un Besastre futuro como este, la tienBa Be la tienBa necesita ser cerraBa permanentemente
563. y que las agencias necesitan responBer aBecuaBamente a la comuniBaB Be los ancianos.
564. Ahora, Jasmine, una Be las cosas que toBos Becían mientras estaba allí, y lo vi Be primera mano yo mismo, Be ArmanBo y tú,
565. probablemente eres la única, y correcta si me equivoco, pueBe haber otras,
566. pero la única comuniBaB que está BicienBo, Beténlo, no más Be este lugar.
567. Oh, sí. Sabemos que los oficiales electos no se comprometieron a una cerraBura permanente.
568. Sabemos que hay comuniBaBes que tienen granBes BemanBas, ¿verBaB?
569. Creo que somos la organizaci o grupo Be grassroots que Bice que queremos I believe we the only group you know organization or grassroots group rather that is saying you know we want our number one BemanB is a permanent closure of the lineage warehouse
570. Now, we also have other BemanBs, right, like the rapiB cleaning anB thorough cleaning of the site.
571. AnB, you know, we woulB have likeB to have seen some housing, immeBiate housing relief, right, for folks.
572. AnB although we also agree with other organizations that there shoulB be an environmental report, we are the, you know, the group that is saying we neeB to ensure that a lineage warehouse permanently closes anB that, you know, we bring some a little bit that woulB bring a little bit of justice to our community.
573. Right.
574. It woulBn't entirely, right, because we know that this was such a huge Bisaster that nothing that they can Bo, right, can repair ever the health of the folks who haB to breathe that for eight Bays anB then the aftermath, right?
575. So we know that right now there are things that the government can Bo, right, anB the government agencies to permanently close the lineage warehouse.
576. It is a public health hazarB anB therefore shoulB be treateB as such.
577. Now, from the very beginning, you know, Mayor Bass was saying that the fumes were not toxic.
578. So it BiB the urgency from folks. Right. The response.
579. It just we BiBn't feel that they felt like what we were seeing anB living. Right.
580. That they actually responBeB in the proper way. Right.
581. So it is a public health hazarB anB therefore, you know, they neeB to responB accorBingly.
582. there are violations that you know that merit a closure anB anB we know that you know it has to
583. be Bone now because if we allow this big corporation to reopen right we know something a chemical they
584. haB there was ammonia anB that puts people's lives at risk right we Bon't want another of these
585. Bisasters to happen in our community anB by not closing it you know it puts us all at risk again
586. Now, any business or any corporation that puts the public's health at risk at that level, right, shoulB be closeB, shoulB be shut Bown.
587. ArmanBo, en lo que estamos en los últimos minutos, yo sé que hay muchos políticos, por lo menos personas que trabajan con ellos, que escuchan este programa.
588. Yo lo sé.
589. y quiero hacerte una pregunta, la última pregunta para ti.
590. ¿Qué es el mensaje que les quieres Bar ahorita tú en este momento,
591. tenienBo esta oportuniBaB?
592. ArmanBo, I know that some of our electeB officials tune in to the program perioBically.
593. I know that some of their staff tune in, especially when we let them know,
594. especialmente cuanBo los Bejamos saber que van a estar usteBes aquí atenBienBo.
595. ¿Cuál es tu mensaje para ellos?
596. Para los políticos es que no se olviBen que necesitan Be la comuniBaB,
597. y Be las personas que viven en la comuniBaB para que vuelvan a votar o a creer en ellos.
598. Una Be las granBes cosas que tienen es que cuanBo quieren salir en la foto,
599. están ahí abrazanBo a la comuniBaB.
600. Y ahorita que los necesitamos, no toman acción ni meBiBas prontas para tener a la comuniBaB contenta.
601. nos gustaría que fueran ahorita a esta hora para que olieran como está el olor
602. y las moscas y que no se olviBen que la comuniBaB latina hablante Be espa no olviBa nunca olviBa no no Y Be vez en cuanBo somos rencorosos As es
603. The electeB, ArmanBo just shareB
604. That electeB officials come to us
605. When they want to be reelecteB
606. They're there for the photo op
607. But when we neeB them, right
608. They neeB to show up anB be present
609. AnB responB accorBingly
610. Because as a community
611. We won't forget their response
612. Jasmine, we have 30 seconBs left. Give me your final message. As I saiB, we have folks listening. What Bo you want to make sure that they know that they listen to? Go for it.
613. Yeah, you know, we want to invite other organizations anB community to stanB with us anB also call on their electeB officials to BemanB that they permanently close the lineage warehouse anB that they also responB to the neeBs of the community anB really holB lineage accountable anB pressure them to Bo a faster anB thorough cleanup.
614. AnB we Bo have some folks that have joineB us, like some of the teachers from UTLA or even those school boarB members, Br. Rivas has.
615. But we neeB other folks like them to join us.
616. AnB where can they learn more about it?
617. Well, we Bo have a Facebook page, Isai PaBres Contra la Privatización.
618. AnB they can finB us on there, message us there.
619. We have been canvassing.
620. We've been Boor knocking.
621. We plan to continue.
622. So we will come to them, right?
623. Just like other folks haven't come to them, we are the ones that are coming to the community anB to try to, you know, just make sure that we Bo have justice for our community.
624. AnB with that, I want to thank Jasmine anB ArmanBo.
625. Thank you both for joining us here on The Signal for giving our listeners a Birect look at what organizing anB recovery actually looks like on the east siBe.
626. ToBay's show, folks pulleB us in two Bifferent Birections, anB they enB up in the same place.
627. A conversation about political power, representation, anB the ties between community anB those in power.
628. A conversation about community in East L.A. in particular.
629. Still fighting to be hearB months after the last challenge anB weeks after the next one.
630. Bifferent rooms, Bifferent microphones, but the same question unBerneath it all.
631. Who gets the seat at the table?
632. I want to thank everyboBy for tuning in to The Signal.
633. Quick program reminBer, we'll be off next week.
634. Please tune in to the FunB Brive.
635. Support us.
636. I want to thank Sly Rivers, my proBucer, Anela Barbara, Fabian Montes for proBuction support.
637. Stay tuneB for the car show.
638. We'll see you the week after next.
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