Mike Bonin

On October 9, 2022, the LA Times and Knock LA reported on a secretly recorded conversation in which three of my colleagues made appalling, racist remarks about a number of groups and people, especially about Blacks, and about my young son. It was painful for my family and painful for Los Angeles. A year later, as people look back at the scandal, they keep asking me for my thoughts. As I continue to process what happened, I wrote about what I heard, what I felt, and what I think was missing from the discussions sparked by the scandal.
https://mikebonin.substack.com/p/the-racist-tapes-what-i-heard

Los Angeles Unified School District board member Nick Melvoin for Congress is running to succeed Adam Schiff in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent a sprawling district that stretches from Burbank and Glendale and Sunland Tujunga down to Hancock Park and West Hollywood.

Nick has been a member school board since 2017. Before winning office, he was a school teacher in Watts, worked in the Obama White House with the Domestic Policy Council and worked with the U.S. Attorney’s office. I talk with him in depth on this episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?

https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13706770-congressional-candidate-spotlight-nick-melvoin

With Adam Schiff running for U.S. Senate, his Los Angeles area 30th district congressional seat – which stretches from Burbank and Glendale and Sunland Tujunga down to Hancock Park and West Hollywood – is up for grabs for the first time in twenty years. There is a wide field of candidates running for the seat in next year's election, and we are going to talk with the major candidates, one on one and in-depth, on What's Next, Los Angeles?

In this episode, I talk with former Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer. Prior to his two terms as the city's lawyer and prosecutor, he served in the California Assembly, where he held the post of Majority Policy Leader. Before that, he served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council and as Director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services.

https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/

Big legislative wins for workers at the end of the hot labor summer. The Mad Hatter of LA politics is back. And huge police raises kill a golden opportunity to improve public safety.

Brittani Nichols (SAG strike captain, community organizer, and Emmy-nominated writer of Abbot Elementary) and Godfrey Plata of L.A. Forward join me to talk about "Power, Politics & Police Raises" on What's Next, Los Angeles?

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at this link: bit.ly/WNLA0918

Assemblywoman Laura Friedman is running for Congress, and we hear from her on the latest episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?

https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13447059-candidate-spotlight-on-laura-friedman

I'm talking in-depth with the candidates running to succeed Adam Schiff. I'll be posting other interviews in the coming weeks.

On the latest What's Next, Los Angeles?, I'm joined by Marissa Roy & Godfrey Plata to discuss the L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, who is blocking affordable housing, refusing to help renters, and trying to gag the press.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at this link: 
https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13404252-the-trouble-with-hydee

Want to show solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the hospitality industry? Join UNITE HERE Local 11 4:30 p.m. TODAY at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica.

Security at the hotel attacked the striking workers this week. Let's show management that LA is on the side of the workers!

Hundreds of renters are being thrown out of their homes by a corporate landlord in the largest mass eviction in Los Angeles in decades. It will set a dangerous precedent – and it is based on lies, fraud and greed. I write about the crisis at Barrington Plaza -- and what Los Angeles needs to do about it -- on my new Substack account.

Barrington Plaza: Los Angeles Must Halt This Mass Eviction A failure to act will have devastating consequences for tenants all over Los Angeles.

Over the past week, workers have been met with violence from the Fairmont Miramar. This weekend, let’s stand in solidarity with UNITE HERE!, and show the hotels that L.A. supports our hard-working cooks, servers, housekeepers & hospitality workers. Sat 4:30 pm in Santa Monica. (And if you can’t make it to Santa Monica on Saturday, you can rally with our hospitality workers Friday in Long Beach or Saturday in Dana Point.)

Journalists have been detained, beaten, and targeted by the government -- right here in Los Angeles. It has happened to freelance, independent journalists, as well as journalists with major organizations, such as the Los Angeles Times, KPCC, and Spectrum News 1 SoCal. How bad and how comprehensive are efforts to handcuff the press? What impact is it having on hard-hitting coverage in Southern California? On What's Next, Los Angeles? I talk with Lexis-Olivier Ray of L.A. TACO, Ben Camacho, a reporter and photographer often published at Knock.LA, and Adam Rose of the Los Angeles Press Club.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13352107-handcuffing-the-press

I just read the full Trump indictment. It should include a charge of treason. They were trying to stage a freaking coup. They were counting on violence to overthrow the government, and they discussed using the U.S. military to suppress pro-democracy protests.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/01/us/politics/trump-jan-6-indictment-2020-election-annotated.html?smid=url-share

Although I am no longer in office, over the past several weeks, many renters have been reaching out to me with questions, or seeking assistance. There is a lot of confusion about what is required of tenants as of August 1, and considerable fear about a dramatic spike in evictions and a worsening of the homelessness crisis. The confusion is understandable, and obligations and rights vary depending on the specific situation. I have compiled some information that might be helpful for renters in the City of Los Angeles. You can find it here:

RENTERS: Information & Assistance Although I am no longer in office, over the past several weeks, many renters have been reaching out to me with questions, or seeking…

For forty years, Zev Yaroslavsky was a major force in Los Angeles politics. As a member of the City Council and then the Board of Supervisors, Zev played a leading role in civic affairs at a time of dramatic change. He wasn’t just a witness to LA history, he was a shaper of it.

If there was a major issue in Los Angeles, he was in the thick of it. Police reform. Mass transit. Health care. Budget crises. The Olympics. Homelessness. Development issues. Fighting Big Oil. Whether you agree with what he did or not, there is no denying that he left a huge impact on Los Angeles, defining the place it is today.

Nearly a decade after leaving office, Zev has published his autobiography, titled “Zev’s Los Angeles: From Boyle Heights to the Halls of Power.” It is a great read -- a vital, colorful, textured history of the past half century. In this episode, Mike talks at length with Zev about the book, and gets him to share some of the book's best stories.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right here: https://bit.ly/3Y7z8kv

The staff of the L.A. Times won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for its coverage of the Fed Tapes -- the secretly recorded meeting that exposed an ugly, racist conversation between some of my council colleagues and the head of the labor federation.

For Los Angeles, what we heard on the tapes was a scandal of epic proportions. It was a window into the ugly souls of of some of the most powerful people in Los Angeles. For me and my family, it was brutal and personally wrenching.

In the latest episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?, I talk about the story and how the paper covered it (and how I felt about it all) with two members of that award-winning team: Ben Oreskes, one of the reporters who covered the story (and was assigned to notify and interview me) and; Steve Clow, one of the editors who directed the coverage from the start.

You can listen to the episode here: https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13192346-the-fed-tapes-how-the-la-times-won-the-pulitzer

(And credit to Fox 11 for the great graphic from the Town Hall we discuss in the interview.)

A multi-billion dollar real estate giant is pushing a dirty eviction, forcing hundreds of families from their homes. It’s a dangerous precedent that imperils renters throughout Los Angeles.

I talk with tenants of Barrington Plaza Barrington Plaza residents and Larry Gross of Coalition for Economic Survival on What’s Next Los Angeles. Listen wherever you listen to podcasts, or here: https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13080046

In a special Father’s Day episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?, Mike talks with Los Angeles area Congressman Jimmy Gomez , who this year formed a Congressional Dads Caucus to focus on pushing legislation that helps working families. A first-time Dad, Jimmy Gomez gained attention when young Hodge accompanied him onto the House floor for January's prolonged vote for Speaker of the House of Representatives. Jimmy and Mike talk about the joys of fatherhood, and balancing parenting with politics. And Mike shares some thoughts about the fathers in his life. Listen to the episode at the link below. Happy Father's Day.


https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13057113

Barbara Lee has always been first in line to take on the most important battles. She’s been a fierce and effective fighter for our entire state and our country. She's the right choice to represent California in the United States Senate and I’m proud to endorse her.

Attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in LA County are on the rise. Who's really behind it? A bigoted and often violent roadshow of Proud Boys, right-wingers, and Capitol Hill rioters, largely from outside the area.

Local journalists Sean Beckner-Carmitchel and Joey Scott have been researching and reporting the details.They join me to discuss the real story on What's Next, Los Angeles:

https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/13020252-who-is-really-behind-the-anti-lgbtq-protests-in-los-angeles

Multibillion dollar real estate firm Douglas Emmett doesn’t need to evict hundreds of families to install fire sprinklers - but they’re trying to do it anyway. Barrington Plaza residents are fighting back. ABC7 covers the story.

https://abc7.com/west-la-mass-eviction-barrington-plaza-apartments-douglas-emmett-inc/13360890/

Yesterday, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ community due to the onslaught of legislative attacks sweeping the country.

A few hours later, Proud Boys and insurrections led a violent anti-LGBTQ demonstration in Glendale. This is a threat to our families, our children, and our freedom. And it’s getting much worse, very fast.

What will it to take to keep our neighborhoods safe?

Both progressives and conservatives agree we need an alternative to always calling the police. People usually at odds are in consensus that we need an unarmed response to non-violent emergency calls. What would that look like and how would it operate?

In Denver, they have created a tremendously successful and popular model. Denver Star routinely and safely provides a mobile, civilian response to emergency calls about people experiencing problems related to mental health, depression, poverty, homelessness, and/or substance use issues. In this episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?, I talk with two people deeply involved in the success of the Denver STAR program : Andrew Dameron, the director of the city's 911 system; and Chris Richardson, the associate director of clinical services for Wellpower, the region's mental health services agency.

And we hear Eunisses Hernandez's speech about why she voted against the city budget.

Listen at the link below:, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12898579-what-will-keep-our-neighborhoods-safe

Filmmaker Jack Baric and the Harry Bridges Institute -- dedicated to sharing the history of the labor movement -- have been producing a series of short films about how "Great Unions Make Great Families." Last weekend, they released their film about my late father-in-law, Dave A***n, and about the A***n family's powerful and inextricable ties with the ILWU and the labor movement.

Due to popular demand, HBI has made the 35-minute film available on Youtube. Check it out:

HBI Films -- Great Unions Make Great Families -- The Dave A***n Family "Great Unions Make Great Families" is a documentary short film series, which is produced by the Harry Bridges Institute. The series spotlights families of th...

How can we fix a broken political system? How can we re-energize grassroots democracy? How do counteract the poisonous influence of big money in our elections? One big idea is something called "democracy vouchers." We discuss it on the latest episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?

“Democracy vouchers” is a campaign finance system in which all residents are issued vouchers that they can donate to political candidates who, in turn, redeem them for public campaign funds. Democracy vouchers help democratize campaign finance by both: empowering ordinary citizens to participate more in the financing of political campaigns; and empowering political candidates to run for office without relying on — and spending as much time courting — wealthy donors.

In this episode, I talk with Michael Draskovic, an organizer working to get a democracy voucher program in Los Angeles, and with Teresa Mosqueda, the first person elected to the City Council in Seattle after that city implemented a popular and robust democracy voucher system.

Listen here: https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12845438-how-do-we-fight-big-money-in-elections

Los Angeles for Democracy Vouchers Teresa Mosqueda

Los Angeles has some of the worst traffic, some of the worst air, and some of the most unsafe streets in the country -- and LA voters are going to have a chance to do something about it next year.

I talk with Michael Schneider of Streets For All, the driving force behind the ballot initiative, on this episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at this link: https://whatsnextlosangeles.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12709141-streets-for-all-of-us

Our neighborhoods need streets that work for all of us. Streets that are safe, green, and accommodating for mass transit, pedestrians, and cyclists.

You can build that future by joining Streets For All this Saturday for a fun fundraiser and community bike ride. Details at http://streetsforall.org/rsvp.

It has been 100 days since Mayor Karen Bass and a new crew of elected officials took office in the city of Los Angeles. How are they doing? We talk about that, homelessness, public safety, LA Metro, and a lot more with Alissa Walker and Scott Frazier of LA Podcast on the latest edition of What’s Next Los Angeles.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: http://bit.ly/3ZZtMb6

Bribery. Prostitution. Betrayal. Courtroom drama. The FBI investigation into LA City Hall has it all. It had led to a series of guilty pleas and guilty verdicts, for elected officials, staffers, developers, and lobbyists. The investigation's biggest trial -- against former Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan -- is underway now, and it is has continued to generate revelations about former City Councilmember Jose Huizar and City Hall.

Most LA media outlets are not covering the trial -- but legal reporter Meghann Cuniff is, and I talk with her in depth on this week's What's Next, Los Angeles?. You can listen here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12378631

Another in my series of interviews with candidates for Council District 6. This episode features Isaac Kim - Los Angeles CD6.
The first time candidate runs an online men’s grooming and skin care business. His campaign slogan is “I am your local small business owner. I am your teammate. I am your amplifier."

You can listen here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/episodes/12338731

Another episode featuring a candidate for City Council in District 6, representing the East San Fernando Valley. Today it is Douglas Sierra. He has a background as a consultant at Deloitte Consulting, a business analyst at the nonprofit Child Care Resource Center, and as a coordinator for the nonprofit A Place Called Home.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/episodes/12338703

On the latest episode of What's Next, Los Angeles?, I speak with another candidate in the special election to fill the seat for the Sixth Council District. Take a listen and learn about Imelda Padilla for Los Angeles City Council District 6, a lifelong Valley resident running in the April election.

I'll be posting additional interviews with the other candidates over the next couple weeks.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/episodes/12293301

My second podcast interview with candidates for the 6th Council District is up -- and in this episode I talk with Marco Santana for Los Angeles

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12242732

I'll be posting additional interviews with the other candidates over the next couple weeks.

For my podcast, I'm interviewing the candidates in the April special election to fill the seat left vacant by Nury Martinez's resignation. First up - Marisa Alcaraz for City Council

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12242973

I'll be posting conversations with the other candidates over the next 2 weeks.

What's Next, Los Angeles?

I'm resuming my public affairs podcast, What's Next, Los Angeles?. In the latest episode, I speak at length with the new CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who has been the director of the St. Joseph Center for the past 15 years. She and I discuss her history, the work of the St. Joseph Center, LAHSA, and the mayor's new Inside Safe program. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1414123/12212264

In upcoming episodes, we will be talking more about Inside Safe, renter protections, and police violence. And I will be talking one on one with all of the candidates running in the special election to represent Council District 6.

What they did to Tyre Nichols and Keenan Anderson was abhorrent, but not an aberration. This keeps happening. Our policing system perpetuates this violence.

We need new approaches to public safety — unarmed alternatives to policing.

Let’s start with taking police out of traffic stops.

Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles is inviting people to gather Sunday 3 p.m. at Lincoln & Flower to demand we imagine and implement the necessary changes to stop these killings.

JUSTICE in the name of ..and , , , , PhilandoCastile, , …means !
SUNDAY 3PM AT VENICE & LINCOLN
Bring your signs, voices, skateboards, noisemakers and energy!

After nearly a decade of service, this week marked the end of my term as a member of the Board of Directors of Metro Los Angeles, our regional transit agency. It was a fun, challenging, rewarding and wild ride. I’ve been proud to advocate for — and I intend to stay engaged on these issues until we truly have a robust system that provides .
In the linked I essay, I look back at a lot of cool stuff, and thank the incredible partners and colleagues I worked with.

My Wonderful, Wild Ride at LA Metro After nearly a decade of service, this week marked the end of my term as a member of the Board of Directors of LA Metro, our regional…

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀.

Mike has been 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 $𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗲 for hotel workers in Los Angeles – a feat that was followed just months later with passage of another law Mike proposed, creating a citywide $15 minimum wage. That set a new standard, and soon Long Beach, Santa Monica, and cities around the country followed suit. Mike has fought for low-income workers at and near LAX, mandating fair wages and fair treatment from airlines, airport concessions, and contractors. After the COVID-19 pandemic, he pushed aggressively and successfully for a $𝟮𝟱/𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀..

Mike has spoken up when others stayed silent and he took on battles others found too controversial. In the middle of a fiscal crisis, he insisted the police union renegotiate its contract in order to prevent deep cuts in neighborhood patrols. He was the lone vote against cuts to emergency response programs and to bus service. In 2018, Mike 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀.

One of Mike’s most lasting legacies is the improvements he fought for in the city’s public matching funds program. By making it easier for grassroots candidates with wide popular support to access public funds and compete against entrenched incumbents, Mike opened the door for a new generation of elected officials, younger, more progressive, and more representative of Los Angeles.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁.

Mike has been a 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁t, securing additional resources for his neighborhoods, resolving long-standing conflicts, reviving long-stalled projects, and making neighborhood improvements.

Mike 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 in Westchester and Playa del Rey. He forced LAX to downsize a development plan and create a community-backed project that will provide 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 in the LAX Northside.

Mike pushed forward the 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸. He secured funds for a series of improvements at neighborhood parks, including Westchester Park, Del Rey Lagoon Park, Culver-Slauson Park, Stoner Park, Penmar Park, and Venice Beach. He also secured funds for the repair and restoration of the Venice Pier and for the renovation of the Vera Davis Youth & Family Center, while opening a closed senior center as a home for 12-step meetings.

Mike launched an ambitious #𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 initiative to create alternatives to traffic gridlock. The effort brought 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, such as LA NOW and Metro Micro, to Mar Vista, Venice, Del Rey, Palms and Playa Vista, and to Westchester and Playa del Rey, and Brentwood. He delivered new technology to 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘁/𝟰𝟬𝟱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 and created a “Sunset Standard,” which forces any development on Sunset Boulevard to actually reduce its traffic impacts. He has improved traffic flow through installation of 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁-𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.

Mike 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗔𝗫, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗔𝗙𝗗 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁. 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀.

Mike fought for sensible development for the Westside, 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴. He negotiated a record amount of affordable housing in a transit-friendly project next to the Metro Expo Line, and stopped an oversized luxury development in Playa del Rey that violated coastal development rules. To make sure the community gets to shape development decisions, he secured funds for the update of community plans throughout the Westside.

Mike worked to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the 11th District, creating the official “Sawtelle Japantown” designation for part of West LA, installing a Black Lives Matter mural in Venice, setting aside funds for a mural celebrating the Westside’s Oaxacan community, and supporting a Mexican-American Traqueros monument and a memorial marker on Lincoln Boulevard for Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II. Mike fought for low-income and undocumented residents, particularly in the Mar Vista Gardens Housing community.

Mike worked to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the 11th District, creating the official “Sawtelle Japantown” designation for part of West LA, installing a Black Lives Matter mural in Venice, setting aside funds for a mural celebrating the Westside’s Oaxacan community, and supporting a Mexican-American Traqueros monument and a memorial marker on Lincoln Boulevard for Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II. Mike fought for low-income and undocumented residents, particularly in the Mar Vista Gardens Housing community.