Full Transcript for Black Workers: How the LA City Charter Could Make City Jobs More Equitable withthe LABWC's Ariel Moore

--> 00:02:12.520 the show, which I love a lot. And if you 36 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:17.199 missed any conversations, we had one yesterday with Attorney Ben Crump, 37 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.000 but we have great combos every day. You can find 38 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:23.080 them all on YouTube where they live or wherever you 39 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:26.719 get your pods. We are there as well. Just you know, 40 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:29.240 first things first, with Dominique de prima. You know how 41 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:32.560 to find me. I realized that yesterday a couple people 42 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:34.719 hunted me down like y'all act like you don't know, 43 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:36.599 but when you need me, you know how to find me. 44 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:39.680 So we got a lot to talk about, and that 45 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:42.719 is a great, great thing. Thank you to everybody who 46 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:49.240 came out to Friday's tribute to Jesse Jackson. We will 47 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:55.800 be streaming live his homegoing services tomorrow, starting in whenever 48 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:59.319 they start in the middle of this show until whenever 49 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:05.039 they finish. So that's you know. I'm really quite thankful 50 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:07.520 for the way that KBLA has taken on the role 51 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:10.719 of stepping up and showing love to those who deserve 52 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:13.400 to be honored. And we are going to continue doing 53 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:17.439 just that right now though we have a special guest 54 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:19.840 in the studio. Time to look what's going on around here, 55 00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:23.840 and in some ways I think informative about what a 56 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.560 lot of cities need to be addressing, a lot of 57 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:30.639 counties need to be addressing about how we do what 58 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:34.319 we do in light of all of these encroachments on 59 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:37.520 our rights. How are we setting up the framework for 60 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:42.759 our own governance. She is a campaign coordinate coordinator for 61 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:46.120 the LA Black Orker Center. She works on everything from 62 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:51.400 abolitionist reforms to fighting for legislation to and prison profiteering. 63 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:53.400 Welcome back, Aeriel Moore. 64 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:55.120 Thank you so much for having me, Dominique. 65 00:03:55.199 --> 00:04:00.960 Yeah, thanks for coming. So LA City Charter has become 66 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:04.199 kind of a big mission for the LA Black Workers Center, 67 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.639 And obviously when you hear LA Black Worker Center, it's 68 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:10.400 kind of in the name fighting for jobs for black 69 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.479 workers in La. A shame that we have to fight 70 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:15.400 for them, but we do. Yeah, but what we don't 71 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:20.000 immediately think of is city governance charter reform. And I 72 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:23.279 think you explained this last time, but break it down again, Ariel. 73 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:28.279 Why are the LA Black Workers rolling on these charter 74 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:34.000 commission meetings and sparing, you know, sparing no detail here. Yeah. 75 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:37.199 So, the best kept secret of a lot of municipalities 76 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:41.319 is the charter. The charter is the city's constitution, and 77 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:45.040 in many cases, in LA's case in particular, the original 78 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:47.720 a charter was made over a century ago, and to 79 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.480 think about what LA looked like at that time, it 80 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:51.319 certainly was not. 81 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:55.399 Made whoa wa wa wa white. It certainly was. 82 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:58.040 Not made with black workers or black people in mind. 83 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:02.879 And so the charter. Is this really exciting opportunity from 84 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.160 Mayor Bass? That started as like the best kept secret. 85 00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:09.399 It was only city governance and local officials who were 86 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:13.199 attending these meetings, and then myself in Trina Traylor, who's 87 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:17.160 the campaign and coalition manager at LABWC, happened to attend 88 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:20.560 one and I realized, wait, this is our opening, this 89 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:23.800 is our opportunity to put workforce, equity and the charter. 90 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:27.480 We have a list of six recommendations and we have 91 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:29.480 really gained a lot of momentum since I was here 92 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:31.279 last I'm excited to report. 93 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:33.519 Yay, and I can't wait to hear about that momentum. 94 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:36.040 We've got an hour so we can unpack this. But 95 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:40.639 because charter reform is not something we obsess about as individuals, 96 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.000 I just want to make sure we're thorough in helping 97 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.360 folks understand it. You made it really plain. The city's 98 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:50.720 constitution is called the city Charter. That is basically the 99 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:53.160 rules of how our city is run. 100 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:56.199 Right right, And in our city Charter specifically, what we're 101 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:00.199 focusing on is civil service rules and personnel and what 102 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:04.199 does that even mean? Great question. So the Pendleton Act, 103 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:08.079 which happened in the seventeen hundreds. Interesting enough, right after 104 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.839 the Supreme

Court ruled that it was legal to be racist. 105 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:14.120 So this is during the Reconstruction era. 106 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:14.959 It was. 107 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:18.560 The Pendleton Act is a federal law that dictates how 108 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:22.319 civil service works. Its intention was to make sure that 109 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:27.920 nepotism or you know, basically that merit was the criteria 110 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.959 for which individuals were being hired. But what we know 111 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.759 is that merit is a dog whistle for not black, 112 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:38.439 and it dictates both the federal level as well as 113 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:41.199 the state level and the cities. And so what it 114 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:45.600 means is that the most talented individuals can get the job. 115 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:50.439 How LA interprets that is outdated tests. How they interpret 116 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:53.040 it is a list of five and so the five 117 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:56.079 people who get the highest scores are the people who 118 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:59.680 are guaranteed interviews. And it also looks like tests that 119 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:01.720 have no nothing to do with the actual job that 120 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:02.600 you're applying. 121 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:06.120 For, kind of like your poll tax type tests, exactly 122 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.480 like your pull tax i count the jellybeans and the 123 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:16.120 jar type tests. Right, So our charter is what you're 124 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:19.519 alleging is that our charter is basically still tied to 125 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.120 this Pendleton Act and the standards and practices that were 126 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.759 put in place to gatekeep in the seventeen hundredths very much. 127 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:33.839 So yes, whoops, sorry about that. So when you say 128 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.360 civil service, you're talking about the rules to work for 129 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:40.720 the city. Yes, it sounds like something much bigger and 130 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.279 grander than that. But has had to get a job 131 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:44.720 in the city of La. 132 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:46.079 How to get a job in the city of la 133 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.079 And then what are the protections that come with that job? 134 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:51.000 And then beat them good jobs that Grandma used to 135 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:54.199 talk about, right exactly, which are actually careers? Right? 136 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.639 And what the city is really at really conjuncture because 137 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:02.040 all of the workforce is getting older, they're retiring. 138 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:04.920 Well yeah, that's kind of a given a. I know 139 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.360 you're like very very young, so but yeah, the people 140 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:12.040 are getting older. But but not to be funny, in reality, 141 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:17.399 the boomer generation is aging fast and it's a humongous 142 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:18.759 cohort of people. 143 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:23.000 Yes, except one of the biggest demographics. And the rules 144 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.160 were different then, I mean they were the same, but 145 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:29.319 there were a lot more I guess there were during 146 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:31.199 the sixties or in the seventies. There's a lot more 147 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:34.840 intentionality around diversity and inclusion. And now that's a dirty 148 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:39.360 word and so the rules have changed, they're retiring, there's 149 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.600 no one to replace the workforce. And if the rules 150 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:44.840 don't change now during this charter reform or within the 151 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.720 next five years, then it's very likely that civil service 152 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:49.759 will cease to exist because there won't be a workforce. 153 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.159 I doubt that's gonna happen. Maybe it'll they'll all be 154 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:59.000 bots secretly driven by people in the Philippines and owned 155 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:01.960 by Elon Musk. Who knows. But we're going to stop 156 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.159 that from happening, and we'll find out how when we 157 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.679 come forward on KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. Right now, we're 158 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:09.879 back to me, We're back to Ariel More with the 159 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:13.840 La Black Workers Center, and we're back to this LA 160 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:17.039 City Charter. Okay, So we kind of did the basics 161 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:18.879 because I think we have to do that every time, 162 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:21.320 because I do this every day and I'm not going 163 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.399 to lie. I hardly ever think about the city Charter. 164 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:28.159 I think about things that would be affected by the 165 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:32.120 city Charter, but I don't necessarily connect those dots. So 166 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:35.679 now the LA Black Workers Center has tasked itself with 167 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.399 focusing on civil service, which is the jobs piece of 168 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:43.039 our LA City constitution. You already mentioned how and we 169 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:45.720 talked about this last time you came on, how these 170 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:51.960 tests and little gatekeeper procedures, Yeah, are in place that 171 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:54.440 do tend to keep black workers out. 172 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:55.200 Exactly. 173 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.639 You just mentioned something we hadn't really reflected on, which 174 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:02.080 is the fact that the boomer are retiring, the Boomer 175

00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:05.000 generation getting old. Yeah, and they are one, two, three, 176 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:07.840 four five, going home as they should to sit down 177 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.639 and do whatever they go and do. Hopefully they have 178 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:13.399 nice retirement plan. But who goes in to those jobs? 179 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:16.639 You said maybe there won't be civil servants. I doubt that. 180 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:20.200 I think they'll you know, they'll probably import people from 181 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:23.879 other places who aren't black to work those jobs unless 182 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:27.000 we make changes. That's me speculating, but it's me speculating 183 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:30.440 based on history of watching how things go down. 184 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.919 You're not wrong. I would refer to that as like 185 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:35.879 the process of austerity, and then that I would say 186 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.399 also though, that that means that civil service has been 187 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:40.600 undermined and it no longer functions how it's supposed to, 188 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.440 because those jobs won't have good benefits, those jobs won't 189 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:47.559 have the same testing mechanisms. When they contract out, they're 190 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.440 actually able to avoid all of the rules that are 191 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:51.399 gatekeeping us. 192 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.600 I see what you're saying, contracting them out rather than 193 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:56.600 importing workers from somewhere else. But I'm just saying that 194 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:59.159 also based on what we've seen in the fire department 195 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:01.279 and other places where they've got people living in other 196 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:06.639 states who are drawing benefits and not just benefits because 197 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:09.120 you can retire to another state that's your business, but 198 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:13.679 still working here. And when there's people in this city 199 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.600 that need jobs and have to be able to afford 200 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:19.919 the housing here in la which ain't no small matter. 201 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:22.360 You're right, So how do we protect these jobs? How 202 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.919 do we make them more accessible to black people? 203 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:27.960 So we think that the first step starts with modernizing 204 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:30.919 the hiring and testing system. And we're not alone. So 205 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.639 since I was here last we've been attending the charter meetings. 206 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:37.759 We've heard presentations from personnel. We've heard presentations from the 207 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:43.320 proprietary department. LA LAWA law LAWA is LA is, the 208 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:44.480 airport is the airport. 209 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.279 Everything got an acronym in the city and county. And 210 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:50.440 if you don't think fast, or if you're not inundated 211 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:52.960 in the culture, the what Alawa. 212 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:57.080 Law A Department Water and Power that hiring takes far 213 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.639 too long. It can take up to two years to 214 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.320 get a job at Department Water, and that means that 215 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:03.639 services are not being delivered in a timely fashion. 216 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:07.159 There's not enough staff, not to mention, who has time 217 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.759 to wait till for two years to figure out if 218 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.600 you got the job. 219 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:10.840 Or not exactly exactly. 220 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:14.840 And so everyone agrees that the testing and the hiring 221 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:18.559 has to be modernized. So for that we feel really 222 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.360 comfortable that we're in phase one of the campaign that 223 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:25.879 that's a win. But phase two means it's. 224 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.440 A win that people can at least agree on this 225 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:29.879 is what you're saying. Okay, we can agree, right, okay, 226 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.519 and then the next step. 227 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.080 And then the next step outside of modernizing testing is 228 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:38.960 we want a pathways program. So a little history, LABWC 229 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:43.159 had a contract with the City of la under Mayor 230 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:47.320 Garcetti for two hundred jobs. Those were all public sector jobs. 231 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.120 Of those two hundred, in his transition, we only got 232 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:53.480 forty nine. When Mayor Basque came on, I'm assuming it 233 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:56.159 was a line on an issue, she was not able 234 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.799 to maintain or uphold that promise, and so we lost 235 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:03.759 all of those jobs. And we've been fighting for them 236 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:04.320 ever since. 237 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:06.840 So when you say you lost them, they never really manifested. 238 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:11.559 We Garcetti promised two hundred jobs, delivered forty nine, Yes, 239 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:14.919 and then but those other one hundred and fifty one 240 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:18.919 were still supposedly happening. Then that line item goes away 241 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:22.879 under Mayor bas So the jobs we didn't lose, we 242 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.799 lost the promise. 243 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:26.639 We lost the promise of the jobs, and so now 244 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.360 the learnings. 245 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:31.559 So part of the six recommendations is to bring back 246 00:13:31.759 -->

00:13:32.480 that promise. 247 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:35.039 Part of the six recommendation, No, we've learned from that. 248 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:37.159 What we want is we want to path We want 249 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:41.120 a pathways program in the charter. So we want both 250 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:46.240 a value statement and an understand a functional implementation of 251 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:51.080 a pathways program. So that would be internships, apprenticeships, internship 252 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:55.679 size working of course, working with them, community colleges as 253 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:58.120 well as places like the ELI Black Worker Center, and 254 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.360 that's going to be a direct pathway. So we want 255 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.919 we don't want to just be training people for jobs. 256 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.519 We want to make sure that when they're done with 257 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:07.759 the training, they are going into steady public sector employment. 258 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.720 Yeah, that's really important because we've seen this, particularly with 259 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:13.240 the Fire Department, where there are programs set up to 260 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.639 train people, but they keep those people out of ever 261 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:19.840 actually getting jobs. Oh, now you're trained, you can go 262 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.759 work in I don't know, Arizona, even though we have 263 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:27.879 a firefighter shortage. Yeah, okay, So a pathways program means 264 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:35.720 entry level paid internships and jobs that have clear steps into. 265 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:40.320 Employment, into employment with testing or without testing, well, different 266 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:43.200 types of testing. Okay, yeah, we're doing two. We're asking 267 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.720 for two different versions. With when there was no testing, 268 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.600 you had the job for a year and then you 269 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:50.399 had the opportunity to test up if you wanted to, 270 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:54.120 or you could stay in your position. With weed, I mean, 271 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:57.159 with a pathways program, we are in conversations with labor 272 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:00.000 around what it's going to look like exactly. Because another 273 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.519 fun fact about the Charter and particularly the Civil Service section. 274 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:07.480 To change anything, first it's getting the commissioners to approve 275 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:11.080 the recommendations. Then it moves to city council. They have to. 276 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:13.840 Vote affirmative of eight in order for us to move 277 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:16.360 to the ballot. We move to the ballot. Everyone's like 278 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.279 this is great. They vote yes, But then comes meet 279 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:22.919 and confer. Anytime that you're dealing with labor, you have 280 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.799 to be able to bargain, and so all of our 281 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:29.440 recommendations meet the criteria for bargaining, and meet and confer 282 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.279 will happen after all the phases. But we are in 283 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:35.960 conversations with labor right now and so we're hopeful that 284 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.000 that won't be an impediment. 285 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:43.159 So meet and confer is the process of balancing whatever 286 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:48.879 came through the city council the ballot with the unions. 287 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.600 With the unions. 288 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:51.759 Wow, Okay, so that's a long road. 289 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.840 It is a long road. 290 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:58.679 Yeah. When you say there are six recommendations that are 291 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:01.600 given by the LA Black Worker Center for how to 292 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:05.000 deal with just this one little slice of the cities rules, 293 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:10.080 which is the jobs piece, the civil service piece, what 294 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.799 are those six? 295 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.960 Okay, so modernized testing and hiring. 296 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.000 We just talked about that, right. 297 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:19.200 The Pathways program. And then a kind of part a 298 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:23.080 to Pathways is inclusive recruitment. And so for us, that 299 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:26.399 means that we want our folks to be recruited. And 300 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.320 when I say our folks, of course I mean black people, 301 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.320 but I also mean a broader working class, a multi 302 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:35.919 racial working class. There's a program called LA Rise that 303 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:38.480 comes out of the Human Civil Service Department and They 304 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:42.000 have mapped out and identified seven neighborhoods that have all 305 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:48.519 been historically excluded, economically disenfranchised, and we want those neighborhoods 306 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.759 to be prioritized. 307 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.080 Yeah, I mean that makes sense. That's what they ended 308 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:55.759 up doing with a gang reduction and youth development program. 309 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:00.840 It's a reflection of a formula that is used by 310 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.879 the school district. Right, you put the money where the 311 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.640 need is. That is not rocket science. It seems like 312 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.200 it has helped in the school district. It seems like 313 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.880 it has definitely helped in our gang reduction efforts for 314 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:16.559 the city. It is under attack at the moment

because 315 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.720 they're trying to say that it's a proxy for race. 316 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:23.119 But to me, that is the ultimate data, you know, logic. 317 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:25.920 Let's see, do we put our money where we don't 318 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:28.400 need help, or do we put it where we do 319 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:32.039 need help. I mean, any home anybody who runs a 320 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:36.079 home budget should know that. Well, my gas tank is empty. 321 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.799 But since I have to spend my funds in every 322 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.519 room in the house the same, I think I'll buy 323 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:46.279 a new couch even though I need gas. It doesn't 324 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:50.440 make sense. So you're looking for a formula, like a 325 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:55.119 formula la like that to kick in for recruitment. But 326 00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.279 it's funny because this whole debate about DEI, a lot 327 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:03.119 of it. What people don't realize is that a lot 328 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:06.480 of DEI is recruitment who knows about the job so 329 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:09.839 that they can apply and get the opportunity. So getting 330 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:12.279 rid of DEI it's not the same as getting rid 331 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.759 of affirmative action. It's really just saying we don't even 332 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:18.119 want you to know about these jobs. We don't even 333 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.279 want you to have a chance to apply. It's not 334 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:22.440 that we're going to give you a leg up. We're 335 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:25.000 going to just make sure you don't even know about it. 336 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:31.279 So does that what you're calling inclusive recruitment come in 337 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:34.079 the crosshairs of a Trump administration which is trying to 338 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:36.519 make it seem like DEI is illegal. 339 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:42.680 Initially we were concerned about that, not only initial conversations 340 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.640 where that's not going to happen. That's not likely. I'm 341 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:49.359 forever the optimist, and it's just like you explained the formula, 342 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.519 there's a formula to it, and really it's less about 343 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:54.519 it being a proxy for raise and more about the 344 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:57.799 harder conversation about the ways in which we've been we 345 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:02.519 the community has been racialized, included, and suffered because of 346 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:05.839 racist laws and rules. And it really is a type 347 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.599 of repair that the city owes us and something the 348 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:11.319 city's already identified as something. 349 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:13.799 That they in their own reparations report exactly, which is 350 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:16.039 quite good. By the way, if you get a chance 351 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:20.480 to read the LA Advisory Commission reparations report, it's not 352 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.799 even that long, at least not the executive summary. I 353 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:26.240 was gonna say, the executive side. Yeah, it's not. Well, yeah, 354 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:29.319 this is kind of like the California one. It's long 355 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.759 if you read the whole thing, but you get the 356 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.000 idea if you read the executive summary, and it's quite 357 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.880 eye opening. So if you look at it, mm hmm, 358 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:40.880 and that lens. I wonder how willing city officials are 359 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:45.559 to even utter the word repair in connection with black people. 360 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:49.599 While we're gonna hold Marquise, we're gonna hold Hugo and 361 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.519 who else was? I think Marquis and Hugo are the 362 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:54.480 two city council members currently who are part of. 363 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:57.880 The council President Marquis Harris Dawson. Yes, And of course 364 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.440 you're talking about Ugo Soto Martinez. When you say part 365 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:00.640 of that. 366 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:04.119 What do you mean they participated in the repair. They 367 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.319 both wrote letters in the beginning of the report. 368 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.559 Oh of a reparations report. Yeah, my understanding was that 369 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:12.880 all the Black City Council members supported that. Yes, also 370 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:17.359 along with the Yeah so too Martinez. Yeah, who is 371 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.400 definitely what we call an ally. 372 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:20.839 Yes. 373 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:22.920 Eight hundred nine two oh fifteen eighty. If you got 374 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:26.079 a question or way in on YouTube, I'm Dominique Diprima 375 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:30.039 and this is KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. Yes, I do. 376 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.079 Thank you. I'm amazed always how many of us are 377 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:35.759 up and about in LA. But we all got at 378 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:38.680 least one job. He's trying to make it in La. 379 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:42.480 Ariel Morris here, she's campaign coordinator for the LA Black 380 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:45.880 Worker Center. And we could call this conversation a part two. 381 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.119 Around the City Charter, you really laid it out well. 382 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:53.039 City Charter being the rules the rules of engagement for 383 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:56.880 Los Angeles, and it's now under review. That's just a 384 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:01.039 process that's ongoing. Every part of the city Charter, every 385

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:04.400 part of it has the potential to be rewritten. Right. 386 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:08.799 The meetings are for public, common and input regarding whatever 387 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:12.119 aspect of it. You're worried about and LA Black Worker 388 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:15.240 Centers focused on jobs, which is the charter of the organization, 389 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:20.000 but also really key for our city where most people 390 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.559 who work here cannot afford to live here. 391 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:25.720 Exactly, most people who work here cannot afford to live here. 392 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:29.160 And it addresses the jobs crisis, addresses all of the 393 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:33.279 other crises that we're seeing throughout the city, the homelessness crisis, 394 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:38.119 the policing crisis, and that's where the most money's going. 395 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:41.279 And so we're seeing all of this investment in programs 396 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.359 that have not been effective, but we're not addressing root causes. 397 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:47.640 If people have economic opportunity, then we can address their 398 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:49.000 ability to live in the city. 399 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.640 Yeah, it's amazing what having a job that actually covers 400 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:56.279 your bills will do for your stability. Of course, we 401 00:21:56.359 --> 00:22:00.160 know we talk about the un house. There are many 402 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.559 that do need supportive services beyond just a house and 403 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:05.759 a job. But a lot of folks just need a 404 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.480 house and a job. 405 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:08.680 A lot of folks, Yeah, the people. 406 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.680 Living in their cars, the people you know, or the 407 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:13.720 people that have three minimum wage jobs. 408 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:16.359 Right, and then also for those folks who do need 409 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.920 more support, the lack of health insurance, the employer tied 410 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:23.000 health insurance if they had access to benefits. It's like 411 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:26.640 all of the ways in which we could address the problem, 412 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.759 we're not even spending a modicum of the amount of 413 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:33.200 money that we're spending on after the harm has happened, 414 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:33.839 right And. 415 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:36.160 If you think about I mean benefits, which you mentioned, 416 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:38.240 we don't have to do a deep dive down that 417 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.799 rabbit hole. But we know this is going to be 418 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:44.240 an escalating crisis because of the way that the Trump 419 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:50.440 administration is forcing the you know, Affordable Care Acts subsidies 420 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:53.759 to go up and reducing the amount of people who 421 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:58.079 can get medical exactly. So this is that's tip of 422 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:02.599 the iceberg stuff. Some of the would be addressed by jobs. 423 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:04.680 I know that when the mayor came into office, she 424 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:09.279 was very enthusiastic about all of these unfilled city positions 425 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:13.440 and making them more accessible, thousands of jobs. And I 426 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:16.319 know that's still her intention, at least I believe it is, 427 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:20.160 just you know, from my knowledge of her. But the 428 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:24.279 budget that we're in right now has actually caused some 429 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:30.359 city workers to be laid off. So what's the I 430 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:34.000 guess what's the point or what is the opportunity for 431 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:37.079 this Charter reform, given the fact that we're currently in 432 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:40.200 a contraction and jobs are just not even there. 433 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:45.920 Right, So we are in a million dollar deficit. I 434 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.839 think actually it might be a billion. I need to 435 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:52.680 track my facts, but huge, huge b or m it's probably. 436 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:56.160 Yeah, I don't remember either. I think it's a multi. 437 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:58.039 I know it's not a million dollars, it's. 438 00:23:57.960 --> 00:24:01.759 One hundred million. Maybe we're in a huge deficit. And 439 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:03.720 to your point, what's believe I forgot? 440 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.799 But yeah, yeah, what's. 441 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:08.240 The point I think? And I'm not alone in this. 442 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:14.200 We also have the Women's Voters League of California, Repair 443 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:16.599 LA and some other groups who've been coming to Charter 444 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:20.279 reform meetings. What this requires is budget reallocation. 445 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:22.599 It's a billion, it's a billion a bill, it's a billion, 446 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.880 a billion dollar deficit. 447 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:27.720 We're in a billion dollar deficit. And so, yes, mayor 448 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:30.160 Baths had big hopes, we all did, for the jobs 449 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:33.119 that were gonna be available. There's certainly that many vacancies. 450 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.759 There just is not enough money. 451 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.480 Well, in other words, we have work that needs to 452 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:40.640 be done, we just don't have the currently and obviously 453 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:43.920 budget deficits don't last forever. I mean we're still digging 454 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:47.720 our way out of COVID. And you know, unless unless 455 00:24:47.759

--> 00:24:52.920 this administration stays in office forever, we may we should 456 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.440 be bouncing back at some point. 457 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:58.079 I think we would, except we have the Olympics and 458 00:24:58.119 --> 00:25:00.480 then we have the Games, and those are really I 459 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:02.319 think a lot of times people think that that brings 460 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:05.000 so much money, and sometimes it does, but it's one 461 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.759 of those things where you pay up front and then 462 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.839 there's a return on your head. 463 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:10.839 I mean, the city of La made money on the 464 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:14.880 eighty four Olympics, my understanding, were the only city that's 465 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:17.920 made money on the Olympics. So when you say sometimes, 466 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:23.160 you really mean sometimes. I do really like hardly ever sometimes, 467 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:26.279 And if LA could duplicate that again, it would be amazing. 468 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:29.759 It would be The LA eighty four Foundation still funds 469 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:33.599 youth sports with money made from nineteen eighty four, but 470 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:37.319 you know, those folks are not around anymore to run, 471 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.640 so we don't know what would happen with LA twenty eight. 472 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:42.279 I love the Olympics. I'm an Olympics booster. I know 473 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:45.839 that's not popular with progressives, but oh well, I. 474 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:47.839 Like the Olympics. I just don't like that we're building 475 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:50.359 a convention center that's going to cost millions of dollars 476 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:50.720 a week. 477 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:53.400 I mean, you're talking about the La Convention Center. If 478 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:57.400 that's already built, you're talking about remodeling it. Remodeling it, Yeah, well, 479 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.559 I mean it does need remodeling. The question is why 480 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:02.400 do we the voters have to pay for that when 481 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.759 we don't get money from it. 482 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:06.119 Exactly, it's going to cost us money every year, when 483 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:08.480 a lot of money, a lot of money. 484 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:11.000 So those are the concern So but what's the alternative? 485 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.880 I mean, do we not build this? Do we not 486 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:15.079 build a convention center and be a world class city 487 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:17.720 with no world class convention center? I mean, I'm not 488 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:20.319 saying that teeing it up because I know the answer. 489 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:23.960 I really don't, right, I think two things can be true. 490 00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:27.079 I think that like, we can be a world class 491 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:29.480 city and we can still be the allay that everybody 492 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:34.200 wants to come to, arguably the best city ever, and 493 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:37.480 also be fiscally responsible. I think it's important for us 494 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.039 to do that and address the real crises because with 495 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:43.880 building the in the anticipation of making the city really nice, 496 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.319 improving the convention center, it also means that as we 497 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:52.839 prepare for all of our tourists and friends and Olympic celebrators. 498 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:57.920 That we have increased the police budget extensively, like so 499 00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:02.039 much money, billions of dollars, billions of dollars for policing 500 00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:03.920 under the guys that we needed for the games. And 501 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:06.559 certainly we do need security for the games. But it's 502 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:06.960 a both. 503 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:12.720 And yeah, I'm not convinced of that. And you know, 504 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:17.559 I know that's not like your main thrust of organizing 505 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:21.920 buff for me, I'm not convinced that you need an 506 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:25.400 extra hundred million dollars to do your dog gone job, 507 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:28.519 Like the LAPD is already taking up half of our 508 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:31.440 money to do their job, which is keep the city safe. 509 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.559 And now you're telling me to do your job during 510 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:36.599 the Olympics you need at one hundred million. I'm not 511 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:38.920 buying it. I need to see I'm going to need 512 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.839 a lot more receipts on that. 513 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:44.079 I agree. We're on the same page there, especially because 514 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:46.559 I want to say, about a month or so ago, 515 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:50.519 there was a city council meeting where council Member Martinez 516 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:56.240 revealed that there are six employees on LAPD Public Relations 517 00:27:56.519 --> 00:28:00.519 who make more than in total their salary than six 518 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:02.640 departments within the city. 519 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:08.720 Wow, must be nice, but not really. Yeah, I mean 520 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:12.680 you have to spend a lot of money to Yeah, 521 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:14.000 I mean you have to be paid a lot of 522 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:16.559 money to justify some of the things they'd be doing. 523 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:21.880 So I get it. But we digress. So we were 524 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:25.720 on what we were on number two or number three 525 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:29.640 number modernizing the testing system, the Pathways program, which includes 526

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:34.279 entry level jobs, which would include entry level jobs and 527 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:39.400 paid internships with a direct path to permanent jobs in 528 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:43.000 civil service jobs in the city. Okay, what's number three? 529 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:45.039 Number three is inclusive recruitment. 530 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:47.839 Oh that was okay, I thought that was part of Pathways. Okay, 531 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.880 inclusive recruitment. 532 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:52.119 Yes, And number four is our workforce equity clause, which 533 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:55.200 stirred more feathers than inclusive recruitment, believe it or not, 534 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.160 a lot of conversation around is it's a violation of 535 00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:01.319 prop to or nine? Is this going to be litigated 536 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:05.039 after and again forever? The optimist and we've used very 537 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:09.519 specific language, but what we're asking for is a priority 538 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:17.720 in contracting in workforce as well as internships and apprenticeships, 539 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:22.160 and so really solidifying one, two, and three in a 540 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:27.680 way that guarantees that our folks, folks from underserved communities, 541 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:31.160 intentionally disenfranchised communities, will be the first people who get 542 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.839 the opportunity. 543 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:34.200 So yeah, I can see why they're saying, oh, it's 544 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:37.759 Prop two nine, Prop too on nine. That's which, of course, 545 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.079 for me, means put it under reparations. But I know 546 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:43.119 our city, Our city's probably not ready for that smoke. 547 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:49.359 But doesn't mean we can advocate for it. I just 548 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:53.279 hate preemptive surrender. Yeah, reminds me of you know, the 549 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:57.440 LA Unified saying, oh, well, we better, we better nerve 550 00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:03.039 the Black Student Achievement program because some weird conservative ladies 551 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:06.160 in Virginia might sue us. No, fight for that exactly, 552 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:08.720 like the students fought for it. Fight for that exactly. 553 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:11.519 Thank goodness to LA Teachers Union was willing to step 554 00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:15.319 up and and the students never stopped fighting. Okay, so 555 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:19.599 workforce equity clause that one they're they're blocking at because 556 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.519 of two on nine. But I say do it and 557 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:25.279 let and let them bring their little racist lawsuits. 558 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:28.000 Yes, just expose yourself as a racist. We're excited for 559 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:29.920 the opportunity to make

a list. 560 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:32.960 And the fifth recommendation is it is. 561 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:37.119 To establish a permanent Workforce Equity Commission. And so for us, 562 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:42.039 all one through four is the vision, but this five 563 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:44.839 and six is how do we implement the vision make 564 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:48.960 sure that the vision is actually happening. Policy oftentimes is 565 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:52.920 really grandiose ideas that are great made with good intentions, 566 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.880 but then there's an issue on the administrative side of 567 00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.640 the implementation. 568 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:59.160 Yeah, how do you make it happen? In number six? 569 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:02.839 Number six is we want audits, workforce equity audits every 570 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.960 four years. 571 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:08.640 Okay, the data, I mean, it sounds like a good idea. 572 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:11.920 Don't we have something like that now? 573 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:15.319 Sort of? But we the public don't have access to 574 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.559 the data. 575 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:20.599 It's internal function through what department? 576 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:24.200 Through personnel oh okay, which they're always going to say 577 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:25.279 those are private matters. 578 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:29.000 But when you talk about being accountable to the people 579 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:33.000 that pay the salaries of those civil service employees, the 580 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:38.039 personnel matters are private. Argument is is weak sauce. 581 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:41.200 Weak sauce. That data is ours. We've literally paid for it, 582 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:43.559 and if you're not doing anything wrong, then what's wrong 583 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.000 with telling us what's going on in there? 584 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:47.160 Right? I mean, it's not like we're asking for people's 585 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:48.799 personnel files exactly. 586 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:52.440 We just want aggregated data around race, around gender, around 587 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:54.000 which departments are hiring who. 588 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:56.880 Yeah, well that would be rather interesting. 589 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:59.680 It would be and it would be public hearings and 590 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:02.400 that happen every four years. Yeah, and the data would 591 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:05.079 be available to the public. What's really exciting about that 592 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:07.880 is it gives labor and opportunity actual receipts as well 593 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:13.000 as community members to address emerging patterns of harm. And 594 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:15.759 we know we have our hypotheses, but now we'll be 595 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.079 able to prove it with the data. 596 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:21.240 Right. So, if these six recommendations were to move forward, 597 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:25.240 you're talking about embedding them in the charter. And for 598 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:27.319 people like me who don't pay attention to the charter 599 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:30.480 most of the time, that's really serious business because if 600 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:33.640 it's in the city Charter, it means they have to 601 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:36.680 do it, and if they don't do it, they can 602 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:40.759 be held accountable in court. Yes, they we can be 603 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:43.039 held accountable. We are the city, right, all of us 604 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:46.519 eight hundred nine two oh fifteen eight. If we want 605 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:49.759 to say something about that. There's quite a few comments 606 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:53.519 in the chats here. We need housing, we need the money, 607 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:55.480 but who are the We's Molly Bell we're talking about 608 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:57.960 black people this morning, because this is the La Black 609 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:02.400 Worker Center. But of course Ariel mentioned working class folks, 610 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:05.880 and I think that is really important for the city 611 00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:09.079 of LA. We can end up like San Francisco, my hometown, 612 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:12.720 being merely a playground for the rich, and all of 613 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:18.039 the working class and lower income folks get pushed out further, further, further, 614 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:21.599 further away from the city. I think that's where they're 615 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:25.440 talking about. Quaemel says, the convention center isn't decrepit, what 616 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:29.000 could it possibly need? It's not I wouldn't call it decrepit, 617 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:32.279 but when you compare it with convention centers and other 618 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:35.400 major cities, it's kind of broke down. I mean, it's 619 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:37.559 not just a matter of is it rundown, It's like, 620 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:42.039 is it spacious enough? Does it have ample parking access? 621 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:45.119 Does it have the capacity to whole the kinds of 622 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:48.359 conventions that we're competing for? And the answer is no. 623 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:53.319 But my question isn't there a private I'm gonna say, like, 624 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:56.119 why do we have to pay for it? I've always 625 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:58.200 went why do we pay for football stadiums? Why do 626 00:33:58.279 --> 00:34:00.880 we pay for convention centers? And if we do shouldn't 627 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:03.720 every bit of profit be going back into the general 628 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:06.720 fund in the city coffers, which I don't think that's 629 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:10.559 the plan. We'll continue this

conversation with Ariel Moore of 630 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:13.280 the LA Black Worker Center when we come forward on 631 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:20.000 KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. Apologetically pro working class, unapologetically pro 632 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:23.079 black workers. That's who we are and proud of it. 633 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:25.840 Ariel Moore is here. She is a campaign coordinator for 634 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:28.519 the LA Black Worker Center. So you just laid out 635 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:37.079 these six goals. LABWC has been attending meetings. Molly Bell's 636 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:39.079 asking if the phones the phones are always open on 637 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:42.159 the show and next hour it's just me you and 638 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:45.639 microphone telephone, so perfect time to call. So you've laid 639 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:48.840 out these six goals, you've been attending the meetings. How 640 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:56.119 can the KBLA delegation help manifest better worker conditions in 641 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.079 our new city charter? 642 00:34:57.320 --> 00:35:00.000 Great question. We would love it if folks could show 643 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:05.000 up March tenth, four pm at City Council. That will 644 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:08.079 be the charter reform meeting where we will be the 645 00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:11.719 charter reform Commissioners will be voting on our recommendations whether 646 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:14.519 they should move forward to City Council and their final 647 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:19.400 recommendation report. If you can attend in person, you can 648 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:24.920 email them at Lacity Charter Reform dot lacity dot org. 649 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:28.559 If you can't email them, or if you're interested in 650 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:30.760 intending a meeting but you can't be there in person, 651 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:33.960 you can also join by zoom. So what we're really 652 00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:36.800 asking for is for folks to make their voices heard. 653 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:39.840 This is an issue that affects all people. Black people 654 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:42.159 are the canary in the coal mines. We're the first 655 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:44.679 to know how bad it's going to get. But a 656 00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:47.199 high tide raises all ships, which is why we're really 657 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:51.599 looking for this to be a larger coalition of working class, 658 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:53.360 multi racial Angelinos. 659 00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:56.760 Okay, So March tenth at four pm, is that that's 660 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:57.960 a committee meeting. 661 00:35:57.800 --> 00:36:00.719 Or that is yeah, a commissioner committee meeting. 662 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:05.400 Okay, So it's a commission meeting under the La City Council. 663 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:08.039 So because those commissions are appointed by the mayor. 664 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:11.159 Actually four are appointed by the mayor for this commission, 665 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:14.360 and then four appointed by city Council and there's five 666 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.360 community members. 667 00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:18.360 Okay, so this is a commission meeting. 668 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.880 This is a commission meeting. 669 00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:23.119 So at four o'clock March tenth. Yes, at City Hall, 670 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:27.440 at City Hall, and the email that you gave was La. 671 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:33.719 La Charter Reform, and it's at lacity dot org. 672 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:36.440 Okay. And then to zoom in you probably go to 673 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:39.239 the City of La website and click around. 674 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:43.000 Charter Reform website and then it just has meetings and 675 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.719 the zoom link. 676 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:47.079 Okay. So you want people to say, look, make these 677 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:52.320 recommendations of the La Black Worker Center, and what about 678 00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:55.679 future meetings? Are there other charter reform meetings coming up 679 00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:56.719 that folks should track. 680 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.880 So, actually, Charter Reform, the commission piece of it is 681 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:02.679 coming to an end. The final vote will be the 682 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:06.079 end of March. This will be the last meeting on 683 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:12.440 personnel and civil service and budget, so about our issues specifically. 684 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.920 And then in March, at the end of March, they 685 00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:17.599 will give their report to City Council and to the 686 00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:20.039 mayor and then we're in phase two, which it moves 687 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:24.000 to city council. City council meetings will be where you 688 00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:28.159 can find LABWC and we will be meeting with city 689 00:37:28.199 --> 00:37:30.639 council members to make sure we get an affirmative vote. 690 00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:36.000 So after March, the lobbying goes from the Commission to 691 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:40.360 the Council. Yes, and it sounds like then March tenth 692 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:43.360 is the last chance to weigh in on this particular piece, 693 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:46.480 this civil service, black jobs and LA piece. So this 694 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:48.599 is a really a crucial moment. 695 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:51.119 It really is. And by the end of the night 696 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:54.960 we'll know whether there's two votes. One is happening externally 697 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:57.760 and internally, So this is the external vote that community 698 00:37:57.800 --> 00:38:00.519 can be a part of. And then the Commission at 699 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:02.880 the end of this month will meet about all the 700 00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:06.559 things that they have voted yes on and then itemize 701 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.519 things for the report. 702 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:13.519 Wow. Okay, so that's those are really clear directives. How 703 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:16.559 do we track LA BWC's work in general. 704 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:20.119 Yeah, so we actually have a special part of our 705 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:23.119 website that's all about Charter reform. You can follow us 706 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:27.920 on socials and. 707 00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:29.639 I think it's at LA BWC and I could be wrong. 708 00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:32.920 I followed, I follow you guys. So there's a Charter 709 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:36.000 reform part of the website and follow on social. 710 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:37.000 And follow on socials. 711 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:40.480 Yes, all right, well, Ariel Moore, thank you so much 712 00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:42.920 for coming in. It's great to uh hear from you, 713 00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:44.960 and I look forward to seeing where this goes. 714 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:46.559 Yeah, I can't wait to come back and tell you 715 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:47.679 about it. We're gonna win. 716 00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:51.559 When we fight, we win, all right. Phone lines are 717 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:53.920 wide open eight hundred and nine two oh fifteen eighty. 718 00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:57.159 I'm Dominique to Freema for KBLA Talk, fifteen eighty