Irvine City Council Transitioning to Districts – Your Definitive Guide

Finally, Irvine, the largest city in California to have at-large city council members, is transitioning toward creating distinct city council districts from which the candidates would run. The City will also add 2 seats to the City Council. Our guide to this process for the full hour is demographer Justin Levitt, retained by Irvine’s City Council. He lays out the process under way, wherein the City of Irvine is drawing these 6 council districts for the voters’ approval on the Spring 2024 Primary election ballot. The November 2024 general election vote would include voters in 4 of those districts. Residents of Irvine are welcome to participate in this process by spending time at: https://drawirvine.org/.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Rodney Whitaker, “Minorabilia,” Oasis – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Levitt5-23-23.mp3

Public Goods and Liabilities on Irvine City Council Roster AND Are The Kids Alright?

Irvine Planning Commission Chairwoman Branda Lin, covers City Council items currently under consideration: the city’s proposed acquisition of the All American Asphalt plant, Live Nation’s amphitheater prospects, USA Water Polo, municipal districts, and more.

In the second segment (minute 36:30), Melyssa Zive offers insight about adolescent mental health in her capacity as Program Director for ROWI Teen & Parent Wellness Center recently opened in Tustin, California.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; The Black Market Trust, “Minor Swing,” Folk Songs – album; and Odetta, “This Little Light of Mine.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/LinZive4-11-23.mp3

Energy Choices Driving Climate in Irvine and Orange County

Ayn Craciun, Orange County Policy Advocate with the Climate Action Campaign brings you energy in three parts: the City of Irvine’s newly adopted electrification ordinance, the Climate Action plans, and the Orange County Power Authority.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Ann Callaway, “Thoughts and Prayers.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Craciun4-4-23.mp3

Great Park Amphitheater Stakes AND Law School Enviro Clinic Clothing Swap

All hands on deck with today’s time-sensitive coverage. Doug Elliott with Irvine Watchdog, examines how Live Nation isn’t just wielding their anti-trust might around the country, but performing their own power dynamic inside the Great Park. Tonight, February 21st, 6:30 p.m. Irvine City Council’s special meeting to consider the new terms Live Nation has proposed for the amphitheater.

In the second segment (minute 31:21)UCI Law student Bonggeul (Edward) Joo covers the Environmental Law Clinic’s mobilizing to reduce the harmful impact of fast fashion on the planet, including the collecting used clothing and hosting the ELC Thrift Swap event on February 28.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Soul Jazz Orchestra, “As the World Turns,” Resistance – album; Gregory Porter “In Fashion,” Magic Radio presents.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/ElliottJoo2-21-23.mp3

Cleaning Rooms in Irvine’s Inns

This close to the lore of Mary and Joseph looking for room at any inn, today we look at how workers are faring as they keep clean our hotels. For the whole program Austin Lynch, director and negotiator at Unite Here Local 11; and Maria Balderas, union member and rank and file leader, working at the Irvine Hilton – cover the working conditions for hotel staff as well as Irvine’s recently adopted workers protection ordinance, the first of its kind in Orange County. For those Irvine voters, who have signed the petition circulating to revoke the ordinance, who wish to retract their signatures, they can text 562-688-5867 for instructions. The document to complete is: https://www.unitehere11.org/wp-content/uploads/Irvine-Referendum-Petition-Signature-Withdrawal-Form-00420418xB613E.pdf

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Groupo Nueva Vida, “Las Posadas,” Alabanzas Cristianas Que Llegan al Alma, Vol. 6

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/LynchBalderasPod12-20-22.mp3

School Boards On The Frontline AND Irvine Mayor Khan Is Invited To Speak

One week til the midterm elections, folks. After the tsunami of October surprises, we seem to be experiencing November surprises, so keep your critical thinking caps on ever snugly. Today my guests are Allyson Muñiz Damikolas, Tustin Unified School Board member with insights about the trends afoot in Orange County school boards’ composition. Think tectonic plates moving under our feet.

In the second segment the planned guest, who committed to this segment, and despite repeated attempts to reach her live, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan was unavailable. She is running for another term. The host pressed on with election advisories.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Zélia Barbosa, Sertão & Favelas; ”Conga del Fuego” composed by Arturo Marquez, Gustavo Dudamel conducting Simon Bolivar of Venezuela; “Minor Swing,” Black Market Trust, Songs – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DamikolasKhan1-1-22.mp3

Meet Ryan Dack South OC Comm College Dist Area 6 Candidate AND Meet Irvine Mayoral Candidate Simon Moon And “Nina Simone: Four Women” at So Coast Rep

Voters around the country, California included, are beginning to vote; the Elect Project Monday posted over 2 million votes have already been cast. Continuing our coverage of down ticket races in the Irvine area, we hear from Ryan Dack candidate for Trustee Area 6 of the South Orange County Community College District.

In the second segment (minute 21:38), pastor and US Army Reserve officer and chaplain Simon Moon will speak about his bid for the mayor of Irvine.

And as time allowed (minute 45:06), a few words from playwright Christina Ham about the current run of her play “Nina Simone: Four Women,” at the South Coast Rep at the Argyros Theater in Costa Mesa. Performances conclude on the evening of 10-23rd. Details for this production are available at: https://www.scr.org/plays/productions/22-23-season/nina-simone-four-women/.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; John Beasley, “Played Twice,” Monk’estra Vol. 2 – album; Silk Road Ensemble with Yo Yo Ma, “Saidi Swing,” A Playlist Without Borders – album; and Nina Simone, “Ain’t Got No – I Got Life.”

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DackMoonHam10-18-22.mp3

Part 2 of the Dack interview, taking up the college district map and the process of succeeding the recently resigned incumbent: http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Dack210-18-22.mp3

Meet Tom Chomyn Candidate for Irvine Mayor AND Meet Congresswoman Katie Porter

Voting has already begun in California, among other states – it’s now 27 days til the midterm elections. The first guest on this show is tech sales executive and Irvine mayoral candidate, Tom Chomyn. The Orange Co. Power Authority, city council districts, and the Great Park are topics in tight rotation with city council candidates on this show.

In the second segment (minute 28:10) is Congresswoman Katie Porter, representing the 45th and running in the new 47th CA Congressional Dist. Assuming folks’ familiarity with the Democratic Party’s standard talking points, it’s a fine time to head into some other policy areas for a teachable moment covering: the Inflation Reduction Act, federal flood insurance, and the child tax credit.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; #9 Balsam Range, “Marching Home,” Marching Home – album; Carlie Simon, “Let the River Run,” Working Girl Soundtrack – album; Darryl Taylor performing, “Dreamer” – Eric Santos composer, DREAMER; A Portrait of Langston Hughes – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/ChomynPorter10-11-22.mp3

Meet MWDOC Division 5 Candidate Randall Crane AND Meet Irvine Mayoral Candidate Branda Lin

Today we crowd three plus hours worth of civics in under 1 hour! There won’t be a quiz after the show, but voters must complete all their ballots, which includes these two races. First, Randall Crane, Professor Emeritus at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and Irvine resident, is running in Division 5 of the Municipal Water District of Orange County. In the second segment (minute 35:13), Branda Lin, co-founder of Irvine Watchdog, this time dons her candidate hat, in her bid to run for Mayor of Irvine. She is one of 4 candidates challenging the incumbent mayor.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Bill Beach, “Aqua de Beber,” Letting Go – album; Magwinya, “Magwinya Mangola neWhite Liver,” Spaza – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/CraneLin09-20-22.mp3

CA National Women’s Caucus in the Midterms AND Meet Kathleen Treseder Candidate for Irvine City Council 

Karriann Farrell Hinds, CA President of the National Women’s Political Caucus, examines state and local races with women running in the Midterm elections 2022. Lots of ground moving under the campaigns with all the red dot blue state action here.

In the second segment (minute 28:17), returning to the show is UCI professor Kathleen Treseder, this time as a full-on candidate for Irvine City Council; energy, climate goals, and democracy are on the City Council ballot. An Irvine candidate forum will be hosted by Irvine Watchdog and moderated by our very own Prof Richard Matthew, Sept 29th 7pm. That might be necessary since not every candidate makes it possible for me to reach them for these nice little interviews I do over here. Kathleen Treseder will be our first look under those local candidates’ hoods.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Angélique Kidjo, “Sweet Lullaby”; Sinne Eeg & The Danish Radio Big Band, “Samba Em Comum,” We’ve Just Begun – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/HindsTreseder9-13-22.mp3