SGV Connect 139: ICE
SGV Connect
Episode 139 of SGV Connect focuses on the impact of ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on the communities in the San Gabriel Valley. Both interviews were conducted by Chris Greenspon. The first is with Estrella, a resident of El Monte who witnesses the crushing impact of the ongoing threat of ICE raids in her community. The second is with Assemblymember Mike Fong, who highlights not just what the communities he represents are experiencing, but some ways in which the state is fighting back. Estrella reports that while the community is beginning to show signs of life again,...
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SGV Connect 138: Reclaimers Resisting Eviction
SGV Connect
This week’s SGV Connect reconnects with the Reclaimers (), the group of formerly homeless people that moved into Caltrans-owned houses at the start of the pandemic without the agency's permission. Over the past five years, the Reclaimers have been on a legal odyssey that’s involved not just Caltrans and the three cities where the transportation agency owned houses in the right of way for a now cancelled freeway extension, but also the California Highway Patrol, and even the Governor’s Office. This interview focuses mostly on the story of Benito Flores, a 76-year old handyman still...
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SGV Connect 137: Olympic Cricket in Pomona
SGV Connect
Episode 137 of the SGVConnect Podcast is part two of our Olympics preview and focuses on the upcoming Olympic cricket tournament coming to the Pomona Fairplex. In the first interview, Streetsblog editor Joe Linton interviews Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval. The far-reaching interview covers other topics, including Pomona’s response to the actions of President Trump’s para-military bounty hunters and the arrival of the GOLD LINE, but returns to a friendly discussion of the Olympics. Included is a challenge for the Streetsblog. You can read a full transcript of the interview . In the...
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SGV 136 - Preparing for LA 2028 with Alissa Walker
SGV Connect
This week kicks off a multi-episode mini-series at SGV Connect focusing on the LA 2028 Olumpoc games and what the events can mean for San Gabriel Valley Communities. This first episode features an interview with Alissa Walker, co-host of the and editor of the . When not , Walker has become the go-to source of information about the upcoming games. The 2028 games will feature four venues in the San Gabriel Valley. Pasadena will host the soccer finals at the Rose Bowl, the Santa Anita Racetrack will host equestrian and dressage, the Pomona Fairgrounds will...
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SGV Connect 135.2 - Memories of El Monte
SGV Connect
Last week, Chris visited the mutual aid group Memories of El Monte's bi-weekly food distribution at the Klingerman Apartment projects in South El Monte to interview group members and get an update on the construction of their physical location, The People's Cafe. The regular food distribution gives the community the opportunity to receive $200 worth of groceries for $5, according to Memories of El Monte. For those interested in receiving groceries or volunteering with set-up and tear-down, the distributions take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, with ticketing at...
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SGV Connect 135.1 - An Update on the Gold Line Foothill Construction Timelines
SGV Connect
(Note: this week’s SGV Connect podcast is being broken into two parts. Part 2, which is a series of interview about The People’s Cafe in El Monte, will be broadcast tomorrow.) Last week, news broke that bids for the next extension of the Foothill Gold Line - from Pomona to Montclair - would be delayed because the only bid to design and build the project was hundreds of millions of dollars higher than anticipated. Earlier today, Damien Newton sat down with Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian to discuss the causes of the delay and how it impacts the timeline of...
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SGV Connect 134: Mutual Aid in the fallout of the Eaton Fire
SGV Connect
The Eaton Fire has left a tremendous scar on Southern California’s culture and politics for the foreseeable future. Thankfully, it’s stopped advancing for some time now, but the statistics are still top of mind: 17 dead, 14,000+ acres burned, 9,000+ structures destroyed, 1,000+ structures damaged. During the early weeks of the fire, social media was a frenzy of good and bad information on destruction and safety, spite directed at elected officials, renewed revelation about the exploitation of incarcerated firefighters, and finger pointing over the funding and capabilities of Los...
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SGV Connect 133: Introducing StreetSmart
SGV Connect
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m using this week’s SGV Connect to encourage listeners to start listening to my other podcast, StreetSmart which appears at Streetsblog California. This week’s SGV Connect features clips from three different StreetSmart interviews. The first is with Jeanie Ward-Waller where we de-mystify the California Transportation Commission. A little-heard-of board that approves billions of dollars of state transportation funds every year. In this clip, we discuss why it’s important to have progressives and activists in some of the voting board positions. For the full...
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SGV Connect 132 - Melanie Curry, Signing Off
SGV Connect
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SGV Connect 131 – Foothill Transit AMA with Felicia Friesema
SGV Connect
Foothill Transit’s Director of Marketing and Communications joins Streetsblog Editor Damien Newton for an ask-me-anything style interview probing the bus agency’s recent trials and successes. Friesema took questions on: how Foothill’s bolstered services to and will connect with soon to open service in the San Gabriel Valley Foothills, the agency’s hopes for a service contract in the 60 Freeway corridor, what level of challenge is still faced after the initial stage of the , and the agency’s move towards technology since its...
info_outlineEpisode 139 of SGV Connect focuses on the impact of ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on the communities in the San Gabriel Valley. Both interviews were conducted by Chris Greenspon.
The first is with Estrella, a resident of El Monte who witnesses the crushing impact of the ongoing threat of ICE raids in her community. The second is with Assemblymember Mike Fong, who highlights not just what the communities he represents are experiencing, but some ways in which the state is fighting back.
Estrella reports that while the community is beginning to show signs of life again, things will never be the same. Families are struggling to make rent as economic activity has slowed even for those who are still working. Others are sheltering to avoid ICE. Even the school district has seen a drop in attendance as the arbitrary nature of the raids has caused widespread fear.
A lightly edited transcript of the conversation can be found here.
Fong also discussed the impact of recent ICE raids in the San Gabriel Valley, highlighting incidents in Alhambra and Rosemead. He emphasized the trauma and fear affecting all immigrant communities, especially the Latino population. Fong discussed some of the state legislation aimed at improving the situation, including his own legislation to support undocumented students. He also praised legislative efforts like SB 805 and SB 627 to ensure law enforcement transparency. Fong underscored the importance of community support, citing a local food distribution initiative, and outlined his legislative goals for expanding college access and affordable housing.
A lightly edited transcript of the conversation can be found here
SGV Connect would like to take a moment to wish the friends and family of Benito Flores peace and comfort after his passing.