Look West: How California is Leading the Nation
Look West provides a personal view of the California leaders representing you in the State Assembly. Tune in while these elected officials, influential leaders, and the general public provide a unique perspective on different issues affecting California, and learn more about the actions we’re taking to help lead the nation into a brighter future.
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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on Look West are solely those of the guests and do not necessarily represent the views of the Democratic Office of Communication and Outreach or the Assembly Democratic Caucus.
The State of Water
February 26, 2021
Water is an issue addressed by the California State Legislature every session. We had the opportunity to speak with Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath, grassroots organizers Susana De Anda, Executive Director of Community Water Center and Michael Claiborne, Directing Attorney of Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. Our guests discuss the complexity of water issue and how every aspect of it is related to affordability, accessibility, pollution, COVID-19, and climate change.
Make A Plan to Get the Vaccine
February 16, 2021
The novel vaccines are on the cutting edge of science. While the technology has been studied for years, this is the first in-human use of this technology, so some are slow to say Yes to being vaccinated. On this episode Dr. Shirley Weber describes her experience receiving her vaccine. Plus - a conversation about the cutting-edge nature of the vaccine with Assemblymember Dr. Jim Wood and Nurse Practitioner Christy Sillman. Sillman has written about how she owes her life to "living at the cutting edge of science," and sees the vaccine as an extension of that.
Roots and Heritage: Speaker Anthony Rendon
January 29, 2021
Get to know Speaker Anthony Rendon like never before. Join us as he shares how a son of Mexican immigrants came to be the Speaker of the CA State Assembly.
Covid-19 Vaccines: Hope is Here
January 15, 2021
Hope is finally here. Listen to Look West as Dr. Elaine Batchlor and Dr. Jorge Reyno, experts from MLK Hospital in LA talk vaccines with Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, a former first responder. We also chat up two front line health workers who talk about their experiences with the vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
New Laws You Should Care About
December 21, 2020
With 2020 in the rearview mirror, new laws are coming your way on January 1st. In this episode of Look West you’ll hear from the authors of legislation that will affect millions of Californians in 2021. Listen as Assemblymembers Eloise Gómez Reyes, Mike Gipson, Dr. Shirley Weber, Jacqui Irwin and Sydney Kamlager, and State Senator Richard Pan tell you about their laws regarding COVID-19, community immunity, protecting domestic violence and sexual assault victims, implicit bias, first responders and a task force on reparations.
Your New Assembly Legislators
December 7, 2020
The Assembly Democratic Caucus will continue to be the most diverse majority in the history of the California State Assembly. Joining more than four dozen returning Democratic Assembly Members are five newly elected legislators: Steve Bennett (AD 37 – Ventura), Alex Lee (AD 25 – San Jose), Christopher Ward (AD 78 – San Diego), Lisa Calderon (AD 57 – Whittier) and Carlos Villapudua (AD 13 – Stockton). In this episode of Look West you’ll learn about their backgrounds, why they decided to accept public scrutiny of their lives and run for public office and what their top priorities will be as they begin their terms as Assemblymembers.
Transgender Awareness in California
November 13, 2020
2020 is set to be the most violently deadly year on record for transgender and gender-conforming individuals. We recognize Transgender Awareness Week by delving into the hardships, successes and progression of the Transgender community with Human Rights Activist, Ebony Ava Harper and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. In this episode, we raise our voices for those who deserve visibility.
CA for Black Lives Part 3 - How We Fight
July 24, 2020
In Part 3, How We Fight, we discuss legislation, community organizing, police abolishment, Black economic investment, and the 2nd Amendment as just a few in the long list of tools needed to dismantle structural racism and white supremacy. Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager, Bryon F. Wilson, Headmaster of the Wilson Academy in Conyers, GA and leader of #HowWeFight, and Dr. Melina Abdullah, Co-founder Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, shed light on these issues.
Coronavirus Shutdown Our Schools – What’s Next?
June 16, 2020
The impact of the coronavirus on California schools reverberates throughout the rest of our communities. From missing proms and graduations to parents learning to home school their children, to the creation of a distance learning system, the closure and eventual reopening of schools directly impacts the students, teachers and administrators. But it also impacts the parents, our neighborhoods and the business community. Look West talks with Assemblymembers Patrick O'Donnell (Chair of the Education Committee), Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Cristina Garcia and local school officials about the day the schools were shut down, how to reopen the schools safely and addressing the inequities in the school systems that have been magnified by the coronavirus crisis.
CA for Black Lives part 2: Inclusion & Diversity
June 12, 2020
Continuing our discussion on race with Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber and guest, Rosalyn O'Neale, a Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, to talk about affirmative action, considering reparations for the descendants of former slaves, and how to foster communities and workplaces that not only include, but also celebrate diverse voices. In a time when nationwide protests hit home across California, Assemblymembers are listening to the experts and their communities to bring forth reformative policies to promote inclusion and diversity in the democratic process.