Category: california insider

Child Trafficking Bill: Why California Law Makers Were Forced to Change Their Vote | Shane Harris

“No child should be dealing with these issues, especially by a system that claims that can take better care of you than your biological family..” Siyamak sits down with Shane Harris, an advocate for foster youth and a civil rights activist twitter.com/shaneharrisnow He’ll tell us about his experience being in the foster care system and…


Child Trafficking Bill: Why California Lawmakers Were Forced to Change Their Vote | Shane Harris

“No child should be dealing with these issues, especially by a system that claims it can take better care of you than your biological family.” Siyamak sits down with Shane Harris, an advocate for foster youth and a civil rights activist twitter.com/shaneharrisnow. He tells us about his experience in the foster care system—and of witnessing…


The double-edged sword of California Green Energy | John Baker

“In the name of green energy, we’re sacrificing wildlife species. Because of the power mandates, we’re unable to enforce the take of that. I don’t think they have thought what that cost is to us as Californians and to the environment as a whole.” Siyamak sits down with John Baker, retired Assistant Chief with California…


California Reparations Moves Forward. What’s Next? | Tony Hall

“I’ve never seen a more insidious, inane, exploitive, and cruel plan put forth to the American public. You’re asking non-slave owners to pay people who were never slaves $5 million per black guy in San Francisco. The average household is going to have to pay $600,000.” Siyamak sits down with Tony Hall, a former supervisor…


Why Cost of Living Is So High in California | Terry Gilliam

A recent poll shows that 40 percent of Californians are considering leaving the state due to the high cost of living. Is the “California exodus” in effect at full speed, or has it slowed down? And is there a way to get Californians who left to come back? Siyamak sits down with Terry Gilliam, the…


Why Santa Monica Is at the Verge of Losing Its Iconic Appeal | John Alley

“Residents are seeing homeless in the alleys, [there’s] dumpster fires, they’re cooking drugs, cooking meth … Individuals are defecating, shooting up heroin … It’s a matter of will from the city.” Siyamak sits down with John Alley, real estate owner and co founder of The Santa Monica Coalition. Today, Mr. Alley explains why this coalition exists and…


Why Skyrocketing Insurance Rates Lead to Lost Coverage and No Safety Net | Chris Hebard

“This is something that can crash our economy. If the insurance companies say, ‘No more, we’re not going to write any insurance in California anymore,’ it will stop everything here. It’s the very first time in the 75 years that our insurance agency has been in business, we can’t find insurance for people.” Siyamak sits…


Homeless RV Encampments Polluting LA Water and Beaches | Barry Coe

“Unbelievable stuff going on—the amount of trash. There are hazardous materials, [and] burned-out carcasses of motor homes are all over the place.” “Nine thousand gallons [of raw sewage] a month are going into the wastewater system. That’s the storm-drain system—not the sewers. The storm drain carries it straight to Santa Monica Bay.” Siyamak sits down…


Why Homelessness in California Is Different Compared to Rest of the US | Vern Pierson

“Most of the blue states are not having the problem that California is having. This homelessness problem, the drug addiction problem, the theft problem … Why are they becoming a crisis here in California? It is a handful of really bad policy decisions.” Siyamak sits down with Vern Pierson, district attorney of El Dorado County,…


Former San Francisco County Supervisor Issues Warning on City Becoming Detroit | Tony Hall

“San Francisco was a glorious city. What made it was its culture, its people. They were benevolent, they were fun-loving, and all that’s gone. If they don’t take bold approaches to correct their problems, San Francisco will be just like Detroit in the ’60s and ’70s.” Siyamak sits down with Tony Hall, a former San…