J.T. the L.A. Storyteller

There is no podcast this week since yours truly is busy just prepping for the official 10 year Anniversary Bash for JIMBOTIMES.COM, but the podcast will be back with new guests and Cuentos in no time! In the meantime, it’s my great pleasure to invite you to the official ten year gathering for J.T. the Continue reading LOS ANGELES, YOU ARE INVITED: TO TEN MORE YEARS 🤞🏽 →

Let the city know! This summer, both J.T. the L.A. Storyteller and Rhymefest Los Angeles turn ten years young in the game; our coming together is thus going to be the hip hop and Los Cuentos event of the summer. The entire block and every family is invited! Yours truly also extends the biggest shout Continue reading RHYMEFEST TURNS TEN TOO, LOS ANGELES →

George A. Turner is a father of three and is originally from the city of Inglewood, where he continues to live with his family. Turner has served as a Public Defender for L.A. County for the last 16 years and is now running for L.A. County Superior Court Judge, Seat 39. To learn more about Continue reading WHO CAN JUDGE ME IN L.A. COUNTY? FEATURING GEORGE A. TURNER →

Ericka Wiley is running for Superior Court Judge Seat 48 this November after serving as a Public Defender in Los Angeles for nearly 24 years and garnering over 47% of the vote this past March. We discuss how Wiley entered the race to begin with, just what she believes qualifies her for the Superior Court Continue reading WHO CAN JUDGE ME IN L.A. COUNTY? FEATURING ERICKA WILEY →

On Wednesday, July 3rd, the Rios-Vela family attended the first court hearing for the alleged and primary suspect behind the murder of The Rios Brothers, Marcos Navarro, 33 years old. It was an extremely emotional day, yet Amalia Vela in particular spoke out with clarity and courage about what she seeks in terms of accountability Continue reading SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE RIOS BROTHERS OF EAST HOLLY...

With L.A. City Council recapped, let’s place LAUSD elections from March into perspective. LAUSD has a board of seven members, each of which is elected every four years. The board meets regularly on Tuesday afternoons, and by a long shot, its most important job is managing L.A. Schools’ annual budget, which in the 2023 – Continue reading LAUSD MARCH 2024 PRIMARIES: RECAP →

Henry Lara is the one and only Angeleno Heart. In this special episode at the Los Angeles Public Library’s Octavia Lab, we discuss his upbringing, his inspiration, and what’s next for his work as the rawest photographer born and raised in Los Angeles. This week also marked a horrendous loss for yours truly and the Continue reading ANGELENO HEART: “THEY WANT TO TELL THEIR STORY&#8...

It’s official! There are now just 136 days before it’s “high-key” time for elections again. This is because in California ballots for the election are sent to voters some 29 days before Election Day. So then, even if Election Day is on November 5th, many of us will have the opportunity to vote on L.A. Continue reading L.A. MARCH 2024 PRIMARIES: RECAP →

You can also catch this WRAP-UP on YouTube. On Friday, May 17, the L.A. City Council presented a number of local celebrities with some proclamations. May 17th was declared “Shohei Ohtani day,” while May 19th is now “Father Greg Boyle” day, at least on the official calendar of the L.A. City Council chambers. Afterwards, a Continue reading SHOHEI OHTANI AND L.A. CITY COUNCIL ARE BESTIES...

Today the Los Angeles Dodgers are worth $5.4 billion. But for the land they took to play ball, Vincent “Chente” Montalvo’s family received what his grandfather John De Nava called peanuts. His grandmother, Adela De Nava–now 91 years old(!)–also continues to stand by this claim. It’s not just about the money, though. Earlier this year, Continue reading THE DODGERS: COLLEAGUES, OR...

First up, enjoy a new Intro for the podcast! Followed by a few notes on the week from yours truly, including on the tragic passing of Mirna Soza while boarding L.A. Metro’s B Line on Monday, April 22nd, as well as on the Armenian Genocide of 1915, commemorated every year on April 24th. Then, from Continue reading OAXACALIFORNIA: OAXACAN AMERICANS IN L.A. →

In this installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast yours truly sits down with P, the horrible vandal, to discuss L.A. City Council’s recent approval of over $4 million to “remove graffiti covering three abandoned skyscrapers in downtown L.A., secure the site, and restore the public right of way on the adjacent sidewalks.” We also Continue reading DOWNTOWN L.A.’s GRAFFITI TO...

In this update for J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast we reflect on our two year Anniversary Party for the Making a Neighborhood newsletter at local Bellevue Park, which included a dazzling Healing Circle by Koreatown and Pico-Union’s very own Monica Garcia, MFT. To subscribe to Making a Neighborhood for free, please do so here. Also, Continue reading A DAY WITHOUT AN IMMIGRANT IN LOS ANGELES...

With Election Day finally over with it was an absolute pleasure to speak with Marty Hillard of the legendary Ebony Tusks crew out of Lawrence, Kansas; from Los Angeles to the Midwest, it’s time for J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast to branch out, and I could think of no better way to do so than Continue reading THE ILLEST CHRISTIAN DEATH METAL RAPPER I EVER HEARD →

Los Angeles could definitely use more Public Defenders in the County’s Superior Court, where judges overwhelmingly hail from the prosecutorial side. Before you leave the Superior Court Judge section of your ballot blank, tune into this podcast to learn about Natasha Khamashta’s write-in campaign and that of her colleagues’, the Defenders of Justice. Natasha Khamashta Continue reading C...

In the first official update from yours truly since our special Election Journey to El Salvador, let’s get into some final details for L.A. County’s March 5th Primary Elections and how to vote–including at the last minute–between now and then. Plus, we rebroadcast the Launch Party for Claudia De La Cruz and Karina Garcia’s campaign Continue reading ELECTING A SOCIALIS...

On this installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast we speak with Konstantine Anthony, the former mayor of Burbank and a current representative at the Burbank City Council who is now running to replace Kathryn Barger for Los Angeles County District 5. Keep up with Council Member Anthony’s campaign through his IG, and find your Continue reading THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST MAYOR OF BURBANK &...

On this installment of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast we speak with Jillian Burgos, the treasurer of the North Hollywood Neighborhood Council, which is known to issue more Community Impact Reports than any other Neighborhood Council! Burgos has called Los Angeles home since 2009 and is now running a people-powered campaign to replace Paul Krekorian Continue reading STRAIGHT OUTTA SAN FERNANDO V...

In the first full episode for J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast this 2024, which is also doubling as an episode for K-Town Is OK, we sit down with filmmaker and journalist Vladimir Santos—who also forms one half of Ey Foo You a Rocker?—as well as Indigenous Arts and Healing Practitioner, the one and only Monica Continue reading FROM K-TOWN TO SAN SALVADOR →

In the first update for J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast this 2024, our Cheat Sheet on L.A. City Council Races in March via Making a Neighborhood. Then, yours truly returns to El Salvador this January, this time as an Election Observer for presidential elections in my papa’s homeland. To make a one-time donation to my Continue reading PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN EL SALVADOR →

In the final episode of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast for 2023, yours truly breaks down the upcoming L.A. City Council and LAUSD Elections. Mail in ballots across California should reach voters as soon as February 5th, 2024, or just thirty-eight days away from the publication date of this recording! To learn more about the Continue reading RENT IS DUE. WHERE IS MY MONEY?? →

Thanks to matching funds! Los Angeles, meet Ysabel Jurado for Council District 14. (02:15) What is Council-District 14? Which neighborhoods does it include?(03:42) Ysabel is another Highland Park native and graduate of Immaculate Heart High School(05:38) Sharing the Highland Park area with Council-District 1, which takes the side south of York Blvd(06:49) The reason Ysabel Continue reading RAISING...

On this edition of J.T. the L.A. Storyteller Podcast, yours truly sits down for an extensive conversation with the Social Primate Podcast’s Eddie Aguirre. Eddie is a graphic designer by trade and has hosted the Social Primate Podcast since 2017. We discuss Eddie’s roots on the Southeast side of Los Angeles, better known as SELA, Continue reading SOUTHEAST L.A. IN THE BUILDING →