Know Your Enemy UNLOCKED: Are Progressives to Blame for Urban Disorder? (w/ Hayes Davenport)
32 snips
Jan 10, 2025 
Hayes Davenport, an organizer and writer with a focus on Los Angeles politics, sheds light on pressing urban issues. He discusses how perceptions of disorder in cities affect political dynamics and the strategies used by conservatives to blame progressives for rising crime and homelessness. Davenport shares insights on transforming hotels into temporary shelters during COVID-19, the complexities of homelessness policy, and the importance of effective service provision to shift public perception. His experiences highlight the challenges faced by the American left in navigating these issues.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
LA City Council Elections
- LA's city council elections historically had low turnout, favoring incumbents.
- This changed in 2020 with a charter amendment moving elections to even years, resulting in record voter turnout.
Political Backlash in LA
- Before 2020, LA's city council was largely homogenous, regardless of party affiliation, on key local issues.
- The emergence of progressive factions led to immediate backlash, particularly regarding criminal justice.
Gascon's Defeat
- George Gascon, a prominent progressive DA in LA, was elected in 2020 on a criminal justice reform platform.
- He was defeated in 2024 by Nathan Hochman, who ran a fear-mongering campaign focused on crime.