The Great Debain’t

Scott, Alissa, and Mike recount yet another attempt by LA’s City Council to undermine the Olympic Wage and why a corresponding ballot measure to repeal the city’s business tax is like playing Russian Roulette. Then, new LA mayoral race polls show Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt in a tight race for second place, and what Mike would have asked in the final, now-cancelled debate. And: was the former mayor of Arcadia a spy for the People’s Republic of China? LA Podcast is seeking a part-time Digital Producer to work with our small but mighty team on show notes, social media, and other digital assets for our weekly local news roundup podcast.  We’re looking for someone with about 5 hours a week to spare, and we estimate that most of the work will fall on Fridays, but some weekend availability is key. Go here for the full description and interest form Los Angeles Times: “In a 9-6 vote, the council gave initial approval of an ordinance to postpone implementation of the $30 hourly minimum until 2030, instead of 2028. But L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who introduced the motion, called it “a placeholder” that allows negotiations among city officials, hotel and airport businesses and labor unions to continue in the coming days. Another vote would be needed to formally delay implementation” LAist: " I would expect my councilmember to stand up for working Angelenos, not help giant companies take money out of our pockets," said Jordan Long, a bartender at LAX who said he lives in Harris-Dawson's district. " Do not be fooled by corporate threats against the city budget” The proposal was paired on the agenda with a ballot measure to repeal the city’s Business Gross Receipts Tax, which workers are calling a “shakedown” from the hotel and airline industry — as of now, this would go to the November ballot The city would see a “sudden, permanent loss of $860 million on average in annual revenue starting in 2027-28 would coincide exactly with the final, most intensive preparation phase for the 2028 Games,” according to this fiscal report from the City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo What Mike would have asked in the mayoral debate that was canceled after Bass and Raman backed out New Emerson College polling in the mayoral race: “30% support incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, 22% support television personality Spencer Pratt, 19% support City Councilmember Nithya Raman, 7% support tech entrepreneur Adam Miller, and 4% support Rae Huang” LA Forward’s mayoral entry for its voter guide was revised after the newest polls to recommend Raman Candidates are paying influencers to post content for them, including gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer Pratt has reportedly inked a reality show if he wins. Are we already living in a reality show? Arcadia residents wonder if former mayor Elieen Wang was a foreign agent for the People’s Republic of China LA Times: “The scandal had mostly quieted — until Monday, on the eve of President Trump’s planned trip to Beijing, when a plea deal was unsealed revealing Wang’s own murky