"What we have done is built a multicultural, multigenerational coalition that is not only capable of winning this seat, but making sure that we have down-the-ballot options, like advocates for justice like myself, where people don't have to feel that they have to vote for the incumbent, corporate-backed, Republican-funded Democrat anymore." -- Angela Gonzalez-Torres, Candidate for CA-34 district.
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FEATURING ANGELA GONZALES-TORRES - Progressive candidates for office are making in-roads in this year’s primary races in states across the nation. In California, voters representing Downtown Los Angeles and its surrounding neighborhoods, have sent two Democrats to the November general midterm race: incumbent Jimmy Gomez and newcomer Angela Gonzales-Torres. Gonzales-Torres, who previously appeared on this program to share her progressive platform, now joins us once more. The district she’s seeking to represent has, in recent days, been plagued by a massive industrial fire at a warehouse in Boyle Heights, a historically Latino neighborhood in LA.
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Breaking ICE: Community Self Defense Against State Terror and MAGA Fascism. Angela Gonzales-Torres is a lifelong Angeleno, Chicana Anthropologist, and a candidate running to represent California’s 34th Congressional District. She leads a student-led campaign focused on permanent affordable housing, healthcare, tuition-free public education, and giving working-class communities a stronger voice in Congress. She spoke with Sonali Kolhatkar about the Lineage Fire and her campaign.
ROUGH TRANSCRIPT:
Sonali Kolhatkar: Congratulations on winning the primary, and just to remind people who live outside California, this state has a bizarre primary that was changed many years ago. It's basically top two vote-getters are the ones who head to the November race, which is why it's not a Republican and a Democrat, but rather, in this case, two Democrats, you and the incumbent, Jimmy Gomez.
First, let's talk, before we get into your race, the issue that has plagued those of us who live in and around the area, where the, it's called the Lineage Fire, has ruined air quality for hundreds of thousands of people in and around the area. Tell me about this fire. It took place in a warehouse in Boyle Heights. In my understanding, as of [this recording], it is still burning. What's been happening?
Angela Gonzales-Torres: Yeah. So, it's almost been a week now. Last Wednesday, this fire broke out at a 500,000 square foot warehouse that is a cold storage operated by Lineage Logistics. And it's been a week. I know people think it just really is happening in Boyle Heights, East LA, but actually, the smoke is traveling around the city.
So people, even where I work, Pasadena, in Pasadena, are experiencing severe coughs and shortness of breath. I'm actually feeling it today for the first time, even though I've been protected by masks and goggles when we're out, because we've been out since day one. And it's been a really, really big deal to navigate for residents nearby, and we're trying to do our part as this student-led campaign that really cares about East LA, Boyle Heights especially.
