Michael Monks Reports

Michael Monks Reports

Michael Monks Reports on the latest news and trending topics happening in Souther California on KFI AM 640 Los Angeles, live anywhere you are on the...Full Bio

LA’s Budget Crunch: Higher Taxes & Shifting Housing Costs

LA28 Shake-Up, Rain Ahead, and Economic Strain

Hour 1: LA28 Olympics Chairman Casey Wasserman says he's selling his company following pressure related to his appearance in the Epstein files; More rain and more freeway challenges are on the way to Southern California; Immigration enforcement has cost businesses in LA County millions, according to the county.

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A New LA Mayor Bid & Creator Funding

Hour 2: Former tech executive Adam Miller talks about his new campaign for L.A. mayor; L.A. City Hall may develop a fund for creators of “vertical shorts”.

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LA Mayor Race Shock & Streetlight Showdown

Hour 1: The field for LA mayor is now set with a shocking twist as City Councilwoman Nithya Raman jumps in to challenge her longtime friend and political ally Mayor Karen Bass; Raman recently called for raising taxes to turn on LA’s darkened streetlights which have been hit hard by vandals and thieves; Following a deadly car crash at a grocery store in Westwood, a city councilwoman says City Hall bureaucracy has held up an already funded street safety program in that neighborhood.

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Street Protests, City Hall Drama, and a Surprise From L.A.’s Past

Hour 1: Protests return to the streets of downtown L.A. and Southern California; LA Mayor Bass is fired up over the arrest of journalist Don Lemon as a new poll shows her support waning; Another local leader has ramped up attacks online of Bass; and a time capsule uncovered at LA’s Central Library is found to have an even older time capsule inside.

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LA Olympics Apology, Tax Turmoil, and Why Mt. Baldy Can Turn Deadly

Hour 2: The Chairman of LA’s Olympics committee has apologized after appearing in the Epstein files; LA’s Mansion Tax has caused concern among city officials who previously campaigned to adopt it; and two local doctors explain the dangers of hiking around Mt. Baldy in the winter.

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Iran, Hollywood, and City Hall

We break down the powerful and troubling scenes emerging from Iran and what they mean globally and locally. LA City Councilman Adrin Nazarian joins us to discuss his personal ties to Iran, his approach to addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, and nine pending motions aimed at supporting the Hollywood industry. Plus, a look at a new movie studio being built near Skid Row in the Arts District and what it could mean for the neighborhood.

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A Lost Landmark: Hollywood Center Motel

The historic Hollywood Center Motel was on the verge of being landmarked before a devastating fire tore through the Sunset Boulevard property early January 4 at 4 a.m. We break down what happened, the current state of the site, and what the likely next steps could be. Esotouric Tours joins the show to share insight into the motel’s history and preview some of their upcoming tours.

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Caruso Out, ICE Tensions Rise, and Olympic Questions Loom

Developer Rick Caruso says he won’t seek a rematch with LA Mayor Bass in 2026; Federal immigration agents return to LA’s Fashion District sparking outrage from city officials; LA County seeks to bar ICE agents from using county property; and LA City Hall says it wants clarity on the federal government’s role in planning the 2028 Olympics here.

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Firefighters, Taxes, and a Starbucks Firing

Voters in LA could be asked to raise the sales tax again, this time in favor of more firefighters; Another potential ballot measure would financially penalize highly-paid CEOs; A proposed 8-mile path along the L.A. River which is to be funded by an earlier increase of the sales tax has more than tripled in cost; A Starbucks worker is fired for a drawing put on a cup of coffee ordered by an LA County Sheriff’s deputy; and the New York Post’s California Post arrives next week.

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