November 23, 2025 • 31 mins
Record number of travelers hit the roads and skies in Southern California; One powerful local official votes against a proposed gondola but in favor of a water taxi to connect the ports of LA and Long Beach; Fake Christmas trees go up in price because of trade policy; and Baywatch is returning not just to TV, but to Los Angeles and that has local and state officials celebrating.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to KFI Am six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
This is Michael Monks Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI
News with you Live till nine o'clock on this Saturday
night in Southern California. And as this night comes to
an end, so too do the playoff hopes for the
usc Trojans. The sixteenth ranked Trojans fall big at Oregon
today forty two to twenty seven to fall to eight
(00:31):
and three before next week's regular season finale against the
UCLA Bruins, who kick off in just about twenty five
minutes Washington is in town. According to the win probability rating,
that forecast gives the Bruins a twenty one percent chance
of victory tonight. So we'll tune in next week until
(00:52):
these two arch rivals battle it out with nothing, nothing
on the line. We're glad that you're with us, though,
because if you're in your car, are right now heading somewhere,
you're probably a wise guy, because if you're waiting until Wednesday,
it's gonna get rough out there. The forecast for the
number of travelers heading out of Southern California for the
(01:14):
Thanksgiving holiday is a record one. The Southern California Auto
Club expects six point seven eight million of US to
travel for this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. They say that is
a record setting figure and about seven percent higher than
the pre pandemic level in twenty nineteen. This projected number
(01:36):
of travelers is a two point eight percent increase from
just last year as well. It appears that locally most people,
of course, are hitting the roads with their cars. About
five point eight eight million of those folks are forecasted
by the Auto Club of California Southern California to use
their vehicles, while just over seven hundred thousand of them
(01:56):
will fly, nearly two hundred thousand will take other forms
of transportation, it says, train, bus, or cruise ship. But
here's the thing. All across the country thereforecasting massive, massive travel,
So there could be a lot of delays, a lot
of disruption, and it could be a bit of a
(02:17):
headache if you are headed out of town. Here's some
reports on what to expect.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Thanksgiving travel period will be the busiest in fifteen years,
according to the FAA, with over three hundred and sixty
thousand flights in the air during the next week or so,
with next Tuesday being the peak travel day as people
head out of town for Thanksgiving, just an upshot with
lax as a rush is beginning right now. Today, for example,
is supposed to be one of our busier days as
(02:43):
well as the traditional days Tuesday, Wednesday next week. Trivala
is predicting a new record of eighty one point eight
million people traveling over the Thanksgiving period, seventy three million
of those by car, more.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Than seventy three million people expected to drive, one point
three million more than a year ago, and Triple A
says that accounts for nearly ninety percent of all Thanksgiving travelers.
And gas prices they've been hovering around three dollars per gallon,
which is about the same as where they were last year.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
At this time, the trade group Airlines for America projections
all time high thirty one million passengers will climb aboard
between today and December first. Far more Americans, however, will
make their holiday trips by car, truck, or suv. Triple
A predicts that at least seventy three million people will
drive to their destination, over a million more than Thanksgiving
last year.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
Travel expert Katie Nastro tells me Thanksgiving travel bookings are
down about three percent nationwide, and.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It could be in part due to the government shutdown
and people deciding that they maybe didn't want to fly.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
DIA expects its busiest days during this travel period will
be Tuesday and the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Speaker 7 (03:54):
When airik Roper.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
And Catalina Sanchez got to the Denver Airport on Friday afternoon,
that was gonna be crazy. Instead, they even had time
to stop and talk to us.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
It was actually pretty school workout.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
But their trip almost didn't happen due to fears over
cancelations during the government shutdown.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
With a lot of dat development data.
Speaker 6 (04:14):
Shows airlines are back to full capacity with solid schedules
for Thanksgiving travel.
Speaker 8 (04:20):
On the ground, seventy three million people will take that
road trip to Thanksgiving dinner. That's up one point three
million from last year.
Speaker 9 (04:27):
But gas price is looking pretty good.
Speaker 8 (04:29):
They're holding steady, hovering around three dollars per gallon right now. Overall,
with so many people traveling, timing is everything. Try not
to head out on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best
times to drive are before noon or after eight pm.
If you're traveling through the busy corridors like I ninety five, Atlanta, Boston.
Speaker 7 (04:47):
Or LA.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
Give yourself some extra time.
Speaker 8 (04:49):
American Airlines tells us that they're operating close to eighty
one thousand flights over the holiday period.
Speaker 9 (04:54):
That's, of course, more than last year.
Speaker 8 (04:56):
United is looking about six point six million passengers.
Speaker 9 (04:59):
They're breaking the Thanksgiving record.
Speaker 8 (05:01):
If you are flying, we always say this, expect crowds
at your top hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, LAX
and of course New York City.
Speaker 9 (05:09):
But now that the government shut down is.
Speaker 8 (05:10):
Over, airports, air traffic control, they are fully staffed and
ready for this holiday rush. And this weekend marks the
start of it all, with the record thirty one million
people expected to fly through December first, with the Sunday
after Thanksgiving as the busiest day in.
Speaker 9 (05:24):
The skies, according to Airlines for America.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Now you heard a gas price reference there about three
dollars a gallon. Of course, that's nationally. The average. Here
in California, oh boy, it is not anywhere close to
three dollars a gallon. The average this week was at
about four dollars and sixty six cents per gallon state wide.
So as all of these drivers hit the road for
the holiday travel season, they'll be paying top dollar. According
(05:50):
to the Auto Club of Southern California, the top travel
destinations four people from La County, Orange County, Ventura, Riverside County,
San Bernardino County. There's San Diego, Las Vegas, Disneyland, and
the Bay Area. Those are the top four travel destinations
during this season. Now, if you do find yourself angry
(06:13):
because of the delays you might encounter at the airport,
because of that sticker shock at the gas station, there
is a message from the federal government to keep your cool.
Speaker 10 (06:23):
There's been a four hundred percent increase in unruly passenger
incidents on planes since twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
They said they had him restrained, he broke out, and
their passengers holding him down.
Speaker 10 (06:33):
That from an incident over the summer captured by liveatc
dot net. Now, Duffy is launching a campaign to restore
courtesy and class to air travel.
Speaker 11 (06:43):
Manors don't stop at the gate.
Speaker 7 (06:44):
Duffy tells travelers to ask how you, saying.
Speaker 11 (06:47):
Please and thank you. In general, the golden age of
travel begins.
Speaker 7 (06:52):
But ahead of this holiday travel season, Duffy says.
Speaker 11 (06:56):
Let's bring civility and manner's back, and.
Speaker 7 (06:59):
He has some guys questions for passengers.
Speaker 11 (07:02):
Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put a
bag in the overhead bind Are you dressing with respect?
Are you keeping control of your children? Are you saying
thank you to your fight attendants and your pilots?
Speaker 10 (07:13):
Because no one wants to kick off Thanksgiving by getting
kicked off the plane, Clara McMichael, ABC News, So be.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Nice out there tis the season of giving thanks I
love Thanksgiving. I think it's an underrated holiday. That is
why I don't put up a single Christmas decoration until
after the dishwasher is loaded on Thursday night, so that
we can say goodbye to Thanksgiving before we say hello
to Christmas. But I love Christmas also, and I love decorating.
I'm curious about you if you're somebody who has those
(07:43):
same rules. If you are somebody who decorates for Christmas.
As your tree up already, do you like to have
it up at the house in case you're hosting Thanksgiving
and you'd like to have a mix of both holidays.
Waigh in on this topic now on the iHeartRadio app.
Just open that up and click on the talkback button.
We'll get to some of you comments. Are you traveling somewhere,
do you have concerns? You have tips for other people
(08:04):
who are making their way around the country in celebration
of the holiday and to join family somewhere, do the same.
Open up the iHeartRadio app and click on that talkback button.
We do have a Christmas tree in this studio right now.
It's gorgeous, very traditionally decorated, old school ornaments, traditional red
and green colors. I'm digging it. I am ready to
(08:24):
get started, but I do want Thanksgiving to get past
us first. However, weather it will be a white Christmas
in some parts of California that gets snow this time
of years yet to be determined, of course. But the
folks in right Wood, the San Gabriel Mountains of San
Bernardino County, they're seeing.
Speaker 7 (08:40):
Some very diverse weather.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
So it'll be warm one day and cold the neck.
Speaker 12 (08:46):
Good because you just get just enough snow. It's not
like Chicago snow or New York snow. It's gone within
a few days and drivable and everyone's happy, and then
it goes away and everyone's mad again.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I would love to see that. Wish I could get
up there, but a lot of people are going to
be on the roads. Keep your cool out there. By
the way, there is a proposal on the table. We
know what it's like to be stuck in traffic anyway,
it's a fact of life here in southern California, regardless
of the holiday season. There is a proposal on the
table to address that. I'm curious if you think it's
(09:20):
a good one. We're going to talk about it next.
It involves the ocean. This is Michael Monks Reports.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
You're listening to KFI Am six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
This is Michael Monks Reports on Michael Monks from KFI
News with you till nine o'clock tonight. There has been
a lot of attention to the La Metro rail and
bus service across La County because of some crime spikes
that took place last year, and the agency's response to that,
one of which was to announce that they were bringing
(09:55):
back their own in house police department. I don't think
they're calling it a police department for some reason, but
that is what it's going to be. They're not going
to be relying on contracts with the LAPD, the La
County Sheriff's Department, or the Long Beach Police Department anymore.
As of twenty twenty nine, they will have their own
uniformed sworn officers who are there. One other key that
(10:17):
is already in place and then wasn't in place anymore
and returned this week is what they call the tap
to exit program. On some of the trained stations. It
turns out that almost all of the crime, not just
a majority, almost all of it is found to have
been committed by people who did not pay to board.
(10:39):
And if you have to use the same card you
tapped to demonstrate that you paid in order to exit
the station, it makes it easier for security to identify
folks who may pose such a risk. But there was
a problem when this was implemented at the North Hollywood station.
The LA Fire Department said that they weren't consulted well
(11:01):
enough and that there were concerns about crowds evacuating in
case of an emergency. So all that has since been
worked out and this program has returned. So now if
you were at the North Hollywood station, and if you
are at Union Station, this is the B line from
Union Station in North Hollywood, and you can also get
on the D line at Union Station where this also applies,
(11:23):
you've got to tap to exit. They're also adding this
to the new Pomona station, which is at the end
of the A line, this new extended station. I talked
to Patrick Chandler from La Metro and this is what
he told me about the program coming back and how
successful it had been before it was stalled.
Speaker 13 (11:41):
A really effective tool. It can controlling access to the system.
We want to ensure that people are using Metro for
the transportation needs. When we first launched in March last year,
we hit the fourteen different b red Line stations. We
saw I definitely dropping crime, but also a definite drop
(12:02):
in how much people were submitting complaints or issues to
the transit app. So much of it is about about
a foty percent drop on our Transit Watch app, which
people put other cell phones to report whether it's graffiti,
crime or other things that should be happy in our system.
And also for the E line that's the line that
goes from ust to La to Santa Monica, we saw
(12:23):
an eighty three percent drop because we also employed the
tap to exit at the downtown Santa Monica station.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
So progress in fighting crime on La Metro. There's also
been progress on another transportation project in Los Angeles. It
is the proposed rapid i should say aerial rapid transit project,
better known as the Gondola between Union Station and downtown
LA to Dodger Stadium. It would be one point two miles.
(12:51):
It would be these carriages that are hoisted into the
air by wires and would transport you from that train
station up to the ball They say they could take
five thousand passengers an hour, would take about seven minutes,
and they expect the supporters do that. It would take
some cars off the street, so you could park somewhere
(13:11):
out in the vicinity, outside in the suburbs, hop on
a bus or hop on a train, get into Union Station,
and then take the gondola up. The LA City Council
has voiced its formal opposition against this project. Now, there
are some residents of Chinatown who are concerned about having
the construction noise. They're concerned about the disruption to the
historic neighborhood, but there are also a lot of people
(13:32):
in that neighborhood who support it. But the LA City
Council adopted a resolution it's non binding, that says we
don't like this project right now. The same project was
before the La Metro Board's Executive committee this week, and
that committee's got some powerful people on it. We're talking
about La Mayor, Bass Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra, who's
(13:54):
a Whittier City councilman, a couple of county supervisors, including
Supervisor janis Han, who was the only one to vote
against the gondola. What they were voting on this week
was an environmental impact review. It's one of those reviews
that all the projects have to go through, one of
many in California in order to get built. And it
came back before this committee, will go before the full board,
I believe in early December. But this committee gave its
(14:18):
approval except for janis Han, who had this to say.
And this is important because we're going to hear from
jenis Han on another alternative transportation project and a wildly
different perspective on it next.
Speaker 14 (14:30):
I just always have to say that I did hear
from enough of you to affirm what I believe. That
there is a better solution already in place to take
cars off the streets to ease traffic, and that's our
Dodger Stadium Express. It already moves large number of fans efficiently,
(14:53):
and it can be improved further with more buses or
park and ride locations, dedicated lanes. And if we want
to get to zero emissions, that can be done with
electrifying these Dodger expresses. Please, and I really want to
lean into that, and I you know, we've urged the
Dodgers to take a look at that because in the
(15:15):
end it really helps them.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So Supervisor jannas Han is opposed to this gondola because
she thinks the service to the station from Union Station
to Dodger Stadium is already fine with the Dodgers Express
there could be some improvements to that rather than getting
this gondola installed there. And by the way, the person
behind the gondola is Frank McCourt, the former owner of
(15:38):
the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Supervisor jenas Han was busy
on this day because she serves on another committee at
the La Metro Board that met after the Executive committee meeting.
And this other committee was considering a proposal by Supervisor
Han to put a water taxi between Long Beach and
San Pedro. Now, the emphasis on this proposal is that
(15:59):
it would be beneficial during the Olympics, but the supervisor
may like to see this last even beyond that. So
here keep in mind she said no gondola because we
already have buses. Here's what she says about the proposed
water taxi.
Speaker 14 (16:18):
I was a little worried about, you know, what we
would find. But I first want to thank my colleagues
for taking a chance on this crazy idea and originally
agreeing to ask for this study. And the report shows
it's not that crazy.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
It's feasible.
Speaker 14 (16:34):
There are going to be thousands of people moving, specifically
between San Pedro and Long Beach, and we can't rely
on our bridges alone. We know that our beautiful bridges,
you know, many times don't.
Speaker 7 (16:49):
Have full capacity of traffic.
Speaker 14 (16:52):
One of the bridges yesterday and only one lane was
closed down and it took me probably thirty minutes from
Long Beach to San Pedro.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
U it took her thirty minutes from Long Beach to
San Pedro and that was a pain. If only there
were a water taxi, wish this committee gave its approval
to not necessarily to drop in the water and get going,
not even for the Olympics yet, but they have decided
that they would float the idea they're going to move
forward if the full board, by the way, approves, This
is just a committee. If the full board gives the okay,
(17:21):
they will send out what they are calling an industry
engagement process or a reverse pitch, to see if any
private or public operator has interest in operating a water
taxi between San Pedro and Long Beach that Supervisor Janis
Hahn has been pushing for. So you heard her say
the bridge was a problem the other day. It took
her thirty minutes. The feasibility study that this committee looked
(17:44):
at determined that a one way crossing from the West
Harbor in San Pedro to Shoreline Village DOC nine in
Long Beach would take at least thirty nine minutes up
to fifty nine minute. The alternatives that already exist there
include driving yourself in your car, which takes on average
(18:07):
between sixteen and twenty eight minutes according to this report,
and just like the Dodgers Express, there is an La
Dot Commuter Express between Long Beach and San Pedro that
also takes only twenty six hours and departs every thirty minutes.
No gondola, Yes, water taxi. Supervisor Janis Hans says your thoughts.
Open up the iHeartRadio app, click on that talkback button.
(18:29):
We'll get to some of those. We're going to actually
go to the Port of LA next to see what
Christmas is looking like in terms of cargo coming through
and why your fake Christmas tree is going to be
costing a little bit more this year.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
You're listening to KFI Am six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
This is Michael Monk's Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI
News with you till nine o'clock tonight. Business has resumed
at the Port of LA even as firefighters were still
working to subdue that electrical fire that started below deck
of the container ship Owene Henry Hudson there at the
Port of La. There was a major emergency response that
started just after six thirty last night. More than one
(19:12):
hundred and twenty LAFD firefighters on the scene and Long
Beach Fire Departments sent some firefighters over. The Coastguard and
the Port Police were on the scene. This fire was
visible on several levels of this vessel. It's about eleven
hundred feet long. It carries containers there at the port
to and fro and it looks like all twenty three
(19:34):
crew members were accounted for and safely off that ship.
As investigators are still looking to figure out what started
this thing, but it was quite a scene. And then
there was this hasmat response and some warnings to people
who were living around there. All that has since been lifted,
but quite a disruptive scene taking place at the Port
(19:56):
of Long Beach. Another disruption at the port, I'm sorry,
the Port of LA. Another disruption at the Port of
La and the Port of Long Beach for that matter,
has been our domestic and foreign trade policy. The both
ports have been incredibly busy this year compared to last year.
It's starting to slow down now, but so much has
(20:19):
come through already that they're having record years. Each month
both ports come out, they have a media event and
we all listen to what the traffic was like and
what the forecast looks like for the future, and a
lot of years, these are just boring updates that are
very insidery and business y and maybe relevant only to
people who are working there, but it is an important
(20:42):
part of our local economy and the global economy. Both
of these ports are are very important to the world.
The Port of Los Angeles has again had about a
record year this year, but expects a bit of a
fall off for the next two months. And the reason
for that is apparently a lot of people went ahead
and got their products in as quickly as they could
(21:04):
before certain tariffs in whatever country were taking effect. For
President Trump's tariff policy, CEO Jeen Soroka updated US just
last week on this situation. Here's part of what he said,
hang on, hang on just a moment. Here's ports CEO
Jean Soroca.
Speaker 15 (21:24):
Last year's numbers were unusually high as many shippers pulled
cargo forward right after the election in anticipation of tariffs
and changes in trade policy. Also, this year, retail and
manufacturing inventories were already well stocked, so there's simply less
need for immediate replenishment. Combine these factors suggest a more
(21:46):
typical softening to close out the year.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
So basically, whatever is in the country now is what
is going to be in the country.
Speaker 15 (21:53):
I was in Shanghai when the latest US China trade
talks wrapped up. The view on the ground was cautious
but hopeful. A welcome step assuming that both sides can
follow through. One important outcome is the resumption of some
US soybean sales, but this won't happen overnight based on
contracts and harvest season. It's a modest but positive sign
(22:17):
the dialogue is reopening on agriculture and food products. Also
significant is the one year pause on ship fees, the
surcharge on China built or China owned vessels calling at
US ports and the same for American vessels going back
to China. That move eases some immediate supply chain costs
(22:39):
and gives both sides a little bit of time to
keep negotiating. Overall, the talks have reduced short term tensions
and provided a bit more breathing room for trade between
the world's two large.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
So that is a Sports CEO Gen Soroka talking about
updates on tariffs involving the United States and China. That
has been the major focus of President Trump's trade policy
and the impact that it has had on the ports
and the prices of things here in this country.
Speaker 15 (23:08):
But we shouldn't lose sight of the broader picture. Tariffs
remain elevated across a wide range of goods, and longer
term trade agreements are still unresolved in some cases, both
with China as well as other trading partners. That's why
many CEOs and logistics leaders I've spoken with, both overseas
and here at home, are saying they're still holding back
(23:31):
on new capital investments and to a large extent, hiring
until there's more clarity on trade policy and tariffs.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
And that is why I pay attention to the port
updates out of LA and Long Beach, because they tend
to have their finger on the pause of the broader
economic picture, and so when they are talking about what's
coming in, what's going out, and who they're talking to
here and abroad, it's important to listen because they really
do seem to have some insight on what's going on.
(23:59):
And that's a bit of an alarming message there that
hiring is slowing down. If you're wondering if things are
costing more, you're right, they are costing more in a
lot of different ways. Not everything has gone up the
way that I think a lot of people feared. In fact,
both of these ports CEOs at LA and Long Beach
have conceded that the worries at the beginning of the
year when tariffs was first floated really didn't pan out.
(24:24):
Didn't pan out. There is something that is more expensive
right at the time of year you needed the most.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Real or fake.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
The American Christmas Tree Association says eighty three percent of
homes that put up a tree will go artificial. But
it's been a pretty good growing year for the nation's
Christmas tree farms, and prices will reflect that.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
When you have the large supply that we have right now,
you need to get the trees harvested and sold.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
Marsha gray heads the real Christmas tree board.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
We can't leave them in the ground forever.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
With most of our Christmas decorations coming from China, the
price of artificial trees will run about twenty percent higher
this year than asked.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Did you know there was a real Christmas tree board? Well,
there is, and they are reporting that if you don't
want to spend more for the fake tree, it's been
a great year for the real thing.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
From the sprawling commercial tree farms of Oregon to the
mom and pomp operations like Jamie Jones Is in Connecticut.
Speaker 16 (25:18):
Anyone who wants to get a beautiful, real, freshly grown
Christmas tree, they'll be able to find it.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
And the best kept secret of the season maybe the
permits you can apply for at Recreation Dot Gov, which
allow you to cut a tree in a national forest
for as little as five dollars.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Love the smell of a real tree, don't like the
mess of it, and I'm going to stick with the
fake one for now. The cats are also a bit
of a problem for those types of it doesn't matter
real or fake. The cats are going to be a
problem for that can't wait to put the tree up though.
The day after thanks Giving, there is a show coming
back to television that was a global phenomenon thirty plus
(25:56):
years ago. You probably remember it, and the reason we're
bringing it up today is because with this reboot, local
and state officials are celebrating the fact that it's going
to be made here in Los Angeles instead of elsewhere.
It's one of several shows and movies that have been
awarded tax credits. We're going to get into that next
(26:18):
on how these new tax credits are apparently doing what
they said they would do and bringing productions back to Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
This is Michael Monks Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI
News with you till nine o'clock on this Saturday night
in Southern California. Oh boys, Southern California had the attention
of the world there for a while because of a
very popular show. I'm wondering how long it will take
you to recognize this theme song? You got it yet?
(27:02):
You know it now, don't you. That's enough of that,
I'll tell you. That's bay Watch. That is the TV
show Baywatch. Congratulations if you got it correct. And as
I was recording that audio this evening, I watched the
opening credits and between the opening credits, and you know,
how sexy everyone was, of course, but how cheesy it
(27:22):
all was. It did strike me that even though I
think television storytelling is so much better right now, this
is truly the golden age of television. I mean, there
were so many excellent scripted shows out there, none of
them have songs like that. You know, the theme song
(27:42):
used to be a thing, and it just isn't anymore.
And I miss that. You think about TGIF TGIF when
you were either kid in the nineties or raising kids
in the nineties, tuning in on Friday night to ABC's
lineup of TGIF shows and hearing all of those iconic
theme songs. You don't get that anymore. Why am I
(28:03):
playing the bay Watch theme? Well, this is why. Here's
Governor Gavin Newsom. I've got news California.
Speaker 16 (28:09):
Baywatch is back for another slow motion run on the
beaches of Los Angeles. Through our just expanded film and
tax credit program, California is welcoming not only the Lifeguards
of California, but sixteen other TV projects, including The Night Agent,
Mister and Missus Smith, and Fallout. Just this round alone,
we'll be bringing in over one point two billion dollars
(28:30):
into the economy and employ over five thousand cast and crew.
These credits are keeping jobs and investment right where they
belong here in California.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
And there was a huge push this year by the
industry here in Hollywood and by local state leaders federal
leaders trying to get California's tax credit for film and
TV productions enlarged because we were losing out to states
like Georgia or countries like Canada or even your up
(29:01):
and this is where Hollywood actually is located, so they
thought they better get busy, and apparently it's working. So
that was Governor Newsom. Mayor Bass Los Angeles, of course,
also put out a statement celebrating this. She says, for years,
we've watched productions leave LA and we've all felt the impact.
So seeing Baywatch, an iconic show that was born in LA,
(29:22):
come home, is more than symbolic. It means real jobs
for real people. Steve Kang, the Mayor's liaison to the
film and television industry, says, this is a game changing
win for our local production ecosystem and workforce. I'll be
working across city departments and with our county counterparts to
streamline aregos, streamline the permitting process and insure productions can
(29:44):
quickly and efficiently film in Los Angeles. Bay Watch is back,
Does that mean LA is back? Not sure. LA hopes
to be back beyond its Hollywood game because the LA
economic and tourism leaders have announced a new campaign called
La is Open. So they're trying to boost the local economy,
(30:06):
of course, which is struggling. But this initiative is being
talented as a recovery campaign. It's supposed to be promoting
the tourism industry and supporting small business affected by January's wildfires.
La is Open is intended to signal, according to a
news release, that LA is open for business, resilient and
(30:28):
ready to welcome visitors from around the world. This initiative
is an overarching campaign, linking and showcasing other programs with
the same goals, such as Shop La, Dine in LA,
and Discover La. The folks involved with this particular campaign
include the La County Economic Development Corporation, the County's Department
(30:48):
of Economic Opportunity, the city's Economic and Workforce Development Department,
and the California Community Foundation. Mayor Bass hosted a news
conference this week with a represent from Governor Newsom's office
and the county, and she says, through this bold new campaign,
why everything is bold these days? She noticed that through
(31:10):
this bold new campaign, we are sending a clear message
that Los Angeles is open for business and ready to
welcome everyone back to LA to explore all that our
vibrant city has to offer. So I guess you'll be
seeing LA's Open campaign materials in and around Los Angeles.
But really, the only thing you need to know today Today,
(31:32):
watch's back and I'll be back with another hour of
Michael Monk's reports
Speaker 1 (31:39):
KFI AM six forty on demand
You're listening to KFI Am six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
This is Michael Monks Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI
News with you Live till nine o'clock on this Saturday
night in Southern California. And as this night comes to
an end, so too do the playoff hopes for the
usc Trojans. The sixteenth ranked Trojans fall big at Oregon
today forty two to twenty seven to fall to eight
(00:31):
and three before next week's regular season finale against the
UCLA Bruins, who kick off in just about twenty five
minutes Washington is in town. According to the win probability rating,
that forecast gives the Bruins a twenty one percent chance
of victory tonight. So we'll tune in next week until
(00:52):
these two arch rivals battle it out with nothing, nothing
on the line. We're glad that you're with us, though,
because if you're in your car, are right now heading somewhere,
you're probably a wise guy, because if you're waiting until Wednesday,
it's gonna get rough out there. The forecast for the
number of travelers heading out of Southern California for the
(01:14):
Thanksgiving holiday is a record one. The Southern California Auto
Club expects six point seven eight million of US to
travel for this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. They say that is
a record setting figure and about seven percent higher than
the pre pandemic level in twenty nineteen. This projected number
(01:36):
of travelers is a two point eight percent increase from
just last year as well. It appears that locally most people,
of course, are hitting the roads with their cars. About
five point eight eight million of those folks are forecasted
by the Auto Club of California Southern California to use
their vehicles, while just over seven hundred thousand of them
(01:56):
will fly, nearly two hundred thousand will take other forms
of transportation, it says, train, bus, or cruise ship. But
here's the thing. All across the country thereforecasting massive, massive travel,
So there could be a lot of delays, a lot
of disruption, and it could be a bit of a
(02:17):
headache if you are headed out of town. Here's some
reports on what to expect.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Thanksgiving travel period will be the busiest in fifteen years,
according to the FAA, with over three hundred and sixty
thousand flights in the air during the next week or so,
with next Tuesday being the peak travel day as people
head out of town for Thanksgiving, just an upshot with
lax as a rush is beginning right now. Today, for example,
is supposed to be one of our busier days as
(02:43):
well as the traditional days Tuesday, Wednesday next week. Trivala
is predicting a new record of eighty one point eight
million people traveling over the Thanksgiving period, seventy three million
of those by car, more.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Than seventy three million people expected to drive, one point
three million more than a year ago, and Triple A
says that accounts for nearly ninety percent of all Thanksgiving travelers.
And gas prices they've been hovering around three dollars per gallon,
which is about the same as where they were last year.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
At this time, the trade group Airlines for America projections
all time high thirty one million passengers will climb aboard
between today and December first. Far more Americans, however, will
make their holiday trips by car, truck, or suv. Triple
A predicts that at least seventy three million people will
drive to their destination, over a million more than Thanksgiving
last year.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
Travel expert Katie Nastro tells me Thanksgiving travel bookings are
down about three percent nationwide, and.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It could be in part due to the government shutdown
and people deciding that they maybe didn't want to fly.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
DIA expects its busiest days during this travel period will
be Tuesday and the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Speaker 7 (03:54):
When airik Roper.
Speaker 6 (03:55):
And Catalina Sanchez got to the Denver Airport on Friday afternoon,
that was gonna be crazy. Instead, they even had time
to stop and talk to us.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
It was actually pretty school workout.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
But their trip almost didn't happen due to fears over
cancelations during the government shutdown.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
With a lot of dat development data.
Speaker 6 (04:14):
Shows airlines are back to full capacity with solid schedules
for Thanksgiving travel.
Speaker 8 (04:20):
On the ground, seventy three million people will take that
road trip to Thanksgiving dinner. That's up one point three
million from last year.
Speaker 9 (04:27):
But gas price is looking pretty good.
Speaker 8 (04:29):
They're holding steady, hovering around three dollars per gallon right now. Overall,
with so many people traveling, timing is everything. Try not
to head out on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best
times to drive are before noon or after eight pm.
If you're traveling through the busy corridors like I ninety five, Atlanta, Boston.
Speaker 7 (04:47):
Or LA.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
Give yourself some extra time.
Speaker 8 (04:49):
American Airlines tells us that they're operating close to eighty
one thousand flights over the holiday period.
Speaker 9 (04:54):
That's, of course, more than last year.
Speaker 8 (04:56):
United is looking about six point six million passengers.
Speaker 9 (04:59):
They're breaking the Thanksgiving record.
Speaker 8 (05:01):
If you are flying, we always say this, expect crowds
at your top hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, LAX
and of course New York City.
Speaker 9 (05:09):
But now that the government shut down is.
Speaker 8 (05:10):
Over, airports, air traffic control, they are fully staffed and
ready for this holiday rush. And this weekend marks the
start of it all, with the record thirty one million
people expected to fly through December first, with the Sunday
after Thanksgiving as the busiest day in.
Speaker 9 (05:24):
The skies, according to Airlines for America.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Now you heard a gas price reference there about three
dollars a gallon. Of course, that's nationally. The average. Here
in California, oh boy, it is not anywhere close to
three dollars a gallon. The average this week was at
about four dollars and sixty six cents per gallon state wide.
So as all of these drivers hit the road for
the holiday travel season, they'll be paying top dollar. According
(05:50):
to the Auto Club of Southern California, the top travel
destinations four people from La County, Orange County, Ventura, Riverside County,
San Bernardino County. There's San Diego, Las Vegas, Disneyland, and
the Bay Area. Those are the top four travel destinations
during this season. Now, if you do find yourself angry
(06:13):
because of the delays you might encounter at the airport,
because of that sticker shock at the gas station, there
is a message from the federal government to keep your cool.
Speaker 10 (06:23):
There's been a four hundred percent increase in unruly passenger
incidents on planes since twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
They said they had him restrained, he broke out, and
their passengers holding him down.
Speaker 10 (06:33):
That from an incident over the summer captured by liveatc
dot net. Now, Duffy is launching a campaign to restore
courtesy and class to air travel.
Speaker 11 (06:43):
Manors don't stop at the gate.
Speaker 7 (06:44):
Duffy tells travelers to ask how you, saying.
Speaker 11 (06:47):
Please and thank you. In general, the golden age of
travel begins.
Speaker 7 (06:52):
But ahead of this holiday travel season, Duffy says.
Speaker 11 (06:56):
Let's bring civility and manner's back, and.
Speaker 7 (06:59):
He has some guys questions for passengers.
Speaker 11 (07:02):
Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put a
bag in the overhead bind Are you dressing with respect?
Are you keeping control of your children? Are you saying
thank you to your fight attendants and your pilots?
Speaker 10 (07:13):
Because no one wants to kick off Thanksgiving by getting
kicked off the plane, Clara McMichael, ABC News, So be.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Nice out there tis the season of giving thanks I
love Thanksgiving. I think it's an underrated holiday. That is
why I don't put up a single Christmas decoration until
after the dishwasher is loaded on Thursday night, so that
we can say goodbye to Thanksgiving before we say hello
to Christmas. But I love Christmas also, and I love decorating.
I'm curious about you if you're somebody who has those
(07:43):
same rules. If you are somebody who decorates for Christmas.
As your tree up already, do you like to have
it up at the house in case you're hosting Thanksgiving
and you'd like to have a mix of both holidays.
Waigh in on this topic now on the iHeartRadio app.
Just open that up and click on the talkback button.
We'll get to some of you comments. Are you traveling somewhere,
do you have concerns? You have tips for other people
(08:04):
who are making their way around the country in celebration
of the holiday and to join family somewhere, do the same.
Open up the iHeartRadio app and click on that talkback button.
We do have a Christmas tree in this studio right now.
It's gorgeous, very traditionally decorated, old school ornaments, traditional red
and green colors. I'm digging it. I am ready to
(08:24):
get started, but I do want Thanksgiving to get past
us first. However, weather it will be a white Christmas
in some parts of California that gets snow this time
of years yet to be determined, of course. But the
folks in right Wood, the San Gabriel Mountains of San
Bernardino County, they're seeing.
Speaker 7 (08:40):
Some very diverse weather.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
So it'll be warm one day and cold the neck.
Speaker 12 (08:46):
Good because you just get just enough snow. It's not
like Chicago snow or New York snow. It's gone within
a few days and drivable and everyone's happy, and then
it goes away and everyone's mad again.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I would love to see that. Wish I could get
up there, but a lot of people are going to
be on the roads. Keep your cool out there. By
the way, there is a proposal on the table. We
know what it's like to be stuck in traffic anyway,
it's a fact of life here in southern California, regardless
of the holiday season. There is a proposal on the
table to address that. I'm curious if you think it's
(09:20):
a good one. We're going to talk about it next.
It involves the ocean. This is Michael Monks Reports.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
You're listening to KFI Am six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
This is Michael Monks Reports on Michael Monks from KFI
News with you till nine o'clock tonight. There has been
a lot of attention to the La Metro rail and
bus service across La County because of some crime spikes
that took place last year, and the agency's response to that,
one of which was to announce that they were bringing
(09:55):
back their own in house police department. I don't think
they're calling it a police department for some reason, but
that is what it's going to be. They're not going
to be relying on contracts with the LAPD, the La
County Sheriff's Department, or the Long Beach Police Department anymore.
As of twenty twenty nine, they will have their own
uniformed sworn officers who are there. One other key that
(10:17):
is already in place and then wasn't in place anymore
and returned this week is what they call the tap
to exit program. On some of the trained stations. It
turns out that almost all of the crime, not just
a majority, almost all of it is found to have
been committed by people who did not pay to board.
(10:39):
And if you have to use the same card you
tapped to demonstrate that you paid in order to exit
the station, it makes it easier for security to identify
folks who may pose such a risk. But there was
a problem when this was implemented at the North Hollywood station.
The LA Fire Department said that they weren't consulted well
(11:01):
enough and that there were concerns about crowds evacuating in
case of an emergency. So all that has since been
worked out and this program has returned. So now if
you were at the North Hollywood station, and if you
are at Union Station, this is the B line from
Union Station in North Hollywood, and you can also get
on the D line at Union Station where this also applies,
(11:23):
you've got to tap to exit. They're also adding this
to the new Pomona station, which is at the end
of the A line, this new extended station. I talked
to Patrick Chandler from La Metro and this is what
he told me about the program coming back and how
successful it had been before it was stalled.
Speaker 13 (11:41):
A really effective tool. It can controlling access to the system.
We want to ensure that people are using Metro for
the transportation needs. When we first launched in March last year,
we hit the fourteen different b red Line stations. We
saw I definitely dropping crime, but also a definite drop
(12:02):
in how much people were submitting complaints or issues to
the transit app. So much of it is about about
a foty percent drop on our Transit Watch app, which
people put other cell phones to report whether it's graffiti,
crime or other things that should be happy in our system.
And also for the E line that's the line that
goes from ust to La to Santa Monica, we saw
(12:23):
an eighty three percent drop because we also employed the
tap to exit at the downtown Santa Monica station.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
So progress in fighting crime on La Metro. There's also
been progress on another transportation project in Los Angeles. It
is the proposed rapid i should say aerial rapid transit project,
better known as the Gondola between Union Station and downtown
LA to Dodger Stadium. It would be one point two miles.
(12:51):
It would be these carriages that are hoisted into the
air by wires and would transport you from that train
station up to the ball They say they could take
five thousand passengers an hour, would take about seven minutes,
and they expect the supporters do that. It would take
some cars off the street, so you could park somewhere
(13:11):
out in the vicinity, outside in the suburbs, hop on
a bus or hop on a train, get into Union Station,
and then take the gondola up. The LA City Council
has voiced its formal opposition against this project. Now, there
are some residents of Chinatown who are concerned about having
the construction noise. They're concerned about the disruption to the
historic neighborhood, but there are also a lot of people
(13:32):
in that neighborhood who support it. But the LA City
Council adopted a resolution it's non binding, that says we
don't like this project right now. The same project was
before the La Metro Board's Executive committee this week, and
that committee's got some powerful people on it. We're talking
about La Mayor, Bass Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra, who's
(13:54):
a Whittier City councilman, a couple of county supervisors, including
Supervisor janis Han, who was the only one to vote
against the gondola. What they were voting on this week
was an environmental impact review. It's one of those reviews
that all the projects have to go through, one of
many in California in order to get built. And it
came back before this committee, will go before the full board,
I believe in early December. But this committee gave its
(14:18):
approval except for janis Han, who had this to say.
And this is important because we're going to hear from
jenis Han on another alternative transportation project and a wildly
different perspective on it next.
Speaker 14 (14:30):
I just always have to say that I did hear
from enough of you to affirm what I believe. That
there is a better solution already in place to take
cars off the streets to ease traffic, and that's our
Dodger Stadium Express. It already moves large number of fans efficiently,
(14:53):
and it can be improved further with more buses or
park and ride locations, dedicated lanes. And if we want
to get to zero emissions, that can be done with
electrifying these Dodger expresses. Please, and I really want to
lean into that, and I you know, we've urged the
Dodgers to take a look at that because in the
(15:15):
end it really helps them.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So Supervisor jannas Han is opposed to this gondola because
she thinks the service to the station from Union Station
to Dodger Stadium is already fine with the Dodgers Express
there could be some improvements to that rather than getting
this gondola installed there. And by the way, the person
behind the gondola is Frank McCourt, the former owner of
(15:38):
the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Supervisor jenas Han was busy
on this day because she serves on another committee at
the La Metro Board that met after the Executive committee meeting.
And this other committee was considering a proposal by Supervisor
Han to put a water taxi between Long Beach and
San Pedro. Now, the emphasis on this proposal is that
(15:59):
it would be beneficial during the Olympics, but the supervisor
may like to see this last even beyond that. So
here keep in mind she said no gondola because we
already have buses. Here's what she says about the proposed
water taxi.
Speaker 14 (16:18):
I was a little worried about, you know, what we
would find. But I first want to thank my colleagues
for taking a chance on this crazy idea and originally
agreeing to ask for this study. And the report shows
it's not that crazy.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
It's feasible.
Speaker 14 (16:34):
There are going to be thousands of people moving, specifically
between San Pedro and Long Beach, and we can't rely
on our bridges alone. We know that our beautiful bridges,
you know, many times don't.
Speaker 7 (16:49):
Have full capacity of traffic.
Speaker 14 (16:52):
One of the bridges yesterday and only one lane was
closed down and it took me probably thirty minutes from
Long Beach to San Pedro.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
U it took her thirty minutes from Long Beach to
San Pedro and that was a pain. If only there
were a water taxi, wish this committee gave its approval
to not necessarily to drop in the water and get going,
not even for the Olympics yet, but they have decided
that they would float the idea they're going to move
forward if the full board, by the way, approves, This
is just a committee. If the full board gives the okay,
(17:21):
they will send out what they are calling an industry
engagement process or a reverse pitch, to see if any
private or public operator has interest in operating a water
taxi between San Pedro and Long Beach that Supervisor Janis
Hahn has been pushing for. So you heard her say
the bridge was a problem the other day. It took
her thirty minutes. The feasibility study that this committee looked
(17:44):
at determined that a one way crossing from the West
Harbor in San Pedro to Shoreline Village DOC nine in
Long Beach would take at least thirty nine minutes up
to fifty nine minute. The alternatives that already exist there
include driving yourself in your car, which takes on average
(18:07):
between sixteen and twenty eight minutes according to this report,
and just like the Dodgers Express, there is an La
Dot Commuter Express between Long Beach and San Pedro that
also takes only twenty six hours and departs every thirty minutes.
No gondola, Yes, water taxi. Supervisor Janis Hans says your thoughts.
Open up the iHeartRadio app, click on that talkback button.
(18:29):
We'll get to some of those. We're going to actually
go to the Port of LA next to see what
Christmas is looking like in terms of cargo coming through
and why your fake Christmas tree is going to be
costing a little bit more this year.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
You're listening to KFI Am six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
This is Michael Monk's Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI
News with you till nine o'clock tonight. Business has resumed
at the Port of LA even as firefighters were still
working to subdue that electrical fire that started below deck
of the container ship Owene Henry Hudson there at the
Port of La. There was a major emergency response that
started just after six thirty last night. More than one
(19:12):
hundred and twenty LAFD firefighters on the scene and Long
Beach Fire Departments sent some firefighters over. The Coastguard and
the Port Police were on the scene. This fire was
visible on several levels of this vessel. It's about eleven
hundred feet long. It carries containers there at the port
to and fro and it looks like all twenty three
(19:34):
crew members were accounted for and safely off that ship.
As investigators are still looking to figure out what started
this thing, but it was quite a scene. And then
there was this hasmat response and some warnings to people
who were living around there. All that has since been lifted,
but quite a disruptive scene taking place at the Port
(19:56):
of Long Beach. Another disruption at the port, I'm sorry,
the Port of LA. Another disruption at the Port of
La and the Port of Long Beach for that matter,
has been our domestic and foreign trade policy. The both
ports have been incredibly busy this year compared to last year.
It's starting to slow down now, but so much has
(20:19):
come through already that they're having record years. Each month
both ports come out, they have a media event and
we all listen to what the traffic was like and
what the forecast looks like for the future, and a
lot of years, these are just boring updates that are
very insidery and business y and maybe relevant only to
people who are working there, but it is an important
(20:42):
part of our local economy and the global economy. Both
of these ports are are very important to the world.
The Port of Los Angeles has again had about a
record year this year, but expects a bit of a
fall off for the next two months. And the reason
for that is apparently a lot of people went ahead
and got their products in as quickly as they could
(21:04):
before certain tariffs in whatever country were taking effect. For
President Trump's tariff policy, CEO Jeen Soroka updated US just
last week on this situation. Here's part of what he said,
hang on, hang on just a moment. Here's ports CEO
Jean Soroca.
Speaker 15 (21:24):
Last year's numbers were unusually high as many shippers pulled
cargo forward right after the election in anticipation of tariffs
and changes in trade policy. Also, this year, retail and
manufacturing inventories were already well stocked, so there's simply less
need for immediate replenishment. Combine these factors suggest a more
(21:46):
typical softening to close out the year.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
So basically, whatever is in the country now is what
is going to be in the country.
Speaker 15 (21:53):
I was in Shanghai when the latest US China trade
talks wrapped up. The view on the ground was cautious
but hopeful. A welcome step assuming that both sides can
follow through. One important outcome is the resumption of some
US soybean sales, but this won't happen overnight based on
contracts and harvest season. It's a modest but positive sign
(22:17):
the dialogue is reopening on agriculture and food products. Also
significant is the one year pause on ship fees, the
surcharge on China built or China owned vessels calling at
US ports and the same for American vessels going back
to China. That move eases some immediate supply chain costs
(22:39):
and gives both sides a little bit of time to
keep negotiating. Overall, the talks have reduced short term tensions
and provided a bit more breathing room for trade between
the world's two large.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
So that is a Sports CEO Gen Soroka talking about
updates on tariffs involving the United States and China. That
has been the major focus of President Trump's trade policy
and the impact that it has had on the ports
and the prices of things here in this country.
Speaker 15 (23:08):
But we shouldn't lose sight of the broader picture. Tariffs
remain elevated across a wide range of goods, and longer
term trade agreements are still unresolved in some cases, both
with China as well as other trading partners. That's why
many CEOs and logistics leaders I've spoken with, both overseas
and here at home, are saying they're still holding back
(23:31):
on new capital investments and to a large extent, hiring
until there's more clarity on trade policy and tariffs.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
And that is why I pay attention to the port
updates out of LA and Long Beach, because they tend
to have their finger on the pause of the broader
economic picture, and so when they are talking about what's
coming in, what's going out, and who they're talking to
here and abroad, it's important to listen because they really
do seem to have some insight on what's going on.
(23:59):
And that's a bit of an alarming message there that
hiring is slowing down. If you're wondering if things are
costing more, you're right, they are costing more in a
lot of different ways. Not everything has gone up the
way that I think a lot of people feared. In fact,
both of these ports CEOs at LA and Long Beach
have conceded that the worries at the beginning of the
year when tariffs was first floated really didn't pan out.
(24:24):
Didn't pan out. There is something that is more expensive
right at the time of year you needed the most.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Real or fake.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
The American Christmas Tree Association says eighty three percent of
homes that put up a tree will go artificial. But
it's been a pretty good growing year for the nation's
Christmas tree farms, and prices will reflect that.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
When you have the large supply that we have right now,
you need to get the trees harvested and sold.
Speaker 5 (24:49):
Marsha gray heads the real Christmas tree board.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
We can't leave them in the ground forever.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
With most of our Christmas decorations coming from China, the
price of artificial trees will run about twenty percent higher
this year than asked.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Did you know there was a real Christmas tree board? Well,
there is, and they are reporting that if you don't
want to spend more for the fake tree, it's been
a great year for the real thing.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
From the sprawling commercial tree farms of Oregon to the
mom and pomp operations like Jamie Jones Is in Connecticut.
Speaker 16 (25:18):
Anyone who wants to get a beautiful, real, freshly grown
Christmas tree, they'll be able to find it.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
And the best kept secret of the season maybe the
permits you can apply for at Recreation Dot Gov, which
allow you to cut a tree in a national forest
for as little as five dollars.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Love the smell of a real tree, don't like the
mess of it, and I'm going to stick with the
fake one for now. The cats are also a bit
of a problem for those types of it doesn't matter
real or fake. The cats are going to be a
problem for that can't wait to put the tree up though.
The day after thanks Giving, there is a show coming
back to television that was a global phenomenon thirty plus
(25:56):
years ago. You probably remember it, and the reason we're
bringing it up today is because with this reboot, local
and state officials are celebrating the fact that it's going
to be made here in Los Angeles instead of elsewhere.
It's one of several shows and movies that have been
awarded tax credits. We're going to get into that next
(26:18):
on how these new tax credits are apparently doing what
they said they would do and bringing productions back to Hollywood.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
This is Michael Monks Reports. I'm Michael Monks from KFI
News with you till nine o'clock on this Saturday night
in Southern California. Oh boys, Southern California had the attention
of the world there for a while because of a
very popular show. I'm wondering how long it will take
you to recognize this theme song? You got it yet?
(27:02):
You know it now, don't you. That's enough of that,
I'll tell you. That's bay Watch. That is the TV
show Baywatch. Congratulations if you got it correct. And as
I was recording that audio this evening, I watched the
opening credits and between the opening credits, and you know,
how sexy everyone was, of course, but how cheesy it
(27:22):
all was. It did strike me that even though I
think television storytelling is so much better right now, this
is truly the golden age of television. I mean, there
were so many excellent scripted shows out there, none of
them have songs like that. You know, the theme song
(27:42):
used to be a thing, and it just isn't anymore.
And I miss that. You think about TGIF TGIF when
you were either kid in the nineties or raising kids
in the nineties, tuning in on Friday night to ABC's
lineup of TGIF shows and hearing all of those iconic
theme songs. You don't get that anymore. Why am I
(28:03):
playing the bay Watch theme? Well, this is why. Here's
Governor Gavin Newsom. I've got news California.
Speaker 16 (28:09):
Baywatch is back for another slow motion run on the
beaches of Los Angeles. Through our just expanded film and
tax credit program, California is welcoming not only the Lifeguards
of California, but sixteen other TV projects, including The Night Agent,
Mister and Missus Smith, and Fallout. Just this round alone,
we'll be bringing in over one point two billion dollars
(28:30):
into the economy and employ over five thousand cast and crew.
These credits are keeping jobs and investment right where they
belong here in California.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
And there was a huge push this year by the
industry here in Hollywood and by local state leaders federal
leaders trying to get California's tax credit for film and
TV productions enlarged because we were losing out to states
like Georgia or countries like Canada or even your up
(29:01):
and this is where Hollywood actually is located, so they
thought they better get busy, and apparently it's working. So
that was Governor Newsom. Mayor Bass Los Angeles, of course,
also put out a statement celebrating this. She says, for years,
we've watched productions leave LA and we've all felt the impact.
So seeing Baywatch, an iconic show that was born in LA,
(29:22):
come home, is more than symbolic. It means real jobs
for real people. Steve Kang, the Mayor's liaison to the
film and television industry, says, this is a game changing
win for our local production ecosystem and workforce. I'll be
working across city departments and with our county counterparts to
streamline aregos, streamline the permitting process and insure productions can
(29:44):
quickly and efficiently film in Los Angeles. Bay Watch is back,
Does that mean LA is back? Not sure. LA hopes
to be back beyond its Hollywood game because the LA
economic and tourism leaders have announced a new campaign called
La is Open. So they're trying to boost the local economy,
(30:06):
of course, which is struggling. But this initiative is being
talented as a recovery campaign. It's supposed to be promoting
the tourism industry and supporting small business affected by January's wildfires.
La is Open is intended to signal, according to a
news release, that LA is open for business, resilient and
(30:28):
ready to welcome visitors from around the world. This initiative
is an overarching campaign, linking and showcasing other programs with
the same goals, such as Shop La, Dine in LA,
and Discover La. The folks involved with this particular campaign
include the La County Economic Development Corporation, the County's Department
(30:48):
of Economic Opportunity, the city's Economic and Workforce Development Department,
and the California Community Foundation. Mayor Bass hosted a news
conference this week with a represent from Governor Newsom's office
and the county, and she says, through this bold new campaign,
why everything is bold these days? She noticed that through
(31:10):
this bold new campaign, we are sending a clear message
that Los Angeles is open for business and ready to
welcome everyone back to LA to explore all that our
vibrant city has to offer. So I guess you'll be
seeing LA's Open campaign materials in and around Los Angeles.
But really, the only thing you need to know today Today,
(31:32):
watch's back and I'll be back with another hour of
Michael Monk's reports
Speaker 1 (31:39):
KFI AM six forty on demand
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