Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) – Episode: "The LA Fires: Who's Being Forgotten?"

Host: Jamie Loftus
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Produced By: Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this poignant episode of Sixteenth Minute (of Fame), host Jamie Loftus shifts gears from her usual focus on internet personalities to address the devastating wildfires sweeping through Southern California. Loftus delves deep into the human stories behind the flames, highlighting those who are often overshadowed in mainstream media coverage. Through heartfelt narratives and insightful interviews, the episode underscores the urgent need for community support, mutual aid, and sustained local journalism in the face of climate-induced disasters.

1. Personal Reflections and Context ([02:44] – [24:37])

Jamie Loftus opens the episode with a personal account of navigating the recent wildfires in Southern California. She shares the harrowing experiences of the fires, including the loss of lives and homes, particularly among seniors, the disabled, and long-standing Black and Brown families in middle-class neighborhoods like Altadena.

Jamie Loftus ([03:54]): "Last week, the first week of 2025 wildfires tore across Southern California, burning through thousands and thousands of acres and counting. As I write this, these fires are nowhere close to being completely contained and have at present claimed 24 lives with 17 people still missing and not accounted for."

Loftus emphasizes the disparity in media coverage, noting that affluent areas like the Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica receive disproportionate attention compared to working-class neighborhoods.

Jamie Loftus ([12:58]): "Most of my friends who lost their homes were regular people. They didn't live in the Palisades. They lived in the middle-class town of Altadena up in the Valley."

She highlights the systemic issues exacerbated by the fires, including the reliance on incarcerated individuals for firefighting efforts and the lack of adequate support for vulnerable communities.

2. Media Coverage and Class Disparity ([10:49] – [24:37])

The episode critiques the mainstream media's focus on wealthy neighborhoods affected by the fires, overshadowing the struggles of everyday Californians. Loftus questions the empathy shown towards the affluent victims versus the overlooked working-class and unhoused populations.

Theo Henderson ([10:49]): "Houses, everything is just burned down."

Katherine Legge ([13:23]): "But that's not how I have seen this talked about online."

Loftus discusses the broader implications of these coverage biases, highlighting how they perpetuate class disparities and hinder comprehensive disaster response.

3. Insights from Local Journalism: Alyssa Walker ([30:01] – [41:44])

Jamie Loftus interviews Alyssa Walker, a dedicated local journalist and founder of the newsletter Torched, which covers LA’s mega-events and the impacts of the fires. Walker provides an insider’s perspective on the immediate challenges faced during the fires, including inadequate school closures and poor communication from city officials.

Alyssa Walker ([32:45]): "We need another eviction and rent moratorium. We need additional facilities for unhoused people to have a sustained place to live."

Walker underscores the importance of mutual aid and community-based responses, criticizing policies like California's SB 118 which criminalize homelessness.

Alyssa Walker ([39:40]): "Why the unintended consequences always is, I guess, oxymoronic, if you want to be really clear, is the fact that the narrative has always been pushed about unhoused people are drug addicted, mentally ill, they don't want help."

She calls for a more compassionate and inclusive approach to disaster response, advocating for sustained support rather than temporary fixes.

4. The Unhoused Perspective: Theo Henderson’s Commentary ([42:36] – [83:45])

Theo Henderson, host of We the Unhoused, shares his firsthand experiences as a former unhoused individual. Henderson critiques the media’s narrow focus on affluent victims while ignoring the plights of those already living on the streets or those employed in lower-wage jobs supporting the wealthy.

Michael Thweets ([46:26]): "This is a clear example of climate injustice. The frontline workers are unhoused people."

Henderson highlights the ongoing struggles faced by the unhoused during the fires, including lack of access to effective masks and inadequate medical support. He also discusses the detrimental effects of policies like Grants Pass, which further marginalize and criminalize the unhoused.

Michael Thweets ([51:02]): "Grants Pass has given the right for state city workers to criminalize unhoused people without any solutions, without any appropriate follow up to get them off the streets."

The conversation emphasizes the importance of mutual aid and community support in addressing these systemic failures.

5. The Role of Libraries and Community Spaces: Interview with Michael Thweets ([84:36] – [97:34])

Jamie Loftus interviews Michael Thweets, known as Michael the Librarian, an advocate for libraries and literacy. Thweets discusses the critical role libraries play as communal spaces, especially during disasters. He highlights how libraries serve as shelters, information hubs, and resource centers for affected populations.

Michael Thweets ([88:51]): "Libraries are always going to be a community hub. They're about books, but also about providing digital resources, technology access, and a safe space for everyone."

Thweets shares initiatives like providing N95 masks at libraries and organizing book donations to support displaced families, underscoring the multifaceted support libraries offer beyond just literary resources.

6. Mutual Aid and Organizational Response: SELA Interview ([97:34] – [84:36])

The episode features an in-depth discussion with Maybelle (Maybe) and Sarah Reyes from SELA Neighborhood Homeless Coalition. They elaborate on how their organization adapts to crises, manages volunteer influxes, and sustains mutual aid efforts during and after the fires.

Sarah Reyes ([63:57]): "We all have so much support. We're dealing with our own personal anxieties, but we're still able to come together and focus on each other."

SELA emphasizes the importance of monetary donations over material goods, advocating for financial support to provide sustained aid.

Sarah Reyes ([75:36]): "Money is power. Money is also going to be what helps people recover in the long term."

The conversation highlights successful strategies for mobilizing community support, managing resources, and ensuring that aid reaches those most in need.

7. Conclusion and Call to Action ([98:06] – [100:16])

Jamie Loftus wraps up the episode by reflecting on the collective human spirit exhibited during the crisis. She urges listeners to support local organizations like SELA and emphasizes the enduring importance of community solidarity.

Jamie Loftus ([98:06]): "Free Palestine. One of the moments that really made me emotional this week was seeing that a library in Pasadena had burned down... Everything we've been thinking about, all of these people who are left behind in these discussions around climate change and disasters like this are welcome in a library."

She concludes with an inspiring message about rebuilding and fostering community resilience in the aftermath of tragedy.

Notable Quotes

• Jamie Loftus ([03:54]): "The people that we have lost were valuable and many were vulnerable... it's not fair that I get to sit here with my dumb fucking stuff and they have to start over."

• Alyssa Walker ([30:38]): "The Palisades fire started in a neighborhood that is in the city of LA, but it's like tucked up into the mountains above Malibu... creates a catastrophic and dangerous situation for everyone else that lives in the city."

• Michael Thweets ([51:02]): "Grants Pass has given the right for state city workers to criminalize unhoused people without any solutions."

• Sarah Reyes ([75:36]): "Money is power. Money is also going to be what helps people recover in the long term."

• Michael Thweets ([88:51]): "Libraries are always going to be about books. We're always going to push books. But now there's Libby, there's Hookah digital for audiobooks and ebooks... Everything for everybody at the library."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) serves as a crucial reminder of the multifaceted impacts of natural disasters like the LA wildfires. By shedding light on the stories of the forgotten, particularly the unhoused and working-class communities, Loftus underscores the importance of inclusive media coverage, robust mutual aid networks, and the vital role of community spaces like libraries in fostering resilience and recovery. The episode calls listeners to action, encouraging support for local organizations and advocating for systemic change to better protect and assist vulnerable populations in future crises.

Stay Connected

To support the communities affected by the LA fires, consider contributing to local mutual aid groups like SELA Neighborhood Homeless Coalition or donating directly to initiatives supporting the unhoused. Visit Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.