Jacobin Radio: Fires Raging in California

A look at the fires raging across California, and the impending teacher’s strike. Suzi talks to urban theorist Mike Davis for his “Tale of Two Fires,” contrasting the Paradise and Malibu conflagrations, which he says is like comparing two Californias. She then talks to United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) president Alex Caputo Pearl who addresses another sort of fire, this one threatening public education. Alex explains the issues behind the historic 98 percent strike-authorization vote from the UTLA membership, issues that go to the heart of the competing visions for public education from the union (UTLA), and the district (LAUSD, the second-largest in the country) that is in austerity and downsizing mode, while the union is pushing for smaller classes, more funding, more staff, and the needs of students and education as a whole.