Uptown Voices

In this engaging conversation, Grace Bonilla, the president and CEO of United Way New York City, discusses her role in the transition team for the new mayor and the importance of representation for diverse communities in City Hall. The conversation covers critical issues such as housing affordability, crime, mental health, food insecurity, and the need for collaboration with state government and grassroots organizations. The hosts reflect on the significance of community support and the challenges faced by marginalized groups, emphasizing the need for new leadership and accountability in politics.

Takeaways:
Grace Bonilla is the first Latina president of United Way NYC.
The transition team aims to support the mayor's vision with diverse representation.
Housing affordability is a multifaceted issue that requires comprehensive solutions.
Mental health and community safety are critical concerns for urban areas.
Food insecurity remains a pressing issue, exacerbated by recent government actions.
Collaboration with state government is essential for addressing community needs.
Grassroots organizations play a vital role in supporting local communities.
The importance of activism and community engagement in political processes.
The need for new leadership in the Democratic Party to address systemic issues.
The conversation highlights the ongoing struggles and resilience of marginalized communities.

Titles:
Empowering Communities: Grace Bonilla's Vision for NYC
Navigating Change: The Role of the Transition Team

Sound bites:
"We need new blood in there."
"It's pure racism!"
"This can't continue anymore."

Chapters:
00:00
Intro
00:41
Introducing Grace Bonilla
10:27
Role of the Transition Team
12:39
Housing Affordability and Red Tape
13:36
Addressing Crime and Mental Health
15:27
Tackling Food Insecurity
17:33
Collaboration with State and Federal Partners
21:21
Grace Bonilla's Personal Connection to NYC
22:23
Post-interview reaction
29:51
Led Ready to cancel New York Times subscription
36:00
Truth Teller at parties
42:28
Democrats need to speak for their base
45:49
Country isn't ready for AOC as president
50:59
Controversies rocking Israel
54:09
Outtro

Creators and Guests

Host
Led Black
Host
Octavio Blanco

What is Uptown Voices?

A podcast focused on the Uptown neighborhoods of Inwood, Washington Heights and Harlem. Our neighborhoods have a voice and we want to be heard and felt. We love Uptown.

Each episode will elevate the people here who are making a difference in the life of this community. We’re also committed to “real talk” that seeks solutions that improve the quality of life in our beautiful Uptown neighborhoods.

Led Black (00:42)
Yo, yo, yo, yo, what up, y'all? It's another episode of the Uptown Voices podcast, me and my brother, Octavio Blanco. And today, Octavio, we have a really special guest. You know, as New York City stands on the cusp of deep.

Octavio Blanco (00:58)
High powered.

Led Black (01:00)
high powered change and we have a high powered guest for that. So we have none other than Grace Bonilla who is the president and CEO of the first Latina may I add of the United Way in New York City. She's part of the five person transition team. Just a bunch of five women, women, just a bunch of powerhouses in there. So yeah, it's a big episode man. So I'm really happy that we were able to score this. ⁓

Octavio Blanco (01:17)
Five woman transition team.

Led Black (01:28)
this really important person, know, not just for Mamdani but for the city, for the working folks of the city. So I'm really excited about today's episode, brother.

Octavio Blanco (01:39)
And for uptown, I mean...

This is what we're about. We're trying to make sure that Uptown never gets forgotten, right? Not only are we collecting these interviews with so many Uptown greats and keeping the history of Uptown alive, we're also bringing you what's happening Uptown and making sure that Uptown is always on people's minds, those people who are in power. And so I'm really excited for this interview with Grace Bonilla.

Led Black (01:47)
right.

Yeah, for real. And before we go any further though, we have to tell people, subscribe, subscribe, subscribe, show that love. Yeah. What are you doing? Like, what are you doing? Stop playing. You don't gotta pay for it. You know what saying? It's cheap date. Just subscribe. You know what I mean? It's free. Stop playing. But yeah, man, think it's, you know, it's interesting, right? Because I saw my Mamdani, talk about, you know, that this is usually a time of celebration.

Octavio Blanco (02:15)
Yes, please subscribe if you haven't.

Yeah, seriously. It's free. ⁓

Led Black (02:37)
but he's making this a time of preparation. And I've never seen, you know, a transition start in this way, so focused, you know, I know you fucking mayor, mayor ⁓ dumbass was in Israel. And again, he ended, it's like he ended his trip in Israel and then he says, I was here to serve you as mayor and now I'm your brother. And it's like, you know, it just gave off the worst kind of vibes, you know, it gave off like bought and paid for.

Octavio Blanco (02:53)
Yeah.

⁓

Led Black (03:07)
And again, like, what are you doing over there? And he's also, on, he's also putting like a big hole in the budget. You know what mean? It's like, what are you doing, man? Like, what? I'm just so done with him.

Octavio Blanco (03:08)
Bro, bro.

Yeah,

he's, well, first of all, being in Israel, and when they ask him, do the Jewish people of New York have anything to worry about? And he was like, yes. What the hell? What is wrong with this guy? Sour grapes, it's disgusting. And then...

He's doing everything in his power, as you're saying, to sabotage the budget. Like, he's passing all these billion dollar things that are gonna ⁓ make it tough for the mayor to ⁓ get his mandate ⁓ covered. So anyway, I think no matter what, the greatest thing about this mayor that I think we've been...

obviously supportive of is that he's a people person. brings folks together. And I think Grace Bonilla, who's going to be on this program any minute now, you know, is an example of this. Like you can't have, she's been on the Bloomberg administration, the de Blasio administration. She's CEO of United Way New York City, which by the way, had a huge part of stepping up when ⁓ SNAP benefits were eliminated by the

Trump administration. I mean the fact that people had food pantries to go to and food at those pantries in the city of New York ⁓ was ⁓ a ⁓ saving grace because that could have been tremendously, more disruptive than it already was.

Led Black (04:50)
And again, we're not out the woods, right? First of all, Trump is still fucking president, so there's that. But also, you know, with this big, beautiful bill, there's gonna be a lot of people throwing off snap permanently, you know what mean, in the next few months. And I think it's important to have the United Way working towards that. I mean, it's messed up that they have to carry that load, but it's gonna, the community's gonna have to step up regardless, and we have no choices here.

Octavio Blanco (05:03)
Yeah.

Yeah.

and community and United Way and other stakeholders, know, we're just all going to have to stay on alert and stay awake and stay active and activated and make sure that we as people ⁓ can help each other out. One of the great things that I saw was when this happened, when the SNAP benefits were taken away, when the government workers were out of work, neighbors were helping each other. Neighbors were bringing each

other food. Neighbors were starting these like, you know, food pantries like that we've seen like, you know, like the the refrigerator at at at Word Up books or the refrigerator in front of the church on 181st Street. You know, these places were being stocked by neighbors, by people, you know, to make sure that their neighbors who were suddenly without income and who didn't have SNAP benefits had some food. And then, of course, we had those those big food pantries.

⁓ that we see continue to step up and continue to provide those services. So anyway, that was really great. I'm really looking forward to this interview. ⁓

Led Black (06:24)
Yeah, we got button down pink shirts. So you know, we really, really, you know what mean? Like I never wear button down, like, so you know it's real, you know what mean? But yeah, it's really important. I'm glad we have Grace, you know, ⁓ on the show, Grace Bonilla. We need to be having these conversations, you know, speaking of being on alert, last week.

You know, now last Tuesday, you know, someone was apprehended on 157th in their car in like an operation where like several cars jumped. And what I'm proud of is Uptown. Uptown was there shouting, you know, at the ICE agents recording, making sure they recorded what was happening. What was interesting was that that was the only incident that actually got coverage. But in terms of, you know, that you saw video of, but there was actually other incidents throughout Uptown. So I'll ⁓

Patch reported that there was another incident on 164th and Broadway. What was interesting about that incident, again, there's really no visuals from it, but apparently someone was being chased by ICE. The police were called. The police, this is what Patch says. He said the police basically confronted the agents because they didn't know they were agents and the police got hurt. I don't know what that means.

Right? ⁓ And then the ICE agents identified themselves to police. The police did not intervene after that point, but it was reported they were injured. I don't know what the injuries were. But again, it shows you that like it's happening uptown. You know, I think... ⁓

This is one, and I think Tom Holman said something else about doing more actions in New York City because we're a sanctuary city. So, you know, I think we're gonna be, have to be remain on alert. I think there's a lot to learn from other communities across this country going through it. So we gotta look at LA, we gotta look at Chicago, we like look at Charlotte. I just read this today, like.

Thousands of students walked out of school today to protest ICE and Charlotte. I think those things are important. I think we all need to get activated for the fight that we have going ahead of us. yeah, you know, think Uptown is also very fortunate that we have a lot of grassroots organizations on the ground doing the work. I'll say this. have, I'm on a,

you know, group chat with a lot of these uptown movers and it's active, you know, and it's active and they're talking about what's going on and they're planning. And that's what I'm really proud of that we have a real community that's dedicated to the needs of this community.

Led Black (09:00)
Holman made statements recently about doing more operations in New York City because we're a sanctuary city and he feels we need to be punished for that. And I say to Holman, you don't even know what America is. ⁓ He looks like Bull Connor. That's what he reminds me of, like a modern day Bull Connor, right? But again, this goes back to who put him in office? Who gave him, it was Obama.

Octavio Blanco (09:19)
Hahaha

Led Black (09:27)
You know, ⁓ and so you have to wonder, you know, you have to wonder. But regardless, you know, I think I'm excited about this new administration. I think the only thing we have right now as progressive people in this country. You know, there's a few other victories. But going forward, I think we need to remain committed and united and solidarity is the only way in community.

Octavio Blanco (09:50)
And we should bring on our guests, but I should say, you know, it's refreshing that somebody from the transition team, such a high caliber team, ⁓ not to say anything against our little show here, Uptown Voices, but the fact that they came onto our show just shows that, you know, Uptown is front and center, and we're gonna make sure that Uptown stays front and center however we can. And so, yeah, what do you say, Led? What do you say?

Led Black (10:15)
That's right.

Nah, thank you, Grace. Thanks, Mamdani. You know, again, Uptown is super important, front and center always. Yes, sir. Let's go.

Octavio Blanco (10:27)
Let's go.

Led Black (10:28)
Grace, how you doing?

Grace Bonilla (10:30)
How you doing? Good to see you.

Led Black (10:32)
Likewise, likewise. We're gonna get right to it. What is a transition, co-chair? What is a transition? What is this?

Grace Bonilla (10:34)
Scott.

Absolutely. So the co-chairs really are here to lend some support to the mayor and his vision. Behind the co-chairs are a group of committee members who are going to focus on specific issues. this particular, and every mayor does it a little bit different. This particular mayor really has a very capable group of staff members who are doing a lot of the vetting. So when you hear about the 50,000 resumes that came in,

We actually have incredibly smart staff that's going through it, while the rest of us, the co-chairs, are providing our expertise in the lane that we've been working on for decades to make sure that he's getting the best talent possible.

Octavio Blanco (11:20)
Yeah, that must

be a difficult task to go through all those resumes. I don't envy you for sifting through it, but I'm sure you're getting some really interesting ⁓ people to apply. Now moving to a little bit more of ⁓ how things are gonna be working at City Hall, especially for diverse uptown communities.

Led Black (11:23)
impressive.

Octavio Blanco (11:43)
New York City is like a toss salad, right? We have all different kinds of communities. We have Dominicans, have Africans, we have Jews, have Mexicans, and Uptown is just like that. So how are all these different communities going to be represented in City Hall? How are you going to coordinate that? Because they each have their own needs, special needs, and special requirements.

Grace Bonilla (12:00)
Absolutely. Well, I think that this mayor has been really clear that he wants to make sure that his administration represents the makeup of the city. He also has been really clear that he wants to get the best talent possible ⁓ for the things that we need to get accomplished and the big agenda that he's put forward. What that looks like, he has been in every corner of the city. He's spent a lot of time uptown. He has gotten to know the folks that could be at the table with him pushing his agenda.

I feel confident, and it's one of the reasons that I joined as a co-chair, that the Latino community will be well represented in this administration.

Led Black (12:36)
That's really good to hear, super important. One of the big things, of course, is housing affordability. That's an important topic here uptown and throughout the city. How do you plan on tackling that?

Grace Bonilla (12:48)
Well, I think that we've, I'm really proud of the fact that I think we've already started him on a really good track. ⁓ The bills that just recently passed along with his election around the city of Yass really opens up the door for more affordability and housing building in the city and cutting through a lot of the red tape, which is one of the fundamental views that he ran on, right? We should not make affordable housing, small businesses.

people who really want to give back in the city or from the city have to go through so much red tape. So I'm confident that we are on a good path towards that. The affordability crisis is more than just building, and I know that's why he's looking at things like childcare. It is the whole experience of a family, which is why food insecurity, childcare, and housing all play such an important role.

Octavio Blanco (13:37)
Yeah, huge, huge issue.

also going hand in hand with housing and affordability is crime and mental health. That's a huge issue. with the new with the news just today that that Tisch has agreed to to take the invitation to continue on as as as police commissioner. How does how will you implement Mayor elect Mondami's plan to tackle crime and also mental health? And just so you know, in uptown, we are we

we're dealing with a big issue with drug addiction. And so, you we want to make sure that that's front and center. So how's all that going to work? ⁓ as an uptown resident, how do I navigate that? If I see something, who do I call? Is it 911? Is it a different number? Has that been figured out?

Grace Bonilla (14:14)
Mmm.

Yeah.

Yep. Absolutely. So still figuring it out. But what I will say is that the announcement of Commissioner Tisch staying on goes right to the reasons why this mayor is going to be successful. He's not going to fix what's not broken. And I think Commissioner Tisch has done a great job. ⁓ It's a thing that now we can say, OK, take that off the list of the transition we have a police commissioner. ⁓ But you're absolutely right. Part of the perception of insecurity and

that people have when they're walking through the streets is the fact that we have a huge mental health crisis. And it goes back to his campaign commitment of having a community safety office, which is going to be part of what we help him think through. What does that look like? ⁓ Again, the city has some of the goods already to respond to this. What we need is more funding, more focused effort, which he has committed to. So more to come on how you get, how we.

tackle this problem in a more comprehensive way.

Led Black (15:25)
That's good to hear. Grace, so you know right now the federal government is reopened, SNAP benefits have been restored, but we know with this big beautiful bill that plenty of, you know, New York's and this country's most vulnerable are gonna get thrown off SNAP permanently, right? So is there a plan for addressing, you know, food insecurity that we know we're gonna feel it as New Yorkers and uptowners as well?

Octavio Blanco (15:30)
Mmm.

Grace Bonilla (15:41)
That's right.

I mean, think that as someone as you said earlier, I am the president of United Way of New York City. It is one of our top priorities is tackling food insecurity. Just to give your viewers a sense of what it meant to have the shutdown, $655 million a month come to SNAP recipients. And the shutdown, even though we can now celebrate, the government is now open.

⁓ It really caused both our pantries and recipients and our small businesses a great deal of stress from cash on hand for our recipients, food, extra food that we needed to put out there for pantries, and the small businesses that did not benefit from being able to get that EBT card and sell their goods. So the impact was tremendous, even though it was for what felt like a lifetime, it was the longest shutdown.

in the history of this country. How do we deal with that from a state and local level? It's partnership. It's truly, truly partnership. There is no way that one government, one locality is gonna be able to cover the cost of the type of hole that what's coming down the pipe is going to leave. You're absolutely right. We have able-bodied adults without dependents, who many of them have disabilities, who will be kicked off SNAP permanently. And we need to figure out as a city, as a state,

how we respond to that moment. But also we cannot give up on advocacy at the federal level. Our federal partners have to realize the kind of pain and suffering they're causing in cities and small communities across the country. So it is about partnership. It's about aggressively representing the needs of our neediest New Yorkers.

Octavio Blanco (17:30)
If I could just

tag team in on that one

Mayor Mondami's reputation is of being very collaborative. And so I want to know, like, how is that being, how do you feel that? you feel that with this process? And then also part of the very important collaboration that needs to happen is with our state government and our governor. So a little bit on that. How does the ⁓ collaboration feel and how does it feel that our ⁓ work with ⁓ Albany is going to help us to, which I should say,

I was really impressed with how United Way and the food pantry stepped up during the

snap benefits issue because so many people were lost and didn't know what they were going to do and they needed food and there were plenty of food pantries. mean the mobilization was just staggering and impressive but you know going forward we need to have this ⁓ collaboration with the state and with our with our colleagues in Albany. ⁓ How does that how does how is that moving and how do feel this collaborative sort of like reputation that Mayor Mondani has? is it I guess does it hold water is it actually

happening.

Grace Bonilla (18:42)
Absolutely. I have to say, ⁓ I did not have a long relationship with Mayor-elect. I'm getting to know him through this process and it is exactly what I have seen. It is someone who is willing to listen, who is willing to learn. ⁓ He is very clear on his value proposition and the fact that this city has to be affordable for every New Yorker. But where the nuance sits, he has been so open to learning.

⁓ And then really making a quick decision on what's best for New Yorkers. As far as the collaboration with the governor, ⁓ I am confident that both this mayor-elect and this governor want the best for New Yorkers. How we get there may be a little bit messy. We've seen this before where mayors and governors don't exactly agree, but we've also seen periods where they come together for what's in the best interest of New Yorkers. And knowing this mayor-elect, ⁓

as I've gotten to know him, that's what I expect from him. Someone who's gonna come in with a collaborative spirit, but also fight for us. And that's what we need. We need a mayor who's gonna fight for New Yorkers.

Led Black (19:45)
Amen. And Grace, before we let you go, you know, I read your bio, super impressed, blown away by where you come from and what you've been able accomplish. But tell me, what does an ecuatoriana from Queens, you know, what do you bring to the table? What does this mean to you? ⁓ You know, tell me why.

Octavio Blanco (19:59)
And you're still here. And you're still here. Like

after all these years. What keeps you here?

Grace Bonilla (20:05)
Okay, over here.

⁓ So I am delusional in love with New York City. I believe in the promise of the city, the same thing that brought my parents to the city ⁓ in 1968 and 1972. This is where they settled. This is where my siblings and I were born. This is where I'm raising my family. And the promise of that city is what keeps me here. Also, I've had the incredible privilege to serve two mayors.

And I know this workforce. I know the workforce that gets up every day and serves New Yorkers and they deserve a mayor that's going to see them as well. So to me, it's the promise of my kids being able to stay in a city that I love, but also that this workforce is going to get what they need to meet the moment. ⁓ So that's what keeps me going. And I'm excited and I'm so happy that I get to hold this seat ⁓ on behalf of ⁓ Latinos, on behalf of Ecuadorians.

⁓ So it's a privilege to serve.

Led Black (21:05)
Grace, thank you so much for taking the time out your super busy schedule with this Atlas role that you're carrying, right? So thank you so much. Have a great day and best of luck at everything. The people of town is with y'all, for real.

Octavio Blanco (21:16)
Thank you, thank you.

Grace Bonilla (21:18)
Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Led Black (21:20)
Thank you, Grace. Bye bye.

Octavio Blanco (22:23)
Led, That was an incredible interview. What do think?

Led Black (22:26)
Incredible. ⁓ Getting ready for this episode. I did a lot of homework.

researched her. And again, it was amazing. She's an amazing person doing amazing work in New York City. Crucial community work and to have her on the show is such a big deal for her to be on the Uptown Voices podcast. We're gonna start this year, right? We have a small following, we're Uptown, baby, and Uptown matters. You know what mean? And it was such a great interview. She was super smart. You could just feel the energy that this is wearing the right hands.

Octavio Blanco (22:49)
Yeah, it matters.

Yeah, yeah, I really, I really liked it. And I really love that she's a number one, she's Latina, but.

Even better than that, she's born and raised New Yorker and she's still a New Yorker. She's got her family here, she lives in Queens. She didn't leave. With the whole Mamdani like, ⁓ everybody's gonna leave New York. You know what? Look, these are the people that stay in New York. She said, how does she say that she has a crazy love for New York City? Or something like that. And I could feel that and I appreciate that.

Led Black (23:27)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Octavio Blanco (23:32)
because we need that and New York City deserves that and Uptown deserves that and that's what we feel about Uptown. We love this place. We want this place to thrive and we want the people in this place to have a voice and that's why we're called Uptown Voices because we definitely want to keep doing this work.

Led Black (23:40)
Yeah, yeah.

Yeah,

yeah, and now more than ever, right, I can't see myself living anywhere else in this country.

besides New York City, right? DR will always have my heart and I wanna live in DR. But in terms of in this country, the only place I could live in is New York City, because the rest of this country is not really going in the right direction, right? I love Miami, I love Wynwood, Wynwood is near and dear my heart because of the graffiti. I grew up in New York City, I'm a graffiti kid. But DeSantis is a dumb ass, right? And they're going in the wrong direction. So New York City is really all we got, but it's more important.

We are the capital of the world, you know, there's no more and again I love everybody else is not to shit on nobody I'm not trying to shit on nobody but New York City is the is the capital of the world the most important city in the world and if we can create something different here an alternative to to the venom coming out of the federal government we could create something special and we can change the world like, you know, we talked about this before there was people like in in in Baton Rouge and they were going to vote for Mamdani now understanding you can't vote for the mayor

York City right but that shows you the outsized influence of New York the outsized influence of Zoran like Zoran like let's let's teach the world how to do things New York always and forever

Octavio Blanco (25:11)
Yes, New York always and forever and.

One thing about New York is that the people are gonna let you know what's up and the people are gonna step up when there need to be stepping up. And I think that right now what I'm so encouraged by, I'm a I also, I'm also a Mamdani supporter, but I'm a little bit, I also have like ⁓ a wait and see attitude in a way, because I've been burned before, but like,

You know, what I love about what's going on is that he's activated New Yorkers and you don't want to get New Yorkers pissed off at you once you've made promises to them and activated them and had them going door to door. A hundred thousand people. That is like a huge deal. I don't think there's like national, like a presidential campaigns that have a hundred thousand people going door to door knocking on people's doors.

Led Black (26:08)
I think it was actually 104.

I think it was 104 what they reached, I'm not mistaken. Amazing.

Octavio Blanco (26:13)
Yeah, well, it's amazing, but you don't want to have 104,000 New Yorkers up in your grill. So yeah, I love it that this mayor, I 50,000 applications for employment for the mayor. Like, how are they going through that? I don't want, like reading every single one of those applications, I'm sure they're everybody, you know what they say, there's eight million stories in the city. There's like,

I think there's like 10 million, 20 million applications in the city.

Led Black (26:44)
Yeah,

I I think that speaks to the moment, right? It speaks to like, you know, I think a lot of people are just fucking fed up with the bullshit, with the right wing nonsense, with the demonization of immigrants, of Latinos. And I think people are thirsty for an alternative. And you're right, like don't promise shit and don't deliver. But again, I just feel like, you know, with...

Octavio Blanco (26:54)
Yeah.

Led Black (27:11)
And again, I understand, like I understand the attitude. Like I don't want to commit like completely. I don't want to my heart broken. But when you don't, when you do that, you know, you, you, you know, it's like you, you, you, ⁓ the federal government is against us. Establishment Democrats are against us.

Octavio Blanco (27:17)
Ha ha ha ha!

Yes.

Led Black (27:28)
The billionaires are against us, right? Ignoramuses are against us. So I just feel like all of us, I don't know, like now let's go full until proven otherwise. I'm a hundred percent in and I'm part of this movement because I think it's super important. And again, like you said, like it's, it's, it's a, you've, you've now galvanized us. So it, you know, you can't put that, you can't put that back, back in the box anymore. You know what I mean? So it is what it is, but it's strength. Yeah.

Octavio Blanco (27:28)
Yes.

Yes. ⁓

Mm-hmm.

But that's strength, that's strength. And I think

he recognizes it. think, I think, you know, as, as they say, inshallah, he recognizes it, that that's his strength, that he's got the, the people who are not just like, you know, ⁓ cheering from the sidelines. He's got the people that are like in the trenches with him fighting for this. So that gives me shivers talking about it, you know, because that is true power. And that's how he got from.

from 1 % to winning the freaking election, to beating a nepo baby Cuomo. A dynasty, a dynasty. You know I'm saying? Like Cuomo, he was the governor. Of course he got run out of that. His brother, a big time TV personality. Of course he got.

Led Black (28:32)
A dynasty. A dynasty, yeah, yeah, it's a dynasty.

Octavio Blanco (28:51)
He got his issues too. And his father, know, ex-governor and I gotta say, like really ⁓ a ⁓ dynastic, almost monarchic New York City family, you know. And this kid, this 33 year old guy from Queens beat them, you know. ⁓

Amazing, amazing. As Don King would say, only in America. You know what I'm saying? That's like an American story right there.

Led Black (29:16)
with all the billions, yeah.

It's true.

Yeah, and again, it's the billionaires are rated against him, the media against him, right? Like the New York Times, the future of the Democratic Party is not Zohran Mondani, it's Josh Shapiro. Get the fuck out of here. Josh Shapiro, no way. Like, are you stupid? But that's what saying. And again, even like, listen.

Octavio Blanco (29:31)
Yes!

Led Black (29:48)
I used to love the New York Times. I'm gonna cancel my subscription. My wife is actually sending me texts every day, have you canceled your subscription yet? You know what mean? And I just like the crossword, I like the op-eds, but I'm gonna cancel my subscription because they've been ridiculous for a long fucking time. And it's like, the New York Times has become the New York Post, right? CBS, right? It's becoming Fox, you know? ⁓ Even the Atlantic, and I love the Atlantic, but...

Octavio Blanco (30:08)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Led Black (30:14)
They had another, I forgot, one of the designers on there did a whole thing saying that it wasn't an impressive victory, that he barely won. Like, what are you talking about? It's nonsense. I'm like, what are you talking, not impressive?

Octavio Blanco (30:24)
Yeah, what are you talking? I saw that. I was like, really? He beat

he beat the rest of the candidates put together. Like, come on.

Led Black (30:33)
Like,

mean, like, but again, this is, but that's what I'm saying. That's what we're up against. Right. The powers that be are not going to make this easy. So that's what I'm saying. Like, this is where people power comes into it. ⁓ This is where, you know, strong arm. And then I'm not, you know, I'm saying we're going to need strong arm in a sense, like we're going to use our votes and we're going to get what we want and we have to push these people. Right. Hoku needs to be pushed. Everybody needs to be pushed.

Octavio Blanco (30:37)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Led Black (31:02)
You wanna rock with

Octavio Blanco (31:02)
Yeah.

Led Black (31:02)
this movement, you gotta rock with us on our terms. If you want that office. That's what they're public servants and we're the public. Start serving us.

Octavio Blanco (31:11)
Yeah.

Led Black (31:12)
And I think that's what Mamdani ⁓ is on tap to do. And I'm happy for her, I'm here for her. We need new blood. This Democratic party has led us to this situation. They've led us down this horrible path. So that means those people that led us here cannot lead us out.

Octavio Blanco (31:21)
Yeah.

You know what I don't know is if we've had our blinders taken off or if everybody has put their cards down and shown their cards now because we've got this crazy person in the administration as president. Like, I just, you know, like, I don't know. Like.

Has the New York Times always been crazy pants or are they crazy pants now because they're so terrified of being sued by the administration? I don't get it. And if you cancel your New York Times, who are you gonna pick up? What's the alternative for you? Do you have one yet? I challenge you.

Led Black (32:04)
No, think, no, because no.

I mean, listen,

well, I got Apple News. So Apple News has like, it's like you pay 10 bucks a month and you get everything. So that's what I have. But my wife actually sent me something today. Let me see if I have it. She was saying how, if you send a screenshot to, let me see, if ⁓ you send a screenshot to Current Affairs Magazine of you canceling subscription, they'll give you a free year.

You know, which is, think that's pretty fucking cool. Hold on, I think so. Like, I just can't get to it right now. Bear with me one second, let me see. I'll send you the link, but you

Octavio Blanco (32:42)
really? And it's called Current Affairs Magazine?

Okay. I love your

wife. She's so smart and she's so connected and she's so, you know, like I really, we need to have her on the podcast one of these days to talk about what she does. Okay, affairs. So what do you

Led Black (32:57)
Yeah.

Yeah, for sure, man. so current affairs, current affairs, currentaffairs.org. So you get a free Leon digital

subscription. So if you go, yeah, you go to the Instagram, get the specifics, but it basically, you send them proof that you got rid of your New York Times subscription, they'll give you a free year, a free year digital subscription. Because at this point, that's all I have. That's all I have is a digital subscription to New Times. I used to listen, I'm such a New York Times head.

Octavio Blanco (33:26)
Damn, think, know, yeah.

Led Black (33:33)
that for a long, and again, a long time, I used to keep the book in review and the weekend review, the book review, and I used to keep them for years and the magazine for years and I used to cut out articles. But then my wife was like, you gotta get rid of all this shit. We live in Manhattan, like, you know what mean? But again, I like, I don't wanna get rid of New York Times, but I think at this point, they've left us no other choice. And that's what I'm talking about. They're not with us, you know I mean? And what you saying before, they've always been that way, right? But I think,

Octavio Blanco (33:48)
Yeah.

Led Black (34:03)
the veil has been taken off. And it wasn't just Trump. This wasn't Trump. It was Biden. Biden lifted the veil with the genocide, right? When we saw him commit to Nainahu no matter what, no matter what, even to lose the election, then you realize.

Octavio Blanco (34:16)
Yeah, and you could, and it was

clear, it was clear to everybody who had a conscience that what was happening in Israel was a genocide. and, and I gotta say, you know, even people.

You my you my friend I remember running into you on the sidewalk early early on and you were all about that and I remember how I felt when you were like in my face and you were saying it's a genocide it's a genocide it's a genocide and I was like oh man like it is a genocide I went home I felt truly I truly I went home I was like it is a fucking genocide like but you know people like me who are like moderate or whatever and

Led Black (34:43)
Hahaha!

You

Octavio Blanco (35:03)
We needed to be, the water needed to be.

poured on our faces, we need to be splashed and woken up and the blinders needed to be taken off and the cars needed to be shown, like what exactly is happening. And people like you, which is why, you know, it's so great to have you and talk to you and have you on this show is like, really do like, ⁓ you say how it is and you're not afraid and I appreciate that about you because it really obvious. And for me, it made me really like come to like that moment of like, you know what?

damn it, is a genocide. And for everybody who's afraid of saying it, well, that's on you and you're gonna have that cross to bear. So from that day on, I was like, it is a genocide. So thank you for that. Cause I remember how I felt leaving. again, like we were walking home from the subway, so I was not prepared for a genocide discussion.

Led Black (35:48)
I think your wife was there. I think your wife was there. She's looking at me like, this.

Yeah. To get accosted.

Octavio Blanco (36:04)
Yeah, yeah.

Led Black (36:05)
That's hilarious. But you know, it's funny you say that. I've

been that person for a while. Like, so I say this, like I terrorize people at parties. Seriously, like if we go to a party and it's an election year, I'm going to fuck your head up. I'm going to talk shit. And you're going to like, I remember I've done that so often. Like I remember 2016, I went to, I forgot exactly what was like a really nice event. Art, beautiful.

Octavio Blanco (36:14)
Ha ha!

Led Black (36:34)
There's an artist that relates to my wife, name is Sharazade Garcia. She's an amazing artist. Her work is, Sona Sonde Mayor has a piece of her, she's international.

Octavio Blanco (36:44)
wow, wow, okay.

Led Black (36:44)
amazing artist, superhuman,

beautiful human. I met her husband for the first time. So, you know, me and him are having a good time talking. And then I'm telling him, this is 2016, Trump's going to win. He's like, no way. I'm like, no, Trump's going to win, my man. And he's like, stop, like, don't say that. I'm like, yes, he's going to win and it's going to be horrible. And he's like, are you crazy? Like, you know, but I called it because I could see it. You know what mean? And same thing with this. I remember, I think I said it before. I got to go to, I think it was last year,

Octavio Blanco (37:03)
I'm

Led Black (37:15)
Yeah, it was last year I got to go to the Warriors ⁓ soundtrack release for Lin-Manuel's adaptation of the Warriors, right? Great, one of the best parties I've been to was the time out, New York and Brooklyn, the food, the drinks were flowing, Nas was there, he was one of my heroes. It was amazing, my boy, was just.

Octavio Blanco (37:24)
⁓ yeah, Yeah, yeah.

What? Wait, you were,

⁓ man.

Led Black (37:37)
I was

having a great time. was chilling with Juan Bago, Mike Diaz. You know, I was having a great time. You know what mean? And then I ran to Kiara Alegría Hudez who wrote In the Heights, who's my good friend. And, you know, I run to her sometimes when I'm looking for parking and she's in a parking and I'm trying to get her, but she's my friend, right? And then I talked to her year off too about Trump winning because it was before, before he won. And she was like, no Led I was like, yes, he's got to win. You know what I mean? So that's what I, I just sometimes I can't stay quiet about these things. And then if I, if I love you and care about you,

Octavio Blanco (37:51)
Ha ha ha ha!

Led Black (38:07)
I'ma beat your head over the head with some of this stuff.

Octavio Blanco (38:11)
And if you want confirmation of this, just check out our episode that we did with Dario, by Dario, Dario Ramirez, because he mentions a party that you guys were up, I guess you were on a rooftop, and he's like, you were just going off on him about...

Led Black (38:24)
Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, no it was crazy because

it was above the heights for those that don't know above the heights is within the Radio Hotel. It's like the it's a beautiful space is like half roof top indoors but just just the best view of Uptown Mahan all like 360 views gorgeous and we went there it was like it was a McDonald's event honoring Latinos.

And again, like I just started talking to him and then I got into my whole thing. Like, and I didn't let him, I didn't let him go. And his wife is over there somewhere else. And I'm just like, I just beat him all the head. You know what mean? And again, I put I wasn't wrong. You know what I mean? I told him by the next time this year, everything you know is going to be different, you know, and this is what's going to happen. You know, and again, his argument was, you know, Biden sucks. You know, they're not sure. And again, I think that's a big part of the problem.

Octavio Blanco (39:03)
Ahahaha

No, you weren't.

Led Black (39:23)
You know, of course you have the ideologues, have the diehard manga, but a lot of the problem with people was like, Biden? You know, and I have this theory, right? That, and it's not always there, there's always maybe some circumstances that might change that, but Americans vote for studs, not duds, right? Al Gore, that's mine, hey, I made that up. Yeah, yeah, I made that up. Yeah, that's mine. Cause Al Gore, dud, dud.

Octavio Blanco (39:42)
Where'd you get? Is that yours? Where did you get that? That's yours? Okay. Okay.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Led Black (39:50)
You know what saying? Biden was a dud,

but Trump was so menacing and people were like, okay, I guess, and we don't want that guy.

Octavio Blanco (39:57)
Well, you know what?

Biden started off as a stud, because I remember people loved Biden with his aviator glasses and his Corvettes and all that. But I think that people were feeling like he was a stud, but then he turned out to be a major dud.

Led Black (40:06)
He was a stud a long time ago though. was was a, that was a, he ain't been a stud in a minute.

But what I'm saying, he didn't

get voted president for being a stud, because by that time he wasn't a stud. He got voted for president because the other guy was Trump, right? And I think, you know, like anyone else could have beaten Trump at that time, right? So he's never been a stud. Maybe he was just a younger stud, in terms of president, he was never a stud, but Obama's a stud.

Octavio Blanco (40:26)
Yeah

Led Black (40:36)
Bill Clinton is a stud, and I hate Trump, but Trump is a stud too. You know what mean? that's the thing. And it's like, you need to bring it all to the table. And I think the reason Rubin wasn't, like a lot of people, was the Democrats weren't bringing it. You have Republican light. Why I'ma vote for Republican light when I could just vote for Republicans?

Octavio Blanco (40:37)
Yeah.

And that's.

And that's the Democrats Achilles heel. That's their downfall. And they're going down with a ship. seems like, don't know. Like it doesn't seem that the establishment Democrats are actually ⁓ seeing what's happening because I don't see a big movement. Like Schumer never, never endorsed Mondami. Never, not one time, not once. And

Led Black (41:23)
Never, never, never, because he sees himself

as the defender of Israel. Right? That's his prime thing.

Octavio Blanco (41:30)
But also,

also he has daily conversations with imaginary Republicans. You know what mean? Like he is not listening to the people that have put him into power.

Led Black (41:46)
That's not true. That's not

true. He is listening to the people that put him in power because it's the billionaire donors who put him in power. Those are the people that put him in power. So he is listening to them. He's not listening to us.

Octavio Blanco (41:54)
yeah, well yeah. But he's not listening

to the people. He's not listening to the people who he should be listening to. He's not listening. Yeah, yeah. That's right.

Led Black (41:59)
He's not listening to his base. He's listening to his donors and he's listening to his supporters. But again, that has to change.

Like this is what I'm saying. Like Biden lost the election, right? Because he didn't really, Israel was the most important thing to him. And he bet the whole farm on this genocide and then letting it happen. And we lost because of him. And again, I think that we need to be really serious. Like, can't allow these people to do this anymore.

Right? So Kathy Hoco wants to play funny, like, I'm not going to fund it. Elise Stepanak wants to be governor. If we don't fight against it, like, that's what saying. Like, it's almost like The Walking Dead. Like, every year, every season, there's a new ⁓ villain. Right? Elise Stepanak is a new villain. We have to do everything in our power to not let that happen. Because if she becomes governor, then this Mamdani revolution is going to be null and void. So what I'm saying is that the Democratic Party needs to get its shit together and stop playing games.

And if Hoku's not the person, then we'll go with Delgado

Octavio Blanco (43:00)
What do you think about Hakeem Jeffries and the challenge from Che Ose? I know that a lot of the people like Mamdani, AOC, both are like, ah, I don't know about Che, but who, if it's not Che, like who else could, should step up? Che, Che, Che Ose, Che, Che.

Led Black (43:15)
Chi. Chi, yeah, Chi. But

the thing is that like, I wanna give them the benefit of the doubt because they feel maybe, you know, it's, we need New York. And even though Hakeem is the representative for New York, it's at a congressional level. But no, I don't agree with that. Hakeem gotta go. You know, again, like, I want you to understand, like, the Jeffries family.

It's a very intelligent family, right? know, Leonard Jeffries was a, he was a black historian. taught at City College. I took classes when I went to City College with him. know, Hassan Jeffries, his brother, they're very, very woke. So the thing is that, so he, Akeem knows what he's doing. He knows who he's doing the bidding of, right? We see it. So it's like, he gotta go. And I get, I understand in the sense that Mamdani

really can't say that, those things. And he's also, I think, what I noticed about him, he never goes negative, right? He just, he always maintains that. And that's good for him, but that's not me. And Apex Shakur gots to go. We don't need anyone else. We don't need people with Apex money. Like Apex money could not be a thing anymore for the Democratic party. It has to go. You know what I mean? It just has to go. It's a problem. It's a problem for me. It's a problem for all of us, I think, at this point.

Octavio Blanco (44:15)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Led Black (44:37)
So I disagree with that. I think he needs to be challenged. I'm rocking with Chio, say. ⁓ I think he'll be an amazing congressman. And I wish AOC will take on ⁓ Schumer.

Octavio Blanco (44:54)
Mm, mm, mm, mm, yeah.

Led Black (44:54)
You know, really wish

that she would take them on.

Octavio Blanco (44:59)
Do you think she's got presidential aspirations?

Led Black (45:03)
I think so. I think she's very, you know, I think she definitely has, ⁓ presidential aspirations, but I don't think she's ready for, I don't think she's ready for 2028. ⁓ just because, ⁓ you know, I just, I just think that, I don't know if the country's ready, I should say, you know.

Octavio Blanco (45:09)
Or do you think that she's a...

Hmm, because

she's a woman or because she's Latina because all of that because I mean we've had we I mean, I mean, I Don't know we've seen that ⁓

Led Black (45:26)
Yeah, I think all those things.

She's super young.

Yeah, I mean, listen, I feel that, ⁓ know, listen, we don't really have anyone for president right now anyway. Like Gavin Newsom has his issues. I'm not against an AOC presidency. I'm not saying that. I just don't think the country is ready for that. ⁓ But again, ⁓ it is what it is. You know what mean? Like I will vote for AOC without hesitation.

Octavio Blanco (45:56)
It is what it is.

Led Black (46:02)
I'm not sure if the rest of the country would and I would like to see Senator Schumer, you know, get taken care of and I think AOC could be him for sure. And I think she needs to do that. I think we need to get rid of Schumer. need to get, we need to let, there needs to be consequences and ramifications for your bullshit, right? So that ramifications, and again, that needs to happen. We can't get rid Schumer. What's her name? ⁓ The other Senator from New York, the woman, Gillibrand gotta go.

Octavio Blanco (46:16)
Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Gillibrand?

Led Black (46:31)
She said some terrorist shit about Mamdani. Like, what the fuck? Like, the old gar has to go. The old gar has to go. Another thing that's really interesting though.

Octavio Blanco (46:34)
Yeah.

It was

so easy for them to go to that terrorist thing. It was so easy for them to just turn to that. It's like, where do they get that? I mean, it's pure racism is what it is. I know where they get it, but what I'm asking is how do they just so easily go there? I don't get that. I don't understand.

Led Black (46:46)
It's so ugly, it's so ugly.

It's pure racism!

Well, I mean, I think

he negates them, right? He negates them because he's not bought, right? So when you see someone that's not bought and you are bought, it fucks with you. You're going to feel a certain way, right? You're going to feel a certain way because you gain that eight pack money. You're bought. The people that tell you what to do are telling you what to do. That person gets his... The other person is getting his from the people. It's a big difference. They're jealous of him.

Octavio Blanco (47:20)
Hmm.

It's that authenticity.

Led Black (47:34)
They're often they're jealous of him and they they and they also know they part of that system. They hold enough of their life, but they got to go. And you know what's interesting? Go back to Chi Asai. I just found this out today. His father was like ⁓ a pioneering black podcaster on Comeback Jack. Back in the days, Comeback that was one of the first black hip hop podcasters, you know, which is which now I see where what Chi gets is from. You know what mean? Like, that's pretty fucking cool. You know what mean? But again,

Octavio Blanco (47:53)
yeah.

Led Black (48:03)
Chi, AOC, we need new blood in there. And the old guys, need to go. They're like about a hundred, you know. And that's the thing about Hakeem. Hakeem is not that old, right? He doesn't have to go this route. He doesn't. He doesn't come from that kind of family. You know, he was woke, but now he sold and bought. You know what mean? That's what's so wack about it. You know, I don't know if you noticed like before this whole thing, before October 7th,

I thought Harkin was that guy, you know what mean? Like because he was so eloquent, you know, I knew the family, where they come from, you know, he used to do like fucking like, like rap, you know, and you know, in Congress, you know, he used to do like this extended metaphor, like quoting Biggie and Brooklyn, you know what I mean? Like I thought.

Octavio Blanco (48:34)
Mmm.

Hmm.

And it wasn't

cringe, he was able to? Okay.

Led Black (48:53)
It wasn't cringe, it was kinda, I

mean, it wasn't the coolest shit ever, but it was slightly cool. I didn't see him as what I see him as now, put it that way. But again, he's refused, he barely endorsed Mamdani gave these really cagey, funny answers, like just funny ass answers. And it's just kind of such a disappointment, such a disappointment. Because you know they know better, you know they know better, and that's what sucks.

Octavio Blanco (48:58)
Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Barely, barely.

Yeah, you know, they know better

and it's such an attack on a person who's so good. ⁓ You know, like I just whenever anybody goes there, like, I'm afraid like what Adams did when he's in Israel saying that, you know, he's afraid for Jews in New York. Like, like when you do that and with what evidence with what evidence do you go and do that with you should?

That is like slanderous if you ask me. And you know, I just hate to see it. I hate to see that kind of slander and that kind of like hate and bigotry. It's just disgusting to me.

Led Black (50:00)
But it also goes to show how it no longer works. You know, they're just like, you're anti-Semitic and then you're canceled and no one can hear from you. That's no longer the case. And that tactic is seen for what it is. It's just a tactic to obfuscate, to demonize, to make that person just someone you don't want to hear from. And that's ridiculous, you know what mean? And that's why I'm so happy for Jewish Voices for Peace, like all these young Jewish people who say, nah, hold on.

Octavio Blanco (50:03)
Yeah.

Led Black (50:28)
I'm not falling for that game no more. Like, nah, nah, hold on. Let's look at things differently. And again, like, I think that this is, really is a generational thing, you know, but that old generation got that whole equation wrong and has made actually everything worse. ⁓ And to be honest, I think they created a Frankenstein that can't be controlled anymore. There's rampaging through the Middle East, doing wild shit. Like, we're really being honest.

Octavio Blanco (50:57)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Led Black (50:58)
Like it's really like

one of the biggest stories right now in Israel is they're basically lionizing these soldiers that like violently raped a Palestinian prisoner. Right. They put stuff up as rectum. They just destroyed him like as a human being and they're being lionized. Like there were riots in Israel protecting these people. it's the Israeli high military lawyer that basically

She basically leaked the video. She got like disappeared and put in jail because her conscience, right? So that's what saying. Like I think I think Jewish people are going to be the biggest allies because they know what it means. Like my understanding of Jewish thought that is about is about liberation. It's about helping human humanity. Right. This is going against the precepts. This is going against the tenets of the faith. So I'm glad there's people in the Jewish people on the front lines fighting against because

This can't continue anymore. that's what this is. The veil has been taken off and Schumer, they want to put the veil back on. None of us see here. No, we can't do that no more. We can't go back there. Another story I saw where these settlers went into a Palestinian like enclosure, a barn, and they basically violently tortured sheep. It's video of it.

Octavio Blanco (52:08)
Yeah, yeah, well now we...

Led Black (52:26)
And these poor little sheep, you have video, I couldn't even watch the video. And what I'm saying is that's what happens when you create Frankenstein. You created a Frankenstein and now it's let loose upon the world and we're all paying the consequences. again, Biden, he could have, I mean, to save the election, to save us from what we're going through now, you could have just stopped it anytime you wanted. Now, cause you remember the bear hug approach.

Octavio Blanco (52:32)
⁓

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Led Black (52:56)
So I'm gonna hug you in public and in private I'm gonna tell you, hey, maybe you shouldn't have, but when it's in your weapons, I'm gonna send you your weapons.

Octavio Blanco (53:02)
Yeah,

keep on sending you weapons, keep on sending you intelligence, keep on sending you all that stuff that they use. Anyway, look, man, these are all great, great, great points you've made. We coordinated our shirts. We didn't even talk about it. We just showed up here. Pink shirted button down collared shirts.

Led Black (53:19)
But hold on, hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold hold on,

hold on. Hold on, hold on, hold Uptown versus everybody, you heard? Don't get it mixed up. Don't get it mixed up. I got the button down, but still Uptown versus everybody. Okay? Okay? Step into the booth. Superman is alive, you heard?

Octavio Blanco (53:37)
Yeah.

Yo, all right, I think we should probably start to wrap it up. Yo, if you're still with us and listening to us at this point in this podcast, you better subscribe if you haven't subscribed. like, yeah, it's been, we've been on for like more than an hour and you're listening to us. So just click the button already. Anyway, Led, yes sir, you have a good night and we'll see you on the flip side, yo.

Led Black (53:50)
Subscribe. I just did this whole stunt, like you gotta subscribe, O-Town versus everybody. You heard?

For real, do the right thing, Spike Lee. Spread love is the uptown way, you heard?

Yep, bye, ciao.