The eight candidates for the NLMUSD school board.  (Screen grab from La Mirada Blog's Youtube video) LA MIRADA  - Parents ignored an attempt by event organizers to turn a Norwalk-La Mirada school board candidates forum into a conspiracy theory forum. "What's with these questions? There's definitely an agenda going on here." Those were the words I heard from the parents closest to me as I witnessed one of those cliche' school board meetings you might see on Youtube from the Midwest , the Deep South , or maybe just Orange County , California, where big government religious authoritarianism still have their militant enclaves, and conspiracy theories abound.  The questions asked were about critical race theory (CRT), LGBTQ issues, gender issues, and of course - communism.  But this was no mere school board meeting, folks. This was a candidate's forum. Just under 80 people attended a candidates forum on September 16, put on by the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce ...

 How can a union be a steward of 'good government'?  That's what Eye On Pioneer is exploring. Artesia, California - Artesia's employee union is full of a bunch of goo-goos! What, pray tell, is a "goo-goo"?!? Hello Artesia residents, I'm Andrew Perry, a philosophy nerd and a purveyor of corny jokes and one liners. Sit back, relax, and in the words of Ross Geller from Friends , 'Get a load of this.' A goo-goo is an advocate for good government, and after Artesia employees' experiences last year, we've really come to embrace the ideas of the good government movement. In many ways, that was our guiding light. The term 'goo-goo' is a derivative of the original phrase "good government guys", which was a movement to reform municipal government and to find ways to reduce corruption, inefficiency, and assure honesty, transparency, and positive results for the constituents that a City is supposed to serve. Goo-goo was actually coin...

  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - In front of 3000 other union members, a union president from California argued that Medicare for All is the solution to America's healthcare crisis, and that Americans should put a stop to money's unfortunate influence on politics and policy making. The resolution passed shortly afterwards. Andrew Perry, the union president being filmed, said he’s tired of the narrative that unions are against Medicare For All. “If anything, Medicare For All is beneficial to unions because it means union bargaining teams can focus on other things like salary, other benefits, safety, and other contractual obligations.”

In fear, the Philadelphia Museum of Art closed its doors to the public today, because they did not want the good people of Philadelphia to know about their shameful attempts at union busting, nor see what was coming for them - thousands of union employees congregating on the iconic "Rocky steps" leading up to the world famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. Eye On Pioneer's Andrew Perry joins the rally.

HAWAIIAN GARDENS, CALIFORNIA - Eye on Pioneer sits down with two Hawaiian Gardens union leaders to discuss why the Expanded Gaming Measure is dangerous for cities like Hawaiian Gardens, and how it's a thinly veiled attempt to stack cards in favor of tribal casinos. Shavon Cage of AFSCME Local 36 and Ramie Torres of AFSCME Local 3624 are interviewed by the Eye On Pioneer's Andrew Perry.

  Los Angeles, California - For employees of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Friday the 13th (May 13, 2022) was a day of good fortune. That was the day that they voted to ratify a long negotiated union contract between MOCA and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. After 2.5 years of organizing their union and negotiating their contract, MOCA employees congregated after working hours and voted unanimously to ratify their contract. Union leaders Olivia Leiter and Ace Ubas talk about the hard fight to obtain a contract, and the inspirational moments that led to this ratification. Anna Marfleet and fellow union member Daphne Lyda talk about their unique contributions to the cause.

Hawaiian Gardens, California - Local government is a direct reflection of its community. In Hawaiian Gardens, the residents place great value on their seniors and have built a robust senior program at the Mary Rodriguez Senior Center. This episode explores one aspect of the "special bond" between residents and their municipal government; that relationship between the City of Hawaiian Gardens and its vibrant senior community.