Former Mayor Rick Cole to Discuss Climate Change, Housing on ‘NewsRap Local’ TV Show Friday

Pasadena Media’s local news talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” continues at 5 p.m. on Friday with featured guest Rick Cole, former mayor of Pasadena.

Cole served on the Pasadena City Council for 12 years and as mayor from 1992-1994. He has also served as city manager of Azusa, Ventura and Santa Monica. He was recently tapped as a special housing adviser to current Mayor Victor Gordo. Since May, Cole has been the executive director of the Congress for New Urbanism, a nonprofit organization that champions walkable and environmentally friendly cities.

“Following the release of the recent devastating UN report on climate change, it is clear that bold action is needed, including by cities such as Pasadena,” said Chapman, a Pasadena-based journalist since 2005 who was recently nominated for two Los Angeles Press Club awards. “We’ll ask Rick Cole what tangible steps can and should be taken, as well as his thoughts on the affordable housing crisis.”

“NewsRap Local” launched in April and airs on the third Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel, which is available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, Channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.

In each episode, Chapman provides analysis on local news, presents a “lightning round” of the month’s top stories and interviews a special guest or hosts a panel for a deep dive into an important issue facing the community. It is the only TV talk show that focuses exclusively on Pasadena news and politics.

“NewsRap Local” is written by Chapman, directed by Joshua Morales, produced by Chapman and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media. The show is a spinoff from a former Pasadena Media weekly show called “NewsRap” co-hosted by Pasadena Now Managing Editor Andrè Coleman and Barry Gordon. 

“This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

Chapman is also the writer, host, producer and editor of the show “Well Read with Justin Chapman,” which also airs on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has written hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Now and many others. He served as the editor-in-chief of USC’s Public Diplomacy Magazine and as a staff writer at the Daily Trojan. His book about his travels across Africa, “Saturnalia: Traveling from Cape Town to Kampala in Search of an African Utopia,” was published by Rare Bird Books in 2015.

He serves on Pasadena Media’s Citizens Advisory Committee and is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club. He previously served as president of the Pasadena-based nonprofit Men Educating Men About Health, as secretary of the West Pasadena Residents’ Association (and currently as a member of the WPRA Advisory Board), as secretary of the ACLU SoCal Pasadena/Foothills chapter board, as a member of the United Nations Association Pasadena chapter’s Communications Committee and as a commissioner on the city of Pasadena’s Northwest Commission. As a professional child actor, he performed in dozens of commercials, television shows, plays and movies.

“Join me on the third Friday of every month at 5 p.m. for my analysis of Pasadena news and politics and to hear directly from community movers and shakers,” Chapman said.

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.