Mayor Gordo Set For ‘NewsRap Local’ This Friday

Pasadena Media’s award-winning local news talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” continues this Friday at 5 p.m. with featured guest Victor Gordo, mayor of Pasadena.

“Mayor Gordo helms the city during a period of transition for Pasadena,” said host Justin Chapman, an award-winning journalist who writes for Pasadena Now. “In the wake of the premature passing of City Council member John Kennedy and the hiring of a new city manager, we’ll talk to Mayor Gordo about where the city goes from here and get his thoughts on a wide range of issues facing the community.”

Gordo was elected mayor of Pasadena in 2020. Before that, he was the elected representative of District 5 on the Pasadena City Council starting in 2001. He previously served as Council member Bill Crowfoot’s field representative and attended night classes at the University of La Verne College of Law. He also worked as a Program Director for Pasadena’s Day One Community Partnership. He currently serves as the Business Manager and attorney for the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 777.

Chapman recently won three LA Press Club journalism awards, including 1st place in the Travel Reporting category, 3rd place in the Entertainment Features category and 3rd place in the TV/Public Affairs category for hosting “NewsRap Local.”

“NewsRap Local” launched over a year ago and airs on the third Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, 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 and hosted by Chapman, directed and edited by Ian Shea, produced by Chapman and Aaron Wheeler and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media. Shea recently took over from Joshua Morales, who moved on to a job with the NFL.

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

Previous guests on “NewsRap Local” included Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, director of the Pasadena Public Health Department; Rick Cole, former mayor of Pasadena and current executive director of the Congress for the New Urbanism; Congress member Judy Chu (D-27); Congressmember Adam Schiff (D-28); interim Pasadena city manager Cynthia Kurtz; Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-41); and many others.

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 KPCC/LAist, Alta Journal, Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Berkeley Political Review, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star-News, Pasadena Now and many others. He currently serves as Digital Content Writer & Editor for Michelson Philanthropies.

“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.