NewsRap Local Features a Special Hour-Long Election Episode This Friday

Pasadena Media’s award-winning local news talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” continues this Friday at 5 p.m. with a special hour-long election episode.

During the first half hour, host Justin Chapman will facilitate a discussion with tenants’ rights activist Ryan Bell and Pasadena Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Little about local election issues including the rent control charter amendment ballot measure, the special library tax, the new dynamic of incoming City Council members, and the impact of statewide ballot measures on Pasadena.

In the second half hour, original “NewsRap” hosts Barry Gordon and André Coleman will return for the first time since 2020 to discuss national politics, the midterms, key House and Senate races, inflation, Trump’s investigations, immigration, abortion, polarization, and the insurrection.

“Ballots are in the mail and voting is underway, so it’s time for an in-depth discussion on all things local election,” said host Justin Chapman, an award-winning journalist who writes for Pasadena Now. “We’ll talk to Ryan Bell and Paul Little about the many ways this important election will impact Pasadena.”

Bell ran for Pasadena City Council’s District 6 seat in 2020. He serves as the Southern California Regional Organizer for Tenants Together, a state-wide tenants rights non-profit, and as the finance director for the Pasadena for Rent Control campaign.

Little previously served on the Pasadena City Council for District 2 and on the board of the Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Construction Authority, which built the Gold Line to Pasadena. He also worked as a public relations and communications consultant in the private sector. He currently serves as the president and CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

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.” In March, “NewsRap Local” won a 2nd place award in News Programming at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE video awards.

“NewsRap Local” launched in April 2021 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, produced, and hosted by Chapman; directed, edited, and produced by Aaron Wheeler; and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

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

Previous guests on “NewsRap Local” included Congress member Judy Chu (D-27); Congress member Adam Schiff (D-28); interim Pasadena city manager Cynthia Kurtz; Assembly member Chris Holden (D-41); Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena city manager Miguel Márquez; 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 served on a number of local boards and 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.