Pasadena Community Coalition’s Martin Gordon Joins Journalist Justin Chapman’s ‘NewsRap Local’ TV Show Friday

Pasadena Media’s local news talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” continues this Friday at 5 p.m. with featured guest Martin Gordon, longtime community activist and chair and CEO of the Pasadena Community Coalition.

“Martin has been on the frontlines of social justice issues in Pasadena for many years,” said host Justin Chapman, a Pasadena-based journalist who writes for Pasadena Now. “We’ll talk to Martin about the appointment of two interim police chiefs, the lack of social equity in legal cannabis for those most impacted by the drug war, the work of the new Civilian Police Oversight Commission, the Tournament of Roses’ progress in terms of diversity, and more.”

The mission of the Pasadena Community Coalition is to be a watchdog for the community and generate dialogue and action on quality-of-life issues. Gordon’s civil and human rights advocacy work spans several decades with many local organizations such as the ACLU Pasadena/Foothills Chapter’s Police Practices Committee, NAACP Pasadena/Altadena Chapter, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters, Hollywood’s Community Police Advisory Board, Leadership Pasadena, Men Educating Men About Health and more.

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

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); Congress member Adam Schiff (D-28); interim Pasadena city manager Cynthia Kurtz; and many others.

“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. In October, he placed 2nd in the Hard News category and 3rd in the Obituary category at the LA Press Club’s 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards.

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 Now and many others.

“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.