Why California Street Takeovers Are Hard to Stop | Panel

Siyamak Khorrami

Siyamak Khorrami has been the general manager and chief editor of the Southern California edition of The Epoch Times since 2017. He is also the host of the “California Insider” show, which showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues in California.

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August 31, 2026Updated: September 2, 2026

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Street takeovers can form quickly, leaving drivers, bystanders, and police facing a dangerous situation in the middle of a public road. In California, large groups can appear before authorities have much time to respond.

Some of these gatherings can form and disperse within a short window. By the time police can mobilize, much of the event may already have played out.

Heather Mac Donald, the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal, and Deon Joseph, an SoCal senior lead officer with 30 years on the job, join us to examine what is happening around these street takeovers and why they can be so difficult to contain once they begin.

Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the California Insider Show.

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