We all have neighborhood stories, but some neighborhood stories have all the elements of high-stakes political thrillers.

Some even make us think, how did that even happen there?

That's the case with the story at the heart of the sellout, smokescreen podcast's latest season.

The Twisting Plot centers on Jose Wizar, who grew up in a working-class

Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles. He rose up the political ranks but became mired in

corruption scandals. There are iffy land deals, shady companies, big money, and an FBI investigation.

So there used to be this big event that happened once a year in downtown LA, and it was called

Night on Broadway.

Broadway cuts right through the middle of downtown.

And for a long time, it's been this kind of historical-looking street.

It's got a ton of theaters with their original vintage marquees.

For night on Broadway, the theaters would open up to the public, with free shows.

And no matter where you looked, you'd see these posters with a very familiar face on them.

Here's Raquel Zamora.

And his name was everywhere.

Like Jose Huizar, night on Broadway, Jose Huizar, and his picture was everywhere.

Jose Wiesad, the city council member for this one district in Los Angeles, CD14.

He grew up in a neighborhood called

Boyle Heights, right across the river from downtown LA. Wiesad was the first Mexican immigrant

elected to L.A. City Council. He was known for being charismatic, a bit narcissistic, and eventually

for alleged corruption.

Zoe Sad was out here like cuddling up with developers and multinational real estate

...