SacTown Talks

On this episode we welcome Dan Dunmoyer, President and CEO of the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). After a short discussion of his background as a native Californian, assembly staffer and work before the CBIA, the conversation turns almost completely to a focus on housing in California. They discuss everything from skyrocketing new home cost, housing shortages, why multifamily housing is important, how covid has made some geographic changes, why construction workers were considered essential, why the CBIA wants to make it easier to grade legislation, and what propositions they are supporting and opposing in the upcoming election. 

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Today’s interview is with Lisa Calderon, candidate for the 57th Assembly district. They discuss campaigning during covid, and the necessary changes to retail politics, her unique background, and how working for Willie Brown gives her a different perspective from most candidates. The discussion then turns to her priorities including wildfire management and climate change, and her fears of disinformation on ballots and voting. Finally they discuss her family’s political background and why she decided to run for office now. 

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We welcome back Tom Sheehy of the Sheehy Strategy Group for an in-depth discussion of AB 5 and this year’s legislative changes to the law. The discussion starts with background: the 2018 CA Supreme Court’s Dynamex decision and Assemblymember Gonzalez’s introduction of AB 5. Then they discuss the changes and carve-outs that happened in the fall of 2019, including an intriguing part where a senator pulled their own bill, which doesn’t often happen. Tom explains why AB 5 was necessary for the protection of workers, where it went too far, what has been done, and what work there is left to do and why. You’ll come out of this episode with a clear understanding of the issues both past and present, and how the legislative process works. 

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We welcome Assemblymember Ash Kalra of the 27th Assembly District. The conversation begins by discussing the South Bay fires, then the conversation backtracks to March to discuss coronavirus and his bill package focusing on his Racial Justice Act. Then they discuss how covid has affected San Jose and the Bay Area, and his background as a public defender. The Assemblymember then dives deeply into criminal justice reform and back to the Racial Justice Act. The conversation turns to his chairmanship of the Labor committee and the challenges and issues he thinks are important for California moving forward. Finally they discuss the progressive movement’s goal going forward and cooking vegan food for his father while sheltering in place.

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Today we welcome Scott Graves of the California Budget and Policy Center. The CBPC provides independent fiscal and policy analysis of the California budget with the goal of improving the lives of low and middle income Callfornians. Scott begins by discussing how the legislature set up a rainy day fund in anticipation of future recessions and how accessing the fund helped soften the fiscal blow caused by the pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 radiate through the entire conversation as Scott discusses how budgets reflect priorities and values, how California can raise revenue without raising taxes through structure changes, like closing prisons, why moving toward a form of single payer health care is necessary, and what the CBPC like and didn’t like from the August budget. He finishes by discussing by Califorina billionaires getting richer during the pandemic, and the sober analysis that it will take national leadership to help California and the rest of the country recover from covid. 

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SacTown Talks returns from the end of session break with a strong episode. Senate Lena Gonzalez returns to discuss broadband access and how California needs to close the digital divide, the way the state can save money by using technology, and why she felt safe returning to the Capitol. The conversation then focuses on her chairpersonship of the Senate Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response. She discusses what type of the oversight the committee will provide, how it will continue to hold hearings throughout the fall, how it will meet with from across the globe in the coming months so that California can open up safely and quickly. She also explains the need for both rapid tests and 40,000 contact tracers to control the spread of covid, and that the state will need to do a robust job of explanation of its plan in order to be successful.  

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SacTown is pleased to welcome Assemblymember Kevin McCarty to the show. The show starts with a bang with the real time reaction to Kamala Harris being chosen as the Democratic vice presidential candidate. Kevin gives his reaction both as a California politician and a bi-racial person. The episode then flies through a range of topics including covid and school reopening, his reduced bill package, police reform, race and social issues, the EDD and unemployment, debt free college and distance learning. 

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SacTown Talks welcomes Speaker Pro Tempore Assemblymember Kevin Mullin to the podcast. They discuss this sober time in government and what it was like representing one of the first areas in the US to shut down due to COVID. The conversation moves to his unique background: working for Rep. Jackie Spear and how he influenced his father’s decision to run for office, and how he now holds that same office. They continue with one of his legislative priorities, now titled Proposition 18, that his father started the fight for, which would allow 17 year olds that would turn 18 by the general election to vote in the primary election. He discusses his role as Speaker Pro Tempore, and how it relates to his days as a DJ. Then they discuss his second bill, a change to property taxes to support the funds to battle wildfires which quickly moved to his work on an economic stimulus committee, his fear of future tough budget battles, and his hope for a new federal administration. Finally they touch on social justice legislation and the problem of the tight budget deadline. 

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Today we welcome Assemblymember Shirley Weber to the program. We waste no time and start directly on her bill package, which was paired down to 3 major issues all of which focus on social justice in California. The first was ACA 5, which will be on the November ballot as Proposition 16 and would repeal Proposition 209. Dr. Weber discusses the details of political maneuvering both inside and outside Sacramento that allowed the bill to pass. The conversation then turns to AB 3121, which would establish a commission to study the effects and legacy of slavery in Calfornia and report on what California can do going forward to repair the damage. Then she discusses AB 1460, the history of ethnic studies in California, the political navigation of passing legislation around ethnic studies and why the study of ethnic history is important for all Calfornians. Finally they discuss the challenges COVID-19 has presented to California, especially to communities of color, and what she might tackle next year.

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Today we welcome Ann Ravel, candidate for State Senate District 15. She and Jarhett start by discussing her background. She has been at every level of government from the Santa Clara city government, to being appointed by Jerry Brown to the California Fair Political Practices Commissions, then to the Federal Elections Commission by President Obama and why she decided this was the right time to try for elected office, and to tackle her primary issues of wealth disparity, homelessness and healthcare. They then discuss the campaign changes Covid caused, missing the connection with voters, and getting experts in different fields to answer the concerns of her potential constituents. The conversation shifts to her expertise in campaign finance, the potential of public funding, the drawbacks of grassroots only camping, what can be done about Citizens United, and what can be learned from other counties electoral systems. They also discuss what CA can do about Covid, social justice and why she thinks she’ll be a different kind of legislator. 

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