SacTown Talks

We welcome today Assemblymember Jose Medina, of the 66th Assembly District, which covers  Riverside California. They started by discussing what it's like being back in the legislature, how everyone’s bill package went on a “covid diet,” but as chair of the higher education committee he still gets to hear important bills. They discuss his background as the son of immigrants, becoming a school teacher, school board member and community college trustee, and his belief that education is the key to success. Then they turn to the main focus of the interview, AB 331. This bill would create an ethinic studies requirement for all California high school graduates. They discuss the policy path for the bill, from it being vetoed by Gov. Brown, to it being propelled forward the last few months. They talk about what ethinic studies is, why it needs to be part of the curriculum, and how it can be integrated into the curriculum. Asm. Media then discusses the changes he has seen in ethnic studies over time. The conversation then turns to the challenge of opening schools due to covid, and his thoughts on the challenges of distance learning. And they finish with some book recommendations including:
Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin in the Sun

Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima

James Bank’s Teaching Strategies for Ethinic Studies

Ronald Takaki’s Strangers from a Different Shore

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SacTown Talks welcomes Senator Bob Archuleta of the 32nd Senate District, or as he calls it “the fightin’ 32nd.” They discuss his path to the senate, from the 82nd Airborne to county commissioner and his belief in the rewards one gets from serving the community. They discuss his belief that COVID brings communities and families together, especially in his district. Then they discuss his bill priorities, including a bill mandating law enforcement wear uniforms that identify the department for whom they work, a bill from expediting background checks for volunteers, and a bill for recycling lithium ion batteries. He finishes by discussing how policing will be changed for the better by recent protests and his feeling confident in his safety returning to the Capitol. 

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SacTown Talks is pleased to welcome Senator Lena Gonzalez of the 33rd Senate District. Please note that due to technical difficulties this podcast is audio only. She discusses a very interesting first year in the Senate and her background on the Long Beach City Council. Then the discussion pivots to her role as chair of the special committee on pandemic emergency response, the need for more data on COVID, more testing and more contract tracing. They also discuss that the internet is a necessity for all Californians and SB 1130, her bill to amend the California Advanced Services Fund to help it modernize and improve California's internet capability. 

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SacTown Talks welcomes Mark Guillen of Crown Castle to the program. Crown Castle is a nation large infrastructure provider in the telecommunications space - fiber, small cells and towers. They discuss the geographic and digital divide both across the nation and specifically in California, how COVID has shone light on digital divide and how legislators are thinking about how to close the gap, the future of fiber for high speed internet and how the new technology of microtrenching is key to building the future of internet access in California.

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This week SacTown Talks welcome Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi of the 66th Assembly District. The discussion includes how he got into politics, his coming back to win his seat after a loss, and what drives him in politics. Then he and Jarhett discuss anti-Asian racism both in his district and across California, how the legislature can respond both to COVID and systematic racism, and how environmental justice is connected to social justice. Finally they discuss school reopening, distance learning and how to bridge the digital divide for all CA students. 

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SacTown Talks welcomes Senator Steve Glazer, of the 7th Senate District, to discuss the resurgence of COVID in California, the role and responsibility of the Governor, the Legislature and the citizens of the state, and his recent op-ed in the Sacramento Bee. The senator discusses the positive steps the governor took at the beginning of the crisis, and where the state went wrong last month. He argues that we need much more testing, and clearer, statewide guidelines on what businesses should be open, who should be sheltering in place, and what mask policy should be. He also discusses the need for remote voting to safely reopen the legislature, and how his limited bill package focused on critical needs, such as maintaining power generation for emergencies. Finally he emphasizes that California needs testing and tracing to safely reopen again.

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SacTown Talks is pleased to introduce the host of our new upcoming podcast Politcal-ish, David Quintana. In this episode we discuss his backstory, how he got into lobbying, his passion for interior design, his view that lobbying is akin to sales, his work creating the Back to Session BASH party, and how COVID had changed the nature of lobbying. Then they discuss what the new podcast is going to be about, why it’s called Political-ish and some of the stories from his premiere episode. You won’t want to miss the stories, and make sure to subscribe to SacTown Talks for more details. 

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Today on SacTown Talks we have two guests: Assemblymembers Todd Gloria and Jacqui Irwin.

Assemblymember Todd Gloria joins us to discuss constituent service and campaigning during a pandemic, and the changing nature of San Diego politics. Then they talk about housing and homelessness, how his bill package went on a diet, and how funding for mental health services can be better spent. They finish with the Assemblymember explaining how his time in Sacramento will help him become a more effective Mayor of San Diego, and his worries about the continued spread of the coronavirus.  

Then, we were happy to welcome Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. She and Jarhett discuss her work to keep constituents informed during the pandemic, leading the charge antibody testing, that testing is the only way to reopen safely. Then they discuss her limited bill package, the need for more security in online charitable giving, how to responsibly regulate guns with GRVO, and her bill to get those with a mental health crisis help more quickly. Finally they discuss police reform, crisis intervention, and de-escalation, and the challenges going forward toward school reopening and equity for all students.

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Today we have a special live in studio conversation edition of SacTown Talks with Assemblymembers Heath Flora and Jim Cooper. The discussion points include changing law enforcement, overcriminalization, next tier solutions such as after school programs and early childhood education, ACA 5, discussing the political process and how bills develop or devolve supports, the Central Valley, water rights, housing in California, and how to raise revenue during the pandemic

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