SacTown Talks

Today we welcome to the program regulatory expert, activist,  and former President of the California PUC, Loretta Lynch. We discuss Lynch's career, the rising cost of utilities, AB 205 and more!

This episode was recorded 11/08/2023

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome back Principal Clerk II/Reading Clerk, David Bowman. We reflect on the year, David's 15 years in the Capitol, dive into the staffers perspective and more.

This episode was recorded on 10/24/2023

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome back Russell Lowery of High View Strategies. Lowery is an expert in digital communication and political bridge building. We discuss effective lobbying, digital communication strategy, social media success and more.

(01:11) High View Strategies update 

(07:49) Using social media to your advantage

(13:49) Communication and social media strategy 

(22:31) How to successfully reach a member and digital ads

(31:48) Regulatory work vs. legislative work

This episode was recorded on 10/10/2023
 

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome back California water expert, Alexandra Biering, of California Farm Bureau. Here Biering provides us with an update on California water, discusses the water year, flood protection, water rights and more.

(03:49) Melting snow and how it affects reservoirs 

(11:00) Why we can expect more and more flooding this year

(14:26) California water rights

(22:18) CA agriculture and the water bond

(32:56) Union workers, farm workers, and funding

(39:45) End of session, important water bills

This episode was recorded on 10/03/2023.

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome back to the program Senator Dave Min. Min represents Senate District 37 and  serves as Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, which has jurisdiction over the state’s environmental stewardship. We discuss Min's legislative priorities, the environment, biodiversity, homelessness and more.  

(08:47) End of session, wins and losses

(12:55) Preventing mass shootings and improving gun safety

(17:02) Electrification, decarbonization and renewable energy goals

(25:30) Difficulty passing public safety bills in CA

This episode was recorded on 10/02/2023

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome to the program Steve Cruz of Cruz Strategies. Cruz has over 20 years of legislative and political experience having worked on behalf of a multitude of interests, both public and private, before the California State Legislature and various state agencies. We discuss Cruz's journey to politics, housing, effective lobbying, and more.

(07:09) Becoming a lobbyist in Sacramento

(16:37) Pursuing homebuilding and development

(23:30) Successful business development for lobbying

(27:44) How can we build more homes?

(36:06) Steve’s interest in low riding cars

This episode was recorded on 09/27/2023

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome to the program Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo. Schiavo represents Assembly District 40 and previously was a small business owner and nurse advocate who worked in the labor movement for more than 20 years. We Schiavo's legislative priorities, housing, homelessness, healthcare, and more.

(03:58) The issue with healthcare and insurance

(09:23) Schiavo’s background, making it to Sacramento

(21:04) Schiavo’s bill package and focuses

(24:12) Electric roads bill

(31:26) Affordable housing

This episode was recorded on 09/21/2023

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome back to the program Assemblymember Mike Gipson. Gipson represents Assembly District 65 and previously served as Mayor Pro Tempore for Carson City. We Gipson's legislative priorities, gun control, law enforcement, foster care, and more.

(05:42) End of session, bills, and budget

(14:14) Talking homelessness 

(18:55) Police and criminal justice reform

(24:06) Education for foster care youth

This episode was recorded on 09/19/2023
 

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome back, attorney, lobbyist, and author, Chris Micheli. Micheli is back, talking about his two new handbooks on legislative drafting in California and understanding the California legislative process.  

Available now!  

https://he.kendallhunt.com/search?search_api_views_fulltext=Chris+Micheli

This episode was recorded on 09/15/2023

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!

Today we welcome to the program political journalist Lara Korte. Korte is a co-author of POLITICO California Playbook. We discuss Korte's career in journalism, POLITICO, and all things political reporting.
 

This episode was recorded on 09/05/2023.
 

SacTown Talks is a podcast about California politics, policy and culture. We feature interviews with California political leaders, and analysis by experts and insiders focusing on the Capitol. Like, share, and subscribe to learn more!