Voices: River City

It's the episode you've all been waiting for, maybe.    Join the co-hosts as they get into the already spicy 2024 mayoral race. Who's running? Who's making the establishment start in their britches?   Thanks to Be Brave Bold Robot for our theme tunes, may you hum it whilst showering.   Thanks for listening, defund the police, and, as always find the hosts tweeting on the X bird @ShanNDStevens & Gabe (go ahead and try to find him).   Thanks for supporting us, or whatever.    Support us on Patreon to help us keep the lights on: Patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ on Thursday at 6 PM, and again on Fridays at 8 AM.    If you require a transcript of our show, please reach out to shannon@voicesrivercity.com, and we'll make it happen.

We are in our changing era, it's true, but some things will always stay the same, so here we are to talk about balls.    In this episode, we talk about Supervisor Phil Serna's recent Facebook rant & Councilmember Sean Loloee's laundry list of malfeasance. We love to see elected officials having a normal one all the time.    Thanks for listening, and, as always: defund the police.    Twitter: @ShanNDStevens & Gabe (who is not on the bird).   Support us on Patreon to help us keep the lights on: patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ on Thursdays at 6 pm, and again on Fridays at 8 am.   If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to shannon@voicesrivercity.com, and we'll make it happen.

Testing…testing…Spotify are you there? This is a duplicate episode (for Apple users) because our connection to Spotify went goodbyeler. Testing… That's right, the fellas are leaving. What does that mean? A freer and more incisive V:RC moving forward. But in the meantime, listen to the originals talk to the last of the initial crew about why it's time for them to shove off and let the show turn into its next, more free, iteration. Thanks for listening and, for the last time: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you

That's right, the fellas are leaving. What does that mean? A freer and more incisive V:RC moving forward. But in the meantime, listen to the originals talk to the last of the initial crew about why it's time for them to shove off and let the show turn into its next, more free, iteration. Thanks for listening and, for the last time: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

We're taking this week off. Just not enough news out there. See you next week!

Today we're discussing a few hard truths: 1. It's time to cut back on California's prison guard "union" stranglehold on power. 2. Sacramento County doesn't really care about housing folks on the American River Parkway (or else they would have spent the $25 million the state gave them to provide housing). 3. El Dorado County appears to be cool with the new anti-semitic rhetoric coming from public commenters. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're discussing Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho's decision to sue the city of Sacramento on civil charges over leadership's approach to homelessness. It's notable to the V:RC crew that, in his dramatic press conference, Ho pulls language directly from Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent's language in the Batman classic, "The Dark Knight." We also take a moment to note that he's only acting out of a political impetus. If he weren't he wouldn't be attacking the only people in City Hall actually presenting options on homelessness. Yes, Ho's out here fighting for reactionary policy of yesteryear seemingly to raise his own profile. How will it work for conservaDems in the short-run? In the long-run? We've got thoughts. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're discussing the cost of living comfortably in Sacramento, the fast food worker pay increase deal, and California's grossly overpaid prison guards. We then round out the show with a little history lesson on labor struggles stemming from the Latinx community in the Golden State. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.  

Today we're discussing the Sacramento Police Department's waning credibility not just with the public, but now with crucial city officials. Why are they unable to provide a comprehensive inventory? What are they doing with all those tax dollars? No one appears to know, and not everyone is okay with that. We also discuss the pattern of nazis speaking during public comment at Sacramento City Hall. There's chatter of removing the public comment call-in functionality. Is that the way to go? Or can we consider something new? On a societal level, everything is devolving, of course, and we touch on that thread throughout. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're joined by Mia Roberts and Cory Copeland to discuss the ongoing strike authorization vote of the California Association of Professional Scientists (the state of California's unionized scientists), and how it fits into the larger trends of deepening solidarity throughout the burgeoning labor movement. Mia is a member of the CAPS board, a director at large, and Chair of the union's Member Action Committee. Cory joins us as a member of the Sacramento chapter of Democratic Socialists of America's Labor Committee, as well as its Solidarity Coordinator. Both are environmental scientists. The state of California has not only refused to raise wages adequately for its scientists for decades, and their compensation has dropped well below the state engineers, who often hold similar or the same roles at the state as the scientists. Now, after three years of the state refusing to take their demands seriously, scientists are considering a big next step: Strike! Want to support the scientists? Tap in at https://capscontract2023.org/. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're discussing Mayor Darrell Steinberg's State of the City address, as well as the far-right's attack on our local school boards. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're discussing Sacramento City Council's undemocratic processes in the form of their subcommittees. We're taking a look at the Law and Legislature Committee, and how conservatives like council members Lisa Kaplan and Eric Guerra can throw a wrench into the process of helping renters thanks on their funding from real estate and landlord interests. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

It's a big ol' brand new season of VOICES: River City, and we are feeling so good.  Today we're talking about some interesting new battles in Sacramento, with District Attorney Thien Ho threatening to put Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilmember Katie Valenzuela in jail because they're not being cruel enough to our unhoused neighbors near his courthouse and jail. Poor fella. On the other end of the spectrum Sacramento Homeless Union leader and friend of the show Crystal Sanchez successfully sued the city of Sacramento to cease its violent homeless sweeps until mid-August, due to extreme heat conditions and the city violating their "bodily integrity." The city, of course, ignored the federal court order and performed at least two sweeps after the ruling.  It's shaping up to be a litigious autumn at city hall this year, which is perhaps why city council decided to pass the buck on homelessness to City Manager Howard Chan, who is totally trustworthy and doesn't have a long history of violence against the unhoused community.  Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

It's our last ep of the season! Beyond that, today we're discussing the rising concerns with Florida governor Ron Desantis sending undocumented folks to California, and our officials' responses. We also talk about the ridiculous right-wing frets over the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Are they really that bad? Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we do a fun little recap of the nazis who had been showing up to Sacramento City Council meetings in recent weeks, such as religious zealot Ryan Messano, Proud Boy Jeffrey Perrine, and "Scotty" from the dumbest white nationalist group in history. Oddly enough, when Sacramento community members showed up to remind the nazis that they weren't welcome in our city, they stopped coming to the meetings. We take a moment, however, to discuss how their hateful messaging has been popping up all around California, and how a woman associated with the far-right Moms of Liberty has been on a mission to put an end to rainbow crosswalks in Davis, CA, in anticipation of Pride Month. Should we expect more hatred in the coming weeks? Finally, we discuss an anachronistic piece written by former cop/former state assembly member (and current sheriff of Sacramento County) Jim Cooper, arguing for a redux of the drug war. Haven't we all been through enough? Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're discussing the recent presence of horrific people at Sacramento City Hall in recent months. What can city officials do about them? And what can the community do about them? We are stronger than they are. And there are more of us. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.  

Today we discuss a fascinating Sacramento City Council meeting discussing a proposed Sacramento Police Department budget that left at least three members on the dais questioning why we consider to spend our money on resources that simply do not prevent crime. First, Councilmember Valenzuela asked the big questions on our city's insufficient data surrounding emergency calls, and whether cops or mental health professionals should be responding to them. (Valenzuela was also interrupted by an incredibly rude City Manager Howard Chan, who is very defensive of his bad budget choices.) We then heard from Councilmember Caity Maple, who may have turned over a new leaf. She questions the cops' ShotSpotter program and its efficacy. Should we really be throwing our money toward an unreliable program that yields so few results, or should tax dollars go toward actually helping our most vulnerable neighbors? Finally, Councilmember Mai Vang asks the big question on why--in a world where Sacramento police can't fill 101 vacant cop positions--they're still allowed to toy with the $14+ million set aside for these roles that will never come to be. Even Mayor Darrell Steinberg came out with some promising public safety rhetoric. Is it a new day in Sacramento? The final weeks of budget debate will tell. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that he would convert San Quentin prison from one of the worst carceral establishments in history into a rehabilitative and instructive facility that would help incarcerated folks find their way back into society upon release. And who would he pick to head up this project? None other than Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg. We discuss the pros and cons of this storyline. We then touch on Sacramento's new least favorite council member, Lisa Kaplan from District 1. She took all the money from the region's worst people, of course, but we can't help but be interested by her peculiar/horrible behavior on the dais these days. Finally, Senator Dianne Feinstein is back, baby! And how many things does that say about our crumbling gerontocracy? Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

A man who experts say appears to be a serial killer has been terrorizing the people of Davis this week, carrying out three stabbings that killed two and severely injured one. Two of the victims were unhoused. We discuss the victims, the community's response, and the fact that police refused to follow up on a tip by one victim's friend two hours before her attack. We also take a moment to discuss a political write-up by America's Landlord in Inside Sacramento.  Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're joined by an incredibly fun new host in one of the best people we know on earth--"antifa teacher" Gabriel Gipe! We're discussing the recent storylines of bad behavior by the Sacramento Fire Department, as well as the recent firing of racist firebrand Tucker Carlson from Fox News. This was extra special, given Carlson's segment on Gabe back when the right was on the attack here in Sacramento. Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're joined by a very special guest in Dr. Flojaune Cofer, candidate for mayor of Sacramento. She's a public health expert, chair of a major Sacramento city citizens' committee, and community advocate. Interestingly, we've never heard of Flo. Enjoy our chat! Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.

Today we're discussing a disturbing story coming out of Sacramento County, where officials--seemingly unable to find a place to properly shelter the region's foster youth--have decided to illegally 'house' them in a former youth detention center's cells. We then discuss Dianne Feinstein, the 89-year-old US senator from California who has been absent from the Capitol since she came down with shingles in February. While this hasn't terrible affected votes on the Senate floor, it has had grave effects in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which needs her present if Democrats want to outvote the GOP on President Biden's judge nominations.   Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen.  

Today we discuss the massive win for unhoused Sacramentans in the Camp Resolution lease and, hopefully, how we can move with municipalities moving forward.   We also acknowledge the violence the county levied against our friends on the same day of this win, and what needs to be done about that.   Sacramento City Council's Law and Legislative Committee met this week to discuss further protections for tenants, and it went... okay.   Out in Chicago, leftist Brandon Johnson was elected mayor on an impressively progressive platform. We discuss the potential outcomes.   Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we open with a chat about Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz getting owned by Senator Bernie Sanders over his union busting crimes and the absurdity of the billionaire "victim." We're then joined by our friends with Social Justice Politicorps, who welcome every Sacramento resident to take part on their site in filling out local officials' report cards. We then dive into canvassing in Arden Arcade and the challenges with slumlords and tenants' rights in the region, as well as the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors' vote to protect landlords, but not the nearly 600 vulnerable residents who may end up on the streets thanks to the nonprofit dissolving.  Will any official be held accountable? Thanks for listening and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we've got an incredibly long intro, wherein we revisit Dr. Flo's unorthodox approach to her friend's dating app strategy. We then dive into the horrible streak of deaths of unhoused Sacramentans taking place over the last few days during a time in which city council and--in particular--City Manager Howard Chan refused to open up respite centers during a horrific timeline of inclement weather. Will anyone be held accountable? Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're discussing the special election in District 6 for the Los Angeles City Council. Nury Martinez was pushed out of office after racist comments emerged in a secret audio file. Today, in a special election, seven people in the district are vying for her seat. One LA Times reporter asked where the Left is landing in the race. We discuss mainstream media's interest in progressive electoralist elements, and how that may translate to Sacramento. We also take a moment for the far-right attacks in the Sacramento region against trans rights, and how both the community and media responded to the threat. Wanna see some Proud Boys on the run? Watch here. x Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.  

A lot is happening right now in Sacramento regarding trans rights, and not in a good way. On Friday, March 10, a group run by far-right Canadian Jordan Peterson and Chloe Cole is holding a "detransition" rally alongside the California Republican Convention. In response, Sacramento residents will be showing up to let them know that anti-trans folks are not welcome in our streets. And on Tuesday, March 14, UC-Davis will be hosting Charlie Kirk, the far-right founder of Tea Party USA who recently said of the trans community that "someone should have just took care of it the way we used to take care of things in the 1950s." Chancellor Gary May believes Kirk should be allowed to speak on campus on First Amendment grounds. Others disagree. We're talking with friend of the show Evan Minton on these concerning local events, and on what Sacramentans can expect later this month on the Trans Day of Awareness.  Want to support the trans community in Sacramento? Now's a great time to start! Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Every couple of months or so, a rich person in California decides "enough is enough" on our homelessness crisis, and believes that they will be the one to spur the state into action.   Last month, that rich person happened to be billionaire partner at Sequoia Capital/San Francisco resident Michael Moritz, who has thrown millions of dollars into local elections to hamstring progressive initiatives to get folks into housing and connected to services. For some reason, his gripes about San Francisco ended up in print some 3,000 miles away, in the pages of the New York Times.   In the coming days, a number of Bay Area outlets wrote deft take-downs of Moritz's fact-free missive. Our favorite was the one by Joe Eskenazi in Mission Local. We take a moment to discuss this tired trend of billionaires spouting the same nonsense ad nauseam.   Oh, and did you hear? Sacramento's District 5 city council member Caity Maple held something of a town hall in response to residents' anger over the fact that she ran for office on a platform of demilitarizing the police, and then upon gaining office promptly voted to give Sac PD a tank.   There's no video available of the meeting, but journalists Tess Townsend and Robin Epley covered the bases quite well on Twitter.   We also take a moment to discuss the second failed recall attempt against District 4 council member Katie Valenzuela by angry rich folks. Funny how they tried to bury the lede by announcing their candidate to run against her in 2024 the day before news of the lame recall effort dropped.   Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're discussing a phenomenon we've noticed in recent weeks since business ghouls and their East Sacramento toadies began to publicize an ADA lawsuit against the region's unhoused community, wherein they are attempting to pit folks with disabilities against folks without homes (as if there isn't a massive overlap between the two communities). We discuss the potential effects of that, as well as another new tactic for the state to commit violence against residents who have next to nothing: Government officials are now regularly using inclement weather as a reason to push unhoused folks out of the places they've come to call home. This week, park rangers are pushing folks out of the "island" encampment in Sacramento--without offering any semblance of shelter--under the guise of public health. The crew ends the episode with Dr. Flo sharing her expertise on what it means for Californians now that state and federal COVID emergency declarations are finally coming to an end. Is it time to celebrate? To hide? Tune in to learn more! Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein has finally announced that she will not be running for reelection in 2024.   And it's no surprise. Folks around her have for years whispered concerns over the 89-year-old senator's "rapidly decreasing" memory and increasing "befuddlement."    We take a moment to discuss Feinstein's long political career, that included nearly a decade as mayor of San Francisco, the trauma of finding her colleague Harvey Milk after he was shot by a disgraced politician, and working diligently to make public the CIA's illegal torture techniques in the Iraq war.   So what's next? We take a look at the three biggest contenders for California's open Senate seat: representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee.   Oh, and remember when Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan tried to shut down an 80-person Safe Ground site for unhoused folks in vulnerable situations, seemingly out of spite?   He was forced to take an L on that this week, reopening the site with 15 trailers with heating and air that will serve 45 people in need of housing.   Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

If you follow Sacramento politics, you likely saw the backlash to Councilmember Caity Maple's vote to give the Sacramento Police Department a tank just two years after she launched a run for office on a platform of demilitarizing the police. In response, V:RC host Dr Flo wrote a brilliant, personal op-ed in the Sacramento Bee on the collective trauma that tanks in our police force can have on the community. And, of course, progressives and leftists were not happy with Councilmember Maple's vote. This week a group of people managed to shut the city council meeting down, sparking outrage from Sacramento's Very Serious People in the political consulting class. Rather than take accountability for her awful vote, Councilmember Maple this week published her own op-ed in the Bee, arguing that the tank she voted for was, in fact, a "tractor," and claiming that she was the true victim in the situation. Does that take hold any water? Put this episode in your ear-/eye-holes and find out. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're turning to Dr Flo to give us the lowdown on the FDA's change in blood donation rules, and how they've loosened restrictions on gay and bisexual men. It's a good step forward on an archaic screening system. But they still haven't gone far enough. We then take a moment to discuss former Sacramento resident Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old Black man who was beaten and killed by police for no reason in Memphis, TN. How many times do we need to grieve these deaths before real systemic change takes place? How many more lives will be lost to murderous cops? Here in Sacramento, it appears that things have not changed at all, despite elections yielding a majority-women city council. Just one day after council members attended a vigil for Nichols, they proceeded to vote for the police to receive a $400,000 tank. Only council members Katie Valenzuela and Mai Vang voted against it. We recorded this episode a day early, so we did not know the result of the vote quite yet. You'll notice that we were far too optimistic in our guesses of how it would pan out. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.  

Today we discuss a couple of homelessness bills state Republicans are pushing forward, such as Roseville's Josh Hoover's push to make it illegal for just about anyone to sleep just about anywhere in a city or town in California.    We also take a moment for Robin Swanson, a conservative Democratic operative from East Sacramento who is quoted in the above story, and who appears to be pushing for some truly fascist policies against our unhoused neighbors.   We highly recommend a scroll through her tweets the last couple days: https://twitter.com/robin_swanson/with_replies   Is Robin really a concerned mother, or is she running a public campaign to rally folks for a challenger against Sacramento's current District 4 incumbent? One cannot trust these operatives.   Finally, we host a reading series on a baffling Fresno Bee editorial that tell us nothing and everything all at once.   Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

We're back, baby!   And today we're discussing how California's unhoused community was forced to deal with nearly three weeks of storms, while both local and statewide elected officials made calls for more violent sweeps.   To begin, Shannon discusses what went down here in Sacramento during the deluge, and how guests at Maryhouse were affected. Thousands of our neighbors are fighting for their lives, and yet elected officials such as Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna are focused on carrying out more unconstitutional homeless sweeps.   On the state level, Governor Gavin Newsom has given fiery speeches trying to place blame on municipalities for the state's rise in homelessness. However, if you look at the budget he proposed this month, you'll see that he's actually trying to *decrease* the state's commitment to affordable housing.  A recent study by the Corporation for Supportive Housing found that California could house all its unhoused constituents if we spent about $8 billion per year--about 3% of the state's total budget--over the next 12 years. But the governor doesn't want to do that, and Josh Gohlke at the Sacramento Bee rightly raked him over the coals for his refusal to take responsibility.   Even if Newsom did support that budget, is the political will there for legislative Dems? The party owns a combined 94 of 120 seats in the Assembly and Senate combined (62 and 32, respectively), but just 29 of those legislators are in the Progressive Caucus (and let's not forget that last year their Legislative Caucus chair, Asm Ash Kalra, let the CalCare bill die without a vote).   Of those 29 members, 11 counted the California Real Estate PAC as a top-ten donor in the last election cycle.   So, again, is the political will there in Sacramento to actually fund a solution to homelessness?   Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.  

It's the final V:RC episode before our winter break! To celebrate, we sat down at Bottle & Barlow to enjoy a few Tecates with lime and reflect on a very topsy-turvy year for progressives and leftists alike in the Sacramento region. The good: A massive showing of solidarity throughout leftist spaces in the region, a markedly more progressive city council, and Flo's hilarious tattoo story. The bad: Sacramento County's carceral system won out and will be funding a new downtown jail. The ridiculous: (You'll just have to tune in to find out.) See you Jan. 19, 2023, when we start up our fourth year of recording! Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're discussing the new city-county agreement on homelessness that all the Very Serious People of Sacramento appear to be crowing over. But we've got a few questions. First of all, did we truly need an unconstitutional local measure to get the city and county to agree that they needed to work together on homelessness? Second, how much can we expect in the realm of 600 new shelter beds while over 9,000 of our neighbors are experiencing homelessness? Third, will our business "leaders" in Amanda Blackwood of the Sacramento Metro Chamber and Joshua Wood of Region Business be held accountable when their vile measure fails to do any good in the community? And what can we expect in a new Sacramento city council that appears to lean much further left than the one that pushed this measure onto the ballot just a few months ago? Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're joined by the founders of Decarcerate Sacramento, Tifanei Moyer and Liz Blum, to discuss Sacramento County's proposed $250 million annex to the internationally despised downtown jail. Our cohost Flo actually co-wrote an op-ed in the Sacramento Bee with Sacramento City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela on why this annex was shortsighted and wrong for the community. Before that, we talk with Tifanei about another fight she's been waging with the city of San Francisco. Turns out they want to have killer robots on staff in the police department. Because of course they do. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

A Sacramento man was arrested over the weekend for leveling serious threats against three young politicians--all women of color. Thankfully, councilmembers Katie Valenzuela and Mai Vang, as well as District 3 City Council Candidate Karina Talamantes, are all safe today. But this incident raises serious questions. This man was already on probation. So what took so long for our legal apparatus to respond? He was also clearly--and publicly--suffering from severe mental health issues. So where were the services he needed before he became a threat to these officials? Before we discuss that, however, we go over the win for the 50+ unhoused folks living in Sacramento's Camp Resolution. They'd been facing a Nov. 16 eviction, but thanks to community showing up at this week's city council meeting, they appear to be safe from sweeps for the time being. Special shout to the progressive council members who helped open the platform for commenters on Tuesday. Speaking of council members, Sean "Baby" Loloee visited Camp Resolution on Wednesday, vowing to come back around 10:30 am Thursday morning to have a chill little chat with the residents. But before doing that, he accused local journalists of being "guilty of crime," and claimed that they had "blood on [their] hands." So much for the tolerant grocer. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Happy election hangover.   If the NYT's Needle of Death is any indicator, the Republicans' much anticipated "red wave" did not materialize this year.   In fact, other than a GOP rout in Florida (which we should all come to expect at this point), Democrats appear to have kept their hold on the US Senate. They can thank progressives for that, with John Fetterman winning the Pennsylvania seat. Beyond that, the Squad added four new members in Congress, and four state governments are now in complete Democratic control.   Some folks like to get their election results in a timely manner. But not Californians.   Nevertheless, we take a moment to discuss the wins, losses and remaining questions for both California and Sacramento as the results continue to roll in.   What does it portend for us if Republican Patrick Hume defeats Jaclyn Moreno in the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors race? What does a potential majority-women city council mean for the city?    And--now that the elections are over--what's next for Sacramento?   We're joined by our friends Mack and Joyce to discuss the wonderful work being done at Camp Resolution, and why we need to defend it at all costs. Our unhoused neighbors are fighting back against violent sweeps, and they could use your help.   Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're discussing a very important election in California's District 8 state Senate race. In particular, we're looking at how awful of a candidate Angelique Ashby is proving herself to be: Just this week Ashby found herself facing a corruption scandal for gifting city-owned Roger Waters tickets to union leadersin what appears to be a bid for their favor in her race. Ashby fashions herself a feminist, but has a peculiar history of not supporting Black women running for office. When a woman came forward saying that former Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson had sexually abused her as a child, Angelique kept quiet. And when more allegations rolled in? Crickets. We also discuss Ashby's opponent, Dave Jones, and why he is the one fit for the Senate job. Unlike Ashby, Jones doesn't have Big Oil spending millions in the race. He's also endorsed by Planned Parenthood, and has a proven record of working to find housing for unsheltered Sacramentans. The choice is clear for us. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes  

Under other circumstances, a special interview would be patron-only content. But it's election season, and Measure A is so important that we need to unlock this one. In this special interview, we speak with climate justice advocate Ilonka Zlatar about why Sacramento County's Measure A is harmful to the environment and would put the region back decades in its push toward a climate-friendly future. WATCH this special interview at YouTube. Learn more about Measure A here: https://measureanotok.org/ To support our work at V:RC, become a patron today: patreon.com/voicesrivercity

Last year, Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg and his council members approved a comprehensive homeless shelter siting plan that included 20 sites to be located throughout the city. Today? Not a single one of those sites is in operation, and the region's unsheltered population is at unprecedented levels. One silver lining is that the city appears to be pivoting from its failed shelter plan to a renewed focus on building affordable housing with the help of state and federal funding. Just this week they approved some 820 affordable units to be built throughout the city in the next two years. Could it be that the city is actually listening to advocates? Likely not. On Monday, officials swept some 1,000 people from their campsites without offering shelter or services. And they've got plenty more punitive measures in the works. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're joined by our friend Keyan Bliss to discuss the racism ingrained in the halls of the City of Sacramento, and the ridiculous games that take place to preserve it. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Hey listeners/viewers!   We're discussing California and local elections, using the Sac Sister Circle/BWOPA Voter Guide as our cornerstone.   We'll go from national to state to local. Enjoy:   "They Already Won" Speed Round (national and statewide) National - US Senate - Alex Padilla (Loser: Mark Meuser - GOP) - US Rep D6 - Ami Bera (Loser: Tamika Hamilton - GOP) - US Rep D7 - Doris Matsui (Loser: Max Semenenko - GOP) One national race worth discussing - US Reps D3 (D-33.28%, R-38.09%, NPP-19.57%) DEM - Kermit Jones (underdog) GOP - Kevin Kiley Statewide - Governor - Gavin Newsom (Loser: Brian Dahle - GOP) - Lt Governor - Eleni Kounalakis (Loser: Angela Underwood Jacobs - GOP) - Secy of State - Dr Shirley Weber (Loser: Rob Bernosky - GOP) - Treasurer - Fiona Ma (Loser: Jack Guerrero - GOP) - Insurance Commissioner - Ricardo Lara (Loser: Robert Howell - GOP) - State Superintendent of Schools - Tony Thurmond (Loser - Lance Ray Christensen) Maybe close, maybe not? (State) - Controller  DEM - Malia Cohen GOP - Lanhee Chen (Chen, oddly, has a bunch of endorsements from papers, such as the Los Angeles Times, the Sacramento Bee and the San Jose Mercury News)   STATE PROPOSITIONS 1 - Reproductive Rights  26 - Sports wagering on tribal lands  27 - Sports betting for homeless revenue  28 - Additional funding for arts and music ed in schools  29 - On-site professionals at kidney dialysis clinics  30 - Tax the rich (over $2 million/year) for programs to reduce air pollution/wildfires 31 - Flavored tobacco/menthol ban   State Senate/Assembly Senate D6 (D-35.65%, R-35.84%, NPP-20.35%) DEM - Paula Villescaz  GOP - Roger Niello D8 DEM - Dave Jones  DEM - Angelique AshbyAssembly D6 (D-50.68%, R-20.37%) DEM - Kevin McCarty  GOP - Cathy Cook D7 (D-38.00%, R-32.48%, NPP-21.05%) DEM - Ken Cooley GOP - Josh Hoover D10  DEM - Eric Guerra  DEM - Stephanie Nguyen   SACRAMENTO COUNTY/CITY OF SACRAMENTO MEASURES  COUNTY A -  Sales tax for roads  B - Pot tax for homeless services  D - Low income housing, a la SHRA  CITY L - Pot tax for schools  M - Unmixing redistricting mix-up N - Easing tourism tax for community use  O - Terrorizing unhoused community    ELECTIONS COUNTY Sac County Board of Supes District 5 (D-43.95%, R-27.00%, NPP-21.76%) DEM - Jaclyn Moreno GOP - Patrick Hume CITY Sacramento City Council D1 Lisa Kaplan  Alyssa Lozano D3 Michael Lynch  Karina Talamantes D5 Caity Maple  Tamiko Heim   Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we're joined by Sacramento City Council candidate for District 5, Caity Maple. Maple is perhaps best known as one of the cofounders of Sacramento SOUP, an organization that worked overtime during the pandemic to provide much needed services for unhoused people that the city, county and state weren't making available. We discuss Maple's relationship to homelessness why it's such a big driver in her efforts, and how she landed as a No on Sacramento's Measure O. Caity's got a big struggle ahead. Her opponent, Tamiko Heim, has taken tens of thousands of dollars from the real estate industry, landlords, corporate interests and police unions. These same groups spent some $200,000 against Maple in the primary election on independent expenditures. So, who will win the District 5 race? Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Thursdays at 6 pm and again Fridays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Though she will no longer be on the Sacramento City Council dais come January, District 1's Angelique Ashby (flanked by District 3's Jeff Harris and the people who led the failed recall against District 4's Katie Valenzuela) held a press conference in wealthy East Sacramento's McKinley Park to champion an ordinance banning homeless camps within 500 feet of schools. Will this have any effect on the homelessness crisis? Of course not. But Ashby--who is lagging badly in her California Senate race--will do whatever she can for a headline these days. Even if that means terrorizing our unhoused neighbors. We also discuss the recent string of shootings in Sacramento, and what is being done to curb gun violence in the city. Remember when America's Landlord Steve Maviglio went on a racist, xenophobic tirade against Councilmember Valenzuela after the Midtown shooting? Why was he so silent in the ensuing days, when gun violence rocked the districts of council members Sean Loloee, Jeff Harris and Jay Schenirer? Sacramento's police have never been more well funded or more heavily armed than they are today. And yet gun violence persists. That's because the police don't actually exist to prevent crime. They just respond to it. Yet our very conservative council members continue to try to defund the social programs that can actually curb violence in the community. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Tuesdays at 5 pm and again Wednesdays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

We're back! (And we now publish on Thursdays.) This week we're discussing the farm workers bill facing Governor Gavin Newsom that could make or break a potential run for the presidency in 2024. After vetoing similar legislation in 2021, Newsom once more must decide on what to do with a bill that would allow California's farm workers to vote by mail in their unionization efforts. This time, the whole country is watching, thanks to organizing efforts by the historic United Farm Workers of America. Dozens of UFW members, alongside many allies, followed the footsteps of co-founder César Chávez and marched some 350 miles last month from Delano to Sacramento. All told, the trip took over three weeks with multiple days of triple-digit heat. Now they're camped outside the Capitol, and they're not leaving until Newsom signs their bill. The governor has shown signs that he wants to protect his Big Ag colleagues (his own winery just bought a $14.5 million vineyard in Napa) and veto the bill once more. But Democrats with more power are now leaning on him to sign it. That includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Vice President Kamala Harris, and even President Joe Biden himself. Would a second veto ruin his chances for a 2024 presidential run? And even if he does spike the bill, does he think UFW won't be back next year with even more support? Read the room, Gavin. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Tuesdays at 5 pm and again Wednesdays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Hello. We've missed you! We start today with a fun little discussion on Sacramento City Councilmember Sean Loloee, who increasingly appears not to live in the district he represents. This guy could be in a whole lot of trouble quite soon. We then hop over to Sacramento's Measure O, an anti-homeless ballot measure that is being forced on city residents by the ghouls at Region Business (Josh Wood), the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber (Amanda Blackwood) and Daniel Conway (Daniel Conway). For more information on this violent measure, please visit the No On O website. Finally, Dr. Flo schools us on Proposition 27, and why Californians who want to support their indigenous neighbors will want to vote no. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Tuesdays at 5 pm and again Wednesdays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Today we discuss the absurd recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. We first touch on the hilarious piece in the Atlantic on Boudin's political fall from grace by San Francisco millionaire (and wife of Bari Weiss) Nellie Bowles. Bowles, of course, is a direct descendent of California billionaires who have harmed so, so many workers over the years. No matter what these folks say, there is a much more nuanced discussion to be had on this race. Meanwhile, there is no question that the police reform movement is alive and well, as illustrated in other electoral races throughout the country. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Tuesdays at 5 pm and again Wednesdays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

Sacramento City Councilmember Sean Loloee continued his personal war against affordable housing last week in spectacular fashion, claiming repeatedly that a proposed 124-unit apartment building for low-income residents in his district would "destroy a community," and then arguing with Mayor Darrell Steinberg. This simple item on the consent calendar--which was nothing more than a nod to the nonprofit developer to apply for $5.7 million in grants so that city residents wouldn't have to foot the bill--should have taken no more than a couple of minutes to pass. But Loloee harnessed the NIMBY rage of Woodlake homeowners to drag the item on for nearly two hours. The item passed, but just barely. Councilmembers Angelique Ashby, Jeff Harris and Mai Vang voted against the money, showing that the future of affordable housing in Sacramento rests on a razor's edge. Guest host/librarian Tibby also shares a bit about her new show, The At Home Librarian Podcast, which she hosts with her educator friend Alexis. We also discuss the formation of the Community Care First Sacramento Coalition, a collection of organizations advocating that Sacramento County's budget actually serves the people of the region. You can join them at 12:30 on Wednesday, June 8 at 700 H Street for their Budget Action and Brunch event before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meets to discuss the county budget. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Tuesdays at 5 pm and again Wednesdays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tunes.

We're discussing state and local elections, and who the bastards really are. Enjoy. Thanks for listening, defund the police and, as always: Twitter: @youknowkempa, @ShanNDSTevens, @Flojaune, @guillotine4you Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/voicesrivercity   Sacramentans can hear us on 103.1 KUTZ Tuesdays at 5 pm and again Wednesdays at 8 am. If you require a transcript of our episodes, please reach out to info@voicesrivercity.com and we'll make it happen. And thank you to Be Brave Bold Robot for the tune