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 committees and the undemocratic processes that come with them. In particular, we take 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. Want to help renters who are being harassed by their landlords? Good luck. 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.