Rent Control (Oz's Version)
Salinas Underground
Several new and old council members were elected last November, and they are already busy trying to make their mark on the city. Their current target is the rent stabilization ordinance passed last year to help the over-burdened renters in Salinas. What is rent stabilization, and how does it work? Does it even work? Oz tries to answer those questions and comes up with a unique solution that would make Salinas more resilient to gentrification and more attractive to businesses.
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Uli is Anything for Salinas
Salinas Underground
Uli grew up in Monterey County and is on a mission to find unique stories that will uplift and inspire others. He sits down with us to tell us his story of discovering his true self. That discovery was the seed that started his latest project idea.
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13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival
Salinas Underground
The 13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival was held earlier this month, and for the first time in its history, it screened films outside of Watsonville. In Salinas, they presented some films at Maya Cinema in Oldtown, most of which quickly sold out of tickets. We set up our equipment at XL Publichouse to record some interviews at the after-party. We talked with Andrea Leon, DJ Werm, Cari and Hector to talk about the festival and their experience in Oldtown.
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Sup Independent: Recalls, Warehouses, and Clubs
Salinas Underground
There was an update on the flailing effort to recall a city councilmember. That makes me wonder who is actually pushing for this and why a small group of companies is throwing a lot of money at it. Also, the Amazon warehouse on the edge of town is going up, and with it, some changes to the Salinas employment landscape.
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Salasbucks
Salinas Underground
Salinas is fascinated with corporate chain businesses. It was recently announced that the city would soon have its 18th Starbucks, and looking at city planning documents, a 19th is already around the corner. With our local businesses struggling to stay open in this post-pandemic world, I question whether the city can be flexible and proactive enough to help its mom-and-pop shops.
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Andrew Sandoval
Salinas Underground
Andrew Sandoval is a council member who came on the podcast to talk about both a political process and what it's like to be the target of that process. We discussed what it could mean for him and the constituents of District 5 and who is behind the effort. This episode is a way to hear about parts of running a city that usually happens in the background, and it is very enlightening and educational.
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Monterey International Pop Festival
Salinas Underground
Over three days in June of 1967, Monterey was the center of the music world and hosted a festival that would introduce the country to some of the most legendary acts of all time. It also kicked off the "Summer of Love" that welcomed thousands of people from around the country to the Bay Area, who changed this country forever. Names like Paul McCartney and Smokey Robinson all came together to celebrate this new style of music called Rock and Roll and set the stage for other music festivals like Woodstock and Coachella. And it all happened in Monterey.
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James Mena
Salinas Underground
James Mena is a very creative and motivated content creator from Salinas. You have probably seen him on your Explore page. If you haven't, you will soon. He is also a co-host on the Stay Low Podcast, the sports show of Salad Bytes Media. This week, we turned the mic around on him and asked him about how he started his content creation journey and what was next for him.
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New(Old) Day for Salinas
Salinas Underground
The election has changed the makeup of the city council, with some new and old faces taking the lead in Salinas. They take over a city on the brink of a significant transformation. One of the largest Amazon warehouses in the world is going up on one edge of town. Across town on the Northside, houses are finally being built north of Boronda Rd. Also, after hearing that the Parade of Lights might not happen this year, the city came together and is back on. This year's edition will wind through Oldtown on Sunday, December 1.
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City Council District 3 Candidate Cary Swensen
Salinas Underground
Cary Swensen is an educator who has ideas for making affordable housing more accessible to Salinas citizens. She plans to use her educational background and transparency to come up with unique solutions to problems for a city with a limited budget. She sits down with us to tell us those plans and what she has been hearing from the people of District 3.
info_outlineThis week we welcome Joel a local musician that plays everything from Jazz to ancient Sumerian jams. This guy lives and breathes music and if you enjoy it as well you are going to want to hear this interview. Listen as Joel drops his wisdom and advice, if you want to start playing an instrument, this episode is a must!