Salinas Underground

This week, we get an update from Protect Salinas Renters about the rent stabilization ordinance. Over 10,000 signatures were gathered to get it on the ballot in front of Salinas voters. Xago, Jesus, and Jasmine sit down with Oz to talk about how we got here and the upcoming election. To learn more about the launch party on March 7th click the link below 👇    Protect Salinas Renters Launch Party

The world is in a state of constant change, and Salinas is no different. In this episode, Oz talks about changes happening around town. Change is not always welcome, and we are seeing some of that in our local politics. Even though change is always happening, the past has a strange habit of sticking around longer than we expect, and Salinas is seeing some of that as well.

Luther McDaniels moved to Salinas with his mom just after WWII. He soon made friends with three other guys who had gospel roots like him, and they formed the 4 Dueces. One day, Luther was invited by a friend to check on rabbit traps by the Salinas River. That led to a multi-decade music career with Salinas at its center.

Brian Sheffield is a writer, teacher, and all-around interesting person. His latest project has him directing the 1979  play The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance for Enchantrix Theatre. We sit in the studio and talk about life, French opinions about Americans, and, of course, his vision for the play. The play runs from January 9 to January 30. Tickets can be purchased at www.enchantrix.net

It would seem like people camping out for chicken would be the most interesting story of the month, but a schoolyard spat between local politicians has Oz looking through his bookshelf looking for answers. He found it in an article written by Huey Newton in 1967.

The Rumba Madre is a band that needs to be experienced in person. David is the founder and creative leader who has gone all around the world learning and playing music. He talks with Oz about their new single "Vibaporú," which is now available to stream online. He talks about the inspiration behind the song. Be warned, when you start playing "Vibaporú," you won't be able to sit still, and the song...

Andrea Leon started Baila Baila Studio this year to get everybody in Monterey County on the dance floor and out of their comfort zone. Listen to her story of growth, from a shy, introverted person who disliked attention to leading dance classes with dozens of people. She teaches at the Links in Carmel on Tuesdays and at 201 Main in Oldtown Salinas on Friday nights. Her classes are welcoming and op...

Ashley, Nancy, and Yari are three of the young Salinas residents who help put on the Ciclovia event coming up on October 12. This event closes off Alisal Street from Front Street to Sanborn Road to vehicles and lets pedestrians take over. Not only pedestrians but also people riding bikes, rollerblading, skateboarding, and most other forms of transportation that don't require an engine. This is an...

Recently, some members of the city council asked for a financial request that turned out to be more controversial than they expected. They requested $100,000 for a Fourth of July event hosted by Compass Church that was open to the public. This raised questions not only about the amount going to one group but also whether this violated any law requiring the separation of church and state. Ultimatel...

Amazon is building a huge fulfillment center on the edge of town. With that comes thousands of new jobs, millions of tax dollars flowing into the city, and increased pressure on the infrastructure to keep things all running smoothly. Oz takes a deeper look into what this building actually is, how big it is, and how much sales tax is can potentially generate for the city of Salinas. Additionally, c...

Salinas is one of the most expensive places to rent a home in the country. There is no simple solution to fix the issue, but last year, the city implemented a set of protections for renters to help keep them in their homes. This year, there was a shakeup in the city council, and one of the first things they did was to remove those protections before any help could be given or any data gathered. No...

This week, our guest is Liz, who created Liz and Media to showcase all the cool events that happen around the Monterey Bay. After you hear her story, you will know why we have kept doing this show for over 12 years now. She is the perfect example of having the grit and determination to achieve your goals. Born and raised in Salinas, her curiosity and sense of adventure have taken her all over the...

Enchantrix Theatre is preparing to do its version of the hit rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. We sit down with director Colin St. John and the long-haired man himself, Stephan Sams, to tell us about the production process. They found an empty warehouse in Castroville and turned it into a temporary theatre, which allows them plenty of space to put on a spectacular show. The show opens on May 9th,...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

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 celeb...

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. 

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 no...

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.

In 2020, Anthony Rocha was new to city politics, but he was not inexperienced. He is back this year to tell us why he thinks he deserves another four years on the city council. He talks about the projects he is proud of and his plans for a second term. District 6 will soon be surrounded by thousands of new houses and has some of the busiest roads in town. Listen to his plans for the future of his...

In 2020, Orlando Osornio was new to the local political scene. Four years later, he is running for re-election of the same position. He sits down to discuss his plan for another four years on the council. He also talks about what he least expected when he was first elected and the problems he hears from his constituents in District 4.