The Marinade with Lee Thomas

Alameda Labor Council leader Liz Ortega joins Lee Thomas for a special Labor Day lunch with BBQ beef back ribs, "screaming" shrimp, and r mushrooms. The 20th Assembly District candidate talks about her role in the local labor movement, Howard Terminal, and leading unions during a pandemic. 

Youth advocate and educator Lisa Jackson headlines the season finale of The Marinade with Lee Thomas (there will be a Season 2 in early 2022!). Lisa dines on GrilleeQ salmon smoked on a cedar plank, longanisa sausage and blueberry cornbread muffins. She says students need to feel connected to their community, and there needs to be more city investment in youth programs. Plus, Lee makes his big ann...

San Leandro housing advocate Rob Rich discusses the affordable housing scene in the city with Lee Thomas over a GrilleeQ lunch of short ribs, grilled tomatoes and asparagus, and (very) hot links.

East Bay real estate expert David Stark joins Lee Thomas for a smorgasbord of GrilleeQ pulled pork, chicken thighs, asparagus, smoked mushrooms, and blueberry muffins. Stark says government has a big role in increasing housing supply, and not much will happen until a jobs and housing imbalance is alleviated. Ultimately, the change needed won't come until residents agree to live differently, he sai...

Morgan Mack-Rose, the executive director of the San Leandro Improvement Association, chats with Lee Thomas over GrilleeQ short ribs, grilled squash and tomatoes, and hot links, about her ideas for a more vibrant downtown, and the need for city officials to be more ambitious in their vision for San Leandro.

San Leandro Police Officers Association President Mike Olivera tells Lee Thomas that the city needs more cops, and the rise in crime is "worse than I've ever seen in 22-plus years on the force." Amid rumors of a GrilleeQ burger, generous portions of juicy tri-tip, Portobello mushrooms and corn on the cob is on the menu.

A good tri-tip should be medium rare, says Lee Thomas's guest this week, San Leandro school trustee Peter Oshinski, who is also a former culinary instructor. While dining on GrilleeQ tri-tip, smoked mushrooms, and corn on the cob, Peter talks about the school district's early response to the pandemic, and how he thinks students will adjust to the lost classroom time.

Surlene Grant is the first African-American to sit on the San Leandro City Council. She discusses with Lee Thomas the resistance she felt following her appointment and election to the city council, the future of Black representation in San Leandro, and reparations. On the menu: BBQ chicken, "screaming" shrimp, and corn from GrilleeQ.

San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter sits down with Lee Thomas to discuss the state of the city, her legacy and today's special, BBQ chicken thighs, shrimp, and corn on the cob.