City of Tea (916)

Did you know that in the Fruitridge Finger, in the Oak Park Neighborhood, there lives a farm? Well, you're about to find out.
On this episode, the team welcomes Matthew Ampersand who is just as cool as his name sounds. Along with his wife, and landscape artist, Tessa, Matthew runs what is really an incredible resource, Find Out Farms. They are more than a place that grows things for the betterment of our local ecology, they are a gawtdanged oasis of information. You'll hear straight from Matthew about the wonder that is the farm, you'll find out just what it's all about, and you'll learn how to support this incredible lil plot of wonder.
Get your notebooks out, this one is full of facts and nerdy plant flavor.
You can find out more about the farm by visiting their website: https://www.findoutfarms.com/
If you want to stay up to date with what projects Matthew is working on, and how Tessa keeps things organized, head over to their IG: https://www.instagram.com/findoutfarms/?hl=en
If you need a reason to visit the farm, her name is Two Dots and she has lots of fowl friends: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiONsOKIwF3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Gabe and PJ sit down with the host of the Golden State Naturalist podcast, Michelle Fullner, to talk about nature in California, and specifically what makes Sac a dope place worth protecting. We talk trees, bugs, birds and more. 
Find out more about GSN https://www.goldenstatenaturalist.com/
Check out the California Native Plant Society https://www.cnps.org/
And don't forget to follow GSN on all socials @goldenstatenaturalist (careful with Facebook's non stop AI slop) 

The Right to Exist follows the rise and fall of Camp Resolution in Sacramento, centering the stories of unhoused women and the activists, filmmakers, and academics who tried to protect them.
The episode explores common myths about homelessness, the role of affordable housing and policy failures, and how visibility, advocacy, and political decisions shaped the camp’s fate. 
Filmmakers Nick Anderson and Arturo Baiocchi discuss the making of the documentary, the emotional toll on residents, and plans for screenings and broader distribution.

PJ is off saving kittens, so it's Shannon and Gabe sitting down with climate justice organizer Ilonka to discuss the fight against big oil in California, the Make Billionaires Pay March and Climate Justice Festival in Sacramento, and criticisms of Governor Gavin Newsom's recent policy shifts. Listen up as we get into refinery closures, cap-and-trade concerns, and how community action can push for a just transition to renewables.
Listeners are invited to join the festival and march on Sunday, September 21 at Cesar Chavez Park (festival 11:00–3:00, march at 3:00). The episode highlights ways to get involved, local events, and resources for taking climate action.
Register for the event on Sunday here. 
 
We want to hear from you! If you are doing shit in Sacramento to build up community in the midst of the hellscape, slide into our DMs. Be like Ilonka, get on the show in a matter of hours, yo!
 

Robot Summary:
The hosts shift from local news to personal reflection, discussing mental health struggles, solidarity, mutual aid, and ways Sacramento communities find joy and support amid political failure and housing crises.
Human Summary:
Hey fam,
It's no secret that we've been struggling with consistent show production, so the team got together to talk about what's next. We love the show, we love this city, we love that you love hearing us spill the tea. That said, we are not okay, and we suspect you are in a similar place.
In this episode, we talk more about how not okay we are, and we introduce a new show model. We are making the move into a more vulnerable space where we talk about how the landscape of the world is bleak, but we can still find glimmers, and be optimistic. We believe, as many of you do, that community takes care of community, and we are aiming for a show that highlights just how fucking full of care this city is.
We are going to highlight cool shit, talk about the tough stuff, and find joy together. If you want to be on the show, to talk about what community care looks like for you, where you are finding joy, or anything in between, slide into our social DMs.
We can't want to see what comes next!

In this weeks episode we are going over the absolute trash that is the Sit/Lie Ordinance vote. We'll discuss the heated debates surrounding the ordinance that bans sleeping outside City Hall. 
While only 3 council members voted with compassion (or in Lisa Kaplan's case, with a McGeorge School of Law J.D. which compels her to ask "why?"), the other 5 and Mayor McCarty went along with the status quo. It is now illegal to sleep anywhere in Sacramento. 
It's an episode full of banter, and a spot of tea. 
Fuck most everything, except you, unless you're one of the ones that should be fucked. 

Mayor Kevin McCarty made promises as he platformed for his seat, one of them was to put an item concerning homelessness on ever council agenda. It took him 7 months, but he did it, only his item is to make sitting or laying on City Hall property criminal.
The episode explores the ordinance's past, the backlash against its inclusion on the consent calendar, and the urgent need for humane solutions over policies of displacement and criminalization.
Catch the toolkit to push against this harmful policy here. 

Did you know the last tradition man is right here in Sacramento? No. You're about to find out more!
The real tea, though, is Sacramento's newly passed budget. We yell about the constant tug-of-war between community priorities and city allocations, particularly the heavy focus on police funding at the expense of public infrastructure and youth programs. 
Finally, we touch on the recent ICE activities in Sacramento and LA, and the community response that ensued. We are here for emphasizing the power of collective action in the face of the fash. 
Fuck a lot, especially ICE. 

We are joined by D8 Councilmember, Mai Vang & former D4 Police Review Commissioner, Keyan Bliss as we talk about the real ramifications of current budget allocations, particularly regarding law enforcement. We talk about how shifts in funding could foster safer, more equitable communities. From addressing the specific needs of vulnerable populations to reimagining resource management, tune in for a thorough analysis of what could transform Sacramento into a city where everyone flourishes. 

We are back from Spring Break!
Shit stayed real and messy in Sacramento while we hit pause so here we are to talk all about it. 
In this ep you'll hear about McCarty's misunderstanding of the timeline of his job as he only recently decided to add an item to the agenda on homelessness. We also discuss CA AB379, it's not an expert take but what we do know is that, once again the folks in power are whack.