Lenny Leszczynski is a car guy, dating back to his days as a young man who drove a Daytona Blue 1964 Chevy Impala, but his wife was not expecting him to land this job. After all, Lenny had never been a CEO before. He did take advantage of all the free time the pandemic gave us by going back to school to earn an advanced degree. He was in Disneyland with his wife and kids hours after his job interview when he received the call. He got the job. He was the new CEO of the San Diego Automotive Museum located in Balboa Park.   That was four years ago. Since then, Lenny and his team have taken several steps to breathe new life into the automotive museum, and they have some ambitious plans for one of the city’s coolest spaces. And Lenny knows a thing or two about cool. Just ask him about that Impala he purchased when he was 17. He discusses all that and more with Tony and Juan in this episode of Dear San Diego.

The author of California’s Top Two Candidates Open Primary, which took effect in 2012, wants to reform his reform. Steve Peace, a founder of the Independent Voter Project, wants California to move to a system that would ask voters to rank 4 or 5 candidates instead of voting for just one. Alaska and Maine have adopted a similar Rank Choice Voting system. Peace looks through the national political lens and the local one too to discuss voter reform on this episode of Dear San Diego. Listeners also get to hear about his family life (he says he’s an Uber driver for his grandkids) and the advice he gives young people. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction to California's top two primary 00:01:29 - Inception of the top two primary 00:03:22 - How the top two primary works 00:08:24 - Flaws in the current political system 00:14:01 - Manipulation of the top two primary system 00:15:26 - The Power of Campaigns Driven by Turnout 00:17:27 - Political Maneuvering and Campaign Strategies 00:19:23 - The Influence of Committees and Political Alliances 00:22:29 - Advancing Electoral Reform: Ranked-Choice Voting 00:26:29 - The Need for Continuous Electoral Reform 00:31:02 - Ranked Choice Voting System 00:33:21 - Nonpartisan Top Four or Top Five System 00:35:17 - Reducing Campaign Costs 00:41:13 - Fixing Ranked Choice Voting 00:46:35 - Misjudging Willie Brown 00:48:27 - Steve Peace's Personal Life 00:53:30 - Motivations and Family 00:55:50 - Privacy Rights and Identity 01:00:17 - Childhood Influence 01:03:39 - Reflection on past behavior 01:05:13 - Advice for life 01:05:59 - Importance of facing adversity 01:07:02 - Perception of need and resilience 01:08:57 - Closing remarks

Michael Zucchet is one of those guys who listens more than he talks, and his calm and thoughtful demeanor has served him well at the poker table and at the negotiating table. Zucchet oversees the City of San Diego’s largest labor union as General Manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association.  In addition to his day job, Michael is one of San Diego’s leading political minds, frequently called on for his strategic advice and recommendations. He’s also a fierce poker player, enjoying rare success in Vegas. Michael also serves as a San Diego Port Commissioner. He’s married with two kids and he and his family reside in Ocean Beach. It’s his family life, he says, that’s the priority and it may not have been if his political career did not take an unexpected turn. Michael has seen a lot in and around City Hall over the years. He discusses local politics, poker, leadership, work-life balance, his wife and kids, and much more with Juan and Tony on the latest episode of Dear San Diego. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest's First Impression 00:01:20 - Podcast Overview 00:05:29 - Guest's Background and Personal Life 00:10:29 - Balancing Work and Family 00:13:36 - Career Aspirations of the Guest's Son 00:14:33 - World Series of Poker Win 00:15:12 - Endurance and Emotions 00:16:31 - World Series of Poker Experience 00:19:42 - Poker and Life Skills 00:26:50 - San Diego Municipal Employees Association 00:29:59 - Discovering Local Politics 00:31:08 - Partisanship in Politics 00:33:22 - Changing Dynamics in Politics 00:36:43 - Impact of Media and Public Perception 00:41:18 - Political Endorsements and Races 00:46:26 - Political Race Predictions 00:47:45 - Impact of National Politics 00:48:33 - Personal Lifestyle Choices 00:49:36 - Daily Habits and Routines 00:59:33 - Closing Remarks 01:01:12 - Michael Zuchett's Leadership Style 01:01:39 - Getting to Know Michael Zuchett 01:02:10 - Unique Woodworking Family 01:03:19 - Zuchett's Political Insights 01:03:40 - Conclusion and Gratitude

The majority of San Diegans are renters, but rents are crazy expensive because supply is so low. Very few new homes are built, so those that are sold come with a steep price. The average home in San Diego sells for $900,000. How did we get here? What caused our region’s housing crisis? How do we fix it? What do we need to do to build more homes San Diegans can afford?  Tony and Juan get answers to these questions from two of the region’s leading housing advocates, Lori Pfeiler and Hannah Gbeh, on this episode of Dear San Diego. In addition to housing policy and politics, Lori and Hannah talk about what it’s like working in an arena mostly dominated by men at the top of the food chain. Lori is CEO of San Diego County Building Industry, and Hannah is the organization’s Vice President of Government Affairs. The key moments in this episode are: The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:05:21 - Housing Crisis in San Diego 00:07:05 - Impact of Regulatory Environment on Housing 00:13:37 - Infrastructure and Funding Challenges 00:14:09 - Challenges of Bureaucracy and Budgets 00:15:03 - Unprecedented Leadership 00:19:33 - Gender and Leadership 00:22:00 - Housing Crisis and Regulations 00:26:16 - Environmental Impact and Building 00:28:13 - Government Regulations and Impact on Housing 00:35:55 - The Cost of Building in California 00:37:45 - Influence of Local Policy and Education 00:40:32 - Life as a Single Mom and Former Farmer 00:41:37 - Diverse Farming Experiences 00:41:48 - Lucrative Non-Edibles 00:42:20 - Missing Being Mayor 00:43:12 - Coffee vs. Tea 00:47:14 - Policy vs. Politics 00:49:25 - AI and Housing Crisis

San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe is expected to win the county supervisor special election on November 7, 2023 to replace Nathan Fletcher. If so, she would leave her job as a councilmember representing District 4, which includes the communities of Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Lincoln Park, Mountain View, Paradise Hills, and others. Her constituents need a strong voice at the table. Otherwise, she said, they will be overlooked. While the challenges Councilmember Montgomery faces as a black woman representing Southeastern San Diego are long, she draws on her hope and her faith while pursuing her goal of ensuring opportunities are available to everyone who wants them. Tony and Juan discuss all that and more on this episode of Dear San Diego with Councilmember Montgomery. They also talk about Tony’s dad, Bobby George Manolatos, who passed away October 5. This episode is dedicated to him. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of the Guest 00:09:21 - Reflections on personal loss 00:11:03 - Campaign and Election 00:14:27 - Readiness for New Position 00:14:32 - Conclusion 00:14:39 - Making Tough Decisions 00:15:19 - Advocacy for Racial Equity 00:18:29 - Monica's Advocacy and Vision 00:25:35 - Unraveling Institutional Racism 00:30:35 - Staying True to Your Values in Politics 00:34:14 - Standing Up for What's Right 00:37:23 - A Day in the Life of Monica 00:39:56 - Monica's Humanity and Hope for the Future

During his 8 years as a San Diego City Councilmember, Chris Cate was known as the smartest guy on the 10th floor, but he became more than a policy wonk. He worked with council members on both sides of the aisle to create positive change for San Diegans, and he became a force for his District 6 constituents, which includes the neighborhoods of Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Miramar, Park Village, and Sorrento Valley. Chris was only the third Asian American in San Diego’s history elected to the City Council. On this episode with Tony and Juan, Chris talks about what he’s most proud of; his luck landing a huge press event with Mark Hamill aka Luke Skywalker, who grew up in Clairemont; the Chargers running ads attacking Chris – which made national news; and more. He said the key to succeeding at City Hall is not to take things personally. Another key, he said, is finding balance, something he was very intentional about to ensure he was being a good father to his three kids and his wife, Maria. As the founder of 3MC Strategies, Chris now spends his days as a consultant, assisting clients with government relations and advocacy, coalition building, community outreach, and fiscal and policy analysis. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:01 - Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:04:39 - Smuggling Activities and Trips 00:05:54 - Introduction to Guest - Chris Cate 00:10:01 - The Paradox of Politics 00:12:22 - Achievements and Policy Impact 00:14:02 - Redevelopment and Community Vision 00:15:45 - Community Impact and Micro Issues 00:20:18 - Cultural Center Development 00:23:40 - Post-Council Life and Business Work 00:27:17 - Controversy and Impact 00:28:14 - Chargers' Move to LA 00:29:25 - Stadium Subsidy and Public Backlash 00:31:00 - Fallout and Re-election 00:32:39 - Remembering Father Joe 00:41:35 - Morning Routine and Productivity 00:44:19 - Remote vs. Physical Work 00:46:12 - Board Service and Community Involvement 00:48:08 - Family and Work-life Balance 00:52:30 - Conclusion and Future Episodes (Originally aired 19Oct23)

James Canning was the PR pro for one the region’s most popular politicians. Everything was going exceptionally well for his boss and for James. And then one morning that all changed.  Nathan Fletcher abruptly ended his State Senate campaign and days later, after being accused of sexual harassment, he announced he was stepping down from elected office, giving up his job as a San Diego County Supervisor.  For the first time publicly, James discusses what that was like for him and his colleagues, and how he dealt with the backlash from Nathan’s critics and some members of the media. James also was on the frontlines when former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick resigned under mounting pressure and allegations.  James discusses that, his love for the Detroit Lions, cooking, painting, his Flack Talk podcast, and more with Tony and Juan. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background 00:04:31 - Nathan Fletcher's Resignation 00:08:12 - Flack Talk and Journalism 00:10:27 - Career Path and Motivation 00:12:45 - Networking and Mentors 00:13:19 - Finding Common Ground 00:16:36 - Shocking News 00:21:36 - Dealing with Crisis 00:24:52 - Public Scrutiny 00:25:40 - The Impact of Crisis Communication 00:30:54 - Moving Forward from Past Leadership 00:31:44 - Continuing Service Amidst Challenges 00:33:48 - Creative Outlets and Artistic Endeavors 00:37:49 - Brand Building and Leadership 00:38:31 - Setting the Creative Standard 00:39:59 - Functional Art and Creativity 00:41:46 - Michigan Values and Connection to San Diego 00:47:56 - Impactful Interview and Personal Insights

Drew Lieberman counts San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and the U.S. Navy among his clients. Drew has worked with Tony and Juan on several land-use campaigns.  A savvy and seasoned pollster, Drew is Executive Vice President at Strategies 360. He also is a dedicated father of two, a loving husband, and a travel baseball dad. With a wealth of political strategy expertise, Drew has lent his skills to numerous notable campaigns, earning a reputation as a top-notch pollster.  Tony and Juan talk to this Encinitas native about polling, politics, baseball, beer and more.

Jessica Grounds does not shy away from a challenge and that’s a good thing considering she spends her days developing young leaders and striving for change in board rooms, on committees, and in corner offices.  Backed by years of experience and painstaking research, Jessica is CEO Corporate Directors Forum and co-owner of Mine The Gap, an international consulting business that helps organizations harness the power of diverse leadership and inclusive work environments. Jessica is a force in the diversity, equity and inclusion arena. She’s also a mom to two little ones and a wife to a husband she met when she was working on political campaigns in her 20s in Washington – helping women get elected. Jessica’s husband is a Republican; she’s a Democrat.  Jessica discusses that, political divisiveness, advice for emerging leaders, her journey back to San Diego (where her daughter attends the same elementary school she attended), and more in a wide-ranging discussion with Tony. Juan was on vacation when this podcast was recorded.

Tamera Kohler is the leading voice on homelessness in our region. As CEO of RTFH or the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, Kohler is deeply invested in the region’s most pressing issue.  Tamera wears a lot of hats but she and her team are best known for collecting and analyzing data that shapes policy and governs decisions throughout the county. She is a trusted advisor to service providers, elected leaders, government staff, and others. She also represents San Diego on the Washington-based National Alliance to End Homelessness Leadership Council. Her background is in housing so it’s not surprising to hear Tamera say homelessness is a housing problem.  And if we change the way we think about housing, and solve our housing crisis, then we will reach a point where homelessness becomes a rare and brief occurrence for people with nowhere to turn after losing a job, an apartment, or a loved one.  While homelessness is her calling, Tamera is just as invested in her family. Some mornings she starts her day by playing video games virtually with her grandson in Utah. She discusses that and much more with Tony and Juan.

Beginning his journey as a high school intern for a well-known political figure, Art Castañares quickly proved his mettle in the world of state and local politics. As Chief of Staff for former California Senator Steve Peace, Art fostered a deep understanding of public affairs.  In addition to serving as Peace’s Chief of Staff, Art built a successful political consulting business, winning a number of high-profile campaigns. Art then pivoted to journalism, where his distinctive writing style, influenced by his speech and debate training in high school, quickly found a home and a following.  As the publisher and editor of La Prensa, Art brings decades of political experience to his columns, delivering hard-hitting and thought-provoking content that earns him praise and criticism. His columns often create social media buzz and mainstream newsrooms aren’t shy about linking to them in their stories.  Art is well-sourced and armed with a reliable BS detector. He discusses all that and more with Tony and Juan.