Published on September 3, 2020

Yee debuts exciting new podcast that shines a spotlight on diverse innovators  fighting for their communities and reimagining industries.

Sacramento, CA – Today, California State Controller Betty Yee launched her new podcast, The California Table — a new twice a month series featuring community voices often missing at institutional policy or funding decision-making tables.

Yee’s debut podcast episode “On the High-Road: Righting the Restaurant Industry” features a must-hear discussion with Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage, Co-Founder of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United), and Director of the Food Labor Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Jayaraman, an outspoken leader in exposing the vulnerability of restaurant workers — pre- and post-COVID-19 — joins Betty to discuss the history of tipped-wage work and reimagining the restaurant industry as it emerges from the economic devastation of the pandemic.

The California Table airs twice monthly and features Californians making a difference by tackling difficult issues with individual and collective action.

Betty’s discussion with Jayaraman invites all Californians to play a role in re-establishing the restaurant industry — critical to revitalizing California’s economy — while highlighting resources for improved conditions for the nearly 2 million restaurant workers in California. 

Yee has traveled the state extensively and sees promise in the need to build power locally and elevate community voices to inform public policy and funding decisions. The California Table podcast will highlight these community voices from around California. 

The podcast is paid for by Betty Yee for Treasurer 2026. 

California State Controller Betty Yee won her re-election with nearly 8 million votes in 2018 – the single largest vote-getter in California and the nation that year. Yee has 35 years of experience in state and local finance and tax policy. In her second term as State Controller, she is focusing on future-proofing California’s economy that girds against the stresses and shocks caused by climate change, produces quality jobs and empowers all workers, and ensures equity and shared prosperity by lifting the voices of disproportionately affected communities. 

Download Podcast Transcript