Spoke Business

First Things First, I want to thank the 2025 Spoke Team for their hard work reporting the Spoke news:

Shannon LeBarre

Toni Harper

Jacob Frost

Andrea Hansen

Aaron Falk

Jean Luc Slagle

Jorge Barrientos

Ashley Vorhees

Clinton Trimmer

Justin Salters

Mike Willis

2026 Reporters 

Me (January) 

Toni Harper (February)

Jacob Frost (March)

Andrea Hansen (April)

Shannon LeBarre (May)

Erin Estelle (NEW) (June)

Jean Luc Slagle (July)

Jorge Barrientos (August)

Ashley Vorhees (September)

Clinton Trimmer (October)

Sarah  Haggard (NEW) (November)

Bill Lever (NEW) (December)

Off Site Program: Sundale Country Club

Guests

Jeff Johnson introduced Sherna Armstrong, a talented jazz singer who’s part of a weekly Jazz Workshop every Tuesday at the Phoenix Restaurant at Sundale. Juan Bustamante brought along Simon Arenas, a local entrepreneur making waves in the community. Kathy Abernathy introduced Murray Robertson, our Kern County Court Commissioner who’s eyeing a judge position. And Win had a make-believe guest named Gustavo Martinez, a software developer!

Announcements

Don't miss the weekly Jazz Workshops at Sundale—it's not just about music; it’s also a fantastic way to raise funds for local students. Girish made about $500 worth of announcements, starting with a Valentine’s dinner and a wine tasting with Wolf Winery on February 6th at Phoenix restaurant. We also took a moment to remember Stanley Cook, a former Rotary member who recently passed away.

Featured Program: Corey Costello

Corey Costello is the Assistant City Manager of Tehachapi. He has a background in media and a master’s in public administration. Corey has quite the resume! He’s juggling economic development, planning, and development projects, making sure Tehachapi thrives.

City Snapshot
Tehachapi is about 7 square miles with a population hovering around 8,000 (though some say it’s more like 12,000 with the annexed prison). The area is bustling, attracting shoppers from surrounding communities, driving those sales taxes up!

Real Estate Buzz
In real estate news, residential sales are a bit down from last year—73 homes sold in 2025 compared to 90 in 2024—but the average home price sits at a cozy $423,000 with many properties flying off the market in just 30 to 60 days. On the commercial front, there are fewer empty storefronts, and new businesses like Tohatchasleep (furniture) and Anytime Fitness are joining our local scene.

Challenges and Opportunities
Despite some challenges with population density that affect national retailers, Tehachapi attracts about a quarter million visitors from the region, making it an appealing spot for businesses. Plus, we’ve got some exciting projects in the works, including a new Cerro Coso Community College campus and Dutch Bros coming to town!

Water Woes and Growth
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The city faces legal disputes over water access, which complicates new housing developments. Historical over-pumping and reliance on native water rights are significant issues. It’s a delicate balance, especially since most water goes to agriculture rather than new homes.

Community Connections
In our Q&A session, Corey addressed questions about local wine industry water use and ongoing highway development. He also reassured us about his commitment to keeping the community informed through media outlets like the Tehachapod podcast.