Keeping Relevant With Ronnie Eldridge

A teacher, mother, wife, and a Black Sash member, Jeanette Carlson describes the privileged life of the whites and the victimization of blacks in apartheid South Africa. Joel Carlson was one of South Africa's first anti-apartheid civil rights lawyers.

Jennifer Baumgardner, feminist journalist, filmmaker, writer and new publisher and executive director of the Feminist Press at CUNY and Ronnie Eldridge share their understanding of and history with the Feminist Movement.

Kate Shaw, professor at Cardozo School of Law, describes the responsibilities and long hours of the law clerk to a Supreme Court Justice. Professor Shaw has been there - serving for a year, as law clerk to Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

In 1971, men, living on Skid Row, wanting to change their lives, joined to form the Bowery Residents Committee. Executive director Muzzy Rosenblatt and host Ronnie Eldridge discuss the shelter system, the growth of poverty and a hand up-not a hand out.

Ex. director Tom Kamber of OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) and Senior Planet admires seniors "aging with attitude." Host Ronnie Eldridge says these organizations have married the Longevity Revolution to the Digital Revolution, benefiting seniors.

The 19th anniversary of the landmark legislation, the Violence Against Women Act is a bitter-sweet event. Each year-in the USA-1 in 3 women is killed by a spouse or partner; a half million women are assaulted by a partner; NYC's hotline gets 310 calls/day

Nancy Rankin and Ronnie Eldridge discuss the 2013 report, Issued by the Community Service Society, asking low-income New Yorkers their priorities. "The Race for Mayor: What's in it for low-income New Yorkers?" lists jobs, crime, housing of concern.

Prof. Kenneth Prewitt and Ronnie Eldridge talk about the history of the census and the significance of the numbers reported every 10 years and the reliance-in the 21st century-on discredited science based on the "5 races" white, black, red, yellow, brown.

Vincent Montalbano congratulates NY's candidates for elected office, commenting that-whoever wins- they are really talking about the issues. Mr. Montalbano and Ronnie Eldridge are concerned about the inability to break the link between elections & money.

Ronnie Eldridge and architect and urbanist, Michael Sorkin, talk about New York as 2 cities. They explore solutions, including the appropriate role of government. Their conversation is about Hudson Yards, lower Manhattan and East Midtown.

Tom Allon may not be running for office-this year-but he continues to bring us "21st century content, delivered in a 21st century way," via a monthly publication and the internet. Mr. Allon outlined three "huge issues" the next mayor will wrestle with.

Jerry Skurnik is the political consultant to political consultants, working behind-the-scenes, gathering information, crucial to the success of political campaigns. With experience dating back to the Koch campaign, Skurnik discusses campaigns then & now.

Ester Fuchs, Columbia University, and host Ronnie Eldridge stress how essential voting is to the future of the democracy we all enjoy, reminding us that democracy is dependent on a public that is engaged and informed.

Dick Dadey, Citizens Union and Ronnie Eldridge discuss the "porous and weak campaign finance laws" that need to be strengthened to take money out of politics. The two talk about stop & frisk, arguably a tool in fighting crime, that may be overused.

Ronnie Eldridge and New York Times columnist, Michael Powell, talk about all things New York: income disparity, high cost of living, the Bronx, parts of Brooklyn, and, of course, politics. Despite all problems, both are optimistic about NY's future.

William Cope Moyers wrote"Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption" and "Now What? An Insider's Guide to Addiction and Recovery." TV producer and his mother, Judith Moyers, joins Ronnie and William to talk about his addiction and message of hope..

Guests Ann Northrop and Andy Humm, co-hosts of "Gay USA," and host Ronnie Eldridge reflect on the early days of the gay rights movement on to the history-in-the-making Supreme Court decision, striking down the Defense of Marriage Act.

Ronnie Eldridge feels that on June 25..."5 justices of the United States Supreme Court took the heart out of the Voting Rights Act of 1965." Ronnie and Myrna Pérez, of the Brennan Center, urge letting Congress know how we feel about the decision.

Suzanne Braun Levine writes books that explore and provide fresh insights into life - life beginning with our 50's and beyond. "Inventing the Rest of Our Lives: Women in Second Adulthood" and others speak for themselves.

Common Cause New York director, Susan Lerner and host Ronnie Eldridge talk about our electoral system, described by Susan Lerner as "...mired in the 19th century." They discuss the need to overhaul the election system-from top to bottom.

Ghita Schwarz, author of "Displaced Persons," and an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, confirms New York's long history of protecting the immigrant, and agrees with Mayor Bloomberg that "we are the best." But, only sometimes.

Donna Lieberman of the New York Civil Liberties Union speaks enthusiastically about the Women's Equality Agenda and Governor Cuomo's support. The Women's Equality Agenda clarifies current law and deals with existing loop-holes.

Welcoming Luke Hayes to the show, Ronnie asks Mr. Hayes about his experiences working with the Obama Presidential Campaign. Whether it be economic equality, prison reform, health care, Luke Hayes is still engaged, staying in the fight to the ideal.

A Quinnipiac poll reported that 9 out of 10 New York voters think corruption in Albany is a major problem. Ronnie Eldridge and guest Eleanor Randolph, editorial writer for the NYT, discuss the question - what in our system contributes to this corruption.

The Headmaster mentoring the Master Teachers mentoring Apprentice Teachers, team teaching of small groups, open classrooms - The New American Academy, a model school in Brooklyn, linking children's success to the quality of teacher instruction.