Keeping Relevant With Ronnie Eldridge

Ellen Bender and 55 members of Markers for Democracy met to write postcards to voters urging/reminding recipients to vote, to register to vote, to consider candidates - issues. Markers for Democracy are people who've joined together to make democracy work.

Leading election lawyer, Jerry Goldfeder, discusses the chaos stemming from the 2020 Reapportionment: why an additional primary election on 8/23, congressional people running against each other, the NRA, and the success of NY's Public Matching Funds.

Selma Shapiro talks about the 60s, the Women's Movement, her job as VP for Publicity at Random House, her love affair and marriage to James Silberman. Selma and Ronnie candidly discuss loss, "sometimes being down," while confirming they don't look back.

Historian Judith Papachristou looks to history to make "any sense of current events." Meeting in college, Papachristou and Eldridge discuss the Women's Movement; Abolitionists, Women's Suffrage, 2nd Wave Feminism, diversity, and today's Republican Party!

Mark Green, NYC's first public advocate, an author, and public interest attorney, gives us an example of how politics has changed, comparing the election of Carter, a centrist Democrat to Ford, a centrist Republican to today's Democrat Biden vs Republican Trump: the party of Stability vs. the party of Extremism - and more!

Why do many of us: the middle-aged, young-even the aged, have difficulty imagining growing old? Is it that we have little contact with old people? Would it be beneficial for us all, if we were more connected, instead of splitting off into separate pods?

Thinking of careers, Bonnie Stone knew only that she "wanted to do good" to do "something tangible!" So, Bonnie went to work for the government! Her book, "Gimme Shelter: a life of public service in New York City" describes public service as the place to do good, describing her work with then controversial methadone programs; working in HRA, developing shelters for the homeless; and in non-profits...

Mark Levine lists numerous challenges to be resolved as newly elected Manhattan Borough President: inequality, inadequate health care, climate change, the criminal justice system and plans to appoint a "pandemic czar" to improve New York's economy. Levine considers working with borough presidents, to form a comprehensive view of land-use: equity in re-development, bus routes, transit hubs - a huge...

Tom Allon, City & State of New York publisher, media entrepreneur, discusses West Side Spirit, a daily The Hill and City Hall, publications that inspired today's City & State. Allon sees the post-pandemic as a time to focus on education and housing.

Organizer and progressive, Antonio Reynoso talks about advocacy and governance making important changes in people's lives. Reynoso discusses more effective Brooklyn Community Boards-better know to people-gentrification, rezoning, land use also discussed.

Describing CUNY students as "..incredibly determined," Juvanie Piquant, elected head of the USS/CUNY, talks about her job to advocate, elevate and represent the 500,000 CUNY student voices, working to leave an issue "..better than you found it."

To prevent state legislatures from restricting our vote, guest urges political mobilization: federal legislation/litigation/citizen VOTING to change a state's political culture. 360 pending election bills; rules effecting ballot counting - a real crisis!

The Census is in the Constitution to allocate House seats across a state, and the basis of political representation. John Mollenkopf discusses the #1 surprise of the 2020 Census: NY's population has grown substantially to 8.8 million people and more.

In 1952, Cuba was named a sponsor of terrorism. Pres. Obama removed their name from the terrorist list, only to have it restored during the Trump years. The Cuban embargo, the Cuban government and the political culture of Cuban Americans is discussed.

If 61% of primary voters are women - why aren't more women in political office? Marti Speranza Wong describes the "un-level" playing field that women candidates experience: political parties controlled by men, provide exposure, endorsements; PAC and outside money favor men candidates. Wong outlines the work of Amplify Her, an organization dedicated to electing more women.

Friends since high school, renowned artist and feminist, Audrey Flack and host, Ronnie Eldridge discuss Flack's student years, her artistic development and success, the "angel with wings," and personal sadness. Mature women, enjoying their long friendship, they talk frankly about how it feels to be in the tenth decade of their lives.

Doug Muzzio outlines the extraordinary importance and the complexity of the NY Primary Election: the first post pandemic, the effect of term-limits, ranked-choice voting, and the large number of candidates making it difficult to know those in the race.

Robert Abrams describes his David vs Goliath wins against NY's political machine, family, Monroe HS, and 15 years of public service as NYS Attorney General. An allied/non-partisan office, the AG dealt with broader issues-think Love Canal! Book-a must read

The Frederick O'Reilly Hayes Prize, named in fond memory of NYC's Budget Director, awarded to City agencies' emerging leaders, has presented a special Corona Virus Crisis Response Award to 20 young public servants for projects in reaction to the pandemic.

Hank Sheinkopf's first experience with politics was in 1969, in Herman Badillo's unsuccessful campaign for mayor. Along with his long and successful career as a political consultant, Sheinkopf talks candidly about his sad history of abandonment, child neglect and abuse. Discussed: underfunded public education, Citizens United, a divided America.

Tom Robbins calls opinion oriented, fact-based NY/Chicago style reporting a vanishing form of journalism. A passionate NY'er, Robbins discusses the changing power of political parties, campaign financing, divided parties, and women in the City Council.

Stan Altman, CCNY alum, CUNY professor, Baruch College Interim President, innovator/entrepreneur of interdisciplinary projects across CUNY discusses the Harlem Gallery of Science programs to correct the lack of Black and Latinx students in STEM courses.

James Larocca, a former energy and transportation commissioner, urges the increase of solar and wind power, and the remote west Adirondacks for wind turbines. Larocca discusses a new waterfront park, named for author John Steinbeck, a Sag Harbor resident.

Christine Quinn, WIN president & CEO, NYC's largest provider of services to families with children, advocate for the homeless, outlines the intake process, the need for trauma informed care training, the value of ongoing services to regain independence.

Sam Roberts provides a sketch of NY's mayors from Bob Wagner to Bill de Blasio asking who, of the 30 candidates, will be NY's 110th mayor. Inadequate local news coverage, costly campaigns, less personal contact make it hard for voters to know a candidate.