Keeping Relevant With Ronnie Eldridge

Economic inequality is ramping up, says labor activist, Les Leopold, discussing more Covid-19 in poor neighborhoods with fewer health/social services, crowded apartments, and workers-many people of color-in low-paying jobs. The Biden presidency-discussed

Vincent Montalbano, Chief/Leader writer and former labor lobbyist, discusses his support of Joe Biden, newly inaugurated US President. Noting that "everyone needs to work," Montalbano looks to the administration's policies to strengthen labor and unions.

Steve Zeidman discusses clemency: the governor's seldom used, yet awesome power, to grant pardons-erasing a conviction, and more difficult to acquire, sentence commutations, thus reducing sentences of long incarcerated prisoners-likely to die in prison.

A colleague of Mayor David Dinkins, Prof. Ester Fuchs reviews issues of his administration, paralleling problems facing NY today: homelessness, race, economic and fiscal imbalances. Fuchs discusses party politics and the city's upcoming mayoral race.

Jose A. Saldana discusses RAPP's support of the Elder Parole Bill, granting parole to inmates, 55 and older-who have served 15 years. Imprisoned for 38 years, paroled after five attempts, Saldana discusses mass incarceration and Parole Board politics.

Liz Neumark of Great Performances, describes efforts to stay in business, helping neighborhood restaurants and her concern for furloughed employees. Liz talks about Katchkie Farm, home of The Sylvia Center, facilities growing and providing healthy food.

Doug Muzzio calls the country's divide a cleavage. We hear about fear, anger that preceded and will outlive this presidency. Trust in institutions has declined; politicians see public service as continuous employment and power. Watergate discussed.

Preparing for the transition of an elected president can begin in May, long before the election and inauguration. Teams of friends, lobbyists government experts plan, in secret - personnel, policy, organization. Heath Brown discusses money & transparency

Helen Rosenthal, City Council, describes why her time in office has lived up to her expectations: integrated schools in District 6, district aid based on need, competent leaders; yet, "transactions"-'do for me and I'll do for you' still part of politics

REMEMBER THE LADIES, wrote Abigail Adams to John, in 1776, opening Julie Suk's book, "We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment." But he didn't! CUNY Professor Suk describes the women who for 100 years fought for ERA's passage.

Adaptive Design's craftspeople and designers create equipment aiding physically impaired children and adults to better function in their daily lives. Jennifer Hercman and board member Ronnie Eldridge discuss the challenges to a modest not-for-profit group

Luke Hayes, campaign manager for Jamaal Bowman's successful primary campaign, discusses organizing a campaign, familiarizing the public with a candidate, volunteers, raising funds, endorsements, getting a candidate's message out to the voter and more.

A collaboration of remarkable women: activists, lawyers, students, policy makers, formerly incarcerated women discuss the impact of the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act and domestic violence on the sentencing of women in prison.

Les Leopold, author of "Runaway Inequality," executive director of The Labor Institute discusses programs and workshops to build a coherent mass movement promoting economic, social and environmental justice.

Helen Rosenthal, City Council Member, discusses an estimated $13 billion short-fall in NY's budget which was sound prior to COVID-19. The problem now is inadequate revenue. Rosenthal suggests a return to the Securities Transfer Tax for that revenue.

Dr. William Cole, NYU Langone discusses the growth of telemedicine, remote medical care, popular world-wide due to COVID-19. Did he anticipate another COVID-19 wave, "Absolutely," he said. Get tested & consider your activities best for you and the family.

Steven Zeidman, co-director of the CUNY School of Law, Defenders Clinic said in New York, about 9,000 men and women - over the age of 50, many having already served 20-30 years have little or no chance of being released from prison. Zeidman discussed the parole process, Parole Boards, how appeals for clemency are handled and CUNY School of Law's focus on public interest law.

State Senator Liz Krueger, chair of the Senate Finance Committee talks about NY State's budget and the crucial role of the Federal Government in support of each state's finances. For states to deal with the pandemic requires Federal Government aid.

Jerry Goldfeder, election law attorney at Stroock, with the Constitution, outlines steps and procedures leading to the election of the US President. States and the Congress have the power to make certain that the Election for President takes place.

Arlene Lopez, Queens College grad, enthusiastically describes her undergraduate education and CUNY's ERT Internship Program in Government & Public Affairs. Ms. Lopez is a JD candidate at Harvard Law School, interested in a career in international law.

Ronnie Eldridge is having a one-on-one conversation with Borough of Manhattan President Gale Brewer about city matters -including the state of education- in the midst of the COVID Pandemic.

Ronnie Eldridge talks with Heath Brown, Associate Professor of Public Policy at John Jay College and the Graduate Center, as well as prolific author of scholarly articles, popular political websites, as well as books about politics and government.

Ronnie Eldridge talks with Tanya Domi, Director of Media Relations for CUNY's Graduate Center & host of The Thought Project, a podcast where she talks with faculty & students about the big thinking & big ideas generating ground breaking research.

Dr. Ahmed Reid, History Department at Bronx Community College, teacher and advocate, describes himself as an activist scholar. Teaching the impact of Colonialism and the Plantation System - poverty, illiteracy - Reid feels a moral obligation to fix these problems.

In The Presidents vs. the Press, author Harold Holzer discusses a long history of friction between presidents and the press. Holzer, Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College director, announces the college's 150th anniversary and events.