Keeping Relevant With Ronnie Eldridge

In Part 2, young participants in the Graduate Center’s Youth Justice Research Collaborative describe their on-site work as Court Watchers, recording activity, mannerisms, attitudes of Court Officers, who play a major role in how courts work.

Members of the Youth Justice Research Collaborative, focused at the CUNY Graduate Center, bringing together communities, organizations, expertise and commitment discuss efforts to hold government accountable to juvenile justice legislation, Raise the Age, recently signed by Governor Cuomo. Pt 1/2

2019 Charter Revision Commission Chair, Gail Benjamin outlines the commission's procedures, practices, and numerous public meetings to analyze NYC's Charter, and the public's vote to approve five changes to the charter. Low voter turn out is discussed.

With passion, Doug Muzzio, Baruch College professor, expressing serious concern for the future, describes the "Orwellian" state of America's politics: the impact of money, ideologues, corruption, lack of principles, impeachment, and the lieslieslies.

Brett Stoudt, a psychology professor at The CUNY Graduate Center and John Jay College discusses research projects focusing on privilege & oppression, aggressive & discriminatory policing, in conjunction with policy makers & community members of all ages

Brooklyn College professor, Anthony Mancini describes BC's Journalism & Media Studies- JAMS-as a "real journalism and media studies program." Merging two journalism programs, reporting and writing, into a larger program, provides students more options.

Jerry Goldfeder, a national expert on election and campaign finance law, talks about NY's Charter Commission reforms, Rank Choice Voting, the "wild west" of campaign finance and more. Goldfeder and host Eldridge discuss Impeachments, past and present.

Lori Chajet, CARA's co-director and Natajha Graham, youth leader at A. Philip Randolph HS talk about programs and activities that ensure first generation, low income and students of color have info and support necessary to apply, enroll, remain in college

Anthony Maniscalco, Sr. University Director, Career Development and Internships discusses public service internships and civic engagement programs in Albany, Washington DC and New York City via CUNY programs, presenting an opportunity to engage in solving public problems.

CUNY School of Law hosts photographer Sara Bennett's photo exhibit, "Looking Inside: Portraits of Women Serving Life Sentences." With photography, Bennett encourages the viewer to get to know these people and to take a look at the criminal justice system

Many CUNY colleges collaborate with neighborhood public schools, such as The City College Academy of the Arts, where teacher Dennis Mihalsky's class is a newsroom, shaping “The Claw Weekly” a student-run newspaper; he urges more student newspapers in NY.

Vincent Montalbano, labor and political activist, discusses recent events affecting union membership, urging leadership and members to focus, internally, on their contribution to a party's or candidates' success. It's not money; it's membership.

Polling and a huge term limits turnover; a "bluer" more unified NYS government; young Progressives with progressive programs; former Cong. Joe Walsh; Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - thoughtful yet passionate conversation.

Activist and civil libertarian Bill Dobbs specializes in causes that many see as too controversial. Honored by the National Lawyers Guild of NY, Dobbs discusses Stonewall 50, a united LGBTQ Community, hate-crime legislation, Sex-Offemder Lists and more.

People with Disabilities is America's largest minority group with little visibility in Hollywood. The ReelAbilities Film Festival, the largest festival in the U.S. works to promote awareness of lives and creativity of people with different disabilities.

"The Chief" the weekly paper - available online - provides the best news about city, state and often, federal civil service and the municipal unions that represent them. A champion of labor, "The Chief" reports local politics in New York.

Naftuli Moster and Anita Altman of YAFFED tell us that private & religious schools must provide a secular education, equal to what was provided by a public school. A Yeshiva grad, Mr. Moster describes how shockingly unprepared he was for further studies.

Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Sr. Advisor to the President of Hunter College/CUNY, a formidable public servant, a member of the NYC Charter Commission, outlines the four focus areas under the Commission's consideration: Elections, Governance, Finance, Land-Use.

YES! more women were elected to public office - yet, here in "progressive" New York, there are only 11 women out of 51 in the City Council - 19 of 63 in the state Senate - 50 of 150 in the Assembly, and 8 out of our 21 member delegation to Congress.

Norman Siegel, attorney for the defense of civil rights and civil liberties, NYCLU former director, who reads the Constitution aloud, 7/4 in NY's parks, discusses the current administration, commenting "the Constitution, you should try it sometime."

Tanya Melich, author of The Republican War Against Women says "I cannot remember a time when the Republican Party was not part of my life." Melich and Eldridge review the Republican Party's history-and the turning point-making her now a Democrat.

Discussing-with gusto-national, state and city politics, the Green Deal, Medicare for All, the "quirky" Electoral College, the president and more, Doug Muzzio, Baruch College Public Affairs professor, describes his students as "hard working and engaged."

Donna Lieberman heads the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU); its mission is to "defend and protect" fundamental principles and values, and New Yorkers "inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by government or by majority vote." Despite threats, NYCLU is succeeding.

Ronnie Eldridge welcomes Karol V. Mason, John Jay College of Criminal Justice's fifth president, opening an enthusiastic discussion of JJ's criminal justice programs: Prison-to-College Pipeline, the Prisoner Reentry Institute, Smart on Crime and much more.

Comm. Pauline Toole outlines the treasure trove of documents, pictures, videos available to us at the NYC Department of Records and Information Services: New York in the 1940's, Women Activists, NYPD Photos, Bridges, Parks, Trains/Trolleys - Enjoy!