Keeping Relevant

Despite success of Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting, voter turnout remains low. Ester Fuchs urges education - support from community and local groups to help reconnect people to the political process, as our government lives by the people’s vote.

Calling the 2024 U.S. elections “huge,” Doug Muzzio describes current politics as the “newest of the new” and the times “the most dangerous period we’ve been in” since pre-Civil War: a divided country, moving further apart. Gun control and more discussed.

Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, says Judges matter, and applauds the public’s interest in the selection of a chief judge. Sen. Hoylman-Sigal urges the inclusion of LGBT, Black and Asian American histories in NY curriculum.

Gale Brewer, a long serving public servant, has returned to the City Council and District 6. “I love the City Council,” she says: the diversity of newly elected young members, a majority of them women. E-bike battery fires and Smoke Shops are discussed.

Tom Robbins calls his long career as a reporter/journalist, "the greatest job in the world. Doors may be slammed in your face but you have a 'passport' to any place you want to go." Robbins discusses his core issues: good government and criminal justice.

Barbara Treen was a member of the New York Parole Board for 12 years, and continues to work on behalf of the incarcerated to get a chance at parole. Ms. Treen discusses the politics surrounding parole and legislation, the Fair and Timely Parole Act and Elder Parole Bill designed to reform the system. Treen notes the significant support from the CUNY School of Law and others on behalf of those in prison.

"A kid in politics in the early 70's," Ken Sunshine describes his journey as a PR-Political Consultant, his clients: Mayor David Dinkins, Senator Ted Kennedy, President Bill Clinton, Barbra Streisand, to today, as a member of the CUNY Board of Trustees, chairman of the Governance Committee. Siting the affection New Yorkers have for CUNY, Mr. Sunshine outlines the City University's value to New Yorkers, its business and leadership communities.

Sam Roberts, longtime journalist, discusses how few community projects, press conferences, local news, in general, are covered and reported in New York's newspapers. Roberts talks about the digital vs printed forms of getting the news; "It's different," he says, remembering with pleasure, people waiting on the corner for the paper to be delivered. Mr. Roberts is author of "The New Yorkers" untold biographies of remarkable people and their contributions to New York's evolution and host of New York Times Close-Up, on CUNY TV.

CARA's Bridge Program, reflects CUNY's model, says Ronnie Eldridge, ensuring that first generation, low income students, people of color have the knowledge and support to enroll and persist in college. Deneysis Labrada and Dorma Lozada discuss the program

Retired psycho therapist, Carol Meyerson, mindful of how society-even families, often ignoring its older members, comments on the long history, knowledge and experience that the aged are anxious to share. Generations' different attitudes are discussed.