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July 24 - 28, 2006
Monday, July 24
Patt Morrison broadcasts a special 2-hour show discussing US-Mexico border issues live from the Tijuana Estuary Visitor's Center in Imperial Beach
The Policy Debate
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The U.S. House and Senate are at a stalemate over an immigration deal. Patt looks at the state of the debate with Peter Nunez, a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of San Diego, and Monica W. Varsanyi, a visiting research fellow at the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of California San Diego. We also get perspective on the debate from south of the border as Diputado Jaime Palafox, Baja California State Representative, also joins the conversation.
Life Along the Border
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As policy makers thousands of miles away argue over competing immigration bills, conversations along the border between residents in California and the Mexican state of Baja California are different. The region is one; tied together by socially, economically, and logistically. Many people cross the border daily for work, shopping, health care, or to visit family. To discuss day-to-day life along this unique region, Patt is joined by Jason Wells, executive director of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce; Aaron Adragna, marketing director for The Shops at Las Americas; Dr. Ramiro Lopez, Medical Director for Access Baja; and Alejandro Flores Navarro, secretary of the Border Affairs Comission for the City of Tijuana.
Life Along the Border, Continued
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Environment at Risk on the Border
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Illegal immigration and homeland security garner most of the attention when you think about border issues between Mexico and the U.S. But the health of the land, water, air, and wildlife are integrally affected by actions of both nations near that narrow strip of land dividing them. Patt talks with Rick Van Schoik, managing director of the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research and Policy; Laura Silvan, director of Proyecto Fronterizo de Educacion Ambiental; and Jim Peugh, Conservation Committee Chair, San Diego Audubon Society.
Tuesday, July 25
Update on Power Grid
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As California continues to swelter, the heat is wreaking havoc on both energy supplies and crops. Patt checks in with Tracy Bibb, Director of Grid Operations for Cal-ISO, Carol Tucker with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Vince Furtado, a dairy farmer in Modesto, and Anne Schmidt-Fogerty, Spokesperson for the California Farm Bureau Federation.
The Mayor's New Education Czar
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Mayor Antonio Villaraigo announced the appointment this morning of his new Deputy Mayor of Education, Ramon Cortines. Mr. Cortines joins Patt for a preview of his plans for his new job.
The Colony
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In the mid-1800's, when fear of leprosy reached its climax, an infamous colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai was created. Hundreds of people, some infected, some not, were rounded up and shipped to this settlement with sparse supplies and insufficient medical care. As the colony developed, it attracted attention from around the world, luring missionaries to assist the sickly and writers to tell their stories. John Tayman's The Colony gathers rare historical documents, letters, newspaper articles, and interviews to reveal the complete history of this fascinating and troubling spot and its inhabitants. Tayman joins host Patt Morrison to discuss this dark chapter in Hawaiian history.
Wednesday, July 26
Sheriff Assigns More Deputies to Compton
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Another weekend of violence in Compton included 20 shootings and four deaths, and Sheriff Lee Baca has reacted by redeploying deputies to the area. Patt gets an update from Baca and KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze.
Signing Statements
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In the wake of President Bush's first exercise of his veto powers over stem cell research, attention is moving towards his use of "signing statements". He has issued such written comments over 800 times during five and half years, more than all previous U.S. presidents combined. The American Bar Association released a report on Monday criticizing President Bush's use of such statements as "contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers." Patt follows up with the A.B.A. President Michael Greco, as well as Constitutional Law Professor Douglas Kmiec to talk about the practical effect these signing statements have on the balance of executive power.
Adventures of a Hollywood Secretary
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Who could provide a better insider view of Hollywood in the 1920s than the gatekeeper of Samuel Goldwyn's office? Valeria Belletti worked as personal secretary for both Goldwyn and Cecil B. DeMille during the mid 1920s, hobnobbing with Hollywood directors, stars, and budding actors. Cari Beauchamp has edited these private letters in Adventures of A Hollywood Secretary (University of California Press), providing us with a rare and youthful glimpse into the golden years of Tinsel Town.
Thursday, July 27
Gang Violence on the Rise in San Bernardino
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A few weeks ago, Travail Williams became the seventh juvenile killed in a gun-related homicide this year in the city of San Bernardino. He was shot to death in a dispute over a cell phone. 11-year-old Anthony Michael Ramirez was shot and killed while playing basketball 3 days earlier. Seven of the 34 homicide victims this year have been juveniles. Even worse, some of the suspects are also juveniles, usually affiliated with gangs. San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris has unveiled his signature crime fighting initiative, Operation Phoenix, to combat the rise in gun violence, but will it be enough? Patt speaks with city leaders, activists, clergy and community members who are all struggling to understand the roots of the problem and how best to stop it.
Patt's guests include: San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, Pastor Reggie Beamon; Cheryl Brown, Publisher of the Black Voice News Paul Callanan, Supervising Probation Officer, San Bernardino County Probation Department's Gang Intelligence and Special Operations Unit; Danny Gonzales: former gang member and youth counselor with San Bernardino's Victory Outreach.
The conversation continues on the web. Listen here for additional questions from the audience.
Friday, July 28
Afghanistan - The Forgotten War
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As media and officials focus on Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel, little attention has been paid to the "other war" being fought in Afghanistan. There the Taliban has increased attacks against the government and multi-national forces, and flexed their strength in towns and villages throughout the country. We look at "The Forgotten War" with Carlotta Gall, reporter covering Afghanistan for the New York Times; Larry Goodson, professor of Middle East Studies at the Army War College; Keith Kluwe, who served as a combat journalist in Afghanistan as part of Operation Freedom; and Sima Wali, president, Refugee Women in Development.
Jury reaches verdict in Aryan Brotherhood Case
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Jurors have reached verdicts in the trial of four alleged Aryan Brotherhood prison gang members, including two kingpins accused of ordering nine murders. Barry "The Baron" Mills and Tyler Davis "The Hulk" Bingham could face the death penalty if convicted of ordering two of those murders. Patt is joined by Los Angeles Times editor William Lobdell with today's verdict.
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