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 for 15 years, providing shelter and supportive housing for women and children. Her book, "Gimme Shelter" is enjoyable and inspiring; a must read!.

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 opportunity to deal with issues affecting the entire city.

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.