Keeping Relevant With Ronnie Eldridge

Tom Robbins calls opinion oriented, fact-based NY/Chicago style reporting a vanishing form of journalism. A passionate NY'er, Robbins discusses the changing power of political parties, campaign financing, divided parties, and women in the City Council.

Stan Altman, CCNY alum, CUNY professor, Baruch College Interim President, innovator/entrepreneur of interdisciplinary projects across CUNY discusses the Harlem Gallery of Science programs to correct the lack of Black and Latinx students in STEM courses.

James Larocca, a former energy and transportation commissioner, urges the increase of solar and wind power, and the remote west Adirondacks for wind turbines.Larocca discusses a new waterfront park, named for author John Steinbeck, a Sag Harbor resident.

Christine Quinn, WIN president & CEO, NYC's largest provider of services to families with children, advocate for the homeless, outlines the intake process, the need for trauma informed care training, the value of ongoing services to regain independence.

Sam Roberts provides a sketch of NY's mayors from Bob Wagner to Bill de Blasio asking who, of the 30 candidates, will be NY's 110th mayor. Inadequate local news coverage, costly campaigns, less personal contact make it hard for voters to know a candidate.

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.