The Debrief Podcast

Martin Feria continues where he left off as we confront racism in the City of Geneva starting on the Hobart & William Smith College campus as he retells when he was racially profiled by students. Why was he profiled? Should it matter that Martin wasn't a student on-campus and rather a visitor?

What is it like growing up as a first generation U.S. citizen with Mexican heritage in Geneva? 

Martin Feria, a lifelong Geneva resident is a first generation citizen here in the United States after his parents and older brother moved from Mexico to California and then Geneva, New York. Feria, who is shortly moving away to New Jersey reflects on his challenging upbringing from the vineyard to the junkyard while balancing a life filled with traumatic racist encounters. The Feria family owns La Reyna de México on Castle, which is located on the same street as Char Burrito - but doesn't see as many customers as their competitor. Does race have anything do with it? Is there implicit bias and selectivity in choosing between authentic and inauthentic restaurants? 

This is the first installment of a two-part episode, about the lived experience of Feria. Part two will be published on Thursday exclusively on FingerLakes1.com.

How has the process for acquiring hunting permits changed amid the coronavirus pandemic?  Norm Ridley, a Department of Environmental Conservation volunteer instructor in Region 8 speaks about how in-person training demonstrations have shifted to online training programs statewide for the first-time ever, which are being offered until today - June 15th.

What does prison oversight look like in New York State? Phillip Miller, the associate director of policy at the Correctional Association of New York speaks about a bill that he and a team of other policymakers crafted, which aims at enhancing accountability and transparency within correctional facilities that are overseen by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Johanna Anderson and Delia Yarrow work on the frontlines of providing safe, affordable housing for those in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. They're part of INHS, or the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing System, which serves a number of counties beyond Ithaca and Tompkins. INHS recently launched a rental assistance program connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, as thousands were left out of work -- and without a way to pay rent. They talk about the structure of the program, and how families can qualify for three months of rental assistance through the program on today's episode of The Daily Debrief.

Are changes to election protocols and procedures going to enhance or diminish democratic participation in the form of voter turnout amid the novel coronavirus pandemic? Assistant Visiting Professor Ricky Price of Political Science at Hobart & William Smith Colleges weighs the short-term and long-term consequences of such sudden changes to voting systems here in New York State throughout the summer.

Earlier this month Jenna Hotaling wrote a piece highlighting the outreach efforts of the Finger Lakes Problem Gambling Resource Center. May was Mental Health Awareness Month and March was Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Since March much of the world has been consumed by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Today, we catch up with Jenna, who serves as team leader at FLPGRC to discuss their effortrs, and what help is available for those who suffer from a gambling addiction.

Where are the turkeys?

As anti-racism protests grip communities around the region, state, and country people are wrestling with systemic injustices, and the best ways to address them. There are also school board and budget elections coming up, as well as primary contests that will take place in late-June. Today on The Weekend Debrief, Ted Baker and Josh Durso break it all down – going through the headlines that were, and the ones that will be as things move forward.

Is there a separation of church and state amid the Coronavirus Pandemic? Could Governor Andrew Cuomo in bounds placing restrictions on worship in New York? Antonio Gomez, a pastor at the Church of God in Farmington expresses his feelings about Governor Andrew Cuomo and reopening congregations across the New York State after recently attending an event among other pastors from other counties surrounding the Finger Lakes.