Benazir Bhutto interview
Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the late '80s and the mid '90s. She and I sat down in 2004, shortly after revelations that a Pakistani scientist leaked nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran, and Lybia. We spoke about that issue, as well as Iraq, Kashmir, and her own political intentions. Bhutto was assassinated upon her return from exile in 2007.
Election Night 2008
One of my last acts as News Director at KPFK was to anchor the station’s election night coverage, right after Barack Obama declared victory. I had live call-ins from reporters at Democratic, Republican, and Prop 8 events, and I moderated a live election panel as midnight approached. This sampler is from the first section. It features reporters Dan Fritz, Leilani Albano, Albert Pfaffman, and Justin Stinchcombe.
KPFK Evening News Election Panel, #17, October 20, 2008
The in-studio guests for this installment were Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign, Donna Warren of the South Central Green Party, and Republican National Committeeman Shawn Steele. Topics included Colin Powell, the Electoral College, and self-mockery.
Save the Taco Trucks
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors adopted harsh penalties against mobile food vendors in 2008. I filed this report just before the new regulation went into effect last spring. The law was later ruled unconstitutional.
Ridley-Thomas v. Parks Debate
In late September 2008, I produced and co-moderated a debate between the two finalists for the open seat on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. The board oversees the biggest county in the United States and a budget of over $20 billion. The race was between a former LAPD Chief Bernard Parks and then-State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas. Ridley-Thomas won the election.
Court Interpreters’ Strike
This report was from the first day of a strike in LA, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. The interpreters wanted Superior Court officials to give them seniority-based pay raises. September, 2007.
LA reporters sue Tribune CEO Sam Zell as the LA Times shrinks
The Los Angeles Times is eliminating another 300 jobs, including about 70 from the newsroom. The latest wave of cuts has claimed the California section, which now only runs on Sundays. Former and current Times reporters are suing the parent company, Tribune, and its CEO. They say executives broke the law when they approved a leveraged buyout that risked employee pension funds. Free Speech Radio News correspondent Patrick Burke reports from Los Angeles.
This report aired nationally on March 11, 2009.
KPFK Evening News Election Panel, #18, October 27, 2008
For four months before the election, I produced and moderated a weekly panel discussion. The idea was to increase constructive discussion with a Democratic strategist or official, a Republican strategist or official, and someone to represent a prespective outside of the two major parties. Just over a week before the election, the guests were Eric Garcetti, Allan Hoffenblum, and Sikivu Hutchinson. The first half is all LA and California ballot measures, while the second half is presidential.
Government bank shares
This was my summary of the October 14, 2008 annoucement that the government would be buying shares in banks.
Ozone Hearings
The EPA held public hearings on how to update Ozone pollution regulations. Agency scientists had recommended a strong tightening, while the administrator favored a modest change. Health officials were at the L.A. hearing to push for strong action. August, 2007.
Propositions 98 and 99
On election night, June 3, 2008, guardians of rent control in California watched favorable returns come in at Taix restaurant, about four doors down from me in Echo Park.
