Issues - A Production of WPBT2

Watch this Week's Issues

Here are the links to watch this week's program on uVu.

Friday, June 26th and Sunday, June 28th

ISSUE ONE: FCATs and Accountability
ISSUE TWO: Citizen Journalism and Mass Media
ISSUE THREE: Political “Affairs”

This Week on Issues - 06/26 & 06/28

Friday, June 26 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 28 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: FCATs and Accountability
Florida State Senator Dan Gelber joins us on the program to discuss FCATs and whether or not they should be used as a sole measure of competence or improvement in education.

Guest:
State Sen. Dan Gelber, (D) District 35

ISSUE TWO: Citizen Journalism and Mass Media
The recent murder of a woman known as "Neda" in Tehran spread throughout the world thanks to a video recorded on a cell phone.  Are new media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube the future vehicle for news?

Guests:
Justin Sayfie, Sayfie Review
Sam Terilli, J.D., University of Miami
Charles Zelden, Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University

ISSUE THREE: Political “Affairs”
Recently South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and U.S. Senator John Ensign admitted to having extramarital affairs with their respective spouses.  Should politicians have to disclose such information or do they need to be held to a higher light?

Guest:
Joy Reid, South Florida Times

Watch this Week's Issues

Sorry about the delay; video for this last program is now up on uVu.

Friday, June 19th and Sunday, June 21st

ISSUE ONE: U.S. Senate Panel Approves Florida Oil Drilling
ISSUE TWO: 2010 State Race Match-Ups
ISSUE THREE: Census Redistricting and Gerrymandering in 2010?

This Week's Issues - 06/19 & 06/21

Friday, June 19 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 21 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: U.S. Senate Panel Approves Florida Oil Drilling
The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee approved a bill whose main objective is to promote renewable energy, but also includes provisions for drilling Florida’s coasts as close as 10 miles offshore.  We gathered two opposing perspectives on this delicate topic.

Guests:
David Anderson, Audubon of Florida
David Mica, Florida Petroleum Council

ISSUE TWO: 2010 State Race Match-Ups
Last week, we featured a segment on the 2010 Florida election with an emphasis on the gubernatorial campaigns.  This week, former State Senator Steven Geller joins us to assess the U.S. Senate race between democrat Kendrick Meek versus republicans Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio, and announces City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz’s possible run for the CFO seat.

Guest:
Steven Geller, Esq., Greenspoon Marder, P.A.

ISSUE THREE: Census Redistricting and Gerrymandering in 2010?
Every ten years, our congressional districts are redrawn with new census data available.  But are these district lines drawn fairly?

Guest:
Ellen Freidin, FairDistrictsFlorida.org

Thursday Sneak Peek

On this week's program we discuss census redistricting and gerrymandering, the U.S. Senate panel approval of drilling off Florida's coast, and talk to former State Sen. Steven Geller on Florida Democrat's chances in the 2010 state races.

Watch this Week's Issues

Here are the links to watch this week's program on uVu.

Friday, June 12th & Sunday, June 14th

ISSUE ONE: Cost of Local Government: Broward Sheriff's Office Overtime Pay
ISSUE TWO: Cost of Local Government: Miami-Dade's Possible Property Tax Increase
ISSUE THREE: State Race Review

This Week on Issues - 06/12 & 06/14

Friday, June 12 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, June 14 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Cost of Local Government:  Broward Sheriff’s Office Overtime Pay
Local governments are reeling from revenue shortages.  The Broward School Board is considering the possibility of a tax increase and the Broward County Commission is looking at cutting overtime spending by the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO).  We review the fiscal and political intricacies driving the BSO and Commission dispute.

Guests:
Anthony Man, SunSentinel
Joy Reid, South Florida Times

ISSUE TWO: Cost of Local Government: Miami-Dade’s Possible Property Tax Increase
Miami-Dade County officials have raised the possibility of raising property taxes and imposing a fire fee to help alleviate their budget deficit.  Should the County be raising taxes during a recession?  What about the use of their discretionary funds?

Guests:
Mayor Michael Pizzi, Town of Miami Lakes

ISSUE THREE: State Race Review
Many polls have been published touting the 2010 Governor's race between Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum.  We review some of those poll results and explain the importance of the Republican primary in the open U.S. Senate seat.

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University

 

Thursday Sneak Peek

On this week's program we'll discuss local government and finances.  In Broward County, the management of overtime pay by Broward Sheriff's Office has been put into question.  And in Miami-Dade, the consideration of raising property taxes and the use of discretionary funds has left many wondering about the County's use of their funds.  We'll also review the latest on the state races.

Watch This Week's Issues

Here are the links to watch this week's program on uVu.

Friday, June 5th & Sunday, June 7th

ISSUE ONE: Interview with Miami Today's Michael Lewis

ISSUE TWO: Cuba's Future in the OAS

Additional Materials - This Week's Program (06/05)

On this week's program, Miami Today's Michael Lewis references a Harvard University study in regards to his opinion that school systems would be better managed as smaller districts rather than one large unit.  Here's an article discussing Caroline Hoxby's research on this topic.

In our second segment, El Nuevo Herald columnist Armando Gonzalez mentions fellow guest panelist Marifeli Perez-Stable's op-ed published the day of the taping.  Click here to read the piece in its entirety.