Issues - A Production of WPBT2

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

Thursday Sneak Peek

On this week's program we'll talk to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez and host a roundtable discussion on Crist's announcement to run for Senate.

This Week on Issues - 04/10 & 04/12

Friday, April 10 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 12 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: Chinese Drywall: State of Emergency?
A number of Florida homes built after 2003 with Chinese drywall may emit a foul-smelling odor which may or may not be harmful to the homeowner's health.  With that in mind, area politicians are asking Governor Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency for future FEMA assistance.  Is this the best way of addressing this problem?

Guests:
Alexander Rundlet, Esq., Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
Mayor Michael Udine, City of Parkland

ISSUE TWO: Political Week in Review
State politicians continue to play election musical chairs, with Agricultural Commissioner Charles Bronson being the latest to step into the game.  We discuss this and the upcoming tea party in Broward County.

Guest:
Anthony Man, SunSentinel

ISSUE THREE: Mortgage Crisis and Homeless Teens
Another side unusually unseen in our mortgage crisis is the impact it has on youth.  With the fiscal crisis in full swing, many teens are finding themselves homeless. Paola Iuspa-Abbott, reporter for the Daily Business Review, explains.

Guest:
Paola Iuspa-Abbott, Daily Business Review

This Week on Issues - 03/13 & 03/15

Friday, March 13 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 15 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Interview with Broward School Superintendent James Notter
Superintendent James Notter joins us on the program to discuss the novel proposal to switch Broward County high schools to a four day school week and of the fiscal challenges the school system faces given our weakened economy.

Guests:
James Notter, Broward County Public Schools

ISSUE TWO: U.S. Sugar Deal:  Is Now the Time?
Last June, Governor Charlie Crist announced plans to buy land from the U.S. Sugar Corporation in an ambitious project to restore the Everglades.  But given the $1.34 billion dollar price tag, is now the time for such a large purchase?

Guest:
Paul Brinkmann, South Florida Business Journal
Eric Buermann, South Florida Water Management District

ISSUE THREE: Mass Transportation in Palm Beach County
Government stimulus funds have promised to aid infrastructure needs--but what about improving mass transportation in a traffic-heavy area such as South Florida?  What can be said of the balance between the needs of the general population versus those who are disadvantaged?

Guest:
Chuck Cohen, Palm Tran

This Week on Issues - 03/06 & 03/08

Friday, March 6 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 8 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Crist’s State of the State Address
On Tuesday, Governor Charlie Crist gave his third State of the State address, calling for lawmakers to turn the current economic crisis into an opportunity.  Florida legislators began their session this week with an immediate $700 million shortfall.  What solutions does Crist propose and what lies ahead for the state’s legislative session?

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Michael Mayo, SunSentinel
Beth Reinhard, The Miami Herald
Justin Sayfie, Sayfie Review

ISSUE TWO: Changing Philanthropic Landscape
Ruth Shack, Dade Community Foundation’s president for more than twenty years, recently announced her plans to step down.  We discuss how the philanthropic landscape has changed during her tenure and what role government should play in the community.

Guest:
Ruth Shack, Dade Community Foundation

 

This Week on Issues - 02/20 & 02/22

Friday, February 20 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 22 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: Interview with City of Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff
Last Friday, the City of Miami commission voted on plans to build the Florida Marlins baseball stadium.  Commissioner Marc Sarnoff joins us on the program to discuss his pivotal vote and what concessions he feels should be addressed before approving the project.

Guest:
Marc Sarnoff, City of Miami Commission, District 2

ISSUE TWO: Real Estate Aid?
Homeownership was long been regarded as a staple of American life, and two proposals plan to bring relief to those caught in the current mortgage crisis.  We discuss President Barack Obama’s foreclosure plan and Governor Charlie Crist’s property tax proposals.

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Manuel Lasaga, Ph.D., Strategic Information Analysis

The Effect of Hugo Chavez’s Lack of Term Limits
On Sunday, Venezuelan citizens voted to eliminate presidential term limits, paving the way for the country's president Hugo Chavez to run indefinitely.  But what will this mean for the United States?

Guest:
Marifeli Perez-Stable, Ph.D., Inter-American Dialogue

This Week on Issues 02/06 & 02/08

Friday, February 6 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 8 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Interview with Lawton “Bud” Chiles
In January, lawmakers tapped into the Lawton Chiles Endowment for Children and Elders in order to balance the state's troubled budget.  We talk to Governor Chiles’ son, Lawton “Bud” Chiles, on how to alleviate Florida’s fiscal crisis and whether he will run for governor in 2010.

Guest:
Lawton “Bud” Chiles III, Lawton Chiles Foundation

ISSUE TWO: Marlins Stadium in Final Stretch?
The plans for building the Florida Marlins baseball stadium are still underway, with a pivotal vote scheduled to be cast next Friday by county commissioners.  We discuss the pros and cons of the project.

Guests:
Michael Burnstine, Coalition Against Marlins Bailout
Eloy Cepero, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

ISSUE THREE: Florida House Speaker Saga
State Representative Ray Sansom temporarily resigned from his position as Florida’s House Sepaker amid an investigation of a possible ethics violation.  Joy Reid explains why we may have a Blagojevich-like scandal on our hands.

Guest:
Joy Reid, South Florida Times

This Week on Issues - 01/16 & 01/18

Friday, January 16 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 18 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Florida Legislature’s Special Session
The Florida Legislature balanced the state’s $2.4 billion deficit on Wednesday, bringing a close to their 10-day special session.  What programs were cut and what priorities should the state have in funding future programs?

Guests:
State Rep. Anitere Flores, (R) District 114
State Sen. Dan Gelber, (D) District 35
Florida House Minority Leader Franklin Sands, (D) District 98

ISSUE TWO: The Legacy of George W. Bush
President George W. Bush addressed the nation for one last time on Thursday evening in his farewell speech highlighting the past eight years in office.  We analyze President Bush and his curious distinction of holding both the highest and lowest public approval ratings in history.

Guest:
Robert Watson, Ph.D., Lynn University

Thursday Sneak Peek

On tomorrow's program we'll discuss the legacy of President George W. Bush.  Will history be kind to his tenure?  We'll also talk to a special panel of Florida legislators about the special session and the state's ongoing budget concerns. 

Confirmed to appear on the program:

State Representative Anitere Flores, (R) District 114
State Senator Dan Gelber, (D) District 35
State Representative Marcelo Llorente, (R) District 116
Florida House Minority Leader Franklin Sands, (D) District 98

This Week on Issues - 01/09 & 01/11

Friday, January 9 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 11 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: Interview with City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz
As the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz joins us to discuss the organization’s Mainstreet Economic Recovery Plan, and shares the latest in local projects such as the Port of Miami Tunnel and the Florida Marlins stadium. 

Guest:
Mayor Manuel A. Diaz, City of Miami

ISSUE TWO: Florida’s Education Quality 10th Best?
Respected publication Education Week released their annual rankings on Wednesday, placing Florida as the 10th best in the country in education quality.  How did the state place so high when public perception of our state's education is so low?

Guest:
Louie Rodriguez, Ed.D., Florida International University

ISSUE THREE: Lawmakers Tackle the Economic Crisis
The Florida legislature began a special session to balance their budget on Monday--amidst growing concern both at the state and national level of the strength of our economy.  We discuss how lawmakers are dealing with the fiscal emergency.

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
Manuel Lasaga, Ph.D., Strategic Information Analysis