Happy Anniversary, Colin!!!

Patrick Skahill, Colin McEnroe, Chion Wolf - aka "The Colin McEnroe Show" - photo by Libby Conn Franklin

by John Dankosky - Congratulations to The Colin McEnroe Show.  Today, they celebrate their first anniversary on the air at WNPR. It’s been quite an addition to what we do here at the station– and it sure has changed the way we sound at 1 o’clock.
Public radio’s been criticized in recent years for becoming too safe, too tame, at times even too corporate. And I hope our listeners appreciate that we’ve committed to an experimental, funny, groundbreaking program that changes the radio landscape in Connecticut.

To Producer Patrick Skahill, announcer/sidekick Chion Wolf, and of course Colin McEnroe, we wish you the very best for year number two.

Where We Live – Coming Up!

by Catie Talarski

Here’s whats on the docket for August 30 to September 3.  Holy cow, it’s already September!  As usual, shows are subject to change due to breaking news, canceling guests, or Dankosky’s car breaking down.  But you should still mark these in your calendars.  Right now.

MONDAY: Planning Cities (rescheduled from last week!)

digitizedchaos, creative commons

When hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, it gave urban planners a unique chance to rebuild a great American city.  Author Kristina Ford uses the story of New Orleans to talk about the trouble with city planning.  Also, suburban advocate Joel Kotkin says the plan needs to extend beyond city borders.

TUESDAY: Stem Cell Debate

Last week a federal district judge blocked President Obama’s 2009 executive order that expanded embryonic stem cell research, saying it violated a ban on federal money being used to destroy embryos.  This ruling came as a surprise to scientists around the nation, including here in Connecticut, where $100 million has been committed to stem cell research over 10 years.  Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says he’ll fight to reverse this ruling, which temporarily holds up $54 million in research nationally.  Coming up, we’ll talk to a panel of researchers from across the state about what this might mean for one of the most promising industries in our state.

Plinkk, Creative Commons

WEDNESDAY: The Best Part of Waking Up

Grab your cup of Joe and tune in… It’s the coffee show!  Coming up, we’ll preview an exhibit at the Peabody Museum featuring the most popular beverage in the world (after water, of course). We’ll check in with a coffee aficionado in Seattle, some local “micro-roasters”, and the founder of a coffee importing company social enterprise, to see how coffee impacts everything from migratory birds to politics.

THURSDAY: Stuck In Traffic

It’s one of the most heavily traveled sections of the busiest road in America.  It seems the stretch of I-95 through Connecticut is always full of traffic and construction – but it is an unavoidable part of our lives.  All along the Eastern Seaboard, Interstate 95 has helped shape the daily lives and vacation dreams of the roughly 100 million people who live beside it. Today, we’ll explore our little section of the highway that stretches from Maine to Florida – as part of the NPR series “The Road Most Traveled”.

FRIDAY: Store Front Friday

The economic downturn means more empty storefronts in city centers.  But folks are getting creative.  A new initiative called Project Storefronts is aiming to revitalize downtown New Haven by turning vacant storefronts into temporary artist galleries.  John Dankosky strolls through New Haven for some window gazing.  We’ll also hear from the mayor of New Britain about the town’s plans to boost the local economy.  What makes a successful downtown?  How can we utilize empty storefronts?  Join the conversation.

Home Sales, Federal Help Program Hit Bottom Together

Wallace Farmer of Baltimore recently moved out of his row house after giving up on the government's loan modification program. (Photo by Amanda Lucidon/ProPublica)

by John Dankosky – On a day when we got news that existing home sales fell 27% from June – the worst performance in more than a decade – we heard from homeowners about their infuriating efforts to get help from the federal HAMP program, meant to stave off foreclosures.  A smattering of the responses gives the flavor:

I think that the loan modification program is a farce, I think that it was just implented so that the government can say “look we are helping the American people”, when in all reality the program is stacked against struggling Americans. – Jess

Across 2 years of mailing documents back and forth to banks (lost, misplaced, or no one to contact) the only thing I have found that the banks are acceptable to is a short-sale of properties to new buyers. The advice to “keep working with your lender” is a total lie. I have called to banks on a weekly basis, emailed contact persons, and attended to classes and foreclosure seminars (which was the only way that I could actually find out who to contact within the banks) and still been left with zero return calls or response beyond the standard threatening responses that banks send that you will lose your home if no payment is made. – Clif

Those comments were echoed by dozens who called, including many we didn’t have time for on the show, and hundreds more who fueled ProPublica’s remarkable reporting on this story.  Later in the day, I talked with a Realtor in a suburban town, who confirmed that she’s hearing stories like this just about every day.

Now it’s not surprising that the goals of the original HAMP program, not just its implementation, would be criticized by conservative outlets like The National Review.  But liberal bloggers have been flabbergasted by the government’s own description of the program as a “success,” because as Brent Hunsberger wrote for The Oregonian, they say “it kept banks afloat and profitable, even if it put struggling homeowners through the ringer.”  Duncan Black writes: “Conning homeowners by announcing a government program designed to help them when in fact it was designed to help the banksters is, in my world, ‘cruel.”

For those looking for help, The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is offering classes, but attorney Jeff Gentes suggested that even with assistance – there’s no guarantees that you’ll be able to get your mortgage adjusted.  The process is too complicated, and seemingly stacked against homeowners.

Where We Live Next Week – Sponsored By The Letter “P”

by Catie Talarski

Stay tuned for these shows (or something like it) next week!

The Photo In Question, By Chion Wolf

MONDAY – Is Photojournalism Dead?

WNPR’s studio photo of Richard Blumenthal was swiped off our Flickr page and used (twice) without permission in political attack ads.  This got us thinking… who owns images when it seems like everything’s up for grabs on the web?  What are the ethics surrounding photo manipulation?  Coming up, we’ll explore whether photojournalism is dead – or just changing?  We think it’s still up for debate.

TUESDAY –  Pro Publica’s “Eye On Loan Modifications”

More than 520,000 homeowners who have had trial modifications through the government’s foreclosure relief program have eventually been denied.  The program puts eligible homeowners in three-month trials, at which point their mortgage servicer determines if they qualify for a permanent modification.  Mortgage servicers regularly make errors and break the rules of the government’s mortgage modification program, according to hundreds of homeowners who were interviewed by Pro Publica.  Coming up, we’ll hear from Connecticut homeowners, Pro Publica reporters, and a staff attorney at the Connecticut Fair Housing Center about the government program, and those struggling to take advantage of it.

independentman, creative commons

WEDNESDAY: Oh, The Dreaded Puberty

It’s a time in our lives that most of us would like to forget – Puberty.  New research suggests girls are reaching puberty earlier and earlier. Today we’ll talk about what exactly happens to our bodies during this awkward time, and how kids these days may be affected by environmental exposure, dietary differences or even their ethnicity.  And we want to hear your embarrassing puberty stories, of course.

THURSDAY: Planning Cities

More than half the world’s population now lives in cities – but is that a good thing?  Coming up, we’ll talk with a reporter from Foreign Policy Magazine who’s been looking at the rise of global mega cities and explore the art of city planning.

FRIDAY: On Pain

Last week we explored the glorious world of pleasure… this week we’re turning the tables.  How does our brain process pain?  Why do some people have a higher threshold than others – and what is the history of treating our aches?  Join us as we chronicle the science of suffering.

Politicians Pedaling “Very Softly” Around Mosque Issue

Peter Gottschalk Photo:Chion Wolf

by Josie Holtzman and John Dankosky – The national debate over a proposed mosque and community center near the site of the 9/11 attack in New York has become an issue in the race for Senate. Republican candidate Linda McMahon told the Greenwich Time that the project “rubs salt in the wound of the 9/11 tragedy,” and that “from a sensitivity standpoint, I think we’d be better served to have it built somewhere else.”

Democrat Richard Blumenthal’s campaign released a statement saying “Dick knows this issue is highly personal and sensitive for many people here in Connecticut and around the country. He believes that this issue should be decided at the local level — and discussed with compassion and reason.”

Speaking on Where We Live today, Peter Gottschalk, author of “Islamophobia: Making Muslims the Enemy,” said that Democrats are handling the controversy with great care:

So I think that it’s not surprising that some Democrats are peddling very very softly on this issue because they know what kind of label Islam lover or Muslim lover how negative that label would be. Islamophobia is not an issue around just conservative voters there are plenty of liberal voters who are deeply influenced by Islamophobic sentiment.

The controversy surfaced in Connecticut, when a Christian group from Texas protested at a Mosque in Bridgeport two weeks ago. Members of the Connecticut Muslim community staged an interfaith counter-rally at the state capitol. At that event, speakers said that they felt local politicians had been too quiet on the issue.

Some suggested listening: Our earlier program on a conference in Hartford aimed at de-radicalization of Islam, and Colin McEnroe’s exploration of our “post 9/11 neurosis” with Dr. Ingrid Mattson.

Primary Night Takeaways

WNPR Newsroom spread on Primary night. Luna's Pizza, Dunkin' Donuts, indigestion and massive food remorse. Photo by Jonathan McNicol

by John Dankosky –

1.  I work with some pretty amazing people.  Great reporting throughout the night from WNPR staff, Lucy Nalpathanchil, Ray Hardman, Jeff Cohen and Harriet Jones (hear/see their stories at yourpublicmedia.org).  Remarkable production team led by Catie Talarski, with Josie Holtzman, Patrick Skahill, Tucker Ives and Jonathan McNicol.  The steady engineering hand of Eugene Amatruda.  And, analysts Bill Curry and Ben Davol, who took us through the twists and turns of a surprising evening.  And, thanks to partner contributors like the brilliant Paul Bass and Keith Phaneuf.

2. Colin McEnroe is a singular talent.  I’m not quite sure how he’s able to balance announcing and analysis, news and opinion while always being funny and exactly on point.  Doing election night coverage with him as a co-host makes my job incredibly easy.  All I can say is, “thank you WTIC.“

3. It’s easy to say that polls don’t really matter leading up to primary.  And nobody, including the oft-cited (and oft-criticized) Quinnipiac poll predicted the kind of landslide victory enjoyed by Dan Malloy.  But, these polls did signal huge momentum shifts in the closing weeks, with Malloy drawing closer to Ned Lamont by the day, and Mike Fedele cutting into the massive lead of Tom Foley (although, it was not enough in the end).

4.   As we heard over and over, negative ads really do turn people off – although probably not enough to stave off more ugly campaigning in the fall. One commenter on this blog summed it up:

Just listening on primary day to your program and your acknowledgment of all the negative advertising by candidates , a comment was made that “It must work or they wouldn’t do it.” ……. How do we know that it works?

Those of us who were so disenchanted by the current negative circulars by both democratic candidates for governor in Connecticut (and I am definitely one of them) that they decided not to vote will not be counted, but that doesn’t mean we’re not there. I hope the candidates will focus on what they have done and will do if elected because that is really what voters want to hear.

5.  Now, like the winning candidates last night, we turn toward November.  My other talented co-host during this campaign, Channel 3′s Dennis House, writes about our pending plans for more debates in the Fall. Here’s my guess – we won’t have as much of a problem getting people to agree to debate this time around.

Primary Day Is Here…

by John Dankosky –  …finally.  As Colin McEnroe asks, “Why the heck are we having a primary on Aug. 10 anyway?” With seemingly half the state dodging sharks in Chatham, or completely disgengaged in the process, we’re holding a primary that could very well determine our next governor, lt. governor, comptroller, attorney general, and many more seats.

Over the next two days, listen for coverage on Where We Live, The Colin McEnroe Show, and our special “Primary Palooza” coverage tonight from 7 until whenever.  We’ll have reporters stationed around the state, expert analysts in studio, and hopefully some interesting races to talk about.

Your chance to chime in on this primary is at 9am (ET) on Where We Live…call 860-275-7266 or email wherewelive@wnpr.org.  What drove your decision?  Are you getting your candidate news through TV ads?

Beth Peters’ Lungs

By Catie Talarski -

Beth Peters, pre lung transplant

Good news.  Beth Peters, the 29-year-old woman I am profiling for a documentary on cystic fibrosis, received her double lung transplant last week.  We heard from her during a show “Living With Cystic Fibrosis“.  She talked about what it was like waiting for her new lungs:

Every time that there are donor lungs that become available they call in two people – one they call the primary candidate, the person who they think is the closest match, and one who’s the back up or the secondary candidate.  Both time I’ve been the secondary candidate, to my knowledge. And the first time the donor lungs definitely went to primary recipient.  That person was clearly a better match.  It’s difficult because you have to have a certain level of trust in the system to mentally survive the process.  But, there is a lot of mystery involved.  To protect peoples privacy they only tell you what they have to tell you for your own medical information. You are there for 12 hours, maybe overnight.  You’re not eating… you don’t know “Am I primary or secondary candidate?  What’s the reason I’m not matching? Is it my blood work, is it my gender, is it my size?” They don’t tell you.

I’ll be updating more as I hear from Beth and her doctor, but in the meantime check out Beth’s blog.  Her sister is posting updates on her progress.

Monday’s Where We Vote: More Dan Malloy!

by John Dankosky – Well, now it’s getting down to it.  One week and one day until the August 10 primary.  Like Colin McEnroe, I’m not really sure who in our listening audience is paying attention, but we are going to end up with nominees in the race for governor pretty soon regardless.  We’re trying to keep you as informed as possible with a marathon session of Where We Vote.  Today, it’s Democrat Dan Malloy, fresh off of three endorsements over the weekend, and in advance of his much-anticipated debate with Ned Lamont on WNPR, CPTV and WFSB this week. I’m pretty sure we’ll spend some time talking about the increasingly ugly ad campaigns being waged.

Tomorrow, we’ll take a break from the state race and check back in on the senate contest.  We’ll have Rob Simmons, the “stealth” candidate, who was pretty unwilling to directly take on front-runner Linda McMahon during his last appearance in March…we’ll see if that changes.  (McMahon didn’t want to come on the show again before the primary, Peter Schiff was on recently.)

Then, on Wednesday it’s Mike Fedele, Lt. Governor and fast-car enthusiast, who is – by some accounts – closing the gap between himself and front-runner Tom Foley.

You can call in your questions (9-10 am ET) at 860-275-7266, email wherewelive@wnpr.org or tweet us @wherewelive.  And, to ask questions for our gubernatorial debates on August 3 and 4, just go to YourPublicMedia.org, and click on “You Ask The Questions.” Dennis House and I will be sorting through them starting this afternoon.