Coming up!

By Catie Talarski

Hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend, filled with great food and family.  Here’s what’s in store for the coming week  – December 27 to 31:

MONDAY: Making Sense of the Census
Today, we’ll talk about what the census data says about reapportionment – and about state demographics.  We’ve managed to emerge from the “great recession” better than other states – with unemployment rates below the national average, and incomes still the highest in the country.   But it’s not all rosy.  Poverty rates are increasing. In 2009, 21% of state residents lived below twice the poverty threshold. The state has the 4th highest long-term unemployment rate in the country – because of slow job creation and an aging workforce.  Coming up we’ll make sense of it all with a few number crunchers – and we’ll find out where the new Mean Center of U.S. Population is.

TUESDAY: Williams and Donovan
Senate President Don Williams and Speaker of the House Chris Donovan have enjoyed big Democratic majorities in the state legislature, but they’ve never started a new session with a Democratic Governor.  Now, they get their chance.  Today, where we live, conversation with the two men who were formerly the most powerful Democrats in the state – about their vision for Connecticut under new Governor Dan Malloy.

WEDNESDAY: Tech Jobs in CT
The Connecticut Technology Council released a report this month that warns that our state is falling behind in high tech jobs and development.  In a state that’s already lacking in job creation, we could lose the few technology firms we do have because of our “poor entrepreneurial environment”.  Coming up, we’ll talk to those working in the tech field about how the new administration could turn this around – and we’ll do some benchmarking with our friends in North Carolina.

THURSDAY: Downtowns and Brownfields
Transportation has been the demise of many a Connecticut downtown plagued by traffic and inconvenient infrastructure, but town planners are now trying to harness the power of transit to revitalize downtowns. Connecticut Main Street Center will be hosting an upcoming workshop on developing downtowns through transit oriented revitalization efforts.  We’ll talk with members of local and regional town planning committees to learn how to develop a downtown to best fit and define the community it services.  And we’ll hear from two uconn professors who recently proposed a comprehensive transit oriented brownfields redevelopment effort that hopes to transform Connecticut’s abandoned urban areas into thriving downtowns.

FRIDAY: Special Holiday Programming: Beyond Numbers: A History of the U.S. Census
BackStory digs into the little-considered story of the Census – the invisible backbone of America’s democracy.  The program explores what was so revolutionary about the concept in the first place, and looks at how census data threatened the power of America’s elites in the 19th century.  It also considers the emerging awareness of a racial “undercount” in the 20th century, and the ways that suspicion of government has posed a challenge to the Census Bureau. Join the History Guys as they explore the fascinating story of how we’ve counted ourselves through three centuries of American life.

Rell Scolds Administration Officials For Coasting To The Finish Line

by John Dankosky – As Dan Malloy’s incoming chief of staff Tim Bannon told the Connecticut Mirror yesterday, “there are going to be hiccups in any transition.”  He was talking about the dust-up between the outgoing Rell administration and Malloy’s transition team over Michael Starkowski, commissioner of the Department of Social Services.  Rell’s all-powerful chief of staff Lisa Moody told The Mirror that it’s not “a big deal” that they’re temporarily forcing Starkowski out of a job, despite Malloy’s intention to keep him on in January.

This key line in Mark Pazniokas’ story speaks to what’s concerning Moody as she gets ready to leave the Governor’s office:

Moody said the Malloy transition team has not told the Rell administration how many commissioners and deputies the new governor would like to stay on an interim or longterm basis.

The obvious pique over this issue spilled into a Wednesday afternoon conference call with dozens of state agency heads.  Governor Rell sternly addressed them, saying she “wants to know” if they’ve been contacted by Malloy’s folks, because she doesn’t want to “look like a jerk” if she gets asked about their intentions and doesn’t know.

But the plea for disclosure wasn’t the only message Rell intended to send during the phone conference, which lasted around ten minutes.  She scolded department heads for letting their phones “go to voice mail” and not being available to her when she’s called during the last few days.  ”We’re still an administration,” she told the group.  It was a message she said she didn’t want to have to send during the holiday season.

As The Hartford Courant’s Jon Lender has been reporting, not everyone who’s been part of the Rell team is expected to be out of a job come January, and at least one Rell staffer we’ve come to know will stay in state employment.  CT NewsJunkie reports that Rell spokesman Donna Tommelleo will be moving over to the state Insurance Department.  Donna was always the most helpful member of a communications staff that most of the time ignored Where We Live’s requests for information or interviews.

I was pleased last week when she was assigned to be our “handler” during our exit interview in the Governor’s office.  While others in the media were kept on a tight 20-minute leash for these “speed recaps” of Rell’s political career, Donna sat by and listened, holding on her lap a “2-minute warning” sign that she never deployed.  I snuck an extra couple minutes out of the Guv.

Thanks, Donna, and good luck.

McQuillan’s Abrupt Departure “Surprised” Malloy

by John Dankosky – Only a few weeks ago, Connecticut’s outgoing Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan told WNPR that he was interested in continuing his job under new Governor Dan Malloy.

But, now he’s quitting, citing the “stresses of my job.”  Malloy had started a national search, but had considered McQuillan a candidate.

“You know, I was surprised, but I’ll work with the state education board to find a temporary as well as a long-term replacement,” Malloy said today.

“Until yesterday, I thought Mr. McQuillan would be available for service for some period of time, and I also believe he wanted to be considered on a long-term basis.”

He added that he’s “not in a rush to fill jobs by January 5th.”

McQuillan appeared on Where We Live a number of times, to talk about his efforts to reform the state’s high school system, childhood reading, teacher certification, and the state’s unsuccessful bid for “Race To The Top” funds.

 

 

New UConn President Brings “Civil” Tone

Susan Herbst, JOHN WOIKE / HARTFORD COURANT

by John Dankosky – If the name of the new UConn President rings a bell, then you might be a Where We Live listener.   In late September, Susan Herbst, then Professor of Public Policy at Georgia Tech and Chief Academic Officer of the University System of Georgia was our guest for a show called, “Incivility in Politics.”

She’d written a book that we featured called, “Rude Democracy: Civility and Incivility in American Politics.”

The book is a historical exploration of our increasingly uncivil style of debate.  She told us that much of the angry, screaming culture we’re stuck with can be traced to education.

“Because we don’t teach children how to debate, they don’t know how to do it,” she said.   ”Learning how to make an argument takes time and patience,” and right now, she says children don’t have “tools for passionate debate.”

When we talked in September, I didn’t think we’d be chatting with the first female President of the state’s flagship university.  I think she presents herself as someone willing to listen to everyone who makes a reasoned argument, and that could mean students, faculty and tax-paying residents might have a bigger voice in the shape of the new UConn.

Rell Says No To WFSB’s Face The State; Host House Wonders Why

by John Dankosky – WFSB’s Dennis House and I have been circling some of the same ground this past year, trying – in vain – to get substantive, long-form comment from outgoing Governor Jodi Rell.   Last year at this time, we were asking whether Rell was “done taking serious questions from reporters in 2009.”  Now, another year has passed, and as he writes in his blog, Rell’s handlers have refused to give him an exit interview on his weekly political program, Face The State.

After listening to our exit interview with the Governor last week, House writes that he was taken by Rell’s statement that she was “unaware of the slight,” against Where We Live by refusing to come to our studios to answer listener calls.  From Dennis’ Blog:

My experiences with Governor Rell have given and reinforced the impression that the governor is a honest person.  I believe she  told Dankosky the truth.    That raises the question, why was she unaware of the slight?    Surely her handlers would not have withheld an interview request from her, in this case, repeated invitations?

Incoming Governor Dan Malloy has made a pledge to be more open to the press, and as he told me on his most recent interview, he thinks “communication” is the biggest part of the Governor’s job.

Murphy Says He’s “Thinking About” Run For Senate

by John Dankosky – On yesterday’s Where We Live, 5th District Congressman Chris Murphy said that he’ll consider a run against Joe Lieberman for his Senate seat in 2012.  The Danbury News Times found this interesting enough that they posted a story about it, and actually went to follow up with him later in the day.  The item was also featured in the political blogs My Left Nutmeg and Capitol Report.

This acknowledgement – by itself – didn’t surprise me.  But Murphy went a bit further in talking about it – and the time pressures he’ll have if he enters the race – than I expected.

Most of the conversation focused on his “no” vote on the President’s tax cut deal, and the politics moving forward for Democrats in a new Washington.  Many, many great listener calls and emails - listen and read here. Look for on-demand video from CT-N soon.

Coming Up!

By Catie Talarski

Just in case you’re feeling extra generous this season, I present to you the Where We Live Christmas wish list:

• 5 of these.

• One beard beanie for each producer. (Two.)

• I know for a fact we would have a lot of fun with microphone cupcakes.

• Our very own Thai Truck (or Cheese Truck) to park in our lot. (Handsome Cooks included.) (as you can tell we like to eat, a lot.)

• This, for the boss.

• This, for me.

We wish you the best this holiday season.   Here’s what’s in the stocking for December 20 – 24, 2010 – a week full of fantasy, depression and Congressman Chris Murphy:

MONDAY: Chris Murphy
The tax cut compromise forged by President Obama and Senate Republicans faced a tough audience in the House of Representatives.  It finally passed, despite no votes from 3 members of Connecticut’s delegation.   Coming up, Congressman Chris Murphy joins us to talk about taxes, earmarks, and compromise in a new Washington.

TUESDAY: Choosing a Doctor
When choosing a doctor, usually we use a referral, convenience, or sometimes complete randomness.  Then we go to their office, see a diploma on the wall, and trust that they are qualified and respectable professionals with our best interest at heart.  But a recent report by C-HIT proves that many out of state doctors with bad track records and a history of disciplinary actions are slipping through the cracks of Connecticut’s overly lax public health department.  Today we’ll talk about how we learn about our doctors.  If the state isn’t vetting incoming practitioners, how do we protect ourselves from those who are supposed to protect our health?  Armed with internet tools like Rate My MD we can do some our own research, but how valuable are these resources?  And we’ll look at ProPublica’s “Dollars For Docs” a database revealing doctors and the amount of money they accepted to promote pharmaceutical companies drugs.

WEDNESDAY: Tis the Season
Tis the season for joy and merriment… but also stress and bitter cold.  Before you start popping pills, or head out to the store to buy a light box, listen to this show!  We’ll talk to a psychologist who helps people beat depression without drugs.  And we’ll give you tips on how to make it through the long, dark winter.

THURSDAY: Fantasy
Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinksi first conceived of the plot for Dormia, their first young adult fantasy book, while in a hut in Egypt during a sandstorm.  Kujawinksi, an American diplomat and Halpern, a journalist, both make their living traveling to the far reaches of the earth – Kujawinkski to mitigate global disasters and Halpern to write about them.  Their “day job” exploits, though harrowing, have provided the perfect fodder for their fantasy series that features a sleep-walking twelve-year-old Alfonso Perplexon who “tends to wake up tightrope-walking along a set of power lines or clinging to the top of a massive, wind-blown pine tree.”  We’ll talk to these world-traveling collaborators about their latest novel in the series, just out a few weeks ago, and about how their Fantasy has emerged out of the exploits of everyday life.

FRIDAY: Documentary Special From World Vision Report
Each year, the public radio program World Vision Report gives us a collection of holiday stories from around the globe.  Today, stories about giving: Seniors sending help to kids in Darfur; Wealthy people making “The Giving Pledge;” High School students making small grants to help kids in developing countries; And, a beauty shop owner who goes to Africa to help women hurt in Sierra Leone’s bloody civil war.  I hope you can join us for inspiring stories from across the planet.

 

Dodd: “There’s Nothing Wrong With Partisanship”

Senator Chris Dodd in New Haven, photo by Thomas McMillan/New Haven Independent

by John Dankosky – Senator Chris Dodd says he will vote for the tax cut plan, struck in a compromise between President Obama and Republicans.  He said he strongly objects to some of the bill’s provisions, including an estate tax exemption for the wealthy.  But Dodd said it’s a place where the parties can find middle ground.

In his farewell speech on the Senate floor, Dodd called for more “bipartisanship.”  It’s a thought shared by many Americans, including a coalition of politicians and pundits called “No Labels” – which officially launched on Monday.  It’s led by figures like New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman.

The group’s leaders say it won’t be a political party, but will call out politicians they say are too “partisan.”  Dodd told WNPR’s Where We Live that he appreciates what the group is trying to do, but he has a fundemental disagreement with it’s premise.  ”There’s nothing wrong with partisanship.  Will people please get over that,” he said.

“People having strong views and strong passions…we have differences of opinion on how we ought to get our country moving in the right direction.  That’s not the problem.  The problem is that at the end of it, you need to figure out how to come to an answer.  And you’re not going to get to an answer by starting in the middle.  (Laughs) The middle only is produced when people who have strong views come to a resolution of their ideas.”

Dodd said one way to solve this problem is practical.  Force lawmakers to spend more time together in Washington, getting to know one another.  He says that “socialization” is what helps to form cooperation – even across party lines.  His other idea, he says, is less likely to happen.  ”And that is if on January 5th or 6th, the leadership of the Senate stood up and said ‘There is no center isle.  On the basis of seniority, you can sit wherever you want.’  So you don’t have Republicans one side, Democrats the other.  Now, it isn’t gonna change the world.  Maybe you might strike up a conversation at some point, and decide that, despite what you’ve heard about each other, you might have more in common than you realize.”

At the end of the month, Dodd leaves the Senate after 30 years.  Democrat Richard Blumenthal will take his place as Connecticut’s new junior Senator.  You can listen to the full interview with Senator Dodd on Wednesday’s Where We Live.

Coming up!

By Catie Talarski

This week we’ll get hyper local, checking in on New London, Bridgeport and Torrington.  We’ll have an official exit interview with the Governor, and get our piece of the Wikileaks pie.  Speaking of pie, the holidays are in full swing.  The halls are decked at WNPR and the merriment is flowing.  Thanks for listening!

Here’s what’s under the mistletoe, December 13 to 17:

MONDAY: New London Check-in
It’s been a rough couple months for the city of New London.  A recent rash of violence resulted in the senseless death of a young artist and musician.  The suspects are high school students who killed the man “because they were bored”.  We’ve made two visits to the city to report on its revitalization efforts.  Today we’ll find out what this crime means for the community, businesses and schools.

TUESDAY: Diabetes
Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions across the world.  Type 2 diabetes, which is an outgrowth of insulin resistance, affects around 40 percent of the American population over age 65. We’ll look at a new Yale study that explains why Diabetes risk increases as we age.  And we’ll look at the some of the latest technologies in blood sugar monitoring.  Glucose Monitor?  There’s an App for that!  Literally.  We’ll see how these new gizmos and other modern medical advances are affecting diabetics’ lifestyle.

WEDNESDAY: Wiki-Wiki-What?!
EVERYONE is talking about Wikileaks… so we felt we needed to get a piece of the action. The leaks exposed a quarter million confidential American diplomatic cables, and made us wonder about the sneaky back-rooms of diplomacy.  Is it diplomatic protocol, or just human nature to exchange face-to-face pleasantries, and then send snarky private emails using words like “shadowy” and “voluptuous?”  Join us as we talk to a panel of well-mannered former diplomats.

THURSDAY: The Exit Interview
Jodi Rell took office after disgraced Governor John Rowland stepped down.  She was credited with restoring confidence in the Governor’s office, and she’s been one of the state’s most popular politicians.  But her critics say she hasn’t done enough to lift Connecticut out of its economic troubles, and hasn’t been open about how she runs the state.  Today, we sit down with Jodi Rell for an “exit” interview, to talk about her career in politics, and the future of Connecticut.

FRIDAY: Bridgeport, Brownfields and a Box o Joe
Towns and cities in Connecticut are looking for ways to revitalize – but it’s not “one size fits all.”  An upcoming conference explores how to build “vitality” in small towns, and uses Bridgeport as a roadmap for big city success.  We’ll look at that, along with a survey of “brownfield” sites in the state – it’s a step toward reclaiming acres of useable land in Connecticut’s downtowns.  And, we’ll check out new plans for a new kind of “public newsroom” in Torrington that aims to bring citizens right into the local newspaper.

 

 

Coming Up!

By Catie Talarski

Lots of open-source goodness happening next week, as we dive into the world of “copying” and BIG ideas on democracy.  We’ll hear from the incoming Governor (and we want lots of emails and phone calls from you), revisit the best and worst in political ads, and preview the electric car on sale in Connecticut this month.  Plug in and join us.

December 6 to 10, 2010:

MONDAY: A New Democracy
Jared Duval’s book “Next Generation Democracy” looks at big changes he sees coming in politics.  And, it’s not about Democrats or Republicans – it’s about Open Source ideas, citizen participation and a crowd-sourcing solution to problems.  The creator of one of these big ideas – New Haven’s own “See Click Fix” will join us as well.

TUESDAY: A Green Show
The United Nations Conference on Climate Change happening now in Cancun, Mexico is the latest effort to rally the global community to the greening cause.  For many, going “green” has become the trendy new movement, but are our standards for sustainable practices a little too lax?  We’ll talk to a Yale Professor who recently returned from the conference, where she gave a talk on green building and design, to see if we are accurately evaluating sustainability with current LEED certification and other greening standards. And we’ll look at the newest green car technology as the Chevy Volt hits the Connecticut market this month.

WEDNESDAY: Copycats
It’s said that imitation is the highest form of flattery.  But there is a fine line between emulation and plagiarism.  In the age of the cultural commons and open source everything, copying has become a complicated topic. But author Marcus Boon in his book “In Praise of Copying,” argues that copying is inherently human, perfectly legal, and the greatest complement.  From Plato to Buddhism to Louis Vuitton rip-off bags, Boon argues that copying has played an important role in the evolution of our society.  But will this “mash-up” mentality ultimately be the death of original thinking?

THURSDAY: Dan Malloy
Governor-elect Dan Malloy is getting ready to begin a job he’s been wanting for years.  As he replaces Jodi Rell in the Governor’s office, he also takes on a problem that’s been dogging her for the last few years – a big and growing budget deficit.  But the budget’s not all a Governor does.  How about his role in leading the state?  Coming up, we’ll have our first formal sit-down with Connecticut’s next Governor, and we’ll give listeners a chance to ask questions of Dan Malloy.

FRIDAY: Political Ads
During this brief respite from the barrage of negative political advertising, we’re going to talk about… political ads!  Coming up, we talk with the folks at Wesleyan Media Project about their research from this past election cycle.  They tracked and analyzed all advertisements aired by or on behalf of federal and state election candidates in every media market in the country – and reported on who was using corporate or union spending in these campaigns, and how they fared.  We’ll hear about the trends in 2010 – and what implications will be for the upcoming ad storm of 2012.