KFSR.org http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/maddy.html Regional from the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at CSU Fresno A weekly half-hour public affairs program that features conversations about important public policy issues facing the San Joaquin Valley, and interviews with local leaders and elected officials. The program is hosted by Mike Lukens. The program airs on 90.7 KFSR Saturdays at 1:00 PM and Sundays at 11:00 AM. en-us Copyright 90.7 KFSR FM 2010 KFSR Podmaster kfsrfresno@hotmail.com Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:40:00 -0700 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss kfsrfresno@hotmail.com (Joe Moore) Necessity may be the mother of invention, but could a recession be the mother of innovation? The current recession has made the challenges faced by the Valley's economy even more dire. Serving entrepreneurs and innovators since 1996, the Central Valley Business Incubator – or CVBI – continues to focus on creating the new businesses. CVBI supports economic development through the creation of small business. Through the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology Incubator, for example, it is expanding its focus to the commercialization of Clean and Green Technologies – businesses and innovations that focus on the new technology that will address our current and future the water and energy needs. Recently, Stacy Dabbs, Government Affairs Manager for the Office of Economic and Community Development at Fresno State, sat down with Kirk Nagamine – Chief Executive Officer, Central Valley Business Incubator and discussed a number of issues, including: How innovation and entrepreneurship drive the rebuilding of local economies? What partnerships exist to foster entrepreneurship here in the Valley? And what the future holds for entrepreneurs trying to start businesses here. The Central Valley Business Incubator: Can it be engine that pulls the Valley out of its economic ditch? Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy077.mp3 no 29:37 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County It has been noted that tourism has long been a staple of the California economy, generating nearly $94 billion last year. While the state's wineries have for years enchanted visitors far and wide, an increasing number of families are seeking the scenery, serenity and farm-fresh food found throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Agricultural tourism, or agritourism, has been steadily growing in popularity the last decade as farmers across the globe discover that their business can also operate as a place of entertainment and education. While we’ve all seen the roadside fruit stands and bakeries, petting zoos, U-Pick pumpkin patches, olive oil tastings, and massive corn mazes, the Valley is just beginning to explore its agritourism potential. Recently, Elliot Balch sat down with Layla Forstedt, Interim CEO, Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau and Penny Leff, Agritourism Coordinator, UC Small Farm Program and discussed what local and state agencies are doing to develop agritourism in the region. Can Valley agriculture develop a 'brand"—like Napa wine? If agritourism comes to the Valley, what form will it take? What are some examples of exceptional agritourism operations, either in California, the United States or around the world? What resources do the Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau and UC Small Farm Program provide to help operators start or maintain a tourism operation? What can local, state or federal government do to support agritourism—are public markets and festivals celebrating various crops a way for Valley communities to cash in on California's tourism dollars? Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy076.mp3 no 30:32 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California's natural disasters are like something out of the Bible—floods, fires, earthquakes, infectious diseases and the like. As many Californians would tell you, though, its just the price you have to pay for living in one of the most beautiful states in the nation…The question is—are we prepared for the next "big one?" Of course, natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases and acts of terrorism can all have serious public health implications. The local community response is critical for success when coping with, and recovering from, a disaster. Other major California cites, like Los Angeles, have implemented a Community Emergency Response Teams to assist victims, organize volunteers and assist professional responders following a disaster. What are the major cities in the Valley doing? What is the City of Fresno’s emergency operations plan? What types of emergencies do we, in Valley, need to plan for? What can, and should, we be doing to better prepare ourselves for the next disaster? Recently, Chris Fiorentino sat down with Carla Glazebrook, the Director of the Citizen Corps Program and Gary Eberhard, the Emergency Preparedness Officer and Emergency Services Manager for the City of Fresno and discussed what we are doing, here in the Valley, to prepare for our next major disaster. Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy075.mp3 no 31:23 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County It is projected that California faces a major physician shortage—in the range of 17,000 physicians—in the near future. The future is now, however, in the San Joaquin Valley. No matter how you measure it, the Valley is underserved. For example, where the State averages 302 MDs for every 100,000 California's, the number plummets to only 173 MD's for every 100,000 Valley residents. The numbers are similar for primary care physicians—where the average is 126 per 100,000 state residents and only 87 per 100,000 Valley residents…and specialists where the average is 87 per 100,000 state residents and only 43 per 100,000 Valley residents. It is estimated that more than $845 million leaves the Valley each year as residents are forced to go elsewhere for quality healthcare. These facts have united leaders and residents of the eight San Joaquin Valley counties from San Joaquin to Kern to Mariposa in a common cause—establish a medical school at UC Merced by 2015. With strong evidence confirming that new physicians choose to practice where they train, many believe a medical school in the San Joaquin Valley would produce immediate benefits for the region. In February 2008, Congressman Dennis Cardoza and Congressman Jim Costa joined officials from UC Merced and Valley leaders to form the Valley Coalition for UC Merced Medical School, comprised of more than 1,000 healthcare officials, business and community leaders and elected officials, to support the development of—and serve as a strong advocate for—the establishment of a medical school at UC Merced. Recently, Stacie Dabbs, the Government Affairs Manager for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley sat down with Luisa Medina – Co-Chair of the Outreach Committee for the Valley Coalition for UC Merced Medical School and discussed what's been happening and the prospect of a Valley medical school by 2015. Their conversation in a moment. Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy074.mp3 no 30:12 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The economic downturn has made the homelessness problem in the Central Valley go from bad to worse. Not too long ago, an article appeared in the New York Times entitled "Cities Deal With a Surge in Shantytowns." The focus of that article was the shantytowns that have sprung up in Fresno—making the homeless in our region a national, and even international, story. As the Times article pointed out, Fresno like a dozen or so other cities across the nation, is dealing with an unhappy déjà vu: the arrival of modern-day Hoovervilles — illegal encampments of homeless people that are reminiscent, on a far smaller scale, of Depression-era shantytowns. Is homelessness a chronic problem endemic to our region, as the Times article suggests? What is a city’s role in addressing chronic homelessness? And what new, creative ideas are being applied to address this problem in an effective and efficient manner? Recently, Chris Fiorentino sat down with Gregory Barfield, the City of Fresno's Homeless Policy and Prevention Manager and Professor Lloyd Crask, Professor of Construction Management at California State University, Fresno and discussed the creative strategies that are being applied locally to address chronic homelessness in our region. Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy073.mp3 no 28:47 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California has its share of natural disasters. Given our history with earthquakes, floods, forest fires, mudslides and the like, we’d like to think we are ready for the next natural disaster—but are we? What would happen, for example, if an earthquake caused a major levee failure in the Sacramento Delta? The Sacramento Delta supplies about two-thirds of Californians with drinking water and millions of acres of agricultural land with irrigation water. It includes approximately 60 islands, which are protected by over 1,100 miles of levees. The Delta is particularly vulnerable to levee failures due to its location, aging infrastructure and low elevation. Can the levees in the Delta withstand the next big earthquake when—not if—it happens? Recently, Elliot Balch sat down with Jay Alan, Communications Director California Emergency Management Agency ("Cal-E-M-A") and Dr. Jeffrey Mount, Professor of Geology UC Davis and discussed whether California and levees that we rely on so heavily will survive our next big natural disaster. Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy072.mp3 no 30:14 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The Central Valley has been "ground zero" for the nation's housing crisis. Foreclosures in our region are among the highest in the nation. Are the alarming foreclosure rates likely to continue or have we seen the worst of it? What's happening to people and neighborhoods impacted by foreclosures? What are the options for those who are facing either foreclosure or are severely underwater in the value of their house? What are some of the traps and scams that people in danger of foreclosure are facing? Recently Rollie Smith, Field Office Director, US Housing and Urban Development sat down with Martha Lucey, President Pacific Region at ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions and Jeff Schrager, President, No Homeowner Left Behind Foundation and discussed what is being done to deal with the aftershocks of the Valley’s housing meltdown. Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy071.mp3 no 31:24 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California's on-going budget crisis is eroding the state's once vaunted higher education system making the goal of a college degree harder to obtain. Last year UC and CSU raised student fees by a whopping 32 percent. It now cost $4,900 per year to attend a CSU and more than $10,000 annually at UC school. The pain of huge fee increases at California colleges has prompted lawmakers to author bills that might cap tuition increases. But do these measures recognize the reality of decreased state funding for universities? Could attempts to limit fee increases on current students make the problem worse for future students—who might then see even higher fee increases to make up for the lost revenue? And what about the impact all of this is having on students striving to earn their college degree? Recently, Chris Fiorentino, Director of the Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning at California State University, Fresno spoke with Karen Zamarripa, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advocacy and State Relations in the CSU Office of the Chancellor and Jessica Sweeten, the immediate past president of the Associated Students on campus and discussed to cap or not to cap -tuition that is - that is the question. Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy070.mp3 no 27:10 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County A report by the Higher Education Work Group of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley said it best. A skilled workforce is essential in a knowledge-based economy. In the "old economy," regions prospered by simply having a large number of jobs and workers in low-wage positions. In the knowledge economy, regions prosper if their workers have honed their intellectual skills and are capable of being employed in the knowledge-based, information-intense jobs that are driving the "new economy." A review of existing studies on the status of the San Joaquin Valley workforce indicates there is a significant "education gap" between the San Joaquin Valley and the rest of the state: Our drop out rates are higher; our students are less likely to be prepared for college. And they are less likely to advantage of available resources to attend college. Only 28% of students in the San Joaquin Valley region that qualify for Cal Grants actually submit an application. Not surprisingly, college attendance in the Valley is 50% below that State average. What is being done to address these issues? Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson and Fresno Unified Associate Superintendent for Equity and Access, Jorge Aguilar, recently sat down with Fresno Unified School Board member Janet Ryan and discussed what is being done to prepare the Valley’s students to succeed in the new knowledge-based economy. Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy068.mp3 no 32:54 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County It feels like deja vu all over again as voters go back to the polls this June to vote on another five propositions - just the latest in a long list of over 90 other ballot propositions that have confronted California voters in the last eight years. As in the past, this June’s propositions cover important public policy issues. And like many past propositions, they have been placed on the ballot and funded by special interest groups and individuals spending millions of dollars for their passage. Recently, Elliott Balch, Fresno’s Downtown Revitalization Manager sat down with California State University Political Science professor Jeff Cummins and discussed some of the key propositions in this June’s ballot, including Proposition 14 on Open Primaries, Proposition 15 on Public Campaign Financing, Proposition 16: on Electricity Providers. Sat, 29 May 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy067.mp3 no 26:27 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County According to a report by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Policy Research, the pains of poverty are sharpening in California with hunger and food insecurity on the rise. In the cruelest of ironies, the study found that some of the worst conditions in the state prevail among the poor and working poor in the Central Valley, one of the nation's centers of agricultural production. The UCLA researchers determined that almost 3 million adults in low-income California households feared not being able to feed themselves or their families. The report notes that if each of the adults suffering from food insecurity had just one child - modest guess - the total number of people affected by this condition in California would be approximately 6 million. Of those deemed food insecure, almost 1 million experienced periods of hunger and the remaining 2 million are at continual risk of being hungry. In our region, a significantly higher population lives below the federally determined poverty level than in either the nation or the State. Researchers from California State University, Fresno have found that almost half of low-income immigrant households with children were food insecure, with a significant negative impact on childhood health. All this in one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world. What is being done by local non-profits to address poverty and hunger in the Valley? Recently, Chris Fiorentino and at down with Dana Wilkie, the Executive Director of the Community Food Bank, and Don Romsa, the Director of Lutheran Campus Ministry of Fresno and an advisor to the Bulldog Pantry here in Fresno to discuss poverty and hunger, moving from politics to policy to the kitchen table. Sat, 22 May 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy066.mp3 no 30:42 Fresno, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County With the nation-wide economic recession and the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis, local governments are struggling to do more with less. The impact is particularly great in the Valley's smaller communities—that face unique challenges as they try to create healthy, sustainable communities when meeting daily demands in services has become increasingly difficult. The Regional Small Communities Network was established to address these issues. Comprised of wide array of elected and government officials, as well as business owners, non-profits and engaged citizens, it attempts to provide a unified voice to maintain and improve quality of life in such communities by educating stakeholders and attracting resources. The Network stemmed from the growing awareness that small cities, unincorporated communities, and service districts in the San Joaquin Valley often face some of the largest barriers to creating sustainable, healthy communities. So what began as a gathering of city leaders from communities in the Westside of Fresno County in the fall of 2009, is now a promising network of regional collaboration that has gained momentum throughout the eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley and beyond. The hope is that the Network will create a united voice to pool resources, enhance political clout, and engage regionally in comprehensive planning—all while maintaining community culture and developing appropriate economic development strategies for the Valley's smaller communities. Recently, Stacie Dabbs, the Government Affairs Coordinator from the University's Office of Economic and Community Development sat down with Cruz Ramos – City of San Joaquin, Felicity Lyons- Housing and Community Development Specialist from the California Coalition for Rural Housing and Ismael Herrera, Program Manager for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, to discuss the big challenges facing the Valley's smaller communities. Sat, 08 May 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy065.mp3 no 28:07 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The Legislative Analyst's Office has been providing fiscal and policy advice to the California Legislature for more than 65 years. It is known for its fiscal and programmatic expertise and nonpartisan analyses of the state budget. The office serves as the "eyes and ears" for the Legislature to ensure that the executive branch is implementing legislative policy in a cost efficient and effective manner. The LAO is overseen by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), a 16-member bipartisan committee. The office currently has a staff of 43 analysts and approximately 13 support staff. The newly appointed head of the LAO, Mac Taylor-a Fresno native, is the guest. Mr. Taylor has an MPA in public affairs from Princeton University and a BA in political science from UC Riverside. He is also a graduate of the Sanger Unified School District. Fresno State Political Science Prof. Jeff Cummins recently sat down with Mr. Taylor and discussed how the budget process has changed in the past few decades and what he thinks of this year's budget situation, as well as the various budget reforms being proposed to address the state's chronic budget problems. Sat, 01 May 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy064.mp3 no 28:13 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Republican and Democrats agree on few things—but one issue both parties seem to agree on is energy independence. Of course, one thing that Republicans and Democrats disagree about is how to get there and whether the focus on clean energy will assist or detract from that effort. Some believe the solution to the apparent clean energy-energy independence dichotomy exists in the San Joaquin Valley – where our rich supply of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind and biomass could make our region a leader in energy independence through clean energy research, development and use. Recently, Rollie Smith, with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and Chair of the SJ Valley Clean Energy Organization spoke with Paul Johnson, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization and discussed the issues. Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy063.mp3 no 28:13 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County In a recent U.S News and World Report article, Alice Rivlin, former founding director of the Congressional Budget Office and the former director of Pres. Clinton’s Office of Management and Budget warned that the rising federal debt is going to be "a real tsunami if we don't get ahead of it." Putting the federal budget back in balance without stalling a still-fragile economy, she notes, is a huge challenge. We can start, Rivlin says, by trimming outmoded federal programs and increasing revenue over the long term by raising the retirement age for Social Security and means-testing Medicare benefits. As she and others have noted, however, we can't get out of this problem without doing both spending cuts, especially slowing the growth of entitlement, and tax increases. In short, reducing the federal debt will require the political courage to cut spending and increase taxes. Recently, Janet Ryan, a member of the Fresno Unified School District Board and a member of the Concord Coalition sat down with Robert Bixby, Executive Director of the Concord Coalition; and Stefan Bryd-Krueger, Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Concord Coalition to discuss the strategies and options to reduce the federal deficit. What are our options—and do we have the political courage to do what it takes to do what it will take to reduce the federal deficit? Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy062.mp3 no 27:58 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Transportation and housing together accounted for more than 43 percent of the nation's carbon emissions in 2008, and California's Central Valley is filled with unsustainable, auto-centric communities. An effort is underway, however, to start breaking down the barriers between transportation, housing and the environment to take an more coordinated approach to smart growth. Often referred to as the "sustainable communities" effort, it aims to provide federal and state support for localities that want to offer more walkable neighborhoods and cleaner commuting options than the car. What does this mean for the Valley? What are the opportunities? What has the City of Fresno and the Fresno Council of Goverments done locally to promote sustainability? These are the questions for our guests, Keith Bergthold, City of Fresno Assistant Director of Planning and Barbara Steck, Deputy Director of the Fresno County Council of Governments. Leading the discussion is Rollie Smith, Field Office Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy061.mp3 no 30:22 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The challenges for educational leaders in the Valley are staggering. Nearly one-third of students in the San Joaquin Valley attend schools that rank in the bottom 20% of the Academic Performance Index (API). College attendance in the Valley is 50% below that State average. And since we are home to a large migrant workforce, the Valley has a significant population (over 25%) that is classified as English learners. What can be done address the region's educational performance challenges? Recently, community leader Dick Johanson sat down with Dr. Larry Powell, the Fresno County School Superintendant and discussed the social, economic and legal factors that confront Valley educators as they work to make Valley schools better. Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy060.mp3 no 26:46 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Is civility in politics dead? Is civil discourse passe? For many people, it seems like the quality of discourse in America has declined dramatically. Rarely, in political discussions, is there a respectful exchange of ideas. Instead, such interactions are either one-sided or full of ad hominem attacks or self-serving misinformation. Examples of the "incivility movement" abound. The over-the-top rants of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh on the right or the Rev. Al Sharpton and Keith Olbermann on the left make great media copy —but they do little to advance an intelligent and respectful discussion on the issue. Perhaps uncivil discourse is the price we pay for freedom of speech. Is there any hope of a return to civil discourse? Civility was a hallmark in the career of the late Sen. Ken Maddy, for years a Republican leader from Fresno and the namesake of the Maddy Institute. It has also been the hallmark of our guest, current Assemblymember Juan Arambula, a Democrat from Fresno. Recently, he sat down with community leader Dick Johanson and discussed what has happened to our ability to disagree without being disagreeable—and whether political rudeness has become the "new normal." Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy059.mp3 no 26:50 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County By now, the lack of student achievement in the Valley is well known. Fewer than half—only 445—of Valley schools meet federal guidelines under No Child Left Behind Law. Nearly one-third of students in the San Joaquin Valley attend schools that rank in the bottom 20% of the Academic Performance Index (API). Are charter schools the answer? Charter schools are taxpayer-supported, tuition free public schools. Unlike other public schools, however, charter schools are free from some of the rules and regulations that apply to other public schools. Proponents of charter schools argue that this approach creates schools that are more flexible and accountable in their structure, operations and management that traditional public schools. They also contend that charter schools are more open to curricular and management innovations that ultimately can improve academic performance. Charter schools have grown in popularity—in a 2008 survey of charter schools, 59% of the schools reported that they had a waiting list—but is that popularity warranted and what does it mean for traditional public education? Fresno School Superintendent Michael Hanson and education law expert Susan Hatmaker recently sat down with Janet Ryan, a member of the Fresno Board of Education and discussed the origins of charter schools and what the charter school movement may mean for education in California. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy058.mp3 no 28:43 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different from those of mainstream or traditional education. They include charter schools, alternative schools, independent schools, and home-based learning. One very successful program has been the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, otherwise known as CART, jointly operated by the Fresno and Clovis School Districts. What explains the recent popularity in such alternative education programs? What is the CART approach? And how is it different from a Charter School? What have been the results? Do students perform better? What about Charter Schools—are they the answer? Recently, community leader Dick Johanson sat down with Susan Fisher, Chief Operating Officer for CART and discussed K-12 alternative education and the CART model–and whether such innovative approaches to education are merely fads or have the staying power—and results—to radically alter the way we education our children in the future. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy057.mp3 no 28:26 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Dr. Pete Mehas has had a long and illustrious career in education. From his days as a championship collegiate athlete, to his work as the Superintendent of the Fresno County Office of Education, to the senior positions he has held in State government, Dr. Mehas has a unique vantage point from which to discuss the strengths and weaknesses inherent in our educational system. Is our educational system helping or hurting U.S. competitiveness? Have any of the recent educational reforms really made a difference? What changes to State of California’s education code would he like to see enacted to improve performance at the elementary, middle school and high school level? What about the California’s public university system—is it up to the task? And is improving education simply a matter of more dollars—or more sense? Recently, community leader Dick Johanson sat down with Dr. Mehas and discussed the lessons learned from a lifetime in education. Can California reclaim its place as a world-wide leader in education? Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy056.mp3 no 28:50 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The 8-county San Joaquin Valley is experiencing a population boom. In the next 40 years, we will more than double in population—from 3.3 million to more than 7 million. But where will all these people live, work and play? The San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Planning Process has been working for the last four years to develop a regional vision of land use and transportation to guide growth in the San Joaquin Valley over the next 50 years. Their goal? To help Valley's citizens, planners and politicians better understand how local decisions on land use and transportation will affect the entire region. We recently sat down with two leaders in the Blueprint effort: John Wright, Former Planning Director of the City of Clovis, and Barbara Steck, the Deputy Director of Fresno County Council of Governments, and discussed the vision for the San Joaquin Valley in the next fifty years. Will we end up looking like LA or San Francisco -- or be something completely different? "The Valley Blueprint: To Sprawl or Not to Sprawl—That is the Question." Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy055.mp3 no 27:28 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County It's been almost five years since Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an Executive Order establishing the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. The Partnership was an unprecedented effort to focus attention on the needs of the San Joaquin Valley by bringing together public and private leaders and resources to address the top challenges faced by the region—from air quality, to economic development to water. Veteran Sacramento observer has Dan Walters compared it to FDR's Tennessee Valley Authority. The goal of the Partnership was, among other things to "…identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the Valley… and recommend to the Governor changes that would improve the economic well-being of the Valley and the quality of life of its residents." The result was a Strategic Plan for the Valley—with over 150 specific actions that address the critical challenges facing our region. How successful has the Partnership been in achieving its goals? We'll talk with two leaders in the effort: Partnership Board Member Pete Weber and Mike Dozier, the lead executive for the Partnership. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy054.mp3 no 29:27 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Craig Scharton, the City of Fresno's Director of Downtown and Community Revitalization, is our guest and will discuss why, after years of decidedly mixed results, the city's new comprehensive approach holds real promise for finally revitalizing downtown Fresno. Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler is the host. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy053.mp3 no 28:57 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Every 10 years, after the federal census, every state—including California—must redraw the boundaries of its legislative districts to reflect the new population data. Previously, these boundaries were drawn by lawmakers. In November 2008, however, California voters passed Proposition 11 (the Voters FIRST Act) and transferred that responsibility to a new 14 member Citizens Redistricting Commission. The application process to become a member of the Citizens Redistricting Commission ends on February 12th. We'll talk to Elaine M. Howle, the California State Auditor whose Office responsible for reviewing the applications of those interested in serving on the Citizens Redistricting Commission.We'll outline the who, what, when, where and how of serving on the Citizens Redistricting Commission. How will the new district boundaries will get approved How will the new districts impact the politics of the Valley? And what implications new legislative boundaries could this have for the Valley’s political clout in Sacramento? Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy052.mp3 no 28:22 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Although a final legislative outcome is far from being decided, the direction of emerging health care legislation could have a significant effect on all Americans. After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed its version of comprehensive health care reform a month later, on November 7th. Attention now shifts to the Senate which could debate on its version of legislation soon. So while a lot has happened, there is a lot left to do. And given the historic significance of the health care reform proposals being debated, we are devoting two shows to health care reform with a distinguished panel of experts: Ken Jacobs, Chair of the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center; Patrick Johnston, President/CEO of California Association of Health Plans; Dr. John Capitman, Executive Director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute; Dr. Mark Smith, President of the California Healthcare Foundation; Martin Gallegos, Senior VP/Chief Legislative Advocate for the California Hospital Association; and Diana Dooley, CEO/President of the California Children's Hospital Association. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy051.mp3 no 30:22 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Although a final legislative outcome is far from being decided, the direction of emerging health care legislation could have a significant effect on all Americans. After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed its version of comprehensive health care reform a month later, on November 7th. Attention now shifts to the Senate which could debate on its version of legislation soon. So while a lot has happened, there is a lot left to do. And given the historic significance of the health care reform proposals being debated, we are devoting two shows to health care reform with a distinguished panel of experts: Ken Jacobs, Chair of the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center; Patrick Johnston, President/CEO of California Association of Health Plans; Dr. John Capitman, Executive Director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute; Dr. Mark Smith, President of the California Healthcare Foundation; Martin Gallegos, Senior VP/Chief Legislative Advocate for the California Hospital Association; and Diana Dooley, CEO/President of the California Children's Hospital Association. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy050.mp3 no 30:39 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California lawmakers recently negotiated an ambitious upgrade of the state's water delivery and storage system. The magnitude of the problem and proposed solutions have left a lot of people asking a lot of questions, including, how much of the solution will be addressed by above ground storage verus below ground storage? What will the agreement do to address the problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta—a vital source of water for farms in the Valley? And what about conservation? We’ll ask Dr. David Zoldoske from the California Water Institute, one of the state’s and the Valley's water experts, those questions and more. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy049.mp3 no 28:45 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County In the summer of 2005, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an Executive Order establishing the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. The Partnership was an unprecedented effort to focus attention on the needs of the San Joaquin Valley by bringing together public and private leaders and resources to address the top challenges faced by the region—from air quality, to economic development to water. The goal of the Partnership was, among other things to "…identify projects and programs that will best utilize public dollars and most quickly improve the economic vitality of the Valley… and recommend to the Governor changes that would improve the economic well-being of the Valley and the quality of life of its residents." The result was a Strategic Plan for the Valley that, according to one veteran political reporter, "was an historic achievement." But will the Strategic Plan—with over 150 specific actions that address the critical challenges facing our region—actually happen? Mike Dozier, the lead executive of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is our guest. Is the Partnership's Plan just "another government study"—or are we witnessing something historic here? Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy048.mp3 no 30:58 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The Sacramento Bee recently asked a question a lot of Californians have been asking themselves about state government: "Could it get any worse?" This week, a new Field Poll found only 13 percent of the state's registered voters approve of the Legislature's performance, the lowest rating since the survey group started measuring opinions of that institution in 1983. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't fare much better. His approval rating is 27%--his lowest numbers since he took office. And with the exception of Gray Davis—who was at 22% two months before he was recalled and replaced with Schwarzenegger—no other governor dating back to Pat Brown in 1961 has been the object of so much disapproval. According to the Field Poll, Californian's frustration with state government, has resulted in support for a variety of changes in the way we govern ourselves. A majority believe it shouldn't be so easy to change the state's constitution at the ballot box through propositions—with 56% favoring raising the threshold for approving a constitutional amendment from 50% + 1 to a two-thirds super-majority. 51 percent said they thought that "fundamental changes" were needed to the state constitution and a like number said they would prefer that a constitutional convention—rather than an appointed commission—take on that task. This week on the Maddy Forum host Katie Stevens talks with Pete Weber, a retired CEO, civic activist and consultant to California Forward, a non-partisan organization whose mission is to create a more responsive, representative and cost-effective state government, is our guest. Reforming California government—are we at the tipping point? Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy047.mp3 no 30:28 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County When Senator Ken Maddy, the namesake of the Maddy Institute, passed away in 2000, the California Journal noted that "...he was forever courteous and seemed the very essence of civility in public office…."The article went on to note that although he was the Senate Republican leader from 1987 to 1995, he was passed over by party members, "…because he was not partisan enough, as though the spirit of cooperation that he exemplified was unseemly." They summarized Senator Maddy as "…the embodiment of what an ideal legislator could be: pragmatic, forthright, principled, a problem-solver." What has happened to our coarsen our political discourse in just 10 short years? Our guests this week are Joseph McCormick, Co-founder of Reuniting America, Debilyn Molineaux and Peter Hwosch, a member of the Transpartisan Alliance—an informal network with a mission to motivate and inspire Americans to work across political lines by practicing and teaching the principles of transpartisanship. Can we re-introduce civility back into our political discourse? Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy046.mp3 no 30:39 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Back in November, voters passed Proposition 1A to allow the State to borrow almost $10 billion to start construction of a sleek, high-speed railroad connecting Northern and Southern California—and one that would get Valley residents to LA and SF in a little over an hour. And while the Prop 1A money only funded a portion of the $40 billion dollar plus project, the possible addition of federal stimulus dollars may push this project further and faster along than many imagined even a few short months ago. What is the likelihood that we’ll see high speed rail in California in the next few years? Specifically, what is the status of the State’s $4.7 billion application to the Federal Railroad Administration for engineering, design and construction of the state’s high speed rail system? Is California likely to secure that funding? What impact will the voter-approved Prop. 1A money have on securing those federal dollars? Where will the first track be laid? When will the system be operational? And what is the status of the planning and building of High Speed Rail stations in Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield? And what about the high speed rail maintenance facility—will it—and its hundreds of good-paying jobs—end up in the Valley? And if so, where? Carrie Bowen, Regional Director, California High Speed Rail Authority and Ed Graveline, consultant to the City of Fresno are our guests. Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy045.mp3 no 30:02 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Housing and transportation costs are two of the largest expenses for most American families—eating up nearly 60 percent of a typical family’s budget. Recently, the Secretaries of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that they are focusing their efforts on creating affordable and livable communities by both promoting sustainable surface transportation programs and expanding access to decent, affordable housing. DOT and HUD have created a high-level interagency task force to better coordinate federal transportation and housing investments and identify strategies to provide more choices for affordable housing near employment opportunities; more transportation options—with the goal of lowering transportation costs, shortening travel times, and improving the environment; and safer, more livable, and healthier communities. Where is the Central Valley on the issue of sustainability? Will we be able to overcome the regional inertia and community sprawl that has historically plagued planning in much of the Central Valley? What’s on the drawing board for cities like Visalia, Fresno and Stockton? We’ll find out from a regional leader in this effort, Rollie Smith Field Office Director for the HUD in Fresno. Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy044.mp3 no 29:51 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California lawmakers ended this legislative year dominated by an unprecedented fiscal crisis without an agreement on their top policy priority — an ambitious upgrade of the state’s water delivery and storage system. The Democrats offered a package that would have included $12 billion in bonds, half of which would go toward reservoirs, underground water storage and restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the heart of California’s water-delivery system. The bonds would be divided over two elections — one next year and one in 2014. About $3 billion would be dedicated to increasing water storage, but the money would be awarded by a commission based on a competition between potential projects. What is the state of water in California? We’ll ask two of the state’s and the Valley’s water experts, Dr. David Zoldoske and Sarge Green from the California Water Institute. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy043.mp3 no 29:51 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County For decades, other states and countries have looked to California's system of higher education as a model for access, affordability and academic excellence. Its 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education opened college to all residents and helped make the state an engine of economic growth and technological innovation.The state's financial crisis, however, is battering its world-renowned system of higher education, reducing college opportunities for residents and threatening California's economic recovery. To close its massive budget deficit, the state has slashed funding to higher education, including over $580 million in cuts to the 23-campus California State University system. CSU is the nation's largest four-year university with 450,000 students, and plans to turn away 40,000 students over the next two years. Nearly all of its 47,000 employees have agreed to take furloughs two days per month, and fees for in-state undergraduates will rise 32 percent to $4,827 a year. An April study by the Public Policy Institute of California projected the state would face a shortage of nearly 1 million college-educated workers by 2025 and warned that funding cuts would worsen the skills gap. Our guest is California State University, Fresno President John D. Welty. What is the state of higher education in the California and the San Joaquin Valley? How will Fresno State’s share of this year’s shortfall—pegged at almost $45 million—be met? And, in the face of unprecedented fiscal cuts brought about by dwindling state support, how do we enhance—or even maintain— access, affordability and academic excellence? Higher Ed in California: Are we in danger of going from first rate to third world? Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy042.mp3 no 29:10 Fresno, Business, politics, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Controlling the spiraling costs of health care is at the core of the current health care debate. One popular component of most health care proposals involves greater promotion of preventive health care. Prevention may indeed save money and improve health. According to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, preventable causes of death, such as tobacco smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, and misuse of alcohol have been estimated to be responsible for 900,000 deaths annually — nearly 40% of the total number of deaths in the United States each year. Moreover, some preventive measures identified by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, such as counseling adults to quit smoking, screening for colorectal cancer, and providing influenza vaccination, reduce mortality and generally save money. Is preventive care cost effective? Our guests are John Capitman, the Executive Director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute and Consultant to the Health and Human Services Work Group of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and Glen Beatrez, the Supervisor of the Clovis Area Recreation Center. Preventative health care: Is a ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure? Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy041.mp3 no 30:07 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County In many ways, the San Joaquin Valley is ground zero in the health care debate. We have among the highest rates of uninsured in the nation and we have a woeful lack of primary care physicians and specialty care provides. The highly regarded Institute of Medicine has recommended that any reform of the health care system be Continuous, Affordable, Universal, Sustainable and Efficient -- better known by its acronym as CAUSE. The Health Policy Institute at California State University Fresno has taken the lead nationwide in fashioning a health care plan that has meets the goals of the CAUSE approach. Our guest today is Dr. Dr. Steve Chooljian, practicing physician and consultant to the Central Valley Health Policy Institute. What would a CAUSE approach to health care look like? Do the proposals under consideration in Washington achieve these goals? And what national policy changes have to happen so that CAUSE health systems emerge in places like California's San Joaquin Valley? Designing a practical approach to healthcare that would work for everyone. Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy040.mp3 no 28:42 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County In 2006, Mayor Autry's Creative Economy Council released its report, Making the Grass Greener: Recommendations to Retain, Attract, Develop, and Support Knowledge Workers. The report's recommendations set forth several strategic goals and a number of recommendations to civic leaders on how the region can become part of the "Creative Cities" movement as a way to attract and retain the knowledge workers of tomorrow. The report's goal was "…to stimulate civic leaders in the city of Fresno to develop a place where creative professionals and knowledge workers will want to call their home." A big part of those recommendations centered around providing the quality of life in a community that knowledge workers expect—specifically, arts and culture. Two organizations that have emerged in the last several years to help grow the cultural arts sector are the Fresno Coalition for Arts, Science and History, or FCASH, and Creative Fresno. Their leaders are with us today: Cynthia Cooper is the Executive Director of FCASH and Travis Sheridan is the Chairman of the Creative Fresno Board of Directors. What economic and educational impact do the cultural arts have on our community? Does promoting vibrant public spaces improve our quality of life? What about unique activities and events—what impact do they have on instilling a sense of community pride? And if the cultural arts improve a community's quality of life, what role does or should the government play in promoting culture and the arts? Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy039.mp3 no 29:37 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Historically, civil rights enforcement has been anything but civil. To many, the legal system seems to exacerbate the problem by encouraging protracted litigation. For employers, discrimination lawsuits have increasingly become a serious threat to the bottom line. For employees, too often it has been a case of justice delayed is justice denied. Perhaps those most aware the system had broken down was the agency entrusted with enforcing the nation’s civil rights laws, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. To address this problem the EEOC has been promoting mediation – rather than litigation – over the last decade as a way to resolve many of the civil rights claims that are filed each year. As someone who has mediated numerous civil rights claims, I have first-hand knowledge of its value to both employers and employees. Many employers and employees, however, have little knowledge of this option to resolve their workplace disputes. Why did the EEOC begin to offer mediation as an alternative to litigation? What are the advantages to mediating civil rights cases? How specifically does the mediation process work? And how has mediation worked? Would the parties use it again? Is it a viable way to reduce litigation while achieving better results for the parties? Our guest on this edition of The Maddy Forum is Cherry Rojas, the Coordinator of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program at the EEOC’s Regional Office in Los Angeles that covers the central and south San Joaquin Valley. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy038.mp3 no 29:08 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The San Joaquin Valley significantly underperforms the State when it comes to access to medical care. Here, due to the lack of primary care physicians, access to health care is 31% lower than the rest of California. As a result, the region has the unenviable position of leading the state in infant mortality, teen births, and late access to pre-natal care. A solution, however, may be on the horizon—the establishment of a medical school at UC Merced. Last year, the University of California Regents voted to authorize UC Merced to proceed with planning for a School of Medicine. The original goal was to submit a full proposal and business plan by the end of this year and have a medical program up and running within ten years. The state’s budget crisis may, however, derail this project. A coalition of more than 200 elected officials, health-care providers, community leaders and citizens is working to push the project forward—despite the state’s current difficulties. Two leaders of the Coalition, Bryn Forhan and Luisa Medina are with us on this edition of the Maddy Forum.Will a medical school at UC Merced be a cure for what ails the Valley’s health care challenges? Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy037.mp3 no 31:53 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The San Joaquin Valley is home to some of the dirtiest air in the nation—ranking us in the top 5% in the United States for air pollution-related health risks. The human costs are real—higher incidents of asthma attacks, lung cancer, heart failure. And the results are profound—460 deaths and 192,000 missed school and work days each year—costing our region $3.2 billion dollars annually….or $1,000 per year for every man, woman and child. Why can’t this problem be solved? Is it lack of political will? Or is it simply due to a combination of factors outside of our control? And what does all of this mean for the future health of Valley residents? We will talk with Dr. A.M. Aminian, a member of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society. Dr. Aminian is a well-known speaker and teacher regarding allergy and asthma issues about the health challenges posed by the Valley’s poor air quality, as well as the likely health impact of current federal, state and regional policies being proposed to clean our air. Will the costs of such regulation outweigh the health benefits? Or will the costs be more than offset by reduced incidents of asthma, lung cancer, heart attacks and other ailments? Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy036.mp3 no 30:16 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The UC Santa Barbara Graduate School of Education reports that, in Fresno County and most of the Valley, almost one-third of students drop out before graduation from high school. Could the answer to the dropout crisis come from those who witness its effects first-hand—the fellow students of dropouts? And can we engage them to help meet the challenge of improving schools so more of their fellow students graduate? We will discuss the causes and potential solutions to the dropout crisis that will be offered at the Youth Youth Graduation Empowerment Summit this month with John Minkler, Executive Director of the Center for Multicultural Cooperation and students involved in the Youth Graduation Empowerment Project. Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy035.mp3 no 29:12 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Some think the Obama Administration has the most workplace-focused political agenda in memory with changes to employee benefits, unemployment, and pay discrimination laws already on the books and major changes to health care and how unions are organized in the offing. At the state level, unions are gearing up to fight budget cuts to popular programs that fund parks, health care and provide for the sick, blind and disabled, as well as defend pay and pension agreements that they have negotiated for public employees that some think the state and local jurisdictions can no longer afford. Our guest this week is Randy Ghan, chief executive officer of the Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kings Central Labor Council. Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy034.mp3 no 31:17 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Despite bi-partisan pleas from the Governor and the legislature, California voters look like they are about to reject the May 19 ballot propositions - potentially leaving a gaping $21 billion hole in next year's budget. What are the budget compromises the voters will be asked to approve on Tuesday—and would they solve the problem—or merely kick the can down the road? And if these propositions fail, will we see a new round of State budget cuts? How severe will they be and what will they mean for State and Local services that we all depend on—like police, fire, education, health care? And regardless of what happens on Tuesday, what does California have to do to deal with its structural deficit? Would an open primary system help? What about lowing the 2/3rds voting requirement to pass the state budget? Should we return to a part-time legislature or relax or eliminate term limits? And what about campaign finance reform? Our guest for the next half hour is Jeff Cummins, professor of political science at Fresno State. The May Propositions—if the voters say no, where do we go from here? Sat, 16 May 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy033.mp3 no 31:28 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County It's looking increasingly likely that the state will have massive budget shortfalls for the foreseeable future. The Legislative Analysts Office released a report this week that the state my need to borrow over $20 billion in order to pay its bills next year. Yet the budget compromises proposed in this month’s ballot propositions look likely to go down to defeat next week. Indeed, two conservative Republican leaders, State Sen. Dave Cogdill and Assemblymember Mike Villines have both been ousted as the leaders of their respective legislative caucuses because they made the cardinal sin of placing state fiscal solvency over party politics. And as we continue to bicker, California problems continue to mount—from energy and water shortages to environmental problems to stagnant business growth. What happened to our once "Golden State?" Is this a problem of under-regulation or over-regulation? Are the State's revenues too low or are the State's expenses too high? Is the California Dream about to turn into a nightmare—or can we summon the courage and conviction to address these problems head on? Our guest today is business leader and community philanthropist, Bill Lyles, who has, among other things, helped establish of one of the region's most successful companies, Pelco, and given back to the Valley by making major gifts to endow both the Lyles College of Engineering and the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno. What will it take to turn California’s fortunes around? A view from one of the Valley’s most successful and respected business and community leaders. Sat, 09 May 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy032.mp3 no 31:24 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Recently, an article appeared in the New York Times entitled "Cities Deal With a Surge in Shantytowns." The focus of that article was the shantytowns that have sprung up in Fresno—making the homeless in our region a national, and even international, story. As the Times article points out, Fresno is like a dozen or so other cities across the nation, dealing with an unhappy deja vu: the arrival of modern-day Hoovervilles—illegal encampments of homeless people that are reminiscent, on a far smaller scale, of Depression-era shantytowns. The Times article went on to note that "The problem in Fresno is different in that it is both chronic and largely outside the national limelight. Homelessness here has long been fed by the ups and downs in seasonal and subsistence jobs in agriculture, but now the recession has cast a wider net and drawn in hundreds of the newly homeless — from hitchhikers to truck drivers to electricians." Our guest is Gregory Barfield, the City's Homeless Policy and Prevention Manager, who is leading Fresno's 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Sat, 02 May 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy031.mp3 no 29:26 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Each year we select approximately 30 University students from the major public regional universities as Legislative Scholar-Interns. Legislative Scholar-Interns are placed on assignment in government offices throughout the Valley, as well as in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. The Legislative Scholar Internship Program provides students an opportunity to develop public leadership skills and gain practical knowledge of the day-to-day operations of government and the political process. Our guests are two recent alumni from the program, William Oliver and Joel Saldania, who will share their experiences in the program, and Jennifer Johnson, the coordinator of the Legislative Scholar Internship Program. Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy030.mp3 no 30:09 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Newspapers and the media – typically referred to as the "Fourth Branch of Government" – are critical to a vibrant democracy. Lately, however, there seems to be an explosion of political corruption at the very time that the newspaper industry in general, and political reporting, in particular, are beginning to show serious signs of stress with layoffs and downsizing as major newspapers are increasingly going into bankruptcy or out of business entirely. Should newspapers embrace the new world of free information or should they begin charging money for content distributed online? And will any new business model impact the media's significance a factor in our democracy? Our guests are Jim Boren, Editorial Page Editor of the Fresno Bee and Bill McEwen, columnist for the Fresno Bee, will discuss the who, what, when, where, why and how of newspaper Editorials and political reporting. Do editorials and newspaper endorsements really influence public policy or election results? And what about the impact of new technology like blogs, podcasts and twitter on political reporting? Will they make political reporting more detailed or more superficial? Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy029.mp3 no 29:26 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Small cities face many of the same challenges faced by their larger urban brethren—and some unique challenges—all with vastly limited financial and human resources. To the folks who live in these communities, the "government" isn't some far away politician in Sacramento or Washington, but the local official who they see at the grocer or at the gas station. In a true sense, all other politics and public policies are built on the work of local politicians and city officials. José Antonio Ramírez, the City Manager of Firebaugh and Amarpreet Dhaliwal, Mayor of the City of San Joaquin, will address these and other challenges faced by those on the front lines of politics and public policy in the smaller cities in the San Joaquin Valley. Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy028.mp3 no 28:46 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Small cities face many of the same challenges faced by their larger urban brethren—and some unique challenges—all with vastly limited financial and human resources. To the folks who live in these communities, the "government" isn't some far away politician in Sacramento or Washington, but the local official who they see at the grocer or at the gas station. In a true sense, all other politics and public policies are built on the work of local politicians and city officials. José Antonio Ramírez, the City Manager of Firebaugh and Amarpreet Dhaliwal, Mayor of the City of San Joaquin, will address these and other challenges faced by those on the front lines of politics and public policy in the smaller cities in the San Joaquin Valley. Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy027.mp3 no 30:07 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Most people who run for political office do so to make a difference. Once they are elected, however, many find that the view from inside the State Capital is a bit different from what they may have expected—or what they campaigned on. Our guests today are two recently elected state assembly members—Danny Gilmore from Hanford and Connie Conway from Visalia. We’ll find out about their recent experiences as freshman state legislators and get their take on the state budget, and more. Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy026.mp3 no 30:00 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County This week on The Maddy Forum, we get an insider's view of the intersection of politics and the press. Hosts Mike Dozier and Katie Stevens talk to Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin's press secretary, Mike Lukens. Prior to his appointment as the Mayor's Press Secretary, Mike was the director of communications for the Office of Community and Economic Development at CSU, Fresno, with primary responsibility for coordinating the communications efforts of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley. Mike's past includes being the first host of this very program—The Maddy Forum. He has also served as press secretary for Congressman George Radanovich and deputy press secretary in the Pennsylvania Governor's office. How does a press secretary help craft a politician's message? Is there a strategic plan as to when key talking points will be rolled out—or is it a matter of simply putting out the latest fire? And what are the rules when press secretaries deal with the media? Are those "off the record" conversations ever really off the record? Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy025.mp3 no 31:01 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County No longer a house divided, the Valley, with the assistance of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, is working to compile a list of economic stimulus projects and is working in unison to see that the entire region benefits. The San Joaquin Valley Regional Recovery Work Plan is intended to help the region identify and seize opportunities for economic recovery and sustainable growth throughout the Valley that may be available from the federal stimulus package. Mike Dozier, the lead executive of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley recently sat down with Katie Stevens to discuss the who, what, when, where, why and how of the Work Plan and how it plans to increase the "bang for the buck" of federal stimulus dollars spent here in the Valley. Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy024.mp3 no 30:43 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County President Barack Obama has signed a $787 billion economic stimulus package. Proponents of green business are celebrating the fact that a large portion of the money will be directly targeted at environmental initiatives. For example, there is almost $33 billion in funding for clean energy projects, $27 billion for energy efficiency initiatives and $19 billion for green transportation—for a total of $79 billion directly earmarked for green projects. But what does this mean for the Valley? Paul Johnson, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization recently talked with hosts Mike Dozier and Katie Stevens to discuss the impact and opportunities the economic stimulus bill will have on the clean energy sector in the San Joaquin Valley. Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy023.mp3 no 28:36 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency on Friday February 27th due to the ongoing drought conditions in the Golden State. Earlier this month, water officials announced that growers on the Valley's west side will not receive any surface water this year. This week, hosts Mike Dozier and Katie Stevens talk about California water issues with David Zoldoske, director of the California Water Institute at Fresno State, and Sarge Green, program director at the Institute. Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy022.mp3 no 28:26 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The San Joaquin Valley has struggled with an under-performing economy for decades. For years, the San Joaquin Valley has been plagued with high levels of unemployment and poverty. The average per capital income of Valley residents is almost a third lower than the rest of the state. The Economic Development Work Group of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley has been tasked with developing creative and collaborative solutions to the region’s infrastructure challenges, focusing on the growth of target industries with comparative advantages, and promoting the region as a business and tourism destination. Bobby Kahn, a leader of the Partnership’s Economic Development Work Group and the Executive Director of the Madera County Economic Development Corporation and Chair of the Central CA Economic Development Corporation is our guest. Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy021.mp3 no 29:54 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Newly elected Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, has stated that "revitalizing Fresno's distressed neighborhoods and ensuring sustainable growth patterns…is a major concern for me." In one of her first acts as Mayor, Ms. Swearengin appointed Craig Scharton as her director of downtown and community revitalization and Elliot Balch as Downtown Revitalization Manager to focus the city's efforts on downtown and the older parts of the community. What are their plans to revitalize downtown and older neighborhoods—and who would pay for them? What proof do they have that their ideas will work? And when can we fairly expect to see progress? Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy020.mp3 no 29:27 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Did you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes in a political campaign? What is the role of campaign managers and political consultants? How do politicians craft a campaign message? What new techniques are being used to involve and excite voters? And how does all that translate into action once a candidate is elected? Our guest today, Professor David Schecter, has a unique perspective on these issues being both a professor of political science and campaign director and special advisor to newly elected Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy019.mp3 no 28:40 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Governor Schwarzenegger recently called California’s $42 billion deficit a "rock upon our chest" and said the state can address no other public policy issues until the current fiscal crisis is resolved. That rock may be even heavier on local governments—with federal and state mandates colliding with plummeting revenue from local property and sales taxes. Recently, Kathy Millison, City Manager of the City of Clovis and Jeff Cummins, political science professor at Fresno State, sat down with Mike Dozier and Katie Stevens to talk about what the State's current fiscal crisis means for local governments. Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy018.mp3 no 30:10 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County With a Democratic President and big Democratic majorities in both Congress and the California legislature, how will the Republicans respond? Dan Schnur, former Republican strategist and the director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the USC, is our guest. Schnur was the national communications director for John McCain’s Presidential campaign in 2000. He also writes a column for the New York Times’ political opinion website, Campaign Stops. Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy017.mp3 no 30:10 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Student achievement in the Valley has historically trailed other part of the state and nation in measurements such as the Academic Performance Index and college attendance. For the last couple of years, however, the Education Work Group of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley has been engaged in a concerted effort to improve the academic performance of Valley schools. Dr. Walt Buster, the former Superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District and the current Director of the Central Valley Education Leadership Institute recently sat down with Maddy Forum host Mike Lukens to discuss the many programs that are being launched throughout the Valley and give us a preview of some of the findings that will be reported at the upcoming conference entitled "Exemplary Practices in Education: Achievement Gains in the Valley." Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy016.mp3 no 30:00 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Lt. Governor John Garamendi, a UC Regent, talks with host Mike Lukens about the future of the proposed medical school at UC Merced, amid the financial meltdown. Garamendi favors the creation of "a stripped down version that would turn out new doctors quickly." -- warning that, if UC Merced fails to eliminate its proposed research programs, the state’s budget problems will stall progress on the medical school. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy015.mp3 no 31:36 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County California's Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, talks with host Mike Lukens about the state budget crisis, the role of the Legislative Analyst's Office in state government and more. Taylor, a Fresno native, assumed his current position as head of the LAO in October. Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy014.mp3 no 30:53 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Blake Konczal, Director of the Fresno County Workforce Investment Board talks with host Mike Lukens about the Valley's job market and the current efforts at workforce development. Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy013.mp3 no 29:27 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Keith Bergthold and John Wright join host Mike Lukens to discuss the future of planned growth in the San Joaquin Valley, and an innovative proposal for a regional multi-modal transportation system called the Metro Rural Loop, that will help accomodate future growth, and preserve ag land in the Valley. Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy012.mp3 no 30:43 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County John White and Dr. Jeff R Wright join host Mike Lukens for a talk about the role the Valley plays in developing California's clean energy economy. Mr. White is the Executive Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT), which he co-founded in 1990. Dr Wright is the founding Dean of Engineering at the University of California, Merced. He is also the UC Merced Director for The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society — CITRIS — which seeks to create information technology solutions for many of our most pressing social, environmental, and health care problems. Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy011.mp3 no 29:12 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Rollie Smith of HUD and Preston Prince of the Housing Authorities of the City of County of Fresno join host Mike Lukens to talk about the afforable housing needs of the Valley. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy010.mp3 no 31:16 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Mayor-elect Ashley Swearengin sits down with Maddy Forum host Mike Lukens to talk about her agenda as the next mayor of Fresno. Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy009.mp3 no 29:07 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County n Tuesday's election, California voters approved Proposition 1A, thus approving $9 billion in bonds to help fund a network of high speed trains connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles, through the Central Valley. On this edition of the Maddy Forum, host Mike Lukens talks with CA High Speed Rail Authority Deputy Director Carrie Pourvahidi about what this means for Fresno, and how soon we'll see construction begin. Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy008.mp3 no 29:10 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County The San Joaquin Valley is forecast to add 1.4 million people by the year 2020 and another 3.7 million by 2040. How will all these people get to get to work, to school and to market? On this edition of The Maddy Forum, host Mike Lukens talks with Andrew Chesley, Director of the San Joaquin County Council of Governments and Dr. David Hosley, Executive Director of the Great Valley Institute about the Valley's transportation issues. Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy007.mp3 no 29:26 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Host Mike Lukens and guest Jeff Cummins, Professor of Political Science at California State University, Fresno examine the propositions on the November ballot. Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy006.mp3 no 30:05 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County What will the San Joaquin Valley look like in 2050? That's what the Valley Blueprint planning process seeks to address. Two participants in that process, Barbara Steck, deputy director of the Fresno County COG and John Wright, former planning director for the City of Clovis talk with Maddy Forum host Mike Lukens about the issues involved. Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy005.mp3 no 30:54 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Student achievement in the Valley is lagging the state and nation. What does this all mean for our economy and our communities? And, more importantly, what can be done address the region's educational performance challenges? Our guest is Dr. Larry Powell, Fresno County Schools Superintendent. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy004.mp3 no 30:05 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County Can the Valley become a leader in Clean Energy? Host Mike Lukens examines the issue with guests Paul Johnson, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization and Rollie Smith, from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and Chair of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization. Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy003.mp3 no 30:33 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County "This week the Maddy Forum hosts a discussion on water related issues facing the Golden State. Host Mike Lukens talks with David Zoldoske, director of the California Water Institute at Fresno State, and Sarge Green, program director at the Institute. Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy002.mp3 no 30:33 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County "Air Quality in the San Joaquin Valley:  Clear Skies Ahead?" Guests: Pete Weber, Chair of the Air Quality Work Group of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley; and DeeDee D'Adamo, Member of the California Air Resources Board. Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.csufresno.edu/kfsr/audio/mp3/maddy001.mp3 no 29:10 Fresno, Business, San Joaquin Valley, Central Valley, California, talk, public radio, Clovis, KFSR, Fresno County no