KUCI: Ask A Leader

”Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of Covid”

No, we’re not done with the Covid pandemic - Covid is not done with us. It’s quite instructive to do examine a comprehensive list of parts in the politics of the pandemic, like before the next pandemic or crisis ensues. Sara Wallace Goodman, UCI political science professor talks about her new book out entitled, "Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of Covid; How the politicization of the pandemic endangers our lives-and our democracy," co-written with Shana Kushner Gadarian and Thomas Pepinsky, published by Princeton University Press. Sara Goodman’s team was the first to collect and analyze national survey data asking Americans about their health behaviors and attitudes. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; The Elovators, “People Go," Defy Gravity - album.

Live To Pay Another Electricity Bill

For the whole hour are: Esperanza Veilma, executive director of Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Dave Rosenfeld, of the Solar Rights Alliance, each bringing useful insights about trends and policies pertaining to electricity distribution. The recent CA Public Utility Commission's recent ruling has set deadlines for grandfathering solar rooftop panels by 4/14/23. As we continue covering this utility sector, OCPA included, listeners can follow the developments with: https://ceeetruth.org/ and https://solarrights.org/. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; and Hunrosa, “Ransome” Ransome -EP.

Artistic Treasures At Year’s End

As we close out this year together, a treat from two performing arts artistic directors. First, the retiring artistic director of America Ballet Theater, Kevin McKenzie offers the long view of his 30 years leading that internationally acclaimed dance company. In the second segment (minute 29:08), South Coast Repertory artistic director David Ivers reflects on coming back full throttle in this season, and offers early next year’s “Voices of America;” two plays in conversation with each other - Little Foxes and Appropriate. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Carlos Simon “Amen;" The Scott Oakley Trio, "Greensleeves,” Jazz for the Holidays - album

Cleaning Rooms in Irvine’s Inns

This close to the lore of Mary and Joseph looking for room at any inn, today we look at how workers are faring as they keep clean our nearby inns. For the whole program the guests are: Austin Lynch, director and negotiator at Unite Here Local 11; and Maria Balderas, union member and rank and file leader, working at the Irvine Hilton give us a look at working conditions for hotel staff as well as Irvine’s recently adopted workers protection ordinance, the first of its kind in Orange County. For those Irvine voters, who have signed the petition circulating to revoke the ordinance, who wish to retract their signatures, they can text 562-688-5867 for instructions. The document to complete is: https://www.unitehere11.org/wp-content/uploads/Irvine-Referendum-Petition-Signature-Withdrawal-Form-00420418xB613E.pdf Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Groupo Nueva Vida, “Las Posadas,” Alabanzas Cristianas Que Llegan al Alma, Vol. 6

The Latest on Huntington’s Disease Research and Treatment

Returning to the show is the world renown investigator on Huntington's disease, Dr. Leslie Thompson. Accompanying her is Melody Bandley, advocate for her husband and other patients, for advances in Huntington’s Disease research and care. Details on ongoing search and care are available at: https://hdcare.org/. Stay tuned for additional legislative actions that support HD care. The bonus interview with American Ballet Theater’s retiring artistic director Kevin McKenzie, that was not broadcast on this program, is now available in a separate podcast on this same date. He appears in Orange County during the current run of The Nut Cracker performed at now through December 18th at the Segerstrom Hall. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; and Bill Beach, “Dreams Deferred," Letting Go – album.

Kevin McKenzie’s Gracious Bow As Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theater

American Ballet Theater’s retiring artistic director Kevin McKenzie reviews his 30 years of leadership with the company. The arc of a dancer's career, comparisons between the scourges of AIDS and COVID, Russian connections, and the baton he hands off to incoming director Susan Jaffee. Mr. McKenzie appears in Orange County during the current run of The Nut Cracker performed at now through December 18th at the Segerstrom Hall, https://www.scfta.org/shows-events. Music credits: "Amen," composed and conducted by Carlos Simon.

America’s Unsafe Roads, Continued

This is a continuation of Caron Whitaker's interview; a few last takes about charter of the League of American Bicyclists.

Ethnic Studies Rocks the Classroom AND America’s Unsafe Roads; With and Without the Pandemic

Emily Penner at UCI School of Education returns to the show to speak to the theme of "pedagogy not politics of ethnic studies. In the second segment (minute 31:06), Caron Whitaker, Deputy Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, will talk about road safety as we move through the pandemic – looking at you exceptional USA, with our scary trend of raised fatalities bucking the global decline. The continuation is in another entry on this day. Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Richie Havens, “Peace Train;” and the Gershwin Piano Quartet "American in Paris.”