Intersection: An image make-over for Sanford

What is sense of place? What defines a community?

Sanford residents are pondering these questions in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Leaders have launched a new public relations campaign aiming to remake the city’s image. The campaign bills the city as, “Friendly Sanford.”  

Protests exploded worldwide when Sanford police delayed the arrest this spring of neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who shot and killed the unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon. Zimmerman claimed he shot Trayvon in self-defense. Zimmerman has since been charged with second-degree murder. Protesters accused Sanford leaders of racism.

This week on Intersection 90.7’s Mark Simpson talked with Sanford economic development director Nick Mcray about the new campaign. John Schorr, senior professor of sociology at Stetson University, joined the conversation. Schorr said the challenges now facing Sanford are bigger than the city itself.

“The reason it went national or international, this news, is because honestly I think communities everywhere felt this could have happened here,” Schorr said. “In the long run it won’t be about Sanford. It will be about the way we deal with race in America.”

Also, Simpson talked with a local designer and a stylist about a recent survey ranking Orlando among the nation’s worst-dressed cities.

Do you think Orlando is poorly dressed? Tune into Intersection Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. The show is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Or listen online and share your perspective here on Florida Talks.

Implications of the Jerry Sandusky Child Abuse Verdict Here in Florida on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

After weeks of graphic testimony from eight different accusers, former Pennsylvania State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted last week of sexually assaulting ten boys. As that dramatic case wraps up, officials here in Florida are preparing to enact the toughest child abuse reporting law in the nations. It imposes stiff penalties on people and institutions that fail to report abuse – in a major change, the law makes reporting abuse of a child everyone’s responsibility, not just those who regularly work with children. We discussed how the new law will work, as well as the verdict in the Sandusky case, with criminal defense attorney Janet Johnson; Angela Williams, founder of VOICE Today, a nonprofit working to prevent child sex abuse; and Christina Spudeas, executive director of Florida’s Children First, which protects the rights of children and at-risk youth.

June is National Housing Month. After the devastation of the nation’s housing crisis, and the ongoing foreclosures that drag down, fair housing advocates are working to draw attention to solutions available to struggling homeowners. Debby Goldberg with the National Fair Housing Alliance joined us with more.

For one weekend only, Theatre Jacksonville takes us back to the home front of World War II in their new production, Stage Door Canteen. The show is a celebration of the First Coast’s contribution to the war effort of the 1940s. We got a preview from Theatre Jacksonville executive director Sarah Boone, and show director Jean Tait.

And we found out what’s going on around town this weekend with Jacksonville Magazine’s Kerry Speckman. Visit her website for a full list of events.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

Florida Education Association President Andy Ford on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

As Florida Education Association president, Andy Ford represents thousands of Florida teachers, and he’s headed to our nations capital net week for a conference on the most pressing issues facing public education. We spoke to him this morning about bullying in our schools, funding issues, controversies with the FCAT, and took your calls.

They’re some of the most influential public officials in the community, but few members of the public know much about our judiciary. There are currently three circuit court races and one county court race on the August ballot, as candidates for judge vie for your vote. You can find out more about those candidates tonight at judicial debate at the Florida Coastal School of Law. Mike Freed, head of the Jacksonville Bar Association, joined us with more about the debate.

In this week’s installment our 89.9 Summer Series, we took a look at the Jacksonville Public Library’s new reading program and microsite – Link Up to Literacy. We spoke to Kathy Tekin, Youth Services Coordinator at the Jacksonville Public Library, about the new program.

And we took a trip to Wells World as we found out all of the best vacation deals with travel expert Judy Wells. Visit her site for more information.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

Gulf Coast Live: Secular Coalition for America / Sun Safety

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ….” we’ll talk a representative from Secular Coalition for America which is organizing a Florida Chapter.

And from the Lee County Health Department tips for staying safe this season – working and playing in the subtropical sun.

The show will be live at Noon on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Gulf Cost Live: Arts Edition – Economic Impact of Arts / All Shook Up

A new national economic impact study shows Lee County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generates more than 68 million dollars in economic activity and supports more than 2,000 jobs a year.  We’ll dive into that study.

Plus the music of Elvis cross the story of Twelfth Night combine for a rockin’ good time as the Naples Players open All Shook Up. We’ll meet the woman who originated the female lead on Broadway.

Guests:
Lydia Black – Executive Director Lee County Alliance for the Arts
Robert Lynch – President and CEO Americans for the Arts

Jennifer Gambatese – Broadway Actress
Charles Fornara – Music Director Naples Players

The show will be live at Noon on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Intersection: Corruption in Florida

Florida led the nation during the past decade in its number of federal public corruption convictions, a new report finds.

The report from Integrity Florida, a non-profit non-partisan research organization, comes as the Florida Commission on Ethics meets to adopt a legislative agenda for next year’s session.

The report finds that Florida faces a “corruption crisis” and that there was an upward trend toward more federal public corruption convictions between 2000 and 2010.

This week on Intersection an expert panel discusses the problem of corruption in Florida government. Dan Krassner is executive director of Integrity Florida. Bill Cotterell is a longtime Tallahassee journalist for The Current and the Tallahassee Democrat. John Kennedy is a Tallahassee journalist for the Palm Beach Post.

“We have legislators all the time being accused of ethics violations, going before the commission, sometimes reaching a settlement or being found guity of a charge,” Kennedy says. “The punishment to some degree, it’s sort of colonial. It’s like you’re put in the stocks. You get a newspaper story on 3B or something like that, and that’s pretty much the extent of it.”

Do you think corruption in Florida government is a problem?

Tune into Intersection and then share your perspective here on Florida Talks. The show airs Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.

Gulf Coast Live: Reapportionment and the 2012 Election/ Feral Cats in Lee County

The re-drawing of Florida’s legislative and congressional districts is shaking up some political races in Florida.  The new maps are creating challenges for some incumbent candidates who have seen their old districts divided, while also creating new opportunities for other political hopefuls.

Some candidates in Southwest Florida are finding they have to move in order to reside in a new district they hope to represent and that’s led to accusations of carpet bagging.

Are candidates putting their political ambition ahead of the interests of residents or are they truly vested in the areas they’re looking to represent?

Our panel of political experts will take a closer look at reapportionment and how it could impact voters in the upcoming elections.

Plus, Lee County is home to an estimated 99,000 feral cats.

We’ll take a closer look at how so many free-roaming cats have come to call Southwest Florida home as we highlight a Lee County Domestic Animal Services program aimed at addressing the problem without euthanization.

The show will be live at Noon on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

New Ways to Fund Jacksonville Public Libraries on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

A new report says Jacksonville public library system can’t survive without major changes to how it’s funded. Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI) released the study, which recommends an independent tax district to make sure books stay on library shelves. Our local libraries have seen a 42% decrease in funding since 2005. We spoke to Ben Warner, executive director of JCCI, and Harry Reagan, of Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, about new sources of funding for the system.

WJCT CEO Michael Boylan joined us with an update about everything going on at our station.

Jacksonville University has just won a $1.9 million government grant to continue its Upward Bound program in five local high schools. The program gives dozens of local kids a leg up by letting them take college courses in their junior and senior years. Glori White Peters, director of TRIO programs at Jacksonville University, joined us with more about the program.

And we kicked off our 89.9 Summer Series this morning with a visit to Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Patty Hudson, with Florida State Parks, joined us with more about all of the great things to do there.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

City of Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Director Alan Verlander

Alan Verlander was a high-profile hire by the Alvin Brown administration, brought in to make Jacksonville a destination for big sporting events. He’s the city’s new Sports and Entertainment Director, and is looking to book everything from NCAA events to even a bid to host the 2016 Olympic swimming trials here in Jacksonville. We spoke to Alan Verlander about his goals for the office, and took your calls about what sporting events should come to Jacksonville.

We also heard from women’s health author Genie James as she spoke with OBGYN Lori Leasburge and therapist Mercedes McGowan about “precocious puberty” – girls going through puberty earlier than normal.

Last week the Obama administration announced a new plan allowing young immigrants who brought to this country as minors to put off deportation. As the debate rages over immigration reform, Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is working to provide citizenship education services to local immigrants. The initiative is being funded by a grant fromt he Department of Homeland Security. Christine Small, FSCJ campus grant manager, and Ashli Totty, FSCJ’s English as a Second Language coordinator, joined us with more about the program.

The group Live Give Skate just finished an ambitious quest – to inline skate across America, make it into the record books, and raise awareness for the Special Olympics in the process. The group of endurance athletes set out from California on roller blades almost 50 days ago, and ended this weekend right here on the First Coast in Neptune Beach. Did they reach their goal? We spoke to skater Kacie Fischer and road manager Kevin Crossman to find out.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

World Refugee Day on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

June 20th is World Refugee Day, and there are several different agencies here on the First Coast that work year-round to settle displaced people who flee their home countries in search of a better life and freedom from persecution. Refugees come to Jacksonville from countries around the world, and it can be challenging to find them places to live, jobs, and even help with basic things like communication in a language they often don’t know. We spoke to Molly Tidwell, spokesperson for the Jacksonville refugee resettlement agency World Relief, about what they’re doing to help refugees integrate into the First Coast’s population.

This Saturday is the 8th annual Health and Neighborhoods Day, or HANDS Day. The Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation has organized vendors and sponsors at the new North Point Town Center, which will be the focal point for people who live in the area to get together and enjoy some entertainment. Paul Tutwiler, president of the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation, joined us with more about the event.

Tomorrow night, students from the Florida State College at Jacksonville are previewing a new rock opera they’ve created. The one night only event is a sneak peek of La Caroline, which tell the story of the settling of Fort Caroline right here on the First Coast. Jennifer Chase and John Citrone, who wrote the rock opera, joined us along with some of the stars of the show. We also get a special in-studio performance to preview the event.

And we found out what’s going on around town this weekend with Jacksonville Magazine’s Kerry Speckman. Visit her website for a full list of events.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.