The sad news about former President Jimmy Carter and his remarkable press conference this morning got the old memory bank fired up invovling the time I saw my first presidential motorcade.
It was in the fall of 1978. I was hopelessly infatuated with a girl who didn't know I existed. I had nothing going for me as a complete non-entity on a big campus. The one thing I did enjoy was being a very minor member of the WRSU-FM in New Brunswick sports staff. This student run radio station was where I met lifelong friends, with whom today I communicate on almost a daily basis.
Anyhow former New York Knick star Bill Bradley was running for Senate in New Jersey against Jeff Bell. We received word in our newsroom that President Carter was coming along with New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne to a Bill Bradley rally on campus. Even though not a Jimmy Carter fan at the time, I thought this would be fun.
The night before the visit the main drag through town College Avenue. was a beehive of activity. The street was repaved for the first time since 1925 I think.!! What was amazing was that this was only 16 years since the JFK assassination and it was pretty obvious what the motorcade route was going to be!! Not a whole lot of security precautions.
There was a just a small crowd the next afternoon but it was enthusiastic as the motorcade rolled by. President Carter, Governor Byrne (Who is still alive and probably is the only person in US history to outlive an arena named after him!) and Bill Bradley all stood up and were clearly visible. Of the three, Bradley was easily the most popular. Carter looked older in person than he did on TV. What clearly stands out my mind is what happened just before he passed me.
A group of African American Students gave him the "Black Power" salute made famous 10 years earlier by John Carlos and Tommy Smith at the 1968 Olympics. And President Carter smiled and returned the salute. For just a fleeting second, the group of students were stunned. Then they all cheered.
Years later, when my friend was named principal of the Jimmy Carter Elementary School in Palm Desert, I contacted his media relations people in Georgia. Within a week an autographed photo and letter from the former President arrived at the school.
With his work for charity for decades, Jimmy Carter has proven to be at the top of the list of men and what they can accomplish after the Presidency. I wish him well.
Steve Kelly is a free lance journalist based in Cathedral City California. He can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Palm Springs Stonewall Update
Last night I posted to the Palm Springs politics Facebook page that I thought the endorsements by the Stonewall Democrats of Ginny Foat for Palm Springs Mayor and Paul Lewin for City Council were part of a pre-determined exercise which involves a foregone conclusion. I may have been a wee bit harsh.
I have since been informed by multiple sources that while Paul Lewin was endorsed in a landslide, Ms. Foat had a tougher go. If this is true, it does reflect favorably on the group. It was also good that a large crowd attended the event.
In spite of that, my curiosity remains peaked by a few occurences at the meeting.
Why was Palm Springs City council candidate Geoff Kors, who was already endorsed by Stonewall back in March, allowed to speak to the crowd? I can understand him giving a quick thank you to the crowd but why take away valuable time from other candidates who are looking to get an endorsement? It was also interesting Mr. Kors called for a living wage in Palm Springs. A worthy idea. Unfortunately it is also one that is DOA despite the published reports of it's stellar reception by the audience. Palm Springs is a city supposedly run by progressives but still has no union hotels in it. There is absolutely no way the power brokers i.e. developers in Palm Springs will allow a living wage. This is not San Francisco or Seattle..
Also, as some of you may know, if Ms. Foat is elected mayor a 3rd seat on the council will be open. Stonewall did not back a presumptive candidate which surprised me. I would have thought that J.R. Roberts, who is somewhat running in tandem with Ms. Foat would have gotten the nod.
So good for Stonewall for injecting a little bit of drama into the proceedings. I still remain convinced the upcoming election in Palm Springs needs some spark but we shall see.
Steve Kelly is a freelance journalist who is based in Cathedral City California. He can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
I have since been informed by multiple sources that while Paul Lewin was endorsed in a landslide, Ms. Foat had a tougher go. If this is true, it does reflect favorably on the group. It was also good that a large crowd attended the event.
In spite of that, my curiosity remains peaked by a few occurences at the meeting.
Why was Palm Springs City council candidate Geoff Kors, who was already endorsed by Stonewall back in March, allowed to speak to the crowd? I can understand him giving a quick thank you to the crowd but why take away valuable time from other candidates who are looking to get an endorsement? It was also interesting Mr. Kors called for a living wage in Palm Springs. A worthy idea. Unfortunately it is also one that is DOA despite the published reports of it's stellar reception by the audience. Palm Springs is a city supposedly run by progressives but still has no union hotels in it. There is absolutely no way the power brokers i.e. developers in Palm Springs will allow a living wage. This is not San Francisco or Seattle..
Also, as some of you may know, if Ms. Foat is elected mayor a 3rd seat on the council will be open. Stonewall did not back a presumptive candidate which surprised me. I would have thought that J.R. Roberts, who is somewhat running in tandem with Ms. Foat would have gotten the nod.
So good for Stonewall for injecting a little bit of drama into the proceedings. I still remain convinced the upcoming election in Palm Springs needs some spark but we shall see.
Steve Kelly is a freelance journalist who is based in Cathedral City California. He can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Will Steve Pougnet See Us In September
The next few months should be very interesting in Palm Springs as we gear up for the fall elections. As I have already written, it appears that key power players and influential groups have united around 4 of the candidates, one for mayor and 3 for council. There may however, be one more act in the drama yet to be played out.
Outgoing Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet is currently under FPCC investigation for casting a vote involving a conflict of interest with involving his friend/employer Rich Meaney. Now some of the mayor's supporters have complained about the person who filed the complaint. That is a meaningless red herring. The fact that the FPCC took up the investigation means they believe the complaint has some merit.
The following is pure speculation but one has to wonder if in order to end the investigation, Pougnet might perhaps cut a deal with the FPCC, resign, pay a fine and ride off into the Colorado sunset. The impact of this would be minimal as far as governance is concerned since he has missed a lot of council meetings recently and only has 5 left before the next election. In fact, the Desert Sun Editorial Board basically threw down the gauntlet calling for Pougnet to either show up or leave town last month in an editorial.
Paul Lewin would take the gavel for those meetings but there would be no special election and by waiting till after November's filing period had closed, Mr. Pougnet would make sure no harm could come to Ginny Foat who is basically running as his 3rd term. (Don't believe me, look at her supporters and his from 2011. Almost a complete match.) Many have speculated that if given an earlier opportunity, Mr. Lewin himself would have run for mayor. But since the mayor stayed in office, Mr. Lewin did not want to risk losing his council seat while Ms. Foat, not being up for election, has a "free shot" at the office.
As aforementioned all of this of course is speculation but it is not beyond the realm of possibility. What continues to amaze me in this affair is no one knows what the mayor actually did while in the employ of Mr. Meaney that justified 2 years of a 6 figure salary? And if Steve Pougnet resigns and cuts a deal with the FPCC we may never know.
Steve Kelly is a free lance journalist based in Cathedral City Ca and can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
Outgoing Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet is currently under FPCC investigation for casting a vote involving a conflict of interest with involving his friend/employer Rich Meaney. Now some of the mayor's supporters have complained about the person who filed the complaint. That is a meaningless red herring. The fact that the FPCC took up the investigation means they believe the complaint has some merit.
The following is pure speculation but one has to wonder if in order to end the investigation, Pougnet might perhaps cut a deal with the FPCC, resign, pay a fine and ride off into the Colorado sunset. The impact of this would be minimal as far as governance is concerned since he has missed a lot of council meetings recently and only has 5 left before the next election. In fact, the Desert Sun Editorial Board basically threw down the gauntlet calling for Pougnet to either show up or leave town last month in an editorial.
Paul Lewin would take the gavel for those meetings but there would be no special election and by waiting till after November's filing period had closed, Mr. Pougnet would make sure no harm could come to Ginny Foat who is basically running as his 3rd term. (Don't believe me, look at her supporters and his from 2011. Almost a complete match.) Many have speculated that if given an earlier opportunity, Mr. Lewin himself would have run for mayor. But since the mayor stayed in office, Mr. Lewin did not want to risk losing his council seat while Ms. Foat, not being up for election, has a "free shot" at the office.
As aforementioned all of this of course is speculation but it is not beyond the realm of possibility. What continues to amaze me in this affair is no one knows what the mayor actually did while in the employ of Mr. Meaney that justified 2 years of a 6 figure salary? And if Steve Pougnet resigns and cuts a deal with the FPCC we may never know.
Steve Kelly is a free lance journalist based in Cathedral City Ca and can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
Monday, August 17, 2015
Hardly Diverse In Palm Springs
As we get closer to the fall, and closer to election time in Palm Springs, there is starting to be some discontent among the electorate. It seems all may not be perfect in that little corner of Riverside County. The discontent seems to fall along the lines of some people being upset that a large number of candidates have filed to run for Mayor and City Council.
I read some hand wringing fro some GOO GOO types (Good Government) who complain that with so many "Unqualified candidates", it may clutter up the Chamber of Commerce/One PS debate!! Oh the horrors!! The riff raff went out and got the signatures required to be on the ballot. Those candidates deserve their roster spot at the debate.
Having moderated debates in the past, I am more than certain that my friend journalist Hank Plante can readily handle all challenges. Hank is an award winning pro and this will be like water off his back.
What should really concern Palm Springs residents is that it appears the fix is in for 4 of the candidates. Ginny Foat for Mayor, Geoff Kors, Paul Lewin JR Roberts all appear to be the choices of the wealthy and connected. While personally I feel all 4 are good candidates the fact that groups such as the Stonewall Democrats, Equality California and big movers and shakers like Harold Matzner are on board with the 4 makes me wonder whether we are going to have an election or a coronation. (I have it from multiple sources Stonewall will endorse Ginny Foat, Geoff Kors and Paul Lewin tomorrow night.) All 4 are pretty much status quo, nothing wrong with Palm Springs, tourism approved candidates. The coup de gras will probably be all getting some endorsements by the Palm Springs Police and Fire Associations.
For all of the claims of being a progressive city embracing diversity, when you have oodles of cash and single party interest groups pushing the same candidates how is diversity served?
Steve Kelly is a free lance journalist in Cathedral City California. He can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
I read some hand wringing fro some GOO GOO types (Good Government) who complain that with so many "Unqualified candidates", it may clutter up the Chamber of Commerce/One PS debate!! Oh the horrors!! The riff raff went out and got the signatures required to be on the ballot. Those candidates deserve their roster spot at the debate.
Having moderated debates in the past, I am more than certain that my friend journalist Hank Plante can readily handle all challenges. Hank is an award winning pro and this will be like water off his back.
What should really concern Palm Springs residents is that it appears the fix is in for 4 of the candidates. Ginny Foat for Mayor, Geoff Kors, Paul Lewin JR Roberts all appear to be the choices of the wealthy and connected. While personally I feel all 4 are good candidates the fact that groups such as the Stonewall Democrats, Equality California and big movers and shakers like Harold Matzner are on board with the 4 makes me wonder whether we are going to have an election or a coronation. (I have it from multiple sources Stonewall will endorse Ginny Foat, Geoff Kors and Paul Lewin tomorrow night.) All 4 are pretty much status quo, nothing wrong with Palm Springs, tourism approved candidates. The coup de gras will probably be all getting some endorsements by the Palm Springs Police and Fire Associations.
For all of the claims of being a progressive city embracing diversity, when you have oodles of cash and single party interest groups pushing the same candidates how is diversity served?
Steve Kelly is a free lance journalist in Cathedral City California. He can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
Monday, August 3, 2015
A Big Thank You
In the title song from the movie "To Sir With Love", singer Lulu poses the question, "How can you thank someone who has taken you from crayons to perfume?" While there has been no Chanel for me, I need to say thank you to a lot of people for my broadcasting period in the the Valley.
I have been on the air for 19 years here in the Valley. I have been at RR Broadcasting for 17 of those years, working for the wonderful Ric and Rozene Supple. What a classy duo. That association unfortunately will be soon coming to an end. Technology, changing demographics and market considerations have led to this development. While being future endeavored at 56 is never a good thing, I would not trade my radio past for anything.
I have worked with radio giants: Grammy Award Winners Dave Hassinger and Don Wardell. 4 time Emmy Award Winner Tom Buchanan as well. Terrific local broadcasters, Gary Stone, Bud Furillo, Mike Meenan, Gene Nichols, Dennys Arcury, Paul Mitchell, Stan Layne and Rich Gilgallon. I have interacted with a great many talented local media colleagues at events like PGA Golf Tournaments and the BNP Paribas. I have had the great privilege of talking to the people who make our Valley great from Raul Ruiz to Ray Moore. I had a million laughs and a million smiles as well. Not bad for guy from New Milford, New Jersey.
You know when I shifted my specialty from sports to primarily local politics I thought it could be a little dicey. But I have always been treated with kindness and professionalism by local politicians, even those who didn't see eye to eye with me. I have enjoyed my interactions with the listeners as well.
I was in our anchor chair for 16 hours on 9-11 talking with all sorts of officials and trying to keep my emotions in check. 5 years later, I broadcast from that very site on KPSI. It was a special moment I will always remember, all made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Supple.
Our Valley is a special place. A place where you can get to start over. Even at 56. Again I want to thank all of my colleagues. Also I want to tell you while I have no idea what the future bodes, I eagerly await it. If it is half as good as the last 17 years, I am in for a ride. One I hope to continue with you.
Steve Kelly is now available for Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and general housekeeping. He can reached at svericker@yahoo.com
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