School Boards On The Frontline AND Irvine Mayor Khan Is Invited To Speak

One week til the midterm elections, folks. After the tsunami of October surprises, we seem to be experiencing November surprises, so keep your critical thinking caps on ever snugly. Today my guests are Allyson Muñiz Damikolas, Tustin Unified School Board member with insights about the trends afoot in Orange County school boards’ composition. Think tectonic plates moving under our feet.

In the second segment the planned guest, who committed to this segment, and despite repeated attempts to reach her live, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan was unavailable. She is running for another term. The host pressed on with election advisories.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Zélia Barbosa, Sertão & Favelas; ”Conga del Fuego” composed by Arturo Marquez, Gustavo Dudamel conducting Simon Bolivar of Venezuela; “Minor Swing,” Black Market Trust, Songs – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DamikolasKhan1-1-22.mp3

OC Registrar of Voters on Our Midterms AND Meet Scott Hansen, Irvine City Council Candidate

First guest will be Orange County’s newish Registrar of Voters Bob Page for our ritual coverage of election logistics as vote by mail ballots will be shipping their way to Californians’ homes. He offers a shopping list of tabs on https://ocvote.gov/ to register to vote, track your ballot, apply for voting center poll work, report improper activities pertaining to elections, and follow the results at 8:05 p.m. 11-8th. Hotlines to keep handy: 714-567-7600 or 888-OC VOTE.

In the second segment (minute 30:13) is Scott Hansen, one of six Irvine City Council candidates running for two seats; one open and the other challenging incumbent Anthony Kuo, who’s been invited to this show, but has not responded.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Brahms Symphony No.1, Marin Alsop conducting London Philharmonic Orchestra; Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, “Outbound,” Outbound – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/PageHansen10-4-22.mp3

OCPA Update: Accounting, Accountability, and Action

For the full hour is Linda Kraemer, Orange County chapter co-chair of the Climate Reality Project. As we continue coverage of local climate actions we turn to Linda for her inestimably thorough pursuits, closely following local institutions’ energy distribution models in pursuit of lowering everyone’s, businesses’ and residents’, carbon footprints. Means for following up: https://www.climaterealityoc.com/ or LKTeamTalk@gmail.com.
Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Electronic José González, “Swing EP,” Solomun Remix.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Kraemer7-19-22.mp3

Small “d” Democratic Values In Irvine

In advance of the fall municipal election season, we listen to Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan who has requested an opportunity to speak on this platform. We discuss her record, her performance, and her connections – subjects of which have been the focus of our attention on previous “Ask A Leader” programs. It is a democratic story, with a small d – that runs through Armenia to Anaheim to the Authority, that is the OCPA.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Vancouver Inter-Culture Orchestra, “Gypsy Chronicles (Crossing Byzantium),” In The Key of the World – album; and Demanda E Despejo, Bartosz Weber remix.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Khan6-21-22.mp3

Irvine Mayor’s Foreign & Personal Policy AND Examining the Presidents’ Calendars

This action packed show starts with Kev Abazajian, UCI astrophysicist and Director of the Center for Cosmology, who zoomd from the international to the municipal in this week’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. On April 22nd at 7:30 pm, the Armenian Center in Santa Ana will host a somber occasion for the community to learn about centuries old and recent developments in Armenia.

In the second segment (minute 31:11), UCI political scientist Matthew Beckmann parses how American presidential schedules signal each administration’s involvement, priorities, and capacities; the subject has returned to our radar since the former president’s schedule’s eye-opening seven hour gap on 1/6/21.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Djivan Gasparian, “A Cool Wind is Blowing,” I Will Not Be Sad in the World – album; Michael Dessen, “Water Seeks,” Between Shadow and Space – album. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/AbazajianBeckmann4-19-22.mp3

Irvine Watchdog Sniffs Out Process Issues

Irvine Watchdog members Branda Lin and Richard Green return, for the whole hour, to speak in advance of the Irvine City Council’s meeting the same day of the broadcast. This show will hone in on some persistent erosions in transparency and accountability in how the City Council conducts business. The Watchdog will offer means for listeners to turn out the same day of this broadcast. The agenda is available here for residents’ perusal: https://irvinewatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/5.1.pdf. Branda and Richard will return soon to hone in on the joint powers agreement agency known as the Orange County Power Authority. Rate payers take note.

Music credits: Chimora, “African Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Arturo Márquez, “Danzón No.2,” Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Simon Bolivar Orchestra.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/LinGreen3-22-22.mp3

The Reach Of Corruption in Irvine and Beyond

Mindful that listeners’ ears are drawn to the coverage of what’s taking place in Ukraine, today’s show’s elements have their own kind of connection dealing with corruption. Both guests generously offer their talents and might in non-profit capacities: Akaash Maharaj, Ambassador-at-Large, with Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption and Branda Lin, co-founder of Irvine Watchdog. They draw a through line from the local level to far beyond. They will be examining resources, relationships, and realities. Note: The aforementioned “California Water Supply Infrastructure Trust Account Initiative” signature collection for statewide prop this fall, has been suspended. And the Poseidon desalination project proposed in Huntington Beach, has been withdrawn from the CA Coastal Commission March meeting schedule. Stay tuned for future agendizing. Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa- album; Sportive Tricks, “Rigs of Time,” Old Dogs New Tricks – album. 

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/MaharajLin2-22-22.mp3