We Can’t Just Shop Our Way Out of It: Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson interview Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, and author of Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America, about her book, and about her extensive work on food, water, energy, and environmental issues at the national, state and local level.
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Sequestration, Government Shutdown, and the Debt Ceiling Impasse: The Republicans’ Last Stand? With the federal government on the eve of shutdown, Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Steve Williamson, and Bill Timberman discuss the origins, evolution, and consequences of Republican Tea Party radicalism as revealed in the latest congressional confrontation over the Affordable Care Act and the funding of government operations.
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The Least We Can Do: The Verde Valley School Maintenance and Operation Budget Override Elections. Every Arizona voter knows, or should know, that increasingly savage budget cutting by our State Legislature has impoverished our school system, and put the future of our children at risk. Short of throwing all the present incumbents out of office, we also know that there is very little we can do about it. Part of that very little is on the ballot this November: the School Maintenance and Operation Budget Override elections.
Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson welcome James Ledbetter, President of the Governing Board of the Mingus Union High School District No. 4, Dr. Paul Tighe, Superintendent of the Mingus Union High School District No. 4, and David D. Lykins, Superintendent of the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District No. 9, for a discussion of the budget override elections in their districts, and why it’s absolutely crucial, in an era of restricted school budgets, to vote FOR the overrides.
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Viticulture and Winemaking in the Verde Valley: a Dream, a Passion, and a Successful Business Model. Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson welcome five people to the show who’ve been instrumental in the rise of the wine industry in Arizona’s Verde Valley, where our show is based:
Sandy Moriarty, a founder of the Sedona Winefest, and its current Director.
John Scarbrough, winemaker at Cellar Dwellers Wine Company, and Fire Mountain Wines.
Tom Schumacher, President of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium.
Paula Woolsey, Vice President of the Consortium, and Marketing Director of the Arizona Stronghold Wine Company.
Ted Ferring, graduating student and assistant to the Director of Viticulture at Yavapai College, and intern and assistant to the winemaker at the Javelina Leap Winery.
This is a story of vision, passion, hard work and genuine success by people who weren’t hesitant to contribute their expertise and commitment to bettering the community they live in. It’s also a story of of both economic and cultural success at a time when things are very tough here in Arizona. We at Democratic Perspective believe that our entire community owes them both respect and gratitude for their accomplishments.
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What If Arizona Had a Real Attorney General? You Know — Competent, Ethical, Responsive to the Needs of the People: Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson interview Felecia Rotellini, career prosecutor and Democratic candidate for the office of Arizona Attorney General in 2014.
With twenty-seven years experience in private and public law, thirteen years experience in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and three years experience as the Superintendent of the State Banking Department, now the Department of Financial Institutions, Ms. Rotellini is running for the office of Attorney General in 2014. Her record of genuine service to the people of Arizona includes the successful prosecution of the Arthur Andersen accounting firm for certifying the fraudulent activities of the Baptist Foundation of Arizona — the same Arthur Andersen later forced into liquidation over the Enron scandal.
The Republican incumbent, Tom Horne, has a questionable record of ethical violations and personal ideological crusades that have little to do with service to the citizens of Arizona. If a clear choice is what Arizona voters want, we at Democratic Perspective believe this race offers them one.
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On September 2, 2013, Democratic Perspective hosted gay rights activist, Mark Luckey. Luckey is president of Sedona Pride, representing the LBGT community for the entire Verde Valley of Northern Arizona. Our co-hosts, Steve Williamson and Mike Cosentino, began the interview by noting the change in attitude toward gay rights referring to a recent statement from the Pope that he wouldn’t make judgments on the sexuality of others.
We then turned to what’s happening in the Verde Valley. “There’s actually a lot going on,” said Mark. “The City of Jerome passed a civil union ordinance. It was very interesting to see that. Sedona Pride and Verde Valley Pride are working with the cities of Cottonwood and Sedona to pass civil union ordinances, as well.”
When asked about attitudes in the Verde Valley, Luckey responded, “I think the LGBT community in the Verde Valley is very supported by the rest of the community. I don’t have a problem walking down the street here anymore. I’ve been here seven years now. I’ve always felt that Cottonwood, Sedona, Clarkdale, Jerome and Camp Verde have been very welcoming.”
When asked about changes, Luckey replied, “It has changed very considerably. There’s still things to be done. There’s still kids who are being bullied for being gay…people getting picked on all the time. But it’s not as common as it was 20 years ago, even 10 years ago.”
Reminded of the Internet video in which the interviewer challenges people who believe being gay is a choice by asking when did you decide to be straight? Luckey confirmed, “I think that, for the LGBT community, choosing to be discriminated against, choosing to be harassed and picked on, and choosing to have less rights than everyone else. I don’t think it’s a choice.”
Turning to the Pride Festival, Luckey said, “There are lots of wonderful things coming up. On Thursday, Sept. 26 there will be a Pre-Pride Meet and Greet at Reds in Sedona. Then on Friday it’s a Neon Insomnia Bar Crawl. We’re asking everyone to dress in their best neon for a pub crawl through five of the best bars and restaurants in Old Town Cottonwood. We’ll start at Burning Tree Cellars. Then we’re doing a Neon Insomnia Pre-Party at Main Stage in Cottonwood with our special guest, Pandora DeStrange who considers himself a gender outlaw. Pandora will be followed by a band from Sedona called VoodaBang.”
“On Saturday the 28th,” Luckey continued, “we start our festival at noon in the Activity Park in Old Town Cottonwood right behind the Old City Hall building where they have the Farmers’ Market. That will run from noon to eight o’clock with live entertainment hosted by Clayton McKee from QTalk America.com. We are encouraging people to go out in to Old Town for their dining experience because we have a lot of support from restaurants. That evening we’re doing an After Party at 1.5 Quince on Main Street in Cottonwood with the Men of Homorodeo. We’re expecting about 1,200 people this year.”
When asked what civil rights issues the community is facing now, Luckey mentioned that gay marriage is banned in Arizona. He then said, “Well, some of the positive changes are with the federal government and the IRS extending benefits to same sex marriages. So if you get married in New York and come back to Arizona, the federal government will now recognize it for IRS purposes. It’s a wonderful. Any insurance benefits…any medical benefits that are recognized for heterosexual couples are now extended to legally-married gay couples.”
After a discussion of the major events in the history of the movement, the conversation turned back to recent gains. Steve and Mike noted that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed by the Obama administration and that fourteen states now recognize gay marriage.
Asked about the opposition to gay marriage – whether it’s ideological, religious or animosity toward gays – Luckey responded, “I think it’s a mix of all of that. Things have continued to change and there will always be opposition to every advancement, whether it’s good or bad. And for marriage equality, I think we’re standing on the edge of something really good right now. I think more and more people are becoming accepting of the idea.”
When asked why civil unions don’t solve the problem, Mark replied, “Because it’s not an equal thing. Marriage is a state right for you. I don’t want anything special than what we’ve already been offered in our Constitution.”
He concluded by noting the economic effect the ban on gay marriage is having in Arizona. “It’s estimated that the State of Arizona is losing $200 million a year because of not allowing gay marriage, said Luckey. “I know a lot of people who would like to get married in Sedona.”
For more information and a complete list of events for the upcoming Pride Festival, visit the Sedona Pride website.
Equal Rights and the Verde Valley: A Decade of Progress: Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson interview Mark Luckey, Verde Valley gay rights advocate. They discuss recent progress on critical LGBT issues in Arizona and the nation, upcoming local events, and the prospects for the future of equal rights in Arizona. There’s been a lot of good news lately, everyone, but the struggle goes on….
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What Grassroots Means: Organizing Democrats in A Republican Town. Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson welcome Susan Solomon, Elizabeth Yancey, founding President and Vice-President, respectively of the Democrats of the Red Rocks (DORR) in Sedona, Arizona, together with Angela LeFevre, a past president of the organization and current member of the board, for a discussion of how DORR was founded, what its mission was and is, and how it has successfully contributed to the political development of our community and state.
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Conservative Extremism in Arizona’s Legislative District 6: Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster and Steve Williamson examine the legislative records and public statements of the Republican state legislators representing LD6: State Senator Chester Crandell, and State Representatives Brenda Barton and Bob Thorpe. From their racist tweets to their sponsorship of anti-federal legislative proposals, they don’t appear to represent the main stream of the Republican Party. Is this what the Republican voters of LD6 thought they were getting when they marked their ballots last November?
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