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| Bay Window : Meeting of the Mayors: Press Release |
GOTTA GRIPE? YOU'RE NOT ALONE. KQED CONVENES A MAYORAL SUMMIT ON BAY WINDOW "MEETING OF THE MAYORS"
Lively Roundtable Discussion Featuring Local City Leaders Examines Problems and Issues Affecting Life in the Bay Area
The James Irvine Foundation Continues to Lead Funding of Civic Series
San Francisco, CA, March 30, 2001—Affordable housing shortage...inefficient public transportation...unbridled neighborhood gentrification…traffic gridlock...The list of issues and problems concerning Bay Area residents are as varied and diverse as the people who call the region home. Likewise, the challenges to improve and maintain our standard of living and quality of life are becoming increasingly complex. The area's rapid growth in recent years as a result of the boom in the high-tech sector is unprecedented anywhere else in the country if not the world. Even basic resources such as electricity and water can no longer be taken for granted but require innovative planning and solutions.
On Friday, April 6 at 9 p.m., KQED will present Bay Window "Meeting of the Mayors," which brings together prominent Bay Area city leaders to tackle the most pressing problems facing the region. Series host Scott Shafer, who has more than a dozen years experience in California politics, government and media, moderates this engaging one-hour discussion featuring San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, Richmond Mayor Rosemary Corbin and Livermore Mayor Cathie Brown. "Meeting of the Mayors" is a summit focusing on solutions and a united effort by Bay Area leaders to come together on the core issues that impact the future of every community in the region, as they look beyond their city limits and face the future as a unified front.
"Meeting of the Mayors" begins with documenting the history of the Bay Area and the policies and politics which led to the present situation. The group of civic leaders then responds to direct questions from local residents regarding issues concerning them and their families. The panelists will address these issues from a regional perspective, recognizing that the connective thread which runs through communities in the Bay Area also links the problems we now face as a region.
"The program is a chance to get beyond complaints about the daily annoyances of Bay Area gridlock and housing prices," said host Scott Shafer. "We hope this leads to better understanding about how our lives in the region are interconnected and how our leaders can work together more closely to keep the quality of life we all desire."
A rich companion Web site accompanies the show at kqed.org/baywindow/mayors. The site features information and links to Bay Area regional organizations and connects visitors with opportunities to get involved in working toward a sustainable future. Visitors can also learn how the Bay Area housing market compares to other cities, find the top 10 worst gridlocked freeway stretches, get the projected Bay Area population in 2011 and learn the difference between smart growth and NIMBYism (Not in My Back Yard) in our redevelopment glossary.
Directly following the program, from 10 to 10:30 p.m., there will be a special live online discussion moderated by members of the Bay Area Alliance. The discussion will provide a forum for viewers to ask questions and make their voices heard in this complicated issue.
Bay Window, hosted by Scott Shafer, is an award-winning, monthly series exploring issues that affect our lives in the Bay Area and reflect civic life nationwide. Through television, print, the Web and outreach programs, Bay Window engages people in dialogue, convenes critical stakeholders and builds new connections within our communities. Bay Window airs the first Friday of the month.
Bay Window "Meeting of the Mayors" is underwritten by The James Irvine Foundation, with additional support from the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation.
KQED operates KQED Public Television 9, the nation's most-watched public television station, and Digital Television 30, Northern California's only public television digital signal; KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM, the most listened-to public radio station in the nation; the KQED Education Network, which brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and media professionals through workshops, seminars and resources; and kqed.org, which harnesses the power of the Internet to bring KQED to communities across the Web.
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