Election Wrap Up

Join host Jerry Roberts and guests Craig Smith of Craig Smith's Blog and Nick Welsh of the Independent as they discuss, review and reflect on this year’s Santa Barbara City elections. What happened? What does it all means?

If you didn't catch this episode on Channel 21, you can watch the entire program below.

Real Talk: A Santa Barbara Forum - Election Wrap Up from The Santa Barbara Channels on Vimeo.

Real Talk Hones in on Local Elections

After Labor Day, the election season always starts to heat up. Real Talk, A Santa Barbara Forum gathered some local journalists this week to offer their insights for Real Talk "A Reporters’ Roundtable on the Santa Barbara Elections.” The program begins airing on Friday, September 11th.

This one hour program, the seventh in the station’s community affairs series, brought together:

• Lara Cooper, Noozhawk
• Craig Smith, Craig Smith’s blog
• Nick Welsh, Santa Barbara Independent

Jerry Roberts, publications director at UCSB, and blogger at Calbuzz.com, hosted the program.

The panelists provided their insights on the upcoming City Council and Mayoral elections for Santa Barbara, discussed Measure B, and even the 2010 District Attorney’s race. The discussion ranged from what impact the mail-in ballot only system will have on voting patterns and turnout to fundraising.

What do these savvy journalists see as the most important issues to local voters? How will City Hall be different depending on who prevails? To find out answers to these questions and for an informative hour on local politics, tune in to Real Talk, on Channel 21, starting this Friday, September 11th at Noon.

Real Talk will air regularly on SBTV21:
Fridays at 12 Noon and 8:30 PM
Saturdays at 7 PM
Sundays at 7 PM.
Mondays at 12 Noon and 8:30 PM

Reporters look at the city election

The next Real Talk, a Santa Barbara Forum will feature a roundtable discussion with local journalists commenting on the upcoming elections. Nick Welsh from the Independent, Lara Cooper from Noozhawk, and local blogger Craig Smith will join host Jerry Roberts in the SB Channels studio to discuss the mayoral and city council races, Measure B, and next year’s race for District Attorney. A live studio audience will be present on Wednesday, September 9, 10 am.

Viewers who want to be in the audience or who want to submit questions in advance should email forum@sbchannels.tv.

Real Talk: Up in Smoke-Medical Marijuana

Real Talk, the public affairs program hosted by Jerry Roberts, and which airs on The Santa Barbara Channels, Channel 21 is tackling the topic of local pot dispensaries and is looking for studio guests who might want to be part of the conversation.

Medical marijuana has been legalized by the State of California. Local dispensaries are licensed by the City of Santa Barbara, while other municipalities are considering how to handle them. Should they be regulated and monitored more closely? Why do we have more than the city of Oakland? Should they be taxed? How do neighbors of medical marijuana dispensaries feel? Should local government limit the number of them and make sure the locations are spread over town or allow them to be concentrated in just a few neighborhoods? Will taxing marijuana dispensaries legitimize marijuana and lead to its legalization? Or has it already been effectively legalized by lax regulations on medical marijuana prescriptions?

These and other related topics will be the focus of the next edition of Real Talk, a Santa Barbara Forum: “Up in Smoke- Medical Marijuana” which will be recorded on Wednesday, August 12th, 10 am-12 noon. Citizens wishing to be studio guests and possible participants should contact the station at forum@sbchannels.tv. Viewers having questions to ask the panel should send them to the same email address.

Real Talk: Prop 13-Time for Change? now on SBTV21

Across our country, people have often looked to California for innovation. To many the impetus for a nationwide tax revolt got its start in 1978 when California voters passed Proposition 13 which resulted in not only a cap on property taxes but which also included language establishing a two-thirds majority in both houses of the state legislature for any state tax increase. To some Prop 13 is the “third rail” (untouchable topic) but to others it is now seen as the root cause of California’s current budget crisis.

Prop 13 was the topic for a new episode of Real Talk, A Santa Barbara Forum, a public affairs program produced by The Santa Barbara Channels, and the fifth in the Real Talk series. Host/moderator Jerry Roberts welcomed Joe Armendariz, a member of the Carpinteria City Council, and Susan Rose, former Santa Barbara County Supervisor, to argue the pros and cons of Prop 13 and whether it’s time to challenge it.

Real Talk: Proposition 13 – Time for a Change? was recorded in front of a live studio audience who also had the opportunity to participate. The program explores how Prop 13 shapes the relationship between state and local government, whether it is still needed, whether there should be a different standard applied to business property than to residences, and delves into many other related issues.

“It’s a lively, informative, and balanced discussion of an important topic to all of us,” commented Hap Freund, Executive Director of The Santa Barbara Channels. “We’re appreciative that Jerry, Joe and Susan offered viewers their time and insights.”

Real Talk- Proposition 13- Time for a Change? will repeat for several weeks on the following dates and times:
Sundays at 7 PM.
Mondays at Noon and 8:30 PM
Wednesdays at Midnight and 5 PM
Fridays at Noon and 8:30 PM
Saturdays at 7 PM

Prop. 13 - Time for Change? Audience Participants Wanted!

As Santa Barbara braces for big cuts in public schools and social programs, and other local governments struggle to balance their budgets, political reform advocates argue it's time to change the way California operates. Many say Proposition 13 is the place to start.

Since its passage in 1978, the Prop. 13 property tax cut initiative has transformed the economic and political landscape of our state. Supporters assert it has protected residential property owners from being taxed out of their homes and that it has produced stability and certainty in property tax rates for businesses. Critics claim it has caused severe damage to the state's education system and ripped political power away from local governments and handed it to lawmakers in Sacramento.

The Santa Barbara Channels’ Real Talk: A Santa Barbara Forum series will record a one-hour special examining the pros and cons of Prop. 13 on Wednesday, July 22. The program will also explore underlying causes of the state’s financial crisis and the new effort to radically restructure government in California. Joe Armendariz, a current Carpinteria City Council member and Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association, and Susan Rose, former Santa Barbara County Supervisor, will face off in what promises to be a spirited discussion. Jerry Roberts, Publications Director at UCSB, and formerly Executive Editor of the Santa Barbara News-Press and Managing Editor of The San Francisco Chronicle, will be the host and moderator.

Real Talk will look at several questions, including:

• Should Prop. 13 be changed to allow a different tax rate for commercial and residential property?
• Should Prop. 13's two-thirds requirement for new taxes be relaxed?
• Does Prop. 13 put too much power in the hands of Sacramento politicians?
• What can be done to repair the dysfunction of state government?
• How does all this affect Santa Barbara taxpayers, parents and voters?

For the first time, a studio audience, limited to 20 people, is invited to participate and ask questions. Those interested in being part of the studio discussion may contact Hap Freund. E-mailed questions will also be considered forum@sbchannels.tv.

Real Talk airs on Channel 21 Sundays at 7 pm, Mondays at12 noon and 8:30 pm, Wednesdays at 12 midnight and 5 pm, and Fridays at 12 noon and 8:30 pm.

New "Real Talk" Episodes in the Works

The Santa Barbara Channels has settled into our new studio at 7000 Hollister Avenue, which can accommodate a live audience. Now we’re planning all-new episodes of Real Talk: A Santa Barbara Forum with host Jerry Roberts. If you’d like to be part of our studio audience, or have questions and suggestions for future topics, we want to hear from you at forum@sbchannels.tv.

Coming Up Next on Real Talk:

• In the wake of voter approval for Proposition 8, the issue of tax-exempt status for religious organizations making major political contributions has created a huge controversy. Should these groups continue to benefit from tax-exempt status?
• The oily mess continues with the debate about offshore oil drilling in Santa Barbara County. Should the moratorium be lifted? What’s your opinion about the search for oil off California’s coast?
• The saga of the California State budget fiasco continues. Real Talk takes a closer look at some of the true impacts of the state budget crisis in Santa Barbara County. How have you been affected? Should the Governor cut critical services to the poor? What are some solutions our state lawmakers can consider? What can be done at the local level?
• Academic freedom and political activism became a huge controversy in Santa Barbara with the recent matter concerning UCSB’s Professor Robinson. Should professors be allowed to speak out on issues or should they be censored? Academic Freedom vs. Activism, what’s your take?
• Newspapers are closing down or going bankrupt on a daily basis, leaving gaping holes in what our news looks like. What is the future of the press? What are the alternatives to traditional newspapers?

Remember to send all your questions, comments or suggestions to forum@sbchannels.tv.

And stay tuned for next Real Talk on the Santa Barbara Channels, Channel 21.

California Schools in Crisis

On the next edition of Real Talk, A Santa Barbara Forum, a candid interview with Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, takes aim at California’s crisis in funding for public schools and is now airing Santa Barbara Channels, Channel 21.

During the first half hour, program host and moderator Jerry Roberts interviews Jack O’Connell. The discussion covers the State budget crisis and its effect on education, the economic stimulus and its impact, the upcoming May 19th election, California’s low ranking in education expenditures, test scores rankings, and much more.

The second half hour follows up on those issues with a discussion of how our local schools are coping with the financial pressures generated by the budget conundrum, The guests are:

• Robin Sawaske, Associate Superintendent, SB School District
• Celeste Darga, 1st grade teacher at Washington Elementary School
• Sandy Robertson, 8th grade English teacher at SB Jr. High School

Prior Real Talk programs have dealt with the impact of the national economy on us locally, the state budget crisis, and the local gang situation. Real Talk airs regularly on SB Channels, Channel 21:

• Monday at Noon and 8:30 PM
• Wednesdays at Midnight and 5 PM
• Fridays at Noon and 8:30 PM
• Sundays at 7 PM

Jerry Roberts, the program host and moderator, is Publications Director at UCSB, and formerly served as Executive Editor of the Santa Barbara News-Press and Managing Editor of The San Francisco Chronicle.

To submit suggestions for future shows, please contact forum@sbchannels.tv.