Linea Abierta Programming: October 7, 2024

Special Election Coverage. This week, as part of our “Hacia el Voto 2024” series, Línea Abierta continues offering an expanded two-hour program block to offer news and analysis on the November election, with a focus on the Latino vote, the top issues driving the vote, key races in battleground states, and the most relevant state ballot propositions.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7

PROGRAM #10536 11:00 AM PT

California Proposition 35. (Program Repeat). Proponents of Proposition 35, an initiative in California’s November ballot, plan to create a dedicated and ongoing stream of funding to provide health care for the state’s low-income residents by taxing managed-care health plans and use the money to better pay physicians, hospitals, and community clinics. Opponents feel that the proposition puts at risk millions of dollars secured for patients, workers, and programs in this year’s state budget. What’s in the plan? Both sides air their arguments in this edition of the series “Hacia el Voto 2024.” This program was originally aired on October 1, 2024.

Guests: Dr. Ramses Sánchez, Physician Assistant, Camarena Health, Yes on Proposition 35, Madera, CA; Mayra Alvarez, Executive Director, The Children’s Partnership, No on Proposition 35, Los Angeles, CA.

Latino Voters in North Carolina. North Carolina’s Latino population is growing faster than any racial group in the state and now exceeds one million people. However, Latino voter turnout went down in the last election after having increased in the past two midterm elections. Community groups are working to reenergize the Latino vote and are currently touring the state to register new voters.

Guest: Marlene Martinez, Deputy Field Director, Siembra NC, Thomasville, NC.

PROGRAM #10537 12:00 PM PT

Trump and Harris on Health Care Plans. Health care reform may not be a top issue in the presidential race, but it may be a defining concern for voters. Last week alone, the Harris campaign launched a number of health care-related spots highlighting her efforts to reduce costs and the risks for Obamacare protections. Reporters and political commentators take a look at the records and positions of both Trump and Harris.

Guests: José López Zamorano, News Contributor, Washington, DC; Paula Andalo, Ethnic Media Editor, KFF Health News, Silver Spring, MD; Fabiola Rodriguez, Deputy Hispanic Media Director, Harris for President, Wilmington, DE.

*********************

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8

PROGRAM #10538 11:00 AM PT

Educating English Learners in California. Advocates for English learners are celebrating the signing of AB 2074 into law. They call it a big shift from the days of Proposition 227 and English-only classrooms. This legislation is a key step forward in implementing the California English Learner Roadmap—a policy meant to provide guidance to districts and county offices of education throughout California. What’s the law’s plan to implement the roadmap’s policies? What would this roadmap mean in the life of English Learner students and families?

Guest: Cristina Salazar, Legislative Advocate, Californians Together, Los Angeles, CA.

Ups and Downs for Farm Worker Protections. California Gov. Newsom announced that he vetoed, again, a bill seeking to extend unemployment benefits to undocumented immigrants. Newsom also blocked a bill to protect California farmworkers from extreme heat and to file heat illness compensation claims. On the other hand, Newsom signed a bill (SB 1105), which allows farmworkers to use accrued paid sick leave during heat, flooding or smoke conditions when there is a local or state emergency.

Guest: Irene De Barraicua, Director of Policy and Communications, Líderes Campesinas, Sacramento, CA.

Homeless and Farm Worker Housing. California Gov. Newsom announced millions in grants to local governments to provide shelter or housing to help people experiencing homelessness in encampments. On other news, Newsom cut off state funding to the city of Norwalk after its local government banned new homeless shelters. Finally, in previous days, he signed two bills to boost access to affordable housing for California’s farmworkers and make it easier to build farmworker housing.

Guest: Elena Popp, Executive Director, Eviction Defense Network, Los Angeles, CA, today from Mexico City; excerpts from recent statements by California Governor, Gavin Newsom, and Assemblymenber Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno).

PROGRAM #10539 12:00 PM PT

Immigration Edition. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) released a new report detailing the U.S. government’s practice of intercepting refugee families at sea and detaining them indefinitely in inhumane and illegal conditions at the Guantanamo Bay naval base. An attorney and co-author of the report shares the details. Also, a new report shows that around 2.7 million individuals with Temporary Protected Status or other immigration protections could lose their legal relief in the next two years, while presidential candidate Donald Trump threatens to revoke TPS for Haitians in Ohio. Finally, a UCLA alumnus and a university lecturer filed a lawsuit against the University of California for discriminating against undocumented students enrolled at the institution by barring them from accessing on-campus employment and paid educational opportunities.

Guests: Jessica Bansal, Legal Director, Organized Power in Numbers, Claremont, CA; Thomas Kennedy, Spokesperson, Florida Immigrant Coalition-FLIC, Miami, Florida; José Miranda, Senior Staff Attorney, International Refugee Assistance Project, and co-author of “Offshoring Human Rights: Detention of Refugees at Guantánamo Bay,” New York, NY.

*********************

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

PROGRAM #10540 11:00 AM PT

Latino Farmers: Bumpy Road to Get Climate Funding. When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law two years ago, the plan was hailed as a historic investment into climate-smart agriculture, or farming practices that build climate resilience. The plan includes assistance for farmers and ranchers who experience discrimination in federal farm loan programs. But some Latino producers claim they lack information and they are struggling to navigate the complex federal system to get aid. Reporter Daniela Rodriguez spoke about those challenges with Latino farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, the leading agricultural region in the country.

Guests: Daniela Rodriguez, Radio Bilingüe News Reporter / UC Berkeley Fellow, Fresno, CA; Adelina Gonzalez, Farmer and Teacher, MAAHS Farm, Reedly, CA; Carlos Suarez, State Conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-USDA, Fresno, CA; Maria Carrillo, Farmer, JC Farms, Fresno, CA; Antonio Olmos, Owner/Farmer, CCA Farms, Fresno, CA.

PROGRAM #10541 12:00 PM PT

The Pulse of Latino Voters. The nation’s leading group of Latino officials polled Latino registered voters in California to learn about their candidate preferences for the top political races in Election 2024, top-of-mind voter issues, and Latino voter enthusiasm for the election. The leader of the survey shares their findings.

Guest: Dorian Caal, Director of Civic Engagement Research, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials-NALEO, Los Angeles, CA.

Hurricane Milton Takes Aim at Florida. Heavy rain, tropical storm force winds, tornadoes and high surf were forecast for Florida ahead of the arrival of powerful Hurricane Milton, which could be one of the worst to ever hit the state. Milton, which was downgraded to a Category 4, was expected to add to the destruction caused on the west coast by Hurricane Helene, which proved deadly two weeks ago.

Guest: Nely Rodriguez, Organizer, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Immokalee, FL.

Early Voting Under Way. Although some states passed laws making it harder for voters to cast ballots early in this election, early voting, by mail and in person, is already under way in several states. California, Arizona, and Colorado will soon begin mailing ballots. What election dates, deadlines and requirements should voters keep in mind?

Guest: José López Zamorano, News Contributor, Washington, DC.

*********************

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

PROGRAM #10542 11:00 AM PT

Impact of Interest Rates Drop. The Federal Reserve announced an interest rate cut, the first rate cut since Covid. Federal interest rates dropped in recent weeks. Will they continue falling in the months ahead? How much will they drop? How will they impact mortgages? What do these interest rates mean for homebuyers? Will homeownership be more affordable?

Guest: Mabel Guzmán, Broker, Coldwell Banker, Chicago, IL.

Latino Voters and Homeownership. Housing affordability is a new top issue for Latino voters. Why? Over the next 20 years, Latinos will make 70% of the US’ net new homeowners and are essential to the future of our nation’s housing market and economy, according to a study. A researcher discusses these findings.

Guest: Carmen M. Feliciano, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, UnidosUS, Washington, DC.

Mendez Case to Textbooks. California Gov. Newsom signed a law to include the historic Mendez v. Westminster case in California history textbooks, ensuring that students across the state will learn about how California set a crucial precedent in America’s fight for civil rights. This landmark case, based on the Mendez family fight against the discrimination of their children, established California as the first state to abolish school segregation and paved the way for the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision.

Guest: Wendy Carrillo, Assemblymember, D-Los Angeles, Sacramento, CA.

PROGRAM #10543 12:00 PM PT

Are Latino Voters Targeted by Misinformation? Many Latinos live in information deserts and much of the information they rely on and trust comes from Spanish-language radio and TV stations. But some of the shows on those stations have been found to broadcast false claims about crucial issues related to the elections. How widespread is misinformation in Spanish-language media? A journalist who investigated this story ahead of the 2024 election shares her findings. This and other topics are discussed in this edition of the series “Hacia el Voto 2024.”

Guest: Paulina Velasco, Investigative Journalist, Feet in 2 Worlds, WNYC, in Collaboration with the NAHJ-National Association of Latino Journalists’s palabra (www.palabranahj.org), Los Angeles, CA.

Early voting by mail begins in Arizona. Early voting for the general election began on October 9 in Arizona, when ballots were mailed to voters on the Active Early Voting List. An advocate explains the key races and bills that could have the greatest impact on Latino voters in the state.

Guest: Enrique Davis-Mazlum, Arizona State Director, UnidosUS Action Fund, Phoenix, AZ.

TPS Mobilization and Voter Engagement. As the November general election approaches, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries are gearing up for coordinated action to amplify their voices. With the support of Alianza Americas, CASA, and student and labor unions, the alliance is calling to mobilize communities and increase voter turnout, emphasizing that the outcome of this electoral process will have a profound impact on those currently protected by TPS and those fighting for TPS designations.

Guest: Gustavo Torres, Executive Director, Court Appointed Special Advocates-CASA, Washington, DC.

*********************

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

PROGRAM #10544 11:00 AM PT

Election and Civil Rights. A number of civil rights, including voting rights, reproductive rights, education rights and immigrant justice will be on the ballot in November. What does the election mean for Latino civil rights?

Guest: Dr. Ivy A.M. Cargile, Associate Professor of Political Science, California State University at Bakersfield-CSU Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA.

The battle for Congress in the San Joaquin Valley. Republican incumbents in key U.S. House races are in a tight fight for reelection in deep blue California. The San Joaquin Valley is the stage for some of the toughest battlegrounds. Who are the swing voters in these districts? What’s in their mind?

Guest: US Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Washington, DC.

Latino Voters Town Hall with Harris. The Spanish-language media corporation TelevisaUnivision is hosting a town hall in Las Vegas with presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Selected undecided Latino voters ask questions and the Democratic candidate responds. Expected highlights include topics such as the economy, health care, immigration, and foreign policy.

Guest: Rafael Olavarría, Politics and Migration Fact-checker, Factchequeado Atlanta, GA.

PROGRAM #10545 12:00 PM PT

Mexico Edition. After promising former braceros and their heirs that he would return wages that were withheld while they worked in the US in the 1940s and 1950s, Mexico’s former president López Obrador eliminated the trust fund that was created in 2005 after years of struggle by the braceros. Advocates now want the incoming Sheinbaum administration to address the issue and restore the trust that was created for their payment. This and other topics are discussed in this edition.

Guest: Alma Delia Fraile Barocio, Leading Organizer, Alianza Braceroproa, Mexicali, MX.