Access To Democracy

CELLIN GLUCK, named one of the top 50 Asian Americans in the Film Industry, has directed or was involved in more than 50 films, both Japanese and American, including one nominated in 2019 for a Japanese Oscar. He directed the Japanese “Sideways”, “Persona non Grata” and has made films all over the world. Cellin and Alan met over 40 years ago when Cellin had just graduated from Pomona College, CA, and his late multi-cultural parents, writers and curators of a Persian Art museum in Japan, spent a week with Alan in the Kyoto area forming a friendship which endured for decades. Cellin also spoke of the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken in the Hollywood film industry.

MATT GOLDMAN, novelist and Emmy winning TV writer, has just published his fourth novel in the “Nils Shapiro” series, “Dead West”, all thrillers with a humorous side. He is about to launch a new TV series, and is working on another novel. Working on both coasts, Matt discussed the difference between writing a TV series show in collaboration with others, and the solitude involved in writing a novel. Avi (our Webmaster, and host of our zoom shows), inquired about where the plot ideas come from, and the process involved in bringing those ideas to fruition.

Rick King, COO of Thomson Reuters in Eagan, and Chair of the Blue Ribbon Council on MN IT, is interviewed by guest host Bill Raker. Rick was appointed by MN Governor Walz to chair the Council which recently issued its report on the state of Information Technology in MN. Rick explains the composition and purpose of the Council and the scope and methodology of its work. He shares the key findings and recommendations for improving the security, efficiency, coordinated development, and usability of Minnesota’s technology infrastructure.

In an interview which Alan titled “Voices of Reason”, STEVE HUNEGS, Exececutive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and JASON ADKINS, Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC), try to assess the impact of the worldwide societal reaction to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25th, which has resulted in conscience searching, protests, as well as violence and destruction. They talk of the search for sanity and reason, lowering the temperature of frustration and the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement. Both are attorneys, and they spoke of the Constitution, the First Amendment, and the government sending Federal officers into the streets of American cities.

DAVE ST. PETER, President and CEO of the MN Twins, has been a regular contributor to Access to Democracy at the start of each season for over 15 years, but there has never been a year that started like this one. Dave spoke with Alan about the impact of the Covid-19 on the game and the team, the international reaction to the George Floyd murder on baseball, the resulting removal of a statue from Target Field, and the impact on a season without fans, shortened to only 60 games. They also covered the impact on the minor leagues as it affected teams, players and revenue.

Dakota County Commissioner JOE ATKINS served in a variety of public service positions, from city council member, mayor, member of the Minnesota State House to his current position as a member of the Dakota County Commission. A many-time guest on Access to Democracy, he talked about the challenges arising because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aftermath of the George Floyd murder and its affect on Dakota County, including substantial damage to the County Center in Apple Valley and Inver Grove Heights, the county’s tax burden, which is the lowest in the state, food shortages because of the drain on the econmy, and the proposed reopening of beaches, libraries and plans for returning students to schools for the fall.

Guest Host Hon. Paul Anderson (MN Supreme Court, retired) interviews HON. KEVIN BURKE who is retiring as judge with the longest tenure in the MN Court system, having originally been appointed to the District Court by Gov. Rudy Perpich in 1984 at 33 years of age. As an attorney, Burke tried 18 murder cases, and as a Judge he established the state’s first Drug Court. Discussing several topics, he touched on systemic problems encountered by the courts in policing, and talked about the burden on a judge to determine who is telling the truth. He believes that the state should adopt a Litigant’s Bill of Rights, and spoke of his effort to care about each of the people who appeared before him in his outstanding career.

The Hon. EDWARD CLEARY recently retired as Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the state’s second highest court. He is interviewed here on Access to Democracy by guest host Hon. Paul Anderson, who retired from the Minnesota Supreme Court five years ago after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Judge Cleary, initially appointed to the bench by Gov. Jesse Ventura, was then appointed to the Court of Appeals and then as Chief Judge by Gov. Mark Dayton. During his career as an attorney, Cleary won a landmark First Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court, R.A.V. vs. St. Paul, contesting a “hate” ordinance which the Court agreed unduly restricted the First Amendment. He wrote a book about the case, “Beyond the Burning Cross.”