The Terrorist

Chuck, Annie and Verena Maier on Monday night

I have been called many things in my nearly 19 years on the radio, many of them deserved: Butthead, Jerk, Asshole, Dickhead and others certainly come to mind.

But I was pretty floored to read Bob Cuddy’s column in the Tribune today and discover that he now considers me to be a terrorist and the head of a terrorist organization.

Really. I’m not making this up.

My crime? Apparently it’s that I was so moved by the sight of a grown man crying in my studio over a lost dog that I set up a Facebook page that ended up with about 4200 dog lovers from around the world. We held one rally. Gave voice to the plight of Chuck Hoage after Animal Services and the county decided to move on. We worked the local media. We had a letter writing campaign.

Contrary to accusations from Mr. Cuddy, there were no incidents in Arroyo Grande where the new dog was staying. The accusations flying about have never been proven.

The good and wonderful news is that Chuck and Annie are back together again.

It had nothing to do with terrorism, Bob.

It had everything to do with community.

We can disagree on issues. But I think Bob crossed the line with his language and I think he owes all The Friends of Annie an apology.

Meanwhile, can’t wait to meet Annie tonight at 6 p.m. on the radio.

Here comes Glenn Beck

I apologize for the light posting this week. It has been an extremely busy time for me.

We raised more than $20,000 for Pastor Doug, thanks in large part to our smash dinner at McPhee’s last Sunday night. What a great time we had.

And I’ve been busy in the fight to return Annie the dog to Chuck Hoage.

But we’ve had some great radio segments this week — everything from a visit from Lois Capps to Jeanne Dugger taking on the Muslim-haters to Jim Stegall arguing for a ban on texting while driving. Check out the podcasts for any segment you may have missed.

Anyway, right now we’re busy cleaning house, getting ready to welcome Glenn Beck to KVEC starting next Wednesday. Beck takes over for Clark Howard who seemed to struggle with our midday audience. I’m not a particular fan of Mr. Beck’s, but he delivers an audience and he will give us plenty of fodder for my show to discuss. So, welcome!

Goodbye Dr. Laura

We used to carry Dr. Laura on KVEC back during the Clear Channel days–before we wised up and dumped her for Sean Hannity.

You’ve probably heard the news by now. Dr. Laura went on cable TV Tuesday night and announced that she would not renew her contract at the end of 2010.

She got into a discussion last week on her show with a black woman caller. Dr. Laura went nuts and started using the so-called “N-word” repeatedly during the segment, accusing her caller of being ‘hyper-sensitive.”

Surprise, surprise. A firestorm of criticism erupted. Dr. Laura apologized repeatedly, but it wasn’t enough. On Larry King, she attempted to make an argument about first amendment liberty, but I’m not aware of the freedom of expression being extended to blatant racial slurs.

I don’t have anything against Dr. Laura personally, but a seasoned pro like her should know better. She screwed up and dug herself a deeper hole with a lame defense. I don’t think people are going to buy her as a “victim.”

We’ll cover this on this show Wednesday, maybe Thursday. Meanwhile, here’s the audio and the transcript. Decide for yourselves.

A few days away

It will be light posting on the blog for a couple days as I head north to Seattle to do the family thing for a couple days.

What a show we had today. I still can’t believe the outrage sweeping through the community over Annie the dog. The phone calls did not stop today and you could feel the anger, hear the frustration. I am hopeful that Sup. Adam Hill will deliver good news by the time I return. It’s a sad story.

And folks were equally vocal when we discussed the impending return of gay marriage in California. Thanks again to Rev. Carolyn Hall for dropping by. I think her analysis is spot-on:The religious right will punt in California rather than lose the whole thing at the Supreme Court on a 5-4.

Have a good weekend. Talk soon.

A man and his dog

We had a pretty tough, pretty emotional, segment tonight with Chuck Hogue. Originally scheduled for one hour, we ended up going for two due to all the phone calls.

To recap: Chuck’s beloved dog of seven years, Annie, ran away from the family property last June after hearing a gun shot. The dog was spooked. Chuck, a recent widower, spent three weeks trying to find his dog. He works full time. He doesn’t own a computer. But he dutifully checked the Animal Services lost and found line daily.

Three weeks later, he gets a call. Your dog is at Animal Services. Come get her. he rushes out there the next morning — only to find out the dog was adopted out to another family days prior. What????????? No one can figure that out.

Even worse, the second family refuses to give up Annie and Animal Services won’t step in. Chuck keeps trying to contact Dr. Eric Anderson, but Anderson isn’t responding.

At the same time, several callers shared stories of having to deal with dog licensing issues at Animal Services by talking to people in . . . .Texas. So Animal Services is farming out, outsourcing county work to Texas???? Doesn’t that strike you as bizarre.

Not suirprisingly, the vast majority of callers believe Chuck should get Annie back, though our options seem limited.

Katcho is Chucks’s supervisor, so we’re asking folks to drop Katcho a friendly email at kachadjian@co.slo.ca.us and see if he can’t knock some sense into Animal Services.

Chuck was crying at the end of the show. He deserves to have Annie back.

Jeff Hamm, director of the county health agency, doesn’t seem to understand why Annie and Chuck should be reunited. His phone number is 788-2855.

Program Notes:

I will be away friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Suzan Vaughn, Jeff Eckles, Mardi Hall, Steve Weiss, Jack Hardy, and Dr. Scott Robertson run the show in my absence.

Remembering the Motel Inn

Jeff Bringle sent over this photo of the famous Motel Inn of San Luis Obispo, the very first motel in the U.S.

Check out the sign at the right of the photo. Yep, it says KVEC. Our radio station was located at the Motel Inn during the early ’60s. What a time it must have been.

Of course, there’s not much left now. The Inn closed in the ’80s and most of the original buildings were knocked down in 2006. It’s a blight on our city’s history to see how we’ve failed to preserve the legacy of this building, which served as the cultural/social center of town for decades.

I know. I know. No one has any money. But I’d hate to see that building, those memories, slip away forever.

Marilyn from San Luis Obispo, who first moved to town in 1948, joins me on the radio today at 3:45 to share her memories of the Motel Inn.

Meanwhile, check out this 1993 valentine to the Motel Inn from the Seattle Times.

Muslims, Gays, & Bad Cops

This is a pretty good to have my job. There is certainly no shortage of topics to cover, whether it’s local, state, or national.

Nationally, conservative talk radio is abuzz with the debate over whether or not a “Muslim mosque” should near the WTC site in New York, obviously sacred ground. Everyone from Newt to Rudy has weighed in, attacking the idea. It is strange to even hear members of the religious trying to deny freedom of religion to Muslims–actually Americans who happen to be Muslims. There’s a big difference.

From what I’ve read, the 15-story building is planned for three blocks away from WTC–and it’s an Interfaith Center. The mayor and the  planning commission all agree that this building should be allowed. Sad to see such religious intolerance.

Meanwhile, much to celebrate in California with Judge Walker’s decision. Our phones were on fire tonight as North County Jim sat in with me for the discussion on Prop 8. One called talked about the judge who was a “pervert.” Several callers said the judge was gay, and therefore biased. Absolutely silly arguments.

I like what the LA Times wrote tonight in its editorial, claiming that the debate has been changed forever by the trial. Yes, the case will be appealed to Bush’s Supreme Court, which means a 5-4 in one direction; it all comes down to Anthony Kennedy. But, for California, today is an historic day. If not by judicial fiat, then by ballot measure in 2012. One day, one way, we will do the right thing and allow gays and lesbians to marry.

Finally, McDowell and Limon were fired by The Powers that Be, after pulling in more than $300,000 between them in wages and compensation since last September. They get caught smuggling prescription drugs, come up with a lame excuse in their defense, get paid fairly pretty for 12 months, and–curiously–they don’t get prosecuted by the local DA, Mr. Shea. Don’t even go to court.

Something tells me that this story is far from over. People in San Luis are very angry.

On Thursday, we’ll return to the issues surrounding Prop 8 and the new York mosque. Turn in. Call in.

Birthright Citizenship

Good show on Monday to kick off another week of Hometown Radio:

Mary Golden and the Central Coast Natural History Association needs to raise another $2,000 to complete their fundraising for a new mural for the building’s outside wall in Morro Bay State Park. All the information is on their web site.  Good people doing good work. Please support them if you can.

Karen Velie was back from CalCoastNews reporting on the fact that San Luis Obispo police seem to be spending more money on their cars than neighboring police departments. Arroyo Grande police, for example, lease their cars. SLO, meanwhile, has spent nearly $40,000 in 7 months to repair basically new cars. What’s that about?

But the biggest response from the callers came during the last 45 minutes when we talked about birthright citizenship and illegal immigration. As I said on the radio, I “get” the anger in Arizona. I understand their frustration towards the feds. I’m not even bothered by the law they tried to enact, though I’m not surprised the judge blocked most of it. I understand the problem.

When it comes to the Constitution, though, I’m reluctant to tamper just to score political points. Several conservative senators are pushing to repeal the 14th Amendment. Basically, their position is this: if your parents come here illegally, you should not get citizenship automatically.

Why not? Why can’t the child of illegals born in Nevada grow up to be a great American? Why should the baby be punished for the actions of the parents. The U.S. is like at least a dozen other countries, recognizing birth location as being enough for citizenship. I’m an American because I was born in New York City. A baby born in Phoenix is still an American, regardless of the parents.

We should not open that Pandora’s Box. Crack down on illegal immigration, yes. But not by changing the constitution. It’s a knee jerk reaction to something far more complicated.

Other Notes: Singer-songwriter Jim Messina is my special guest Tuesday at 3:05. Let’s hear about his upcoming concert at the Clark Center and give away some free tickets.

Helping Pastor Doug

Regular listeners to Hometown Radio are familiar with the plight of Pastor Doug. He is spending the second half of the summer out in Morro Bay, trying to beat back the progressive MS that continues to ravage his body. Doug is doing OK, but not great. The hope remains that he can come home around Labor Day.

However, Doug needs a new chair–typical cost is around $4,000. He also needs money to help pay down his medical bills.

We will be setting up an account to help raise money for Doug at Rabobank branches throughout the county. The “Pastor Doug” account should be activated by Tuesday, in case you want to make a small, or large, donation. We’ll gladly take either one.

Also, Ian McPhee is donating the back room of his popular Templeton restaurant and is giving us a five-course dinner, with wine, for cost. We will host a KVEC fundraising dinner for Pastor Doug on Sunday, August 22nd, in Templeton. Reception will be from 5 to 6 p.m. and the five-course dinner will be at 6 p.m.

Doug’s wife, Victoria, will be our special guest of honor.

Tickets will be sold for $50 each (a bargain!) and we’ll have some great door prizes to raffle off.

If you want to purchase tickets, or volunteer for the event, please contact me.

And most importantly, keep a good thought for Doug.

Thanks!

UPDATE: We sold all the tickets for the dinner in less than 48 hours. Thank you!