Viewer Mail

Comments about our Show

Oct. 10, 2006
Art – as usual I always enjoy your show. On TV or over the web. Keep up the good work.
Hope all is well…
David Z.

Dec. 29, 2005
Hi Art, Thanks for the info. I really love your program.
Shirley S.

Dec. 5, 2005
Art – it is always good to see Straight Talk out in the public eye as you were during the Belmont Shore Holiday Parade. It is great to see a Long Beach icon that always supports City functions. Keep up the good work.
David Z.

Dec. 5, 2005
Hi Art,
I was hoping that you would begin your shows or your emails with a joke as I  recall you did in your Business Law class I took from you, or when I  repaired your audio visual equipment once upon a time when I was a staff member at CSULB.
I am fascinated with emergency preparedness, having my life saved by EMT's, serving as an EMT for a number of years for various private ambulance companies and on a per diem basis at some emergency rooms.  Your upcoming show may be so interesting that this time maybe one of your jokes could be misinterpreted or misunderstood…
Keep up the good job with your show!
Ward J.

Nov. 28, 2005
Thanks for the info, Art. You may want to add LBWD to your program sometime. They are doing a great job in so many ways from water conservation to emergency preparedness to future water sources such as desalinization.
Bill T.
(The Long Beach Water Department is the focus of our show airing the weeks of January 9 & January 16, 2000)

Nov. 21, 2005
Hello Art,
Thanks for keeping me on your e-mail list. It’s wonderful what you are doing!
Marcela C.

Nov. 8, 2005
Hi Art:
I am really impressed with what you are accomplishing. Congratulations.…
Earl B.

Nov. 8, 2005
Art:
I wish you were on DirecTV!
Dennis S.

Nov. 1, 2005
Dear Art,
Just taking a moment to let you know how much I appreciate being on your mailing list!
Lee L.

Oct. 19, 2005
Hello Art,
Thanks for including me on 'The List', and I'll share it with others…  Meanwhile, I couldn't agree more with your "Everyone Can Make a Difference." (referring to our tagline)  Very nice job!!…
Mike G.

Oct. 17, 2005
Art:
Your high tech set-up is great. With our frenetic lifestyle (balancing work, community involvement, parenting, etc) we never were able to watch shows of interest. Now we have e-mail notification, and the ability to watch whenever our schedules permit! ...
Danny L.

Oct. 10, 2005
Love the show, Art, and we are looking forward to watching the candidates for mayor and their views.
Fred and Janet R.
(Long Beach Mayoral Candidates Forum will air the weeks of February 6 & February 13, 2006)

Oct. 3, 2005
Art:
What a wonderful program. (Katrina Special) Alas, I will be in my Constitutional Law seminar, so show me as an enthusiastic viewer in spirit.  All the best in treating this vitally important, compelling subject.  Hope all goes well.  
Ken
(Ken Starr is the Dean of Pepperdine University Law School)

Sept. 28, 2005
Art,
I saw the ad (in the Press-Telegram), and was impressed with your lineup.  I know Lori Lofstrom and Leslie Grossman as well… I know this program (Salute to Women) will be terrific and I intend to watch—keep up the good work!  I’ll pass this on as well. 
Lou Anne B.  

Sept. 27, 2005
Art,
Thank you for sharing news of your current program.  You do a great job with Straight Talk!  All your shows are interesting.
Mike W.

Sept.1, 2005
Thank you Art for sharing this, and thanks for doing the show which brings so much value to Charter customers.
Eric Brown
Senior Vice President
Charter Communications

Comments about our Guests

Oct. 5, 2006
Thanks for sending me these issues they are informative and I enjoy reading them. Dr. Lowenthal (now State Senator Lowenthal) is sort of a local hero. He was one of my former community psychology professors when I was a graduate student at CSULB. I am very proud of him and his accomplishments…
Tony O.

January 13, 2006
Professor Levine:
My few observations on the interview with (Congressman) Dana Rohrabacher are obvious. Your dress and demeanor was clearly more statesman like than his, and Dana made a fool out of himself with his “shoot from the hip” responses.  I was embarrassed for him as he not only jumped on the Slippery Slope of prisoner torture, and unabashedly proceeded to roll end over end on the way down into mediocrity.

Rohrabacher was apparently unaware of the major controversy regarding liquid natural gas storage in Boston harbor, and his answer to the question of LNG in Long Beach demonstrated that he lacked a grasp of the issue.  The addition of jet fuel to several huge tanks of LNG only reinforces the danger, which is an issue he never addressed.

Overall, I thought you were very gentle with the Congressman.  How did you say?  “Hmmm, I have never heard it put that way.”  Your questions were more thoughtful than his answers.  When you called him a surfer, I almost fell out of my chair with laughter.  I hope that subtlety was not lost on your audience.

I suggest that you consider doing a separate show for politicians called “Informal Fallacies.”  I predict the humor in finding Reductio Ad Adsurdum, Begging the Question, Hasty Generalizations, Post Hoc, ergo Propter Hoc, and all the other stupidity that passes for reporting and debate in this country would make the show more popular than the O’Reilly Factor and Saturday Night Live combined.

I know that you have the wit and wisdom to be another Mort Saul, sitting on a stool with the daily newspaper while your audience is on the floor with laughter.  You are well equipped to expose some of these knot-heads for the fools they are.  Just treat them like students!

Dennis C.

Sept. 27, 2005
Art,
Thank you for the link... I listened to your Clark Heggeness interview and commend you on your talent and abilities.  As a long time acquaintance of Clark's here at Long Beach Transit, I know how Clark can trail off in thought in between expressions of brilliance. You did an exceptional job of filling in those moments and taking us on the journey behind enemy lines with Clark.  I'll be watching more often in the future.  Thank you for honoring such an esteemed member of our community on your most valuable show.
Roger R.

Sept. 6, 2005
Art - Clark Heggeness was my mentor at Ball Hunt. Still the brightest lawyer around. I owe everything to Clark.  He probably shortened my life span a few years by demanding so much from me. You know he went over to England to negotiate the purchase of the Queen Mary - he was the only person the English wanted to deal with because of his off the wall sense of humor.   Also known as "Heggenstein"…
Al I. 

Responses to our Memorial Day Message

May 26, 2006
Art,

Thank you for your kind letter and in reminding us all about Memorial Day...  Being a daughter, sister, and cousin of those who have served in the military, I also thank them for their dedication and service...  I have taught my children (age 8) to always thank a service person when they see them in uniform...

I am also a flight attendant, and honor those in my profession, who have made the ultimate sacrifice themselves, including the brave pilots and passengers who lost their lives on 9/11.

Keep up the good work, and thank you for always including me in your pep-talks and reminders...

Regards,
Candie D.
Long Beach

May 25, 2006
Art,

Responses to our Election Commentary

June 1, 2006
Hi Art,

As a member of your Viewer's Club, I wanted to commend you for your recent "election commentary" on the importance of voting.  As a voter, I couldn't agree with you more.

There's an old saying, "If God had intended us to vote, he would have given us candidates."  Aside from the constant and discouraging reminders that we learn about in the media concerning the lack of accountability and corruption permeating our political culture on all levels and not wanting to sound like an expert on voter apathy, I think the aforementioned quote goes a long way in explaining things.  I would like to suggest that maybe a good place to start (given the serious nature of the problem) would be for your show to produce a special series dedicated to examining and finding solutions to voter apathy.  As I'm sure you know, one idea that's catching on is the idea of public financing of elections.  If I'm not mistaken, there's also a legislative effort a foot to develop a lottery type of tie-in so when people vote, they earn the chance to win big bucks…

Take care,
Richard D.

June 1, 2006
Art,

Thank you for your email. I am glad to hear you state that in your ethics class, you refer to the following principle— “If you don’t vote, you morally lose the right to complain.”

I think that's spot-on accurate. I have said the same thing and theme many times.

I have been working the phone banks for Gary DeLong this week and happily in the 3^rd (District) a lot of folks vote, percentage-wise, but it's still low.

Interesting comparison between American Idol and voting. Sad commentary indeed.

The good news is that you’re doing a great job for the republic and Long Beach with your show. Thank you and keep up the good work! I can only hope that every high school history and civics teacher is doing the same thing in town as you are at Cal State.

As a Scoutmaster in the Los Altos area of town, the age range of my youth are 11-18, I still inject the notion of being informed and caring about their community. I present voting as a privilege and a responsibility for them to prepare for much like any other life skills we teach in the scouting movement.

It sounds like you are doing the same at the University level. Great work Art.
Brian R.

June 1, 2006
Art, I have watched all the debates on your show and want to again thank you for a job well done.  I am proud to know a celebrity but more importantly share the opinion of many that you do a wonderful job on the show.  By the way, Yes I vote and therefore Yes I have reserved my right to complain.  It is fun…
Kim W.

June 1, 2006
Dear Art,

Thanks for doing your part to get out the vote.  That is what I have been telling people, "no matter who whom you voter, just vote!"  Let’s hope we can improve our voter participation.  We have actually registered over a hundred new voters and close to one hundred and fifty new absentee voters.  Let’s hope that this can help make a difference.

Warm regards,
Brian Ulaszewski
(Brian Ulaszewski was a candidate for Long Beach 2^nd District City Councilman)

May 31, 2006
Yes Art, I totally agree with you. My husband and I vote on every election, rain or shine!

You may know that voting is mandatory in some South American countries, Peru for sure. You would not even be able to obtain a driver's license or open a savings account unless you can show proof of voting by showing your stamped electoral card.
Ana M.

May 31, 2006

Art it is amazing that more people vote for the American Idol!!!!!!!!! than in the presidential election…..I wish I lived in Long Beach I would vote…Keep up the great show.
Rick P.

May 31, 2006
Dear Art,
Thanks.  Most professional military members move every year or so.  Most maintain one state as our legal residence throughout our career.  In my case, I am registered to vote in Michigan.  My county clerk has followed me over 24 moves sending me my absentee ballot faithfully in both regular and special elections.  She also includes a personal note and has done so for 33 years.  I vote regularly and if I ever switched my legal residence, it would break her heart.

Enjoyed talking to you this Memorial Day.
Mike Lehnert
(Major General Michael Lehnert was the featured speaker at the Memorial Day Remembrance at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes. He is responsible for all Marine installations west of the Mississippi.)

Politics

June 14, 2006
I have read some of the reviews commenting on your interview with Bob Foster. Although I live far away, in the southeast (Florida), the choice made by the voters, to elect Bob Foster mayor, is a wise one. I have known Bob since he was in diapers and he has always been candid, honest and a pragmatic businessman. If more cities would come to the realization that government is a business (albeit run for the citizens instead of the shareholders) then they would find much smoother sailing with organized and experienced businessmen rather than the all too often bunch of political hacks.

Congratulations Long Beach. Now send some Bob Fosters down here, please.
Irwin G.
Boca Raton, Florida

April 3, 2006
Art,

I witnessed your interview with Gary and Laura (candidates for Long Beach City Auditor) last week and want to commend you for your efforts.  It could not have been easy with the energy that both were emitting, yet, by your guidance, driving questions and ability to keep them on task with their responses was a success in leadership qualities.  It couldn't have been better!

Sincerely,
Roger R.

Oct. 31, 2005
Great interview with Bob Foster. Your topics are relevant for our community with an eye for the broad viewing perspective. Keep up the good work.
Lynne P.

Oct. 24, 2005
.....as always nice listening to your thinking.....thanks for putting me on the list...keep up the good work....if time permits...the best service you could provide to the people of Long Beach and the City......find and nudge (Bob) Foster into another direction and job.
Larry G.

Oct.10, 2005
Dear Art:
Thank you for keeping me posted on your show - Straight Talk.  It saddens me to think that Beverly O'Neill won't be one of the candidates on your "Mayor's Forum." 
Dearborn's Friendly Mayor
Mike Guido
(Mayor Guido of Dearborn, Michigan was visiting Long Beach for a meeting of the Leadership Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and appeared on our Katrina Special)

Community Issues

LNG Terminal

Dec. 21, 2005
No, an LNG facility should not be built in Long Beach.
Robert F.

Dec. 21, 2005
Hi Art, Yes, Yes on the LNG terminal. The NIMBY’s of the world are stopping progress.
Dave W.

Dec. 20, 2005
Art   With the first and foremost issue being security, we have to ask ourselves this question: Can a terrorist fly a plane into a LNG terminal and do great harm to the vital Port of Long Beach? Every other question is secondary. My answer, unless someone can convince me otherwise, is that the LNG terminal should not be in the heart of a vital port facility or so close to a large population center.
Lee S.

Dec. 20, 2005
I don't know why our city is even entertaining the thought of having an LNG project here. It's dangerous and putting something like that in our city, when it should be in a remote place, will not only be irresponsible but will show a major lack of concern for the people. I won't support any Long Beach official that supports this project and I will pay close attention so I will know how to vote when re-election comes up.
Gina V.

NOTE: Emails are edited for grammatical and spelling mistakes. Italicized expressions within emails have been added for clarity. Ellipsis (…) indicates that portions of the email have been omitted.

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