WNYC Radio's The Brian Lehrer Show Presents "New York 51: Life and Politics in Every Neighborhood"

In Anticipation of the Mayoral Race, Snapshots of the City Captured Through Interviews with Every Elected City Council Member

Series to kick off on Tuesday, January 4, 2005
On "The Brian Lehrer Show"
Airs Weekdays 10am-noon on WNYC 93.9FM, AM 820
and via webstream at www.wnyc.org

(December 21, 2004, New York, NY)—In a mayoral election year, the agenda for debate should be set by all New Yorkers, not just those in a few powerful neighborhoods.

Beginning the first week of 2005, a city-wide election year, The Brian Lehrer Show will explore the political, social, and cultural issues and trends facing all 51 of the city's neighborhoods, through interviews with their elected city council representatives.

Part political primer/part travelogue, the conversations will range from "hard issues," including demographics, immigration patterns, crime trends, employment, public school quality, real estate prices, among other political and economic "buzz" specific to each neighborhood, to more flavorful topics, such as the area's best burger (or burrito!) joint, historic buildings, shopping, and cultural organizations.

The series is an effort to expand democracy, to allow each neighborhood to be heard and counted, in a year when New Yorkers will be asked to make a decision about who can best lead a city with such wide-ranging concerns and needs. It is an opportunity for every neighborhood to put their concerns on the table, help shape the debate, and very simply, to meet the neighbors.

"New York 51: Life and Politics in Every Neighborhood," kicks off on Tuesday, January 4 and will air twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next six months on The Brian Lehrer Show (10am-noon weekdays on WNYC 93.9FM, AM 820 and via live webstream at www.wnyc.org).

The WNYC website, www.wnyc.org, will launch a companion project with interactive features, including original neighborhood photos submitted by listeners.

WNYC, New York Public Radio, is New York's premier public radio station, comprising WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching more than one million listeners every week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the entire country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio and Public Radio International. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting. For more information, visit www.wnyc.org.