The Brian Lehrer Show

Finding the Middle

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

What does it take to be middle class in New York City? $75,000 a year for a family of four, according to a new survey of New York City leaders. Daily News columnist Errol Louis guest hosts and takes calls about being middle class in Gotham. Also, husbands who take their wives’ last names; grading restaurants; and should the NAACP widen its focus to fight for social justice, as well as civil rights?

Listen to the whole show

Middle Class Squeeze

Andrea Batista Schlesinger, executive director of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, wants to keep the middle class in New York City and John Mollenkopf, professor of political science at City University Graduate Center, tells us who is middle class.

If you can't see the video click here

DMI report: "Saving Our Middle Class" (opens PDF)

When Men Aren't Wedded to their Own Name

Ariel Meadow Stallings, author of The Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides, looks at why newly-wed men are taking their wive's last name.

"The Name Game," Ariel's essay on marriage and names

Advancing the NAACP

Leonard Pitts, columnist for the Miami Herald, urges the NAACP to embrace empowerment as well as fight injustice as it picks a new president.

Banning Bags

This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to mandate the use of biodegradable plastic bags in local stores. Jared Blumenfeld, Director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, and Donna Dempsey, Executive Director of the Film and Bag Federation debate the pros and cons of enacting a similar rule in New York.

"F" is for Rats

State Senator Jeff Klein, (D-34th - Bronx & Westchester) proposes switching to letter-grade system for restaurant inspections and Chowhound.com’s founder Jim Leff weighs in.

Jim Leff expands on his view of grading restaurants here.