The Brian Lehrer Show

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Mind the Gap

Friday, May 02, 2008

Mayor Bloomberg’s 2009 budget cuts funding to most city agencies, but not the Department of Education. We crunch the numbers and look at the city’s spending priorities. Also: the FDA holds hearings on LASIK surgery, and cutting-edge sustainable transportation ideas from around the world. Finally: it’s not just Friday, it’s Follow-Up Friday, with more of listener poetry in honor of National Poetry Month.

Listen to the whole show

Mixed Fiscal Forecast

Yesterday Michael Bloomberg unveiled the 2009 budget for New York City. The speech wasn't all doom and gloom, but Bloomberg made one thing very clear: New York is living beyond its means. New York Daily News reporter Kate Lucadamo crunches the numbers.

Budget Snapshot: Education

WNYC reporter Elaine Rivera unpacks what's in store for 2009 on the educational front.

Looking Down on LASIK

LASIK eye surgery is losing popularity, and dissatisfied patients are becoming increasingly vocal about botched procedures. The FDA recently held hearings last week to research the problems behind LASIK. Barnaby Feder from The New York Times tells us more. Plus, we're holding our own hearing: Have you had LASIK surgery? How did it go? Do you feel that you made an informed choice? Comment below.

Barnaby Feder's recent piece on LASIK
The FDA's LASIK information page

How They Do It There: Transportation

Walter Hook, executive director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, talks about cutting-edge transportation ideas from around the world.

Follow Up Friday: High Rent

On Wednesday, we did a segment on the high cost of rent in New York City. We follow-up with the story that city landlords may ask to for a 15% rent hike in rent-regulated buildings. What's behind the sharp increase? Daily News reporter Adam Lisberg explains.

Follow Up Friday: User-Generated Poetry

Poets may be profound but they're not always prompt. We follow up on our poetry segments from Wednesday (part one and two) with a few listener poems that arrived too late to make it on the air.

Roland Legiardi-Laura's poems from Wednesday, April 30
Listener Don Deixel's poems

Open Phones: Subway Musicians

The "Subway Idol" auditions took place yesterday, part of the MTA's Music Under New York program. We open the phones and the comment page for those who have performed in the subway, and to hear about your favorite subway musician. Comment below!

Check Out Our Favorite: Floyd Lee backed by Chiakara and Yiuchi
See Other Videos of Subway Performers on Youtube