A month into the job, Columbia's new city manager discusses his recent State of the City report, his priorities for the coming year, and his views on parking garages, tax incentives, development, economic growth, infrastructure, public spending, Columbia Regional Airport, and more.  Panelist: Mike Matthes, Columbia city manager Add Comment Two newly-elected Columbia City Council members join us in the studio to share their vision for Columbia... and to take audience questions. The discussion includes their views on topics such as downtown parking, city growth, low-income housing, public safety, city budgeting, and more.  Panelists: Fred Schmidt, Columbia First Ward city councilman Helen Anthony, Columbia Fifth Ward city councilwoman From main street commerce to energy innovations… what will drive the economy in mid-Missouri’s smaller cities? Mayors from around the region discuss the business health of our small towns and what is being done to help boost their economies.  Panelists: Charles Latham, mayor of Fulton Bob Riley, mayor of Moberly Julie Thacher, mayor of Boonville A panel of local and state journalists recap the biggest stories of 2010 and explain how those events might shape mid-Missouri in the year ahead.  Panelists: Marshall Griffin, statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio Janese Silvey, higher education reporter at the Columbia Daily Tribune Scott Swafford, senior city editor at the Columbia Missourian and associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism As the president and Congress wheel and deal over tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, writers like New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff have warned that a growing income inequality threatens to turn the United States into a banana republic. Could that really happen? And even if not, what are the consequences -- economic, political and ethical -- that stem from a widening divide between the richest and the poorest in our society?  Studio panelists: Jonathan "Vanya" Krieckhaus, associate professor of political science, University of Missouri Peter Vallentyne, Florence G. Kline chair in philosophy, University of Missouri Darin Preis, executive director, Central Missouri Community Action Joining by phone: Amy Blouin, executive director, Missouri Budget Project Robert H. Frank, professor of economics, Cornell University and “Economic View” contributor to the New York Times As consumers we expect the food we eat to be plentiful and affordable. But the factors that keep food prices down affect many different areas of our societal landscape. Today's Intersection discussion explores the business and management of agriculture -- in particular, how our complex food system affects people here in mid-Missouri and around the globe.  Panelists: Ronald Plain, MU professor of agricultural economics and Extension economist Handy Williamson, MU vice provost for international programs and professor of agricultural economics Richard Oswald, farmer and board member of the Missouri Farmers Union (joining the program by phone) After weeks of discussion, the Columbia City Council approved an amended budget for the coming year. On this episode of Intersection, recorded hours before the final Council vote, we discuss some specifics of the budget and learn how city services will be affected.  Panelists: Laura Nauser, Columbia Fifth Ward Councilwoman Bill Watkins, Columbia City Manager Related links: Council passes proposed budget with smaller than proposed electricity rate increase (Missourian, 9/20) The proposed City of Columbia budget for FY2011. Difficult budget forces cuts in city travel and training (Missourian, 9/19) City’s growing pension fund liability gap widens (Tribune, 9/19) Council reduces proposed electric rate hike (Tribune, 9/8) GEORGE KENNEDY: Budget 'bloat' not quite what has been reported (Missourian, 09/02/2010) City budget has no room for employee raises (Tribune, 8/31) Council pares expenditures (Tribune, 8/31) City Council works on tight budget at second work session (Missourian, 8/30) City calls for utility rate hike (Tribune, 8/29) City budget relies on reserves (Tribune, 8/29) Council aims to add cops, firefighters (Tribune, 8/29) As unemployment rises, an increasing portion of the population finds itself without enough to eat. Central Missouri has the added challenge of a rural geography that makes delivering food to a population in need more complicated. Today's discussion centers on what is being done to help the hungry in our community.  How accessible is the American dream to someone in poverty in mid-Missouri? We'll take a look at how realistic an idea it is given today's economic landscape, and we'll discuss what works and what doesn't in helping people move up from the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.  Panelists: Robin Acree, executive director, GRO-Grass Roots Organizing Darin Preis, executive director, Central Missouri Community Action Additional links: Mid-Missouri Community Alliance Summit (mentioned during the Intersection discussion) Family wage calculator for Missouri (from the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis) More than 100 people quietly participated in the effort to bring a new IBM technology deliver service center to Columbia. Among the reasons IBM chose Columbia was about $31 million dollars in state and local economic incentives. Today's Intersection discussion includes an explanation of how the deal was arranged, what drew IBM to Columbia, and the potential economic impact of the facility, which is expected to create 800 new jobs by 2012.  Panelists: Mike Brooks, president, Regional Economic Development Inc. Dave Griggs, chairman of the board, Regional Economic Development Inc. Barbara Hoppe, Columbia sixth ward councilwoman Additional media coverage on this topic: IBM: From Chip to Tiger (Columbia Daily Tribune, May 22, 2010) — A good overview of the whole deal IBM commits to bring at least 600 jobs to Columbia (Columbia Missourian, May 21, 2010) — Another helpful overview COLUMN: IBM deal includes protections for Columbia residents (Columbia Missourian, May 20, 2010) — Columnist George Kennedy checks in with the city manager and explains why it's a good deal for the city COLUMN: IBM going to have a hard time living up to hype (Columbia Missourian, May 20, 2010) — Columnist David Rosman offers a reality check EDITORIAL: IBM, big gain, big cost — Hank Waters analyzes the deal Additional coverage from the Columbia Missourian | PodcastsClick here to browse
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