The Growth and Development of the Coachella Valley; Indian Gaming; The 16th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival; Film Week
The Growth and Development of the Coachella Valley
First Remote in the AirTalk 20th Anniversary Tour from Palm Springs, CA. Larry talks with city managers and other experts about the recent surge in development throughout the Coachella Valley and how it affects the communities, residents, and environment. Larry's guests are: David Ready, City Manager for the City of Palm Springs; Jim Ferguson, Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilman for the City of Palm Desert; Melanie Fesmire, Mayor of the City of Indio; and John Wohlmuth, Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.
Indian Gaming
If Native American tribes in the Coachella Valley have their way, they will create a Las Vegas in the Palm Springs area. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians just opened a $200 million casino, the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and Special Events Center, last month. Other tribes have successful casinos in the area and are planning to build more. What are the ramifications, both positive and negative, from the growth of Indian Casinos in the Coachella Valley? Larry talks with representatives of both the Agua Caliente and the Cabazon tribes, as well as community activists, about the affect local casinos have on infrastructure, education, the environment, and the health of Coachella Valley residents. Larry's guests are: Mark Nichols, CEO for the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians; Richard Milanovich, Chairman of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla; Mike Rosenfeld, president of Coachella Valley Teacher’s Association; and Bill Caine-Gonzales, concerned citizen and activist.
The 16th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival
Larry talks with Darryl Macdonald, the Festival’s Executive Director, and Carl Spence, the Festival's Director of Programming, about the nearly 200 films from more than 65 countries that will be screened. They’ll look at new themes and rising stars, how the Palm Springs Festival differs from others, and the festival’s influence in the film community as well as the Coachella Valley.
Film Week
Larry Mantle with critics Jean Oppenheimer of New Times, and Andy Klein, film editor and chief critic of both CityBeat and ValleyBeat, discuss the new film releases for this week including White Noise, Days of Being Wild, and A Letter to True.
Our critics also share their picks of the top films of 2004.
Jean's List:
1. House of Flying Daggers
2. Osama
3. Mean Creek
4. Bad Education
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
6.-10. In no paticular order:
Shrek 2
Closer
Kill Bill Vol. 2
The Corporation
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Andy's List (Alphabetically):
Bad Education
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi
Gozu
House of Flying Daggers
Hero
The Incredibles
I Heart Huckabees
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Million Dollar Baby
The Saddest Music in the World
Cowards Bend the Knee
A Very Long Engagement