Épisodes

  • ICE is a product of an American history of violence

    ICE is a product of an American history of violence
    Mar 4 2026

    Under the Trump administration, every part of the country is confronting a massive uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity that knows no legal bounds. Immigrant communities throughout the United States have been forced to live in fear amid constant ICE raids and especially following the murders of Minneapolis residents Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. But ICE violence should not be isolated to this moment.


    Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with Angelo Guisado, an attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights who specializes in immigrants’ rights, and Weldon McWilliams, who serves as chair of one of the oldest Black Studies departments in the nation at SUNY New Paltz on how the history of ICE goes much deeper than what Americans are seeing right now and may be foundational to how we understand this country.
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    11 min
  • Library Advocates Urge Hochul to Reverse Over $11 Million in Library Funding Cuts

    Library Advocates Urge Hochul to Reverse Over $11 Million in Library Funding Cuts
    Mar 4 2026

    At your local library, you’ll find lots of books – but you may also find tax preparers, museum passes, and yoga classes. But library advocates say the services they provide are at risk under New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest budget.

    The state budget proposes more than $11 million in cuts to the state’s library operating aid and construction budget. Advocates say this follows a rocky year of federal funding threats from the Trump administration to thousands of public libraries. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.
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    10 min
  • She Had Tenure. She Walked Away. Now She’s Making People Laugh.

    She Had Tenure. She Walked Away. Now She’s Making People Laugh.
    Mar 4 2026
    11 min
  • As Supreme Court Weighs Birthright Citizenship, Rural New York Families Brace For Impact

    As Supreme Court Weighs Birthright Citizenship, Rural New York Families Brace For Impact
    Mar 3 2026
    A landmark legal battle over birthright citizenship is now before the U.S. Supreme Court — and advocates who work with immigrant families in rural New York say the outcome could reshape everyday life for communities that depend on immigrant labor and leadership.At issue is Executive Order 14160, signed by President Trump, which seeks to limit who is recognized as a U.S. citizen under the 14th Amendment. The order would deny citizenship to children born on U.S. soil to parents who are in the country without legal status or on temporary visas — upending more than 125 years of legal precedent.A coalition of civil rights and legal advocacy organizations, including Rural and Migrant Ministry (RMM), has filed an amicus curiae — or "friend of the court" — brief urging the justices to uphold that precedent. "What is at stake is basically the overturning of a precedent that's over a hundred years old, which basically states that if you are born on the soil of the United States of America, you are an American citizen," said Juana Cortes de Torres, Director of the Immigrant Legal Rights Project at Rural and Migrant Ministry.A Century of PrecedentThe brief filed by RMM and its partners leans heavily on United States v. Wong Kim Ark, an 1898 Supreme Court decision that affirmed birthright citizenship for children born in the United States regardless of their parents' national origin or immigration status."It is one of the first cases that basically explains that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen under the Constitution," Cortes de Torres said. "That precedent memorializes the words of the 14th Amendment."From a legal standpoint, she argued, no executive order can accomplish what the administration is attempting. "In order to do that, that would be tantamount to amending the Constitution without the role of Congress," she said. "And in my opinion, that would be chaos."Twenty-two state attorneys general have also joined the legal fight to block the order."A Moment of Crisis and Fear"Cortes de Torres said immigrant families across New York — from Western New York to Eastern Long Island, the geography RMM serves — are frightened."Individuals that come to America are often fleeing the hardships and civil rights violations of their country," she said. "They come to the United States to seek safety and harbor."If the order were upheld, children born in the United States to undocumented parents or parents on temporary visas could be rendered stateless — without access to healthcare, public education, or the right to vote."You're talking about health care, the right to vote, every single social benefit that an American citizen has access to," Cortes de Torres said. "These children will not have access to that."The Stakes for Rural CommunitiesThe implications are particularly acute in agricultural communities like Sullivan County and the Hudson Valley, where immigrant workers form the backbone of the local economy."Who's tending to the fields? Who's cultivating the land? Who is milking the cows? Who works in the mass factories that produce all different kinds of food products?" Cortes de Torres said. "It is resounding to say that all of that work is being done by Latino immigrants."She argued that the administration has failed to account for the economic contributions immigrants make — from farmworkers to healthcare aides to DACA recipients who have become doctors, lawyers, and scientists."They're not really evaluating the worth, the net economic worth, that immigrants bring to the table," she said. "And the fact that that analysis is not being done will, in the end, be harmful to America."A Political Motive?When asked what she believes is really driving the effort to restrict birthright citizenship, Cortes de Torres was direct."The right to vote," she said. "Children born here of immigrant parents will have the right to vote. Their voices will be heard, and they will be the majority of people. It is political in nature."She also placed the current moment in historical context, noting that waves of anti-immigrant hostility are not new to the American experience."You're seeing history taking place again, where immigrants — this time specifically Latino immigrants — are being attacked," she said. "Other immigrants that have come to this country have also faced these types of attacks. The fact that you are different or you have a different culture should not equal a lack of citizenship by any means."Looking AheadCortes de Torres said she hopes the Supreme Court issues a ruling before the close of its current term, expected in late spring."I'm looking for the Supreme Court to do what is necessary and what is correct legally — to uphold the rule of law and precedent and to uphold the United States Constitution," she said.For immigrant families anxious about the outcome, she had a simple message: "Don't give up. Always have hope. We're here to help you, and we will help you."
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    15 min
  • High Utility Bills Are Pushing Mid-Hudson Valley Residents to the Brink, Study Finds

    High Utility Bills Are Pushing Mid-Hudson Valley Residents to the Brink, Study Finds
    Mar 3 2026

    A new study from the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz reveals that many households are struggling to keep up with their utility bills. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar has more.

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    9 min
  • For One Filmmaker, a Ghost Story Is Really a Story About Growing Up During the AIDS Crisis

    For One Filmmaker, a Ghost Story Is Really a Story About Growing Up During the AIDS Crisis
    Mar 3 2026
    For Bobby Abate, making The Ghost at Skeleton Rock meant going back — to 1992, to the height of the AIDS crisis, to his own first sexual encounter, and to the paralyzing fear that followed.The short film, which Abate wrote and directed, follows 18-year-old Vinnie, who turns to a Ouija board after a first intimate encounter spirals into fear and shame. It screens Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Calicoon Theater as part of the second annual International Gay Film Series, paired with Kansas 1989, another LGBTQ+ short directed by Clayton Dean Smith.The screening is a special one: a works-in-progress showing, offering audiences a rare behind-the-scenes look at an unfinished film — and a chance for the filmmaker to gather feedback from his own community."It's a very special moment to be able to show that in Calicoon, where we filmed it," Abate said.A True Story, Rooted in Misinformation and FearThe film's supernatural premise is drawn from Abate's real life. As a teenager in Hamden, Connecticut, in 1991, he and a friend used a Ouija board to summon a spirit they believed could give people nightmares. When Abate had his first sexual experience shortly after, he woke up consumed by dread — not because of anything that had happened, but because of the AIDS crisis raging around him."I thought even kissing would get me infected," he recalled, "because there was just no way — we didn't even have the internet back then."Without access to accurate health information, cut off from guidance by a church and family that offered condemnation rather than education, Abate found himself terrified that a moment he had long anticipated had become a potential death sentence. In the film, Vinnie turns back to that same spirit, hoping to use it to distance himself from the person he'd been with."What was supposed to be just a normal moment turned into a complete crisis," Abate said.Echoes of the Past in the PresentAbate, who now teaches film at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, wrote the script in the period just before the 2024 presidential election. He sees the story's themes — misinformation, religious condemnation, and institutionalized homophobia — as urgently relevant today."I mean, I wrote this just before the election, but now we're seeing this — I don't even need to say what's happening right now," he said. "It is an amazing echo to bring the story back, to show what intolerance looks like and how it affects people even in the most important moments of their life."When casting the film, Abate and producer Todd Stephens were struck by how unfamiliar young actors were with what it meant to live under the shadow of the AIDS crisis. During auditions, actors asked why characters didn't simply take the medications now available for prevention and treatment."Todd was crying in that last moment during the auditions," Abate said, "because just that fear — the way that we operated — just every time you were with someone, that fear that it was going to be met with some sort of a death sentence."Why CalicoonThough the story is set in suburban Connecticut, Abate — who lives in Calicoon — chose to film in the small Sullivan County hamlet for its singular atmosphere."Calicoon just has this beautiful mystique to it that no other place has," he said. "It looks like it's kind of in a different time zone altogether."The Calicoon Bridge plays a central role in the film. Abate had hoped to shoot before construction began on the bridge, but found that the scaffolding and decay of the construction site added unexpected texture to the visuals.In a layer of local connection that won't be lost on Thursday's audience, the Calicoon Theater itself appears in the film — meaning the venue will be hosting, quite literally, a version of itself on the big screen. Abate also noted that the previous owner of his home, Harold Miller, served as projectionist at the theater for 30 years. Miller's projector oil is still in the basement."There's all these layers of connectivity that are going to be exciting to see come together on the screen on Thursday night," Abate said.A Moment of ResilienceAbate situates his film within the arc of queer history — the liberation of the 1970s following the Stonewall uprising, the devastation of the AIDS years, and the hard-won resilience that followed."It changed the world forever, but it's also about our resilience," he said. "After being battered in the 80s and seeing so many people die, that was the beginning of revolution — the beginning of reclaiming our identity."It's a message he believes is once again needed."We are strong, resilient. We're not going anywhere. We won't be erased."The Ghost at Skeleton Rock screens Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Calicoon Theater, paired with Kansas 1989 by Clayton Dean Smith. Abate and producer Todd Stephens will be on hand for an artist talk following the screening. Stephens is also known for directing Edge of Seventeen and Swan Song.
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    12 min
  • Local Musicians, Take Note: The Party Farm Wants Your Original Songs

    Local Musicians, Take Note: The Party Farm Wants Your Original Songs
    Mar 2 2026

    The Party Farm’s fourth annual songwriting contest is officially open, inviting local musicians and songwriters across the Catskills to submit their original tracks. This spring tradition celebrates creativity, offering entrants the chance to transform raw demos into fully produced, radio-ready songs at one of the region’s most immersive recording studios. The contest is open to anyone 18 or older, with submissions accepted as MP3 demos—no fancy production required. The winning song will receive hands-on guidance from the Party Farm team, access to their network of talented local musicians, and the opportunity to hear a simple demo evolve into a professional recording.

    In the heart of the Catskills, the Party Farm isn’t just a recording studio—it’s a creative hub for songwriters seeking more than just a place to track vocals. With its cozy Mountain Views lounge, in-house bowling alley, and an atmosphere designed to inspire, the studio has become a beacon for local musicians looking to bring their songs to life.

    “We’re looking for songs that grab us,” says Terry Brennan, co-founder of Party Farm. “It’s always exciting when we can take something from a simple demo and elevate it to a full, polished track that makes people feel something.”

    For Brennan and co-founder Wendy LaManque, the magic is in the transformation—from raw ideas to fully realized songs. “One of my favorite parts is going from mono to stereo with the vocal harmonies,” Brennan says. “Sometimes we even make people cry.”

    LaManque adds that producing a song is about more than just recording—it’s about creating a safe, welcoming space for vulnerability. “It’s a lot to ask people to share a piece of themselves. We try to make them comfortable, to really encourage them to be raw and authentic.”

    Last year’s winner, Brian Dunn, found the experience both productive and relaxing. What starts as a simple guitar-and-voice recording can evolve into a rich, layered track with contributions from the studio’s network of talented musicians. “He came prepared to experiment,” Brennan says. “We added drums, harmonies, and even a bit of melodica. It’s amazing to see a song go from inception to a fully produced track.”

    The Party Farm team emphasizes that this year’s contest remains a celebration of human creativity. “We’ve added a new rule,” LaManque says. “No AI-generated music. The contest is about original, human songwriting—your chords, lyrics, and melodies.”

    The deadline for submissions is March 20 at 11:59 p.m. Songwriters are encouraged to submit early—the winning track is often the one that gets stuck in the minds of Brennan and LaManque as they go about their days.

    For more details on contest rules, submission guidelines, and Party Farm’s community events, visit roscopartyfarm.com, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
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    8 min
  • Advocates Call State Climate Memo a “Scare Tactic,” Urge Upholding NY's Climate Law

    Advocates Call State Climate Memo a “Scare Tactic,” Urge Upholding NY's Climate Law
    Mar 2 2026
    A recent state memo suggesting that fully implementing New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act could raise household energy costs is “overstated,” according to Lisa Marshall of New Yorkers for Clean Power.The leaked memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office on the estimated financial impacts of the state’s greenhouse gas reduction law shows average households could face thousands of dollars of extra costs a year. First reported by City and State, the memo from NYSERDA President Doreen Harris to Director of State Operations Jackie Bray dated Thursday says by 2031 — absent any changes – the impact of the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act could cost upstate oil and natural gas households in excess of $4,000 per year.“So we see this memo as a somewhat disingenuous attempt to renegotiate the whole climate law by using a scare tactic,” Marshall said. “Let me just be clear. This cap and vest program doesn’t exist yet. The government has dragged its feet on it. It was her idea and she and her agencies can design the program any way they want. So if they think that designing it a certain way is going to cost people $4,000 per household, then they shouldn’t design it that way. That’s up to them.”Marshall spoke in response to Gov. Hochul citing affordability concerns as she considers potential changes to the state’s climate law. “We really do think they’re being overstated,” she said. “Everybody is talking about energy affordability because we have a real energy affordability crisis here in New York that we really need to face. And this cold winter, which I might add is because of climate change, we’re having these weirdly cold winters, is very scary. People’s bills are astronomically high just trying to keep warm and keep the lights on, and that’s scary for everyone. The legislators are hearing from their constituents, etc., and it is a really deep concern.”Marshall argued that policymakers are seeking easy scapegoats instead of long-term solutions. “What the politicians want to do is find some kind of easy fall guy, point a finger, say it’s not their fault. They don’t want to do the hard work of really looking at the solutions that will actually help people like investing in upgrading the energy efficiency of people’s homes, investing in clean energy solutions that we already know save money for people for the future, and really doing the kind of long-term planning of our energy system that we need in order to reduce future costs for customers.”On the state’s dependence on fossil fuels, Marshall said, “We have this aging electric system. A lot of our power plants still rely on gas. If gas prices go up, then the cost of electricity goes up. But even more a problem is this gas distribution system that we’re paying through the nose every year more and more to keep. With the amount that people pay on their gas bills, very little of that is actually for the gas. Most of it is to support the system of pipes and infrastructure that brings the gas to you.”Marshall said advocates are pushing for programs to help households now while transitioning to cleaner energy. “Renewable Heat Now is not only dedicated to defending the climate law and moving a planned transition forward for the energy system, but we’re also super dedicated to helping people right now and making sure programs like the Empower Plus program and the Weatherization Assistance Program are properly funded so that especially the lowest-income households are getting the help they need month-to-month to lower energy bills and be safer and more secure in their homes,” she said.Marshall also addressed federal challenges, including actions by the Trump administration that affected offshore wind development. “There’s no denying that the Trump administration has not been friendly towards New York’s climate policy, but really the governor has incredible leeway to implement and move forward most of the goals of the CLCPA on her own,” she said.Looking ahead, Marshall urged the legislature to resist renegotiating the climate law as part of the state budget. “Number one, they should absolutely positively 100% not agree to renegotiate the climate law as part of the budget process. And if the governor wants to renegotiate the climate law, the legislature should say you can do that with us after the budget is over and not during this budget,” she said.Marshall said clean energy programs can be part of an affordability solution. “We stand by and have plenty of evidence that a clean energy program is an affordability program. We do not see a conflict there. I think that is really the scare tactic that the opposition is trying to use and take advantage of how vulnerable people feel when they open that bill. It is scary, but the culprit for rising energy bills is absolutely not clean energy and we ...
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