When did you become a fan of reggae music? I see you also a jazz fan, who's your favorite jazz artist?

Ken: I became a fan of reggae in the 60's, and it started with the huge hit "My Boy Lollipop" by Jamaican singer Millie Small.



Actually, there was no reggae at the time, and Small's song was actually a form of music called "bluebeat". It paved the way for the creation of reggae, and Small became the first Jamaican artist to hit the Top-40 charts in the U.S. and U.K., so for that, I believe she should be in the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. Desmond Dekker later hit the charts with the reggae tune, "The Israelites". Musically at that time, it was the weirdest most fascinating song I had ever heard, and I was hooked. Then, American artist Johnny Nash made the Top-40 airwaves with the reggae song "Hold Me Tight", and shortly thereafter gave a free concert at my high school. Being the one of the staff photographers for the school newspaper I got to cover his arrival, and activities back stage, and became a reggae fan for life. However, I am a bit disappointed with today's reggae music because it sounds more like calypso and rap to me. As for jazz, it’s music I grew up with and always liked since birth. There are too many favorite artists to mention. A few are Wes Montgomery, Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Dave Grusin, David Sanborn, Earl Klugh, Brian Culbertson, Waymon Tisdale, Keiko Matsui, Joe Sample, Spyro Gyra, Weather Report, and Ramsey Lewis.


Do think that illegal music downloads are the reason why CD sales of popular music have fallen?

Ken: I believe downloads are only a small part of the reason why sales are down. Popular music just isn’t as fun to listen to as it was 20 or 30 years ago. Many of the songs sound the same, and employ the same instruments. You have fewer professional song writers because performers want more royalties so they make their own songs and many aren’t that good. Broadcast radio program directors have become far more selective about what goes on the air so there is less variety and exploration, plus there are fewer broadcast stations playing music. It seems the only forms of popular music that still have a sense of fun are country, and rap, but rap is usually riddled with four letter words, violent, sexist, drug-related lyrics that are a turn off.


Are you looking forward to the Presidential Debates?

Ken: Not really. I would be more interested if the minor political parties were included. I would like to hear what the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, Socialist Party, etc., have to say about the issues. I think it’s sad that we call ourselves a democracy but limit the political process to just two choices. I may not agree with the minor parties but they many have one or two good ideas. Americans complain that there isn’t much difference between the Democrats and Republicans but never demand that other voices be added to the platform.


I enjoy your reporting. I find it interesting that within the past week, 3 motorcyclists were killed by drivers over the age of 70. Two out in Sandusky/ Norwalk/ Bellevue area and one here in Westlake.

It sure does bring to light the controversial topic of retesting elderly drivers or even restricting times of travel. Maybe these people don't need to die in vain. With a swollen population of baby boomers what will the roads be like in the next 10-15 years?

Ken: Thanks for the kind words...I agree this merits further consideration. However, I would hate to see politicians put new laws and restrictions on the books, that would affect a large group of people, just because of the bad actions of a few. I know a lot of seniors who have stopped driving on their own, because they knew it was time to quit. Maybe we could start with a public service/public education campaign, like the ones urging teens to drive safe, and if that doesn’t work examine the issue of senior testing.


There are so many stories about high gasoline prices. Are there any other items that have risen as much over the years, but we haven’t noticed them?

Ken: Let’s go back to 1978. Thirty years ago, gasoline was 63 cents a gallon. A new home cost $62,500, monthly rent was $260. A dozen eggs cost 82 cents, a gallon of milk $1.71, a first class stamp was 13 cents. Median household income was $15,000. A new Chevy Impala cost about $5,000. The Dow-Jones Industrials hit a high of 893 points. But would you want to go back to 1978? Inflation was running at more than 12% a year. Unemployment was 7.1%. The Prime Rate reached 11.55%.


You guys do a lot of stories about murders. Do yoo have any idea how many murders there are in Ohio each year?

Ken: According to disastercenter.com there were 539 murders in Ohio in 2006, which is latest year for which data is available. That’s down from 590 in 2005, which so far has been the worst year for killings this decade. Going back to 1960 the worst year for Ohio was 1974 when 952 people were murdered. The best year was 1961 when only 306 people were slaughtered.

According to icasualties.org, 902 U.S soldiers were killed in Iraq in 2007 the worst year so far. 822 perished in 2006. The least loss of life was 486 in 2003. That year 526 people were murdered in Ohio.

So it seems at times, life in Ohio rivals a war zone.



With the economy slowing down, what do you think can be done to generate more jobs?

Ken: Actually, I think there are a lot of jobs here already. The problem is workers face too many barriers in getting those jobs. Employers place too many qualifications before most positions, often requiring 5 to 10 years experience for a low level occupation. Let’s face it, there aren’t very many jobs that require a lot of experience, outside of medicine, law, and technology…..just a willingness and drive to learn. When Henry Ford was starting his auto empire he didn’t ask workers if they had degrees or experience in auto assembly. He hired them, and trained them. Businesses today seem to want prepackaged employees already to go, and don’t want to spend any money on training. This keeps far too many people from getting jobs. Here at WTAM we have trained countless employees. Not only does it open up opportunities to employment, but it also assures that workers learn how to do things our way. I think businesses would do well to lower job barriers and increase training efforts.



I am really upset that the Cavaliers didn’t go farther in the playoffs. Why is it so difficult for Cavs, Indians, and Browns to win a championship? I’m sick of other cities winning while the drought continues here. I just want to see us win a championship before I die. Why can’t we win one?

Ken: I think the real question is, what championship have you won? We are always down on our sports teams for not winning, but what have WE done to win a championship in our professions? What have we done to make Northeast Ohio a better place. What have we done individually to lift the spirits of people here? While winning a championship would be nice, we have to keep in mind that these are professional athletes who are working on their own careers. Maybe we should concentrate more on being at the time of our game.


I was wondering how you felt about news websites like Digg.com that aggregate news from other sources. Do you feel that sites like these are legitimate sources of journalism, or put forth too many unworthy stories?

Ken: Even though there are some problems with sites like Digg, I think anything that encourages the exchange of news and information at the "people" level is a wonderful thing.

I have a colleague who hates Wikipedia, he claims it's inaccurate and contains a lot of false information because the public at large can add information to it. However, I have found as many errors, and as much misinformation, and mistakes in scholarly journals and textbooks.

As far a spreading unworthy stories, I feel that many traditional outlets, especially local television have a long history of leading the way in that regard.

I think Digg and Wikepedia are a great service to the public and I don't believe journalism has to be left entirely to us professionals.

Do you think Northeast Ohio should sell Lake Erie water to states in the South and Southwest that are suffering from water shortages?

Ken: Sure, why not? If we can create more revenue and jobs collecting Lake Erie water and selling it to other cities for a profit I don’t see the harm in it. Desert nations sell us oil and have raked in huge sums of cash because of it. What’s wrong with doing the same with our water? Water is bought and traded every day and we think nothing of it. Even though Cleveland has plenty of H2O, we still purchase drinking water bottled and shipped in from elsewhere. Meanwhile, Cleveland sells water to neighboring counties, and continues to sign up new clients. Some Clevelanders don’t want to sell water to other states hoping conditions will become so dry, residents of those states will leave the Sunbelt to live in Northeast Ohio. I don’t think that’s going to happen. Furthermore, aren’t we all Americans? We are one country. Why should we threaten to hold our fellow citizens hostage to a water shortage? What if energy producing states like Texas and Oklahoma say, no more gasoline or natural gas shipments to the Midwest?


I would think that being a reporter, there are aspects of your job than can be pretty depressing.

Ken: Yes, we frequently have to deal with negative news, but for me covering the courts can be the most disheartening. We watch at lot of sad stories unfold before our eyes. People who have made bad decisions leading to the death and injury of others, who know they will carry the burden of their actions for a lifetime, and now wish they would have done differently. People caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, or who unfortunately let peer pressure guide their behavior. The most scary are those unremorseful souls who would willingly commit their crimes again if they had not been caught. I’ve seen people acknowledge destroying their own successful lives, because they were unable to break the cycle of drugs or alcohol. Then there are poor people who are unable to prevent being swept away by their own environment. Covering the courts can be a pretty sobering experience, especially when you consider those in court could be any one of us.


So, it looks like we will see $4 gasoline very soon, and nobody is doing anything about it. How long do you think it will be before $5 a gallon gas, and will anybody do anything about that?

Ken: Probably not. Everyone complains about high gasoline prices, but motorists still fly up and down the freeway at 85 miles an hour, not slowing down to save gasoline. Automakers only continue to manufacture a token number of hybrids, electrics, and bio-diesel vehicles. VW had a diesel Jetta on the market more than 20 years ago that got 50 mpg on the highway. Where is it now? Where are the diesel cars from the other automakers? I’ve done several stories about Greater Clevelanders who make their own bio-diesel fuel for about 50 cents a gallon, to burn in their specially modified cars, they converted for $600. The technology has been around for a long time. The politicians talk about making America less energy dependent, but do little if anything about it. I suspect we will see more inaction until gasoline hits $10 a gallon.



Did you ever meet Martin Luther King Jr.?

Ken: No, I never got to meet him, but I did get to see Dr. King in person in Cleveland. I was a young boy when he came to town in 1963. My father and I took part in Dr. King's civil rights march down the westbound Shoreway to East Ninth Street. Then he spoke at our church. Cory United Methodist Church on East 105th Street is a huge facility, but it was filled to capacity, the only time I remember there being standing room only. I sat in the upper balcony on the left side of the pulpit, so I had a great view. There were thousands of people present, and his speech was electrifying. It was almost like a rock concert with the crowd spilling into East 105th congratulating Dr. King as he left. It was an event I'll always remember.


What do you think of the Iowa Caucuses?

Ken: I agree with Governor Ted Strickland, in that far too much emphasis is placed on the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary. I've never understood why so few people have so much influence. Candidates will be weeded out of the presidential race before Ohio and the rest of the nation have the chance to vote, depriving us of options. It may be time to move to a national primary.


Every time it snows you guys do stories telling people to clear their sidewalks. Why? People know to do that, they aren't stupid.

Ken: In my neighborhood, it seems only a few of us clear our sidewalks. I notice lots of homeowners never clear their walks during the entire winter, even though they know school kids, postal carriers, and service people have trouble getting through the snow. Sure, the disabled or elderly and can't handle the task, but the able-bodied should be responsible citizens. The worst are people who clear their driveways, leaving their sidewalks untouched. What message does that send?

When I worked for the Cleveland Urban League many years ago, I would 
occasionally serve as a pollster.  I remain interested in what people are thinking. Here are a few of may favorite WTAM polls. Vote, and make your opinion known.