MONDAY, OCTOBER 29.

PROGRAM # 6807 12:00 PM PT

THE I-WORD. Journalists, activists, and now the family of César Chávez are calling on The New York Times and the Associated Press, two of the largest news organizations, to stop using the term “illegal immigrant”. The campaign has rekindled a debate about the meaning and connotation of what is now becoming known as “the I-word”.

Guests: Alex Nogales, President & CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Pasadena, CA, www.nhmc.org; Raoul Lowery Contreras, Political commentator, San Diego, CA; Alejandro Chavez, Grandson of Cesar and Helen Chavez, Natinoal Field Organizer, MoveOn.org, Phoenix, AZ.

PROGRAM # 6808 12:00 PM PT

IMMIGRATION EDITION. Analysts discuss the two major positions or plans on immigration reform, the DREAM Act, and DACA at debate in this presidential and congressional election. Attorney Rosalba Piña, an immigration law expert, hosts this edition from Chicago, answering listeners’ questions about how to apply for residency and naturalization.

Guest: Vanessa Cárdenas, Policy analyst, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C., www.americanprogress.org.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31.

PROGRAM # 6809 12:00 PM PT

WHAT’S IN A LABEL? A proposition on California’s ballot could put the state at the forefront in a movement to label genetically modified food. Prop 37 aims to inform consumers when the food they buy contains genetically modified organisms. A multimillion-dollar campaign to oppose it argues the labels would raise prices for consumers. A political journalist provides an analysis on the arguments pro and against the proposition.

Guest: Araceli Martínez, Reporter, La Opinión and Noticiero Latino, Sacramento, CA.

ALSO, PAYING TO DRIVE. Another California proposition would allow auto insurance companies to charge more for drivers who have not had continuous coverage. Many consumer advocacy groups oppose this initiative, with the exception of a multi-cultural civic organization. This is a debate about this California initiative, Proposition 33.

Guests: Joseph Ridout, Spokesperson, Consumer Action, San Francisco, CA, www.consumer-action.org

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TWO TAX PROPOSALS. There are two propositions on California’s ballot that would raise taxes largely to pay for education. Prop 30 proposes to raise taxes, mostly on the wealthy, to pay off state debt and stop further cuts in education, healthcare, and other social services. Prop 38 raises taxes on almost everyone, and increases funding for childcare and public education from Kindergarten to 12^th grade. This edition looks at these propositions and Prop 32, which would bar unions from using money from payroll deductions for political purposes.

Guests: Belinda Reyes, Assistant Professor, College of Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, www.sfsu.edu; Henrik Rehbinder, Editorial Page Editor, La Opinión, Los Angeles, CA, www.laopinion.com.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1.

PROGRAM # 6811 12:00 PM PT

OPEN FORUM. Listeners call in live or use the program's voice mail to share their perspective on the presidential campaigns, Senate and Congressional races in different states, ballot initiatives, and other concerns, days before the crucial 2012 elections.

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PROGRAM # 6812 1:00 PM PT

EARLY VOTING. Latino voters are showing up in record numbers to vote early in Nevada, one of the states considered "battleground", that could decide the presidential election. This edition includes interviews with a get-out-the-vote organizer in the state, and with Latino leaders backing both presidential candidates.

Guests: Elvira Diaz, Community Organizer, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN), Reno, NV, www.planevada.org; José Fuentes, Co-chairman of "Juntos con Romney" and Former Attorney General of Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., www.mittromney.com; Henry Cisneros, Former mayor of San Antonio, Texas and Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, San Antonio, TX, www.barackobama.com. 

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2.

PROGRAM # 6813 12:00 PM PT

MEXICO EDITION. Where there once was desert, there is now corn. Mennonite growers are using loans from the Canadian government to transform 35,000 hectares in the desert of Chihuahua. But this story of success is in reality another page in a history of corruption allowed by Mexican authorities. A few days ago, agronomist Ismael Solorio Urrutia and elementary school teacher Manuela Martha Solís, both activists from the small farmer organization El Barzón, were shot to death, because of this corruption. Activists say that Mennonite growers of Canadian nationality have been using the Del Carmen River without legal permits, and taking water from more than 160 wells, without any repercussions from the authorities, who instead of penalizing them, support and subsidize them. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts Voz Pública from Mexico City.

Guests: Heraclio Rodrígez, director, El Barzón, Chihuahua, Mexico; Joaquín Solorio Urrutia, brother of Ismael Solorio Urrutia, activist from El Barzón in Chihuahua, and killed with his wife Manuela Martha Solís, on October 22nd, Chihuahua, Mexico.

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Guests: Dolores Huerta, farm worker and women movement pioneer, president of Dolores Huerta Foundation, Bakersfield, CA, www.doloreshuerta.org; Lydia Camarillo, Vice President, South West Voter Registration and Education Project, San Antonio, TX, www.svrep.org; Jose Gonzalez, Vice coordinator, Frente Indigena de Organizaciones Binacionales, San Diego, CA, www.fiob.org; Grace Lopez Ramirez, State Director, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Denver, CO, www.mifamiliavota.us.

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Funds for Línea Abierta are provided in part by The National Endowment for the Arts, The California Endowment, the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, The Ford Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.