Access To Democracy

Andrew Pimental, Director of Parks and Recreation of the City of Eagan, MN, updates us about what is new in the city. He shares how the city residents thrived during COVID-19 pandemic and what they can look forward to in the future. (Hint, do you like pickleball?)

Author David Housewright, has been a guest on Access to Democracy on several occasions. In this show, David told us more about the history of his involvement in writing and some other interesting instances in his life that have imprinted on his life as a writer.

Albert Scaglione is the Founder and CEO of Park West Gallery, which has become the world’s largest art dealer. From humble beginnings, Dr. Scaglione built a business which, in 52 years, has changed the way the public views art, and under his tutelage, has come to treasure it and be able to purchase everything from the Masters of the past to the best contemporary artists alive today. Dr. Scaglione has Park West galleries in Michigan, its home base, and new ventures in Las Vegas and Hawaii. Almost every major cruise ship features Park West auctions, and he discussed how he coped during the pandemic by creating weekly on-line auctions to great success.

Marty Fleischhacker, Senior Financial Fraud Ombudsman & Civil Enforcement Liaison for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, discusses with guest host Bill Raker the topic “ID Theft – What You Need to Know”. The proliferation and consequences of ID Theft is a serious matter. Marty calls on his first-hand experience in working with fraud victims to explain the different types of Identity Theft activities. He lists the kinds of personal data the scammers are seeking, the various methods they use to trick victims to give the data and what they subsequently do with the data. Marty shares important steps consumers should take to safeguard their personal information and what a victim of ID theft should do to get help.

Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins has been a frequent guest of our show for over a decade. He was previously a city Mayor and a member of the MN Legislature. This interview with Alan Miller covered a wide range of topics, everything from the debt-free status of Dakota County under the aegis of the Commission, to the current reconstruction of Diffley Road in Eagan and a survey of other dangerous crossings near schools. He and Alan also discussed the removal of many trash receptacles in Eagan as an environmental measure, and its impact on pet owners. They also spent time discussing the necessity of protecting groundwater and its future impact as water and water tables diminish.