I’ve always admired public TV host Huell Howser for his ability to capture the aw-shucks wonder of this beautiful state as he takes viewers on tours of backwater spots in his California Gold series. He doesn’t seem to have an agenda, and Howser takes on a certain “little guy” approach to the world. But now Howser has agreed to host a 14-part series that is nothing short of hard-core propaganda for one of the most nefarious organizations in the state — the California Redevelopment Association.
According to a CRA statement, “The series presents an opportunity for us to tell the redevelopment story in a compelling and intimate way. Huell and his crew will be visiting redevelopment projects in cities and counties throughout California that demonstrate inspiring, positive elements of redevelopment efforts.”
How outrageous, especially since this will be on taxpayer-funded TV and the program is funded by a group that gets its funds from government agencies.
CRA is the state’s biggest proponent of eminent-domain abuse and regulatory takings, and its agencies actively drive people off their property so that the land can be handed over for pennies on the dollar to big developers. Howser will be shilling for these corporate-welfare projects but will ignore the people whose lives have been disrupted or even destroyed by them.
Howser will be doing PR for those who drive poor, minorities, small business owners and others out of their homes and businesses at the behest of government bureaucracies working in tandem with Armani-suit-wearing developers who like the freebies.
What’s next now that Howser is in the PR business for bad guys?
Howser is a fraud.
How sad…
What did you expect from a guy named “Huell”.
I am not surprised because I watch California’s Gold and his environmentalist and pro big government bias usually shows up at some point in the shows even though I like to watch them. But, what do you expect from PBS?
RF ☺
Huell Howser WAS one of my television favorites. I remember about a dozen years he campaigned to preserve a closed military base in the harbor that the City of Long Beach wanted to convert to a loading station for a Chinese Company with ties to the Red Army, subsidized by the city’s redevelopment agency.
the pot calling the kettle black
Sorry Steve. Last night I submitted my discussion with Huell Howser on your other post. I did ask him to consider providing equal time covering projects that were not successful . Get real here folks. CRA is underwriting the series. Larry Gilbert
Repeated my comment that got pulled earlier, I guess because I disagree with these guys. Interesting editorial policy — just delete anyone who disagrees with you. Anyway…
(Once again)
Oh, for the love of…
Going back 40 years just for an excuse to (conveniently) attempt to slander Howser is just pathetic. Every governmental agency in the 70s made the same mistakes in the name of “urban renewal”. At least with Howser involved, any thing left that can be salvaged more likely will be.
This guy is old news.
He’s boring, corny and totally irrelevant.
I understand, he tried local TV and didn’t make it.
ONLY ON PBS.
Big deal!
The best way to combat speech you don’t like, is to make your own speech - but telling Huell to not make this tv series, instead of just making your own tv series in response, just means you’re not even big enough to compete with PBS videos.
Keep on trying, slacker.
‘Ol Huell actually needs to mix in a salad, among other dietary concerns.