>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

WE WELCOME YOU AS WE HAVE A LOT OF HOT TOPICS TO DISCUSS A THEN ON THE SECOND HALF DURING NEXT UP WHEEN WE FEATURE A LOCAL LEADER, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO ARREY OBENSON, THE CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SL, WHO WILL BE WELCOMING AFGHAN REFUGEES TO OUR AREA, AND WENDY AND RAY WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM.

FIRST, LET'S MEET THOSE PANELISTS.

THERE SHE IS, WENDY WIESE, FROM KTRS.

WE HAVE MR. BILL McCLELLAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

RAY HARTMANN FROM RAW STORYCOM, THE RIVERFRONT TIMES AND KTRS, AND ALVIN REID FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN.

AND BEFORE WE JUMP INTO SOME OF OUR TOPICS FOR THIS WEEK, BILL, I KNOW YOU HAVE A REMEMBRANCE FOR PHIL HAYNES, THE STATE LAWMAKER FROM ILLINOIS WHO WAS ALSO STATES ATTORNEY FOR MADISON COUNTY WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.

>> YES, HE HAD A TERRIFIC REPUTATION AS A STATE'S ATTORNEY.

THAT'S A PROSECUTOR.

THEN HE WAS A STATE SENATOR AND HE HAD BEEN A DECORATED VIETNAM WAR VETERAN, AND JUST A GOOD MAN.

HIS SON IS NOW THE STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR MADISON COUNTY.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR -- >> WE'LL ALL MISS BILL HAYNES.

>> THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH THE HAYNES FAMILY AT THIS TIME.

WELL, RAY -- CHECK THAT.

ALVIN, WE START WITH YOU FOR THIS EDITION.

YOU WROTE A COLUMN ON STUDENT ATHLETES GETTING VACCINATE.

YOU BELIEVE THAT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SHOULD ALL, EVERY ONE, BE VACCINATED, EVEN SWIRPS, BUT THIS ISSUE IS BECOME -- SWIMMERS, BUT THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING CONTROVERSIAL FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ST. LOUIS.

MAYOR TISHAURA JONES AS ANNOUNCED THAT ALL POLICE OFFICERS TO TO BE VAECTZED.

12 POLICE OFFICERS SAID THEY WILL RESIGN, AND A MEMBER OF THE BORED OF ALDERMEN SAID HE WOULD ISSUE A MEASURE TO REPEAL THAT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU BELIEVE THAT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SHOULD ALL BE VACCINATED?

>> IT WAS LIKE THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AND MAYOR DE BLASIO AND THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAID DOWN THE LAW AND SAID IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY THESE CERTAIN SPORTS, NOT ALL OF THEM, YOU HAVE TO BE VACCINATED.

BASEBALL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE VACCINATED, BUT BOWLING YOU DO.

YOU KNOW, ALL SPORTS SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP IN THAT, I THINK, AND ALSO IF ANY CITY SAYS OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WORK IN THE PUBLIC, HAVE TO BE VACCINATED, I HAVE ZERO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET VACCINATED, THEN I SUGGEST THAT YOU GO FIND ANOTHER JOB.

THERE ARE SOME RAMIFICATIONS FOR NOT BEING VACCINATED.

EMPLOYERS HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL YOU TO BE -- THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VACCINATED, AND THAT'S JUST N MY MIND, THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FUNING, NOT FUN AND GAMES, I'LL TAKE THAT BACK.

WE'VE BEEN AVOIDING THE ISSUE OF THAT AND IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE MANDATORY MANDATES -- THAT'S WHAT I SAID IN THE COLUMN.

IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE MANDATORY MANDATES TO BE VACCINATED, WE WOULD NOT BE IN SUCH DIRE STRAITS WITH COVID-19 AND THE DELTA VARIANT AS WE ARE NOW.

>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID IN YOUR COLUMN.

IT WAS BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN.

I JUST BELIEVE MORE STRONGLY IN THE FACT, THE BASIC PRINCIPLE THAT THIS NATION IS A NATION IN WHICH ITS RESIDENTS SHOULD BE FREE FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

IF THESE PEOPLE CAN PROVE, AND I MEAN A LOT OF HOSPITALS, INCLUDING MERCY AND OTHERS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RELIGIOUS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOUR RELIGIOUS LEADERS MAKE THE CASE.

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS.

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD AND TO HAVE SPECIAL TESTING REQUIRED, TO HAVE OTHER MITIGATION EFFORTS REQUIRED, THEN I THINK THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT THOSE RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

>> WELL, I THINK -- I AGREE, WENDY, BUT I THINK WE'LL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF NEW CHURCHES SPROUTING UP OR PEOPLE JOINING, YOU KNOW, THE DENOMINATIONS THAT THEY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT, BUT THEY JUST WANT TO SHOW THE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET VACCINATED.

>> THERE'S A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAKING PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AGAINST WHATEVER RELIGION THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEIR RELIGIOUS VIEWS, AS BILL POINTED OUT, THERE MAY BE A LOT OF THEM, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAKING THEM DO IT AND SAYING IF YOU DON'T GET VACCINATED, BECAUSE WE HAVE A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE 90 TO 99% OF THE PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED ARE UNVACCINATED, WE SIMPLY, AS A PEOPLE, CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE YOU JEOPARDIZE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> WELL, WHY NOT DO WHAT DELTA AIR LINES HAS DONE AND THEN SAY, OKAY, IF YOU WORK FOR US, CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AND YOU GET HEALTH INSURANCE, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU DO, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY AN EXTRA $200 PER MONTH IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, AND THAT WILL HELP DEFRAY SOME OF THE COSTS FOR THE UNVACCINATED HOSPITALS, AND THEN MAYBE ALSO PASS ALONG SOME OF THE HOSPITALIZATION COSTS TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID WITHOUT A VACCINE.

AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD -- >> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT PENALIZING PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE VACCINES.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> NO, IT ISN'T.

IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING THE REST OF US.

THIS ISSUE MAKES ME NUTS, WHETHER IT'S MASKS OR VACCINE.

IT'S A PRACTICAL MEANS OF PROTECTING EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> I GET YOU, RAY.

ALL RIGHT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SUGARCOAT IT.

THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, THEY'RE STRONGARMING PLAYERS.

NO, WE DON'T HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE, BUT YOU GOT TO FOLLOW ALL THE PROTOCOLS OR, BY THE WAY, IF YOU'RE AROUND SOMEBODY THAT HAS COVID-19, YOU HAVE TO SIT OUT AT LEAST FIVE DAYS, MAYBE UP TO TEN.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE IT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO SIT OUT.

TO NOW YOU'VE HURT YOUR TEAM AND EVERYBODY'S MAD AT YOU.

I DON'T CARE.

IT'S TIME TO STRONG-ARM, FORCE, QUIT KIDDING AROUND.

AND SO FINE, YEAH, YOU GOT TO BE VACCINATED.

OR WORK SOMEPLACE ELSE.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHERS TO PICK AND IT'S THE LOOP TROLLEY IN THE NEWS ONCE AGAIN.

THE BUSINESS NEWS REPORTING THAT THE EAST-WEST GATEWAY COUNCIL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS KIND OF AN ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE 14-COUNTY REGION, IS GOING TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RECOMMEND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE $1.2 MILLION TO THE TROLLEY TO KICKSTART IT.

WE KNOW THAT IT WASN'T THAT POPULAR WHEN IT WAS RUNNING, BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY, OKAY, IF THERE ISN'T THIS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET IT GOING AGAIN, AND BY THE WAY, THAT MONEY WOULD BE UNDER A PROGRAM THAT'S USED TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND MITIGATE AIR POLLUTION, IF THE TROLLEY GOES BUST, THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE OTHER FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR REGIONAL PROJECTS.

SO WOULD YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE A BIG FAN OF THE TROLLEY, HOLD YOUR NOSE AND VOTE TO RECOMMEND THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THIS TROLLEY?

>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT MATH.

THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION TIED UP IN THE TROLLEY AND I WAS A VERY STRONG SUPPORTER OF IT UNTIL I WASN'T, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE REALLY SPOKE WITH THEIR ABSENCE FROM THE TROLLEY, I GUESS, AS FAR AS IN TERMS OF ITS MARKETABILITY.

IT'S MATH.

I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 50 MILLION BUCKS.

IT DEPENDS IF THE MATH SAYS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SHUTTING IT DOWN AND IT'S GOING TO COST US FAR MORE TO SHUT IT DOWN THAN IT IS TO OPERATE IT, THEN YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY FOOLISH TO DO THAT.

AND AS YOU POINT OUT, IT WOULD ALSO JEOPARDIZE OTHER PROJECTS.

BUT I THINK THAT -- IT'S REALLY MATH.

IT'S NOT EMOTION, IT'S MATH.

>> IS IT TRUE THAT THE CONGESTION MITIGATION, AIR QUALITY, IS THAT WHAT CMAQ STANDS, FOR RAY?

THAT ALL OF THOSE FUNDS ARE STILL AVAILABLE WITH THE 1.6 MILLION FOR THE TROLLEY IF WE GO AHEAD AND DO THIS?

FOR ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I WILL GET ON THE MATH TRAIN WITH RAY AND SAY IT'S NOT WORTH THE PUNCH IN THE EYE WE'RE GOING TO GET JUST TO SHUT IT DOWN.

>> WELL, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO REFORM SOMETHING.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SAYING WE KNOW THIS PROJECT ISN'T WORKING AND IT'S BEEN A FAILURE, BUT YOU BETTER KEEP PUTTING POINT INTO IT OR WE'RE GOING TO PUNISH YOU, I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF A GOVERNMENT OR BUSINESS WOULD OPERATE UNDER THAT KIND OF THINKING?

I MEAN -- >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS -- WHERE I WAS GOING TOO, BILL.

THIS TIME, I MEAN, THERE COMES A POINT WHERE IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO THROW YOURSELF ON THE MERCY OF THE COURT AND SAY, LIKE, OKAY, THIS WAS A BUST, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE KNOW WILL WORK.

THIS WAS A MISTAKE, BUT DON'T PENALIZE US FOR THE FUTURE FOR THIS BOONDOGGLE.

AND I THINK THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST THIS ADMINISTRATION AS OPPOSED TO THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK YOU FALL FAVORABLY BECAUSE THIS MONEY IS FOR DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S FOR PURPOSE, IT'S NOT GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK.

AND BESIDES, ON THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THE TROLLEY, WHILE NOT WORKING AND WHILE I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE HAS WASTED SOME MONEY, IT PROBABLY IS 950 PERKS ON GOVERNMENTAL WASTE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RIGHT NOW.

SOILED JUST SAY NA -- SO I WOULD JUST SAY, NAH, WE'LL LIKE THAT MONEY AND WE'D LIKE TO USE IT ELSEWHERE AND PLEASE DON'T PUNISH US FOR DOING IT.

I COULD MAKE THAT CASE IN COURT AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY.

>> THE ONLY THING IS, THEY'RE TAKING THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND THAT WOULD BE THE PURPORTED PURPOSE, BUT LET'S FACE IT, THERE'S NOT CONGESTION ON DELMAR OR DEBOLIVAR IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

THERE'S CONGESTION IN OUR AREA, BUT NOT RIGHT THERE.

HOW ABOUT NEXT DOOR, WENDY WIESE?

DEBOLIVAR HITS LINDELL NEAR THE HISTORY MUSEUM AND IT'S ALONG THAT STRIP OF BYWAY, THE ST. LOUIS ALTER PERSON HEATHER NAVARRO WANTS TO TURN THAT FOUR-LANE ROAD LINDELL INTO TWO LANES, ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS TOO FAST AND SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT THE TRAFFIC IS ACTUALLY FASTER ON SKINKER.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY DON'T HAVE POLICE OFFICERS PATROLLING THE AREA, BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TURNING LINDELL, THAT BEAUTIFUL STRETCH BETWEEN FOREST PARK AND THOSE MANSIONS, INTO A TWO-LANE ROAD?

>> I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A HUGE MISTAKE.

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHETHER THIS IS SOME KIND OF A GENERATIONAL MISUNDERSTANDING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD RUSSELL JACKSON IS.

HE'S A PARTNER AT DOWD BENNETT, BUT HE SAID THIS WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE TO TRY TO GET INTO THE CENTRAL WEST END AND KINGSHIGHWAY.

OUR DAUGHTER LIVES ON WATERMON, SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY USING LINDELL, AND IN TERMS OF THESE BIG TRUCKS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM.

I'M NOT DOUBTING IT.

I'M SURE THAT OCCASIONALLY THEY ARE USED, BUT TO TAKE WHAT HAS BECOME SUCH AN IMPORTANT THOROUGHFARE, AND IT ISN'T AS IF THE -- I MEAN, THE MANSIONS, LET'S FACE FACT, THESE ARE MANSIONS BY AND LARGE, THEY SIT OFF OF THE ROAD.

I SWEAR TO YOU, I GREW UP WITH MY -- YOU KNOW, MY YOU DROPPING.

I LOVE BEING ABLE TO DRIVE BY THOSE MANSIONS.

THEY'RE THE ST. LOUIS HOUSES WE ALL KIND OF DREAMED ABOUT AT CERTAIN POINTS IN OUR LIVES, BUT TO REDUCE IT TO TWO LANES SO THAT YOU CAN INCLUDE BIKE PATHS WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT NEXT TO FOREST PARK, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL.

I KNOW THEIR HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE BE , BUT THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE CREATING A PROBLEM WHERE ONE DOES NOT EXIST.

>> WELL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DRIVE THROUGH FOREST PARK.

IF LINDELL IS SHUT DOWN -- >> DEFINITELY.

>> FOREST PARK, WE DON'T WANT CARS IN THERE OR NOT MANY OF THEM AND WE HAVE ALL THESE BICYCLISTS ALREADY THERE AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO FUNNEL TRAFFIC THROUGH FOREST PARK?

WHAT IS THE ALDERWOMAN THINKING OF?

>> BUT I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY THE TRAFFIC HAS TO GO THERE.

I'M KIND OF WENDY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, BUT I HAVE A REASON TOO.

MY OLDEST DAUGHTER NOW LIVES IN SKINKER-DEBOLIVAR WITH FRIENDS IN A TOWNHOUSE.

I USED TO DRIVE IT UP ALL THE TIME WHEN THE AMERICAN WAS CLOSER TO THERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

IF I STUMP OUT HERE, I STUMP WHEREVER FOR BEAUTY, TRANQUILITY, AND IF WE CAN, LIKE, REDUCE TRAFFIC ALONG THIS STRETCH, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO FOREST PARK, I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE NEED TO DO.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS A LONG TIME, OKAY?

AND I'M SORRY THAT MR MR. UMPTY-UMP PAGE LAWYER MIGHT TAKE LONGER TO GET TO WORK.

TRUST ME, HE'S PROBABLY ON HIS PHONE MAKING MONEY WHILE HE'S GOING TO WORK, BUT ANY IDEA THAT CREATES A BUFFER OF BEAUTY AND IT'S ADJACENT TO ANY PARK ANYWHERE, THEN I HAVE TO -- THE TREE HUGGER IN ME SAYS, LIKE, LET'S DO IT.

>> WELL, ALVIN -- >> YOU KNOW WHAT IT WILL BE, ALVIN?

>> NO, I CAN'T IMAGINE AND THE FIRST TIME I GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC, I'LL BE CUSSING IN MY CAR AND, YOU KNOW, TELLING THAT SHE NEEDS TO MOVE BACK TO CIVILIZATION.

>> YOU'LL SAY THESE DARN TREE HUGGERS.

>> IF THEY NARROW THE STREETS, THINK OF THE MKOS SKIS LIVING AROUND THERE, COMING OUT WITH THEIR GUNS.

I THINK IT'S A VERY WELL INTENDED JUDGED -- INTENDED IDEA AND IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF AND ONLY IF IF THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF STRATEGY, AND I CAN'T PICK OUT WHAT IT WOULD BE, TO MITIGATE THE TRAFFIC.

AS BILL SAYS, THAT TRAFFIC IS NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

IT'S GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND IT'S ALREADY IN MY VIEW, IT CAN BE NIGHTMARISH IN RUSH HOUR ALONG FOREST PARK PARKWAY RIGHT NOW.

ITS TERRIBLE.

IT'S TERRIBLE ON LINDELL AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL -- YOU TALK ABOUT GOING TO THE MUNY OPERA AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME REALITY HERE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD GOAL AND I THINK SHE'S RIGHT, IT SHOULD BE MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY.

>> MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A BIG STROLLY LINE ON IT.

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A TROLLEY LINE.

>> THAT WOULD POSSIBLY BE INCLUSIVE.

>> WHY NOT HAVE A POLICE OFFICER PULL OVER THE SPEEDERS?

>> WHAT?

>> WHY NOT HAVE A POLICE OFFICER PULL OVER THE SPEEDING MOTORISTS?

>> WHY NOT?

>> THAT'S A BIG -- >> WHY CAN'T YOU BLOCK LINDELL TO THOSE LARGER TRUCKS THAT THEY'RE REFERENCING AND SAY YOU'RE CAUSING SO MUCH OF THE RUMBLING AND THE NOISE.

>> YOU COULD CERTAINLY -- THAT WOULD BE FINE WITH ME.

>> RIGHT.

>> RAY, WHILE WE HAVE YOU FRONT AND CENTER, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR COLUMN WHICH YOU WROTE THIS WEEK FOR THE RIVERFRONT TIMES WHERE YOU TAKE ON GREATER ST. LOUIS INC. WHAT'S GREATER ST. LOUIS INC.?

THAT'S THAT NEW ORGANIZATION THAT KIND OF CONSOLIDATED FOUR OTHER GROUPS, CIVIC PROGRESS, THE REGIONAL CHAMBER, THE DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS PARTNERSHIP, ALLIANCE STL.

IT'S HEADED UP BY FORMER GUEST OF HONOR JASON HALL.

IT ALSO INCORPORATES SOMETHING YOU POINT OUT CALLED ARCH TO PARK, AN ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY SCHNUCKS, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE TAYLOR FAMILY, ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, AND OTHERS.

I KNOW I'M MISSING SOME.

YOU THINK THERE'S KIND OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE ARCH TO PARK IS A FOR-PROFIT AND IT'S NOW UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THIS REGIONAL GROUP AND IT'S GOING TO BE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CITY CENTRIC TO THE DETRIMENT ACTIVE SOME OF THE OUTLYING COMMUNITIES.

>> I'M A BIG FAN OF DOING GREATER ST. LOUIS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

JASON HALL IS TERRIFIC YOUNG GUY, A BRIGHT, GOOD LEADER, AND I'M ALL FOR GREATER ST. LOUIS.

THE PROBLEM IS, I WOULDN'T CALL IT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS A DESIGN FLAW OR STRUCTURAL FLAW BECAUSE THE IDEA THAT THE HONEST BROKER, THE REGIONAL CHAMBER, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT GREATER ST. LOUIS IS, IN ANY WAY CLOSE TO SPECIFIC REAL ESTATE DEALS AND SITE SELECTION, IN ANY WAY CLOSE TO IT, IS A TERRIBLE APPEARANCE AND A -- AND PARTICULARLY WHAT'S WORSE IS IT'S A FOR-PROFIT FUND WHICH BY DEFINITION DOES NOT HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE REPORTING AND SO FORTH THAT A NOT FORE PROFIT WOULD HAVE.

YES, IT'S ALL THE KIND OF ESTEEMED INSTITUTIONS.

THERE'S THE CARDINALS AND ALL THESE GREAT -- BUT THEY'RE IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AS A FUND, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIM, WELL, WE JUST MANAGE IT, WHY DO WE NEED THE HONEST BROKER DOING IT?

IT'S A TERRIBLE MAEJ TO COMMUNITIES ALL OVER -- MESSAGE TO COMMUNITIES ALL OVER ST. LOUIS AND IT ALSO, I THINK T RAISES QUESTIONS AS TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD DIVEST OF IT.

>> LOOK, I CAN FAVOR, OH BOY, ANYTHING IS ABOUT IMPROVEMENT.

THOSE DEALS, YOU'D HAVE TO CONVINCE ME WHY I SHOULD BE AGAINST IT.

LAND DEALS ARE SPECIFICALLY -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMMERCE THAT IS UP THERE AND THAT'S WHERE THE WEALTH IS AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT, YOU KNOW, OWNING LAND, OWNING YOUR HOUSE, THAT'S WHERE THE WEALTH IS.

THAT'S WHY IT JUST KIND OF SEEMS A LITTLE BIT TROUBLING TO ME, AND I WILL SAY THIS AND I'M NOT PICKING ON THEM, BUT OF ALL THOSE ENTITIES, THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS ARE NOT IN IT FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE MONEY.

AND THAT'S TROUBLING.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

WE HAVE CARDINALS -- >> WHAT IS -- >> THEY HAVE A NOT FOR PROFIT THAT THEY RUN.

>> WHAT ARE THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS INVESTED IN THAT THEY DO NOT EXPECT RETURN ON INVESTMENT?

>> BALL FIELDS.

BALL FIELDS IN THE AREA FOR THE KIDS.

>> THAT'S THE FOUNDATION.

THAT'S CARDINALS CARE.

THAT'S THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS.

>> WELL, THE CARDINALS RUN THAT.

THEY GET THE MONEY FROM THE WINTER WARM-UP THAT FUNDS THAT.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

>> BUT LEET LET ME -- I AGREE THAT THIS ORGANIZATION, ARCH TO THE PARK, IS REALLY INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING IN A STRAIGHT LINE THE REAL ESTATE THAT GOES BETWEEN WASH-U, THROUGH FOREST PARK ALL THE WAY TO THE GATEWAY ARCH.

THEY BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF DENSITY WITH UP AND COMING BUSINESSES LIKE CORTEX AND THE NEW NEUROSCIENCE CENTER FOR WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY TO ATTRACT BRIGHT AND TALENTED PEOPLE TO THE REGION WITH GREAT RESTAURANTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND I TOTALLY AGREE.

I THINK THAT'S A WORTHWHILE THING.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PROBLEMS YET, GUYS, WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT, ALTHOUGH, RAY, I REALIZE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME ISSUES HERE.

>> WELL, CHARLIE, LET ME RESPOND TO THAT REAL QUICK.

I'M SORRY.

BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU DESCRIBED THE REALITY THAT I THINK IS THERE, WHICH IS A CENTRAL WEST CORRIDOR BIAS.

IF I ASKED -- >> THEY'VE MISSED THAT.

>> I ASKED THEM AT POINT-BLANK RANGE DOES THIS INCLUDE NORTH CITY, DOES THIS INCLUDE SOUTH GRAND, SOME OF THOSE MORE DIFFICULT AREAS AND THEY SAID EMPHATICALLY YES.

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN -- AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARCH TO PARK AS A PRIVATE ENTITY IS THEY CAN TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT OR NOT WANT AND THERE'S NO PUBLIC REPORTING OF IT.

BUT THE QUESTION IS, I THINK A REAL PROBLEM IN THIS IS THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SERIOUS COMMITMENT OTHER THAN STRESHL TO NORTH ST. LOUIS AND FOR -- OTHER THAN VERBAL TO NORTH ST. LOUIS AND FOR THAT MATTER IS SOUTH GRAND NEEDS TANKS.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO, BUT THEY WOULD DENY WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

>> YOU CAN'T DO IT UNDER A REGIONAL UMBRELLA, CAN YOU?

>> WELL, THEIR ARGUMENT IS THAT A CORE -- THAT THE CORE IS CRITICAL TO THE REGION, AND I THINK THEY'RE RIGHT.

HOWEVER, THEY'VE GOT TO BE THE HONEST BROKER.

THEY'VE GOT TO -- >> IF I LIVE IN ST. CHARLES, I WOULD SAY THE CORE IS IMPORTANT TO THE CORE.

>> WELL, YEAH.

>> RIGHT?

>> WELL, THERE WAS AN ISSUE EARLIER, REMEMBER?

ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO, THE ORGANIZATION GREATER ST. LOUIS INC. HAD IN WRITING THAT IT WANTED TO FOCUS ALL THE JOB CREATION IN THE CITY, AND THEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR ST. CHARLES SAID, HEY WHOA, WHOA.

ALL THE JOB CREATION IN THE CITY?

WHAT ABOUT ST. CHARLES?

AND I THINK HE WAS RIGHT AND SO THEN THEY AMENDED IT.

>> HE WAS.

>> BUT NONETHELESS, RIGHT NOW, I THINK ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS WE'VE MENTIONED, INCLUDING THE CARDINALS, ALVIN, HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS FOR OUR REGION -- >> WAIT, WAIT.

BUT PLEASE SEPARATE CARDINALS CARE AND FOUNDATIONS FROM WHAT IS IN THIS ENTITY.

AND THAT'S ST. LOUIS CARDINALS LLC THAT'S IN THIS ENTITY.

>> CARDINALS ARE ONLY A TINY PART OF THIS.

MY QUESTION TO YOU, CHARLIE, WHY NOT HAVE ARCH TO PARK AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT?

>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> THERE'S JUST ONE TINY PART OF IT.

YOU HAVE WASH-U, SLU, ALL THE BIG BOYS -- >> WELL, HERE'S THE -- YOU KNOW, TO GET A NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS, 501(c)(3), YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT AND MAYBE WHAT THEY DO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR 501(c)(3) STATUS.

>> THEY COULD FORM A NOT-FOR-PROFIT INVESTMENT FUND.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

HOW ABOUT YOU, WENDY WIESE, LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER PIECE OF REAL ESTATE.

GRANT'S FARM IN SOUTH COUNTY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT ANHEUSER-BUSCH WILL STILL OWN IT, BUT IT WAB LEASED TO THE HEIRS OF THE BUSCH DYNASTY AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THIS WEEK TATE WILL BE MANAGED BY THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THE FAMOUS BREWING FAMILY.

>> I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.

I REALLY DO.

I MEAN, THE BOISHS, WHETHER YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THIS OR NOT, FOR JRNTIONS THEY'VE BEEN OUR DEFACTOR ROYAL FAMILY HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

THIS IS THEIR ANCESTRAL HOME.

I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

THEY'RE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING, AS ROBERT HERMANN SAID, THIS IMPORTANT BUT SMALL PIECE OF HISTORY IN ST. LOUIS.

ULYSSES S. GRANT, A CIVIL WAR HERO, ON PRESIDENT.

I'M DELIGHTED.

I'M DELIGHTED.

IT LOOKS LIKE ANHEUSER-BUSCH WILL STILL BE A MAJOR SPONSOR AND STILL INVOLVED, AS YOU SAID, BUT EVERYBODY SEEMS HAPPY.

THEY BOUGHT THE FAMILY MEMBERS OUT WHO NEEDED TO BE BOUGHT OUT AND I'M EXCITED TO TAKE MY GRANDSON TO GRANT'S FARM.

>> I AM TOO, BUT THE III WASN'T THERE, TRIPLE STICKS.

PLEASE, WATCH OVER IT.

PLEASE.

>> I WILL.

>> I TRUST -- FOR SOME REASON, I STILL TRUST THAT MAN'S JUDGMENT MORE THAN MOST.

SO WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, I HOPE YOU'RE HEALTHY, I HOPE YOU'RE WELL, I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOUR MANY, MANY BILLIONS, BUT PLEASE WATCH OVER GRANT'S FARM AND MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO BE GRANT'S FARM.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> BILL McCLELLAN, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT PLANS BY ST. CHARLES TO BRING THE CONTROVERSIAL LEWIS AND CLARK STATUE FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, TO ST. CHARLES.

YOU KNOW, IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, PEOPLE THERE GOT RID OF THE ROBERT E. LEE STATUE AND THE LEWIS AND CLARK STATUE BECAUSE SACAGAWEA, THE INDIAN GUIDE, WAS KIND OF KNEELING DOWN AND NOT DISPLAYED IN A PROMINENT WAY.

DO YOU THINK THIS AREA SHOULD BRING THAT STATUE TO THE REGION?

>> ONLY IF THEY CANNOT GET THE ROBERT E. LEE STATUE THROWN IN WITH IT.

IT JUST SOUNDS CRAZY TO MES ABOUT YOU HAVE A STATUE THAT'S ALREADY GOTTEN OPPOSITION AND I'VE SEEN SACAGAWEA IS THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS ENVISIONED IT, CHARLIE, BUT THE PICTURE I SAW, SHE ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A DOG.

I MEAN, SHE'S DOWN ON ALL FOURS, THE TWO GUYS ARE STANDING UP.

I THINK IF ST. CHARLES WANT AND STATUE OF LEWIS AND CLARK, THEY OUGHT TO COMMISSION ONE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SCULPTORS, BUT TO BRING IN SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY CONTROVERSIAL, YOU KNOW HOW THAT MOVIE ENDS.

I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT IT AND GO, WELL, YEAH, I CAN SEE THAT, SHE PROBABLY JUST DROPPED SOMETHING.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

SO NO, I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD DO IT.

>> A MINUTE TO GO.

>> I'M WITH BILL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S -- >> PROBABLY WANT TO EDIT BILL'S MARKS A LITTLE, BUT OTHERWISE -- >> I SAY BRING IT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STATUE.

I DON'T THINK SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S DEMEANED THAT MUCH, AND BY THE WAY, THE PRONUNCIATION, SACAGAWEA, IS FROM THE LATE GREAT HISTORIAN FROM ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY BARNABY FARRADY AND HE TOLD ME THAT'S HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT.

>> I RESPECT HIM A GREAT DEAL.

>> AND HER SON BY THE WAY WENT TO ST. LOUIS COLLEGE WHICH BECAME ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

IN A MOMENT, IT'S NEXT UP WITH ARREY OBENSON FROM THE INTOOSHL INSTITUTE BEING GRILLED BY WENDY AND RAY.

EVERYBODY STAY TUNED.

THAT'S NEXT.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO NEXT UP.

AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE BACK WITH US ARREY OBENSON, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS.

WELCOME BACK.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, YOU PICK AN INTERESTING TIME TO TAKE OVER THIS INSTITUTE, AND OBVIOUSLY TOP OF MIND FOR SO MANY OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS THE AFGHAN REFUGEE SITUATION.

CAN YOU UPDATE US ON THE POSITION OF THE INSTITUTE AND WHAT YOU MAKE OF THIS IT SITUATION AS IT APPLIES TO ST. LOUIS?

>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, AS YOU SAID, QUITE AN INTERESTING TIME TO TAKE OVER AS PRESIDENT AND CEO, BUT I LOOK AT IT AS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE BECAUSE THIS GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- NOW I GET TO SEE AN ENTIRE CYCLE OF IMMIGRANTS LEAVING THEIR COUNTRY AND COMING HERE AND WE RESETTLING THEM AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN A COMPRESSED PERIOD OF TIME.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, WE HAD PREDICTED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN UPTICK IN ARRIVALS OF REFUGEES IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A WAVE AS A RESULT OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN.

WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE -- AND WE HAD ACTUALLY IN 2018 TAKEN IN AFGHAN SIVs.

SO SIVs, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR PEOPLE WHO REPORTED THE PROSECUTION OF THE WAR IN AFGHAN, SO SINCE 2018, WE BROUGHT IN OVER 250 OF THOSE, SO WE WERE EXPECTING IT AND THINK THAT WE COULD ALL THROUGH THE YEARS WELCOME 1,000 REFUGEES, BUT THAT'S -- THE CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE THE CALCULUS IS NOW THAT WE MAY HAVE 1,000 BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND MAYBE EVEN MORE AS THE DAYS GO BY.

SO YES, WE ARE RAMPING UP CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME THE ARRIVAL, BUT BEYOND JUST WELCOMING THE ARRIVAL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO IS HOUSING, ENSURING THAT WE CAN FURNISH HOUSING, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PROVISION IN THE HOUSING, ENSURING THAT WE DO A HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND BRING THEM INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE THIS QUARANTINE FOR TEN DAYS AND THEN IF THEY NEED TO TAKE A COVID VACCINE, WE HAVE TO SET THEM UP FOR A COVID VACCINE.

THEY'RE COMING -- SOME ARE COMING AS FAMILIES, SO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILDREN, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FAMILY SERVICES SO THAT THE CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.

THEN WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THEIR PLACEMENT IN THE ECONOMY THAT WE HAVE NOW.

WE DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THEIR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AND IF THEY MEET ENGLISH LANGUAGE, WE SET THEM UP, DEPENDING ON THEIR LEVEL, JOB SKILLS, WE MATCH THEM UP WITH EMPLOYERS AND ALL OF THIS WE DO IN 90 DAYS.

>> ARRAY, TO HAVE THAT SPECIAL IMMIGRATION VISA MEANS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL, I SUPPOSE, OR THEIR FAMILY, A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY, HAS ASSISTED THE U.S. WAR EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN.

DO WE NATURALLY ASSUME THAT THEY ARE ALREADY PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH?

>> WELL, FOR THOSE THAT IN MOST CASES, THEY WOULD BE PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH, MOST CASES.

BUT NOT IN ALL CASES BECAUSE THERE WERE THOSE WHO SERVED US AS ADMIN, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO SERVED US AS DRIVERS AND CREW AND IN SOME CASES, IT WOULD NOT BE -- WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE MAJORITY, SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE SIVs ARE PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH BECAUSE OF THAT INTERACTION ALREADY THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE MILITARY.

>> CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-UP, RAY, IF YOU DON'T MIND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AS PEOPLE WHO ASSISTED THE U.S., THE REFUGEES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VISIT WITH, WHAT IS THEIR FRAME ACTIVE MIND?

I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING QUITE AS TERRIFYING OR CHAOTIC AS LEAVING YOUR HOMELAND UNCLOAK OF DARKNESS BECAUSE YOU'RE -- UNDER CLOAK OF DARKNESS BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING HUNTED.

HOW ARE THEY EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY?

>> THEY JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

THE REALITY IS EVERY TIME A FLIGHT -- MAYBE A WEEK FROM NOW, THEY CAN ACTUALLY START GRASPING WITH THE REALITY, BUT THEY CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THIS HAPPENED, THAT THE GOVERNMENT FOLDED AND THAT THEY HAVE TO LEAVE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH THEY HAVE TO LEAVE.

NORMALLY SIV, IT WOULD BE -- SIVs DON'T LEAVE IN THIS -- IN THE URGENCY IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE BECAUSE IT'S A PROCESS, THERE'S A VETTING, LOTS OF THINGS THAT GO INTO IT BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND KNOW WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THEY JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENED.

>> ARRAY, I KNOW THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS TO STAY APOLITICAL, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE SAW THESE HORRIFIC, TRAGIC INCIDENTS TODAY IN AFGHANISTAN WHERE 12 MARINES AND AT LEAST 60 AFGHANS LOST THEIR LIVES AND THIS IS A POLITICAL SUBJECT, LIKE IT OR NOT.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME -- THE MAYOR AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT WELCOMING AFGHAN REFUGEES.

HOWEVER, ARE YOU, AS AN INSTITUTION, YOU HEAR BLOWBACK OR WHATEVER IT IS, FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PERHAPS SO INTERESTED IN HAVING ST. LOUIS BRING IN THESE REFUGEES?

>> LET ME USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES ACTIVE THOSE SOLDIERS, QUITE UNFORTUNATE AND TRAGIC SITUATION.

WITH THAT SAID, THROUGH THIS EFFORT, THERE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND I MUST SAY, MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING AND OF ALL THE PHONE CALLS THAT I'VE HAD, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN SUPPORT.

I HAVE HAD ABOUT THREE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD MORE QUESTIONS THAN OPPOSITION, AND I MADE SURE THAT I CALLED BACK TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY THIS EFFORT IS NECESSARY AND EXPLAINED WHAT THE PROCESS WAS, BECAUSE IT WAS MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE SITUATION, ARE THEY GOING TO BE GETTING THE COVID VACCINE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I HAVE NOT -- WE'VE NOT HAD ANY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS ENDEAVOR, ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT THE DISPLACED.

I HAVE TALKED TO SOME VETERANS AND IT'S AMAZING TO GET THE BEHIND OF THE STORY.

THEY SEE THE AFGHANS AS THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THEY SEE THESE PEOPLE AS PEOPLE WHO STOOD BY THEM AND THE WAR AND THEY LOOK AT THEM LIKE THEY LOOK AT EVERY OTHER, WHETHER MARINE OR EVERY OTHER WOMAN OR MAN THAT SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY.

AND THEY SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PAY BACK FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAD ON THE GROUND.

AND THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

IF WE SUPPORT THE MILITARY, THEY TELL ME THE FIGHT IS NOT YET OVER.

THIS IS THEIR FIGHT.

>> ST. LOUIS IS ONE OF 19 SPECIAL CITIES THAT ARE DESIGNATED TO WELCOME THESE AFGHANIS WITH THE SIV, THE SPECIAL IMMIGRATION STATUS.

WHAT DOES -- OR SPECIAL IMMIGRATION VISAS, I'M SORRY.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING ONE OF 19 DESIGNATED CITIES IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA?

>> YES.

I THINK IT'S -- SO THIS CRITERIA IS EASILY BASED ON CAPACITY AND THIS IS THE EXPRESS REASON THAT ST. LOUIS WAS MENTIONED.

HISTORICALLY, SINCE 2018, ACTUALLY BEING ONE OF THE SITES FOR WELCOMING THESE SIVs, THE AFGHANS WITH SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS, THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT THAT IS DONE EVERY YEAR, SO BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BASED ON THE CAPACITY THAT YOU HAVE, THAT'S WHAT DETERMINES THAT YOU BECOME A SITE TO RECEIVE, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER CONFIGURATIONS THAT CAN BE HAD.

WE HAVE WELCOMED AFGHANS IN THE LAST 11 YEARS, SINCE 2010, SO THERE'S AN ACTIVE VIBRANT COMMUNITY HERE THIS MAKES THIS A GOOD LOCATION.

WE'VE SEEN A VARIETY OF AFGHANS ARRIVING HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TIES ALREADY.

THEY HAVE A FRIEND, THEY HAVE RELATIVES, AND THAT FRIEND COULD BE PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY WHO SERVED WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE NOW BECOME LIKE FAMILY THAT BRINGS THEM TO ST. LOUIS, THAT THEY CAN ALSO HAVE AFGHANI RELATIONS AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE THAT ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK AT ST. LOUIS AS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

>> ARRAY, SOME TIME AGO, THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, MANY, MANY CAME HERE, AND IN FACT, I THINK WE STILL HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITIES IN -- OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, SOUTHERN NEW YORK OR WHEREVER, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY CAME -- ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS A GREAT POPULATION IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND THAT CHANGED AND IT WAS -- ARE THERE LESSONS -- AND I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT.

I'M SURE YOU'RE MUCH MORE -- YOU CAN MAYBE TALK TO OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THE RESIDENTIAL PATTERNS AND SO FORTH INVOLVING THAT COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO, ARE THERE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD APPLY IN THIS CASE TO THE AFGHAN REFUGEES?

>> YES, I THINK THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY HAS REALLY COME TOGETHER TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

ST. LOUIS, LIKE EVERY OTHER LARGE CITY IN AMERICA, WILL SEE PEOPLE COMING TO THE CITY AND SO I THINK WORKING AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT WE DO AS A COMMUNITY TO KEEP PEOPLE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A CONSCIOUSNESS NOW WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE PROJECT FOR EXAMPLE, GREATER ST. LOUIS, INC., IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE ALL NOW HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE INCREASE HOUSING CAPACITY IN THE CITY, HOW DO WE CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY HOUSING WITHIN THE CITY, BECAUSE THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER PEOPLE STAY OR NOT.

THE SERVICES, HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ENHANCING TRANSPORTATION, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL, SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF CONVERSATION AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND HOW DO WE MAKE THE CITY MORE ATTRACTIVE AND KEEP PEOPLE IN THE CITY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT REALLY HELPS BOOT THE ECONOMY HERE.

>> IF ANYTHING, I THINK WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE EXPRESSING SHOCK THAT THE NUMBERS BEING BANTIED ABOUT, A THOUSAND, 2,000, WHAT HAVE YOU, WERE SO LOW, AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE IS A CHANCE OBVIOUSLY THAT THOSE NUMBERS WILL GROW AND THAT WE COULD WELCOME A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF REFUGEES.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PEOPLE, ARRAY, THOUGH, WHO SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS CITY HAS MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF PROBLEMS AND WE'RE TAKING PEOPLE FROM A, YOU KNOW, A PRETTY TRAUMATIC SITUATION AND PUTTING THEM IN A CITY THAT FACE TOP TRAUMATIC PROBLEMS IN SOME AREAS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT KIND OF STATEMENT?

>> WELL, HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

FIRSTLY, WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.

WE AS A COMMUNITY ALSO HAVE THAT MORAL OBLIGATION BECAUSE THOSE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LEFT IN COMMUNITY AND WENT TO SERVE AND HAD THE INTERACTION WITH THE AFGHANS, THAT'S ONE.

BUT IT'S BEEN CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT IMMIGRANTS BRING VIBRANCY INTO THEIR COUNTRY.

IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, THAT EACH TIME THERE'S BEEN A WAVE OF IMMIGRANTS, THERE HAS BEEN VIBRANCY BROUGHT INTO THE CITY.

THIS CITY WILL ALWAYS HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT THE CITY CAN ALSO COME TO REALIZE OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON AND WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE LEARN FROM THE PAST.

WITH THE ABOVE ZEBOSNIANS, WE CAN LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS BETTER THIS TIME, AND THIS TIME, WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE EXPOSED, ACTUALLY, PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS HAVE HAD A CERTAIN LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND INTERACTION OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> ARRAY, YOU'VE BEEN A ST. LOUISAN FOR QUITE A WHILE, RIGHT?

YOU'VE BEEN SINCE -- WHAT ARE YOU?

>> 2002.

>> YES, SO YOU'VE BEEN A ST. LOUISAN A LONG TIME AND EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW TO YOUR ROLE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS, WE EITHER HAVE A CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER OR AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT GETTING OUR DUE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT I THINK ONE THING MOST OF US DO TAKE PRIDE IN IS HOW MUCH OF A MELTING POT OUR CITY HAS BEEN, AND WHETHER YOU'RE THINKING OF THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS THE HILL, YOU CAN GO ON FOREVER.

JUST DESCRIBE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE FROM BOSNIA.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ST. LOUIS THAT WE CAN CLAIM AS, I DON'T KNOW, BRAGGING RIGHTS OR WHAT SETS US APART THAT MAKES THIS SOMETHING MAYBE WE DO BETTER THAN WE DO SOME OTHER THINGS?

>> YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD ASKED ME THIS QUESTION MAYBE EVEN A YEAR AGO, I WOULDN'T TELL YOU THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NOW.

BUT I'VE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW THIS CITY HAS COME TOGETHER AROUND -- AROUND INCLUSION.

LET ME -- THE CITY IS WORKING TOWARDS INCLUSION, BUT I'VE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW THIS COMMUNITY WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN.

OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THIS CITY TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, BUT THERE'S A WIDE DIVERSITY THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS IS SOMETHING THAT WE, FOR A MIDWEST CITY, WHAT YOU THINK OF THE MIDWEST, THAT ST. LOUIS ACTUALLY PROJECTS A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT REALITY AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, JUST WALK DOWN GRAND SOUTH, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT DIVERSITY IS AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT JUST ENRICHES EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> IT'S REALLY KIND OF INTERESTING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IS A DEFINITE EFFORT TO RETURN ST. LOUIS TO ITS MORE DIVERSE PAST.

I MEAN, THIS WAS A VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT WAS THE NEAR NORTH SIDE OR THE NEAR SOUTH SIDE, AND AT ITS IN THE CITY WOULD HELP THEM ADJUST MORE EASILY.

>> SO WE ARE -- THIS PARTICULAR ARRIVAL IS UNPRECEDENTED, UNPRECEDENTED IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE COMPRESSED, COMING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE'S A STEADY FLOW, BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME.

AND THAT IS WHY I SAY TO MY TEAM THAT WE MUST ACT WITH URGENCY, MEANING YOU THINK ABOUT ALL SCENARIOS, AND ALL SCENARIOS MEAN THAT WE ARE DOING AN INVENTORY OF HOUSING FOR EXAMPLE AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT CANNOT BE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN ONE AREA.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT INTO THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CAPACITY.

WE'D RATHER HAVE THE CAPACITY AND NOT HAVE PEOPLE THAN HAVE PEOPLE WITHOUT THE CAPACITY.

SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISPERSED ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY, AND TYPICALLY WE AS THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE HAVE SETTLED PEOPLE MOSTLY IN THE SOUTH, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT NORTH COUNTY AS WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CREATE THAT CAPACITY IN CASE WE NEED TO.

AND WE STARTED IN THE SOUTH BECAUSE OF ACCESS TO SERVICES, BECAUSE WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES, BUT NOW AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS AREA OF THE PANDEMIC, WE KNOW WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES AS WELL REMOTELY, SO PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO COME HERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

>> ARRAY, YOU REFERRED TO GREATER ST. LOUIS, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR FIRST SHOW IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT, BUT JASON HALL, THE CEO OF GREATER ST. LOUIS MADE A VERY STRONG AND ELOQUENT STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WELCOMING AFGHAN REFUGEES.

WHAT CAN THE BUSINESS -- WHAT CAN BUSINESS DO?

WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR GOVERNMENT AND SO FORTH FOR COOPERATION AND VARIOUS RESOURCES.

WHAT CAN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BE DOING ON BEHALF, LARGE AND SMALL, WHEN WE HAVE AN INFLUX AND CONTINUE TO HAVE AN INFLUX OF AFGHAN REFUGEES?

>> SO AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO WELCOME THESE REFUGEES, BUT THAT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT WILL BE INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THE TASK THAT LIES AHEAD OF US.

MORE THAN AN ARRIVAL, WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEW NEIGHBORS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.

WE NEED TO THE SUPPORT AND COOPERATION OF THIS COMMUNITY AS ALMOST AN INVESTMENT, A DOWN PAYMENT INTO THE PROSPERITY THAT COMES IF WE ENSURE THAT THESE NEW ARRIVALS, OUR NEW NEIGHBORS, ARE GIVEN A PATH ON WHICH THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL.

SO WE'RE LOOKING TO WORK WITH CORPORATIONS WITH CREATE THE EMPLOYMENT TEAMS THAT ARE NECESSARY AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF COOPERATION ALREADY.

BUT WE'RE COUNTING ON THEIR SUPPORT TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FROM GOVERNMENT, RESOURCES THAT WE'RE HAVING FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE STILL GOING TO NEED TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE THESE NEW ARRIVALS REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> IF YOU'RE AN ORGANIZATION, ARRAY, THAT HAS NEVER REACHED OUT TO THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE IN ST. LOUIS BEFORE, BUT THEY ARE PARTICULARLY MOVED BY THIS PARTICULAR CRISIS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING TO DO GOOD WORK AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY WANT TO GET GOING WITH THE INSTITUTE?

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO START, WHAT IS THE GREATEST NEED TO BE MET AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN THIS WAVE THAT WE'RE SEEING?

>> I THINK THE GREATEST NEEDS THAT WE HAVE CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE PARTICULARS.

THE FIRST ONE IS CAPACITY.

WE NEED TO RAMP UP CAPACITY.

WHEN I SAY CAPACITY, IT'S HUMAN RESOURCES.

IT'S A GOOD THING, WE'RE LOADED WITH DONATIONS, BUT OTHER TEAM ALONE IN THE NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPLETELY OUT OF CAPACITY AND OUT OF SPACE.

SO CAPACITY IS ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO -- WE'RE GOING TO BE HIRING SOME MORE PEOPLE, WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO OPEN OURSELVES UP, EVEN JUST COMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF JUST KEEPING ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED, MANAGING VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTING AND HLISTING TO BE VOLUNTEERS.

WE NEED TO MANAGE THAT CAPACITY WISE.

OPERATIONAL-WISE, THIS COMMUNITY JUST HELPED US ACQUIRE A NEW PROCESS, BUT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PICKING UP NOT JUST ARRIVALS AT THE AIRPORT, BUT ONCE THEY'RE HERE, THERE ARE HUGE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VANS THAT WE HAVE THAT CAN TRANSPORT FAMILIES FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO CAPACITY-WISE IS SOMETHING.

AND THERE ARE OTHER OPERATIONAL NEEDS.

WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO -- WE HAVE, WE HAVE A BUILDING WHICH WE NEED TO BRING UP TO CODE BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE HOUSING FACILITIES HERE BECAUSE WE'RE RECEIVING JUST 12 HOURS' NOTICE OF ARRIVALS.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN HAVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING BEFORE WE RENT HOUSES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING TO INVEST IN SOMETHING TO MAKE ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS HERE TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING IN THE SHORT TERM AND THEN ALSO EXPAND OUR OFFICE SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR ENGAGEMENT.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY HAVING TO DEAL WITH NOW BESIDES EVEN BRIDGING THE GAP IN TERMS OF RESOURCES ONCE WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE OR TOLD THEM WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM.

>> ARREY OBENSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS, WE'RE DOWN TO 30 SECONDS.

TELL PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO -- YOU SAID THE MAGIC WORDS, WE'RE HIRING.

IF THEY WANT TO APPLY FOR THAT OR CONTRIBUTIONS, IN 30 SECONDS, TELL HOW THEY CAN REACH OUT AND FIND YOU.

>> GO TO OUR WEB, IISTL.ORG, AND THERE YOU CAN DONATE ITEMS AND YOU CAN VOLUNTEER.

YOUR SUPPORT IS GOING TO BE REALLY VALUABLE IN THIS EFFORT.

>> YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE A CUE, SOUND CUE.

YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS A BIT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ARREY OBENSON, HE'S THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS.

WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK FOR A THIRD TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

I WILL BE BACK.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.