TONIGHT ON IVORY TOWER... LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES, THAT AQUARIUM ON THE INNER HARBOR • AND OUR GUN CONTROL EXPERT IS BACK.

STAY TUNED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME TONIGHT ON THE PANEL ARE KRISTI ANDERSON FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY AND WE WELCOME BACK BOB SPITZER, FORMERLY FROM SUNY-CORTLAND.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK, BOB,.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL THE PUNDITS ARE SAYING THE FALL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S JUST TWO WEEKS AGO WE LEARNED WHICH DISTRICTS WE-- AND SOME OF THE CANDIDATES-- WERE IN.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW MAP.

LOOK RIGHT IN THE CENTER.

THE PURPLE IS THE NEW 22ND DISTRICT.

IT'S ALL OF ONONDAGA, MADISON AND ONEIDA COUNTIES.

NORTH OF THAT-- IN THE CR ÈME COLOR-- IS THE NEW 24TH DISTRICT WHICH STARTS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, SWINGS DOWN THROUGH OSWEGO AND CAYUGA COUNTIES AROUND WEST ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END OF THE LAKE.

NOW LOOK AT THE TOP RIGHT-- THE LIGHT BLUE DISTRICT-- THAT'S STILL THE 21ST DISTRICT-- FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT ONE--THE NORTH COUNTRY DOWN AND AROUND ALBANY.

AND THEN AT THE CENTER BOTTOM-- THE PEACH COLOR-- IS THE NEW 19TH, WHICH INCLUDES MUCH OF THE CURRENT DISTRICT BUT STRETCHES WEST TO ADD CORTLAND, TOMPKINS BROOME AND OTHER BORDER COUNTIES.

LUKE, WHAT'S THE EFFECT OF THESE NEW LINES?

IN THE WORDS OF TOM PETTY, EVERYTHING CHANGED AND THEN CHANGED AGAIN AND SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A SITUATION WHERE ONE SEAT HAD TO BE REMOVED, AND BASICALLY THAT HAPPENED IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

SO WE HAD A NEW NY 22, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN IN THE PAST.

IT BEGIN COMBINES UTICA AND SYRACUSE AND WE WILL HAVE A CROWDED DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THERE.

ALSO IS NY 19 HELD BY LIEUTENANT DELGADO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE PARTISAN BREAKDOWN IS EVEN.

SO THOSE TWO SEATS ARE GOING TO BE ONE TO WATCH NATIONALLY THE NORTH ARE GOING TO BE LESS COMPETITIVE, REPRESENTS STEFANIK IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO BE RE-ELECTED AS IS CLAUDIA TENNEY, NO LONGER RUNNING IN NY 20 WHERE SHE LIVES BUT AN OVERWHELMING REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

BUT MOVING TO GREENER PASTURES.

IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR DEMOCRATS IN BOTH OF THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> I WOULD SAY ABOUT CLAUDIA TENNEY SHE LIVES IN THE NEW 22nd DISTRICT IN ONEIDA COUNTY.

AND SHE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING APPARENTLY IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AS THE REDISTRICTING HAS PROCEEDED: I WANT TO MENTION A GREAT-- SHE IS PRIMARIED, SHE WILL BE PRIMARIED BY AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE 24th, NEW 24th DISTRICT AND ONE OF THEM HAS A SLOGAN ON HIS WEBSITE SAYING IN REGARD TO CLAUDIA TENNEY.

IN THE FINGER LAKES, WE LOVE TOURISTS BUT WE DON'T ELECT THEM TO CONGRESS SO THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF PUSH BACK TO HER KIND OF CARPET BAGGER STATUS.

>> TENNEY HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN IN ONEIDA COUNTY AND SHE HAD AN ASSEMBLY DISTRICT THAT RAN SORT OF SOUTH AND EAST AS I RECALL A SKINNY DISTRICT THE OTHER DIRECTION FROM THE NEW 24th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SO I'M NOT SURE SHE IS-- SHE CERTAINLY IS AN INCUMBENT, BUT I'M NOT SURE SHE IS ALL THAT WELL KNOWN OUTSIDE OF HER HOME BASE BECAUSE ONEIDA COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN HER STRONG POINT.

AND IF THERE IS A REAL CHALLENGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN WHO IS STRONG IN THE NEW DISTRICT, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW COMPETITIVE A PRIMARY RACE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE 24th DISTRICT WILL BE.

I MEAN IS SHE A SHOE IN TO WIN THE NOMINATION?

>> IT'S TOUGH.

SHE DECLARED EARLY.

FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE, NAME RECOGNITION ADVANTAGE.

ENDORSEMENTS OF STEFANIK, TRUMP, THESE TYPES OF THINGS GO FAR DISTANCE IN A PRIMARY.

AND IF YOU WERE SOMEONE WORKING YOUR WAY UP THROUGH STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOOKING FOR A RIGHT TIME TO RUN, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO AGAINST CLAUDIA.

>> I LIKE THE WAY THINGS CHANGE AND CHANGE AGAIN AND MAKE IT HORRIBLY CONFUSING FOR ME.

I SPENT SO MUCH TIME.

LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.

NY 22 IS WHERE SYRACUSE IS NOW RIGHT?

AND THAT WOULD BE PRESUMABLY A CLOSE RACE BETWEEN WHO?

WELLS AND COLONE.

AND THERE IS A CHATTER THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE 19 SEATS IN CONGRESS NOW AND EIGHT REPUBLICANS AND THIS WOULD SHIFT IT TO 16-10.

AND THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE ANXIOUS THAT THIS MAY BE ACTUALLY NOT THAT MUCH OF A NEUTRAL MAP.

I WAS WONDERING WHAT DO YOU THINK AS AN ELECTION EXPERT ON THAT?

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS WANTED TO PICK UP A COUPLE OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE HOW THEY DREW THE BOUNDARIES.

OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM.

WHAT I EXPECT IS MAYBE A SHIFT, ONE OR TWO SEATS, MOST LIKELY IN A DEMOCRATIC DIRECTION, BUT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE OF THE STATUS QUO THAN DEMOCRATS PICKING UP THREE, FOUR SEATS THAT THEY ORIGINALLY HOPED.

>> LET ME POINT OUT THAT HAD ABOUT 100 OTHER-- 100 ADDITIONAL NEW YORKERS FILLED OUT THEIR CENSUS FORMS, NEW YORK STATE WOULD NOT HAVE LOST A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT WAS THAT CLOSE BECAUSE OF THE REAPPORTIONMENT.

SO FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS FORMS 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

AND THERE IS ONE OTHER BACKDROP TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING, LOTS OF COMPETITION IN THESE DISTRICTS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK BUT THIS IS A REAL ANOMALY.

THERE ARE FEWER AND FEWER COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THAT'S A TREND THAT HAS BEEN GOING BACK FIRST WRITTEN BACK IN THE 1970s AND THE NUMBER HAS DWINDLED BECAUSE OF THE WAY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN REDRAWN AND BECAUSE OF POPULATION SHIFTS BECAUSE PEOPLE, THE MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF PEOPLE IS THAT THEY TEND TO CLUSTER TOGETHER WITH LIKE MINDED PEOPLE GEOGRAPHICALLY.

SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A TON OF MONEY SPENT IN THE UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND IT'S NICE TO SEE COMPETITIVE RACES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY SORT OF MEANS.

BUT I THINK NEW YORKERS WILL BECOME WEARY OF CAMPAIGN ADS AND MESSAGING.

>> COMPETITIVE RACES ARE DECLINING ALL OVER, INCLUDING NEW YORK.

SO THE SPECIAL MASTER, THE PERSON WHO CRAFTED THIS NEW SET OF DISTRICTS WAS SPECIFICALLY TRYING TO MAKE MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, I THINK.

AND AS A DEMOCRAT, I MAY BE A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST AND A PERSON WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT DEMOCRACY, I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE DONE IN MANY OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

>> AND I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS INCUMBENT ADVANTAGE IN U.S.

POLITICS AND MORE BE 90% OF CONGRESS GETS RE-ELECTED.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING, HAD REDISTRICTING WOULD BE SOMETHING AGAINST THAT PRO-INCUMBENCY KIND OF FLOW OR JUST KEEPING IT THE SAME WAY AND CAN YOU PLEASES HAVE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF FUNDING AND, YOU KNOW... >> I THINK IT'S STILL AN ADVANTAGE.

YOUR QUESTION RAISES AN INTERESTING POINT.

WHAT WE SAW AFTER THE DISTRICTS GOT FINALIZED IS INCUMBENTS, PARTICULARLY REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS LOOKING AT THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE SAYING I DON'T WANT TO RUN IN THIS DISTRICT THAT I HAVE BEEN SERVING BECAUSE I HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO WIN ELSEWHERE.

THAT WAS THE DYNAMIC AT PLAY.

>> AS A REMINDER TO OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE REGISTERED IN A PARTY THERE ARE TWO PRIMARIES THIS ONE THIS MONTH FOR GOVERNOR, STATE OFFICIALS, STATE ASSEMBLY AND U.S. SENATE.

AND A SECOND IN LATE AUGUST FOR STATE SENATE AND THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS WE'VE JUST BEEN DISCUSSING.

AND SPEAKING OF CONGRESS-- IT IS DISCUSSING THIS WEEK WHETHER MORE CAN BE DONE ON GUN SAFETY AFTER THE HORRIFIC KILLINGS IN TULSA, UVALDE AND BUFFALO.

BOB, YOU'VE STUDIED GUN RIGHTS FOR MUCH OF YOUR CAREER AND SINCE WE HAVE YOU ON THE PANEL, I WANT TO TAP YOUR EXPERTISE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HOLD THE NRA HAS OVER CONGRESS MEMBERS WHO DON'T WANT ANY REGULATION WHEN POLLS SHOW THE PUBLIC WANTS IT.

MOST PEOPLE WANT SOME REGULATION THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE.

FIRST POINT TO MAKE, THERE IS AN AN OLD AXIOM PL ARE IN POLITICS THAT THAT A SMALL BUT HIGHLY MOTIVATED MINORITY CAN WIN THE DAY OVER A LARGE BUT FAIRLY APATHETIC MAJORITY AND THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO EXPLAINING WHY THE GUN RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE NRA HAVE BEEN SO EFFECTIVE.

THE KEY THING ABOUT THE NRA, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION BUT THE FACT THAT IT IS LONG HAD A VERY LOYAL BASE OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THE THINGS IN AMERICAN POLITICS THAT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WON'T.

THEY'LL CONTRIBUTE MONEY, GO TO A MEETING, VOTE BASED ON THE GUN ISSUE AND SO ON.

SECOND POINT, THE NRA IS AN ORGANIZATION RIGHT NOW IS BADLY CRIPPLED AND IT'S MOSTLY THEIR OWN FAULT.

THEY HAVE ENGAGED-- THEIR LEADERS HAVE ENGAGED IN INCREDIBLY PROFLIGATE SPENDING.

ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THEY HAVE-- THE LEADERS USED THE NRA TREASURY AS THEIR PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR EXOTIC TRIPS, HIRING JETS AND PERKS AND WASTEFUL SPENDING.

>> DIDN'T IT GO BANKRUPT OR ABOUT BANKRUPT?

>> THEY APPLIED FOR CHAPTER 11, I THINK, BUT THE JUDGE RULED THAT DID NOT PREVENT THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION THAT SHE BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I MEAN THEY'RE DEFINITELY IN BAD SHAPE.

BUT THIS GETS TO THE THIRD POINT ABOUT THE GUN ISSUE, WHICH IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE NRA ORGANIZATIONALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE MUSCLE AND THE EDGE AND THE POT OF MONEY THAT IT HAS HAD IN PAST YEARS, THE GUN ISSUE AND GUN RIGHTS, AS AN ISSUE, REALLY HAS BECOME A LITMUS TEST FOR CONSERVATISM AND REPUBLICANISM IN AMERICA.

SUCH THAT IF YOU WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU ARE A GOOD CONSERVATIVE IN A REPUBLICAN PARTY AS IT IS DEFINED TODAY, EMBRACING SORT OF ABSOLUTIST GUN RIGHTS POSITION IS AN EASY WAY TO DO IT FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR SOMEBODY RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

AND SO IN THAT RESPECT, IT'S REALLY KIND OF BEEN FUSED IN WITH THE PARTY AND CONSERVATISM AND IT REALLY HAS CONTINUED ON ITS OWN MOMENTUM.

FINAL POINT ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TWO MOST RECENT SHOOTINGS, EXCUSE ME, IS THAT EVEN SOME DIE HARD GUN RIGHTS PEOPLE HAVE STARTED TO SAY MAYBE WE NEED TO TO RETHINK THIS.

MAYBE WE COULD ADOPT OR GO ALONG WITH SOME GUN MEASURES.

AND THAT GETS TO A LARGER POINT ABOUT GUN OWNERS, WHICH IS THAT WHEN YOU POLL GUN OWNERS, EVEN NRA MEMBERS, WHAT YOU FIND IS THEY TEND TO SUPPORT STRONGER GUN MEASURES AT ALMOST AS HIGH LEVELS AS THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE N. POINT OF FACT, IF YOU BURROW INTO THE OPINIONS HELD BY GUN OWNERS, THEY'RE NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WHICH SUPPORTS STRONGER GUN LAWS.

>> KRISTI, WHY DOESN'T CONGRESS MOVE MORE QUICKLY ON THIS?

>> I'M NOT SURE AND IT'S INTERESTING.

I LOOKED AT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NRA TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THOSE ARE DECLINING.

THE NRA DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS IT USED TO.

I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT THIS THAT IT IS NOT JUST BAKED INTO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, YOU KNOW, THE NRA ISN'T NEEDED ESSENTIALLY TO KEEP THE REPUBLICANS IN LINE IS CORRECT.

SO I THINK THAT THEY, PERHAPS YOU COULD ARGUE THAT THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OR POLITICIANS IN GENERAL, REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS IN GENERAL HAVE AN INACCURATE VIEW OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS' POSITIONS ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE YOU ARE SAYING IF THEY LOOKED AT THE DATA, THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THE HARD-LINE-- THIS IS OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT DON'T MAKE ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD, IN THE LEAST, YOU KNOW, INTERFERE WITH OUR RIGHTS, IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT HELD BY THE POPULATION WHO ARE GUN OWNERS.

>> BUT I THINK GEOGRAPHY MATTERS HERE IN TERMS OF HOW OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM WORKS.

HAVE YOU NATIONAL PULLING ON ONE HAND AND POLLING PER STATES AND PER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ARE POLARIZED POLITICALLY.

MOST OF THE COUNTRY GEOGRAPHICALLY IS RURAL AND THE RURAL AREAS ARE OVERWHELMING CONSERVATIVE AND GUN OWNERSHIP IS PARTICULARLY HIGH IN THOSE AREAS.

IF YOU HAVE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR GUN RIGHTS, PARTICULARLY DURING PRIMARY SEASON-- I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NRA GETS A LOT OF FOCUS.

BUT AS BOB MENTIONED THEY'RE BEING DIMINISHED NOW AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IS NEW GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EVEN LESS COMPROMISING THAN THE NRA IS.

SO I LOOK AT THE NRA AS A VESSEL FOR GUN RIGHTS ADVOCACY.

I DON'T SEE THAT WEAKENING AND I SEE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS STEPPING IN IN MORE FORCEFUL WAYS THAN THE NRA MOVING FORWARD.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

THERE IS A LARGE COLLECTIVE ACTION.

IF A SMALL SINGLE ISSUE, A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAN CREATE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF LOBBYING PRESS USUAL THAN A LARGE NUMBER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFUSE ISSUE.

AND THAT IS GOING FOR NRA AND A SINGLE ISSUE.

WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT ALSO TO THE VIEWERS, NRA WAS ALWAYS NOT LIKE THIS.

NRA SUPPORTED GUN CONTROL FOR A VERY LARGE PART OF ITS HISTORY FROM 1871, SUPPORTED THE 1934 ACT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE AL CAPONE ERA AND THERE WAS A REVOLT IN 1977 CALLED THE CINCINNATI REVOLT WHERE THIS KIND OF GUN RIGHTS OWNERSHIP KIND OF LOBBY KIND OF WON OUT AT THE END.

AND I THINK WHAT NRA DID SUCCESSFULLY AND AGAIN UNFORTUNATELY ALSO, IT CONVERTED OWNING GUNS INTO AN IDENTITY OF ITSELF, RIGHT?

WHICH IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY INTERESTING.

LIKE I DON'T IDENTIFY MYSELF AS A TV OWNER.

THAT'S NOT MY PRIMARY IDENTITY.

BUT OWNING A GUN, ITSELF, THEY HAVE CONVERTED IT INTO AN IMPORTANT IDENTITY THAT IS IN FAVOR OF FREEDOM AND ANYTHING AGAINST THAT IS AGAINST FREEDOM.

SO WE NEED TO ASK WHY DOES THE UNITED STATES HAVE 25 TIMES MORE GUN VIOLENCE THAN ANYWHERE IN COMPARABLE COUNTRIES AND THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS OUT IS THAT WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT REGULATE CONSUMER ACCESS TO FIREARMS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.

BUT IF YOU SAY THAT, NRA WOULD BE COMING AGAINST THAT.

AND IF YOU EVER HAVE TIME TO WASTE, GO WATCH NRA TV.

IT IS MIND BOGGLING AND SCARY THE STUFF THAT GOES ON IN NRA TV.

I DON'T KNOW THEIR RATINGS.

BOB CAN SHED LIGHT ON THAT TOO.

>> WE'LL SEE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS IN CONGRESS IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

TURNING TO OUR THIRD TOPIC.

I'M JUST BACK FROM NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, AN AREA TRANSFORMED WITH THE BUILDING OF AN AMAZING ART MUSEUM, CRYSTAL BRIDGES.

THE POPULATION DOUBLED IN 10 YEARS.

IT LED TO LOTS OF DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S WHAT ONONDAGA COUNTY EXECUTIVE RYAN MCMAHON HOPES FOR WITH HIS PLANS FOR AN AQUARIUM ON SYRACUSE'S INNER HARBOR.

BUT THIS WEEK DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS CAME OUT WITH A COUNTER PLAN-- TO USE THE MONEY INSTEAD FOR REMEDIATION OF LEAD PAINT, CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND SCHOOL SAFETY.

KRISTI, I'M WONDERING, WHAT IS THE BETTER POLICY?

DO YOU SPEND MONEY TO BRING IN TOURIST MONEY SO YOU HAVE FUNDS FOR THESE OTHER NEEDS OR DO YOU JUST FUND THOSE OTHER NEEDS KNOWING THAT'S GOING TO SAVE MONEY IN THE FUTURE?

>> WELL, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PROPONENT OF STRENGTHENING WHAT YOU HAVE.

AND THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR, YOU KNOW, HOW TO USE THIS MONEY, BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF HELPING BUSINESSES.

DO YOU PAY OUT A LOT OF MONEY TO GET A NEW BUSINESS FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE TO MOVE THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE OR WHATEVER HERE, OR-- AND LOTS OF THOSE HAVE NOT-- THOSE HAVE FAILED.

WHOEVER WAS SUPPOSED TO COME TO WISCONSIN AND MAKE WIDGETS OF SOME KIND NEVER DID AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.

I THINK BETTER TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES WHICH ARE HOMEGROWN, IF THAT'S A CHOICE.

I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT-- AND I'LL GET BACK TO THAT-- POINT OUT THAT IT IS NOT JUST DEMOCRATS IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THIS.

AND THE McMAHON GOT ALMOST NO SUPPORT FOR THIS WHEN HE INITIALLY PUT THIS OUT THERE.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WERE VERY SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS' CLAIMS ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD VISIT THE AQUARIUM AND HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BRING IN TO ONONDAGA COUNTY AND I WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THAT, TOO.

SO I THINK THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ANTIPATHY OR SCEPTICISM TO BEGIN WITH.

SOME OF THE PUSH, I THINK FOR ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO SPEND THIS MONEY WAS BASED OR CAME OUT OF OR WAS PUSHED BY AN EDITORIAL IN THE POST STANDARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BY TWO COLLEAGUES OF MINE IN THE MAXWELL SCHOOL AND FALK COLLEGE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH FOR YEARS ON THE IMPACT OF LEAD POISONING FOR KIDS.

>> THEY SAY IT'S WORSE HERE THAN IN FLINT, MICHIGAN.

>> WORSE HERE THAN FLINT, MICHIGAN.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, YOU SHOULD READ IT.

IN THE POST STANDARD THEY HAD A VERY INTERESTING ARGUMENT THAT USED ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW, REASONING AND DATA, TO SAY THAT WE ARE-- WE COULD, WE, ONONDAGA COUNTY, COULD RECOUP A LOT OF LOST MONEY BY HAVING HEALTHIER KIDS, BY NOT HAVING THIS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, THAT THE DATA SHOWS THAT KIDS WHO ARE POISONED BY LEAD EARLY ON HAVE LOWER ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL, LOWER READING RATES, MORE LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIOR AS TEENS.

>> LUKE, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> WHAT ALSO IS WORSE HERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IS CHILD POVERTY AS WE DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I'M ALL FOR ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT.

IT HAS BEEN GREAT IN UTICA BUT THERE IS A CLEAR NEED TRYING TO ADDRESS CHILD POVERTY AND AS I SAID ON THE SHOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE AND BETTER ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES.

AND THIS EXTRA MONEY SURPLUS MONEY, IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST USE PART OF IT TO DO THAT INSTEAD OF TAKING ON AN AQUARIUM EXCLUSIVELY WHICH TICKETS ESTIMATED COST $20 EACH.

THE REVENUE GENERATED WOULD BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BUT THAT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE NEW FISH BUDGET WHICH IS A NEW 500,000 TO $700,000 A YEAR SO IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS ARE THERE AND I THINK THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES AT THIS MOMENT.

>> I WAS PUZZLED BY THE IDEA OF AN AQUARIUM IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

I MEAN ARE THEY GOING TO FILL IT WITH THREE-EYED FISH FROM LAKE ERIE.

>> RADIOACTIVE FISHES.

>> IT'S A THING YOU COULD DO.

BUT THE CASE FOR DOING FUNDAMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND HUMAN WORK IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS A STRONGER CASE.

>> BUT IT'S A HARD SELL BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING PHYSICAL TO SEE.

YOU CAN SEE THE AQUARIUM AND PEOPLE COMING IN.

IT'S HARD TO INVEST... >> THERE IS DATA TO SUGGEST THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF AS IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR SOCIAL STRUCTURE IF WE DID SOME OF THIS STUFF.

AND I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, AGAINST HELPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS READING IN THE POST STANDARD THAT THEY'RE REDOING REHABILITATING SOME OF THE CONVENTION CENTER BECAUSE THEY WANT MORE MEETINGS TO BE COMING HERE.

THAT'S FINE.

GOOD.

>> LET'S GET ANIRBAN IN QUICKLY.

>> I AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS.

I THINK THIS AQUARIUM IDEA IS TO 345EUBG A BAD PUN, IS VERY FISHY.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE WERE THESE PROPOSALS IN THE 90s.

I WAS READING ABOUT THIS DESTINY USA AND OTHERS.

THEY DIDN'T OPEN IT.

NO PRIVATE ENTREPRENEUR WANTS TO OPEN AN AQUARIUM.

THAT'S THE LITMUS TEST TO SHOW WE SHOULD NOT PUT OUR OWN CASH, $85 MILLION TO BUILD THIS FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF PROJECTION INTO THE FUTURE $20 TICKETS?

I'M NOT GOING THERE.

>> YOU THINK A PRIVATE-- WE SHOULD LOOK FOR PRIVATE MONEY.

>> PRIVATE FUNDING FOR PARTS OF IT OR PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WHERE THEY OPERATE IT AND TURN IT OVER.

BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT RUBENSTEIN ARTICLE, 10.5% OF CHILDREN IN SYRACUSE HAVE AN ELEVATED LEVEL OF LEAD AND EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND WOULD NOT BE 17 DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE.

IN THE BROADER SENSE, 800 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED FOR THIS, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR BROADBAND, LEAD REMOVAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SO ON.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE AND GO TO THE GRADEBOOK.

KRISTI YOUR F PLEASE.

>> MY F GOES TO REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN TONY GONZALES WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES THE CITY OF UVALDE, TEXAS.

REGULARLY SAID HE WOULD FIGHT AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

WORKED TO STRIP RED FLAG PROVISION FROM THIS YEAR'S DEFENSE SPENDING BILL.

THAT PROVISION WOULD HAVE ALLOWED REMOVAL OF GUNS FROM MILITARY MEMBERS WHO HAVE ORDERS OF PROTECTION AGAINST THEM.

AFTER THE SHOOTING LAST WEEK, HE SIMPLY REFUSED TO TALK ABOUT GUN SAFETY REGULATION.

>> ANIRBAN, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO THE CONTEMPT AND TIMING OF A TWEET BY ELISE STEFANIK.

A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE BUFFALO MASSACRE, STEFANIK WROTE DEMOCRATS WANT WIDE OPEN BORDERS AND MASS AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS, ALLOWING THEM TO VOTE LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT TO SECURE THE BORDERS AND SECURE ELECTION INTEGRITY.

IT IS PAINFUL TO SEE THIS DOG WHISTLE POLITICS AND DEHUMANIZING PARTISAN RHETORIC COMING FROM A CNY POLL SIGNIFICANTS.

7:00 IN THE MORNING AFTER THE MASSACRE?

REALLY, THAT'S ABOMINABLE TO ME.

>> LUKE.

>> SPEAKING OF ELECTION INTEGRITY.

MY F TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR CURRENT EFFORTS TO INSTALL PARTY ACTIVISTS AS POLL WORKERS WORKING IN CONSULTATION WITH THEIR PARTY LAWYERS AND LEADERS.

THIS IS BAD FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> AND BOB.

>> I'M GIVING AN F TO GEORGIA CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN WHO SAID THIS PAST WEEK THAT BILL GATES, THE HIS FAKE MEAT, GROWN IN A" PEACH TREE DISH."

I THINK THE BEST WAY SHE CAN BOOST HER COMECY IS BY NOT TALKING AT ALL.

>> AND AS.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO A REPUBLICAN.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GIVING AN A TO CLAUDIA TENNEY.

BUT AFTER THE BUFFALO MASS KILLING, SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT THEORY THAT APPARENTLY MOTIVATED THE THEORY.

SHE CLAIMED SHE HAD NOT BEEN FAMILIAR WITH IT BUT LATER ON SHE SAID SHE READ THE SUSPECT'S RACIST RANT AND THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY SICKENING TO READ AND UNLIKE HER EVIL COLLEAGUE ELISE STEFANIK, IT SEEMS LIKE TENNEY HAS NEVER PUSHED A VERSION OF THIS GREAT REPLACEMENT THEORY.

>> ANIRBAN?

>> MY A GOES TO SURJ SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, IT WAS CREATED TO SEE THEIR WORK TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE AND MULTIRACIAL MOVEMENT.

THEIR CNY CHAPTER IS IN ALBANY.

GREAT WORK.

>> LUKE.

>> RECENT PASSAGE OF BIANCA'S LAW.

THE NEW STATE BILL WILL HELP PROHIBIT THE POSTING AND SHARING OF IMAGES OF VIOLENT CRIME VICTIMS.

THIS IS PROMPTED BY RELATED INCIDENT IN UTICA A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> BOB.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO QUEEN ELIZABETH WHO IS CELEBRATING HER PLATINUM JUBILEE, 70 YEARS ON THE THRONE.

I KNOW OUR FORMER "IVORY TOWER" COLLEAGUE TIM BYRNES FROM COLGATE IS THRILLED AS AM I.

>> I THOUGHT OF TIM YESTERDAY.

I'M SURE HE WAS NOT WATCHING.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN VIEWING FOR A LONG TIME... >> HE IS OUT BEATING UP ON MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT.

>> TIM WAS NOT A FAN OF THE MONARCHY.

I IS TIME TO SAY GOOD NOTICE.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE COMMENTS WE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT OR IF YOU WANT TO SUGGEST ANY TOPICS FOR US TO DISCUSS.

YOU CAN WRITE US AT THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU MISS THE SHOW ANY FRIDAY NIGHT, IT REPEATS SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 • OR YOU CAN FIND THE SHOW ONLINE ANYTIME AT WCNY.ORG.

STAY SAFE •AND GOOD NIGHT.