>> DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLEBY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

WE HAVE A LOT ON THE PLATTER.

SO LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS AND THEN GET INTO IT.

LET'S SAY HELLO TO THE MEDIA VETERAN HERS, WENDY WIESE FROM ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE SARAH PENSKE SITTING IN FOR BILL MCCLELLAN WHO IS TAKING THE WEEK OFF.

FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH WE WELCOME JOE HOLLEMAN AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN ALVIN REID.

VERY MUCH TO ELIZABETH MORELAND, THE ARTEST WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE ROTATING ART EXHIBIT ON THE MANTEL BEHIND ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ELIZABETH FOR SHARING YOUR ARTWORK, AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LEARN MORE AT BRAVE PAINTER.COM.

THAT'S BRAVE PAINTER.COM.

JOE, YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING, AS HAS ALVIN RECOGNIZES THE DECISION BY SOME TO APPOINT A NEW PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FOR ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

IT'S A NOVEL SIT.. HAVE HERE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE, BECAUSE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, SAM PAGE, WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE DEPARTING WESLEY BELL WITH COURT VAN ON HI COURT VAN ON HIS TREN.

AND HE HAS NAMED MELISSA PRICE SMITH WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WHAT, SINCE 2008.

SHE'S IN THE SEX CRIMES UNIT BUT ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE HAS WORKED IN ALL AREAS OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DESCRIBED AS VERY AGGRESSIVE AND VERY SMART.

OVERALL, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU.

THE REASON BEING IS NOT TO DODGE THE QUESTION.

AND AS I HAVE ..

THIS, AND TALKED TO THIS ATTORNEY, THAT ATTORNEY, THIS ATTORNEY, AND WHAT YOU HAVE IS THAT GREAT SITUATION WHERE EVERY ATTORNEY GOES YOU KNOW, I COULD ARGUE BOTH SIDES.

YOU HAVE THE STATE CLAIMING THE CONSTITUTION GIVES THEM A POWER.

AND SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO A JUDGE TO DECIDE THIS QUESTION.

AND .. ABOUT WHO WE THINK IS RIGHT, BUT SOMEWHERE A JUDGE ALONG THE LINE AND A APPEALS COURT JUDGE AND SUPREME COURT EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES.

>> IT'S A LITTLE MORE CUT AND DRY, BUT THIS IS BUT THIS IS IN THE AYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE QIG QUESTION HERE.

>> OVERALL MELISSA PRICE SMET IS THE BETTER KRAUT BECAUSE SHE HAS THE CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE, AND THEY ARE HIRING FROM WITHIN.

I'M KIND OF SURPRISED THAT SAM PAGE DIDN'T PICK HER, BECAUSE HERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS PAID HER DUES, AND SHE'S IN THE OFFICE AND FOR THE TAKE SAKE OF TEAM MORALE GO WITH SOMEBODY WITH EXPERIENCE.

>>.. ENFORCEMENT IS VERY MUCH BEHIND, BUT IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, AND SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THIS JOB, OH, COURT VAN O VAN OS RAN WOULD BE THE FIRST TO HOLD THIS JOB.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE CAN CHOOSE WHO TO BE ON THEIR CABINET.

I THINK THIS IS ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S PROCESS, AND I CAN'T ARGUE WITH WHO HE SELECTED UNLESS THEY WERE TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED.

I DON'.. SAM PAGE PICKED, AND THE GOVERNOR REALLY DOES NOT CARE WHAT GOES ON IN ST. LOUIS OR ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

>> THE GOVER..

GOTTEN GOOD MARKS FOR THE ONE APPOINTMENT HE DID MAKE WITH GABE CORPS.

THAT WAS A GUBERNATO..

APPOINTMENT.

HE W..

PROVEN PROSECUTOR WITH EXPERIENCE, AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID WITH MELISSA SMITH.

IF THERE'S THE MORE POLITICAL PICK, IT'S CORT VANOSTRAN WHO PEOPLE KNOW BEST OF ALL BY RUNNING AGAINST ANN WAGNER AS A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

POLICE OARKSES AND SAYING MELISSA SMITH IS A NO NONSENSE PROSECUTOR, I THINK THE GOVERNOR GETS TO SORT OF BASICALLY NOT RUB HIS NOISE IN BUT AT LEAST KIND OF SEND A SIGNAL TO SAM PAGE, YOU GO AHEAD AND PLAY POLITICS, AND I WILL APPOINT WHO IS THE BEST PROSECUTOR.

>> HER NAME WAS UP FOR IT.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING HERE IS THAT THE TRULY POLITICAL PART OF THIS ISN'T WHO EACH OF THEM PICKED.

IT'S THE FACT .. PARSON DID NOT DO THIS IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY WHERE THERE'S A REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

>> I THINK THEY WERE THINKING OF SAM PAGE BECAUSE IN THE INITIAL PRESS RELEASE OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IT DESCRIBED MELISSA SMITH AS PLE LISA PAGE SMITH NOT MELISSA PRICE SMITH.

THEY SENT A QUICK CORRECTION.

IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE DONE.

LET'S MOVE ON, ALVIN, WELL, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.

IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE DEAL WAS REACHED WITH THE RAMS AND NFL TO SEND A BOATLOAD OF UNPRECEDENTED DOLLARS TO OUR REGION AND THE CITY WAS GETTING $266 MILLION WHICH IS NOW $276 MILLION WITH INTEREST.

AND THE MAYOR AND TH.. ALDERMEN ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THE $277 MILLION INCLUDING WATER MAINS, POST SECONDARY EDUCATION, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, HOUSING.

WHAT THEY DIDN'T SAY WAS DOWNTOWN.

DO.. OF STEEPLE WHO SAID IF WE DON'T GET MONEY FOR DOWNTOWN, I'M GOING TO SEND FUTURE EMPLOYEES FROM MY FIRM TO DALLAS.

I THINK DOWNTOWN LEADERS HAD VOWED TO MATCH $100 MILLION IF THEY GOT SOME OF THAT CASH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OVERALL?

DO YOU THINK IT'S A BIG CONFLICT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW BETWEEN DOWNTOWN BUSINESS LEADERS AND THE MAYOR?

>> BECAUSE THE PLAN, THE TRANSFORM ACT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE BOARD OF ALDER ALDERMEN.

IT'S LIKE THE IDEAS WERE KIND OF HATCHED IN THE SAME LABORATORY, SO I SEE SOME MORPHING AND SOME BACK AND FORTH ON IT.

I WILL SAY THAT IT WAS JANUARY 1st OF 2024 WHEN I SAID I WAS GOING TO BE SICK OF THE WHOLE DEAL.

AND HERE WE ARE.

I THINK THIS COULD BE WORKED OUT.

ANNOUNCED THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY WAS GOING.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH A L..

IT GOING TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THIS IS STILL A GLACIAL PACE.

THIS NOT ONLY NOW HAS TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, BUT THEN THERE'S THE PUBLIC INPUT.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE DO THE JOBS THAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO, PULL THE TRIGGER, SPEND THE MONEY.

IT'S NEEDED DESPERATELY.

>> YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PUBLIC INPUT AFTER WE HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF PORTALS.

>> YES, ACCORDING TO ALL THE STORIES.

&g..

INPUT, AND WITH THERE BEING TWO DUELING BILLS NOW WITHIN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, THEY WILL LEVERAGE THE PUBLIC TO GET WHAT THEY NEED AND GET OTHERS ON THEIR SIDE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IT PLAYED OUT.

WHATST HAPPENING HERE IS WE HAVE GOT THESE TWO DIFFERENT BILLS.

YOU SAY GLACIAL PACE.

THEY HAD $500 MILLION IN ARPA MONEY TO SPEND.

I THINK IT MAKES SENSE.

THEY FINISHED SPENDING THAT MONEY NOW, AND NOW WE CAN TURN TO THIS.

TRYING TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME, TO ME THE TIMING SEEMS.

>> THE REASON THEY ARE SO SLOW, THEY DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES TO ENACT THIS.

THIS IS A LOT OF MON..

UNLESS YOU ARE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, YOU DON'T HAVE THE DOLLARS TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

>> I COULD SPEND THE MONEY.

>> THE THIRD MOST POPULAR IDEA FROM THE PUBLIC PORTAL WAS TO GIVE THE UNDERPAID STAFFERS OF ST. LOUIS CITY A PAY RAISE, AND THAT'S NOT IN ANY OF THESE MEASURE.

>..

IT MOVED TO THE GLACIAL PACE IS IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY VOTES, YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY THEM TWO YEARS AHEAD OF TIME.

YOU WANT TO BUY THEM A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

>>.. AN ELECTION.

I THINK THEY HAVE MOVED SLOWLY ON PURPOSE.

I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE THE GOVERNMENT LOOKING AT IT THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO SQUANDER SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE THEY JUST GOT TOO MUCH, AND IT WAS LIKE I'M GOING TO BUY AN ELEPHANT.

>> WIRES.. >> NOW THERE'S TOO MUCH THERE.

AND THE IDEA OF GOING BACK TO THE PUBLIC, THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN NOW IS A FULL-TIME JOB.

IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW HOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT THIS MONEY SPENT.

>> SHAME YOU ON.

>> LEAVE OFFICE, AND STOP WITH THIS PORTAL STUFF, AND DIVY UP THE MONEY.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

NOW WHAT'S HAPPENED POLITICALLY, NOW YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE PRIMARY.

I DON'T THINK .. UNTIL THE MARCH PRIMARY.

AND YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE WARE, AND MICHAEL BUTLER, ALTHOUGH HIS OFFICE WAS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF SOME PART OF THIS, BUT I THINK NEITHER SUPPORTER WANTS TO HELP THE OTHER OUT, SO I THINK THIS THING PLAYS ON INTO THE SPRING.

>>.. PORTAL.

>.. TO SLOW THIS DOWN, WHICH I ACTUALLY DON'T BELIEVE, I THINK IT WAS A MISCALCULATION.

RATE NOW THE VOTERS ARE KIND OF IN A SALTY MOOD.

WE HAD THIS HUGE POT OF MONEY AND WE HAD THAT LARGE POT OF MONEY, AND THE STREETS LOOK LIKE THIS.

THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> IT'S JUST INCOMPETENCE.

>> IT'S A DISADVANTAGE.

>> I THINK THERE'S AN EXECUTION GAP.

LEADERS, BUT THEY CAN'T GET THE JOB DONE.

I THINK THE BEST EXA.. OF OUR TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS TED DRIEWS ON CHIPPEWA HAD TWO IFATALITIES THERE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS SO FAST, AND THEY NEED A CROSSWALK OR LIGHT OR SOMETHING.

IT'S..

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO GET THE JOB DONE, BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT'S IMPORTANT.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IT'S DANGEROUS, BUT IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, THEY JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT.

THAT'S WHY I THINK THEY MAY NEED SOME PAY RAISES FOR THESE EMPLOYEES SO THEY CAN ATTRACT PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THE CITY.

THIS PAST YEAR THEY HAVE A $42 MILLION DEFICIT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO SPEND IT ON.

>> BUDGET SURPLUS.

>> LET ME CORRECT MYSELF.

IT'S A BUDGET SURPLUS, $42 MILLION IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

&g..

STORIES, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SMALL ADDITIONAL WAGE PROPOSAL FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT MAYOR JONES REFUTED THAT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> PUT T.. TED DREWS, THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THERE IS AN ALDER PERSON THAT REPRESENTS THAT AREA, AND I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO GET PAST.

>> I'M SAYING THAT THAT ONE IS A HEAD SCRATCHER.

>> WE HAVE A FEW HEAD SCRATCHERS, INCLUDING A STORY THAT CAME OUT OF ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT INVOLVED, BUT SARAH FENSKE, YOU TOOK A LOOK AT A PROJECT WHERE THE CONTRACTOR GOT ARPA MONEY OUT OF THE CITY'S BUILDING AND PROPERTY STABILIZATION FUND, AND CHARGED A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DRUMMER WINDOWS AS WELL AS THE STAIRCASE ON THIS PROPERTY.

TURNS OUT THE PROPERTY DOESN'T HAVE A DORMER OR A STAIRCASE, AND YOU DID SOME DIGGING AND FOUND OUT THAT THE COMPANY CONTRACTED TO DO THE WORK, AND IT HAS LISTED AN ADDRESS OF THE EX-WIFE OF A BUILDING INSPECTOR.

IT EVEN GETS BETTER THAN THAT.

>> SO TODAY WE PUBLISHED PART TWO OF THIS WHERE WE FOUND OUT THE SAME BUILDING INSPECTOR IS TITLED TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN 1.

1.$3,000,000,000.000000000 FROM THE CITY.

IT TURN1.3 BILLION.AND I..

I WILL SAY THE CITY IS NOW TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

THEY HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION.

THERE WA..

IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT TODAY.

I'M GL..

SERIOUSLY.

I WI.. CHECKS AND BALANCES EARLIER IN THE SPENDING OF SOME OF THIS MONEY.

WE EVEN WROTE .. BACK IN OCTOBER WHEN THERE WAS WEIRDNESS.

POIN.. OUT SOME OF THESE THINGS.

IT SEEMS LIKE UNLESS YOU HAVE THE HUGE SMOKING GUN, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE SMALLER EXPENDITURES, AND THAT, I THINK, IS A PROBLEM.

THE PUBLIC IS BEGINN..

FAITH IN SOME OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THERE'S A WATCH DOG MAKING SURE BAD GUYS AREN'T TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOOD INTENTIONS.

>>.. LIKE THAT COME TO YOU KNOW MOMENT, THESE THINGS JUST CONTINUE TO KIND OF SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.

I THINK THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY IS LOSING FAITH.

HOW MANY OF THESE OTHER SM..

FIRES ARE RAGING ELSEWHERE?

>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW.

>> I GUESS I GO FURTHER.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE LOSING FAITH.

PE..

I THINK THAT'S WHY GOVERNMENTS TEND NOT TO RESPOND BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HAS BECOME SO YO INURED OH, THERE'S GOVERNMENT FRAUD.

AND SOMEBODY IS GETTING MONEY TO FIX DORMERS THAT DON'T EXIST.

PEOPLE SAY THIS IS WHAT GOVERNMENT DOES ALL THE TIME.

AND GOVERNMENT KNOWS IF THEY ARE QUIET AND DON'T DO ANYTHING, WE WILL MOVE ON.

>> SHOULD WE SEND THE MONEY BACK TO WASHINGTON, D.C.?

>> NO.

.. >> THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORKING DONE WITH THIS MONEY.

PART OF OUR JOB OF JOURNALISTS ARE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS.

..

EVEN THE PROGRAM THAT THE POST DISPATCH WROTE ABOUT, IT WAS A PRETTY SMALL PROGRAM.

>> YOU SAY IT'S BEEN WASTED BUT YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE INCREASE AND THE AMOUNT WITH INTEREST, SO AT LEAST IT'S GROWING AND COMPOUNDING.

>>..

THEY REALIZED THEY HADN'T PUT THE PRINCAL AND INTEREST IN THE ACCOUNT, FINALLY SOMEONE CAME AROUND AND PUT IT INTO AN ACCOUNT.

>.. BUILDING INSPECTOR IS BUT EVERY OTHER "LAW AND ORDER".

>> AND HIS NAME IS POPOOLA.

AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAITH THAT ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGLESS THINGS THEN IS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT THAT ALLOWED THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN SAID WE ARE GOING TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THIS ABUSE.

FIRST PLACE?

UNLESS SOME BIGGER ORGANIZATION IS TAKING A LOOK THE A YOU, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS TRUSTING A LOCAL ENTITY, BE IT THE COUNTY OR THE CITY TO INVESTIGATE.

>> THAT'S WHY THE PRESIDENT ELECT IS GOING TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

>&g.. >> IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> HOW IT GETS EXECUTED.

THE IDEA OF MAKING GOVERNMENT BE EFFICIENT I NEVER THOUGHT WAS A BAD IDEA.

SHAME ON ANYBODY WHO DOES.

>> HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T CUT MY PROGRAM, I'M FOR IT.

>> WENDY WIESE, I WANT TO DOES YOU TODAY HAPPENS FOB TO BE FOR ROMAN CATHOLICS THE FEAST OF OUR LADY GUADALUPE.

PEOPLE IN FERGUSON FOUND OUT THEIR SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE CLOSED, ABOUT 200 KIDS THERE, AND 100 ARE FROM COLUMBIA AND SPANISH SPEAKING, KIDS WHO BASICALLY NEED A GREAT EDUCATION.

DO YOU THINK THE.. SHOULD FIND THE MONEY TO KEEP OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE OPEN?

>> MAYBE THAT IS THE REASON THAT IT IS HAPPENING ON THE FEAST DAY.

DEALS IN THE REAL WORLD.

THE REAL WORLD HAS A GREAT MANY FINANCIAL URGENCIES, AND THEY ARE MAYBE WAITING FOR A MIRACLE, BUT THERE'S A CERTAIN LEVEL OF -- THERE'S A TONE DEAFNESS, I THINK, THAT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT DELIBERATE.

THEY A..

FIRES, AS MANY AT A TIME THEY AS POSSIBLY CAN, BUT ON THE FEAST DAY IN THE SEASON, YOU KNOW THE FEAST DAY OF THE PATRONNEST OF THE WESTERNS, AND AWAITING THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR TO SAY OKAY, YOU ARE DONE, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE DID LEARN ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY ARE DOING WELL BECAUSE OF THE EMPHASIS ON SPANISH SPEAKING STUDENTS.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO LURE SPANISH MEETING SPEAKING PEOPLE TO OUR AREA.

&g.. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S NEVER A GOOD TIME FOR THIS.

THEY MADE THE DECISION NOW, AND CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

OH, IT'S THE LAST WEAK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND THEN IT'S CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S, AND PARENTS ARE FINDING OUT IN JANUARY WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS, AND THAT IS IT NEEDS TO BE RIGHT SIZED.

THERE ARE SO MANY FEWER PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES THAN THEY WERE BACK IN THE DAY, AND IT BREAKS MY HEART.

WAY IT'S GOING TO PENCIL OUT IS -- IT'S HEART BREAKING.

>> CATHOLICS SHOULD ASK THEIR JESS UIT BROTHERS HOW DO YOU RAISE MONEY.

IT C..

IT.

RAISING MONEY FOR YOUR SCHOOL.

THE PEOPLE AT THIS SCHOOL HAD MONEY.

NOW, AT TH.. PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

NOW THE ASK IS WE WANT YOU TO SUPPORT THIS OTHER SCHOOL.

>> AND THAT IS A MAYBE.

>> I COULD SEE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT THE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE OUR CHURCH AND MERGE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

PASTOR, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THE CONGREGATION?

ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY?

>> LET ME SAY SOMETHING.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE SPANISH SPEAKING -- THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL LNCH BAUD THEY HAD FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

THEY STARTED THE LUNCH WEDNESDAY, ST. RA RAMONS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PE PERISH.

>> ONLY A COUPLE OF SPECIALTY PLACES YOU CAN DO.

>> WOULDN'T IT BE INTERESTING IF BECAUSE OF THE TIMING THAT THEY ARE ALERTING THE PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS OF THE AVERAGE DIOCESE AND ARCHDIOCE SE TO THE NEED?

>> IT IS CHRISTMAS.

IN THE CHRISTMAS TRADITION OF BLAMING THE VICTIM, I WILL DO THAT.

.. THEFTS IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, EVEN AFFECTING MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA.

AND BRETT'S CAR WAS BROKEN..

THIS WEEK, RECENTLY WAS AT CHANNEL 5.

THE POLICE MITCH MCCOY SAYS OF THE CAR THEFTS OR BREAK-INS, 90% OF THE CAR WERE LEFT RUNNING AND 39% HAD THE KEY OR THE KEY FOB STILL STILL IN THE CAR DON'T YOU THINK THE CAR OWNERS WHO LEAVE THE KEYS INSIDE THE CAR ARE PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE?

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT DRIVERS WHEN WE HAVE CAR THIEVES OUT THERE BLATANTLY STEALING OUR CARS.

STAY FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEM.

>> BUT DON'T MAKE IT EASIER.

I AM A LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE I'M ONLY HUMAN, THE INSURANCE COMMERCIAL.

BECAUSE I WAS IN SUC.. GET OUT OF TOWN ONE TIME, I LEFT THE HATCH UP WHEN I GRE DROVE OUT OF THE GRARNLG GARAGE, AND THE SOUND WAS HORRIFIC, GLASS BROKEN.

BREATHE.

I'..

IN THE CAR.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO LEAVES THEIR FOB IN THE CAR OR LEAVE THEIR CAR RUNNING TO GRAB A SODA AND THEIR CAR GETS STOLEN, THERE'S ONLY ONE CRIMINAL THERE, CHARLIE, AND IT'S NOT THE PERSON WHO WAS ABIDING THE LAW AND WENT INTO THE STORE.

IT'S THE CAR THIEF.

THAT'S IT, PERIOD.

YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO STEAL A CAR BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IS THAT SOMEHOW THESE 9% WERE INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE WALKING BY, AND SAY THIS PERSON IS ASKING TO HAVE THEIR CAR STOLEN.

NO.

AND THE CROOKS STEAL THE CAR, PERIOD.

>> I'M.. STORY, THEY LEFT IT RUNNING.

>> AND I LEFT MY CAR RUNNING, IT GOT STOLEN, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IMPACTS THE JUDGMENT ON THEM.

YES, YOU HAVE TO BE ..

IF YOU LEAVE YOUR CAR RUNNING.

>> OR IF YOU FOR EXAMPLE LEAVE YOUR GUN IN YOUR CAR.

>> EXACTLY.

>> NO ..

BUT IF YOU LEAVE A GUN IN THE CAR AND IT GETS STOLEN, I THINK YOU'RE A BAD GUY.

>> CAN YOU BLAME IT ON THAT?

>> NO.

YOU ARE ..

SOMEONE WHO BEHAVED LEGALLY.

I'M NOT WILLING TING THERE.

>> IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT YOUR GUN GOT STOLEN OUT OF THE CAR.

>> IF YOU FORGET TO LOCK THE FRONT DOOR OF YOUR HOUSE AND SOMEONE WALKS IN AND STEALS ALL OF YOUR STUFF, IT'S YOUR FAULT.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT A GUN.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT LOCKED IN A BOX.

IN THAT CASE IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT IT NEVER SAYS YOU CAN'T LEAVE YOUR CAR RUNNING.

>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE HAVE BEEN GOING OVER THIS FOR 35, 36 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE SOMETIMES TRAGICALLY LEAVE A BABY IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THEY GO INTO 7-ELEVEN FOR A COFFEE.

AND I THINK, JOE, THAT CAR OWNER IS NEGLIGENT.

>> IF YOU HAVE NUCLEAR WASTE AND THERE'S NOT A FENCE AROUND IT OR A NUCLEAR BOMB.

>> LET'S GO TO THE MAILBAG AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

SHALL WE?

BISTATE IS NOT CONSIDERED BUS RAPID TRANSIT FOR A NORTH-SOUTH ROUTE IT'S CHEAPER, CLEANER, LESS DISRUPTIVE.

THAT'S FROM BARBARA FINCH.

I SEE YOU ARE ADDING A CHAIR FOR DONNYBASH, WELL DONE.

THAT FROM ERIC FROM WILD WOOD, MISSOURI.

I HAD AN A.. WHERE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE TRYING HIRING A FEW NEUROLOGISTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW GOOD BARNES WAS BUT DIDN'T TAKE THE POSITION BECAUSE OF CRIME IN THE CITY.

I .. CITY WILL BE IF WE LOSE FIRST RATE DOCTORS.

AND FINALLY SUSAN OF PASAD.. PARK WROTE WHY DO YOU HAVE A STREAMING SHOW ON YOUTUBE INSTEAD INSTEAD OF AN HOUR OF DONNYBROOK ONLINE.

WE WATCHED YOUR TURN AND HALF HOUR SHOW WITH FASCINATING INTERVIEWS.

WRIT.. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108 AND DONNYBROOK AT NINE PBS.ORG AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE HASHTAG DONNYBROOK STL.

DON'T FORGET TO CALL THE NINE LINE (314)512-9094.

AND WHEREVER YOU ARE LISTEN TO US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE, AND TUNE IN TO THE NINE PBS CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE FOR LAST CALL WHERE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SOMEWHAT EXTRAVAGANT SPENDING OF THE FORMER ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

THAT'S ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS T.. >> DONNYBROOK IS MADE .. BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.