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

>> IT SURE IS.

WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK, THE LAST ONE BEFORE THE JOLLY OLD ELF HIMSELF COMES DOWN IN THE CHIMNEY BEHIND ME.

IT MIGHT BE COAL.

LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS BEFORE WE START THIS WEEK'S ISSUES STARTING WITH WENDY WIESE, THE MEDIA VETERAN.

JOE HOLLEMAN SITTING IN FOR BILL MCCLELLAN.

SARA.. MAGAZINE AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN ALVIN REID.

WELL, WE BEGIN THIS WEEK'S EPISODE WITH A SAD NOTE.

WE LOST ONE OF THE GREATS.

PHOTOGRAPHER BILL GREENBLAT PASSED AWAY.

SERVICES WERE HELD YESTERDAY FOR HIM.

YOU BILK TUESDAY.

HE WORKED FOR MPI.

>> HOW CAN ONE PERSON COVER SO MUCH AND BE AT EVERY CARDINAL GAME.

I MET BILL.

THERE WAS A RED CARPET DEAL, AND HE WAS THERE TAKING PICTURES TO EVERYBODY.

HE I..

I WOULD LATER MEET HIM AT THE AMERICAN BECAUSE HE SHOT SO MANY PHOTOS FOR US AS WELL.

HE WAS EVERYWHERE, AND HE DID EVERYTHING.

HE TOOK .. THAT HE WAS A MEMBER OF MARCHING MIZZOU AND WAS STILL ACTIVE WITH IT AND PUT HIM IN MARCHING MIZZOUAL OF FAME.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER.

>>..

EVER SEE HIM HAVING A BAD DAY?

I NEVER SAW THE MAN HAVING A BAD DAY, WHETHER HE WAS PUTTING A THOUSAND MILES ON HIS CAR.

I OFTEN WONDER, I THINK, IF HE SLEPT IN HIS CAR.

UNLESS HE COULD BILOCATE HE COULD NEVER COVER ALL THAT TERRITORY.

HE.. SOUGHT OUT THE NEW KID TO MAKE HIM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

IT IS A GINORMOUS LOSS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE REGION.

>> I MET BILL AT A CRIME SCENE OR FIRE SCENE WHEN I WAS A COP REPORTER, THE COP REPORTER FOR THE POST-DISPATCH.

HE WAS WELCOMING WHEN I WAS A VERY FIRST NEW REPORTER AND ALWAYS STAYED THAT WAY, AND HE WAS ALWAYS THERE.

BY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

>> IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAME, BILL GLEA GREENBLAT, YOU SAW HIS WORK THROUGHOUT.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WITH THE GREENBLAT FAMILY AT THIS TIME.

I GUESS IT'S YOU, JOE.

YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE GOINGS ON AS ST. LOUIS COUNTY IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO GET A NEW PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

MELISSA PRICE SMITH WAS NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND COURT SACOURT VAN OS SANCOURT VANOSTRAN HA S BEEN NO, NOMINATED.

MELISSA PRICE SMITH, 17 YEAR VETERAN REALLY GAVE US A BOMBSHELL WHEN SHE SAID SHE EXPRESSED HER INTEREST IN THE JOB WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAM PAGE.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AROUND OCTOBER OR SO, A SUPPORTER OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CALLED HER NOT ONCE BUT TWICE THAT WE NEED REPORTS ABOUT MIKE ARCHER.

ARCHER A POLITICAL OPPONENT OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

THAT WAS A BOMBSHELL, DON'T YOU THINK?

IT SURPRISED EVERYBODY IN ..

AUDIENCE THAT THAT CAME OUT.

IT INJECTED INTO WHAT THE COUNCIL WAS TRYING TO MAKE LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATE SORT OF INFORMATIONAL MEETING, TURNED IT INTO A LOOK AT INSIDE POLITICS AS TO HOW THIS ALL CAME ABOUT.

SO WHEN MS. SMITH SAID THAT, IT TOOK EVERYBODY ABACK, BUT IT WAS PART OF THE MOVES THAT ARE GOING ON, AND THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF PICKING A SUCCESSOR TO WESLEY BELL HAS BECOME FAR MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT HAD TO BE AT A VARIETY OF LEVELS.

A JUDGE STILL HASN'T DECIDED WHOSE POWER IT IS TO APPOINT.

ALL THESE OTHER ARGUMENTS ARE MOOT IF THE COURT SAY IT'S PARSON'S AND THEN THERE IS NOTHING ELSE.

IF THEY SAY IT'S PAGE'S, THE COUNTY COUNCIL ALSO ENTERED SAYING WE ARE A PARTY TO THIS.

PAGE HAS TO GET THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

EVEN IF THE ONE QUESTION GETS SETTLED, WE HAVE ANOTHER COURT FIGHT OVER DOES THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAVE A SAY SO AND THEY VOTED 5-0 AGAINST VANOSTRAN AFTER THAT MEETING, A RECOMMENDATION TO TURN DOWN.

WHAT WE HAVE IS ALL KINDS OF POLITICAL INFIGHTING THAT HAS SLOWED THINGS DOWN.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE CREATED THE RIFT BETWEEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

.. >> CHARLIE, I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT THAT THAT WAS A BOMBSHELL.

IT CAUGHT MY EYE TO SAY PAGE'S PEOPLE ARE CALLING HER ASKING HER TO DIG FOR DIRT.

WHAT KIND OF TERRIBLE TEST TO PUT CANDIDATES THROUGH.

IT PUT A SOUR TASTE IN MY MOUTH AFTER SHE MADE THE BOMBSHELL ACCUSATION, SHE SAID WHO WAS THIS?

TO TWICE.

THAT LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN MY FOWT, FEELS LIKE A BAD ALLEGATIONS TO MAKE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO RECALL TO IT WAS.

HOW DO YOU PROVE A NEGATIVE?

NO ONE I KNOW HAS CALLED THIS WOMAN EVER.

THAT'S KIND OF OFF TO ME.

>> IT IS AN INTERESTING TWIST, BECAUSE IF YOU WERE JUST FOLLOWING SORT OF THE LINE OF QUESTIONING AND THE COMPARE AND CONTRAST BETWEEN MR. VANOSTRAN AND MELISSA PRAYS SMITH, IT WAS A SLAM DUNK.

SHE ON WON ON EVERY QUESTION IN TERMS OF FIRST CHAIR, SECOND CHAIR, AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN THE COURTROOM.

IF THIS DOES ENDANGER THAT PARTICULAR APPOINTMENT, DEPENDING ON THE C.. DECISION, THEN THAT'S A LESSON TO BE LEARNED.

>> YES.

TH..

I DON'T KNOW THAT SWORN IN, BUT YOU SAID THIS DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING.

.. KNOW BUT YOU ARE JUST DOING THAT.

KNOW YOU ALL ARE CITY FOLK, BUT AS A COUNTY RESIDENT, IRATE ST. LOUIS COUNTY AS THE MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNING BODY IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI RIGHT NOW AND COUNTS THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE IT'S SO UNNECESSARY.

THIS IS JUST SILLINESS.

LOVE HIM, HATE HIM ON SAM PAGE, WHAT SAM PAGE IS THIS POWER BROKER THAT WE HAVE TO EITHER CATER TO OR TRY TO DESTROY.

I DON'T GET IT.

I JUST DON'T GET IT.

THE COUNTY COULD RUN VERY SMOOTHLY IF EVERYBODY JUST GOT OUT OF THEIR WAY.

THEY REFUSE TO DO SO.

I WILL SAY THIS ABOUT MELISSA SMITH.

THE ONLY.. IS SHE SHOULD NOT BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.

A JUDGE CAN DECIDE THAT.

I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD BE IN THE RUNNING TO CONSIDER BECAUSE SAM PAGE DIDN'T APPOINT HER.

>> WE REMEMBER WHEN THE COUNTY COUNCIL -- HONESTLY, IT WAS GENERATING NEWS, BUT IT WAS JUST A YAWNER.

THERE WAS NOTH..

GOING ON, BUT I THINK -- AND I PUT A LOT AT HIS FEET.

I THINK HE IS THIS CHARGE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

HE PRESIDES.

>> WHO'S THAT?

>> SAM PAGE.

>> NOT REALLY.

>> HE PRESIDES.

>> I THINK HE'S LOST ALL CREDIBILITY.

ONE ..

WHEN HE TOOK AWAY TIM FITCH'S PENSION, AND WHEN HE TOOK WHO AS THE COUNTY CHAIR, AND CALLED WRETCHEN BAN BANGER, I DON'T KNOW IF THE LATEST ACCUSATION IS ACCURATE.

>> WHEN ..

BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.

AND GRETCHEN BANGERT WAS FIRST CALLED BY A PAGE SUPPORTER AND LET IT BE KNOWN BY MS. BANGERT THERE MIGHT BE A JOB AVAILABLE FOR HER, SO WHY DON'T YOU GIVE SAM A CALL.

THE NOTION OF POLITICAL POWER BROTHER, THEBROKER, THEY WOULD USE AN INTERMEDIARY.

SARAH, I WANT TO ASK YOU, SPEAKING OF DYSFUNCTION, NOW LET'S GO TO THE FRANCIS HOWELL SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE THE STATE AUDITOR RECENTLY AUDIT T AUDITED THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRANCIS HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL.

FINDS OUT IT WASN'T ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET.

IT WAS E.. $86 MILLION AND CAME IN AT AROUND $160 MILLION.

NONE OF THIS WAS BEING COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC OR EVEN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

WHAT M.. IS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INSISTED THAT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT BECOME AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PROJECT MANAGER.

AS IT TURNS OUT BY REQUIRING THAT, THEY HAD TO REJECT SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION FIRMS AND INSTEAD THEY WENT WITH THE FIRM WHICH WAS RUN BY THE BROTHER OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE.

IT SEEMED VERY BAD, VERY BAD MANAGEMENT.

>> IMPOSSIBLE TO ARGUE .. THAT.

POSSIBLE RATING HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY.. DEAL IN ORDER TO FAVOR SOMEBODY WITH CONNECTIONS.

THAT'S HORRIBLE.

WOW, WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY WEEPING AND GNASHING OUR TEETH OVER SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING AT THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND YES, THE PROBLEMS ARE VERY BAD AND VERY BIG, BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED IN THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THIS ONE DWARFS THAT.

OF DOLLARS HERE.

THAT'S A TON OF MONEY, AND IT'S UGLY.

&g.. ONCE AGAIN, WHAT IS THE SCHOOL BOARD TALKING ABOUT WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON?

ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT TAKING BOOKS OFF SHELVES?

WE CAN'T HAVE THIS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED AND THINGS LIKE THIS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE REALLY?

>> IS NEPOTISM THE OLDEST ACTS OF POLITICS.

FIRST TWO POLITICIANS AGREED TO HIRE EACH OTHER'S NEPHEW.

YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH ONE, BUT NOT BOTH.

EITHER BRING IT IN UNDER BUDGET AND IT'S OKAY YOU GOT YOUR NEPHEW A JOB.

AND YOU CAME IN OVER BUDGET BUT DIDN'T GET YOUR NEPHEW A JOB.

>> AND ACCUSED OF INFLATING ATTENDANCE FIGURES BECAUSE STATE REIMBURSEMENT GOES UP WITH ATTENDANCE.

THAT.. VIEW.

ALVIN, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABO.. MEASURE THAT I GUESS IS GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COME JANUARY, AND THAT IS TO ALLOW GUN SUPPRESSORS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, A SILENCER LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS USED TO ASSASSINATE THE CEO OF UNITED HEALTHCARE.

IT'S A DEVICE PUT ON A FIREARM THAT MAKES IT LESS LOUD.

IT MEANS YOU CAN SHOOT AND KILL SOMEBODY AND FEWER PEOPLE WILL HEAR IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.

WHAT DO YOU NEED A SILENCER FOR?

>> TO MURDER SOMEBODY.

>> POLICE DO HAVE GUNSHOT DETECTOR EQUIPMENT THAT THEY CAN RESPOND TO.

SO THIS IS JUST A BAD IDEA.

ONCE AGAIN, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE YOU'RE TAKING SOMETHING AWAY WHERE THE BAD PART OF IT WOULD BE IN METRO AREAS.

MISSOURI ARE USING SILENCERS OR NOT, BUT THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT CARE WHAT GOES ON IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AS FAR AS PEOPLE BEING MURDERED.

THEY CAN SAY IT'S ABOUT NOT HAVING GUN CONTROL AND ALL OF THAT.

THE .. COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN NORTH ST. LOUIS OR SOUTH KANSAS CITY.

WE DON'T CARE.

YEAH, YEAH, RIGHT.

OUTLAW SILENCERS, OR INLAW SILENCERS.

>> IF THERE ARE GUNSHOTS AND .. WITH PEOPLE I LOVE, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR IT.

THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS ABOUT THE HUNTERS AND CUTTING DOWN -- IT WAS SUCH A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF DECIBELS THAT YOU WERE LOSING WITH A SILENCER, I DON'T KNOW.

>> I THINK IT FALLS IN WITH A WHOLE LOT OF GUN LEGISLATION IN THAT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER MUCH ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A BUNCH OF WANNABE HIT PEOPLE OUT THERE GOING THANK GOD NOW I CAN HAVE A SUPPRESSOR SO I CAN ASSASSINATE PEOPLE.

WHEN WE DO LAWS AGAINST GUNS THAT THE TRULY OUTLAWED ELEMENT IS GOING THANK GOD I CAN NOW OWN A GUN WITHOUT A PERMIT.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT IF THEY WANT A SUPPRESSOR THEY WILL GET A SUPPRESSOR.

DO I THINK OUR LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE THAN 10 MINUTES ON THIS?

NO.

I WOULD HAVE..

THIS BILL COMING UP, BECAUSE I DON'T NEED A SUPPRESSOR.

>> YOU HEARD IT, FOLKS.

>> I WANT THEM TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE.

MUCH ADIEU ABOUT NOTHING.

>> I WOULD TEND TO AGREE.

BUT THE FOUNDATION OF THE MATTER IS OH, YEAH, LET THEM SHOOT EACH OTHER.

.. STATES.

AND TH.. SILENCERS AND DON'T ALLOW THEM IN MISSOURI, AND I THOUGHT WE DON'T ALLOW ANY GUN LAWS HERE.

GOT TO GIVE MISSOURI SOME CREDIT.

>>.. BOOKS NOW THAN THERE WAS 50 YEARS AGO ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND HOMICIDE RATES KEEP GOING UP.

-- ACTUALLY THEY ARE GOING NOW.

THEY WERE AT 1950 OR '60.

COMPARE THEM TO NOW, THEY ARE WAY HIGH.

>> THERE WAS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT MISSOURI MADE -- OR THAT WAS PART OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE GUNS AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW IT.

.. SUPPRESSOR, SHOULDN'T YOU SHOP?

>> I SUPPOSE.

>> I THINK SOME FRIENDS OF MINE ON THE RIGHT OR GUNFIRE ARM PROTECTORS, AND THEY BELIEVE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND WANT AS FEW RESTRICTIONS AS POSSIBLE ON A FIREARM EVEN IF IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE.

I THINK IF SOMEBODY SHOOTS SOMEBODY IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS AND HAS A SUPPRESSOR, IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER TO HEAR AND FIND THAT PERSON.

>> OR SEEK SHELTER.

>> BACK TO YOU, LET'S TAKE A LOOK WENDY, WHEN SARAH SAID THAT THE SPENDING WAS WORSE IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY THAN THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FRANCIS HOWELL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE KNOW 1.6 MILLION DOLLARS WAS SPENT ON 23 CREDIT CARDS ON EMPLOYEES IN ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS THINGS LIKE BATH AND BODY.

801 CHOP HOUSE AND SUPERINTENDENT GOT NOT ONLY A CAR BUT A CAR ALLOWANCE.

>> AIRLINE TICKET UPGRADES.

>> THEY MADE 16 FLIGHTS ABOVE $500, TRIPS TO JAPAN, CHARCUTERIE BOARDS, GAYLORD NATIONAL.

1.6 MILLION DOLLARS.

AND AN AUDITOR HAS BEEN HIRED BY THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE LAST NAME IS HUBBARD.

THE HUBBARDS HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS RECENTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE POLITICALLY CONNECTED AND GOT SOME OF THAT QUESTIONABLE FEDERAL MONEY FOR NORTH ST. LOUIS.

TONE DEAF FOR THE SCHOOLS HOWEVER WONDERFUL THIS WOMAN IS TO HIRE SOMEONE WITH THE LAST NAME HUBBARD TO BE WATCHING THE HEN HOUSE.

>> IT SETS OFF ALARM BELLS, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF PROXIMITY IN TERMS OF WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TALKING, YOU ARE COVERING, YOU ARE COVERING ABOUT THE CORRUPTION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MONEY BEING DISTRIBUTED AND THE HUB BARDHUBBARDS ARE BEING MENTIONED PROMINENTLY.

THE TO.. CONTINUES TOE TO ERODE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT AS IT IS.

>> WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO HIRE AN AUDITOR, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE -- ONE SIDE OF THE FAMILY MIGHT BE THIS AND THE OTHER SIDE MIGHT BE THAT.

AND LET'S GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER FIRE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, AND EVEN IF THERE ARE SUPPRESSORS INVOLVED, AND WE HAVE GOT TO NOT DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

>> SEE, THAT BOTHERS ME.

SHE WORKED AT WELLS FARGO IN THEIR INTERNAL COMPLIANCE, AND SHE SEEMS QUALIFIED FOR THIS.

IF OUR ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT SHE HAS SOME RELATIVES AND THE POST-DISPATCH HAS BEEN GOOD, BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT SHE'S PART OF THE SAME CLAN.

IF THAT'S THE ONLY REASON SHE COULD BE RULED OUT IS THAT IT LOOKS BACK, HOW ABOUT HALF OF ST. LOUIS IS RELATED TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> I DISAGREE.

THERE IS SUCH A THING AS -- IT LOOKS LIKE IMPROPRIETY.

>> JUST BASED ON SOMEONE'S LAST NAME.

.. >> I DON'T LIKE THAT.

>> WE DON'T LIKE IT EITHER.

>> IF I'M IN THE ROOM.

>> I MEAN.

>> YOU WOULD SAY.

>> IF I'M IN THE ROOM I'M SAYING LOOK, NO.

>> LET'S G.. >> DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AN OTHERWISE QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.

>> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT COMPETENCE.

>>.. A CHIP MISSING IN TERMS OF THAT UNDERSTANDING OF PERCEPTION.

AS WE'VE SAID A THOUSAND TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES DOES NOT REFLECT POORLY ON THE CANDIDATE.

IT'S HUBBARD.

CONNECTING THE DOTS COULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> AND SHE DID.. DOTS ON THIS PARTICULAR HIRE BEYOND THE LAST NAME.

SHE IS MARRIED TO S SO-AND-SO, I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY.

>> I THINK THE SITUATION BOILS DOWN TO -- AGAIN, IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND I PUT ALL THE BLAME ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IS RAISE PEOPLE'S FAITH AND TRUST IN THE SCHOOL BOARD.

IT DOES NO GOOD, THEN, FOR THAT VERY SCHOOL BOARD TO GO OUT AND PICK SOMEONE WHO WILL INSTIGATE THIS SORT OF DISCUSSION, JUST LIKE IT DID NO GOOD FOR ATTORNEY TONYCOUSINS TO SAY SHE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

IF YOU A.. LEVEL OF TRUST IN THE SCHOOL BOARD THEN THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE LITTLE THINGS.

>&g.. THREE THAT WENT TO 801 CHOP HOUSE.

801 CHOP HOUSE IS POSSIBLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT IN MISSOURI.

>>.. >> TO BE USING TAXPAYER FUNDS THERE AND THEN TO WIPE IT IN OUR FACES BY RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

>> FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO NOW SAY HEY, WE GOT IT.

WE GOT IT.

WE KNOW WHERE WE MESSED UP.

WE HAVE GOT IT.

NO, YOU DON'T.

YOU HAVE GOT TO GO.

>> TO EXPECT PEOPLE -- NOT PUTTING IT ALL ON HER, BUT TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN THEY ARE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, IT'S FLOWING RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW.

THAT'S FOLLOWLY TO THIN FOLLY.

THEY WOULD SUE IF THEY LOSE.

>> YOU HAVE TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO WALK BY A RUNNING CAR WITHOUT STEALING IT IS APPARENTLY TOO MUCH TO ASK.

IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH APPEARANCE, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ONCE AGAIN BLEW IT.

>> 3 MINUTES TO GO.

BECAUSE IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY WHY DON'T WE SAY SOMETHING NICE FOR A CHANGE ON DONNYBROOK, THAT IS TO ABSOLUT SALUTE SOMETHING THAT'S POSITIVE.

I WI..

RESTAURANT THE FIRST OF JANUARY WILL CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

WE HAVE A LOT ..

RESTAURANTS, AND BEYOND BUT HOW ABOUT THAT, 100 YEARS.

HATS OFF TO EVERYONE AT AL'S RESTAURANT.

>>..

HUSBAND AT AL'S RESTAURANT.

IT HAS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ME.

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO WELCOME NEIGHBOR STL.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SUCH GOOD WORK STARTING AS THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION TRYING TO HELP REFUGEES THAT WERE KIND OF LOST IN ST. LOUIS.

THEY HAVE GROWN INTO SUCH A JUGGERNAUT THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE DESIGNATION WHERE THEY ARE REGULATE TO RESETTLE REFUGEES WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT HAS SO MUCH COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

>.. WHERE WE ARE ALL VERY MINDFUL OF OUR BLESSINGS.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT ALL THE FOOD PANTRIES, ST. NICHOLAS, ST. VINCENT D ID YOU PAUL.

DEPAUL.

>> HE WOULD LIKE TO WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE STREET AND ROAD CREWS AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT.

WHEN THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN AND IT'S 1:00 IN THE MORNING AND IT'S 35 DEGREES AND SOMEONE IS DIGGING A HOLE TO FIX A BROKEN WATER MAIN, IT'S SHAME ON ADMINISTRATORS THAT THE WATER MAIN BROKE, BUT THOSE GUYS AND GALS JUMPED OUT IN THAT HOLE AND RECENTLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD A GUY CAME TO THE DOOR AND SAID WE NEED TO SHUT YOUR WATER OFF.

IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 6 OR 7 HOURS.

THEY WERE DONE IN 7 1/2 HOURS.

BLESS YOU GUYS.

>> HORIZON KIRKWOOD, WORKS WITH KIDS IN THE KIRKWOOD AREA, PRIMARILY BLACK KIDS.

I WAS GETTING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT'S NOW BECAME A TUTORING, AND SWIM, AND IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

IT'S GOING STRONG, AND IT'S REALLY A FANTASTIC PART OF THE KIRKWOOD SCENE.

>> MORE GOOD NEWS, AND THAT IS THAT OUR DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER VERONICA GOT ENGAGED ON SATURDAY TO ANDREW, AND THEY RAN A MARATHON THE NEXT DAY.

CONGRATULATIONS, BEST WISHES TO VERONICA AND ANDREW.

LET'S GO TO THE OLD MAILBAG.

CITIZENS FOR GREATER DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS WROTE I THINK YOUR DISCUSSION OF CAR THEFTS MISSED THE MARK.

THE ISSUE IS NOT THIEVES STEALING CARS LEFT RUNNING OR KEYS INSIDE BUT THIEVES SMASHING WINDOWS OF LOCKED CARS AND STEALING CONTENT.

WE BELIEVE THE.. UPWARDS OF 200 VEHICLES WHOSE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN SMASHED BY THESE CRIMINALS SINCE NOVEMBER.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM PAUL OF ST. LOUIS WHO WROTE WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO LOCK MY DOORS, HOUSE OR CAR.

IF SOCIETY RESPECTED.. LAW, WE COULDN'T HAVE TO LOCK OUR DOORS.

DON'T BLAME THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ROBBED.

WHY DO YOU HAVE A FAKE TREE INSTEAD OF A NATURAL ONE?

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

WRITE US IN CARE OF NINE PBS ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE HASHTAG DONNYBROOK STL CALL THE NINE LINE IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT AND LISTEN TO US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE.

MAKE SURE YOU DO THAT.

2025, MAYORAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR ON LAST CALL.

THAT'S SO YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THE NINE PBS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SPEAKING OF THOSE MAYORAL ELECTIONS, WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE AND NINE PBS.

SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS, GO TO NINE PBS.ORG/ELECTIONS.

THAT CONCL..

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HA.. AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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