>> KAMALA HARRIS TAKES CENTER STAGE.

DESTINY'S DESTINY DOESN'T LOOK GREAT.

BACK TO SCHOOL...SHOULD STUDENTS WEAR UNIFORMS?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY; AARON STRONG, FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE; ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE; LISA DOLAK FROM THE COLLEGE OF LAW AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY; AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM FROM CHICAGO, WHERE HE'S BEEN AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

WE'LL START RIGHT THERE IN CHICAGO.

IT WAS A BIG WEEK FOR THE DEMOCRATS, MAYBE AN ELECTION-DETERMINING WEEK.

THEY BROUGHT OUT THE ONE-TWO PUNCH OF THE OBAMA'S ON TUESDAY, TIM WALZ -AND HIS FAMILY - ON WEDNESDAY, THEN LAST NIGHT KAMALA HARRIS RE-INTRODUCED HERSELF TO THE NATION, THIS TIME AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT.

I'D LIKE TO GET THE IMPRESSIONS OF THE PANEL.

LUKE, DID SHE DO ENOUGH TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING?

WE'LL START WITH YOU SINCE YOU ARE THERE.

SHE HAS HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM LATELY.

DID SHE DO ENOUGH?

>> I THINK CERTAINLY THE VICE PRESIDENT DID, AT EVERY POINT SO FAR THAT SHE HAS BEEN CANDIDATE, I THINK THEY HAVE RIZ EDGE TO-- RISEN TO THE MOMENT AND EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS DEMOCRATS HAD.

IN TERMS OF THE SPEECH TO START, IT WAS ON TIME, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY THE BIGGEST KNOCK OF HOW THINGS HAVE GONE AT THIS CONVENTION.

I THINK VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS WHEN THE SPEECH BEGAN.

THERE WERE FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT GOOD EVENINGS.

A LITTLE GIDDINESS.

THE SPEECH WAS WELL WRITTEN, WELL DELIVERED.

I THINK THROUGHOUT THIS CONVENTION AND HER ON THE DREAPT, CAMPAIGN TRAIL, YOU SEE NOTES OF BA RAM OBAMA HOW SHE PRESENTED HERSELF BUT YOU SEE HER UNIQUE FLAVOR AS WELL, TALKING ABOUT HER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, EMPHASIZING MOTHERHOOD AND FAMILY, SO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS UNIFIED AS I'VE SEEN IT IN RECENT MEMORY.

AND THEY ARE FULLY BEHIND HARRIS MOVING FORWARD.

>> DID SHE, IN YOUR VIEW, SUCCESSFULLY RECAST HER IMAGE FROM AN INEFFECTIVE VICE PRESIDENT TO SOMEONE READY TO BE PRESIDENT?

>> I THINK SHE HAS BEEN DOING THAT SINCE SHE PRESIDENT BIDEN STEPPED OUT OF THE RACE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE SPEECH WAS PIVOTAL IN THAT REGARD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT MADE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.

I THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD SPEECH.

BUT I DO THINK, YES, I THINK SHE SORT OF IMMEDIATELY KIND OF STEPPED OUT OF THE SHADOW AND HAS RECAST HERSELF.

>> NINA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR IS NOT OFFERING POLICY SPECIFICS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TO US REMEMBER THAT POLICY SPECIFICATION EXISTS ON A CONTINUUM, AND SO THE QUESTION IS HOW SPECIFIC MUST SHE BE.

I TOOK THE TIME TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT ROOSEVELT'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.

ROOSEVELT, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LARGEST EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT, SIZE AND ALSO ROLE AND WHAT I FOUND THERE WAS IN HIS FIRST ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, HE DID NOT LAY OUT THAT HE WAS GOING TO PASS THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ACTED OF 1935.

HE DIDN'T SAY THAT HE WAS GOING TO IMPLEMENT PRICE CONTROLS AND THE FDIC AND SO FORTH.

BUT WHAT HE DID DO WAS SIGNAL THAT HE WAS FOAG GOING TO SHIFT AWAY FROM HIS OPPONENT'S APPROACH, HERBERT HOOVER, OF NOT HAVING THE GOVERNMENT BE INVOLVED IN THE MARKET AS MUCH.

WHAT I WILL SAY ALSO IS WHEN I LOOKED AT TRUMP'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, THERE, TOO, HE MADE THESE HUGE PROMISES, JUST SOME OF THEM WERE RIDICULOUS.

I'M GOING TO END THE WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IMMEDIATELY.

I'M GOING TO BRING DOWN PRICES IMMEDIATELY AND SO FORDS.

SO I DO THINK THAT HARRIS HAS TO DO MORE, BUT NOT LAY OUT BILLS.

BUT SHE DOES HAVE TO CHANGE THE FOCUS-- I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, IT MAY BE SHOCKING-- AWAY FROM ABORTION AND MORE TO THE THINGS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, THE ECONOMY AND HEALTHCARE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS SHE DID LAST NIGHT, AARON, SHE HAD A MORE MUSCULAR APPROACH IN TERMS OF NATIONAL SECURITY THAN I EXPECTED.

>> SURE.

I MEAN YOU HAD A CHANCE OF-- YOU HAD CHANTS OF USA, USA, ECHOING THROUGH THE CONVENTION HALL, WHICH WAS HONESTLY SOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE POSITIONING THEMSELVES AS AMERICA'S PARTY.

IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE THE AMOUNT OF JOY AND EXCITEMENT AND HOPE, DARE I SAY RELIEF THAT WAS PRESENT THERE THIS THE CONVENTION HALL.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE ON THIS NEW WAY FORWARD.

AND SHE SORT OF CLEARED OUT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD RATHER THAN BACKWARD IN DISTINCTION WITH TRUMP.

BUT PICKING UP ON THE POINT ABOUT SPECIFICS.

I'M A CLIMATE SCIENTIST AND I THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT HUMANITY IS FACING AND WE HEARD THAT WORD ONCE IN HER SPEECH IN A LAUNDRY LIST SHE WANTED TO ADDRESS.

OH, THE CLIMATE CRISIS, TOO.

THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT.

SHE IS TOLD IF SHE FOCUSES TOO MUCH ON CLIMATE, IT MIGHT ALIENATE MIDDLE-CLASS WORKING CLASS VOTERS WHO HAVE SEEN BIDEN'S CLIMATE POLICIES AND THEY'RE NOT FULLY SOLD ON THEM YET.

I AGREE WITH NINA.

SHE NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT LOU TO PIVOT BEYOND THE TALKING POINTS OF REPRODUCTIVE AND TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE AS WELL AND WOULD I LOVE TO HEAR MORE OF THE SPECIFICS ON THE WAY FORWARD OF CLIMATE UNDER HARRIS AS WELL.

>> SHE WAS PROBABLY DOING THAT WITH FOR PENNSYLVANIA AND HER RECORD ON FRACKING.

>> I FOUND THE CONVENTION A CONTRADICTION.

IT WAS PITCH PERFECT AND TONE DEAF AT THE SAME TIME.

HOW CAN YOU BE THAT WAY?

IT WAS PITCH PERFECT BECAUSE MINDY KELLY, JOHN LEGEND, OBAMAS SHOW UP, OPRAH WINFREY SHOWED UP, YOU GET A CAR, EVERYBODY GETS A CAR.

ALL THAT IS VERY MUCH FUN, ABOUT IT YOU KNOW, SCHOLARS AROUND THE WORLD, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF GENOCIDE, MASSACRE OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN MODERN HISTORY.

AND THAT IS COMPLETELY, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS COMPLETELY SILENT.

TO BE FAIR THOUGH, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A SEPARATE PAL WITH A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN DOCTOR TANYA HASSAN, THEY HAD A LISTENING SESSION WITH HUNDREDS OF DELEGATES THAT JOINED.

THERE WAS A HUGE PROTEST OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER BY PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS, SO, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM, KAMALA IS LISTENING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE MOTHER OF MOHAMMED PAR WHO WAS AUTISTIC KID IN PALESTINIAN, 24-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO WAS KILLED BY ATTACK DOGS.

HE NEVER SPOKE IN HIS LIFE.

THE LAST WORDS HE SAID FIRST TIME WAS LEAVE IT ALONE, MY DEAR.

SO IT IS TONE DEAF WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SO MUCH ABOUT FREEDOM AND THIS HORRIBLE GENOCIDE IS GOING ON THAT THE ICJ CONDEMNS, IT'S TONE DEAF.

>> I WANT TO GET BACK TO LUKE IN CHICAGO.

LUKE, ASIDE FROM LAST NIGHT'S SPEECH FROM VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, WHAT ABOUT THE FEEL OF THE CONVENTION, THE REST OF THE TIME.

YOU WERE ON THE FLOOR THERE FOR MOST OF THE TIME.

WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY PEOPLE ARE EXCITED.

I THINK WITH THE PERSPECTIVE I'VE HAD, YOU SEE CERTAIN THEMES THAT BUBBLE TO THE TOP AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TOUCHED ON SOME OF THEM IN IS IF NATEING FASHION.

ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME IS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BEAT THE G.O.P.

AT THEIR OWN GAME, AS WAS MENTIONED, THEY'RE REALLY EMPHASIZING FREEDOM, NATIONALISM, AND PRESENTING HARRIS AS THE CHANGE CANDIDATE, WHICH IS KIND OF TOUGH TO DO.

BUT THEY'RE PULLING IT OFF SO FAR, GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP FORMER PRESIDENT IS RUNNING.

THEY'RE ALSO MAKING BROAD APPEALS TO REPUBLICAN MODERATES AS WELL AS DIFFERENT DEMOCRATIC FACTIONS, I THINK TO DRAW A CONTRAST TO TRUMP.

THEY'RE EMPHASIZING CHARACTER AND SERVICE MORE THAN POLICY TO THE CHAGRIN OF SOME AS WE'VE HEARD.

IN TERMS OF ABORTION, AS NINA MENTIONED, TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM THAT, THEY'RE TRYING TO WRAP THAT INTO HEALTHCARE.

I DON'T THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SUGGESTS THERE ARE DIFFERENT ISSUES.

CERTAINLY THE ECONOMY HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED AS MUCH AND THEY'RE FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND A FAIR DEAL KIND OF REMINISCENT OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT, RATHER THAN ECONOMIC POLICY SPECIFICS.

AARON IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED, WHICH WITH AARON BEING MY GOOD FRIEND I KNEW IT WOULD COMPLETELY UPSET HIM.

IN TERMS OF NATIONALISM, AND USA SIGNS, THEY PASS THOSE OUT BY THE HUNDREDS EVERY DAY AND LAST NIGHT, THEY EVEN BROUGHT OUT A HUGE AMERICAN FLAGS THAT THEY WERE PASSING OUT, SO THAT WAS REMARKABLE.

AND TO ANIRBAN'S POINT, GAZA HAS BEEN MENTIONED PERIODICALLY BUT VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S POLITICAL DYNAMITE PARTICULARLY BEFORE THIS AUDIENCE.

HARRIS MENTIONED IT, BIDEN AND AOC MENTIONED IT BUT NOT TO THE SATISFACTORY FASHION, I THINK, FOR MANY DELEGATES.

AND THEN LASTLY, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ALL THIS ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM, THEY'RE PURPOSELY HEDGING AGAINST COMPLACENCY, THEY PRESENTED THEMSELVES, THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN AS THE UNDERDOG TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO HAVE PEOPLE WORK HARD IN THEIR BEHALF.

>> THE UNDERDOG WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIFIC ELECTION ISSUES THAT WILL HELP TO BUILD WHAT ROBERT DAHL REFERRED TO AS A LAW MAKING MAJORITY.

I'M COMPLETELY WITH YOU THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN ISSUES THAT WE AS SCHOLARS WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THEM PRIOR PRIORITIZE.

NOT ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE TALK ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

HOWEVER, I'M ALSO WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT ONLY 6% OF THE ELECTORATE ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

AND SEE THEM AS IMPORTANT.

AND AGAIN, THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SAVING DEMOCRACY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY REFER TO DEMOCRACY AS A PEOPLE CONTROL, INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL, THAT JUST DOESN'T RESONATE WHEN YOU ASK REGULAR FOLKS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?

TELL WHAT YOU THEY AIN'T SAYING?

THEY AIN'T SAYING DEMOCRACY.

>> THERE IS ONE INTERESTING THING THAT IS ALSO HAPPENING, THAT ACT BLUE GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN AT WORK, HUGELY ACTIVATED.

RAISING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR KAMALA HARRIS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOT BIDEN TO POWER.

THE GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNING.

BIDEN SHRUGGED IT AT THE END.

IT IS GOOD THAT SHE IS REVIVING THE GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN, ACTIVIST GROUPS RAISING MONEY FOR HARRIS.

>> WE WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN PRETTY MUCH NON-STOP FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

SO WE'LL LEAVE THIS RIGHT HERE.

LUKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR WHAT YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED FROM CHICAGO.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK ON CAMPUS IN A DAY OR TWO.

LET'S MOVE ON TO SYRACUSE.

THE SYRACUSE POST STANDARD HAS REPORTED THAT DESTINY MALL FACES POTENTIAL FORECLOSURE AFTER FAILING TO MAKE A REQUIRED MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

DESTINY OWES $430 MILLION ON THAT MORTGAGE PLUS ANOTHER $259 MILLION ON BONDS ISSUED BY THE SYRACUSE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

PROBLEM IS, AT THIS POINT THE MALL IS ONLY WORTH ABOUT 65 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE OUTLOOK IS BLEAK, TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT DESTINY HAS FACED DIRE FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE AND SURVIVED.

IS THERE ANY REASON FOR OPTIMISM THIS TIME AROUND?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T SEE IT.

I THINK WE ARE IN A PHASE WHERE, WHILE THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREASING INTEREST, ACTUALLY IN BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL SORT OF COMEBACK FROM THE PANDEMIC, THAT KIND OF BRICK AND MORTAR THAT DESTINY REPRESENTS IS NOT, THE ENCLOSED MALL IS KIND OF OUT.

AND THIS IS, I THINK WAS VERY PREDICTABLE.

PEOPLE ON THIS SHOW PREDICTED AT THE TIME, IN PARTICULAR THERE, WAS A SORT OF RENEGOTIATION OF THE PILOT AND THE EXTENSION OF THE PILOT THAT WE WOULD END UP HERE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOBODY WANTS THAT MALL THE WAY IT IS.

I DON'T THINK THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WANTS IT.

THE LENDERS DON'T WANT IT, THE OWNERS DON'T WANT IT, THE SHOPPERS DON'T WANT IT.

NOBODY WANTS IT.

BUT I THINK IT IS IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST TO SOMEHOW KEEP IT, YOU KNOW, ALIVE, LIMP AGO LONG UNTIL-- LIMPING ALONG UNTIL A SENSIBLE RESOLUTION THAT INVOLVES EVERYBODY IS REACHED.

AND I THINK TO MAKE-- TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS SPEECH.

THIS IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR THE MAYOR OF SYRACUSE AND THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

AND IT'S GOT-- WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO REPURPOSE THAT-- I DON'T KNOW IF WE REPURPOSE THE BUILDING.

IF THE BUILDING COMES DOWN, BUT THAT LOCATION NEEDS TO BE REPURPOSED.

>> YEAH, I AGREE 100% WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID, LISA.

I WOULD ADD TO THAT, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LEADERSHIP HERE SHOULD DO IS CONTEXTUALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH DESTINY.

THIS ISN'T JUST HAPPENING TO DESTINY, BUT IN FACT ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE ARE SEEING MALL CLOSURES, MALL DECLINE.

IT'S PROJECTED THAT OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, THAT SOME 87% OF MALLS WILL CLOSE.

AT ONE POINT, THE MALL OF AMERICA, THE LARGEST MALL IN THE COUNTRY, WAS GOING THROUGH SIMILAR SORTS OF PROBLEMS AS DESTINY.

AND HERE IS WHAT THEY DID.

AGAIN, TO LISA'S POINT, THEY SORT OF REVAMPED HOW THEY USE THE MALL.

INITIALLY THEY WERE 80% RETAIL, 20% DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT.

NOW THAT'S DOWN TO 65-35.

THEIR PLAN IS 50-50.

AGAIN, AS LISA SAID BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY NOT USING MALLS.

NOR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY BRICK AND MORTAR BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AMAZON.

>> AND SO WE'VE SEEN, EVEN IN SYRACUSE, SHOPPING TOWN, GREAT NORTHERN MALL, ANIRBAN.

>> THERE IS A SAYING THAT IT SAYS YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR CREDITORS BUT NOT YOUR DEBTORS.

IF YOU OWE THE BANK $50,000, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE BUT IF YOU OWE THE BANK A BILLION DOLLARS, THE BANK IS IN TROUBLE.

SO IN THIS CASE, THE ACTUAL VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, 17% OF THE LOAN.

I DON'T THINK ANY RATIONAL LOAN ADJUSTOR WOULD CLOSE, FORECLOSE ON BECAUSE WHAT ARE THEY LEFT WITH?

THEY'RE LEFT WITH A PROPERTY THAT IS 17% OF THE LOAN VALUE.

SO WHAT I THINK WOULD HAPPEN IS THIS KIND OF RESTRUCTURING UNTIL THE MALL DIES A SLOW DEATH OVER TIME.

>> WE NEED TO FIND NEW WAYS TO USE THESE PUBLIC SPACES.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING NINA SAID.

THAT'S THE WAY FORWARD.

WE NEED TO REINVENT THESE SPACES TO HAVE MORE PUBLIC SPACE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND ENJOY.

RETAIL IS NOT IT.

>> SHOPPING TOWN MALL, HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT, THE EYE SORE IT HAS BECOME.

>> AND IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE APARTMENTS.

SO WHAT IF WE ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS BY DOING WHAT WAS SUGGESTED TO PERHAPS DESTINY TO HOUSING.

>> AND THERE ARE STILL 250 ESTABLISHMENTS THERE.

>> NOT THE BIG ONES, NOT THE ANCHORS.

>> GONE.

>> NOW THIS IS THE SEASON OF BACK TO SCHOOL FOR MANY STUDENTS.

THAT MEANS BACK TO THE DAILY GAME OF HOW TO GET AROUND THE DRESS CODE RCHLTS FOR STUDENTS IN ABOUT ONE IN FIVE SCHOOLS, HOWEVER, IT MEANS TIME TO GET THE SCHOOL UNIFORM OUT OF THE CLOSET.

PROPONENTS OF UNIFORMS SAY THEY MAKE FOR BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, REDUCE BULLYING AND BETTER PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE WORKPLACE.

NOT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THAT.

SO AARON, SHOULD UNIFORMS BE REQUIRED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> LOOK, I'VE GOT THREE KIDS WHO ARE 10, 8 AND 5.

AND I HAVE TO SAY I'M ACTUALLY INTRIGUED BY THIS IDEA.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT UNIFORMS IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DRESS CODE, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE INEQUITABLY DRESS CODED BY THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE DRESS CODE AGAINST THEM THAT FEELS INEQUITABLE.

THEY FEEL TARGETED MAYBE BECAUSE THEY'RE A WOMAN, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY'RE QUEER, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY'RE A PERSON OF COLOR AND THAT IS NOT A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS I SAY ALL THIS AS SOMEONE, WHO IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD DYED BLUE HAIR, A HEMP NECKLACE, RAINBOW KNIT HAT, PAINTED FINGERNAILS.

THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T GET BULLIED IS BECAUSE I'M 6'2, 240 POUNDS AND PLAYED ON THE LACROSSE TEAM.

I'M ALL FOR FREE EXPRESSION.

MY FAMILY LIVED IN NEW ZEALAND WHERE THEY HAVE UNIFORMS.

I WANT TO PAINT WHAT THAT PICTURE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

UNIFORMS MAKE EVERYONE FEELS THEY'RE ON THE SAME TEAM.

THE JURY IS OUT ON WHETHER THIS REALLY CUTS DOWN BULLY FOR EXAMPLE AND IMPROVES PEOPLE'S LIVES BUT IT'S AN INTERESTING PATH FORWARD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES STUDENTS ARE FACING IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

>> I GREW UP IN A SCHOOL IN CALCUTTA WITH UNIFORMS.

IT'S A GREAT EQUALIZER.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT CLASS BACKGROUND YOU COME FROM, WHETHER YOU ARE RICH OR POOR.

EVERYBODY WEARS THE SAME THING.

CREATES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, SCHOOL, IDENTITY TOWARDS THE SCHOOL AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I WENT TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S DATA, JUST TO PUT OUT THE DATA A LITTLE BIT HERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT 18.8% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS REQUIRE SCHOOL UNIFORMS.

IN THE U.S.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

THERE IS A TREND TOWARDS THAT.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF UNIFORMS.

MY KIDS WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR THEIR WHOLE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL AND I FOUND IT TO BE VERY USEFUL.

THEY NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AND YOU NOW YOU KNOW, THE SCIENCE SEEMS TO BE MIXED.

I THINK WE CAN AGREE THERE HAS TO BE A DRESS CODE.

THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH DRESS CODES AND I THINK UNIFORMS SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF DRESS CODES.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE UNIFORMS PAY FOR THEM BUT THAT'S COMPLETELY DOABLE.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO BUY SCHOOL CLOTHES OTHERWISE.

>> BUT YOU HAVE SUBSIDIZED LUNCHES, YOU CAN HAVE SUBSIDIZED UNIFORMS.

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERYBODY ON THE PANEL.

THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT WHAT THE REASONING IS FOR THIS IS ACTUALLY BORN OUT BY THE DATA.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HAVING UNIFORMS DRESS CODES ACTUALLY REDUCE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OR INCREASES ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

WE DO HAVE EVIDENCE, AS AARON POINTED OUT, THAT THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATELY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON POOR AND MINORITY STUDENTS.

THE ARGUMENT THAT IT HELPS PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORLD WE DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE FOR.

SO I DISAGREE WITH EVERYBODY.

>> YOU DISAGREE WITH EVERYBODY.

>> DID I SAY AGREE.

I MEANT TO SAY DISAGREE.

NO, NO, NO.

I DID DISAGREE WITH EVERYBODY ON THAT PARTICULAR POINT.

>> SO NO SCHOOL UNIFORMS.

>> YES.

>> BUT BAN THE PHONES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT WAS LAST WEEK'S STATEMENT.

NO UNIFORMS, BAN THE PHONES.

WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO TO OUR AS AND FS.

NINA YOUR A.

>> WITH MY F. >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M GIVING AN F TO MISS APPROPRIATION OF THE POLICE UNIFORM.

WHEN I SEE THE UNIFORM, I SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ASSOCIATE IT WITH IMPARTIALITY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE TO CITIZENS.

I SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO ASSOCIATE THE UNIFORM WITH DONALD TRUMP OR ANY OTHER POLITICIAN.

INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS CAN SUPPORT WHOMEVER THEY WANT BUT THEY SHOULD NEVER SULLY THE UNIFORM BY USING IT AS A PROP FOR CAMPAIGN SPEECH.

THAT UNIFORM BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.

>> AARON.

>> MY F GOES TO HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS INCREASINGLY COMMON IN NEW YORK'S LAKES WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, NIECE BLOOMS CREATE TOXINS THAT SHUT DOWN BEACHES AND THREATEN OUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES BUT THERE IS HOPE.

>> I WAS WAITING.

>> JUST WAIT.

>> WAITING FOR THE A.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO ISRAEL'S AABUSE AND INHUMANE TREATMENT OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS BASED ON TESTIMONIES OF 55 PALESTINIANS HELD DURING THIS TIME.

THE TESTIMONY EXPOSE OUTCOMES OF RUSH TRANSFORMATION OF MILITARY FACILITIES INTO TORTURE CAMPS AND THE REPORT FROM BETH SALEM OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> AND LISA, YOUR F. >> A GROUP OF TEENAGERS VISITED DETROIT COURTROOM ON A FIELD TRIP TO LEARN ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

ONE OF THEM, A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL, FELL ASLEEP.

JUDGE KENNETH KING FOUND THAT AND HER DISPOSITION AFTER HE ASKED HER TO LEAVE DISRESPECTFUL.

SO HE HAD HER PUT IN JAIL CLOTHES AND HANDCUFFS AND ASKED THE OTHER KIDS IF SHE SHOULD BE PUT IN JUVENILE DETENTION.

I UNDERSTAND HIS OBJECTIVES BUT THERE WERE BETTER WAYS TO HELP HER LEARN.

>> AND NOW TO THE As THIS TIME.

NINA.

>> AS RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID, FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS, THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF CRIME STATISTICS.

NO MATTER WHAT CERTAIN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES OR CERTAIN TV NEWS OUTLETS TELL YOU, THE FACT IS PROPERTY CRIME HAS CONTINUALLY DECREASED OVER THE PAST DECADE, PLUS AND VIOLENT CRIME WAS DOWN UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

UP AND THEN DOWN DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

UP BUT NOW DOWN SINCE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE.

FBI DATA SHOW THAT BOTH VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIME DECREASED BY JUST OVER 15%.

THANK GOD FOR FACTS.

>> AND AARON, YOUR A.

>> HERE IS THE HOPE.

MY A GOES TO THE HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOM MONITORING AND PREVENTION ACT, NEW YORK STATE BILL CO-AUTHORED BY RACHEL MAY OF SYRACUSE AND REPRESENTATIVE ANNA KELLES FROM CORTLAND COUNTY.

A FEW MONTHS AGO IT PASSED THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY.

YES, UNANIMITY IS POSSIBLE IN POLITICS.

BUT STILL NEEDS TO GET THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY.

WOULD IT GIVE MUNICIPALITIES THE DATA AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO THE INCREASING CLIMATE DRIVEN THREAT.

AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALGAE BLOOM, CHECK OUT BLOOM, A GREAT SPECIAL ON WCNY, GO TO WCNY.ORG TO CHECK IT OUT.

>> AND ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO MICHELLE OBAMA'S QUITE WELL AND ELECTRIFYING SPEECH.

ALL OUR CONTRIBUTIONS DESERVE TO BE VALUED BECAUSE NO ONE HAS A MONOPOLY ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN.

>> LISA YOUR A.

>> DURING HIS DNC REMARKS TUESDAY NIGHT, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA TOLD THE CROWD, DON'T BOO.

VOTE.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT PIECE OF ADVICE.

NOT JUST FOR THIS ELECTION YEAR BUT FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR US GENERALLY FOR SOCIETY GENERALLY.

DON'T BOO.

VOTE.

>> YOU CAN ALSO SAY DO SOMETHING, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT WAS MICHELLE OBAMA'S ADMONISH-- ADMONITION.

ON THAT NOTE, WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.