LIVE FROM THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL IN GRAND CENTER, THIS IS DONNYBASH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US IN THE 24th EDITION OF DONNYBASH.

THIS IS THE LIVE FUND RAISER, COMING TO YOU LIVE ON PBS.

FROM THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL IN GRAND CENTER ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WE H.. TALK ABOUT.

BUT FIRST LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS, STARTING WITH THE BIG 550 KTRS AND COHOST THE SHOW WITH JENNIFER BLOOM, WENDY WIESE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

[APPLAUSE] ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS FROM STLTODAY.COM AND THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH, BILL MCCLELLAN.

[APPLAUSE] FROM THE RIVERFRONT TIMES, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THAT PUBLICATION, SARAH FENSKE.

[APPLAUSE] AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN WHERE HE WRITES A GREAT COLUMN AND EDITS THE NEWS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALVIN REID.

[APPLAUSE] BEFORE WE BEGIN, IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY WEEK AT THE ADMIRE HOME, CHARLOTTE ANN ADMIRE WAS BORN THIS WEEK AND HAPPENS TO BE THE YOUNG GRAND BABY OF WENDY WIESE.

[APPLAUSE] OUR VIEWERS AT HOME CAN NOW SEE CHARLOTTE, WHO IS KNOWN AS CHARLIE NOW.

>> SHE IS KNOWN AS CHARLIE, SO I WILL NEVER LIVE THIS DOWN.

>> SHE IS PRECIOUS.

YOU ARE BLESSED.

>> LOVE HER SO MUCH.

ALREADY SENT IT.

>> THE CHARLIE PERFUME.

>> CHARLIE.

ALVIN'S FIRST PAPER.

BOBBY SHORT WAS FROM DANVILLE.

>> DID THE WALL STREET JOURNAL EVER DO A HIT?

THE WALL STREET YURN WALL STREET JOURNAL S ET ITS SIGHTS ON DOWNTOWN, AND ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, IT'S REPORTED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THIS MORNING FRONT PAGE THAT FEWER PEDESTRIANS HAVE RETURNED TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS THAN ANY OTHER OF THE 66 MAJOR CITIES THAT WERE SURVEYED IN THE COUNTRY.

.. BECAUSE BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING AND THAT DOESN'T BRING PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

WHEN PEOPLE DON'T COME TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, MORE BUSINESSES CLOSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE REPORT BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TODAY?

>> I MEAN FAR BE IT FOR ME TO EVER ACCUSE PRINT JOURNALISTS OF BEING FAKE NEWS.

I'M A LITTLE BIT IN A GLASS HOUSE ON THAT, SO I'M CAREFUL WHEN I DEPLOY THAT.

THE STORY GOT A NUMBER OF THINGS RIGHT ABOUT DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS UNFORTUNATELY, BUT ALSO GOT THE BIGGER PICTURE WRONG.

I THINK THE STUDY THAT THEY WERE FOCUSED ON WAS LOOKING AT A VERY NARROW AREA OF DOWNTOWN.

IT HAPPENED TO BE THE SPECIFIC PART OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAS BEEN HARDEST HIT BY WORKERS GOING REMOTE OR COMPANIES PULLING OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

BUT THERE ARE VIBRANT PARTS STILL OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

THE THING ABOUT ST. LOUIS IS WHEN ONE BLOCK ASCENDS, ANOTHER BLOCK SOMETIMES HAS TO TAKE THE HIT.

SO DOWNTOWN WEST RIG..

VERY MUCH THRIVING, THER THRIVING.

THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF DOWNTOWN THAT ARE WONDERFUL.

THEY ARE TURNING CUSTOMERS AWAY THE RESTAURANTS ARE SO CROWDED.

YES, IT'S TRUE THAT THAT SPECIFIC AREA HAS REALLY STRUGGLED.

I TH.. FAR IN PAINTING ALL OF DOWNTOWN WITH A TERRIBLE BRUSH AND NOT GOING INTO THE ENERGY THAT'S NOT TRYING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

>> OPENING DAY THE CLYDESDALE CIRCLED THE FIELD.

AND A LITTLE REMINDER THAT THEY WERE THERE, AND THAT'S WHAT I PRETTY MUCH THOUGHT OF THE WALL WALL STREET JOURNAL.

IT'S EASY TO TAKE SHOTS WH.. ARE IN THE IVY TOWER OF NEW YORK OR WHENEVER YOU ARE AT THAT HAVE THE OWN PROBLEMS.

I'M NOT BUYING IT.

WE DO HAVE OUR PROBLEMS OBVIOUSLY.

BUT ..

HER HUSBAND LOVES ST. LOUIS.

THEY LOVE GOING PLACES.

WE DO HAVE TO WAIT TO GET INTO RESTAURANTS.

AND .. WATCH KIND OF NOT WHAT I SAY, BUT MY OPINION OF THE PLACE I LIVE IN NOW, BECAUSE I THINK REPORTS LIKE THAT MISS THE MARK.

COME HERE.

BE HERE.

YO.. YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY COME HERE AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO STAYING IN A HOTEL.

I WALKED ON THE STREET AT NOON AND NOBODY WAS OUT THERE.

SO WHAT.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF POETIC.

I THINK MAYBE WE SHO.. USE THAT AS SOME KIND OF A MOTTO.

FLAGS.

COME TO ST. LOUIS AND WALK THE DOOM LOOP.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO SAYS OH, I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND MEANDER AROUND DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

>> FOREST PARK.

>> THAT'S NOT DOWNTOWN.

DOWNTOWN IS DEAD AS A DOOR NAIL.

>> ON SUNDAY?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> I GO TO DOWNTOWN CINC..

IT'S THRIVING ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

>>..

DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI.

BUT DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, BECAUSE OF THE CRIME, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS BEEN BETTER SINCE THE LAST 6, 7 MONTHS.

CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALK AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

>> MILLENNIUM HOTEL.

>> RAILWAY EXCHANGE, JEFFERSON ARMS, AT&T BUILDING WHICH IN 1986 SOLD FOR $215 MILLION AND SOLD THIS PAST WEEK FOR 3.5.

THAT TELLS YOU WHAT'S GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT WE HAVE TO BE VERY REALISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

WHO RESPONDED TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE, THEY DID A VERY NICE JOB, CARA SPENCER SAID THAT OUR NATIONAL BRAND, WE HAVE TAKEN A HIT.

MANY LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE TAKING A HIT RIGHT NOW AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

EVERYBODY IS REBUILDING, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO RESPOND IS BLAMING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL FOR WHAT THEY WERE OBSERVING.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING.

&g..

I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ADEQUATE PICTURE OF WHAT ST. LOUIS IS ABOUT.

>> DOWNTOWN.

>>..

I WOULD ALSO SAY CARA SPEN.. >> SHE'S GOT A HORSE IN THE RACE.

.. READ THROUGH THAT ENTIRE THING, I SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY DIDN'T TELL US ANYTHING WE DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW.

AND B, I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GIANT SKYSCRAPERS THAT USED TO HOUSE OFFICE WORKERS, THAT IS A PROBLEM EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

TH..

PROBLEM.

.. ON THE WEEKEND, WHICH I DO, I SEE DOZENS OF KIDS PLAYING AT CITY GARDEN, SPLASHING IN THE SPLASH PAD.

I SEE YOGA CLASSES HAPPENING AT KEENER PLAZA.

THEY ARE HAPPENING IN A SMALLER MORE ORGANIC LEVEL.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET BACK THE SKYSCRAPERS FULL OF LAWYERS WEARING COATS AND TIES.

THAT'S NOT THE FUTURE OF ANY CITY.

.. PEOPLE CAN WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND GO INTO A DRY CLEANER OR TAILER?

AND LOOKING AT TONY'S MOVED OUT.

>> I THOUGHT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DID MAKE A TERRIFIC POINT.

THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE CORRECTED OVERNIGHT.

BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WANTED ST. LOUIS TO ONCE AGAIN BE CONSIDERED A CULTURAL BEACON, AND FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE FORCEFUL THAN THE ECONOMIC ENGINE IT USED TO BE OR BUILD IT BACK UP TO THAT LEVEL OF ECONOMIC VITALITY.

>> THE ANSWER IS GAMBLING.

>> COME ON.

>> WE WILL BRING GAMBLING TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, AND THAT WILL BE THE ANSWER.

>> WE THOUGHT BOMB PARKVILLE AGE WOULD BE THE ANSWER, AND THEY HAVE ALL HELPED.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

THERE ARE GREAT ASPECTS OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, THE ARCH, CITY MUSEUM, AND OUT WEST OF THE COMMONS, THE NEW SOCCER FIELD, BUT BY AND LARGE, WHEN YOU GO TO OTHER CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, THERE ARE JUST NOW PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALKS.

THERE ARE FLAT OUT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALKS.

SO YOU FEEL SCARED WHEN YOU ARE WALKING AROUND.

>> DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAYTIME, ANYBODY SCARED TO WALK AROUND, JUST STAY WHERE THEY ARE AT, JUST DON'T COME DOWN HERE.

THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

>> MAYBE MIKE SL WAS WRONG IN 2022 WHEN HE SAID THERE'S A CRIME PROBLEM IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS OR LET'S GET ON IT.

DID IT MAKE NO SENSE WHEN CHRISTOPHER I SANO WAS SHOT?

THIS IS REAL CRIME TAKING PLACE.

>> THE MAYOR HAS BEEN PROACTIVE MAKING SURE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES DOWNTOWN TO DEAL WITH THE CRIME PROBLEM.

I THINK IF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL FOCUSED ON THE CRIME PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO, THAT PART WOULD HAVE BEEN 100% ACCURATE.

I'M NOT SURE IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> WE HAVE EVENTS DOWNTOWN THAT ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT ST. PATRICK'S DAY THERE WAS A RUN, AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS THERE.

DOWNTOWN WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE.

IT WAS A FUN PLACE TO BE.

>> LAST SATURDAY, 20,000 PEOPLE, 40,000 PEOPLE AT THE BATTLE HAWKS GAME, INCLUDING ME.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

WHERE IS THAT HEADLINE AT?

IF THEY GET HIT BY A CAR, OH, OH, OH!

WE HAD A WEEKEND WHERE 100,000 PEOPLE WERE DOWN HERE.

EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD TIME.

EVERYBODY WENT HOME HAPPY.

NO HEADLINE, NOTHING.

WHERE WAS THE WALL STREET JOURNAL LAST SATURDAY?

THEY WERE WRITING THE STORY THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

AND I TYPE LIKE THIS, BY THE WAY.

REPORT WHEN NOTHING HAPPENS.

THE SUN COMES UP IN THE EAST.

IT'S NOT A STORY.

BUT IF IT COMES UP IN THE WEST, AND IF SOMEONE IS HIT BY A CAR, TWO VISITORS FROM CHICAGO ATTENDING A CONCERT BY SOME GUY RUNNING A LIGHT, OR WHEN WE SEE STORIES, MAYBE WE SHOULD MOVE ON TO THIS ONE, WHEN WE SEE 10 CARS RUNNING A RED LIGHT IN 30 SECONDS, SARAH FENSKE, AND YOUR PAPER REPORTS THIS.

>> WE HAVE A VIDEO OF IT.

ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER AND YOU CAN SEE THE RIGHT IS RED THE ENTIRE TIME.

IT'S SHOCKING.

>> THIS IS GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

IT'S WHY GROUPS LIKE THE CITIZENS FOR GREATER DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BUILDING CODES BEING ENFORCED, TRAFFIC LAWS BEING ENFORCED.

JUST PICKING THE PLACE UP IN GENERAL.

>..

WHEN PEOPLE RUN RED LIGHTS, BUT I THINK IN THE RFT VIDEO MANY OF THOSE DRIVERS, AND THEY WERE GOING RIGHT DOWN TUCKER, RIGHT DOWN THE OLD POST DISPATCH BUILDING, WHEN YOU ARE IN A LINE OF CARS AND EVERYBODY IS ZIPPING THROUGH A LIGHT, YOU DON'T NOTICE THE LIGHT.

10 CARS IN A ROW JUST WENT THROUGH IT.

>> EVERYBODY RELAX.

HE DOESN'T DRIVE THAT OFTEN.

EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

HE WALKS EVERYWHERE.

YOU ARE SAFE.

>> I REALIZE PEOPLE ARE GOING, HE'S GOING, I'M GOING, ALL THAT.

A LOT OF PLACES -- WELL, THIS WHOLE THING WHERE THERE'S NO CAR COMING AND THE LIGHT IS RED AND AFTER 10 SECONDS, AND SIT THERE ABOUT 20 SECONDS, AND ABOUT 30 SECONDS, I'M ABOUT TO NOT BE A GOOD CITIZEN.

AND ABOUT A MINUTE, YOU ARE THROUGH THAT LIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

HEY, I COME THIS WAY ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S ..

THIS LIGHT IS RED FOR NO REASON.

I DON'T THINK THE 10 PEOPLE THAT RAN THAT LIGHT WERE DESTINED TO GO RUN SOMEBODY OVER IN THE STREET.

I ..

THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE ..

ROB THE 7-ELEVEN.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS A SIGNAL THAT WE ARE ALL JUST LAWLESS.

>> IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW CANDY ANDY FROM CROWN CANDY ON FACEBOOK, HE ALWAYS HAS FOOTAGE THAT IS JUST MIND BOGGLING OF THE PEOPLE JUST BLOWING PAST THE STOP SIGNS AND SUCH.

IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO ST. LOUIS.

..

I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN DEFEND ST. LOUIS DRIVERS.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A DOWNTOWN PROBLEM.

AND A LOT OF CONVERSATION WITH THE POLICE FORCE, AND HOW WITH THE CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL WE HAVE CAN WE PRIORITIZE THIS, BECAUSE I THINK DRIVERS GET SO IMPATIENT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW..

I'M SITTING AT A RED AND SOMEBODY PASSES ME ON THE LEFT TO BLOW THROUGH THAT TRAFFIC LIGHT.

BILL, YOU CAN PULL THIS OFF.

NOT EVERYONE CAN.

>> SPEAKING OF CROWN CANDY AND PEOPLE RUNNING LIGHTS.

AND WE WERE AT CROWN CANDY NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND WE LEFT, AND WE ARE DRIVING O'DELL MARCH HEADED WEST, AND TWICE WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A CAR BLEW ON BY THIS.

IT'S FRIGHTENING.

>> RFT IS REPORTING WE ARE THE TOP 20 HOTTEST JOB MARKETS.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

[APPLAUSE] >> I SHOULD AT HERE, THIS IS NOT THE RFT TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS.

IRONICALLY THE STUDY THAT WE REPORTED ON CAME FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

[LAUGHTER].

DRIVE-BY JOURNALIST.

>> IF I'M CORRECT THE ARTICLE WAS ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT DURING TIMES SUCH AS THESE, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, TRYING FOR A METROPOLITAN AREA THAT COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR CITIES THAT ARE WILLING TO MAYBE SWEETEN THE DEAL OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

THAT'S G.. >> BILL, THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS FAILED TO ENACT A HOMELESS BILL.

IT'S BEEN MULL ON THE ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

LAST WEEK IT WAS A 7-7 VOTE WITH ONE ABSTENTION OR ONE PERSON VOTING PRESENT, BUT THE IDEA WAS UNDER THIS MEASURE TO ALLOW HOMELESS SHELTERS TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN COMMUNITIES IF THEY COULD GET THE SIGNATURES OF 33% OF THE RESIDENTS.

SOME ALDERMEN FELT THAT WAS TOO LOW, THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 50%.

YET, HERE WE ARE, STILL TALKING ABOUT A HOMELESS SHELTER AND NO HOMELESS SHELTER.

DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE LOWERED THE STANDARDS?

>> NO, I DON'T.

I THINK .. ARE THE STRENGTH OF ST. LOUIS, AND TO PUT HOMELESS SHELTERS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT'S 70% OF THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE DO ENOUGH FOR HOMELESS.

I MEAN, OUR BASIC PLAN EVERY WINTER IS GLOBAL WARMING.

WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT COLD THIS YEAR.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN PUT HOMELESS SHELTERS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN ONLY 30% OF THE PEOPLE SAY YES.

>> I WAS PERSONALLY VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS VOTE, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE PROPOSAL FROM ALDERMEN ALISHA SONNIER WAS A SERIOUS PROPOSAL THAT GRAPPLED WITH AN ISSUE IN ST. LOUIS.

OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION IS GROWING, AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE FEWER SHELTERS BECAUSE SHE SHUT DOWN THE REVEREND LARRY RICE.

THERE'.. WINTER BECAUSE WE ARE WORRIED PEOPLE WILL BE FREEZING TO DEATH BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A SERIOUS PROPOSAL AND NOT ONLY DID IT HAVE THE COMPONENT, YES, YOU NEED TO GET A THIRD BEHIND IT, AND BUT BEYOND THAT, THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF PROVISIONS PUT IN PLACE WHERE IF YOU DO END UP OPENING, AND THE NEIGHBORS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, IT'S SUPER EASY TO TRIGGER A HEARING, THAT CITY HALL IS GOING TO BE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION.

SO MAKING IT EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO START UP, BUT IF THERE'S PROBLEMS, MAKING IT SO MUCH EASIER TO SHUT DOWN.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE TO SEE HALF OF THE ALDERMEN PLUS ONE NOT BE WILLING TO TAKE THIS VOTE.

BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ANOTHER SOLUTION ON THE HORIZON.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS?

>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF A LARGE SHELTER DOWN BY THE RIVER WHERE YOU ARE NOT GOING INTO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUTTING HOMELESS SHELTERS IN.

>> DO YOU MEAN THE WORK HOUSE?

>> I'M JUST A KNE NEANDERTHAL I REGRET THEY SHUT IT.

>> MEDIA SECURITY.

>> WE HAD 15 HOUSEHOLDS, MANY MANSIONS, AND ORIGINAL HOUSES THAT WERE ON THE BLOCK.

15 HOUSEHOLDS, AND IF 5 APPROVED OF THE SHELTER, I COULDN'T GET WITH THAT.

AND MY HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

WELL, YOU KNOW.. LAST HOLD-OUT, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT 5 GET TO DECIDE FOR THE OTHER 10?

THAT MATH AIN'T MATING T MATH TO ME.

>> WHY NOT DO HORSE TRADING AND SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS FACILITY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND JUST KIND OF LIKE ST. LOUIS SC PICKED A SPOT DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM POLICE HEADQUARTERS, WHICH WAS BRILLIANT, THAT'S HELPFUL, WHY NOT SAY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE GOING TO PUT A LITTLE POLICE SUBSTATION THERE OR PERHAPS YOU GUYS NEED A SWIMMING POOL, TENNIS COURTS, PICKLEBALL, BASKETBALL.

WHAT C.. KROENKE FUND TO MAKE THE HOMELESS SHELTER A LITTLE MORE WORTH YOUR WHILE, IN ADDITION TO THE SECURITY?

>> HOLD YOUR BOOZE UNTIL I FINISH WHATEVER I'M GOING TO SAY.

AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS THAT THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN SPENT THIS MUCH TIME AND WHEN YOU THINK OF THE MEGAN GREEN PROPOSAL EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THIS PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION, AND THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS, AND THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED THIS WAY AND WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN, BUT I WOULD RATHER SEE THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN DOING SOMETHING SUBSTANTIVE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BASING THE CITY.

YOU CAN BOO ME.

>> I WON'T BOO YOU, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU.

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WHERE I GET BOOED ON AND I SAY THE SAME THING.

AND THEY ARE S.. SOMETHING THAT REALLY DOES NOT IMPACT -- I LIKE CHARLIE'S IDEA.

BUT I WOULD SAY THIS.

LET'S GO STRAIGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE OKAY.

IF YOU..

SHELTER, YOUR WARD OR YOUR THIS GETS THIS MUCH MONEY TO WHICH YOU COULD SPEND ANY WAY YOU WANT.

>>.. PROPOSAL.

I TH.. OF HOMELESSNESS IN ST. LOUIS.

THAT SAID, I THINK WHY THEY ARE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THIS ISSUE IS BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IT IS SPILLING OVER INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU HAVE.. PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY..

CAMPING OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND A BED THAT WILL HOUSE THEM.

I THINK THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHY IT HAS SO MANY ALDERMEN'S ATTENTION.

YOU SAID IT WOULD BE GREAT TO PUT ONE DOWN THE RIVER.

THERE'S SO MUCH SPECIAL INTEREST FOR EVERY PARCEL.

THERE WAS A PEACEFUL HOME ENCAMPMENT DOWN BY THE RIVER, AND YOU COULD SEE IT FROM THE WINDOWS OF A FANCY HOTEL, AND THE HOTEL DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT GETS CLEARED.

TH.. >> I KNOW THERE'S NO PERFECT SPACE.

&g..

DOLLARS NEW STADIUM WAS GOING TO BE?

>> WHEN SARAH POINTS OUT THAT THE LATEST PROPOSAL ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET RID OF A HOMELESS SHELTER AND IT'S A PROBLEM, I THINK THEY WILL TAKE CHARLIE'S IDEA AND SAY WE WANT TENNIS COURTS, SWIMMING POOL, AND AS SOON AS THEY GET THE HOMELESS SHELTER THEY WILL GET RID OF IT.

>> SPEAKING OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS AND NOT TOO FAR FROM THE FOUR SEASONS, THE STADIUM HAD 40,000 FANS CHEERING ON THE BATTLE HAWKS, NOT THE N.F.L., BUT THAT'S A HECK OF A CROWD.

IN FACT, IT'S 8,000 MORE PEOPLE THAN ATTENDED THE CARDINALS GAME ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

WENDY?

>> MAYBE THE BATTLE HA.. FUTURE LOOKS A LITTLE BRIGHTER.

IT'S EARLY.

IT'S EARLY.

THE CARDINALS ARE GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY FINE.

I HAVE VERY MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THE BATTLE HAWKS, BECAUSE WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE I WAS ONE OF THE DELUSIONAL PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE N.F.L.

WHERE WE WANTED THEM, THAT WE COULD TURN THAT SITUATION INTO ANOTHER TEAM FOR OUR CITY, MAYBE THE FOURTH OR 5 TIME WIL FOURTH OR FIFTH T IME WILL BE A CHARM.

I WAS KIND OF EXCITED .. BATTLE HAWKS DID, BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE HOW EXCITED AND ENTHUSIASTIC WE ARE ABOUT THE FOOTBALL.

AND NOW WE.. MONEY THAT WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF SPENDING ANY TIME SOON ON ANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, I'M JUST NOT THAT EXCITED ABOUT THE BATTLE HAWKS.

I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT -- WELL.

>> WALKING TO THE GAME WHERE I PARK, IT WAS DIVERSE AND PEOPLE WERE TAILGATING AND HEADING TO THE DOME, YOU KNOW, I WAS THERE, AND WATCHING THE GAME.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REALLY FEEL ABOUT IT OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE HERE SEEM TO BE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.

BUT I ..

IT WAS STILL KIND OF LIKE IN YOUR FACE TO THE N.F.L.

I WONDER HOW LONG BEFORE THAT BLOOM COMES OFF THAT ROSE.

ALSO ON THIS DAY THE CARDINALS PLAYED.

..

I WAS IN THE PRESS BOX.

I THINK AP STAFFED THE GAME.

I DON'T THINK THE POST STAFFED THE GAME.

IA BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T HAVI CAN'T BELIEVE Y OU HAD.. AFTER THE GAME.

THEY ARE LIMITED, SPORTS OR OTHERWISE.

I GO.. WAS A GOOD THING THAT 40,000 PEOPLE WERE THERE.

IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE 40,000 PEOPLE.

MY ST. LOUIS MOTTO IS ST. LOUIS, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MST.

LOUIS,NOTHING H APPENED TO ME.

>> SO THINK, AS YOU SAID THAT IT'S LIKE A STATEMENT, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE N.F.L., IT WILL SHOW YOU N.F.L.

IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FIRST WIFE WHO WATCHED HER HUSBAND DRIVE OFF TO THE WEST COAST IN A CORVETTE WITH HIS HOT YOUNG SECRETARY THINKING THAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT THE FIRST WIFE THAT HE LEFT BEHIND.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

>> I AGREE.

>> I DON'T THINK THE N.F.L.

IS THINKING ABOUT US RIGHT NOW.

>> I HELD THAT DREAM, TOO.

AND I THINK IN MY LIFETIME, AND I'M 64, AND THE NEXT ECLIPSE I WILL BE 85.

BUT MY PLAN IS TO MAKE IT TO THAT.

IT COU.. >> I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> BILL MCCLELLAN, WHAT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN CONCRETE COEUR WITH HOTELS AND APARTMENTS AND STORES SCRKS AND A Z NEW MAIN STREET AND $96 MILLION IN TAX BREAKS.

NOT THE ONLY CITY DOING IT WILD WOOD, CHESTERFIELD.

>> IT WILL BE A DOOM LOOP WE WILL HAVE A REGION OF DOOM LOOPS.

>> HAVE WE TOLD YO.. IS SUNSHINE.

>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR TOO MUCH WITH THAT AREA AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

IT DOESN'T REALLY SOUND PROMISING TO ME.

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IN EVERY OTHER MUNICIPALITY IS RECREATE DOWNTOWN KIRKWOOD.

CHESTERFIELD IS DOING IT AND CREVE COEUR IS DOING IT, AND IT'S THE NEW HUGE SHOPPING MALL, ONLY WE ARE GOING BACK TO MAIN STREET AMERICA, WE ARE TRYING TO ANYWAY.

.. ALL OF THESE THINGS DO.

>> I THINK THEY WORK.

YOU GO TO CARAMEL INDIANA OR CHERRY CREEK COLORADO OR WILD WOOD OR CHESTERFIELD.

THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT FAUX, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ENTIRELY ORGANIC.

>.. >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE BATTLE HAWKS, THEY ARE PART OF A LEAGUE THAT'S OWNED BY ONE GUY -- TWO GUYS, YEAH.

IT DIDN'T WORK IN WASHINGTON, BECAUSE THE HOFFMAN FAMILY IS PULLING OUT OF THERE.

>> ALSO, THIS ONE I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN YOU DRIVE THERE, IT'S WHERE IT IS, AND IT'S NOT REALLY, LIKE I SAY, SURROUNDED BY ANY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND KIND OF THE ONES THAT DO WORK, AND CRESTWOOD JUST STARTED THERE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO ADD MORE RESTAURANTS AND A STAGE AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT'S SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE AND HOUSES.

NOW, THIS ONE, I'M NOT SURE.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU DRIVE UP LUNDBERLINDBERGH, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THERE TOED SOMETHING, AS OPPOSED TO LIVING AROUND THERE.

BUT I CAN'T BE HAD OF THEM.

>> MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, ALVIN REID, HOME OF GREAT CITIES LIKE EDWARDSVILLE AND GRANITE CITY ANDAL TON AND ALTON, THINKING ABOUT PUTTING ON THE BALLOT TO ASK IF THEY WANT TO SECEDE FROM GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S ILLINOIS.

>> EVERY TIME TEXAS AND OTHER SOUTHERN STATES SAY THEY WANT TO SECEDE, I SAY BYE.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SEE YA.

YO..

I HOPE IT PASSES AND I'M GOING TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY LET 'EM GO.

AND IT WOULDN'T BE THREE HOURS BEFORE THEY WERE BEGGING TO COME BACK.

THIS NONSENSE.

>> HAVE FUN WITH THOSE ELEVATED HIGHWAYS.

>> YEAH, YEAH, GUESS WHERE ..

THE WATER IS GOING TO GO.

YOUR BASEMENT IS FIVE FOOT UNDER WATER, DON'T CALL US.

>> I FIND IT IRONIC.

THE RIVERFRONT TIMES RECENTLY DID A STORY WHERE WE INTERVIEWED A WHOLE BUNCH OF ST. LOUISIANS AND SAY WE HAVE TO LEAVE MISSOURI AND MOVE TO ILLINOIS.

THIS IS WHERE WE AGREE WITH THE POLITICS.

AND OVER IN .. ARE GOING TO SECEDE FROM ILLINOIS.

WE A.. CAMPS WHERE SO MUCH OF WHERE YOU LIVE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE IDENTITY AND POLITICS HAVE TO LINE UP.

I LIKE THAT ST. LOUIS IS IN MISSOURI TO TRY TO BE SORT OF A PULL TOWARDS THE ST. LOUIS VALUES ON THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE.

I UNDE.. WOEFULLY, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP TRYING.

AND SHOULDN'T THE EDWARDSVILLE FOLK TRY TO DO THE SAME THING IN SPRINGFIELD?

>> I REMEMBER SUGGESTING THAT ST. LOUIS IS SAFE IN MISSOURI AND WE MAKE THE RIVER MISSOURI THE NEW BOUNDARY AND RENAME ST. LOUIS WESTY ST. LOUIS.

[LAUGHTER].

>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS .. THAT.

>> I SAID OKAY.

I MISSED KIRKWOOD AND ALL THAT, AND WE HAD TWO KIDS.

WE LIVED IN KIRKWOOD AND WE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS AND WEREN'T MOVING ANYWAY.

..

IT WAS JUST MY WIFE AND I WE MOVED BACK, AND ALL OF THIS NONSENSE WAS GOING ON, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED LIVING ON THE ILLINOIS SIDE.

BUT I WOULDN'T SECEDE.

>> IF YOU HAD A VOTE IS SALT LAKE CITY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY THIST.LOUIS ST, STI AND COUNTY.

IT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S SURPRISING THAT THINGS HAVE, AS YOU SAID, GOTTEN SO WEIRD BECAUSE THINGS ARE SO NORMAL EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

[LAUGHTER].

>> WENDY, WHAT ABOUT SAM PAGE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

.. STREETER, THE STREETS DIRECTOR RECENTLY TOOK THE MEDIA ON A TOUR OF THE LAWRENCE RUSE COUNTY BUILDING, AND THEY POINTED OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BUILDING.

THEY..

THE CITY OF CLAYTON TO FIX FIRE EXTINGUISHERS THAT COULD COST $175 MILLION, OTHERWISE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE OUT.

AND SAM PAGE WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON A TAX INCREASE TO VOTERS WOULD APPROVE 550 OR $650 MILLION NEW BUILDING.

AND WE HAVE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT HAVE OFFICE SPACE.

DO YOU THINK THE COUNTY WOULD BE WISER TO FILL THE EXISTING VACANT SPACE IN CLAYTON?

>> WHEN DO POLITICIANS EVER DO THE WISE THING, CHARLIE?

I WOULD LOVE TO THINK THEY WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE AND REPURPOSE SOME OF THESE OLD BUILDINGS AND THAT KIND OF THING, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

HE WANTS 99 OR $100,000 TO EMPLOY MICHAEL KELLY TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENRY ABOUT WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

I LONG..

REMEMBER WHEN EDUCATING OURSELVES, WHEN THAT WAS OUR JOB, RIGHT, THAT WE DIDN'T NEED SOMEONE TO BE HIRED OR PUT ON THE WHOLE TO EXPLAIN HOW IMPORTANT THESE WERE TO US?

>> MCCLELLAN, REID, WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR 80.

>> I COULD MARCH PEOPLE THROUGH A BUILDING THAT'S FALLING DOWN RATHER THAN SAYING WE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER.

ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT IF YOU WORK FOR A COUNTY, I KNOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, BUT THEY ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH EVERYBODY WHO IS WORKING IN THE SAME BUILDING.

I STILL FEEL -- AND I GUESS I'M A DINOSAUR.

I KNOW PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME AND ALL OF THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE PRODUCTION WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALL IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THUS, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT QUITE READY TO, YOU KNOW, FILL IN THE LITTLE YES BOX, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M CLOSER TO THAT THAN NO.

THEY NEEDED A NEW BUILDING.

IT'S TIME FOR A NEW BUILDING.

LET'S PAY FOR A NEW BUILDING.

>> HERE IS THE QUESTION.

IF THEY LET THE CURRENT BUILDING RUN DOWN AND THEY DIDN'T PERFORM THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE FOR YEARS AND JUST LET IT SLIDE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE WARNED 10 YEARS AGO THIS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, THIS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, WHY ARE YOU COMFORTABLE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING KNOWING THEY MAY IGNORE THE MAINTENANCE IN THE NEW ONE?

[APPLAUSE] >> I BELIEVE IN THE STATEMENT.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT ALL FELL APART.

I THINK IT NEEDED A NEW PA.. JOB.

SAYING.

AT.. LET THOSE OF US IN A HOUSE AND SAY HEY, WE HAVE GOT TO GET THAT FIXED, MAYBE IF WE HAD LOOKED UP THERE EVERY DAY WE SAID HEY, THAT'S KIND OF LOOKING.

>> SPEAKING OF MONEY, SARAH FENSKE, SALT LAKE CITY S ST. LOUIS SC HAS A DEAL FOR CUSTOMERS.

YOU CAN BUY A TUMBLER AND USE THAT TUMBLER EVERY TIME YOU INTERRED STADIUM FOR A GAME AND FILL IT UP WITH WATER OR A SODA.

IS THAT A GOOD DEAL?

>> IF YOU LISTEN TO THE RFT READERS, THEY ARE TELLING YOU NO.

THIS DEAL.

APPARENTLY YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING ANY TUMBLER IN IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO USE IT FOR WATER.

TO BE ECO FRIENDLY, DON'T WANT TO CARRY PLASTIC STUFF AND HAVE THE CUP AND FILL IT UP AND THEY SAY YOU CAN'T DO THAT, UNLESS YOU PAY US $80.

I GET YETIS ARE VERY FANCY, AND MY NIECE, THIS IS ALL SHE WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS.

TO ME, THAT SEEMS CRAZY.

$80?

&g..

REALIZE A BOTTLE OF WATER COSTS $10.

HONESTLY WHAT .. COFFEE OUR GRANDPARENTS WOULD HAVE FALLEN OVER.

>> THEY COULD HAVE GONE TO BRAZIL FOR WHAT WE PAY FOR COFFEE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> TEAMS, SPORTS TEAMS, AND ONCE YOU ARE IN THE STADIUM, IT'S A HUSTLE.

YO..

I'M OUT.

.. WATER OR COST OF A SODA.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO 22 GAMES, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET YOUR MONIES WORTH.

HERE IS WHAT I WONDER.

IS THE 2024 TUMBLER STILL GOOD IN 2025?

[APPLAUSE] >> I HAVE A SNEAKY SUSPICION.

>> YOU GAVE THEM AN IDEA.

>> HERE IS THE THING, THOUGH.

IF YOU FILL IT UP WITH SODA, IT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD DEAL.

BUT THE ..

ALTHOUGH THE TEAM DID SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE 9 WATER STATIONS WITH COMPOSTABLE CUPS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TUMBLER TO GET WATER IN THE BLAZING HEAT?

THAT'S NICE, BUT HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO BET YOU HAVE A JANGY CUP AND IT DOESN'T FIT IN THE CUP HOLDER.

>> GOING.. CARDINALS WON A THRILLING GAME.

THE BATTLE HAWKS WON A THRILLING GAME.

TUMBLERS GOT A 0-0 TIE.

THEY HAD BETTER NOT MARK IT THAT.

>.. COAST WERE COVERING THE EXECUTION OF BRIAN DORSEY WHO WAS PUT TO DEATH FOR THE 2006 MURDER OF HIS COUSIN AND HER HUSBAND.

TH.. COURT.

IT WAWHAT'S KIND OF STRANGE ABOUT THIS CASE IS HIS LAWYERS WERE ABLE TO FIND 70 CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS WHO KNEW MR. DORSEY AND SAID HE HAD BEEN REHABILITATED, THAT HE WAS A MODEL PRISONER, CAUSED NO MORE PROBLEMS, WAS CONTRITE AND WAS READY TO LIVE THE NEW LIFE AND LIVING THE NEW LIFE.

THE LAW SAID NOTHING ABOUT THAT AND HE WAS PUT TO DEATH.

DO YOU THINK HIS LIFE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPARED?

>> I HATE TO BE PUT IN THAT SITUATION.

IT'S.. AROUND.

CORI BUSH, CONGRESSWOMAN CORI BUSH, SAID AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE DID, THAT HE WAS IN A STATE OF PSYCHOSIS BECAUSE OF THE DRUGS THAT HE HAD CONSUMED, BUT TWO PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.

IT'S HARD TO SAY OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE DRUNK DRIVER WHO, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN HE'S SOBER, HE'S A SUPER NICE GUY, HE JUST HIT THE SCHOOL BUS.

IT'S AN AWFUL SITUATION.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS, BUT I THINK, LIKE EVERYBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE, EVERYBODY AROUND THE NATION AND PROBABLY BEYOND, WE KIND OF -- IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEATH PENALTY, AND THIS WAS CHILLING.

>> IT'S SO DIFFICULT, BECAUSE YOU ALMOST NEVER EXECUTE THE PERSON YOU CONVICTED.

BECAUSE IT'S 10, 15, SOMETIMES 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, AND PEOPLE CHANGE.

I USED TO BE IN FAVOR OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND WAS A STATE'S WITNESS AT THREE DIFFERENT EXECUTIONS, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE SO UNEVENLY APPLIED THAT I'M NOW MORE JUST LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

>> I'M WITH YOU, BILL.

THE MORE I HAVE READ ABOUT ISSUES SURROUNDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, THE MORE IT SEEMS THAT WE DON'T EXECUTE THAT COLD BLOODED KILLER WHO PLOTS AND WHO ENDS UP SHOOTING 20 PEOPLE.

IT'S OFTEN SOMEBODY WHO IS MENTALLY ILL, DISPROPORTIONATELY, AND IT'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE AS KIDS, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE MOST TERRIBLE UPBRINGING, AND THEY DO THE AWFUL THING.

NOBODY IS ARGUING THAT BRIAN DORSEY DIDN'T DO IT.

BUT YET, DO WE BELIEVE YOU CAN FIND REDEMPTION OR BE BETTER THAN THE WORST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE IN YOUR LIFE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN.

AS A SOCIETY TO NOT GIVE SOMEBODY LIKE BRIAN DORSEY A CHANCE TO LIVE OUT THE REST OF HIS DAYS IN PRISON, I'M DISAPPOINTED IN GOVERNOR PARSON ON THIS.

I WISH.. STAY IN PRISON BUT YOU LIVE.

[APPLAUSE] >> I'M THE OPPOSITE OF BILL.

I WAS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY BUT I CAME TO UNDERSTANDING THIS IS NOT ANYTHING OTHER THAN SOCIETY REALLY WANTS VENGEANCE ON YOU.

I CAME TO GRIPS WITH THAT.

IN THE CASE OF AT THE TIME A MAN WHO KILLED KIRKWOOD POLICE OFFICER, KEVIN JOHNSON, I WROTE A COLUMN SHORTLY AFTER THAT, AND I SAID ULTIMATELY THE STATE IS GOING TO TAKE HIS LIFE.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT LEAD UP TO THAT AND ALL THAT.

ONCE WE FOUND OUT, SOMEBODY WAS NOT GOING TO MAYBE BE PUT TO DEATH.

BEING MADE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

HOWEVER, HE WAS PUT TO DEATH.

THE SAME WITH THIS MAN, TOO.

I JUST THINK, AS WENDY SAID, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION, IT IS BECAUSE YOU MURDERED SOMEBODY.

I JUST CAN'T LOOK AWAY OR SAY THAT YES, THEY BECAME A BETTER PERSON AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES IN PRISON.

..

UNFORTUNATELY YOU ARE BEING JUDGED ON THE ACT THAT YOU DID AT THAT TIME.

I UNDERSTAND IT.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT, TOO.

A LOT OF STATES THAT DON'T HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY AND COUNTRIES THAT DON'T, THEY HAVE A LOT FEWER MURDERS THAN OUR CRAZY STATE, EXCEPT FOR THE MONEY.

I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU ARE GIVING A SCWIE THRE THREE SQUARES THE REST OF HIS LIFE IT COSTS TAXPAYERS MONEY.

I DON'T SEE THE BENEFIT OF KILLING THE FELLA AND WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES THEY DON'T HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY AND THEY BEHAVE BETTER.

>> THEY WOULD BEHAVE BETTER IF THEY HAD A DEATH PENALTY.

>> MAYBE SO.

BILL MCCLELLAN, YOU WERE ONCE THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, WERE YOU NOT?

>> I WAS.

>> FOLLOWING THAT TRADITION OF FINDING A ADMIRABLE HUNK TO DELIVER THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS, ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HAS CHOSEN JON HAMM THE ACTOR FROM ST. LOUIS TO DELIVER THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HAS PICKED ACTRESS JENNIFER COOLIDGE FROM A LOT OF MOVIES.

YOUR OPINIONS ON THESE CHOICES.

>> WHEN I WAS THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, IT WAS BECAUSE THE GUY THAT THEY HAD WAS ABOUT TO GET INDICTED.

[LAUGHTER].

I WR..

HE SAID IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH, WHY DON'T YOU DO IT.

I DID.

AND THEY GAVE ME AN HONORARY BACHELORS DEGREE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A DEGREE, AND FATHER THROUGH IN AN HONORARY MBA.

SO SO ST. FOR ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS A LOCAL ST. LOUIS INSTITUTION, JON HAMM, WHO IS A LOCAL GUY, IS A WONDERFUL CHOICE.

FOR WASHINGT.. IS A NATIONAL INSTITUTION -- AND THESE ARE SUCH TROUBLING TIMES, DEMOCRACY, THE RIGHT DOESN'T TRUST ELECTIONS, AND THE LEFT DOESN'T TRUST THE SUPREME COURT, EVERYTHING IS CRUMBLING, I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A MORE SERIOUS PERSON THAN THE ACTRESS FROM BLUE LOTUS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE IF YOU WERE IN GERMANY IN 1935 AND THE UNIVERSITY DECIDED, WELL, LET'S HAVE SALLY BOWLES TO IT.

SHE WAS THE SINGER IN CABARET, AND THE BERLIN DIARIES.

IT SEEMED LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO IN THOSE TROUBLED WATERS, AND EVEN THEY COULD HAVE GONE WITH SAM ALTMAN FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

HE GREW UP TWO BLOCKS FROM WASH-U.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY THE.. WITH HIM.

BUT I THOUGH GETTING THE PERSON FROM BLUE LOTUS.

>> WHITE LOTUS.

>> GETTING THE WOMAN FROM BLIGHT LOTUS, I THINK GETTING SOMEONE MORE SERIOUS FOR SERIOUS TIMES.

>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

TRY OUT FOR A PLAY.

NEVER MIND THAT STINKING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE YOU ARE GOING TO GET AND ALL OF THAT.

.. TO SAY?

>> I FOUND IT ENTERTAINING.

WHO AMONG US REMEMBERS OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER?

>> JUDGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO DROP NAMES.

.. >> COLLEGE.

>> LAST YEAR A.. WONDER GAVE THE BEST COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS.

HE WAS AN ENTE..

VERY INSPIRING.

>> I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT JENNIFER COOLIDGE AND STAR MAKING AS A AT LIST IN LEGALLY BLIND.

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

I ENJOYED WHITE LOTUS.

I THOUGHT BOTH SEASONS WERE GOOD.

>.. >> NO.

HE WATCHED IT.

>> SHE'S DOING SOME COMMERCIALS RIGHT NOW.

>> HE'S HILARIOUS.

IT MIGHT BE WHAT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW IS LITTLE LAUGHTER.

>> THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE MICROPHONES IN THE AUDIENCE.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE ONE AND ONLY BILL FROM ROCKHILL.

>> GOOD EVENING.

EARLIER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BROWNS OF DOWNTOWN, ABOUT ROUGHLY 54 YEARS AGO THE LAST BAR AND GAS LIGHT SQUARE O'CONNELL'S MOVED OFF AND OFTEN SAID WHAT KILLED THE SQUARE THE PERCEPTION, AND PEOPLE PERCEIVED THE ERR TO BE UNSAFE AND WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT IN THE COUNTRY DIED.

DO YOU THINK A SIMILAR PROBLEM IS HAPPENING DOWNTOWN, THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH A PROBLEM OF PERCEPTION, AND PEOPLE LIKE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THAT'S WHAT THEY SEE WHEN THEY LOOK AT US.

>> I WILL TAKE THAT, BILL.

I THINK WE ARE LIVING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF MICHAEL BROWN.

THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO THIS AUGUST.

TH.. WAS IT MONTHS LATER ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI CAMPUS IN COLUMBIA, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF UPROAR.

I THINK THOSE THINGS LEAVE AN IMPRESSION.

WHEN A YOUNG D..

BOTH LEGS, THESE ARE HEADLINES THAT CAPTURE PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION.

RIGHTLY OR WRO.. AS WE SAID EARLIER, IT'S A CYCLICAL ISSUE.

TIME WILL HEAL THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY OVERNIGHT.

>> I THINK THERE'S HOPE, BECAUSE BEFORE I GOT TO ST. LOUIS, I'M TOLD FOREST PARK WAS A DICEY PLACE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AVOIDED IT.

TODAY FOREST PARK IS APPROACHABLE AND INVITING.

IT HAS A CITY PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

WE WEN..

LOOKING FOR LITTER.

WE COULD BARELY FIND ANY.

HATS OFF TO THE CITY'S PARKS DEPARTMENT.

[APPLA..

I THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

WHO IS THIS?

>> TO ALL OF YOU, YOUR GUYS ARE GREAT.

KEEP ONG.. >> WE WANT TO.

>> ANYWAY, ALL WE WANT TO KNOW IS ALL THE TALKS YOU HAVE EACH PROGRAM, DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO IT?

DO THE PROVOCA.. YOU COME IN COLD TURKEY HOPING YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT?

>> SOME WEEKS I WILL LOOK AT THE SHOW AND THINK DID I JUST WALK IN OFF THE STREET?

WHAT WAS I TALKING ABOUT?

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WE TRADE E-MAILS, AND CHARLIE WILL SEND ONE OUT WITH TOPICS THAT WE MAY TALK ABOUT, AND AS YOU HAD FIGURED OUT PROBABLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE DISAGREEMENT.

SOMETIMES WE SAY WHY DIDN'T YOU TALK ABOUT THIS, WHY DIDN'T YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

WE ARE ALL KIND OF IN AGREEMENT.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF THAT?

WE HAVE LESS DISAGREEMENT NOW THAT RAY IS NOT ON THE SHOW.

>> PROBABLY PRETTY OBVIOUS, BUT I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

[LAUGHTER].

I GO HOME AFTER THE SHOW IN THE OLD DAYS, AND MARY WOULD SAY TO ME, WHY DO YOU ARGUE WITH RAY SO MUCH?

&g.. RAY.

.. ALVIN IS RIGHT.

WE DON'T BROACH A TOPIC UNLESS WE HAVE TWO SIDES OF AN ISSUE.

NOT ONLY IS IT FAIR, BUT CONFLICT IS THE HEART OF DRAMA.

IT'S A RULE THAT MARTIN DUGAN CAME UP WITH.

BUT RAY OFTEN TOOK THE POSITIONS THAT NO ONE ELSE WOULD.

AND HEY, KIM GARDNER IS A GREAT ATTORNEY.

HE WAS T.. AND CERTAINLY ADDED SO MUCH TO THE BROADCAST.

[APPLAUSE] >> WHO'S NEXT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE INDUSTRY OF TRAVEL IS GETTING SO BUSY RIGHT NOW.

INTO YELLOWSTONE ORE OR I DON'T, AND OUT O F ST. LOUIS, YOU CAN GET TO THE BEAUTIFUL MUSEUMS, CHICAGO, DOWN SOUTH TO HOT SPRINGS AND ON AND ON.

CHARLIE AND I BOTH, NOT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ALMOST, WENT DOWN TO KEY WEST, AND WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE.

SO IT ISN'T ALL THE MAJOR PLACES THAT WE SEE ON TELEVISION THAT ARE OUT THERE.

WE DO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST HIGHWAY SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

GET IN YOUR CAR AND GO SEE THE UNITED STATES.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> FORMALLY OF AGAIN TRAVEL WHO HAS BEEN ALL 144 COUNTRIES ON PLANET EARTH.

>> I WENT TO MT.

VERNON.

>> I WENT THERE FOR A COVID SHOT SHOT.

>> DO WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE?

WE DO.

IN THE FRONT ROW.

>> I WAS CURIOUS.

WHEN IS RAY GOING TO GET HIS FRAMED PHOTO OTOTH PHOTO ON THE MAN MENTAL .

>> MEAN MANTEL?

>> MAYBE ON THE FIRST WESDZ IN WEDNESDAY IN NOVEMBER.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION.

HERE WE GO.

USE THIS SPACE FOR NOTES.

>> ONE OF THE PANELISTS DEFENDED THE HOMELESS BILL THAT WAS DEFEATED BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW A QUICK AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE.

CAN ANY OF THE PANELIST NAME THE CITY HAS DONE THAT HAS BEEN QUICK, FOCUSED AND EFFECTIVE?

>> WOULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

DOES.. IS EFFECTIVE?

>> QUICK, FOCUSED AND EFFECTIVE.

>> I THINK THE PARKS ARE GOING REALLY WELL.

AND THEY HAVE A GREAT PARKS DIRECTOR GREG HAYS.

AND I THINK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PRETTY BUTTON DOWN.

I THINK EVERYTHING IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

WE WILL ..

DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING.

>> SAME CAN BE SAID WHERE I LIVE.

FOCUSED AND EFFECTIVE.

>> I WOULD SAY AS A CITY RESIDENT ON THIS PANEL, I HAVE GOT TO THROW THAT IN, PART OF WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN ST. LOUIS IS HOW THE NEIGHBORS WILL COME TOGETHER WITH SOLUTIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL.

WE SAW THAT WITH THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE MURDER SHELL THAT WAS RECENTLY SHUT DOWN.

YOU SEE ALL OVER THE PLACE NEIGHBORS ARE RAISING MONEY TO FIX PROBLEMS, FINDING WAYS TO TACKLE THINGS THAT ARE TROUBLESOME IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

I LOVE IT.

I DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS TRUST OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

BUT I DO TRUST THE PEOPLE OF ST. LOUIS.

&g.. CLEAN -- UP EFFORTS IN APRIL.

ONE AT THE SOUTH CITY WIDE AND ANOTHER IN THE ALLEN DETAIL CLIFF NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND PEOPLES ARE COMING OUT..

DROVES TO PICK UP LITTER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US.

ONE MINUTE TO GO.

DOES NINEVEH BRIEF FINAL COMMENT?

FR.. >> HOW DO YOU SURVIVE IN ST. LOUIS BEING A CUBS FAN?

>> THE QUESTION IS HOW, BILL, DO YOU SURVIVE IN ST. LOUIS BEING A CUBS FAN?

>> THE CUBS HAD AN 8-0 LEAD THE OTHER DAY, AND I WENT TO BED AND WOKE UP AND THEY LOST 9-8, BUT I THOUGHT IT WASN'T FAIR TO MAKE THE CUBS PLAY ON THE DAY OF A SOLAR ECLIPSE.

BAD THINGS HAPPEN.

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE BEING A GIANTS FAN?

>> OH!

>> THAT'S ALL THE TI.. FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

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