>> DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THIS EDITION OF "DONNYBROOK."

HOT OF HOT TOPICS.

LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS.

SARAH FINSKY.

BILL McCLELLAN FROM ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH.

ST. LOUIS IN THE KNOW, RAY HARTMAN.

AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, ALVIN REID.

LOT OF ST. LOUIS ON THIS EDITION.

BILL, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

IT WAS A WEEK AGO, TRAGICALLY WE LOST A FIREFIGHTER IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

HE WAS IN A HOUSE ON COTE BRILLIANTE THAT WAS CONDEMNED.

PEOPLE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.

IT WAS DEMOLISHED THE DAY AFTER FIREFIGHTER PAULSON'S TRAGIC DEATH.

SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S 10,000 VACANT PROPERTIES IN ST. LOUIS.

DETROIT HAS DEMOLISHED 20,000 PROPERTIES SINCE 2014.

ST. LOUIS DEMOLISHES 500.

DO WE NEED TO GET ON THE BALL AND START TEARING DOWN THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE DANGEROUS?

>> I DO.

THIS HAS BEEN A BATTLE EVER SINCE I GOT HERE.

THE PRESERVATIONIST WHO ARGUE THAT TEARING DOWN BUILDING WHOLESALE, THE CITY LOSES ITS SOUL.

VERSUS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO SAY, THIS BUILDING IS READY TO FALL DOWN.

THE BUILDING SEEM TO REACH A POINT WHERE IT'S PROHIBITIVELYIVELY EXPENSIVE TO RENOVATE IT.

IT'S CHEAPER TO TEAR DOWN.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE LOT OF BUILDINGS WE SHOULD BE KNOCKING THEM DOWN.

>> I GOT TO ARGUE WITH THIS.

YOU KNOW I LIVE IN THE LAFAYETTE SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PEOPLE TAKEN THE SAME ATTITUDE BACK IN THE '60s, WHERE WOULD THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BE TODAY?

IT'S ALL THESE WONDERFUL HOMES FROM THE 1880s.

THEY BROUGHT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BACK.

THERE ARE MAJOR EFFORTS TO TACKLE THE CITY'S VACANCY PROBLEM.

WHILE I NEVER WANT A HOUSE THAT IS COMPLETELY BEYOND THE BOUNDS AND PARISH IN IT, I FEEL THEY ARE TAKING STRIDES TO DEAL WITH THAT BACKLOG OF VACANCIES THEY HAVE.

WE GOT TO GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO DO THAT.

>> I HOPE SO, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG.

SOME OF THE BUILDINGS, THEY HAVE AN ENTIRE WALL GONE.

OUTSIDE WALL.

PEOPLE IN CONSTRUCTION TELL ME, YOU CAN'T SPEND ENOUGH MONEY TO PROP IT UP.

>> I AGREE.

THE ONES THAT CAN'T BE PROPPED UP, THOSE NEED TO COME DOWN.

THE SITUATION IN COTE BRILLIANTE.

THEY WERE WORRIED POSSIBLY SOME HOMELESS PEOPLE WERE LIVING THERE.

THERE WERE SOME BARS ON THE WINDOWS.

EVEN IF YOU TARGETED THE WORST ONES, YOU WILL NOT GET THE HOUSE WHERE THIS TRAGEDY MIGHT HAPPEN.

>> IT'S DANGEROUS TO GENERALIZE.

I SAW DOWNTOWN WITH COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, THEY ALWAYS ARGUE THAT IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO REN IT.

MOST OF THE TIME IT IS.

I'M NOT SAYING IN THIS CASE.

THE PRESERVATIONISTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE.

DEVELOPERS ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD NEW.

WE LOST THE GATEWAY MALL, WHICH WAS THE LIGHT ELEPHANT.

WE WE LOST THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDINGS.

THREE GREAT ACTIVE BUILDINGS IN THE 1980s ON THE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

THAT SAID, THINK THE CITY REALLY -- YOU MAY KNOW MORE THAN I DO -- IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.

THE CITY HAS BEEN BY FAR THE LARGEST OWNER OF VACANT PROPERTIES.

YOU CAN'T ASSUME JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE OLD AND HISTORIC, THAT THEY ARE VIABLE.

I DON'T SEE, MAY BE THEY CAN FIX IT.

>> I THINK THE CITY GIVEN A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH.

TO RENOVATE THESE BUILDINGS IS EXPENSE I AND TALK IS CHEAP.

IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY SAY, I'M HEARING THIS.

YOU GOT GOOD THOUGHTS, I'M NOT SEEING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE INDIVIDUAL.

>> IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT.

LATER TODAY, "NEXT UP" WE'LL TALK TO THE DOWNTOWN ATTORNEY WHO WROTE THE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT LEGISLATION FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

>> I AGREE WITH SARAH.

WE'VE ALREADY TORN DOWN SO MUCH OUR HERITAGE.

CHUCK BERRY BOYHOOD HOME.

5135 KENSINGTON BUILDING INSPIRED MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, TORN DOWN.

YET, AS ST. LOUIS WE GO TO THE AIRPORT, WE GO TO PHILADELPHIA TO LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL OLD ARCHITECTURE WHICH IS LOT ORLANDO THAN THE ARCHITECTURE THAT WE HAVE.

>> BUT, LET'S BE HONEST.

WHERE ARE THESE BUILDINGS AT?

THEY ARE NORTH SIDE.

YOU WAITING TO TRANSFORM AN ENTIRE PART OF THE CITY.

THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE PEOPLE WANT TO MAY BE DO SOMETHING WITH THESE BUILDINGS.

THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE, GETTING IT TOGETHER AND IF HOUSES HAVE TO BE SACRIFICES EVEN HISTORIC, HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> THEY HAVE TAKEN DOWN SOME HOUSES.

LYDA KREWSON HAD A NUMBER OF THEM THAT WERE DEMOLISHED.

THERE'S YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTH ST. LOUIS HAVE STEPPED.

WE HAVE THIS PROP THAT WAS PASSED FOUR YEARS AGO, SMALL POOL OF MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE.

THERE'S COUPLE OF OTHER PROGRAMS YOU CAN TAKE CHARGE OF THE ONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

GET YOUR HAND ON THESE THINGS.

PEOPLE ARE DOING IT.

>> SPEAKING OF TEARING THINGS DOWN, LAST WEEK, WE TALKED TO RONDA THE AIRPORT DIRECTOR ON NEXT UP.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEW PROPOSAL FOR LAMBERT.

GET RID OF THE EAST TERMINAL, COMBINE ALL THOSE GATES WITH THE WESTERN OR THE TERMINAL ONE.

THERE WILL BE 62 GATES AND NEW PARKING.

IT'S A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD RECONFIGURE THE AIRPORT.

DO YOU THINK IT GOES FAR ENOUGH?

>> NO.

LET'S START OVER.

I THOUGHT WE GOT A FREE KIND OF START.

WE COULD HAVE GOT SOME INSURANCE MONEY WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WHEN THE TORNADO SLAMMED INTO IT.

I THINK THAT WAS THE CHANCE.

THIS IS ANOTHER CHANCE.

YOU GOT MONEY COMING IN.

LET'S REDO OUR AIRPORT.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

OTHER CITIES DO THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THE AIRPORT?

>> FUNCTIONAL IS OKAY.

THAT'S WHERE ST. LOUIS IS FUNCTIONAL.

IT'S OKAY.

>> LET'S STEP UP THE GAME AND START WITH THE AIRPORT.

>> THE AIRPORT IS DISAPPOINTING TO PEOPLE.

BECAUSE IT IS SHELL WHAT IT WAS WHEN WE WERE A HUB.

OUR TRAFFIC AT OUR -- THE REVENUES -- THEY'RE NOT DOWN BECAUSE OF ANY DEFICIENCY IN THE AIRPORT.

IT'S BECAUSE WE LOST OUR HUB.

WE'VE GOT OTHER ECONOMIC -- WE LOST SO MANY HEADQUARTERS WHICH ARE A BIG FACTOR IN THIS.

NO, THE FOOTBALL TEAM IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

SERIOUSLY, THE AIRPORT DISAPPOINTS PEOPLE.

IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT THOSE WHO CAN REMEMBER, FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES A GHOST TOWN, THE FACT IS, RONDA, HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB.

IT IS A VERY FUNCTIONAL.

IT IS A DECENTLY RUN EFFICIENT AIRPORT.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRPORT.

WE NEED MORE TRAFFIC.

>> LET'S SPEND SOME MONEY.

WE GOT A BUNCH OF MONEY.

>> WE GOT THE MONEY.

>> ALVIN SAID, THE AIRPORT IS FUNCTIONAL.

THERE'S FEW THINGS IN ST. LOUIS THAT'S FUNCTIONAL.

>> THAT'S OUR FRONT DOOR.

THIS IS WHAT WE PRESENT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ST. LOUIS.

FIRST IMPRESSION, OKAY, IS THAT LIKE, MAN, THIS IS 1924.

EISENHOWER GOING TO WALK THROUGH HERE.

>> FOR THE VISITORS, WE SHOULD PICK UP THE LITTER ON HIGHWAY 70.

>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOU, YOU ANCHORED KWMU STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR MIKE PARSONS YESTERDAY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I DIDN'T BRING MANY THOUGHTS TO THIS BROADCAST.

I GOT TO INTERVIEW THE VETERAN POLITICAL REPORTER IN TOWN.

SHE HAD LOT OF INTERESTING INSIGHTS.

I GOT TO LISTEN TO MIKE PARSONS SPEECH.

HE PRESENTED LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT IS HARD TO ARGUE WITH.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS LARGELY BEING PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS.

$400 MILLION FOR BROADBAND.

WHO'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WHAT JOE POINTED OUT, HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES TO MISSOURI'S BUDGET AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IT STATE.

WHICH IS MEDICAID IS EXPANDING.

DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS IS A GOOD THING.

DIDN'T TALK ABOUT TRYING TO STOP IT.

HE KIND OF STUCK TO THE THING WHAT HE KNEW PEOPLE COULD AGREE WITH.

>> SORRY, I MISSED IT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU LEARN A LOT MORE LISTENING TO JOE'S COMMENTARY ABOUT SPEECH MR. MIKE PARSON GIVES.

I SAW A HEADLINE THAT MIKE PARSON STILL AGAINST MASK MANDATES OR SOMETHING.

DOES MIKE PARSON HAVE ANY POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS?

>> YOU'RE NOT FAIR TO THE GUY.

>> WHAT IS HE DOING ABOUT COVID?

>> I'M NOT A FAN MANY OF THE PLANS OF THE GOVERNOR.

HE WILL PUT $3.6 BILLION INTO K-12.

HE'S GOING TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS.

HE'S GOT HUNDRED FOR HOSPITALS.

>> THEY CAME INTO ALL THIS MONEY.

GOOD FOR HIM.

HE'S ALSO GOING TO STILL WANT TO CUT SOME TAXES, I BET.

>> YOU RECENTLY SAID THAT YOU THOUGHT THE NFL SETTLEMENT OR THE FEDERAL MONEY COMING TO ST. LOUIS SHOULD BE DIVIDED UP AND GIVEN TO EVERYBODY.

>> I LIKE THAT.

>> EVERYTHING HE SAID, THERE'S LOT OF THING YOU AGREE WITH.

>> I'M SAYING I WILL LISTEN TO JOE MANUS OVER PARSONS.

I UNDERSTAND -- I'M SURE HE STAYED AWAY FROM MEDICAID BECAUSE THE RIGHT WING OF HIS PARTY.

CODY SMITH, WANTS TO GO AFTER IT AGAIN.

THEY WANT TO PUT ANOTHER RED MEAT -- >> THE HEADLINE, THIS STAY AT A $7 BILLION SURPLUS.

WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THAT YET.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED?

>> I HAD $750 SURPLUS WHEN THEY SENT MY STIMULUS CHECK.

I DON'T EVEN COUNT THAT.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT MISSOURI HAS GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

>> PROBABLY BULLDOZERS.

>> NO IT'S COVID.

TO NOT MENTION COVID AND NOT MENTION THAT, I DECLARED MY STATE, THERE'S NO EMERGENCY HERE.

EVERY HOSPITAL IS JAM PACKED.

>> IN FAIRNESS, HE DID MENTION COVID.

HE VERY MUCH TREATED THE PANDEMIC AS IF IT WAS IN THE PAST TENSE.

>> HE CANCELED IT.

>> OVERFLOWING HOSPITALS DIDN'T GET THE MEMO >> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THIS IS WHERE HIS BIG FAULT IS.

THIS WEEK THE PANDEMIC TASK FORCE SAID NEEDS FEDERAL HELP TO STAFF THE HOSPITALS.

THE REASON IT NEEDS FEDERAL HELP, ON DECEMBER 31st, HE ENDED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

>> YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, HE'S TALKING TO MISSOURI.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO REELECTED HIM OVER NICOLE GALLAWAY THAT HE DID NOTHING ABOUT COVID.

PEOPLE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

IT'S JUST LIKE MEDICAID EXPANSION.

YOU THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST WILL BE FOR IT.

THEY ARE OFTEN AGAINST IT.

>> RAY HARTMAN I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WESLEY BELL ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT.

WATCHDOG, MR. ALLTON HAS ABOUT NINE SIDE HUSTLES.

HE'S A PROSECUTOR IN PAGEDALE.

DO YOU THINK THAT CHIEF OF STAFF SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME ON THE SIDE TO BE PROSECUTING CASES AND ALL THESE NORTH COUNTY COMMUNITIES?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT SOMEBODY THAT'S DOING PRIVATE PRACTICE THAT'S PART OF ESTABLISHED PRACTICE IN THAT OFFICE OVER THE YEARS.

YOU CALL EACH CLIENT THAT PERSON'S A SIDE HUSTLE.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE.

I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD CASE THAT SOMEONE SITTING IN THAT OFFICE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD CASE.

YOU GOT TO MAKE IT PROSPECTIVE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE PAST PRACTICE UNDER PREVIOUS PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS HAS BEEN SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE CAN REPRESENT A CITY AND A TRAFFIC COURT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IF THAT'S THE PRACTICE, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BRING IT UP AS SOME KIND OF SCANDAL NOW.

YOU CAN ARGUE THAT IT SHOULD CHANGE.

I THINK IT'S FAIR -- I DO THINK -- IT'S A DIFFERENT THING.

THE COUNTY CHARTER, VERY CLEARLY SUGGEST THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS A FULL-TIME OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT, POSITION.

I CALL IT IT SIDE HUSTLE, ONE.

BUT THE POINT IS, I SAY THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION WHERE IT WAS ESTABLISHED, YOU DON'T TO THIS AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S A -- IT'S A PRECEDENT THAT'S BEEN SET BEFORE.

>> WHAT'S TROUBLING WHAT TOM SULLIVAN WROTE IS HE HAS HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE.

I LIKE SAM ALTON A LOT.

YOU CAN BE THE NIGHT COURT ATTORNEY OUT HERE OR OVER THERE.

IF YOU HAVE A PRIVATE PRACTICE WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT COME IN AND TALK TO YOU, THAT'S A VERY BAD IDEA.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO SAM ALTON.

I DON'T KNOW TOM SULLIVAN'S REPORT IS COMPLETELY ACCURATE.

THERE >> IT SEEM LIKE POSSIBILITY OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

PROSECUTOR'S POWER IS SO POWERFUL.

THAT MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> FOR ONE, I HAD BEEN TO LOT OF SESSIONS IN VANITA PARK.

AS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

DOING THEM IN THIS COURT, IT'S LITERALLY LIKE PLAYING SOFTBALL.

>> I THINK WHAT WE LEARNED THROUGH FERGUSON IS THAT WHILE MUNICIPAL COURT MAY SEEM SMALL POTATOES FOR THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, PEOPLE'S LYRES -- LIVES ARE CHANGED BY $1000 FINE.

OR BEING TOLD THEY HAVE TO PAY THIS $40 COURT FEE.

COURTS HAVE HUGE POWER.

IT SHOULD GET SOMEBODY'S FULL-TIME ATTENTION.

CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR, THAT SHOULD HAVE FULL-TIME ATTENTION.

THIS GOES BACK TO WE HAVE TOO MANY MUNICIPALITIES.

>> THAT'S CLEAR.

>> I THINK THAT SAM PAGE SHOULD HAVE HIS SIDE HUSTLE.

THE EXPERIENCE HE HAS IS AN IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE.

IF SAM ALTON CAN WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK, IF CAN DO THAT FOR WESLEY BELL AND ON THE SIDE IF HE WANTS TO MOON LIGHT, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

>> SAM ALTON -- >> WE GOT TO GET TO BILL -- TIM FITCH.

HE'S ENTITLED A $80,000 A YEAR PENSION.

IT'S BEEN DENIED TO HIM BY COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

NOW HE'S SUING.

HE WANTS $250,000 IN BACK PAY.

I THINK HE SHOULD GET HIS PENSION.

>> I HAVE TO CONFESS MY OWN SIDE HUSTLE.

I RETIRED FROM THE POST DISPATCH AND AM NOW ON PENSION.

I WISH IT WERE AN $85,000 PENSION.

I WAS REHIRED AS A PART-TIMER TO WRITE ONE COLUMN A WEEK.

I'M DOING EXACTLY WHAT TIM PITCH -- FITCH WANTS TO DO.

>> LIKE RAY SAID, THE RULES ARE WRITTEN LIKE THEY ARE.

SAM PAGE CAN'T BE IN HIS OTHER SIDE MEDICAL GIG.

I WAS AGAINST THIS NOW.

YOU KNEW THIS WHEN YOU CAME BACK AND SAID I WANT TO BE A PLAYER.

YOU KNEW WHAT THE RULES WERE.

NOW I SAID, LIKE, I WANT THIS AND MY BACK PAY OR BACK PENSION OR WHATEVER.

NO, YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE SIGNING ON FOR WHEN YOU RAN FOR THIS OFFICE.

WHEN YOU WON AND NOW YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO GET YOUR MONEY UNTIL IT'S OVER.

>> I'M SURE THAT THE COUNSELS ARE AGAINST HIM.

THEY TRYING TO GET A BIG RAISE.

THIS IS REALLY FULL-TIME WORK.

HERE'S TIM ARGUING HE SHOULD GET HIS PENSION BECAUSE IT'S HIS PART-TIME WORK.

>> SORRY, WE'RE PAYING HIM $20,000.

I THINK WE HAVE ESTABLISHED $20,000 FOR COUNTY COUNSEL PERSON.

THEY ARE BEING PAID FOR PART-TIME WORK.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD ARGUE THAT.

I THINK McCLELLAN'S SCANDAL IS BIGGER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I DO TOO.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

I THINK HE SHOULD GET IT.

$20,000, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE A FULL-TIME JOB.

I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF -- I THINK THEY SHOULD GET A RAISE.

I THINK THEY SHOULD GET MAY BE A STAIR STEP RAISE OF $5000 A YEAR FOR A FEW YEARS OR WHATEVER.

EVENT IF IT WAS 30, IT WOULD BE PART-TIME.

ALVIN REID STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM BALL WIN, RAISED MORE MONEY IN THE 4th QUARTER LAST YEAR IN HIS UPCOMING RACE FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS A REPUBLICAN THAN SAM PAGE THE INCUMBENT.

THE CHALLENGER RAISED $8000 MORE THAN THE INCUMBENT.

>> I SAID IT'S BIG NEWS.

I READ THE AMOUNT TOTALS AND LIKE, IT'S KIND OF NEWS.

THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO, KIND OF LIKE, OKAY.

I'LL GIVE THE REPUBLICAN POSSIBLE CANDIDATE HIS NOD.

IT MENS PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WHO HE IS.

THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO JUMP IN THE FRAY NOW EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTION IS PRETTY FAR AWAY.

I'LL GIVE HIM HIS NOD.

ALL THAT NEWS PROBABLY CAUSED SOMEBODY WRITE CHECK FOR $100,000 FOR SAM PAGE.

>> MONEY BEGETS MONEY.

THIS REALLY HELPS HIM.

HE'S GOT AN UPHILL BATTLE AS AN REPUBLICAN.

HE PUT HIMSELF AS OKAY, I'M THE GUY WHO CAN TAKE ON SAM PAGE >> THE REASON WHY SOMEBODY WRITES THAT 100K CHECK IS OPTICS.

FOR NOW, GOOD JOB.

MR.

I THINK HE CAN WIN.

>> I DON'T.

>> I THINK IT SHOWS SOME ORGANIC STRENGTH EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE NOT -- SOME OF THEM SMALLER AND SOME LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PEOPLE.

I THINK HE HAS -- HE WAS ON MY SHOW THIS WEEK.

HE MADE THE POINT, HE'S GOT BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL THAN SAME PAGE DOES.

I DISAGREE WITH HIM ON LOT OF STUFF.

I THINK HE DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS GUY'S CANDIDACY.

HE REALLY HAS -- I THINK SAM PAGE HAS A LOT OF VULNERABILITY.

I THINK THIS NEWS, IT MAY BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, DEMONSTRATES HE'S GOT SOME ORGANIC SUPPORT.

>> I VOTED FOR RICK STREAM.

IT WAS ANYBODY.

SAME THEORY, I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE AS -- >> I'M SAYING, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE.

>> YOU'RE THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPUBLICAN RUNNING BUT THAT DON'T HAPPEN EVERYDAY.

>> PEOPLE AREN'T IMPRESSED TO VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN AS THEY WERE -- >> YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.

>> GOOD THINGS HAPPEN FOR PEOPLE AT NINE PBS.

CASEY NOLAN HE AND ABBY LLORICO ARE GETTING MARRIED AND MOVING OUT TO WASHINGTON D.C. HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT EVERYDAY.

>> IT'S A GREAT PROMOTION FOR A GUY THAT DESERVES WELL.

CASEY HAS EARNED GOOD REPUTATION BEING A GOOD POLITICAL REPORTER.

BEEN HERE SINCE 2007.

IT REALLY SHOWS HIS WORK, WE'LL MISS HIM.

>> SHE'S AN AWARD WINNING PODCASTER WHO'S HAD LOT OF SUCCESS IN ST. LOUIS.

WE WISH THEM THE BEST.

>> I SAY IT WAS BEST THAN OBSTACLES.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT STORY.

THE FACT THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED.

HE'S A GREAT GUY.

>> HE'S A NICE GUY.

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

BRIAN WROTE, AS A ST. LOUIS COUNTY RESIDENT HAS TO PAY THE EARNINGS TAX, DOES THAT MEAN WE GET A SAY HOW IT'S SPENT?

OTHERWISE IT'S TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION WHICH MAKES THE EARNINGS TAX UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WE HEARD FROM OMAR LEE WHO TWEETED, REGARDING THE AFGHAN REFUGEES MY ONLY CONCERN IS THEY BE PLACED WITH SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH EASY ACCESS TO JOBS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

#DONNYBROOK STL.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON APPLE PLAY GOOGLE PLAY.

WE'LL TALK TO JERRY SLIT KERR ABOUT AFGHAN REFUGEES.

THAT'S NEXT UP.