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

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

BREAKING NEWS REGARDING THE BASEBALL LOCKOUT.

WE'LL GET TO THAT, BUT FIRST, LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS, STARTING WITH WENDY WIESE, THE MEDIA VETERAN AND COHOST OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW ON KTRS.

MR. BILL McCLELLAN, ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS FROM STL TOYED.COM AND -- STL TODAY.COM AND YOUR ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, RAY HARTMANN FROM RIVERFRONT TIMES, RAWSTORY.COM AND KTRS AND THIS PAST WEEK HE WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE URBAN LEAGUE'S 2022 OUTSTANDING MERIT AWARD, ALONG WITH RUTH EZELL FROM NINE PBS.

ALVIN REID, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WELL DONE, YOU.

>> RUTH WAS DESERVING.

>> WE KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE A SUPERSTAR.

WHY DON'T WE START WITH YOU, YOUR OPINIONS ON THE LOCKOUT.

LIKES THE BASEBALL SEASON FOR THE CARDINALS WITH START AT HOME ON THE 7th OF APRIL, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

OVERALL, WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR NEXT TIME?

>> WELL, NEXT TIME, OKAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOCK THE PLAYERS OUT ON DECEMBER 1st, JUST ANNOUNCE WE'RE NOT COMING BACK UNTIL JANUARY 5th AND THEN AFTER JANUARY 5th, WE'RE NOT COMING OUT OF THE ROOM UNTIL WE GET A SETTLEMENT.

THE ONLY REASON THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE SEASON WERE JEOPARDIZED IS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING AND THAT'S JUST SILLY TO ME, BUT WHO AM I TO SAY.

THE CUBS SERIES WON'T BE MADE UP.

>> AT THE OPENING DAY, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PLAY THE OLD BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD SONG, NOBODY'S RIGHT IF EVERYBODY'S WRONG.

IT'S A POX ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES, BUT FORTUNATELY, THERE WILL BE A BASEBALL SEASON.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE GOT THE DESIGNATED -- I HATE TO BE DOWN.

>> I'M DOWN ON THAT PART OF IT.

>> THE DESIGNATED HITTER, I DON'T LIKE THAT, AND EXPANDED PLAYOFFS, MAKING IT MORE LIKE HOCKEY AND LESS LIKE THE DAYS WHEN THERE WERE PENNANT WINNERS THAT PLAYED THE WORLD SERIES.

YOU'RE A TRADITIONALIST.

>> I DON'T LIKE IT.

>> BILL, I THOUGHT GIVEN ALL THE EVENTS IN THE WORLD, IT SEEMED LIKE THE BASEBALL LOCKOUT WAS RATHER TRIVIAL THIS YEAR.

I NOTICE YOU'RE WEARING A BLUE AND YELLOW SHIRT.

IS IT IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE?

>> NO, IT'S THE FIRST SHIRT I GRABBED.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS PURPOSEFUL.

>> I GOT A PINK ELEPHANT IN MY SHIRT.

NOTHING INTENTIONAL.

>> HAVING SAID THAT, REPRESENTATIVE ANN WAGNER IS IN FAVOR OF ILLUMINE NATING THE GATEWAY AFTERNOON BLUE AND YELLOW AND AS IT TURNS OUT, AN ACT OF CONGRESS IS REQUIRED TO GET THAT DONE.

MEANWHILE, CORI BUSH IS ONE OF 17 OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS, WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BAN ON THE IMPORTING OF RUSSIAN OIL.

ANY THOUGHTS ON EITHER OF THOSE MOVES?

>> SURE, ON CORI BUSH FIRST, IT'S VERY TYPICAL OF CORI BUSH, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE SYMBOLISM ON HER PART, YOU KNOW.

IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE PRICE OF OIL AT ALL, BUT IT'S A SYMBOL AND I GET TIRED OF THESE SYMBOLS AND ON ANN WAGNER AND THE REST OF THE MISSOURI DELEGATION SUPPORTING THESE LIGHTS AND UKRAINE, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT CONGRESS VOTED TO GIVE ARMS TO UKRAINE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID NO, HE WANTED TO MAKE A DEAL WITH ZELENSKYY FIRST, AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANN WAGNER UPSET ABOUT THAT.

MORE RECENTLY WHEN ANN WAGNER STOOD UP FOR MARGARET GREEN TAYLOR -- >> MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE.

>> MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, RIGHT.

>> AND SAID AFTER MS. GREENE'S TWEET SURFACED IN WHICH SHE SAID THAT THE JEWS CAUSED WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA FOR PROFIT AND MRS. SAID, WELL, SHE'S GOING TO SUPPORT HER BUT KEEP AN EYE ON HER, I THOUGHT THAT'S RIDICULOUS AND JUST A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, MS. GREENE WENT TO THE AMERICA FIRST POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE WHICH IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUP WHERE THEY WERE CHANTING PUTIN, PUTIN, PUTIN!

I'M ALWAYS SAYING YOU CAN'T BLAME LAWYERS FOR WHO THEY DEFEND, BUT I THINK YOU CAN HOLD POLITICIANS LIABLE FOR WHO THEY SUPPORT.

IF MRS. WAGNER WANTS TO SUPPORT MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, I JUST HOPE UKRAINE ISN'T FOOLED.

OUR DELEGATION SUPPORTS UKRAINE UNLESS IT'S POLITICALLY DIFFICULT, AND THEN WE DON'T.

>> AND THERE WERE -- >> I AGREE.

SO WELL SAID, BUT -- REALLY WELL SAID AND I WOULD ADD TO IT THAT RECENTLY THERE WERE A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER -- IT WASN'T CHENEY OR ADAM -- OH MAN.

KIN ZINGER, BUT IT WAS A COUPLE OF NEW REPUBLICANS WHO STOOD UP AND SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF OIL.

WE UNDERSTAND, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD THAT AGAINST BIDEN AND IT WASN'T SO MUCH KUMBAYA.

THEY WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR AMERICANS.

IF ANN WAGNER -- I WOULD LOVE IT, DECENT PERSON, IF SHE WOULD GET UP AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'D BE THE FIRST TO WANT TO CHEER HER, BUT UNTIL ANYONE IN POLITICS IS WILLING TO START SHOWING SOME UNITY AS AMERICANS FIRST AND POLITICIANS SECOND WHEN IT COMES TO THIS WAR -- ON EITHER SIDE.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY GOT TO LOVE JOE BIDEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, EVERYTHING WANTING TO COME TOGETHER TO LIGHT UP THE ARCH IS JUST SO MEANINGLESS.

>> BUT RAY, IT WAS CORI BUSH WHO VOTED AGAINST GIED.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE UNITY.

>> NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT -- I AGREE.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

I'M SAYING SAME WITH HER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY DIFFERENT FOR HER.

>> I'M LIKE A BROKEN RECORD WITH CORI BUSH.

SHE'S SINCERE WITHOUT BEING SERIOUS AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE, YOU GO, OH COREY.

>> BUT WE'VE ALL -- THOSE OF US IN THE RADIO AND I'M SURE THOSE OF YOU IN PRINT WHO HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOVED ONES IN UKRAINE AND THEY SAY THAT ALL OF THE SYMBOLISM IS ACTUALLY -- IT'S DEEPLY MEANINGFUL FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

>> OH SURE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, BUT FURTHER, I HOPE I NEVER GET ON YOUR BAD SIDE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ELOQUENT, ELOQUENT, RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

>> THE NIGHT IS YOUNG.

>> RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

>> YOU'RE NOT ON MY BAD SIDE.

>> BY THE WAY -- AND SECOND, I THINK, LISTEN, I THINK FOR ANN WAGNER, FOR ALL THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIGHTS ON THE ARCH AND IF WE CALLED CORI BUSH AND ANN WAGNER UP AND SAID, HEY, IT'S BETWEEN ONE OF YOU TWO TO FLIP THE SWITCH, THEY'D BE KNOCKING EACH OTHER DOWN TRYING TO GET TOWN THERE.

>> YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

>> THERE'S JUST A LOT OF SYMBOLISM.

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO SUGGEST NA.

>> ANOTHER TOPIC, HE'LL GO TO YOU, WENDY WIESE, JOE VACCARO, A MEMBER OF THE ST. LOUIS BOARD OF ALDER MEN AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHICH OVERSEES POLICE AND FIRE AND AMBULANCES, ETCETERA, I DON'T THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK, BUT HE WAS PULLED OVER FOR GOING 76 IN A 60 ON 44 BY A POLICE OFFICER, AND HE WENT TO THE PRESS, MY SHOW, PERHAPS YOURS AND RAY, AND HE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER BEING KIND OF RUDE AND COUGHING ON HIM.

WELL, AT THAT TIME, EVERYONE SAID LET'S SEE THE VIDEO.

IF THERE WAS A BODY CAMERA, AND THERE WAS.

AND IT WAS RELEASED, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE RESPONDING OFFICER WASN'T RUDE.

HE WASN'T WEARING AN N95 MASK, WHICH I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

HE DID A COUPLE -- JOE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AFTER HE WAS PULLED OVER, WHICH IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT, ROOKIE ERROR.

YOU'RE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, YOU DON'T GET OUT AND WALK TOWARD THE VEHICLE.

BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CONCERNED ME.

ONE WAS HE DID PRODUCE HIS INSURANCE AND HE WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR NOT HAVING INSURANCE AFTER FIRST BEING UNABLE TO FIND IT, AND THE RESPONDING OFFICER SAID, WELL, JUST TELL THAT TO THE JUDGE.

THEN WE LATER FOUND OUT FROM KMOV THAT THE SPEEDING TICKET WAS REDUCED TO EXCESSIVE NOISE.

SO HE PAID A $207 FINE.

WHO WAS RIGHT, WHO WAS WRONG?

THE ST. LOUIS POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION WANTS JOE TO RESIGN HIS SEAT ON THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

>> SO DOES THE ETHICAL SOCIETY.

>> THEY WANT HIM TO RESIGN FROM THE COMMITTEE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, AND WHEN YOU DO HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER YOUR WATCH, AS HE DOES ON THAT COMMITTEE, THEN I THINK IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT HE SHOULD EITHER HAVE SOME KIND OF A MOMENT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE TWO UNIONS AND CHIEF HAYDEN AND IRON ALL OF THIS OUT, OR HE SHOULD RESIGN.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE SHOULD RESIGN FROM THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

WHEN HE SAID INITIALLY THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, POLITICS OR POLITICAL STATURE, THEN WHY DID YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS AN ALDERMAN TO THE POLICE OFFICER?

AND AS FAR AS TAKING -- YOU KNOW, TAKING TOO LONG TO PRODUCE YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION, I THINK THAT STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I MEAN, AS ODD AS THAT SOUNDS BECAUSE THEY'RE POLICE OFFICERS, I KNOW THEY'RE TRAINED, BUT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ALDERMAN'S SAFETY, I'M SURE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS OWN SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T GOING TO STAND THERE WHILE THE ALDERMAN TRIED TO FIND HIS INSURANCE.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF A MESS, AND I DO THINK HE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER LEAVING THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

>> HE SHOULD DEFINITELY RESIGN FROM THE CHAIRMANSHIP.

I MEAN, HE -- THAT IS NO -- PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HE BROUGHT THIS UP.

I MEAN, HE DECIDED TO GO TO THE PRESS AND MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF THIS.

I SAW, FROM WATCHING THE VIDEO, I DON'T THINK THE COP DID ANYTHING WRONG.

>> NO.

>> HE DID NOTHING WRONG THAT YOU CAN SEE.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE CERTAINLY IN THE VIDEO THAT I DID WAS COUGHING ON HIM OR ANY OF THIS STUFF.

THE OFFICER DID THE RIGHT THING.

THE THING ABOUT THE INSURANCE CARD IS PROCEDURE.

IF YOU CAN'T AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCE IT, THAT'S A STANDARD PROCEDURE, YOU DON'T HAVE IT, YOU GO TO THE THING, NO HARM, NO FOUL.

>> HE DID HAVE IT, BUT -- >> BUT HE DID PRODUCE IT IMMEDIATELY.

>> HE DIDN'T -- >> IT WAS A TIMELY FASHION.

>> WHAT THE OFFICER SHOULD HAVE DONE, HE SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN "VOID" ON IT AND TAKEN IT TO HIS SUPERIOR -- >> THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY DO.

>> I TALK TO POLICE OFFICERS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU DO NOT GIVE A TICKET FOR SOMETHING YOU KNOW IS A FICTION AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> NO, HE TOLD HIM -- HE TOLD HIM IN A VERY NONCOMBATTIVE WAY, TAKE IT TO THE JUDGE.

>> THAT MEANS HE HAS TO TAKE TIME OUT OF HIS LIFE TO GO TO THE JUDGE.

>> OR GET AN ATTORNEY AND LET THE ATTORNEY DO IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> I MEAN, I DIDN'T THINK THE OFFICER DID ANYTHING WRONG.

>> NO.

>> I DON'T THINK VACCARO SHOULD HAVE TO RESIGN.

>> IT WAS IN THE LATE '90s, BUT THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I NOT A SPEEDING TICKET IN ST. JOHN'S, WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY IS RIGHT THERE, AND IT ACTUALLY WASN'T EVEN THAT.

I HAD A LIGHT OUT AND THEY STOPPED ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW YOU GOT A TAILLIGHT UT.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MY PROOF OF INSURANCE.

AND THE OFFICER -- I SAID IT'S IN HERE, I JUST CAN'T FIND IT.

HE SAID YOU'LL HAVE A DATE, JUST SHOW UP.

YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DO THAT.

JUST GO TO THE COURTHOUSE AND SHOW IT.

BUT I SAID THAT'S COOL, FINE.

>> WAS YOUR LIGHT OUT?

>> YES.

>> WELL, WHAT'S YOU GOT THE TICKET -- IF YOU'RE LIGHT WAS OUT -- >> NO, NO, I'M SAYING HE WAS TELLING ME, GIVING ME A WARNING THAT THE LIGHT WAS OUT, OKAY?

BUT THEY ASKED FOR MY PROOF OF INSURANCE AND I COULDN'T FIND IT AND HE SAID, OKAY, WELL YOU'RE GETTING LIKE A SUMMONS OR WHATEVER.

YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW IT.

THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

WHY HE COULDN'T JUST DO THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

THEN, TOO, THIS IS WHAT CONCERNS ME.

YOU'RE ON A COMMITTEE AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR THEM TO GET BODY CAMS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS?

HOW MANY MEETINGS DID HE FOR TO WHERE THIS WAS DISCUSSED?

WAS HE JUST OBLIVIOUS TO ALL THIS?

THIS IS SELF-IMPORTANCE WHERE I WAS AGAINST THEM, I WAS FOR THEM, BUT THEN THE DAY YOU GET INTO IT WITH A POLICE OFFICER, YOU AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT YOU'RE ON CAMERA.

>> YOU'RE ON CAMERA GOO IF TI HAD SPOT OUT OF A CAR AND APPROACHED A POLICE OFFICER, YOU ALL WOULD PROBABLY HAVE FLOWERS ON THE TABLE RIGHT HERE.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW HE'S A WHITE GUY BECAUSE ANYBODY ELSE GETTING OUT OF THEIR CAR, HE'D HAVE BEEN DEAD.

>> BUT FIRST -- >> I DISAGREE.

I THINK HE GOT MORE, I THINK HE GOT MORE OF A PUNISHMENT BECAUSE -- >> WELL, HE SHOULD.

>> MICHELLE WOODLING, A SPOKESPERSON INCORPORATE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAID IN OCTOBER THAT WHEN THE CITY STARTED ITS ENHANCED TRAFFIC STOPS, IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCING LACK OF INSURANCE AND BROKEN LIGHTS.

>> CHARLIE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS -- I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE SPEEDING WAS.

>> HE JUST HAD A LIGHT OUT.

>> MY CLIENT HAD A LIGHT OUT, THAT WAS IT.

>> BUT THIS IS NOTHING.

YOU JUST GO INTO THE COURT AND IT'S NOTHING.

THE PROBLEM IS, THE BIGGEST THING THAT WAS DONE WRONG IN THIS WHOLE ENCOUNTER WAS HIM GETTING OUT OF THIS BOARD.

SECONDLY, I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS TO QUIT THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN BECAUSE THEY VOTED -- >> BUT THE COMMITTEE, HE BETTER MAKE A MEA CULPA.

>> HE HAS NO BUSINESS BEING ON IT.

>> I THINK WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG, BUT IT WASN'T AWFUL.

GETTING OUT OF THE CAR WAS BAD JUDGMENT -- >> BUT THEY DON'T ATTACK POLICE OFFICERS AND REFER TO THEM -- >> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

EVERYONE'S LIVELIHOOD THESE DAYS -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

PEOPLE THROW THINGS AT POLICE OFFICERS.

>> HE'S AN ALDERMAN WHO PRESIDES OVER THE COMMITTEE.

>> HE'S GOT A SON WHO'S A COP.

YOU DON'T -- >> MY VIEW IS IF YOU THROW THINGS AT POLICE OFFICERS, YOU DON'T STAY CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY BOARD.

THIS IS THE -- >> YOU DO GET ELECTED TO OFFICE THOUGH.

>> I DIDN'T SAY HE SHOULD QUIT AS AN ALDERMAN.

I SAID HE DOESN'T -- AT THIS POINT, YOU WANT BOTH POLICE UNIONS WANTING HIM GONE.

HE SHOULDN'T BE IN THAT POSITION AS A COMMITTEE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TIME OUT HERE BECAUSE IN JUNE, WE'RE INVITING EVERYONE TO JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH.

IT'S A LIVE BROADCAST AT THE SHELDON AND A BIG FUNDRAISER.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS.

>> IF YOU'RE A FAN OF DONNYBROOK, THERE'S A GREAT EVENT FOR YOU ATTENDING DONNYBASH.

THEY TAKE THE ENTIRE SET FROM DONNYBROOK AND IT'S RIGHT THERE ON STAGE.

WHEN YOU JOIN US AT NOT ONE, BUT TWO TICKETS TO DONNYBASH.

PLUS YOU'LL GET THE NEW NINE PBS MUG.

IF YOU'D RATHER HAVE ONE TICKETS ON THE MUG, GIVE A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION TO NINE PBS OF $75.

DON'T FORGET WERT OF THESE MEMBERSHIP LEVELS, YOU'LL RECEIVER THE NINE MAGAZINE FOR THE FULL YEAR OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP, PLUS YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO NINE PBS PASSPORT, WHICH IS A MEMBERS ONLY BENEFIT.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU A VAST ARRAY OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES ON NINE PBS OR NATIONAL PBS, PROGRAMS LIKE MASTERPIECE.

AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WATCH THOSE PROGRAMS ANYTIME ANYWHERE.

NOW, DONNYBASH IS TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

DON'T LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS YOU BY.

JOIN US RIGHT NOW AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $12 A MONTH AND WE SEND YOU THOSE TWO TICKETS PLUS THE NEW NINE PBS MUG.

BUT JOIN US RIGHT NOW.

>> WE SURE WANT YOU TO JOIN US IN JUNE FOR OUR BIG FUNDRAISING AND WOULDN'T THAT HANDSOME MUG LOOK GREAT ON YOUR KITCHEN TABLE, PLUS THE TWO TICKETS TO OUR BROADCAST LIVE.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

WE MEET EITHER IN THE EVENING AND SHARE A COUPLE OF COCKTAILS AND THERE'S A MEET AND GREET, MISTA SHAKING HANDS OR MAYBE FIST BUMPS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN WE HAVE THE LIVE BROADCAST FROM 7:00 TO 8:00, YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT, AND AFTERWARDS, WE RETIRE ONCE AGAIN TO APPETIZERS OR SOME ADULT BEVERAGES OR CARBONATED SODA, WHATEVER YOU PREFER.

AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE COMESHS HERE, SO WE RELY ON YOUR GENEROSITY.

YOU GUYS MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR MANY IN ST. LOUIS THAT THIS IS A CIVIC TREASURE, NINE PBS IS, GIVING SCHOOLING TO THE KIDS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND OUTSTANDING AWARD-WINNING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST DAY.

>> THAT'S SO TRUE.

WHEN WE COULDN'T GET OUT TO LINCOLN CENTER, NINE PBS BROUGHT LINCOLN CENTER INTO OUR HOMES, SO THAT -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY -- WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT PARTICIPATION.

THE FARTHER WE GET AWAY FROM THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND THIS STATION HAS TREATED US WITH NOTHING BUT RESPECT SINCE DAY ONE IN TERMS OF EVER JUST FULL -- >> AND KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE.

>> THE FREEDOMS AND THEY HAD TO PUT UP, AS OUR AUDIENCE KNOWS, WITH AT LOT OF EYE ROLL MOMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS, AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT.

I MEAN IT, THEY'VE JUST BEEN GREAT, EVERYONE RIGHT UP THROUGH THE CURRENT PRESIDENT AMY SHAW COULDN'T BE MORE RESPECTFUL OF US AND WE'RE -- >> ESPECIALLY AMY SHAW.

>> HEAR HEAR.

>> HEY!

>> I'M JUST SAYING THAT THEY REALLY HAVE.

RIGHT FROM MR. HARGROVE FROM THE BEGINNING THROUGH -- >> JACK GELMAN.

>> ALL OF THEM.

THAT DOES MATTER, THAT'S NOT A GIVEN AND WE'VE BEEN LUCKY THEY'VE SUPPORTED US.

>> AND WE'RE LUCKY -- >> LUCKY WITH THE VIEWERS.

AND THEY CAN COME AND CRITIQUE US, WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE DO.

THEY COME TO THE SHOW AND THEY POINT OUT WHERE WE WENT WRONG DURING THE SHOW AND BEFORE THE SHOW, THEY CAN SUGGEST WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT AND TELL US WHAT WE OUGHT TO SAY.

I CAN ALWAYS USE THAT.

>> ACTUALLY, THEY TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS DID WRONG.

>> AND IT'S YOUR SHOW.

IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO'S WATCHING SHOW BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT THIS STATION AND I DO FEEL LIKE WHEN WE DO DONNYBASH, IT'S MORE OF A THANK YOU THAN IT IS A PERFORMANCE ONLY IN THAT, I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, WITHOUT PEOPLE SUPPORTING US AND WITHOUT PEOPLE COMING TO DONNYBASH AND BEING FANS OF DONNYBROOK, WE WOULDN'T OBJECT THE -- WOULDN'T BE ON THE AIR AND WE JUST CAN'T FORGET THAT.

>> AND WE'RE ALL MEMBERS OF CHANNEL 9 AND YOU DO FEEL THAT PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CHANNEL 9 AND HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ST. LOUIS.

YEAH, I'M A MEMBER.

>> SO TRUE.

SO THERE'S THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

DIAL THAT OR TEXT IT AND GIVE.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN JUNE, WONDERFUL GIFTS TO MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY OR ANY OTHER OCCASION JUST TO REWARD YOURSELF AND HELP NINE PBS.

RAY, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT A MEASURE IN JEFFERSON CITY, YOU'RE FAVORITE TOWN AND THE PEOPLE THERE.

THIS PLAN WOULD RESTRICT THE ABILITY OF HOSPITALS TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS.

DURING COVID-19, A LOT OF PEOPLE BATTLING COVID, IN SOME CASES TRAGICALLY DYING OF IT, WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEM IN THEIR FINAL MOMENTS, AND I GENERALLY DO NOT LOOK FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR ANY MEDICAL ADVICE WHATSOEVER, BUT IN THIS CASE, I'M ON THEIR SIDE.

I THINK THAT THE HOSPITAL RESTRICTIONS WERE TOO STRICT WHEN IT CAME TO DENYING GRANDCHILD NA AND GRANDPA THE ABILITY TO BE WITH A LOVED ONE IN THEIR FINAL MOMENTS ON EARTH.

>> I'M TRYING TO THINK IF I COULD AGREE WITH ANYBODY LESS.

RESPECTFULLY.

>> THAT WAS RESPECTFUL.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THE HOSPITALS OF MISSOURI ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF DETERMINING THEIR OWN VISITATION POLICIES BASED ON THEIR HEALTH NEEDS AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT.

THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO STAY IN ITS OWN LANE, DO THE THING IT'S GOOD ABOUT.

I WOULDN'T WANT HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SLIMY DEALS WITH LOBBYISTS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY DO THAT WELL.

NO ONE SHOULD INTERFERE WITH THEIR ABILITY TO DO DEALS WITH LOBBYISTS IN JEFF CITY, BUT SERIOUSLY, NO.

THE EVERYONE KNOWS IT'S TRAGIC, HORRIBLE IN THE COVID WHEN PEOPLE HAD TO DIE ALONE, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT GOVERNMENT'S ROLE TO TELL OUR HOSPITALS HOW TO MANAGE A VERY SENSITIVE SITUATION.

>> WELL, AND I'M JUST RELUCTANT TO THINK, YEAH, BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPANDING IT RATHER QUICKLY IN TERMS OF THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER OF THE PATIENT AND IS IT TWO OR THREE PEOPLE?

TWO OR THREE PEOPLE WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED.

THIS IS WAY, WAY TOO EARLY AND ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL SAID THAT HE WAS ONLY THINKING ABOUT THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WHO NEED THOSE VISITORS.

AND I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE NEXT BED OR DOWN THE HALLWAY WHO HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THOSE ADDITIONAL VISITORS ARE BRINGING INTO THE HOSPITAL WITH THEM.

I MEAN, WE'VE ONLY BEEN OUT OF IT OR HOPEFULLY MAKING OUR WAY OUT OF IT FOR A WEEK OR SO.

JUST SETTLE DOWN.

I MEAN, I'M OKAY WITH AN EXPANDED NUMBER OF -- BUT NOT FOUR.

NOT AUTOMATICALLY FOUR PEOPLE.

>> USUALLY, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO GO TO -- LIKE SPEAK TO THE MOTIVE, BUT THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT SOMEBODY DYING ALONE IN THE HOSPITAL.

THIS IS JUST SOME MORE NONSENSE.

>> FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

>> THIS IS JUST SOME MORE, WE HATE EVERYTHING FROM MASKS TO VACCINES TO ANYBODY WHO WEARS A MASK AND IS GETTING VACCINATED.

IT'S JUST MORE OF THAT NONSENSE.

THEY REALLY AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT ANYONE DYING ALONE IN THE HOSPITAL.

IT'S JUST THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO MAKE A SPLASH WITH THIS COVID-19 THING SO THEY'RE JUST GOING TO RIDE THAT HORSE TILL IT COLLAPSES.

I'M SORRY.

>> I'M NOT THAT CYNICAL.

>> I AM, I AM, I'M SORRY.

>> I THINK IT'S THE MOST UNREPORTED STORY OF THE PANDEMIC ON HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED ALONE AND I JUST -- IT BREAKS MY HEART TO THINK ABOUT THAT, AND I COULD UNDERSTAND BEFORE THE VACCINES, WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE PPE, YEAH, AND WE DIDN'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT COVID-19, BUT LATER ON, AS WE MOVED ON AND THERE WAS PPE AND THERE WAS A VACCINE, IT JUST SEEMS THAT THE MEASURES ARE TOO STRICT AND I THINK THE PROOF OF THAT IS HOSPITALS AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE OPENING UP TO VISITORS MUCH QUICKER THAN THEY WERE IN OUR PART.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, OKAY, HOW CAN HOSPITALS IN THAT IS GET AWAY WITH THIS, BUT NOT ST. LOUIS.

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE IN TEXAS AND I'M SURE THEY WERE -- I'M SURE THE CARNIVAL WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL IN FLORIDA.

>> BUT OVERALL, THE ISSUE ESCAPED MANY.

I MEAN, HERE, THE TRAGEDY OF PEOPLE DYING ALONE, THE BOSTON GLOBE CARRIED IT VERY WELL AND SO DID THE "NEW YORK TIMES," BUT HERE PEOPLE WERE JUST QUIET ABOUT IT.

>> WE WERE ALL AWARE OF IT.

>> I THINK IT WORSE IN NURSING HOMES WHERE YOU COULDN'T GET IN TO SEE AN AGING PARENT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE SOLUTION IS TO JUST OPEN UP THE NURSING HOMES AND LET PEOPLE COME IN AND -- I MEAN, A PANDEMIC IS GOING TO JUST CREATE CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT ARE TERRIBLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE A BARBECUE AT THE BEDSIDE WITH EVERY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER AND EVERY COUSIN, BUT AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO'S VACCINATED WITH PPE, TO HOLD THE HAND OF GRANDMA -- >> THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM IF YOU'RE SAYING ONLY THE VACCINATED GET IN.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

IF I HAVE A PROBLEM, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT -- >> BUT WE'RE ALL SO BEYOND THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE ALREADY BEYOND -- >> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT FUTURE PANDEMICS.

>> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, I GUESS I STAND ALONE ON THE SIDE OF -- >> NOBODY -- BUT CHARLIE, NO ONE AT THIS TABLE -- GHOO YOU'RE NOT HERE TO DEFEND -- >> CHARLIE, CHARLIE, YOU'RE INFERRING THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH PEOPLE DYING ALONE.

WE'RE NOT.

I ASSURE YOU, WE ARE NOT.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT YOU MADE.

>> NO, WE'RE JUST SAYING THEY DON'T NEED TO HAVE A FAMILY REUNION.

THEY DON'T NEED TO OPEN IT UP THAT MUCH.

>> BILL, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT MARCUS ROBINSON, THE CONTROVERSIAL, I GUESS, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NORMANDY SCHOOLS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE DISCUSSED THIS IN THE PAST.

THE MAN NEVER GOT HIS PhD AND HE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE'S GOING TO RESIGN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE HIM BECAUSE OF THE PhD.

I SUSPECT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE WAS SUPPORTED BY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORTED CHARTER SCHOOLS AND, IN FACT, IN A PREVIOUS LIFE, HE WAS THE HEAD OF A CHARTER SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT THERE WERE ENTRENCHED EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS THAT JUST DIDN'T LIKE HIS STYLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

HE DID MAKE $215,000 A YEAR FOR TWO YEARS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SIGN UP FOR THAT, AND HE WAS ONLY CERTIFIED IN MISSOURI TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.

AND YOU THINK, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THE GUY SHOULD BE A SUPERINTENDENT IF THAT'S ALL HE'S CERTIFIED FOR.

AND CERTAINLY HE CAME IN AT A TERRIBLE TIME.

I MEAN, NORMANDY WAS HAVING HUGE PROBLEMS ALREADY AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PANDEMIC WHICH ESPECIALLY HURT POOR KIDS, SO I MEAN, I CAN'T LOOK AT HIS BODY OF WORK AND SAY HE DIDN'T DO WELL.

I MEAN, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T, BUT IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.

BUT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO GET A PhD AND HE DIDN'T, SO TOO BAD FOR HIM.

>> HE WAS UNQUALIFIED, PERIOD.

FULL STOP.

AND THE PEOPLE YOU REFER TO AS ERN TRENCHED EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS, TO ME, THE ONES I'VE KNOWN OVER THE YEARS ARE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO CARE WAY, WAY MORE ABOUT THE CHILDREN UNDER THEIR CARE THAN THE CHARTER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE CHARTER PROFITEERS IN MANY CASES, SO IT ISN'T EVEN CLOSE.

IF YOU WANT TO BRING UP A COMPARISON WITH THE ENTRENCHED EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS, I'LL TAKE THEM EVERY TIME.

>> BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY -- >> YEAH BUT -- GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, NORMANDY, THEY GOT TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE AND NOW THEY ARE -- >> PROVISIONAL.

>> PROVISION NAL, WHICH MEANS THEY GET TO ELECT TWO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS COMING UP.

WHY WASN'T HE HIRED AS AN INTERIM AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PhD TWO YEARS FROM NOW, YOU'RE STWON ANYWAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY MADE THAT DEAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IN HIS GOODBYE LETTER, HE SAID HE HAD FOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES, AND TWO FROM IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS AND I HAVE NO REASON TO NOT BELIEVE THAT, THEN IF THAT WAS THE TRUTH, YOU WERE EITHER TOO BUSY COUNTING MONEY OR TOO LAZY TO GET YOUR PhD AND THAT SAYS SOMETHING TO ME.

>> I THINK HE HAS HIS MASTER'S, DIDN'T HE?

>> HE'S NOT THE STORY.

IT'S THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE THE LOWEST SCORES IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE IN MATH AND IN ENGLISH.

THOSE KIDS ARE THE STORY.

>> LET ME ATTACK MY FELLOW FOUNDER FOR JUST A MINUTE HERE.

>> I'LL GET OUT OF THE WAY.

>> WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PROFITEERS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY GOOD AND WELL-INTENTIONED PEOPLE ALL THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND EVEN IN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, RAY, AND THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO PUSH THE ROCK UP THE HILL AND IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY TRUE.

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

>> IN FACT, THERE'S A LOT OF TEACHERS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO, AFTER 30 YEARS, RETIRE AND THEN THEY GO WORK IN CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> POINT WELL TAKEN, BUT -- >> THAT WAS A CHEAP SHOT.

>> WELL, THE CHEAP SHOT WAS APED AT PEOPLE LIKE MR. ROBINSON IN MY OPINION.

>> LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MR. ROBINSON.

I THINK HE'S A GREAT GUY.

>> OKAY, GOOD.

>> IN THE TOP TEN NEEDS OF NORMANDY SCHOOL KIDS, NOT EVEN IN THE TOP TEN IS HAVING SOMEONE IN CHARGE WITH A PhD.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PhD DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE A BETTER EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTOR THAN THE NEXT GUY.

>> BUT YOU GET -- >> YOU'VE KNOWN PEOPLE WITH PhDs AND THEY'RE NOT GREAT BECAUSE OF THE PhD, BUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF DEALING WITH PEOPLE.

>> BUT HE'S IN THE WAY OF THEM GETTING FULL ACCREDITATION.

IT.

>> JUST SHOWS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF EDUCATION QUALIFICATION.

>> IT REALLY DOESN'T.

ABE LINCOLN HAD, WHAT, ONE YEAR OF FORMAL EDUCATION?

I THINK HE DID OKAY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GREAT EDUCATORS WHO DON'T HAVE THE PhD, BUT THERE'S AN EDUCRACY, YOU GET MORE MONEY WITH A PhD.

MAYBE HE WASN'T MAKING $250,000 LIKE A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS, BUT $215,000 FOR THE NORMANDY SCHOOLS IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.

>> YOU'RE SAYING $215,000 IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY?

>> BY SUPERINTENDENT STANDARDS.

>> ARE YOU KIDDING.

>> IF YOU GO THROUGH THE NORMANDY SCHOOLS, YOU WOULD SAY WHO IN THE HECK IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO WORK HERE BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS ARE SO POOR.

>> YOU'RE COMPARING HIM TO -- I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN WASN'T THE SUPERINTENDENT OF A FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WITH THESE KIDS WHO HAVE THE LOWEST TEST SCORES, WHO WILL BE SO FAR BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD IN THEIR CLASSES, THAT -- I'M SORRY, THAT DOES NOT MAKE HIM ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

>> WELL, I WILL SAY, HE DID LEAD THE CHARGE TO INCREASE THE TAXES IN THAT DISTRICT SO THEY COULD REPAIR THE MOLD IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND FIX THE CHAIRS IN THE THEATER AND REPAIR SOME OF THE WALKWAYS BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS, THE MOST DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS, AND I THINK HE HAD THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR THE KIDS.

>> HE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT, HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

>> WHEN WE HAD CLEANUP ON NORTH McKNIGHT, HE SHOWED UP WITH HIS TWO KIDS AND HE WAS PICKING UP LITTER AND TRASH.

>> DOES THAT QUALIFY HIM -- >> YOU SAID HE WAS THERE FOR THE MONEY.

>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY HE MADE.

I'M NOT INTO THAT ISSUE.

>> BUT IF YOU KNOW THAT A PhD IS REQUIRED, WHY WOULD YOU NOT GET THE PhD?

>> HE WAS ALSO A PART OF THIS -- WHAT'S IT'S CALLED, OPPORTUNITY -- >> TRUST.

>> OPPORTUNITY TRUST WITH THE FOLKS THAT I KNOW THAT -- >> I AGREE WITH YOU, RAY, BUT THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

>> CHARLIE, HOW DO YOU THINK -- >> THERE'S OPPOSITION TO HIM, WHAT YOU CALLED THE ENTRENCHED EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS, BECAUSE THERE'S A SENSE, AND IT'S AT THE MACRO LEVEL, NOT THE TEACHERS, THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OPPORTUNITY TRUST HAVE REALLY PUT THEMSELVES AS ENEMY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THEIR MINDS.

NOW, THAT'S NOT HIM IN PARTICULAR, AND THE QUESTION -- I THINK CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE FINE IF THEY'RE OWNED AND OPERATED -- IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROOLS, THEY GOT -- PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY GOT TO HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

I ALWAYS CALL HIM SCHOOLS WITHOUT RULES.

ORIGINALLY, IT WAS THE CONCEPT, WE'LL TRY SOME SPECIAL INNOVATION, BUT NOW YOU BASICALLY GOT COMPETING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SORT OF NONPROFITS LIKE THIS THAT ARE COMPETING AND TAKING MONEY OUT OF AND BLEEDING DRY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THE THING IS -- >> BUT THE TEST SCORES, HE WAS NOT PAID ENOUGH THAT HE -- >> I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE MONEY.

>> THE TEST SCORES WERE VERY LOW WHEN HE GOT THAT.

>> RIGHT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEY'RE LOWER NOW POST PANDEMIC.

FACTS ARE FACTS.

I UNDERSTAND HE'S A GREAT GUY AND HE HELPED WITH YOUR TRASH PICKUP, BUT -- >> THAT COUNTS FOR A LOT.

>> I MEAN, HE IS NOT A MARTYR.

HE'S NOT A MARTYR.

>> IF HE WAS AT MY TRASH PICKUP -- >> I THINK HE WAS A GREAT EDUCATOR AND IT'S TOO BAD HE'S NOT IN THE NORMANDY SCHOOLS.

IT'S NOT LIKE PEOPLE ARE LINING UP TO WORK THERE THESE DAYS.

>> WHO WAS IT THAT I INTERVIEWED BEFORE HIM, THE DOCTOR -- I'M SO SORRY.

>> NO, ART -- >> NO, THAT'S NOT -- >> OKAY, LET'S GO TO ALVIN REID.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOLAR PANELS.

WE KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY NOW WITH EVENTS IN UKRAINE, THE RUSSIAN INVASION THERE, PEOPLE ARE TALKING MORE AND MORE ABOUT, HEY, LET'S NOT RELY ON RUSSIAN OIL AN NATURAL GAS AND FOR A LONG TIME, PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER, SO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, HOW ABOUT THESE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF POWER LIKE SOLAR.

SO PEOPLE ARE PUTTING SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR HOUSES AND YARDS, AND NOW IN JEFFERSON CITY, THERE'S A BILL THAT A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION CANNOT NIX OR VETO SOLAR PANELS ON HOMES IN MISSOURI.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

GOO.

>> I HAD MORE MONEY AND A BIG HOUSE THAT I WAS BUILDING, I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOLAR PANELS AND I'D LIKE TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERYBODY HAD THEM AND DOING OUR PART.

I CANNOT STAND THESE ASSOCIATIONS, OKAY?

I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE WOULD EVER LIVE UNDER THAT.

TO ME, IT'S LIKE A PROTECTION OVER THE -- I HATE TO SAY THE KOES IS A NOTE TRA, BUT IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT.

YOU PAY OR ELSE.

BUT THE SECOND YOU SIGNED ON AND IF THEY TELL YOU YOU CAN'T HAVE SOLAR PANELS, YOU CAN'T HAVE SOLAR PANELS.

MY ADVICE WOULD BE MOVE OR NOT LIVE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> I'M SURPRISED THAT PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOODS STILL HAVE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

>> WE HAVE ONE.

>> YOU DO?

>> DO YOU ANYBODY -- >> I HAPPEN TOSH THE PRESIDENT OF ONE.

LIKE COSA NOSTRA, HUH, ALVIN?

>> DON BRENNAN.

>> I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I THINK RIGHT NOW IN THIS NATION'S HISTORY, WE'RE AT A POINT WHEN WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN ELECTRICITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PUT SOLAR PANELS IN THE FRONT YARD, AND I TALKED TO A LOCAL SOLAR PANEL EXPERT AND HE SAYS THAT DOES HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE, AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO PUT IT ON THE ROOF FACING THE STREET, THESE OKAY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WEAN OURS OFF OF NATURAL GAS AND OIL FROM ABROAD.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH SOLAR PANELS LIKE REFLECTING LIGHT INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOUSE?

I MEAN, I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT.

>> IF MY NEIGHBOR PUT A SOLAR PANEL FARM UP IN THEIR FRONT YARD, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY NOT BE TOO PLEASED.

>> UNLESS YOU THINK IT'S LIKE A WAY TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

>> WOULD IT NOT STILL BE A BETTER PLACE IF THEY WERE ON THE ROOF?

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT UGLY.

THAT'S ONE THING.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE -- YOU KNOW, TO ME, I'M JUST THAT SPACE KIND OF KID AND THEY STILL REMIND ME OF THE ARMS ON THE SATELLITES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS IS KIND OF COOL.

SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

NOW, IT MAY REALLY BOTHER SOME PEOPLE.

THEY MAY CONSIDER IT TO BE UNSIGHTLY, BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT IF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION DOES AND I LIVE THERE, THEN I GUESS THEY CAN TELL ME -- >> WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE BASKETBALL GOALS.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE BILL RIGHT NOW?

I'D BE STUNNED IF JEFFERSON -- I THINK THE CONCEPT -- >> SO YOU LIKE IT?

>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE CONCEPT -- >> WOW!

>> -- NO, OF JEFFERSON -- OF STATE GOVERNMENT SAYING WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE AND SO FORTH, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A COLD DAY DOWN BELOW WHEN THIS LEGISLATURE -- >> UNDER THE SOLAR PANELS?

>> YES, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT MISSOURI IS GOING TO ACTUALLY PASS THIS.

THEY HAVEN'T PASSED ANYTHING -- >> IT DOES SEEM VERY ODD.

>> NOW, WAIT.

IT WILL BE LIKE -- >> IT WILL BE LIKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, GAMBLING'S COMING DOWN THE LINE.

THEY'RE GOING TO LINE UP THEIR BUDDIES AND PALS TO GET THE CONTRACT.

.

st -- ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL BE A GREAT IDEA WHEN McCLELLAN REID SELL SOLAR PANELS.

OKAY, WE'LL SEE YOU IN JUNE AT DONNYBASH.

HERE ARE SOME DETAILS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN US AT THE SHELDON.

>> THERE'S MORE OF DONNYBROOK TO COME, SO PLEASE DON'T GO AWAY.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT HERE OUT OF THE PROGRAM TO CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER OF NINE PBS RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND YOU CAN SUPPORT DONNYBROOK AND ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY HERE ON CHANNEL 9.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU GIFTS TO GO WITH THE PROGRAM.

FOR EXAMPLE, CALL AND BECOME A MEMBER AT THE $12 MONTHLY LEVEL, $12 FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY HERE ON CHANNEL 9, AND WE WILL SEND YOU THE NEW NINE PBS MUG, VERY HANDSOME MUG.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THOSE OVER THE YEARS, SO THIS IS A NEW ONE, AND I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A CUT ABOVE.

PLUS, AND THIS IS BEST OF ALL, YOU'LL GET TWO TICKETS TO DONNYBASH AND THAT'S COMING UP ON JUNE 9th.

IT WILL BE HELD AT THE SHELDON AS IT ALWAYS IS.

THEY WILL PUT UP THE SET ON THE STAGE AND THE DONNYBROOK CAST WILL BE THERE.

YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE TIME WITH THEM BEFORE THE SHOW BEGINS AND YOU'LL GET TO WATCH A LIVE BROADCAST OF THE PROGRAM AND THEN AFTERWARDS, AS ALWAYS, THEY'LL HAVE THAT WINE AND CHEESE SOIREE AFTER THE SHOW AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO RUB ELBOWS WITH THE CAST AND GET TO KNOW THEM.

THEY'RE DELIGHTFUL PEOPLE AND THEY LOVE TO MEET THEIR DONNYBROOK FANS.

SO PLEASE CALL US RIGHT NOW, BECOME A MEMBER OF NINE PBS AND SUPPORT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE ST. LOUIS REGION.

CALL US NOW.

>> CALL US NOW AND JOIN US IN JUNE.

THIS IS THE FIRST EVER DONNYBASH IN JUNE.

OUR FIRST DONNYBASH IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

WE'VE MISSED YOU.

HOPEFULLY YOU'VE MISSED US AS WELL AND WHAT A FUN GIFT THIS COULD BE FOR SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO SUPPORT CHANNEL 9 AND MEET MEMBERS OF THE PANEL, AND AGAIN, THIS IS AT THE SHELDON.

IT'S IN JUNE AND THE SUN WON'T GO DOWN TILL, I DON'T KNOW, 8:30 OR SO AT NIGHT.

I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE GOING TO WALK OUTSIDE AFTERWARDS AND IT WILL STILL BE LIGHT INSIDE.

THAT WILL BE NICE.

BUT INSIDE, WE'LL HAVE A ROLLICKING BACK AND FORTH, UNREHEARSED BACK AND FORTH AND DISCUSSION OF CURRENT ISSUES LIKE WE ALWAYS DO AND THEN RAISE SOME MONEY FOR NINE PBS AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT HERE.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE A YOUNGER PERSON, MAYBE SOMEBODY IN THEIR 20s OR 30s WHO IS, YOU KNOW, WHO IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND INTERESTED IN THE NEWS AND EVENTS OF THE DAY.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING -- BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF HARD TO GIVE GIFTS TO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A NICE WAY TO INTRODUCE THEM TO NINE PBS AND THE WORK THEY DO.

>> OR MAYBE DISSIDENT HOMEOWNERS OF AN ASSOCIATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YES.

THE PRESIDENT PERHAPS OF AN UNKNOWN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

JOHN BRENNAN.

>> I'M NOT HERE TO BE MADE FUN OF.

>> GO TO BRENNAN'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN.

>> THE BEST TESTIMONY ARE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US HAVE ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS WHERE WE SEE SOMEBODY ONCE A YEAR, AND THAT'S -- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT -- WE WON'T START DROPPING NAMES, BUT WE SEE EVERY YEAR AND THEY COME BACK EVERY YEAR.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A LITTLE REUNION.

AND JUST -- THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE FUN THINGS FOR US IS JUST TO SEE PEOPLE YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT COME AND I THINK THAT SHOWS, HOPEFULLY THAT, THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT POINT THAT WE NEED TO GET SOME YOUNGER FOLKS.

IT'S A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

>> I MEAN, MY RAT PACK IS COMING PROBABLY THIS YEAR, SO I SAY THE 20-SOME-ODDS AND IT WILL BE NICE.

LIKE HAVING THEM THERE.

AND FRIENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO TRUE, INVITE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

NOT TO SAY THAT I'M NOT YOUNG.

>> YOU'RE YOUNG AT HEART.

YOU ARE YOUNG AT HEART.

>> I'M STARTING TO GET UP THERE, BUT NO -- >> BILL IS JUVENILE DELINQUENT.

>> WHEN I HEAR ANYTHING LIKE 30s AND 40s, I WANT TO SAY AND 50s.

>> KEEP GOING.

>> WE'LL SEE YOU IN JUNE AT THE SHELDON.

DONNYBASH 2022.

IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, WENDY, THERE'S BIG NEWS THIS WEEK THAT KMOV'S MANAGER, SOSNOFF, ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'LL BE MOVING OUT OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

YOU AND I WORKED WITH THEM AT ONE MEMORIAL DRIVE FOR YEARS AT THE TOWER, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE GATEWAY ARCH, PRIME REAL ESTATE, BUT THEY'RE MOVING OUT.

PROBABLY TO MARYLAND HEIGHTS.

IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHERE A TELEVISION STATION IS LOCATED?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

I THINK IT DOES, AND J.D.

SOSNOFF IS SOMEBODY THAT YOU AND I WORKED WITH AND HE DOES NOT STRIKE ANYONE WHO KNOWS HIM AS SOMEBODY WHO MAKES THESE DECISIONS LIGHTLY.

AND I'M SURE HE'S PUT A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND THERE ARE VERY SOUND REASONS WHY HE IS MAKING THIS PARTICULAR MOVE TO THE COUNTY.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE HUB AND AS WE KNOW, THE HUB IS DOWNTOWN, AND WHEN YOUR NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT FOLLOWS WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN FEELS COMFORTABLE LEAVING THAT, TELLS YOU THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>> WELL, I JUST -- THAT WAS THE PART I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, STILL WHAT NEWS STORIES AREN'T DOWNTOWN AS FAR AS -- AS TO WHAT THEY'RE COVERING?

OKAY?

BECAUSE THE NEWS IS ONLY THAT LONG AND THE SPORTS IS ONLY THAT LONG AND WEATHER IS ONLY THAT LONG AND ALL THE SPORTS STUFF IS DOWNTOWN.

THAT WAS THE ONE PART I DIDN'T.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT, MAYBE THE -- >> I DON'T THINK IT'S CHEAPER.

>> NOT IN MARYLAND HEIGHTS.

>> BUT IF THERE WAS A PUBLIC SUBSIDY INVOLVED, I'D SEE IF DAVIS COULD PAY FOR IT ACROSS -- BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT BIG A DEAL.

AND I DON'T LIKE -- I MEAN, WE ALL LIKE -- >> BUT IT'S THE SYMBOLISM.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE THAT THERE ISN'T SYMBOLISM, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY -- AS FAR AS I LIKE TO THINK REGIONALLY AND AS FAR AS BEING CLOSE TO THINGS, I MEAN, THEY HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY THAN THEY HAVE IN THE CITY AND THAT'S JUST REALITY.

SO THEY'RE MORE CENTRAL TO THAT.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GREAT, I DON'T LIKE IT PARTICULARLY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S WHAT COMES ON THE SCREEN THAT MATTERS.

I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS TO THE PUBLIC THAT MUCH.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GREAT FOR DOWNTOWN AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THAT.

>> WELL, THAT'S IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO THE VIEWER WHERE THE CAMERA IS.

>> I KNOW.

>> BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN CORE BUSINESSES LIKE NEWSPAPERS -- >> YUP.

>> AND THE POST-DISPATCH IS STILL DOWNTOWN.

AND -- BUT I REMEMBER WHEN THE NEW ORLEANS TIMES PICAYUNE MOVED OUT OF DOWNTOWN AND THEY DID IT JUST FOR THE MONEY, BUT IT IS KIND OF AN EMPTYING OUT OF THE CORE AND IT'S NOT A GOOD FEEL AT ALL.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A VERY SAD -- >> WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT -- >> IT HAPPENS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

>> RAY IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

I HAD DINNER THE OTHER FIGHT WITH PEOPLE FROM DENVER, THEY SAID THEIR DOWNTOWN IS DEAD.

SAN DIEGO, DEAD.

MINNEAPOLIS, DEAD.

IT'S ALL PANDEMIC.

THE WORKERS ARE AT HOME.

THESE ARE BANKERS WHO ARE TELLING ME THIS.

BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS MOVING TO THE POPULATION CENTER.

I WAS TOLD BY JOSH ALLEN OF THE BAKERY THAT THE POPULATION CENTER IN OUR REGION IS 270 AND PAGE.

>> THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE.

I WAS MAKING THE POINT THAT THAT IS THE CENTER OF THE POPULATION AND, LOOK, I DON'T -- I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING AS A COMMUNITY TO THINK MORE AS A REGION AND FOR THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND DOWNTOWN TO RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT DOWNTOWN IS.

I'M NOT ARGUING IT'S ANY WAY TO GIVE UP ON DOWNTOWN.

I STARTED THE RC THERE AND IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

>> BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TV STATION, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHERE THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES CAMP OUT -- >> IT'S JUST PART OF A TREND IS THE WHOLE THING.

>> I GET IT.

>> IF IT WAS JUST KMOV, BUT IT'S A BIG TREND.

>> AND WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE LOSS OF GILL OBATA, THE FOUNDER OF HOK, THE LARGEST ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING FIRM IN THE WORLD AND HE WAS THE SON OF JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS WHOSE FAMILY WAS PUT IN A CAMP, INTERNMENT CAMP DURING WORLD WAR II.

BUT HE GOT TWO WASH-U AND BECAME ONE OF THE GREAT ARCHITECTS IN WORLD HISTORY.

SO A GREAT LOSS OF A FANTASTIC ST. LOUISAN.

AND HOK IS DOWNTOWN, BY THE WAY.

>> FOR NOW.

>> PLEASE DON'T MOVE.

>> ALVIN, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A MEASURE IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WHICH PASSED, A PRELIMINARY STEP, AND NOW GOES FURTHER IN THE HALLS OF THE LOCAL LEGISLATURE.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT RESTAURANTS FROM SERVING SODA IN THE KIDS MEAL.

YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT WITH THE KIDS.

YOU GET THE KIDS MEAL.

IT'S USUALLY TOASTED RAVIOLI OR GRILLED CHEESE, MAYBE SOME FRIES AND THEN A DRINK.

WELL, THE DRINK CAN BE WATER, MILK, OR JUICE IF THERE'S NO SUGAR IN IT, ADDED SUGAR, BUT IT CAN'T BE SODA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE I REALLY DON'T THINK WE'RE TOO FAR ALONG AS FAR AS OTHER PEOPLE ARE, AS FAR AS THE NANNY STATE IS CONCERNED.

I DON'T THINK IT'S AS BAD AS SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT OUT TO BE.

AS A RESULT, FOR SOME REASON, THIS ONE DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

OKAY, WE DO HAVE THIS RULE, YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH OUT FOR THE KIDS IN THIS WAY AND LISTEN, IF YOU -- IF THEY'VE GOT TO GET A BOXED APPLE JUICE, YOU'RE MORE THAN FREE TO BUY THEM A GALLON COKE THAT DOESN'T COME WITH THE KIDS MEAL AND THEY CAN SLURP IT IN THE BACK SEAT.

THAT'S UP TO YOU.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO DO IT WITH THE KIDS MEAL, THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.

I HAD -- WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, OXYMORON OXYMORONICAL, YOU CAN HAVE A GREASY HAMBURGER ABOUT FRIES, BUT NOT A SODA.

>> THE IRONY WHEN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WERE DEBATING THE MERITS OF BEING ABLE TO ATTEND AND VOTE IN MEETINGS WHILE THEY WERE ZOOMING FROM THEIR CARS, YOU KNOW, THAT TO ME IS -- THAT IS THE ULTIMATE IRONY, THAT THEY'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH THAT THEY WANT TO ZOOM FROM THEIR CARS WOIL THEY'RE ATTENDING AND VOTING ON ALDERMANIC BUSINESS, BUT I THINK THIS IS -- I THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY RIDICULOUS.

LET THE PARENTS DECIDE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO -- I MEAN, THIS IS NANNY STATE 2.0 IN MY OPINION.

>> I FIRST OF ALL THINK THEIR MOTIVES ARE PINE.

>> THEIR MOTIVES ARE FINE.

>> I'M NOT SAYING YOU AREN'T, BUT I -- I THINK THEIR TIMING COULD NOT BE WORSE IN THAT THE LAST THING THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY NEEDS RIGHT NOW COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC -- >> MORE RESTRICTIONS.

>> WHILE IT'S HAPPENING ON FOR DEAR LIFE IS ANY GOVERNMENT AT ANY LEVEL -- AND AGAIN, I DON'T QUESTION THEIR SINCERITY, BUT THE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW DOES NOT NEED TO BE PUTTING MORE RESTRICTIONS ON THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN MY OPINION AND I THINK THE POINT -- WE AREN'T PUTTING ANY RESTRICTIONS ON SATURATED FAT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND REALLY, I JUST CAN'T SEE THE TIMING OF IT MAKING ANY POINT.

>> SHOULD WE INSPECT RESTAURANTS ANYMORE?

>> BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLATIONS, THE FIRST ONE, $100, THE SEBD ONE, 200 AND THE THIRD ONE, R5$00 IF YOU HAVE A -- $500 IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO'S DRINKING A SODA, REALLY?

>> IS IT ENFORCEABLE?

>> SPEAKING OF THE CHILDREN, IN ILLINOIS, LAND OF LINCOLN WHERE LAST YEAR THERE WAS $7 MILLION OF BETTING, 95% OF IT ONLINE, THEY RELAXED THE RULES PERMANENTLY LAST WEEK WHERE IF YOU WANTED TO REGISTER FOR THE BETTING, YOU KNOW, SPORTS BETTING, GAMBLING IN ILLINOIS, YOU HAD TO GO TO WHAT'S CALLED A SPORTS BOOK, A SPACE WHERE YOU PLACE A BET OR A CASINO.

NO MORE.

YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE.

BUT NOW SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GAMBLING IN CHILDREN, POINT OUT THAT THAT ALLOWS THE KIDS WHO ARE VERY ADEPT WITH TECHNOLOGY, CAN START BETTING ONLINE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHOW UP TO REGISTER.

>> THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CREDIT CARD TO SET UP THE ACCOUNT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S WHERE COMING FROM -- >> STOLEN FROM MY MAILBOX.

>> I WILL SAY THAT, YES, A LOT OF THE HANKY-PANKY CAN BE GOING ON AND FROM WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, THE CASINO PEOPLE, UNLESS YOU'RE AN NFL PLAYER, REALLY DON'T CARE WHO'S GAMBLING WITH THEM, SO I DON'T THINK THEY'RE LIKE REALLY CHECK OUT, I THINK A 12-YEAR-OLD JUST MADE A BET.

I CAN SEE WHERE IT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

BUT SO WHAT?

I MEAN, LISTEN, IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE TO STAY.

IN THIS REPORT, ILLINOIS'S BIGGEST MONEY MAKING FACILITIES, NUMBER ONE, FAIRMOUNT PARK, NUMBER TWO, CASINO QUEEN RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, I.E., MISSOURI IS FLOCKING OVER THERE.

WE NIDE TO GET OUR -- NEED TO GET OUR OWN GAIRGETION QUIT WORRYING ABOUT ALL THAT.

>> SO IT'S OKAY IF A 12-YEAR-OLD IS PLACING A BET AS LONG AS HE OR SHE IS NOT DRINKING A SODA.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT.

>> PROTECT KIDS FROM GAMBLING ONLINE.

YOU WANT TO BET ON SOMETHING, BET ON THE HORSES WHO'S GONE THE FURTHEST OUT OF THE BARN BECAUSE THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT -- REGULATIONS LIKE THAT ON PEOPLE SHOWING UP, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THERE'S WAYS TO REGULATE THE BEST THEY CAN ACCESS THAT KIDS HAVE TO ALL KINDS OF STUFF ONLINE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS LITTLE RULE -- THIS LITTLE RULE IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT ANYBODY I'M NOT SAYING IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG.

>> REMEMBER WHEN THE CASINO HAD TO BE IN A TRENCH THAT HAD ONE INCH OF WATER RUNNING -- >> IT HAD TO GO DOWN THE RIVER AND THEN THE CRUISES DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THE BOAT DIDN'T -- >> AND LOOK HOW WELL THE REGION DID SINCE WE INTRODUCED CASINO GAMING 30 YEARS AGO.

>> YEAH, ALL OUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.

>> POPULATION DECREASES, CORPORATIONS LEAVE.

>> THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS IN THE GAMBLING BUSINESS AS ARE MOST STATES.

THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT WHEN -- WHETHER IT WAS AT -- YOU KNOW, NEW JERSEY AND NEVADA AND MAYBE WHO'S GOING TO BE NEXT, IT MADE SENSE FOR TOURISM.

NOW THAT YOU GOT SOMETHING LIKE 50 STATES, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO TOURISM BENEFIT ANYMORE.

YOU CAN COME AND GAMBLE -- >> WELL, THE OLD NUMBERS GAME OF MY CHILDHOOD IS NOW THE LOTTERY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

>> BILL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PLAN TO HAVE GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME?

AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY ALONG WITH THE COUNTY GOT A LOT OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS AND SHE'D LIKE TO START SOME SORT OF MODEL PROGRAM IN ST. LOUIS WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET BASIC INCOME, A LITTLE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK SHE'S AHEAD OF HER TIME, BUT IT WON'T RK.

I MEAN, ANDREW YANG, REMEMBER, TALKED ABOUT THE NEW ECONOMY WITH FEWER JOBS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE GIVEN AN INCOME, AND I THINK ANDREW YANG WAS ON TO SOMETHING, BUT IF A PARTICULAR CITY TRIES TO DO IT ALONE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE WILL HAVE INCREASE IN PEOPLE BUT IT WILL BE EVERYBODY HERE FOR THE BASIC INCOME.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED THINGS ABOUT MAYOR JONES, TISHAURA JONES, IS HOW MUCH OF THE INITIAL MONEY SHE HAS TAKEN TO NORTH ST. LOUIS, TO KIDS IN THE UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THIS TOWN.

IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT IT -- LET'S JUST SAY THIS.

A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE PRIORITIES THAT THE CITY IS GIVING TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS IN WHAT I THINK IS A WAY TO COMPENSATE FOR YEARS OF NEGLECT.

>> WELL, AS OF THE 31st, THEY ONLY SPENT 3 OF $135 MILLION.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, AS SHE SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT SLOW THAT PROCESS DOWN THAT'S FRUSTRATING TO EVERYONE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE FAULT OF THE MAYOR.

I DON'T AGREE WITH HER ON EVERYTHING, AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK -- >> MINUTE TO GO.

>> -- I THINK WHAT SHE'S DONE IN GENERAL TO SHIFT THAT PARADIGM IS GOOD.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE GUARANTEED INCOME?

>> I THINK IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE -- THEY'VE ALREADY DONE SOME OF IT, HAVEN'T THEY?

>> I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WERE TOO MANY JOBS AND NOT ENOUGH BODIES TO FILL THEM.

I MEAN, IF YOU LISTEN TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE SAYING PLEASE, WORK FOR ME.

>> THE CITY ITSELF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT'S LOOKING AT THE WEATHER AND SAYING IT'S COLD OUT, SO MUCH FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

I THINK THAT WE'RE HEADED TOWARD A TIME WHEN THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH JOBS.

>> I THINK GUARANTEED INCOME SOUNDS LIKE DEFUND THE POLICE.

CALL IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

ALL OF US GOT STIMULUS CHECKS IF WE NEEDED IT OR NOT, SO THAT WAS A GUARANTEED INCOME.

>> THANK YOU, ALVIN.

YOURS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST WORD BECAUSE THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE OR HE DID OR SOMEBODY DID.

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