>>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

>> ALVIN REID, CHARLIE BRENNAN.

WE ARE JOINED BY DR. SAM PAGE, RUNNING FOR REELECTION AGAINST MARK MANTOVANI.

AND DR.

PAGE, I WILL START OFF, SO, WERE YOU THE REST OF US WHEN YOU LEARNED WHO YOUR OPPONENT WOULD BE IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION?

>> I HAVE RUN AGAINST MARK IN THE PAST.

WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

HE HAS RUN TWICE AS A DEMOCRAT AND NOW AS A REPUBLICAN.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> YOU WILL HAVE THAT.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN?

>> NOVEMBER 1.

>> WHY SHOULD THEY REELECTED YOU?

>> I HAVE LED THE AREA THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

ANY ONE OF THEM WOULD'VE BEEN A LANDMARK.

AND ONE WAS INDICTED AND WENT TO PRISON, AND MANAGING THE CIVIL RIGHTS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, COVID-19, ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND DOBBS DECISION AND ABORTION ISSUES.

>> ANY ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE COULD DO A SHOW ON.

>> YOU HAVE HAD TOUGH TIMES.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP ON THE DEMOCRATS ON THE COUNCIL?

WHY ARE SO FACTION-ORIENTED WHERE EVERYONE SEEMS TO BLAME YOU?

>> WE FORGET, FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF CONFLICT.

IT IS A NATURAL PROCESS.

THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK WE SAW SOME LEFTOVER FROM THE ELECTION CYCLE TWO YEARS EARLIER.

IT IS UNUSUAL FOR THE TWO-YEAR CYCLE.

THAT WAS A FALL-OUT FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

AND A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION TO THE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THERE WAS PARTISAN.

IT IS WHAT GOT US STARTED OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

AND IT KIND OF LINGERED.

SINCE AUGUST, RELATIONSHIPS ARE MUCH BETTER, THE COUNCIL IS RUNNING SMOOTHER, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

>> I SPECIFICALLY, THE COUNTY CHAIR -- THE COUNTY BOARD MEMBER, WEBB, WHERE DO YOU STAND WITH THEM?

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREED WITH POLICY ISSUES.

SOMETIMES WE FORGET, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DAY-TO-DAY IS AN EXECUTIVE FUNCTION.

WHAT GOES THROUGH THE COUNCIL, 99 PERCENT WE AGREE ON.

BECAUSE OF THE TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN 2022, POLITICS ARE INTENSE, WE SAW A MELT DOWN, AND WE HAD AN ISSUE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THIS IS A TOUGH TIME.

SO, WHEN THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN OPINION AND THEY GET AMPLIFIED AND THE FEW TIMES WE DID AGREE, IT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> YOU HAD A HUGE MOMENT YOU AND THE CITY AND THE REGIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY WON 512 MILLION DOLLARS IN A LAWSUIT.

MONEY COMING YOUR WAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

LET'S SAY IT IS SPLIT THREE WAYS, 160 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EACH OF YOU.

HOW WILL YOU SPEND THAT MONEY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GET IN A HURRY TODAY THE SPEND IT.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE STIMULUS FUNDS AND WE WILL RECEIVE SOME OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT.

IT WILL BE RECEIVED IN STEPS OVER THE YEARS BUT IT WILL HELP WITH THE HEALTH.

>> AND THE NFL SETTLEMENT, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE FUNCTION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THOSE WELL.

THE CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH WE ARE DOING WELL, CRIME IS DOWN 15-19 PERCENT YEAR-TO-DATE.

WE ARE PROUD OF THAT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH FOOT PRECIPITATE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

IF WE ARE GOING TO GROW OUR REGION, WE NEED TO GROW OUR JOBS.

WE HAVE ADDED THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ADDRESSING THE GAPS IN TRAINED WORKFORCE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE, DOCTOR, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE 512 MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ON THE SIDELINES AS PEOPLE DECIDE HOW TO SPEND IT, IS A LOW INTEREST-BEARING ACCOUNT.

BY ONE ESTIMATE, WE ARE LOSING 14 THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES.

HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT?

>> WE ARE MOVING THAT.

WE NOTICED THAT INTEREST RATES HAVE TICKED UP.

AND WE ARE IN A -- WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT RISK AND THE RETURN ON INTEREST SHOULD BE.

AS WE HAVE SEEN INTEREST RATES TICKED UP, WE HAVE SEEN THE RIGHT VEHICLE.

THERE ARE THINGS OUT THERE TO PASS TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS.

WE ARE MOVING PROMPTLY.

IT TAKES TIME.

WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS TO BALANCE RISK AND RETURN.

>> DR.

PAGE, YOU MENTIONED CRIME.

OUR OPPONENT SAYS THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THIS ELECTION.

DO YOU HAVE A LAID OUT CRIME PLAN AS TO EXACTLY HOW YOU WILL ADDRESS CRIME IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY?

>> IT IS RELATIVELY COMMON THIS POLITICS WHEN OPPONENTS ARE UNHAPPY WITH OUTCOME TO CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROCESS.

THE HOMICIDES ARE DOWN THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE HAD AN ELEVATION AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I ASKED A THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

PRETTY COMPLETELY.

IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS IN A GOOD FUNCTION, WE HAVE LOOKED AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND WE KNOW HALF OF THE FOLKS COMMITTING CRIME WERE ONCE IN JAIL.

ONCE THEY COME THROUGH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET BACK ON THE RIGHT PATH.

>> YOU ARE GOING THROUGH 12-HOUR SHIFTS FOR POLICE OFFICERS STARTING CHRISTMAS DAY.

IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT WORKED WELL THIS THE CITY.

THEY ALREADY DID THAT AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

IT IS A LONG TIME TO BE ON A SHIFT AS A POLICE OFFICER, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE COMMAND STAFF AND THE POLICE BOARD.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO TRY.

I LEAVE THE MANAGEMENT TO THE POLICE CHIEF AND I TRY TO HELP THEM WITH THE MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS.

WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS.

>> ONCE EVERYONE HAS SIGNED OFF ON THE MONEY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPLIT IT UP, WOULD YOU DESIGNATE SOME OF IT TO GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY?

FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED A RAINY DAY FUND.

WE HAVE LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

WE WILL HOLD SOME BACK AND WE WILL INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ARE BREAKING GROUND ON ONE OF TWO BRAND NEW POLICE STATIONS AND INCREASING SOME OF THE SALARIES, DEPENDING ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT SINCE PROPOSITION P PASSED.

>> WOULD YOU HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS?

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAFF THE POLICE OFFICERS AS IT IS RECOMMENDED.

I BELIEVE THEY HAVE EMPTY SPOTS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FILL THE EMPTY SPOTS.

WE HAVEN'T TURNED AWAY A QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO HIRE FOLKS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

PART OF THAT COUNTY IS THE BENEFIT PACKAGE, AND ENVIRONMENT AND THE MORAL IN THE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TOLD THAT PRICES ARE SKY HIGH.

TODAY, THERE IS AN A STORY THAT SPIER WILL ASK FOR -- MORTGAGES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, GAS, FOOD.

AS IT TURNS OUT, THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT SAYS THE VALUE OF YOUR USED CAR GOES UP, WELL, THE TAX WILL GO UP.

IT IS A CAR THAT SOMEONE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY MAY HAVE HAD SITTING IN THE GARAGE, BECAUSE THE VALUE OF CARS HAVE GONE UP, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX WILL GO UP.

ST. CHARLES ROLLED BACK THE PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE.

YOU HAVE A BUDGET PROBLEM IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW.

WOULD YOU GIVE THE LITTLE GUY A BREAK BY ROLLING BACK THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AND THE IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET.

48 PERCENT GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT ROLLING BACK TAXES, WE HAVE BASIC SERVICES TO PROVIDE IN THE COMMUNITY IS ONE IS TO MAKE SURE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED.

I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE REVENUE STREAM IS SAFE.

>> THERE IS A PRESS CONFERENCE SAYING THAT THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE BUDGET.

THAT WOULDN'T BE SOLVED BY ROLLING BACK THE PROPERTY TAX, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> ROLLING BACK THE TAXES DOESN'T HELP WITH THE HOLES.

WE ARE PAYING MORE FOR INSURANCE, FUEL, OUR VEHICLES AND POLICE CARS AND OUR TRANSPORTATION, ASPHALT COSTS MORE.

OUR EXPENSES ARE GOING UP TOO.

WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE TAX RATE AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT TAX INCREASES.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT ROLLING BACK TAXES, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR BUDGET IS SOLID AND PROVIDE THOSE BASIC SERVICES THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE COME TO EXPECT.

>> WE HAD A DISAGREEMENT ON THE PREVIOUS SHOW CONCERNING THE RECORDS THAT WERE AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER THAT WERE CONTAMINATED AND IN THE PROCESS THERE WERE DESTROYED.

CAN YOU ENLIGHTEN US ON THE PATH TO DESTRUCTION?

WAS THAT THE THING TO DO?

I KNOW YOU ARE A PHYSICIAN.

I SAID IT IS A DISGUSTING, GET RID OF THEM.

WAS THAT THE PATH?

>> ANY TIME THERE IS LITIGATION AROUND AN ISSUE, YOU WILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF EXAGGERATED EXPLANATION OF CURRENT EVENTS.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ANIMAL SHELTER, THEY HAD RECORDS THAT WERE STORED IN A ROOM.

THE RECORDS WERE CONTAMINATED AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DIGITIZE THE ONES THAT NEEDED TO BE SAVED.

THEY HAD DIGITAL RECORDS.

AND WENT THROUGH THE REPORTS RETENTION THAT WERE REQUESTED BY THE FOLKS THERE WERE IN LITIGATION WITH.

THE PROCESS WAS BROKEN BECAUSE THE CONTAMINATED RECORDS THERE WERE GOING GO AHEAD AND DISPOSE OF THOSE.

THERE ARE TWO OR THREE REQUESTS TO GET RID OF THE OLD RECORDS THAT HAVE BEEN SCANNED SO WE HAVE ANOTHER COPY OF THEM.

RECORDS THAT CAN'T BE USED ANYMORE.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE RECORDS THAT WERE THROWN AWAY ARE NOT ANYTHING THEY WOULD WANT.

THE FACT THAT THERE WERE CONTAMINATED MADE THEM IN A HURRY.

WE ARE DOING AN INVESTIGATION AND MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T LOSE ANYTHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT.

THE BREAK IN THE PROCESS IS GETTING RID OF THEM WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL.

THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

I WOULD HAVE ERRED ON THE SIDE TO KEEP THEM AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROCESS WAS NOT FOLLOWED?

>> I BELIEVE IT WASN'T IN ORDER TO DESTROY RECORDS YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO GET COUNCIL APPROVAL.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING INTENTIONAL HERE.

MOST OF THE RECORDS ARE DIGITIZED.

THERE WAS A LEGAL HOLD AND THEY SAVED THOSE.

THE PROCESS HOWEVER ROUTINE IT IS, SINCE I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, WE DESTROY OLD RECORDS THAT ARE NOT NEEDED ANYMORE EVERY WEEK.

THAT'S A PROCESS AND WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING IT.

>> WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE STORY, WE DISCUSSED IT THREE WEEKS AGO.

AL RICK IN CHESTERFIELD, THEY MAKE SPINAL IMPLANTS AND THEY ARE GOING TO DALLAS, TEXAS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GO TO A PLACE THAT HAS A LOT OF TALENT INDIVIDUALS AND RECEPTIVE TO BUSINESS.

THEY ARE MOVING TO TEXAS FOR A BETTER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> ANYTHING IN THE PLANT OR LIFE SCIENCES, PHARMACEUTICAL, ST. LOUIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

WE HAVE PLANT LIFESTYLE RESEARCH AND WE HAVE NEW RESEARCH AND ANYTHING HEALTHCARE RELATED, ST. LOUIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OR THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT WAS OFFERED TO THEM.

AND WHAT SORT OF RAW MATERIALS, RESOURCE RELATIONSHIPS IN THEIR SPECIFIC BUSINESS LINE OR IF THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A RESEARCH INSTITUTE THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BRING A BUSINESS, TO START AND GROW A BUSINESS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER OF ASSETS HERE.

>> A STUDY WRITTEN ABOUT HAS ST. LOUIS AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES, BASED ON THE CRIME RATE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

SOME ARE CALLING THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY THAT ST. LOUIS COUNTY COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE STATISTICAL INFORMATION.

IS THERE A WAY NOT TO MERGE THE COUNTY AND CITY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES AND I HAVE ASKED IT AGAIN.

THAT'S A DECISION THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE JUSTICE, AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY, CITY, AND ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WE NEED TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT.

>> THE PEOPLE WOULDN'T -- >> WE CAN'T DO THAT -- >> CAN'T VOTE NOR ANYTHING.

>> WHY WOULDN'T THEY DO THAT?

WHY WOULDN'T THEY DO THAT?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS TO ADDRESS OUR BRAND AS HAVING A CRIME THAT IS TOO HIGH.

LOWER THE CRIME RATE AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND HOW THE RATE IS CALCULATED.

WE KNOW IT IS NOT FAIR IF THE CITY AND COUNTY WERE PUT TOGETHER IN CRIME STATISTICS THAT WE WOULD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK OF A METROPOLITAN AREAS.

>> IF YOU MEASURED PER CAPITA IN THE CITY.

IF YOU ADDED THE HOMICIDES IN EAST ST. LOUIS, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, IN OTHER AREAS, YOU WOULD BE HIGHER THAN BOSTON, NASHVILLE, DENVER.

NO MATTER HOW YOU COUNT IT.

>> I WON'T SAY THAT THE HOMICIDE RATE IS GOOD.

ANY HOMICIDE IS A TRAGEDY AND WE SHOULD GET RID OF THEM ALL.

IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY WE HAVE A CLEARANCE RATE AND ANY METROPOLITAN REGION, IT IS APART OF THE REGIONAL BUT WE NEED TO REDUCE THAT RATE.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK ST. LOUIS COUNTY DIDN'T NOT INCREASE IN POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS.

IT WENT DOWN.

IT IS BELOW A MILLION.

WE ARE SEEING JEFFERSON COUNTY AND OTHERS INCREASE.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY IS DOWN.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> ST. LOUIS HAS 25 PERCENT OF THE JOBS IN THE STATE AND A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS TO GROW THE JOBS.

WE WANT ST. LOUIS COUNTY TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK AND RAISE YOUR FAMILIES.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS CRIME AND SAFETY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THOSE ARE THE JOBS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SOME PEOPLE WILL PREFER TO WORK IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND LIVE AWAY WHERE THEY CAN GET MORE SPACE AND ELBOW ROOM.

WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE 25 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.

WE HAVE 25 PERCENT OF THE JOBS.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR POPULATION.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO OUR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.

I THINK IT STARTS WITH JOBS.

AND PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES AND CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

>> YOUR OPPONENT BRINGS THIS UP A LOT, MR. MANTAVANI, HIS FRONTS ARE MOVING OUT OF TOWN.

THEY ARE GOING TO AUSTIN, NEW YORK.

>> AUSTIN IS BOOMING.

IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST PLACES GROWING IN THE COUNTRY.

I WANT TO WIN THAT TOO.

THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE POPULATION, WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS OUR SHORTAGES OF EMPLOYEES.

ONE IS TO WIN THE KID CAMPAIGN AND GET OUR KIDS TO STAY HERE.

THE KIDS THAT ARE COMING TO OTHER UNIVERSITIES FROM OUT OF TOWN, GET THEM TO STAY HERE AFTER THEY FINISH COLLEGE.

THEY HAVE TO BE PROUD OF ST. LOUIS.

THEY WANT IT TO BE SAFE AND THAT WE TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE VALUES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THEM.

REASONABLE IMMIGRATION POLICY.

WE SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR THESE AFGHAN REFUGEES.

WE HIT A HOME RUN WITH THE IMMIGRATION WAVE 30 YEARS AGO.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT REFUGEES HELP TO GROW OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE RACIALLY SEGREGATED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

WE NEED TO GET TO THAT TOO.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME -- >> MOST PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WE TALK ABOUT CRIME.

MOST PEOPLE FEEL SAFE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE STOP WORKING ON IT.

WE WILL TRY TO IMPROVE THAT.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT INFLATION AND JOBS.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO WORK IN HIGH RESTAURANT OR MY LAUNDROMAT, COMPANIES.

EVERY BUSINESS SECTOR, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE TO DO THAT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED TO RETIRE OR TAKE THEMSELVES OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE AREA IN GENERAL WHICH I THINK I HAVE SEEN LITTER, HIGHWAYS, ROADS, SOME COUNTY, SOME MUNICIPAL.

ARE WE HAVING PROBLEM OF LADY BIRD JOHNSON IN CLEANING UP THE AREA?

>> THE TRASH ALONG THE ROADS IS FRUSTRATING.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THAT.

IN ST. LOUIS, WE ARE WE ARE AGGRESSIVE FOR PROBLEM PROPERTIES RESIDENTIAL AND PROPERTIES AND WE ARE CLEARING TITLES QUICKLY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN SOME OF THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO AND THE REFER WE CAN FIND IS TRYING TO CLEAR PROBLEM PROPERTIES.

>> THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT HIRE INCARCERATED, OR THE PEOPLE IN JAIL TO GET OUTSIDE, EARN A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AND DECLUTTER, OR PICK UP THE LITTER.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THAT OR OTHER CITIES ENGAGING THE HOMELESS AND PAYING THEM TO PICK UP LITTER.

WHICH SEEMS TO BE IN A PERIOD OF LABOR SHORTAGE A GREAT WAY TO SOLVE TWO PROBLEMS; GET THE MONEY IN THE HOMELESS'S HANDS AND MAKE THE COUNTY MORE BEAUTIFUL.

>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I HAVEN'T EXPLORED THAT BEFORE.

I HAVE HEARD COMPLAINTS OF FOLKS WHO LAND AT THE AIRPORT AND DRIVE HOME AND THAT'S THE FIRST IMPRESSION PEOPLE GET OF OUR COMMUNITY ALONG THE INTERSTATE.

WE CAN REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS, ALONG THE HIGHWAYS AND ROADS.

>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE, STEVE, ON HIS THOUGHTS ON TO MAKE THE REGION SAFER AND ST. LOUIS' AIRPORT?

>> STEVE IS A GOOD FRIEND.

I STARTED WITH HIM IN LEGISLATURE.

WE DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING.

BUT MOST OF WHAT WE DO IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TOGETHER AND GETTING THE ROADS FIXED.

STEVE HAS STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

HE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY SIGNED ON M MOU.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.

THERE WERE DETAILS THAT WERE STICKY.

ONE OF THE PROPERTIES IN CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR REGION IS TO GET COOPERATION BETWEEN NOT JUST WITHIN THE COUNTY BUT WITHIN THE COUNTY JURISDICTIONS SHARING INTELLIGENCE, SHARING TECHNOLOGY, SHARING INFORMATION THROUGH LICENSE PLATES READERS AND CAMERAS.

WE'LL MAKE INVESTMENTS THERE.

>> TONY WEAVER WAS INDICTED AND PLEADED GUILTY TO TRYING TO SCAM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY, IF ANY, DO YOU ACCEPT, HERE WAS A GUY WHO WAS GOING TO PRISON AND HE WAS ON THE COUNTY PAYROLL.

>> IT IS FRUSTRATING.

3800 EMPLOYEES AND SOMETIMES THEY DISAPPOINT US.

WHEN THEY DO, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MOVE QUICKLY AND DEAL WITH IT.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR OF IT AND I FIRED HIM IMMEDIATELY.

TONY'S JOB AT THE JAIL WAS TO BE THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE JAIL AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY SAID HE WAS DOING THAT.

GETTING INVOLVED WITH APPLICATIONS FOR COVID-19 MONEY WAS NOT HIS JOB.

HE GOT CAUGHT UP IN IT AND HE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR IT.

>> DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GET VOTES SOUTH COUNTY?

WEST COUNTY?

>> I HAVE PRETTY BROAD SUPPORT.

I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WHEN YOU ARE IN PUBLIC OFFICE, YOU MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS AND WHAT WE HAVE MANAGED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND THEY CAME WITH HARD DECISIONS AND NOT EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH YOU.

YOU GET FOLKS WHO ARE UPSET AND FOLKS THAT ARE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

WHENEVER I GO OUT, I HAVE A FEW FOLKS WHO WANT TO TAKE PICTURES AND A FEW FOLKS TELL ME I SHOULD DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

WE TRY TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN TWO MINUTES TO GO.

>> -- WOULD LIKE REGIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPORT THAT IS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

BUT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY ST. LOUIS CITY.

WHICH IS A WEIRD THING.

SHOULD SOMEONE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY BE ABLE TO WORK THERE?

AND HAVE A SEAT ON THE AIRPORT COMMISSION?

>> SO, I HAVE FOUR APPOINTEES ON THE COMMISSION AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS ONE.

THE AIRPORT COMMISSION DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB AT REPRESENTING OUR INTERESTING AND CONCERNS AND AIRPORT DIRECTOR IS REALLY A PRETTY GOOD LISTENER WHEN I HAVE CONCERNED.

SHE IS GOOD AT HEARING THIS.

THE AIRPORT IS GOING TO GET BETTER.

WE HAVE A TERMINAL PLAN.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

STEVE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE AIRPORT FOR 20 YEARS AND HE WAS ADDRESSING THAT WHEN HE WAS A SENATOR.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GET ANYWHERE.

I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE AIRPORT WILL GET A NEW TERMINAL.

>> DO YOU DO ANYTHING FOR FUN THESE DAYS?

THE LAST 30 SECONDS.

I KNOW YOU ARE A BUSY MAN.

>> WE HAVE A FARM AND I GET DOWN THERE OVER THE WEEKENDS.

AND I TOOL AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

IT IS NOT A WORKING FARM WITH ANIMALS.

IT IS MOSTLY A LARGE GREEN SPACE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

>> GOOD LUCK.