THE DEMOCRATS' DILEMMA, FACEBOOK'S BRAIN, AND THE RACE TO BE MAYOR OF SYRACUSE.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE, CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND BEN BAUGHMAN FROM CAZENOVIA COLLEGE.

WHILE THE COUNTRY WAITS FOR ACTION ON MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE, CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS HAVE A PROBLEM.

THEY HAVE TO SCALE BACK THE AMOUNT THEY CAN SPEND ON WHAT THEY'RE CALLING “HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE ” SO THEY'RE FACED WITH A DILEMMA —SHOULD THEY TRY TO DO ONLY A FEW OF THE THINGS ON THEIR WISH LIST, BUT FUND THEM FULLY, OR SHOULD THEY GO FOR IT ALL, BUT WITH LESS MONEY FOR EACH?

CHAD, YOU IF YOU WERE ON THE HILL, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE TO BE TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND HER FRACTIOUS FRIENDS.

>> START WITH THE STATISTICAL REALITY THAT THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO DO ANYTHING HERE IS VERY, VERY SMALL.

THERE IS A KIND OF FAMOUS STATISTICIAN FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DAVID SHORE ESTIMATES DEMOCRATS COULD WIN 51% IN THE NEXT TWOY HAVE ELECTRICSES AND STILL WALK ORP WITH ONLY 43 SENATE SEATS.

COUPLE THAT WITH BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS LOW WITH 32% OF INDEPENDENTS APPROVING HOW HE IS HANDLING HIS JOB.

THE NATIONAL REVIEW ASKED THIS WEEK IS JOE MANCHIN THE ONLY DEMOCRAT WHO KNOWS HOW TO READ POLLS?

AND THAT CITES THE PUBLIC RESULT THAT 60% OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORT MANCHIN'S STRATEGIC PAUSE ON THE $3.5 TRILLION PLAN BUT THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.

WHAT WOULD MY ADVICE TO SPEAKER PELOSI BE?

IT WOULD BE TO FOCUS ON THE $1 TRILLION BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND LEAVE THE 3.5 TRILLION PLAN ASIDE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND WHAT WILL SHE DO?

STRONG ARM THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS TO GO ALONG BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES RESISTING THAT.

>> THAT'S WHY I SAY IT IS NOT LIKELY THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS DIVIDED ON THIS, OF COURSE.

I THINK BIDEN IS MORE POPULAR THAN YOU SUGGEST.

AROUND 45 TO 50% OVERALL WHICH IS PRETTY TYPICAL FOR SOMEONE IN THEIR TENURE AT THIS POINT.

THE SMARTEST MOVE IS TO NOT CUT WHAT HE HAS PROPOSED STRATEGICALLY AND TO OFFER LESS SERVICES OR LESS DURATION.

I DON'T SEE NANCY PELOSI SAYING WE HAVE FOUR PILLARS BUT WE CAN ONLY DO TWO OF THEM.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS WANT TO BE AGAINST FAMILIES, EITHER.

SCALE IT DOWN AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> I'M GOING TO SIDE WITH CHAD ON THIS BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS THREE BIG THINGS WORKING AGAINST THEM.

MANDATES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, AFGHANISTAN THAT WAS NOT DONE WELL AT LEAST AND THEN YOU'VE GOT INFLATION.

SO YOU'VE GOT THREE BIG STRIKES AGAINST THE BIOGRAPHIES GOING BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GOING INTO IT AND THEN YOUR PARTY, YOU HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITHIN YOUR PARTY THAT WE'VE GOT TO SLOW IT DOWN AND WE'VE GOT TO BE A LITTLE FISCALLY SMART WITH THIS, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IN BETTER DETAIL AMONGST THE PARTY BEFORE THEY COME BACK OUT AND PROVIDE SOME SORT OF UNITY, RIGHT?

A UNITED FRONT.

>> THEY'RE CLEARLY DISCUSSING IT.

THEY'RE AT LOGGERHEADS AS TO WHICH WAY TO GO.

TARA WHAT DO YOU THINK.

>> YOU ARE CORRECT THEY'RE DISCUSSING IT BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK THERE IS A DISCUSSION THAT LACKS SOME REALITY AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT BEN IS GETTING AT; THAT THIS DISCUSSION NEEDS TO GO BEYOND THE PIE IN THE SKY WE WANT EVERYTHING AND WE WANT IT NOW AND LOOK AT THE REALITY OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS COMING UP, LOOK AT THE REALITY OF YOU ARE NOT REALISTICALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING, SO LET'S SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN GET DONE AND GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THAT THEN WILL HELP BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATING, THAT WILL HELP THOSE THAT ARE IN SEATS THAT MAY BE IN DANGER IN THESE UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.

AND SO I THINK THERE DOES NEED TO BE A MORE STRATEGIC LOOK BY THE PROGRESSIVES AND THE REST OF THE PARTY AT WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PARTY.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE OFFERING OF ADVICE FOR IT GOING HERE IS TO SCALE IT BACK.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WOULD YOU SCALE BACK?

THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE?

OR WHAT WOULD YOU SAY LET'S DO?

THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE, EXTEND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, THE PAY FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

CHAD?

>> IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME HOW MUCH IN THIS BILL IS MEANS TESTED BUT IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT IF MORE IS MEANS TESTED, IT IS GOING TO BE CHEAPER AND HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF PASSING.

BUT THE UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY UNDERMINE THE EFFICACY OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS.

FOR EXAMPLE, ELIZABETH CASSIO IS AN ECONOMIST AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, I OVERLAPPED WITH HER WHEN I WAS IS IN GRAD SCHOOL.

SHE HAS ARGUED THAT ATTENDING A STATE FUNDED UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL GENERATES SUBSTANTIAL AND IMMEDIATE TEST SCORE GAINS PARTICULARLY FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN, WHEREAS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MEANS TESTED, PRE-K PROGRAMS, THE GAINS ARE THERE FOR LOW INCOME KIDS BUT THEY'RE NOT AS BIG.

AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT UNIVERSALITY THERE, IS THE EXTRA BENEFIT YOU GET WORTH THE EXTRA COST?

AS A CONSERVATIVE I'M INKLEINED TO SAY NO BUT I HAVEN'T TALKED TO LIZ ABOUT THIS SO SHE MIGHT VERY WELL TELL ME THAT I'M ABSOLUTELY WRONG AND IT IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT AND KEY TO THE PROGRAM.

>> I WOULD LOOK AT THE TRILLION DOLLARS THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE, AT LEAST THE DEMOCRATS AND THAT'S WORKING ON THE ROADS AND THE INTERNET.

SO I THINK THAT IS THERE.

I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT WE RUN ON A DEFICIT ALREADY WITH OUR BUDGET, AND I THINK THAT'S GOT TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST THE DEBT CEILING ALREADY AND THIS IS WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL $3.5 TRILLION THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.

>> WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING DEFICITS SINCE-- WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD A SURPLUS?

1999?

>> TO BE FAIR 75% OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE DEFICIT AND 87% ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.

THOSE ARE REALLY HIGH NUMBERS THAT MAKE $3.5 TRILLION HARD.

>> THEY'RE VERY INFLUENCED BY A PARTISAN POSITION.

WHEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN POWER, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT DEBT OR DEFICIT AND THE SAME WITH THE DEMOCRATS WHEN THEY'RE IN POWER.

I THINK WE HAVE A MOMENT OF UNIFIED GOVERNMENT AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE GETTING DONE WHAT THEY THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

YES, THEY'RE IMPORTANT ISSUES BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT SOCIAL POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S TIMES OF GREAT DURESS THAT WE SEE EXPANSIONS IN SOCIAL POLICY.

; PARTICULARLY THE GREAT RERECESSION.

UNIVERSAL PRE-K IS A MUST.

ONE THIRD OF AMERICAN CHILDREN DON'T ATTEND PRE-K AND THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND WHERE DO YOU DIAL IT BACK IN INSTEAD OF 12 PAID LEAVE HAS EIGHT, SO YOU CAN PARE DOWN THOSE THINGS AND GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS.

>> SO ARE YOU SAYING THEY SHOULD GO WITH WE WANT IT ALL BUT WE DO DO ALL THE PROGRAMS BUT AT A LESSER AMOUNT?

>> YES AND I THINK THE BET ARE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIKE ITSELF PROGRAMS BUSINESS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT THEM CUT.

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT THEM EXPANDED AND THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR THE BENEFITS TO ACCRUE SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY OKAY, I LIKE THIS.

I'LL VOTE FOR THIS GUY OR I'LL VOTE FOR THIS PARTY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD BE A LONG-TERM PROCESS.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP THE DEMOCRATS IN THE MID TERM.

YOU LOOK AT EMPIRICAL ELECTION RATES, THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO LOSE SEATS.

WHETHER THEY LOSE CONTROL REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL HELP THEM IN THE SHORT-TERM BUT IN THE LONG-TERM IT MAY.

>> NOW THE TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS FROM A FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER HAS LED TO INCREASED CALLS TO REIN IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ADOPT RULES TO MODERATE CONTENT, A NEWER APPROACH IS TO TO REGULATE THE ALGORITHM THAT FACEBOOK USES FOR ITS NEWS FEEDS.

THAT ALGORITHM IS THE SECRET SAUCE THAT DETERMINES WHAT POSTS AND SHARED ARTICLES WE SEE.

IT PUSHES OUR COLLECTIVE BUTTONS, KEEPS US ENGAGED ON THE PLATFORM, BUT IT LEADS TO DIVISION AND POLARIZATION.

HOW SHOULD FACEBOOK BE REGULATED?

IF WE ASSUME THAT IT SHOULD BE IN SOME FASHION.

>> WELL, I DO AND I'M DONE, DAVE.

I DELETED MY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT, INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOLLOWING THE WHISTLEBLOWER TESTIMONY AND, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT MARK ZUCKERBERG AND HIS CREDO: CREDO OVER COMPANY.

I DON'T NEED THAT BUT IT'S COMPLICATED FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

WHEN YOU THINK OF REGULATION, THE TECH INDUSTRY IS LARGELY UNREGULATED AND WHAT WE HAVE IS A SITUATION WHERE FACEBOOK IS ESSENTIALLY A PUBLIC UTILITY IN COMMUNICATION AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE REGULATED AS SUCH F. WE HAD A GLOBAL WATER SYSTEM WHERE THE LEADERSHIP PURPOSELY POISONED THE WATER TO MAKE IT MORE ADDICTIVE AND THEIR OWN RESEARCH KNEW THEY WERE HARMING PEOPLE AND THEY KEPT DOING IT, THERE WOULD BE AN OUTCRY AND THINGS WOULD CHANGE.

I DO THINK FACEBOOK NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE CONTENT THAT THEY AM BY AMPLIFY THAT IS HARMFUL.

>> SO THE PROVISION IN THE COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT SECTION 230 WHICH BASICALLY SHIELDS THEM FROM WHAT IS PUBLISHED ON THEIR CONTENT, YOU ARE SUGGESTING THAT SHOULD BE REVISED, ELIMINATED?

>> THE KIND OF CONCERN THAT PEOPLE RAISE IS RELATED TO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IS IT GOING TO END UP REGULATING THE TYPE OF SPEECH THAT HAPPENS ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT'S GOING TO INVITE FIRST AMENDMENT CONCERNS AND THAT SORT OF THING?

I ACTUALLY RECOMMEND THAT VIEWERS CHECK OUT THIS DOCUMENTARY OF SORTS CALLED THE SOCIAL DILEMMA ON NETFLIX.

WHAT IT DOES IS INTERVIEWS A BUNCH OF FORMER EXECUTIVES FROM COMPANIES LIKE FACEBOOK AND HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT IT FUELS DEPRESSION AND ANGER AND MISINFORMATION AND THIS SORT OF THING AND THEY LAY THE BLAME AT THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT TELLS US WHAT TO VIEW AND ALSO THE STEADY STREAM OF NOTIFICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING IT AND GIVING IT OUR CONSTANT ATTENTION.

TO ME, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE WANT TO WORRY ABOUT AND DECREASE, WE HAVE TOOLS FOR THAT AND THAT WOULD BE TAXES.

WE COULD TAX FACEBOOK FOR EVERY NOTIFICATION OR ALERT IT SENDS OUT.

TAX YOUTUBE EVERY TIME SOMEBODY CLICKS SOME REVIEWER OR A.I.

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM.

YOU COULD TAX TIKTOK EVERY TIME IT COLLECTS DATA.

THE POINT BEING THAT TAXES OFFER A CLEVER LEAVER TO CHANGE THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF THESE COMPANIES WITHOUT NECESSARILY INVITING SOME OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT OBJECTIONS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT RAISE.

>> JUST WANT TO GET IT CLEAR SO OUR CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIST WANTS TAXES.

>> I'M AFRAID THAT'S GOING TO HAVE THE REVERSE REACTION WHAT HAVE WE WANT.

THE ALGORITHMS IS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING.

GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY.

AND THE ISSUE IS IF WE TAX THIS COMPONENT THAT IS REALLY FUELING THE ALGORITHM OF THE CLICKS SO THAT THEY CONTINUE TO GET THE ADVERTISING MONEY, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GET MORE MONEY BUT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SILO AND DIVIDE OUR COUNTRY WITH THESE ALGORITHMS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR IT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE HIT WITH IT.

>> SO WE SEE IT MORE AS A REVENUE SOURCE THAT INCREASES REVENUE BUT ISN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO FUEL IT ACTUALLY.

>> AND I AGREE WITH BEN.

IT ABSOLUTELY WILL FUEL IT AND PART OF THE PROBLEM WILL BE THAT IT BECOMES PART OF THE REVENUE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DEPENDENT ON WHICH MEANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL, QUITE FRANKLY, BEGIN TO HAVE LESS INCENTIVE TO REALLY REGULATE WHERE THE PROBLEM IS ORIGINATING, WHICH IS WITH THE ALGORITHMS.

>> WHAT ABOUT REGULATEDING FACEBOOK IN A WAY TO STRENGTHEN THE PRIVACY PROTECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE IF YOU ENGAGE WITH FACEBOOK.

LUKE DOESN'T ANYMORE, BUT SUCH THAT IT IS NOT COLLECTING ALL THAT DATA SO THAT THAT BUSINESS MODEL OF USING THAT DATA TO TARGET ADVERTISERS MIGHT NOT BE VIABLE ANYMORE.

IT CHANGES THEIR BUSINESS STRATEGY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT WOULD ALSO PERHAPS REDUCE THE POLARIZATION WE SEE.

IS THAT A POSSIBLE WAY TO APPROACH THIS?

>> NOT ACCORDING TO THE WHISTLEBLOWER.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER DISTINCTLY SAID THAT THEY WOULD SET UP ACCOUNTS AT FACEBOOK, BLANK ACCOUNTS AND THEY WOULD FOLLOW JUST FOLLOW PEOPLE LIKE TRUMP, THE G.O.P.

AND SOME OTHER REPUBLICAN RIGHT WING AREAS AND WITHIN ONE WEEK, THEY WERE ALREADY GETTING QU NON GROUPING HITS AND SECOND WEEK THEY WERE GETTING HATE TALK.

SO THEY WERE ALREADY TRYING THAT AND SO IT'S NOT ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE, EITHER.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING.

I THINK WHERE WE HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS REALLY A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE, RIGHT?

SO EDWARD LUCAS IS A BRITISH JOURNALIST THAT SPOKE AT COLGATE LAST WEEK ABOUT SHARP POWER, THE WAY RUSSIA AND CHINA IN PARTICULAR WILL USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO INVITE BOTH ANTIFA AND PROUD BOYS TO THE SAME PORTLAND EVENT AND LET CHAOS ENSUE.

AND THINGS THERE ARE REALLY CONCERNING.

WE JUST SAW THE FORMER PENTAGON SOFTWARE CHIEF RESIGN IN PART BECAUSE HE WAS WORRIED THAT THE ANTICIPATE HAS BEEN TOO RELUCTANT IN USING CYBER SECURITY AND A.I.

AS A PRIORITY.

AND SAYING THAT THE U.S. HAS NO FIGHTING CHANCE AGAINST CHINA IN THESE ARENAS IN THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS.

THAT'S ALARMING.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

IT ALSO CUTS ACROSS HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE FAMILIES.

I MEAN FACEBOOK, BY THEIR OWN RESEARCH KNEW AND CONTINUES TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING CONTENT PURPOSEFULLY TO TEENAGE GIRLS THAT THEY KNOW MOTIVATES THEM TO CLICK MORE AND TO HARM THEMSELVES.

LIKE THAT'S AWFUL.

THAT NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

YOUR TAX SUGGESTION IS AN INTERESTING ONE, BUT I THINKY WITH NEED MORE THAN THAT.

YOU KNOW, WITH SOMETHING SO BIG, SO POWERFUL AND SO HARMFUL, I THINK WE NEED GREATER ACTION.

>> YOU ARE NO LONGER ON FACEBOOK.

I STILL HAVE AN ACCOUNT BUT I STOPPED CHECKING IT ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION AND I HAVE ONLY GONE BACK ONCE TO SEE IF I GOT ANY MESSAGES I SHOULD BE RESPONDING.

AND I FOUND THAT AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I NO LONGER FELT THAT NEED TO GO LOOK AND SCROLL AND I'M KEEPING IT AWAY.

COULD WE HAVE A CONSUMER MOVEMENT, A CITIZEN MOVEMENT, WHICH JUST SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND PUT IT AWAY?

OR IS IT TOO LATE FOR THAT?

>> THAT SOCIAL DILEMMA PROGRAM I MENTIONED, I WATCHED THAT LIKE A MONTH BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND IT TOLD ME TO GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA AND IT WAS GREAT FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH.

>> SO YOU DID.

I DID GET OFF.

KIND OF LIKE WHERE YOU TWO ARE AT.

>> IT'S NOT ONLY FACEBOOK.

ONE OF YOU GUYS MENTIONED YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK AND SO THIS IS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA WE ARE TALKING.

THE ALGORITHMS WORK THE SAME?

>> YES.

WELL NOT EXACTLY THE SAME BUT THEY DO SILO AND DO SPEAK TO WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.

THAT'S IN OUR NATURE.

HUMAN NATURE.

WE LIKE TO SEEK OUT WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR.

AND WE SEE WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE.

>> SO ANOTHER TERM I HAVEN'T HEARD IN THIS DISCUSSION IS FIRST AMENDMENT.

WHAT ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT GETS MORE PROMINENT AS CHAD REFERENCED WHEN YOU MAKE FACEBOOK, FOR INSTANCE, LIABLE FOR ALL THE CONTENT.

WHEN YOU JUST FOCUS WHAT THEY AMPLIFY, THAT HELPS PROTECT POTENTIAL CONCERNS ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELATED LAWSUITS.

>> NOW HERE IN CUSE SYRACUSE WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP FOR MAYOR COMING UP ON NOVEMBER IT'S ANOTHER 3-WAY RACE.

BEN WALSH, THE INCUMBENT, IS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT AGAINST DEMOCRAT KHALED BEY AND REPUBLICAN JANET BURMAN.

CRIME AND POLICING, AS ALWAYS, ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM THE CANDIDATES, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY ISSUE IN THE RACE.

FOUR YEARS AGO, WALSH WAS THE NEW YOUNG FACE ON THE SCENE.

HOW HAS HE DONE AND DOES HE HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT FROM HIS OPPONENTS IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION?

2.

>> WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK HE REALLY DOES HAVE MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT FROM HIS CHALLENGERS, BUT MUCH WILL DEPEND ON, FOR ONE THING, SORT OF THE IMPACT OF THE, FOR EXAMPLE, VACCINE MANDATE AND IF YOU HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF IT AND THAT THEN COULD BE MADE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

SO THAT MIGHT CREATE SOME TROUBLE FOR HIM.

BUT PARTIALLY, HE IS BENEFITING, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH FROM THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE PART OF WHAT HE HAS SHOWN IS GOOD LEADERSHIP DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HE HAS SHOWN REASONABLE LEADERSHIP.

HE HAS WORKED WELL WITH THE COUNTY EXEC, WITH THE GOVERNOR, ET CETERA.

SO THAT HAS HELPED HIM.

IT HAS HELPED HIM THAT HE HAS COME UP WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THE PROGRAM TO ASSIST TENANTS AND LANDLORDS BECAUSE OF THE EVICTION IS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE MADE HIM SEEM VERY REASONABLE, THAT HE REALLY DOES CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

HE HAS TRIED TO CARRY FORWARD ON SOME OF THE PROMISES HE MADE PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE IS THE SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING HE WANTED TO DO, BUT HE DID DO WHAT HE COULD.

HE HAS, YOU KNOW, TORN DOWN ABANDON BUILDINGS WHICH WAS ANOTHER CAMPAIGN PROMISE N. THAT SENSE HE IS DOING VERY WELL.

ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE LEE MAY HE MAY BE WEAK AND MUCH WILL DEPEND ON THE NEXT MONTH OR SO IS IN THE AREA OF CRIME, IS IN THE AREA OF THE CONTRACT AGREED UPON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CERTAINLY ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS KHALID BEY IS NOT A SUPPORTER OF THE NEW CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE THINKS IT IS FINANCIALLY UNTENABLE BEYOND TWO OR THREE YEARS.

AND SO THAT MAY BECOME A BIG CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

THE PROBLEM FOR JANET BURMAN IS THAT SHE, FOR ONE, I DON'T THINK HAS ENOUGH NAME RECOGNITION TO REALLY BE A CHALLENGE TO HIM AS THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.

SECOND, SHE SEEMS TO BE SORT OF MORE NARROWLY FOCUSED.

SHE TALKS ABOUT CRIME, SHE TALKS ABOUT MAKING THE CITY SAFER, BUT SORT OF BEYOND SORT OF GENERAL STATEMENTS SAYING WE NEED TO HIRE MORE POLICE, SHE REALLY DOESN'T GIVE A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO FINANCE HIRING MORE POLICE.

SHE HAS SOME GOOD IDEAS ABOUT BETTER POLICING AND NEIGHBORHOODS, ET CETERA, BUT AGAIN NOT ANY REAL SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW WE PAY FOR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THE POLICE NEED.

IN THE LAST 16 WEEKS ALONE, IN THE CITY, SHOOTINGS AND MURDERS HAVE BEEN TRENDING UP AND SO THAT, ALONG WITH THE MURDER RATES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, ALONG WITH THE AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS HAVE BEEN TRENDING UP THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR IN THE CITY.

THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT NEED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> SYRACUSE HAS A CRIME PROBLEM.

SYRACUSE HAS A POVERTY PROBLEM AND THAT TAKES RESOURCES TO ADDRESS AS WELL.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T REALLY ENJOY THE HYPERPARTISAN POLITICAL CLIMATE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, I'M REALLY INTRIGUED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THE FIRST INDEPENDENT IN 100 YEARS FACING REELECTION, WHETHER HE IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE FACE ABOUT CITIES HEADING INTO MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTIONS, WHEN WE CONSIDER INCUMBENTS, DEMOCRATIC MAYORS IN BUFFALO AND ROCHESTER LOSING PRIMARIES.

NOW THEY WERE IN OFFICE LONGER AND THEY HAD MORE SCANDAL THAN WALSH HAS SO THOSE WERE KEY FACTORS BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND IT'S HARD TO MAKE SENSE OF THE SITUATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOW PRIMARY TURNOUT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR THIS RACE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN LOOK, I LIVE AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF SYRACUSE.

I COME HERE TO FILM THE SHOW AND SOMETIMES I COME IN TO EAT, DRINK AND SHOP.

SO ANY PERSPECTIVE I CAN OFFER ON THIS IS TOTALLY AS AN OUTSIDER AND HERE IT IS.

I USED TO RAVE ABOUT BLUE TUSK IN ARMORY SQUARE, THE ONLY PLACE I KNEW OF IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHERE WOULD I GET A BRITISH STYLE CASK ALE AND VIEWERS, IF YOU KNOW OF ANOTHER, PLEASE WRITE INTO THE SHOW AND LET ME KNOW BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I WENT THERE, I WAS HEART BROKEN TO FIND OUT IT WAS CLOSING PERMANENTLY AS ANOTHER COVID CASUALTY.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A MAYOR'S RACE IS THE MAYORS GOING AROUND TO ALL THOSE DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS, YOU KNOW, YOUR FUNG AND WAFFLES, YOUR PASTABILITY AND SOUND GARDEN.

WHAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE BECAUSE IF THE BUSINESSES CLOSE, THERE IS NO REASON FOR OUTSIDERS LIKE ME TO COME IN.

>> WE HAVE GIVEN SHORT SHRIFT TO THE MAYOR'S RACE IN SYRACUSE.

WE SHOULD COME BACK TO THIS THE IN NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THERE WILL BE A DEBATE MONDAY NIGHT ON WCNY TV THAT WILL BE AT 8:00 MONDAY NIGHT.

EARLY VOTING STARTS SATURDAY.

LET'S GO TO OUR As AND Fs AND START WITH YOUR F TARA.

>> MY F TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CURRENT DEBATE ABOUT AN INSTANT THAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED TWO YEARS AGO WHEN A HARVARD LAW COUNTY FAINTED DURING A MOOT COURT COMPETITION.

AT THE TIME THE STUDENT WAS ASKED IF SHE NEEDED ASSISTANCE, THEY GAVE HER WATER.

SHE GOT UP, SHE CONTINUED WITH THE COMPETITION.

RECENTLY A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER USED THIS INCIDENT AS AN EXAMPLE OF YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME AND PICK YOURSELF UP AND KEEP GOING AND THIS HAS FUELED A HUGE DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON LAW STUDENTS IN LAW SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY HIGH RANKING SCHOOLS LIKE HARVARD, WHETHER THERE IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON STUDENTS IN GENERAL IN SCHOOL.

AND PART OF WHAT HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN IS THAT FIRST OF ALL THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO YEARS AGO AND SECOND OF ALL, THE INDIVIDUAL MADE THE CHOICE TO GET UP AND CONTINUE.

SHE WASN'T FORCED TO.

SO MY F GOES TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED THIS THIS CURRENT DEBATE.

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

>> LUKE YOUR F. >> TO THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH CRISIS FACING COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC PUNCTUATED BY MULTIPLE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

ONE IN FOUR 18-24 YEAR OLDS HAVE CONSIDERED TAKING THEIR LIFE.

>> AN F TO MAYOR DEBLAZ YO' FOR PHASING OUT THE GIFTED AND TALENTEDDED PROGRAM FROM NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS.

THIS A STORY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO UNFOLD.

>> MY F GOES TO GRAY TELEVISION.

TEXAS NEWS ANCHOR WAS JUST FIRED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS FROM HIS POSITION FOR NOT GETTING VACCINATED.

HE COULDN'T GET THE SHOTS BECAUSE HE HAS-- THERE ARE TWO INGREDIENTS IN THE SHOTS THAT HE IS ALLERGIC TO.

HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR.

HAD THE NOTE FROM THE DOCTOR.

AND SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF MANDATES GOING TOO FAR.

>> NOW TO OUR As.

YOUR A FOR THE WEEK TARA.

>> TO THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN WHO, DESPITE THE POTENTIAL FOR WHIPPING, BEING SHOT AT, BEING ABUSED, THEY CONTINUE TO PUBLICLY PROTEST THE LOSS OF RIGHTS.

>> AND LUKE YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVERALL OF THE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

A GREAT CONCEPT POORLY DESIGNED FOR YEARS.

AS A RESULT OF NEW CHANGES, PUBLIC SERVANTS WILL NOW HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT.

>> I THINK THAT GOT AN F FROM YOU A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> SIGHTS A HOT TOPIC FOR ME, DAVE.

>> YOUR A, CHAD.

>> SO THIS YEAR'S NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS WAS AWARDED TO ECONOMISTS I KNOW.

BACK WHEN I WAS JUST A PRE-TENURE PROFESSOR I HAD A GREAT ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH HIM ABOUT RESEARCH THAT A CO-AUTHOR AND I WERE ABOUT TO LAUNCH BUT STRUGGLING WITH A COMPLICATED DATA ISSUE.

I TALKED WITH DAVID ABOUT IT.

HE OFFERED SOME REALLY BRILLIANT INSIGHTS.

WE RAN WITH IT.

GOT IT PUBLISHED AND NOW IT'S ONE OF MY MOST CITED PAPERS.

THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN SO INFLUENTIAL TO ME IN MY CAREER HAVING WON THE NOBEL AND SO THE COMMITTEE GETS A LITTLE BIT OF A SELF INTERESTED A FROM ME FOR THEIR NOBEL SELECTIONS.

>> BEN, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO ERADICATE DISEASE CARRYING MOSQUITOES.

RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT BACTERIA THAT CAN SUCCESSFULLY STERILIZE AND ERADICATE INVASIVE DISEASE CARRYING TYPE OF MOSQUITOES, MOST OF THEM WERE OUT OF AUSTRALIA BUT THEY WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT SITES IN A 20-WEEK PERIOD IN THE SUMMER OF 2018 AND THEY SAW 80% DECLINE.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

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

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN DO SO ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY AND FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER."

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪