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

>> FIREWORKS WERE IN THE AIR A WEEK AGO ON THIS EVENING AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE SOME SPARKS ON THIS SHOW TONIGHT.

ALVIN READ SITTING IN FOR CHARLIE BRENNAN ON "DONNYBROOK".

THIS WEEK WE ARE JOINED BY JASMINE HUDA, BILL MCCLELLAN, AND JOE HOLLEMAN AS IS BILL MCCLELLAN.

AND AMY MARXKORS FROM KMOX, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BILL, YOU HAD QUITE THE COLUMN THIS PAST WEEKEND.

AS I SAID, IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE AND SOMEWHAT HILARIOUS BUT ALSO ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME.

YOU TOUCHED ON A LOT OF THINGS.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THEM.

ONE OF WHICH IS WE TOOK A LOT OF FUN OUT OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

WHEN WE DID, WE TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

..

IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A DOWNTOWN OR REVIVAL, ALL DOWNTOWN THAT WAS VIBRANT WAS KIND OF FUELED BY ALCOHOL, MOSTLY BEER.

WE WERE A BEER TOWN.

BUT THERE WERE BARS ALL OVER, AND PEOPLE STOPPED AND HAD A QUICK BEER OR TWO BEFORE GOING HOME AFTER WORK ALMOST ALL THE TIME.

IT.. WORK AND HAD THE GOVERNOR TRYING TO TAKE STATE WORKERS FROM THE CITY TO CHESTERFIELD.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS, THE WORKERS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE COMPLAINED.

THEY COULD HAVE SAID DOWNTOWN IS KIND OF A FUN PLACE TO GO.

NOW, YOUNG PEOPLE, I SEE IT IN YOUNG PEOPLE, TOO, WHO WANT TO WORK FROM HOME.

IN THE OLD DAYS, IT WAS FUN TO GO DOWNTOWN AND DRINKING HAD A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH THAT AND OF COURSE THE FLIP SIDE IS IF YOU ARE DRINKING AT A BAR AND THEN GOING HOME, YOU ARE DRINKING AND THEN DRIVING.

>> NOW, JOE, YOU TWO YOUNG LADIES ARE YOUNGER.

DO YOU SEE IT IN THAT SAME FASHION.

I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED DOWNTOWN AND STILL WORK DOWNTOWN.

WHAT SAVES DOWNTOWN?

OUR NEXT SUBJECT WILL BE CRIME DOMINATED.

WHAT.. NIGHT LIFE?

>> THINGS THAT ARE ANCHORING DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE BUSCH STADIUM.

AND WE HAVE MLS STADIUM.

THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I DON'T SEE WITH ANY REGULARITY THE KIND OF FUN NIGHT LIFE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BILL.

THE LANDING.

WE THINK ABOUT LANDING AND THE BARS, AND THEY ARE PUMPING APARTMENTS INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BOOST THE LANDING AND OTHER PARTS, BUT MAN, IT IS DIFFERENT NOW THAN IT WAS BACK THEN.

&g.. CRIME, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING TO POINT THEIR FINGER AT CRIME.

I LOOK AT IT LIKE WHERE IS WALL WALDO?

WALDO IS THE ONLY GUY ON THE BEACH.

..

IT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE I READ BILL'S COLUMN, DRINKERS AND SMOKERS IS WHAT'S GOING TO SAVE DOWNTOWN.

I ..

PHENOMENON WE ARE EXPERIENCING.

ONE, A LACK OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

WE DON'T HAVE BUSY STREETS AT NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY.

THERE IS NO RUSH HOUR.

2, THE DRINKING AND SMOKING, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH.

WHEN NEIGHBORS SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH AND TALK TO EACH OTHER, THESE ARE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BARS, PEOPLE OUT HAVING A SMOKE, IT IS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION.

IT IS A COMMUNITY.

IT IS A SAFER CITY.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE.

>> JOE, YOU ARE OLD SCHOOL.

>> NOT THE OLDEST ONE HERE.

I THINK NOT JUST IN ST. LOUIS BUT I THINK OTHER DOWNTOWNS WILL FIND THIS TO BE TRUE MORE AND MORE.

INTO AN OFFICE.

I HAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE POSITION OF HIRING PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS IS DO I NEED TO WORK OUT OF THE OFFICE?

IF YO ..

THE NOTION THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO AN OFFICE.

THERE IS NO CHOICE.

AND WHILE YOU ARE DOWN THERE BEFORE YOU GO HOME, LET'S GRAB A COUPLE OF DRINKS.

YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO INTO AN OFFICE AT ALL.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES THAT TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BRING ABOUT IS IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT LESS VIABLE, MAYBE A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE WILL BE FINE WHERE EVERYBODY WORKING AT HOME ON THIS BLOCK WILL GO TO THAT BAR.

BUT THE ..

GOING DOWNTOWN IN THE MORNING IS JUST NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE.

>> FUN.

TH.. SHOPS, DENTIST OFFICE AND JEWELERS AND EVERYTHING.

>> I DON'T THINK KIDS LOOK FOR THAT ANYMORE.

>> WHAT IF WE PAID THEM $100 MORE A PAY PERIOD IF THEY WORKED IN THE OFFICE?

>> I HAD ONE PERSON WHO WAS BASICALLY TRYING TO HIRE A PERSON TO WORK AT A UNIVERSITY, NOT HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

THEY SAID IT'S A SMALL COLLEGE, AND WE WANT TO FOSTER A CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT.

THIS.. GOT TO COME INTO THE CAMP?

YEAH, WE TRIED TO BE A HOMEY, FOLKSY, HIRES THE GUY, AND AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS DOESN'T SEE IT, SO HE CALLS HIM UP AND SAYS YEAH, I KNOW YOU WERE MOVING AND EVERYTHING.

HAVE..

YET?

I MEAN, THIS WASN'T HIS FIRST JOB.

SO I T.. PEOPLE DO FIND IT SO CONVENIENT, THERE IS NO SHOP OR BAR THAT WILL MAKE YOU GIVE UP THE IDEA THAT I CAN SIT AT HOME IN GYM SHORTS AND A T-SHIRT AND WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND NOT DRIVE MY CAR ANYWAY.

>> COVID AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGED ALL OF THAT.

AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO BE THE LASTING IMPACT.

>> MY SON, TECHNOLOGY WORKS FOR APPLE IN AUSTIN, AND HE'S A HYBRID WORKER.

Z HE HAHE HAS TO GO IN SOMETIMES.

HE HAS TWO LITTLE KIDS.

NO OFFENSE, JACK, BUT I WAS ALWAYS HAPPY TO GET AWAY FROM YOU GUYS.

>> I'M THE SAME WAY.

I'VE GOT THE REMEDY.

50-CENT TACOS, THEY WILL DRAW A CROWD.

BEAUTIFUL, DAY WAS GREAT.

NIGHT WENT TO HECK REALLY FAST.

THERE WERE SHOOTINGS.

THERE WERE FIREWORKS BEING SHOT AT EACH OTHER.

THERE WAS IN GENERAL MAYHEM.

THE MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF RESPONDED, CHIEF FIRST OF ALL SAYING IT'S A FEW BAD INDIVIDUALS.

THE MAYOR DETAILED THAT WE.. DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE GUNS.

I KIND OF THINK TO MYSELF THAT FOURTH OF JULY, DON'T YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR EVERYTHING?

THERE ISN'T A TOWN THAT I LIVED AND WORKED IN, DANVILLE, LANSING, ARKANSAS, LOTS OF DOMESTIC CALLS, POLICE ON CALL FOR 24 HOURS.

AMY, YOU WORK DOWNTOWN.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE DOWN THERE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.

BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY STEM THE OVERALL VIOLENCE, BUT ON NIGHTS LIKE THAT?

>> YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT IT WON'T BE TOLERATED AND THAT'S NOT THE MESSAGE THAT ST. LOUIS CITY SENDS EVER.

ANYTHING IS ..

WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO THE CITY, MY FRIEND SAID JOKINGLY, YOU CAN SPEED, DO ANYTHING YOU WANT DOWN HERE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T MURDER ANYONE, AND THAT'S 50/50.

YOU CAN RUN THROUGH LIGHTS.

THERE'S A SENSE OF LAWLESSNESS.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE TRIVIAL LAWLESSNESS, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE PROLIFERATION OF GUNS, BUT WE DO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE UP TO NO GOOD AND KNOW THAT DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO TO GET AWAY WITH IT OR INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

YES, GUNS IS AN ISSUE, BUT SO IS THE SEVERE PROFOUND UNDERSTAFFING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IF YOU ARE W.. SHORT, YOU ARE OUT NUMBERED BY JUVENILES WHO ARE EITHER SHOOTING FIREWORKS, GUNS OR BOTH.

SENT DAY AFTER DAY WITH EVERY INSTANCE OF TRAFFIC VIOLENCE THAT WE SEE, EVERY RED LIGHT THAT IS RUN, EVERY BROKEN WINDOW, ALL THE CAR BREAK-INS.

THAT MESSAGE IS SENT.

THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME GET IN TROUBLE.

>> R.. WINDOWS.

PUTTING HIM ASIDE FOR A SE..

THE NOTION, THOUGH, OF THAT IS, AND I THINK AMY IS SPOT ON IN HER ASSESSMENT WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, IF YOU START WITH A DEFUND THE POLICE POSITION, ALTERNATIVES WAYS TO ENFORCE LAWS BUT THEN NO ONE GETS A TICKET FOR NOT HAVING A LICENSE PLATE OR IT'S EXPIRED OR RUNNING LIGHTS, EVENTUALLY THERE'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT.

THAT'S THE PART WHERE IT C..

IN.

BEFORE ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN?

AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF HEARING THESE STORIES AFTER A WHILE IT SLOWLY ERODES YOUR DESIRE TO GO TO THAT AREA WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S N..

IT'S NOT ONE FOURTH OF JULY.

IT'S THAT EVERY TIME, I MEAN, ME AND MY FRIENDS JOKED IF WE DIDN'T LEAVE THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER LICENSE TAG AGAIN.

WHY SHOULD I?

WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS NOBODY IS GOING TO ENFORCE THAT?

WHAT ELSE WON'T THEY ENFORCE?

WE'VE ALL BEEN KIDS, AND THE ONES THAT HAVE KIDS, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WILL TRY TO PUSH THE ENVELOP.

WHEN YOUR PARENTS SAID YOU HAD TO BE HOME AT 11:00, YOU WANTED TO SEE WHAT 11:15 WAS GOING TO BRING AND KEEP MOVING IT ON.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS ON A GENERAL SOCIETAL LEVEL.

I THINK WE PAY THE P.. THOSE THINGS LATER, CALL IT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, BUT WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT LAWS DON'T HAVE TO BE OBEYED, THEY SEE HOW MANY LAWS DON'T HAVE TO BE OBEYED.

IT'S HUMAN NATURE SADLY.

>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS ISOLATED INCIDENTS, IT'S NOT SITTING WELL WITH THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND WORK DOWNTOWN.

SEE THE VIDEO CLIPS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.

THEY HAD A MEETING, CALLED IT A WAR ZONE AND SAID THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.

THERE ARE TOO MANY INSTANCES IN A ROW TO SAY IT'S ISOLATED.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SO MUCH.

IT'S NOT JUST ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO TURN IT AROUND.

ONE THING THAT I THINK GIVES ME SOME HOPE IS KNOWING THAT WE NOW HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND GABE GORE HAS BEEN IN THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, AND THEY JUST STARTED A TRIAL THIS WEEK THAT WAS, I THINK, THROWN OUT DURING KIM GAR GARDNER'S BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR WORD.

IT'S RIE LIKE RIGHTING A SHIP.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

THEY ARE SHORT 300 OFFICERS.

THINK IF THEY WERE FULL AND WE COULD HAVE SEEN MORE OFFICERS DOWNTOWN THE FOURTH OF JULY.

ANOTHER POSITIVE, I GUESS, AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AWHILE, THEY ARE SEEING MORE APPLICANTS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO THAT DOES GIVE SOME HOPE, I THINK.

BUT IT'S..

LOT OF TIME.

>> I WAS TALKING TO .. WAS DOWN THERE.

HE TOLD ME THAT ONE THING WE NEED IS MORE VISIBILITY OF THE POLICE.

..

THE GOVERNOR HAS STATE HIGHWAY PATROL PEOPLE ALL OVER IN ST. CLAIRE, MADISON COUNTIES.

ANOTHER GUY SAID TO ME, IF WE HAD A CURFEW DOWNTOWN FOR A WHILE, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GET THESE KIDS OUT OF THERE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO COME FROM THE KIDS WALKING AROUND WITH THE FIREWORKS IN THEIR BACKPACK.

MAYBE IT'S A CULTURAL THING, BUT IN LIEU OF CHANGING THE CULTURE, YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING DOWNTOWN.

I THINK CARA SPENCER SAID, A STORY THAT WAS IN THE POST DISPATCH THAT I THOUGHT ALSO WAS SPOT ON, QUIT JUST SAYING OH, IT'S A PROBLEM WITH GUNS.

QUIT WRITING IT OFF LIKE THAT.

WHAT'S DONE IS AND MS. SPENCER'S CONTENTION WAS THAT CITY LEADERS, AND NOW SHE'S RUNNING FOR OFFICE, OF COURSE, CRITICAL OF THE MAYOR, BUT IT'S ALLOWED THIS SORT OF IMAGE TO GO ALONG THAT ST. LOUIS'S DOWNTOWN IS NOT A SAFE PLACE TO BE, AND QUIT JUST SAYING OH, IT'S A GUN PROBLEM, OR THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT OR IT'S JUST YOUR PERCEPTION.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO DO AND QUIT SAYING OH, IT'S THAT PROBLEM.

IT'S.. YEAH, IT IS.

IT IS.

>> IT'S A JUXTAPOSITION WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN.

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WHERE DOWNTOWN WAS SAFE, BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT.

I ..

COMPARE THAT WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.

IN A ROW PEOPLE BEING SHOT SHOOTING FIREWORKS AT EACH OTHER.

ANOTHER 15-YEAR-OLD SHOT FROM OUT OF TOWN WHILE GOING TO ATTEND A CONCERT.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE CULTURE.

AND IT WAS AT 11:55, AND THAT WAS A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE, AND I WOULD RUN IN PLATFORM SHOES.

I ..

CURFEW.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS CRIME HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

BUT THE STATE IS SELLING THE WAYNE WRIGHT BUILDING, MOVING EMPLOYEES TO CHESTERFIELD.

AND JASMINE, WHILE HE SAYS CRIME HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, HE KIND OF DIDN'T SAY.

>> YEAH, HE SAID IT DIDN'T.

THEN HE SAID IT DID.

NOW HE'S SAYING IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION.

CRIM..

HE HAD BEEN HEARING FROM EMPLOYEES FOR A LONG TIME.

WE ASKED HIM LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS DECISION, DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH CRIME?

AND HE SAID I DON'T THINK CRIME WAS THE REASON BUT ST. LOUIS HAS GOT TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME.

WE'VE GOT TO GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO COME TO WORK DOWNTOWN.

I'M PARAPHRASING WHAT HE SAID.

BUT IT'S ALSO A CHANGE IN HIS TUNE, BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN EMPLOYEES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE IN THE WAYNE WRIGHT BUILDING ASKED TO BE MOVED TO AN OFFICE IN CLAYTON, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FEEL SAFE.

THESE WERE ATTORNEYS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND THE DOCUMENTS SAID WE DON'T FEEL SAFE WALKING TO THE METROLINK STATION.

WE DON'T FEEL SA..

THE PARKING GARAGE.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT EXIT.

THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THE MESSAGING HERE.

BECAUSE THE CITY, THEY GOT NO WARNING ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK YOU COULD GIVE SOMEBODY A HEADS UP.

SAYING THAT, ON SOME ISSUES, THE MAYOR, AND ON OTHERS, I'VE BEEN AT EVENTS WITH THE URBAN LEAGUE, AND WE HAVE HAD BLACK STATE SENATORS.

THERE'S ONLY A FEW THINGS WE DIFFER ON.

THE GOVERNOR IS A GOOD GUY AND ALL OF THAT.

WHERE IS THAT MESSAGE AT WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN?

A CALL WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.

>> WHAT JASMINE SAID ALSO POINTS TO THE FACT THAT CITY OFFICIALS CAN TALK ALL ABOUT HOW SAFE DOWNTOWN IS, BUT PEOPLE WORKING IN THE BUILDING TWO YEARS AGO ARE LIKE WE ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME.

YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.

IF A PERSON FEELS UNSAFE, THEY FEEL UNSAFE.

AND THEY NORMALLY DON'T MAKE IT UP OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.

THEY HEAR ABOUT THE MESS ON FOURTH OF JULY.

WHATEVER YOU TRIED TO DO TO CONVINCE THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE PERCEPTION WAS WRONG, YOU ARE BACK TO SQUARE 1 IMMEDIATELY.

THEY W.. >> BILL, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR COLUMN, CHESTERFIELD WAY BACK THEN.

TO GO TO A FACILITY IN CHESTERFIELD.

>>.. OF PEOPLE NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO STAY DOWNTOWN BUT THEY HAVE GOT TO DRIVE OUT TO CHESTERFIELD, AND NOT THAT IT'S THAT FAR.

YOU KNOW HOW ST. LOUIS IS.

>> PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

>> WE SHOULD SAY, TOO, THAT ON SOME WEEKENDS DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS IS GREAT.

IT'S LIKE A RACE, AND MY SON AND DAUGHTER WERE BOTH IN IT A FEW MONTHS AGO, FAMILIES EVERYWHERE.

THERE'S TIMES WHEN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS IS LIKE THIS IS REALLY COOKING.

>.. WHY WE CAN'T CARRY THAT OVER FROM ONE WEEKEND TO THE NEXT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH STAFFING.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE TO HAVE POLICE WORKING 12-HOUR SHIFTS.

EV..

IN ALMOST NO TIME.

THE COMMISSION CAME UP WITH A VERY, VERY -- I DON'T CALL IT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT ELIMINATING THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND ABOUT 72 HOURS IN THE GARBAGE CAN.

>>..

CYNICAL FEATHER IN MY CAP.

WAS ANYBODY REALLY HOLDING OUT GREAT HOPE THAT A POLITICALLY APPOINTED BODY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RELATIVELY ACTIVE IN POLITICS WAS GOING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MADE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM?

>> YOU CAN COME UP WITH THEM.

>> HOW FAR DID THEY GET?

I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE VERY BEGINNING ELIMINATING THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND LET'S ARGUE ABOUT CHECKS AND BALANCES, BUT WHY ANYBODY THOUGHT THAT A POLITICAL ENTITY WAS GOING TO SAY BY ALL MEANS HE RACED ME IN MY OFFICE.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER PERSON IN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT POLITICIANS DO.

THEY PROTECT WHAT THEY HAVE.

IF THEY CAN, THEY ADD MORE PEOPLE INTO THE OFFICE.

THEY DON'T CUT BACK.

WHEN GOVERNMENT TALKS ABOUT CUTS, THEY MEAN SLOWING DOWN THE RATE OF GROWTH.

IT IS BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS.

SO THE IDEA THAT THE COMPTROLLER WAS GOING TO GO AWAY, TO ME, I NEVER EXPECTED THAT TO HAPPEN.

THERE WAS A SLIGHT SURPRISE, THOUGH, AS WAS POINTED OUT BEFORE BY BILL AND MAKES GOOD SENSE IS THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, DARLENE GREEN WHO APPARENTLY HAD NOT BEEN SEEN OR HEARD OF IN 20 YEARS, AND BILLS NOT BEING PAID, APPARENTLY RALLIED AROUND THE MOVE TO ELIMINATE HER OFFICE AND GOT VERY ACTIVE AND THAT THE MAYOR AGREED WE SHOULD HAVE A COMPTROLLER I FOUND QUITE INTERESTING.

I THINK PART O.. POSTURING.

IT DOESN..

ELIMINATE ANOTHER POLITICIAN FROM THE SAME PARTY OF YOU FROM THE SAME CITY AS YOU WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR ELECTION AGAIN.

I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT, BUT MY QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD THE SYSTEM, I'M AFRAID THAT WHEN A MAYOR LIKES THE COMPTROLLER, THE COMPTROLLER MIGHT NOT BE DOING THEIR JOB, BECAUSE EVERY OTHER COMPTROLLER WE HAD, MAYORS AND COMPTROLLERS WENT AT EACH OTHER LIKE CATS AND DOGS.

AND NOW EVERYBODY IS LIKE ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY.

>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS HOPE, JOE, THE FACT THAT DARLENE GREEN HAS BEEN THE COMPTROLLER FOR SO LONG, AND SHE'S REACHED AN AGE, NOT MY AGE, BUT REACHING AN AGE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING I'M WILLING TO STEP DOWN.

IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME THAT WE COULD ELIMINATE THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AT THE END OF DARLENE GREEN'S LONG TENURE.

SO I WAS DISAPPOINTED.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH ELIMINA.. OFFICE.

I ..

ELIMINATING THE PAYCHECK.

WHY GIVE UP A JOB?

IF YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IT THIS LONG AND SOMEONE WANTS TO TAKE THE JOB AWAY.

>> SHE'S GOT IT PRETTY GOOD.

>> ARE THEY ELIMINATING THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE?

I REST MY CASE.

ARE WE VOTING ON THAT?

>> I DO THINK IT SENT A MESSAGE, THOUGH, WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING YOUR JOB OR DEMOTING IT, OH, OH, BILLS DO NEED TO BE PAID ON TIME.

I DO NEED TO SHOW UP TO WORK.

POLITICIANS FAMOUSLY STEP DOWN AS THEY AGE.

>> IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

POLITICIANS BECOMING TOO OLD IN OFFICE?

>>.. HAS BEEN SITTING AROUND SOMEPLACE FROM THE RAMS SETTLEMENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS JUMPED UP AND SAID WE WOULD LIKE A SIZEABLE CUT OF THIS MONEY FOR CHILD CARE AND FOR OTHER TEEN CENTERS, THINGS, AND ALONG THOSE LINES, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO ACADEMICS.

BUT I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE ASK, HOW ABOUT YOU, BILL?

>> I DO.

IF YOU ARE GOING.. MONEY TO ANYTHING, SCHOOLS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, MAKES SOME SENSE TO ME.

>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS PERFORMANCE WITH THE MONEY THEY HAVE NOW?

>> WHAT I SAY TO THAT IS THIS IS A DIFFERENT POT OF MONEY.

>> SO THEY WILL BE SMARTER WITH THIS KIND OF MONEY.

>> THEY EARMARKED WHERE THIS MONEY WAS GOING TO GO.

I KNOW THAT THE STATE OF MISSOURI HAS OFTEN EARMARKED MONEY FOR EDUCATION, AND IT GOES EVERYWHERE EXCEPT, BUT IN THIS CASE IT'S GOING TO GO TO THESE THINGS.

DOES T.. >> WOULD SOMEBODY BE EARMARKED TO GET BUS DRIVERS?

IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW TO PAY THE BUS DRIVERS, IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF MONEY IN THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>..

IT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM BY ANY MEANS, BUT NOT GIVING ANYMORE MONEY OR STARVING SCHOOLS DOESN'T HELP.

>> NOBODY IS STARVING.

YOU ARE SAY EXTRA MONEY.

>> NEED MORE MONEY FOR BUS DRIVERS.

THEY NEED MORE MONEY FOR BUS DRIVERS.

>>.. MONEY YOU GET NOW THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES IS BEING SPENT IN A GOOD AND REASONABLE EFFICIENT MANNER.

>.. GOVERNMENT IF THAT'S YOUR STANDARD.

>..

FAVOR OF THAT THAN YOU THINK.

>> THEY DID TALK ABOUT -- REMEMBER THEY SURVEYED THE RESIDENCE.

WHAT.. MONEY?

I TH.. INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER MAINS AND THE THIRD THING WAS RAISE CITY SALARIES, BUT THE FOURTH ONE WAS ACCESS TO CHILD CARE.

THAT WAS WHAT ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS ASKING FOR.

THEY WANT TO CREATE THE SCHOOLS THAT CAN PROVIDE, BECAUSE NOW THEY PROVIDE CARE FOR AGES 3 AND UP.

BUT THESE PARENTS, THEY ARE BABIES, AGES 0 TO 3, AND THAT IN THEORY COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

IT WOU.. WOULD OTHERWISE SEND THEM OUT TO SCHOOL.

AN..

NEIGHBORHOODS.

NEIGHBOR..

THE SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOLS A..

PRODUCT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN ST. LOUIS, ENROLLMENT WAS LIKE 30,000.

WHAT IS IT NOW LIKE .. 18,000?

>> YES.

>..

FAMILIES TO STAY.

>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CHILD CARE.

>> THE BUS THING IS.

>> THE WHOLE BUS ISSUE IS.

>> CHILD CARE IS GREAT.

>> LAST WEEK'S DISCUSSION OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS.

DURING THE YEAR GREATEST PANDEMIC DEATH WAS FUTILE WHERE THEY WORKED IN SCHOOLS AND DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER DEATH OR DISABILITY LURKED.

BEFORE COVID WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS LEARNING DEFICITS.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES NOW.

&g..

THE PAGE ALREADY.

TIME FOR MISSOURI AND SLPS TO GO TO SCHOOL YEAR-ROUND, LESS LOSS OF LEARNING RETENTION AND MORE FOCUS PROVEN TO WORK.

FROM ST. LOUIS CITY.

YOU CAN WRITE TO US AT "DONNYBROOK" IN CARE OF NINE PBS 3655 OLIVE STREET ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

AND SEND US AN E-MAIL TO "DONNYBROOK".

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CHARLIE, GO TO THE FAVORITE SOURCE OF YOUR PODCAST.

JASMINE AND AMY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING IN.

WE WON'T BE HERE NEXT WEEK.

THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WE WIL.. WE WILL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR WAT.. "DONNYBROOK".

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