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

>>> WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS HOT EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT WHY WE'RE STILL REMOTE.

TURNS OUT OUR STUDIO IS BEING RENOVATED AND SOON, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE'LL BE BACK IN THE STUDIO, ENDING OUR PANDEMIC SOJOURN THROUGH THESE ZOOM REMOTES OR WHATEVER YOU DESCRIBE THEM.

LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION, STARTING WITH THE BIG 550 NEWS DIRECTOR.

SHE IS WENDY WIESE.

ALSO THE COHOST OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW WEEKDAYS ON 50.

THEN THERE'S BILL McCLELLAN BACK FROM A VACATION TO DISNEYLAND.

>> DISNEY WORLD.

>> OH, FAKE NEWS.

HE WENT TO DISNEY WORLD.

AND RAY HARTMANN IS WITH US FROM RAWSTORY.COM, THE RIVERFRONT TIMES AND ALSO THE BIG 550 KTRS AND WE WELCOME EDITOR FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, MR. ALVIN REID.

QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE BEFORE WE GET TO OUR TOPIC.

VANESSA COOKSEY, WHO IS THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION, WILL JOIN US AND TALK ABOUT ARTS IN ST. LOUIS AND THE STRUGGLE THEY HAD THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEIR ORGANIZATION IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HOTEL-MOTEL TAX AND WE KNOW THAT BELEAGUERED INDUSTRY HAD A TERRIBLE 12 TO 15 MONTHS.

BILL, WE'LL START WITH YOU WITH BREAKING NEWS.

WE LEARNED THAT DUSTIN BOONE, ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN PLOFRS, WAS FOUND -- POLICE OFFICER, WAS FOUND GUILT OF AIDING AND ABETTING THE CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION OF AN OFFICER.

A HUNG JURY FOR CHRISTOPHER MEYERS.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS?

>> I DIDN'T ATTEND ANY OF THE TRIAL OR WATCH IT, SO THIS IS AN UNEDUCATED GUESS, BUT I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, AND IT SEEMED LIKE A FEDERAL JURY, WHICH USUALLY GOES ALONG WITH POLICE OFFICERS, WOULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE MORE SYMPATHY FOR A POLICE OFFICER VICTIM LIKE LUTHER HALL.

SO I THOUGHT -- I'M GLAD SOMEBODY GOT CONVICTED, BUT IT JUST SEEMED LIKE HERE THESE POLICE OFFICERS WERE BOASTING ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO AND THEN WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO HAPPENED, AND THERE SEEMED TO BE EVIDENCE AGAINST THESE GUYS AND YET THE JURY WAS ONLY ABLE TO CONVICT ONE.

SO IT CERTAINLY WASN'T A GOOD TIME FOR THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY CELEBRATING OVER THERE.

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING AND ONCE AGAIN, I HONESTLY DON'T -- LIKE NOTHING WAS COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, THE JURY IS PICKED FROM WHERE IT'S SELECTED AND THE FACT THAT THE COUNTIES IT COMES FROM, NOT INCLUDING ST. LOUIS, AND IT WAS AN ALL-WHITE JURY AND I'M NOT ACCUSING ANYBODY OF BEING RACIST, IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY GOT CONVICTED OF SOMETHING, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE HE AIDED AND ABETTED A CRIME THAT OTHER PEOPLE PLEADED GUILTY TO AND THIS ONE POLICE OFFICER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LONG STRETCH TO ME, BUT AS I SAID, SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING AND I WOULD SAY TO THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHEN YOU GO OUT AND TRY TO RECRUIT BLACK MOVESES AND POLICE OFFICERS -- POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE OFFICERS OF COLOR, THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT NO PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THIS IS NOT A VICTORY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT ALL.

I SUSPECT IT WILL BE ONE MORE INTERNAL MORALE THING AND, YOU KNOW, THIS -- WHY THERE'S SO MUCH FRUSTRATION.

AND I'M SOMEBODY THAT CRITICIZED THE DEFUND THE POLICE SLOWING GAN FROM DAY ONE.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THERE.

I DO BELIEVE IN RESPECTING POLICE OFFICERS, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE MORE FUEL TO THAT FIRE, THAT POLICE OFFICERS DON'T GET HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND IT'S -- I AGREE WITH BILL.

AND I'M NOT -- UNLIKE BILL, I WASN'T THERE, SO I -- OBVIOUSLY SCOTT ROSENBLUM WALKED HIS CLIENT, WHICH SEEMS TO BE WHAT HE USUALLY IS ABLE TO DO BECAUSE HE'S A VERY GOOD DEFENSE ATTORNEY, BUT... >> OKAY.

HEY, RAY, LET'S STICK WITH YOU THEN AND TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER STORY.

WE GOT INFORMATION THIS AFTERNOON THAT MARK McCLOSKEY AND HIS WIFE PATRICIA HAVE BOTH NEEDED GUILTY IN THEIR CASE.

AS YOU KNOW, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY RICHARD CALLAHAN WAS THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR LOOKING INTO THIS CASE AND PROSECUTING IT.

TURNS OUT MARK McCLOSKEY HAS NEEDED GUILTY TO FOURTH DEGREE MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT.

HE'LL PAY A $750 FINE.

PATRICIA, HIS WIFE ALSO BRANDISHING A FIREARM IN FRONT OF THEIR LUXURIOUS HOME TO PROTESTERS AROUND THE CORNER.

SHE PLED GUILTY TO SECOND DEGREE MISDEMEANOR HARASSMENT.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON KMOX, BRAD YOUNG ON THE RYAN RECORD SHOW, QUITE SOME TIME AGO SAID SOMETHING I DIDN'T AGREE WITH, BUT MAYBE THIS WAS WHAT HAPPENED.

HE SAID HE ENCOURAGED THEM, SINCE GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON HAS ALREADY SAID HE WOULD PARDON THE McCLOSKEYS IF THEY EVER FOUND THEMSELVES GUILTY, THAT BRAD YOUNG SAID JUST PLEAD GUILTY, SAVE YOURSELF BOAT LOADS OF LEGAL BILLS BECAUSE A PARDON IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS THE EQUIVALENT OF BEING DECLARED INNOCENT.

YOU THINK THAT'S PLAUSIBLE, THAT'S WHY THEY DID IT?

>> NO, I THINK HE -- I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO HIS FUNKY THOUGHT PROCESSES.

HE'S ALREADY MADE A CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL OUT OF IT.

FIRST TIME I EVER HEARD ANYBODY STANDING ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS PLEADING GUILTY AND SAYING I'D DO IT AGAIN, WHICH IS WHAT HE DID.

IT WILL BE GOOD FOR HIM IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH VALIDATES KIM GARDNER'S ORIGINAL DECISION TO PROSECUTE HIM.

HE WAS GUILTY AND HE DOES -- NO MATTER WHAT HIS POLITICAL ALLIES DO TO WHITEWASH THAT, HE WAS GUILTY.

INTERESTINGLY, BY CONTRAST, WILLIAM TISABY, ANOTHER PERSON INVOLVED IN A HIGH PROFILE KIM GARDNER CASE, ACCORDING TO MY SOURCES HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO PLEAD GUILTY OUT OF PRINCIPLE AND THAT'S THE CASE EVERYBODY SAYS WE GOT TO DO THAT ON A CASE THAT WAS DROPPED AGAINST ERIC GREITENS.

SO I THINK IT SHOWS THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED, AND HE GOT -- BY THE WAY, HE'LL GET WHAT HE WANTS, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I THINK KIM GARDNER DID THE RIGHT THING.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO BRANDISH WEAPONS AT INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, PERIOD.

>> I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHO'S BRANDISHING THE WEAPON BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WERE PLENTY OF WEAPONS BEING BRANDISHED DURING THAT ENTIRE PERIOD, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT McCLOSKEY WANTED.

THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A DEFEAT AND AS YOU SAID, USING IT IN HIS CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL.

THIS IS -- NOTHING APPEALS MORE TO THE RED MEAT, DON'T TREAD ON ME BASE, THAN MARK McCLOSK AT THIS MOMENT.

>> ONLY IN MISSOURI COT GUY WITH THE ASSAULT RIFLE GET LESS OF A PENALTY THAN THE WOMAN WITH A POP GUN IN HER HAND AND A MUSTARD STAIN ON HER BLOUSE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I MEAN, A PIDDLY FINE AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PARDONED AND NOW YOU'VE CREATED YET AGAIN WHATEVER KIND OF INDIVIDUAL RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

I THINK SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO AVOID THINGS.

>> THE ANNIVERSARY OF US DISAGREEING, I STILL DISGREE, KEEP SOMETHING IN MIND.

MARK McCLOSKEY WAS NATIONALLY FAMOUS BEFORE HE WAS PROSECUTED.

HE WAS ALREADY ON THE NETWORK TV.

HE WAS GOING TO THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION AS AN EXAMPLE OF A VIGILANTE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE -- >> YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, RAY.

>> YES, YOU DO.

HE WAS -- >> RAY, RAY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AFTER HE WAS CHARGED AND DONALD TRUMP JUMPED INTO IT AND ALVIN'S RIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN A GODSEND FOR THE McCLOSKEYS AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT CALLAHAN IS THE GROWN-UP IN THE ROOM AND DECIDED WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SHOW TRIAL, JUST PLEAD GUILTY TO SOMETHING AND LET'S MOVE ON.

AND TO CALL THIS, YOU KNOW -- IT IS A VICTORY FOR KIM GARDNER IN THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU, HER FANS, ARE EXCITED AND IT'S A VICTORY FOR THE McCLOSKEYS THAT THEIR FANS ARE EXCITED, BUT IT DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

>> HEY, LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING -- >> HE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL STAR BEFORE HE WAS PROSECUTED.

HE DIDN'T -- >> HEY -- >> THAT'S JUST OUR LITTLE PIECE OF IT.

NOBODY CARED IF HE GOT -- >> I WANT TO ASK BILL A QUESTION ABOUT THE LAW BECAUSE, BILL, YOU'VE SAT IN A BILLION COURT ROOMS.

DON'T JUDGES SOMETIMES IN EXCHANGE FOR A GUILTY PLEA EITHER ASK FOR RE-NORSE OR THEY HAVE A -- REMORSE OR THEY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE YOU CAN'T GO ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS AND CONTEST ANYTHING, RIGHT?

>> OH, I'VE HEARD OF INSTANCES IN WHICH THE JUDGE SAYS HE'S GOING TO WITHDRAW THE GUILTY PLEA BECAUSE SOMEBODY GOES OUT AND SAYS I DIDN'T REALLY DO IT.

I DON'T THINK THIS RISES -- AND OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS RISES TO THAT LEVEL WHEN THE McCLOSKEYS GO OUT THERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I'D DO IT AGAIN.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HE PLEADED GUILTY AND WHAT DOES RISE IF THAT DOESN'T?

HE JUST SAID -- HE PLEADED GUILTY AND BASICALLY CAME OUT AND SAID I LIED TO THE JUDGE, I JUST DID THAT FOR THERE AND NOW HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU AND I'LL STICK TO MY GUNS ON THIS.

>> RAY, YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> WAVING THAT GUN, POINTING THAT GUN.

>> RAY, YOU'RE ON TO SOMETHING BECAUSE FINALLY THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY GOT A CONVICTION FOR A GUN CRIME IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, SO IT'S A GOOD SOMEDAY FOR HER.

>> BUT EVERYBODY -- A GOOD DAY FOR HER.

>> EVERYBODY IS SAYING, WHAT PART OF THINK JUST CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ALL DON'T SEE, HE WAS INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS BEFORE -- >> HE WAS NOT, RAY.

HE WAS NOT.

>> OKAY.

>> HE HAD FIVE MINUTES OF FAME AND WE HAVE NOW TURNED IT INTO FIVE YEARS OF FAME.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER.

>> RAY, RAY, HE WENT FROM, LIKE, 10-KARAT GOLD-PLATED TO 24-CARAT.

>> LET'S MOVE ON.

GREAT POINT, EVERYBODY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AS WE MOVE ON TO WENDY WIESE AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF VACCINATION NUMBERS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

NOT REALLY GOOD, WENDY, AND I DON'T QUITE GET IT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THAT INDIAN VARIANT COMING AND IT'S MORE CONSTAYING GIYING -- CONTAGIOUS, MORE DEADLY, AND WHILE THE UNITED STATES IS AROUND 60% FULLY VACCINATED, VERMONT IS 80%, ST. LOUIS COUNTY JUST 42% FULLY VACCINATED, JEFFERSON COUNTY, 28%, JACKSON COUNTY AND ST. LOUIS CITY AT 36%.

SO LOW AND WE GOT THAT FALL AND WINTER COMING WHEN THIS VIRUS IS MORE DEADLY.

I'M SHOCKED AND RATHER ASHAMED OF MISSOURI AND OUR AREA.

I JUST DON'T GET IT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> WE'RE IN THE FIVE STATES THAT INCLUDE CALIFORNIA, UTAH, ARKANSAS, MISSOURI, AND -- WAS IT FLORIDA?

I THINK IT WAS FLORIDA.

>> IT WAS FLORIDA.

>> YEAH, FLORIDA MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIFTH ONE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THERE'S WORD THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A PILL -- I MEAN, THEY'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPING AN ACTUAL PILL THAT WE WILL ALL TAKE SEASONALLY AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE, BUT THERE WAS THAT TRAGIC STORY THIS WEEK ABOUT THE FASHION ICON, THE FASHIONISTA HERE IN ST. LOUIS THAT WE LOST, AND HE AND HIS WIFE WERE AGAINST VACCINATION FOR -- ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS AND BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN BREAK THROUGH DECADES, IF NOT IN SOME CASES OVER A CENTURY, CENTURIES, OF MISTRUST.

I'M NOT SURE.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE -- THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THAT'S A PRETTY DIFFICULT TASK FOR ANYBODY.

>> WENDY, EXCEPT THAT WHEN THE POLIO VACCINATIONS CAME OUT, EVERYBODY GOT VACCINATED.

I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE KIND OF AN EXCUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, DECADES OF OPPRESSION AND EVERYTHING.

PEOPLE JUST -- THEY DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY ANYMORE, I'M AFRAID.

>> NO.

>> AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE FRIVOLOUS ABOUT THIS, BUT CHRIS BALL, ALL-STAR GUARD, PHOENIX SUNS, HE'S APT TO MISS GAMES THROUGHOUT THE PLAYOFFS NOW BECAUSE HE'S IN QUARANTINE.

WHATEVER YOUR DEAL IS -- OKAY?

-- YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE TO YOUR FAMILY FIRST.

TO WHATEVER YOUR JOB IS, BUT THAT'S ON DOWN THE LINE.

BUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, LISTEN, IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR AND IT'S PROBABLY COMING AND I'M QUOTING SOMEBODY FROM THE AMERICAN THAT SAYS YOU GOT THREE OPTIONS.

EITHER YOU HAD COVID, YOU'RE VACCINATED, OR YOU'RE GOING TO GET COVID BECAUSE IT IS OUT THERE AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE THAT, FINE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND CALLOUS AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND JUST GOD-AWFUL MEAN, BUT SERIOUSLY.

IF YOU GET IT NOW, IT'S ON YOU, OKAY?

AND IF IT'S ON YOU, THEN DON'T -- YOU CAN'T COME BACK AND SAY, OH, WHAT A HORROR OR WHAT A TRAGEDY.

NO.

GET VACCINATED.

MISSOURI, GET VACCINATED.

ST. LOUIS ESPECIALLY.

GET VACCINATED.

>> WELL, ALVIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CALLOUS.

I HEARD FROM A NURSE AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHO SAID THE NURSES ARE STARTING TO ADOPT THAT VIEWPOINT, ALVIN, THE ONE YOU JUST SHARED.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE MUCH LESS SYMPATHY NOW FOR THE PATIENTS AND WENDY WAS REFERRING TO MARK ANTHONY CAMPBELL.

THERE WAS A POIGNANT CAMPBELL WRITTEN BY LESTER BROWN FOR ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO.

THE MAN DECIDED NOT TO GET THE VACCINATION AND HE HAD NOT FADE HIS HEALTH INSURANCE -- OR HIS LIFE INSURANCE PAYMENT AND HE'S LEFT A 9-YEAR-OLD AND A 14-YEAR-OLD, AND IT'S JUST REALLY SAD.

THAT'S THE CONSEQUENCE OF HIM DECIDING FOR WHATEVER REASON NOT TO GET THE VACCINATION.

>> BUT HIS WIFE MENTIONED IN THAT ARTICLE THAT THEY ARE AT PEACE AS A FAMILY OF FAITH WITH, YOU KNOW, THE LOSS AND THEIR BELIEF THAT HE IS WHERE HE IS, AND I REALIZE THAT THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE FAMILY IS.

>> WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE FOR THE FAMILY HAD HE GOTTEN THE VACCINATION AND WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THAN WHAT HAPPENED NOW?

>> CHARLIE, MAKE THIS QUICK CORRECTION.

WE'RE PARTNERS WITH ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO AND SYLVESTER WROTE THAT STEERN IT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN.

>> OH, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

OKAY.

MORE FAKE NEWS.

>> CHARLIE, REAL QUICKLY, ONE OF THE REAL TRAGEDIES OF COVID IS IN THE POLITICIZATION OF THIS UNNECESSARILY REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE YOU'RE ON, AND AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT THEME.

THE HOSPITAL REVIEW, THE TOP 21 STATES, THE LOWEST -- I MEAN HIGHEST STATES IN VACCINATIONS ARE BLUE STATES, THE BOTTOM 16 ARE ALL RED.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO MAKE A POINT OF BLUE STATES AND RED STATES OTHER THAN TO SAY IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE.

TO ME, THE ONUS IS ON MIKE PARSON AND OTHERS TO STEP UP NOW REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND ACTIVATE SOME STRATEGY TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED BECAUSE IT CAN AFFECT OUR ENTIRE STATE, ITS ECONOMY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK POLITICALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE NEED TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED IN THIS STATE, HOWEVER IT -- WHATEVER IT TAKES.

>> I THINK IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THESE NUMBERS INCREASING, THEN MAYBE THAT WILL SCARE SOME PEOPLE INTO THOSE CLINICS, BUT UNTIL THEN, RAY -- >> DON'T COUNT ON IT.

>> -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CULTURAL BARRIERS, RELIGIOUS BARRIERS.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD THAT THE WASHINGTON POST SOINGD OUT -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE, POLK COUNTY, WHICH IS WHERE MIKE PARSON HAD BEEN SHERIFF FOR 12 YEARS, HIS HOME COUNTY, AS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IN A NATIONAL STORY THAT IT CITED THIS GINORMOUS INCREASES, TRAGICALLY, IN COVID CASES IN THE LAST WEEK.

>> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON, GUYS, TO BILL BECAUSE CORI BUSH, THE NEWLY ELECTED COME DEGREES WOMAN, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE NOW, SO WE'LL JUST CALL HER CONGRESS WOMAN CORI BUSH, HAS COME OUT IN FAVOR OF DECRIMINALIZING ALL DRUGS.

NOT JUST MARIJUANA, BUT HEROIN, METHAMPHETAMINE, HASHISH, CRACK COCAINE, COCAINE, YOU NAME IT.

NO LONGER WOULD YOU FACE JAIL SOMETIME FOR POSSESSION OF ANY OF THOSE.

BILL, THAT'S NOT NEW FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN ADVOCATING THAT ON THIS PROMISE FOR A LONG TIME, CORRECT?

>> I HAVE AND I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT IT TOO, THAT IF WE TOOK THE MONEY WE SPENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INCARCERATION AND HAD MORE TREATMENT AND LET PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PROBLEM CHOOSE TREATMENT, I THINK WE'D BE MUCH BETTER OFF AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IF YOU LEGALIZE EVERYTHING, WE'LL HAVE MORE JUNK JUNKIES.

WELL, WE HAVE JUNKIES NOW.

IF YOU WANT TUBE JUNKIE, YOU CAN FIND IT.

I GO TO THE LIQUOR STORE AND I WALK RIGHT PAST THE GRAIN ALCOHOL TO GET TO THE GIN OR THE RED WINE OR WHATEVER I'M DRINKING AT THE TIME.

IT ISN'T LIKE PEOPLE GO TO THE VERY WORST THING.

LIKE I WANT 180-PROOF GRAIN ALCOHOL.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE MORE SENSE THAN THAT, SO I THINK CORI BUSH -- I SUPPORT THIS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH CHANCE OF IT.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATISTICS ARE IN TERMS OF THE PRISON POPULATION AND HOW -- THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING TIME AND WERE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL WHEN THEY COMMITTED A CRIME, BUT I'D BE WILLING TO BET IT'S FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL.

>> OHHING I'M SURE IT IS, QUAEND.

JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE THE JAILS ARE FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS OR HAD AT THE TIME.

BUT PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING IN TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND STEAL, YOU KNOW, $200 WORTH OF STUFF TO BE ABLE TO SELL IT FOR 50 AND BUY THE DOPE ILLEGALLY.

IF I WAS ALL LEGAL, I THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REGULATE IT.

SO, I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A PANACEA OR WOULD MAKE EVERYTHING WONDERFUL.

I JUST THINK IT'S BETTER -- IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT WAY THAN WHAT WE DO NOW.

>> WENDY, IT WOULD ALSO -- >> GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, HEY, IT WON'T TAKE ALL OF THE VIOLENCE OUT OF IT.

IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF THE VIOLENCE OUT OF IT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE IF -- AND THIS IS LIKE FUTURISTIC AMERICA, BUT JUST LIKE MARIJUANA, IF YOU COULD GET WHAT YOU WANT BY GOING TO GET IT, ALL THE KILLING AND SHOOT WOULD GO STOP BECAUSE YOU WOULD JUST GO GET IT.

I'M NOT SAYING THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SELL HEROIN.

CHARLIE LISTED PRETTY MUCH EVERY DRUG I'VE EVER EVEN HEARD OF AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK BECAUSE YOU DO THAT, EVERYBODY IS NOT A JUNKIE IN AMERICA.

>> I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED RECENTLY, NOW THAT MARIJUANA IS LEGAL FOR RECREATION PURPOSES IN ILLINOIS, YOU WALK AROUND IN MISSOURI AND IT'S WAFTING EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE A FEELING IF YOU LOOSEN THE RULES, NOT ONLY WILL IT PROLIFERATE, BUT DRUG USE, PEOPLE WILL SAY HOW BAD CAN IT BE, IT'S LEGAL.

THEY'LL GROW UP IN A CULTURE WHERE CRACK COCAINE, POWDER COCAINE, THEY'RE LEGAL, HOW BAD CAN IT BE?

THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T BAN IT.

I THINK WE MIGHT SAVE MONEY ON PRISON BILLS, WE MIGHT SAVE MONEY ON POLICE WORK, BUT MAN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE HEFTY BILLS FOR TREATMENT.

>> CHARLIE, YOU -- >> BUT CHARLIE, WHY -- IT'S WAY LESS, FEWER AMERICANS SMOKE THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

I MEAN, AND SMOKING IS LEGAL, BUT THEY SAW THE LIGHT.

LIKE SMOKE WILL GO KILL YOU, OKAY?

AND NOW IT'S LIKE 33% LESS THAN IT WAS -- JUST NOT GOING BACK VERY FAR AT ALL.

WITH DRUGS, MOST PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW THAT DRUGS WILL KILL YOU, YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

>> CHARLIE, YOU MAY NOT SMELL IT, BUT WE GOT A DRUG CALLED ALCOHOL THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKING, USING FOR A LONG, LONG TIME THAT WE, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE DRUGS THAT FILLED OUR TOWN AND I GOT TO SAY, ONE OF MY BEST ISSUES ON DONNYBROOK, 34 AND A HALF YEARS AGO, HEAR HEAR EVERY TIME McCLELLAN TALKS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE BILL HAS BEEN AHEAD OF HIS TIME ON THIS ISSUE AND DRUG PROHIBITION -- >> LET'S NOT PRETEND MOST PEOPLE ARE AGREEING WITH YOU KNUCKLEHEADS.

>> DRUG PROHIBITION -- >> COME ON.

JUST BECAUSE YOU TWO OR YOU THREE AND CORI BUSH AGREE DOESN'T MEAN EVERYBODY OUT THERE AGREES WITH YOU.

METH SHOULD BE LEGAL IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, NO, NO -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] .

>> CHARLIE -- >> AND IF IT'S LEGAL TO POSSESS IT, IT MUST BE LEGAL TO COOK IT IN YOUR TRAIL, I GUESS.

>> I WAS JUST -- IN YOUR TRAILER, I GUESS.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY.

NONE OF THAT.

YOU SAID YOU HAD TO BUY LIKE WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO BUY AT THE DISPENSARY, THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN DO IT.

SEE?

WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN COOK IT UP WHEREVER.

THAT IS -- >> I MEAN, YOU CAN HOLD IT BUT YOU CAN'T CREATE IT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> ENTIRE TOWNS -- >> WAIT A MINUTE.

>> LIKE IN ILLINOIS, YOU HAVE TO -- YOU DON'T -- GO AHEAD.

>> I CAN BUY A GUN LEGALLY.

I CANNOT MANUFACTURE GUNS.

>> REALLY?

>> THAT'S OUT.

>> I THOUGHT WITH 3D COMPUTER, YOU CAN DO THAT NOW.

>> CHARLIE, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS -- >> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL TOPIC AND THAT WOULD BE, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON BY THE INTERIM PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, DAN ISOM, FORMER GUEST OF THE SHOW, THE MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON, THE WORKHOUSE, IS CLOSING.

THEY MOVED ALL THE DETAINEES OR RESIDENTS OUT OF THERE.

ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO YOU, ALVIN, ON THIS ONE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE CITY JUSTICE CENTER AND, WELL, YOU KNOW MY STAND ON THAT.

THEY ARE, HOWEVER -- NICK DUNN, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MAYOR, SAID THEY'RE STILL GOING TO KEEP IT OPEN IN CASE THERE'S OVERFLOW AND THIS WEEK IT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY ARE SENDING THEIR INMATES THAT USED TO BE IN THE CITY JUSTICE CENTER TO 24 JAILS, SOME OF THEM FOUR AND A HALF HOURS AWAY FROM HERE IN KENTUCKY AND IN INDIANA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

>> I THINK THAT'S -- LOOK, YOU'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT, YOU CLOSED IT, OKAY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME, LIKE YOU SAY, SPILLOVER, BUT NOT JUST CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

THIS IS WHAT ST. LOUIS NEEDS.

ST. LOUIS DECIDES WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, MAKE IT WORK, AND BANG, LET'S DO IT.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

IT'S HOW YOU GET THINGS DONE AND THEY'RE GETTING THINGS DONE, OKAY?

THIS IS GOING TO GET DONE WHETHER IT FESTERS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> I THINK TISHAURA JONES' BEST HIRE SO FAR IS DAN ISOM AND IF HE'S IN CHARGE OF IT, HE APPARENTLY IS, AND HE'S MAKING WHAT LOOKS TO BE A VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO JUST AN AWFUL SITUATION.

I'M HAPPY.

>> WHAT'S AWFUL ABOUT IT?

HE WOULDN'T LET MEMBERS OF THE PRESS IN TO TOUR?

HE SAID ON OUR SHOW HE'D HAVE TO GET ALL THE DETAINEES TO SIGN OFF ON IT, WHICH IS COMPLETELY INACCURATE.

>> WE DON'T NEED A PRESS TOUR.

>> THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN SAY IT'S STILL BEING RUSHED, THERE'S NO REASON FOR THE HURRY EXCEPT TO KEEP A CAMPAIGN PROMISE, RIGHT?

>> WAIT, WAIT.

WE'RE NEVER IN A HURRY.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD IN ST. LOUIS.

WE'RE NEVER IN A HURRY.

THE REST OF THE WORLD IS IN A HURRY, BUT -- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, PEOPLE CAN CRITICIZE TISHAURA FOR NOT KEEPING A CAMPAIGN PROMISE IF SHE DOESN'T.

I DON'T THINK IT'S BEING RUSHED.

I THINK THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING -- >> LOOK, IT'S THE RIGHT PLACE TO GO BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THE LOCKS DON'T WORK, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

>> IT'S VIOLENT.

>> THE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS THAT ARE THERE TR PREYING UPON THE INMA INMATES IN COLLUSION WITH THE OTHER INMATES, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT A GREAT ANYWAYS.

>> THAT WAS YIE JAMES CRGNEY IMITATION FOR DOUBLE INDEMNITY.

ST. LOUIS NEEDS TO BE IN A HURRY.

>> I WILL SAY WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE'LL PICK IT UP FROM THERE NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME UNLESS YOU'RE WENDY WIESE BECAUSE YOU AND I, WENDY, ARE GOING TO TALK TO VANESSA COOKSEY, THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION, AND SHE'LL TELL US WHAT SHE HAS PLANNED FOR 2021 AND BEYOND.

THAT'S NEXT ON NEXT UP.

WE HOPE YOU JOIN US.

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

>>> WELL, TALK ABOUT BAPTISM BY FIRE.

THAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR NEXT GUEST.

SHE'S VANESSA COOKSEY WHO'S THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION WHO TOOK OVER HER ORGANIZATION ON NOVEMBER 2nd OF LAST YEAR, 2020, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH MIGHT NOT BE TOO BIG A DEAL FOR SOME ORGANIZATIONS, BUT HER GROUP IS FUNDED BY A HOTEL-MOTEL TAX.

AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HOTEL-MOTEL RECEIPTS IN OUR AREA LAST YEAR.

SO SHE'S STILL SMILING, WHICH YOU CAN SEE, WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN FOR US.

WELCOME TO NEXT UP, VANESSA COOKSEY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I'M DOING GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> WELL, I DON'T WANT TO START WITH BAD NEWS OR ANYTHING, BUT IT REALLY WAS RUGGED IN 2020 FOR HOTELS AND MOTELS AND YOUR -- THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON MONEY FROM THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION WERE RELYING ON MONEY THAT JUST WASN'T COMING IN.

AND SO TELL US ABOUT TAKING ON THIS ASSIGNMENT AT THAT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME.

>> YOU DESCRIBED IT EXACTLY.

IT WAS DIFFICULT, AND I THINK THAT -- WELL, ACTUALLY, LET ME START BY SAYING RAC RECEIVES 93% OF ITS REVENUE FROM HOTEL-MOTEL SALES TAX.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING AND WE LOST 62% OF OUR REVENUE IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD.

SO JUST TO PUT IT IN REAL NUMBERS.

IN 2019, IT WAS ONE OF OUR BEST YEARS THANKS TO THE BLUES FOR WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP, WE HAD NEARLY -- A LITTLE OVER $7 MILLION IN REVENUE IN 2019.

WE ENDED 2020 WITH $3.5 MILLION AND WE'RE ON TRACK FOR ABOUT $2.8 MILLION.

SO WHAT I DID WHEN I CAME IN IN NOVEMBER, I TOOK ABOUT THE FIRST TWO MONTHS JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE HOTEL-MOTEL INDUSTRY AND HOW THE IMPACT OF COVID WASN'T GOING TO BE A SHORT-TERM SITUATION.

AND THROUGH RESEARCH AND PARTNERSHIP WITH EXPLORE ST. LOUIS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE US ABOUT FOUR YEARS BEFORE WE SEE PRE-COVID REVENUE AND IT'S GOING TO GET A LITTLE TOUGHER BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

SO WE HAD TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS BEST FOR RAC, NOT JUST RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR THE LONG TERM.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE FIRST DECISIONS THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE, MS. COOKSEY, IN THAT REGARD?

KEEPING IN MIND THAT IT IS GOING TO BE FOUR YEARS OUT.

YOU SAID IN AN ARTICLE, YOU WERE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT OTHER INDUSTRIES AND OTHER AREAS WILL BE REBOUNDING MUCH MORE QUICKLY, BUT RAC WILL NOT.

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO RIGHT THE SHIP IN THAT REGARD?

>> I'M VERY THANKFUL TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMISSION WHO STARTED WORKING TOWARDS SOLVENCY FOR RAC AT THE VERY BEGINNING IN MARCH.

WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME DISPLACEMENTS EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, WE HAD TO CONTINUE DISPLACEMENTS.

WE HAD 13 FTE IN EARLY MARCH OF 2020.

RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT THREE AND I AM ONE OF THE THREE, AND SO PART OF WHAT INFLUENCED THE DECISION AROUND DISPLACEMENTS WAS THAT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN OUR STATUTE THAT ONLY 15% OF OUR ANNUAL REVENUES CAN BE SPENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND STAFFING EXPENSE.

WHEN YOU GO FROM A $7 MILLION BUDGET TO A $2 MILLION BUDGET, THAT PERCENTAGE GETS REAL LOW REAL QUICK.

AND SO THE HARDEST PART FOR RAC WAS JUST THE DISPLACEMENT OF STAFF.

THE OTHER DECISION THAT WE HAD TO MAKE THAT WAS REALLY TOUGH WAS WHICH PROGRAMS COULD WE SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE WITH A LOT FEWER RESOURCES.

SO IN A GREAT YEAR, WE HAVE FOUR OR MORE GRANT PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PROGRAMS FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE FOCUSED ON FUNDING OUR EXISTING GRANTEES WITH GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AS WELL AS PROGRAM SUPPORT AND CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEVAS INSTITUTE FOR OUR CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM.

>> CHARLIE MENTIONED BRIEFLY -- I'M SORRY, CHARLIE, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.

THE WEBINARS THAT RAC CONDUCTED, YOU HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY TRANSPARENT.

THE ARTISTS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY -- THEY'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY HONEST WITH ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS.

WHY IS THAT TRANSPARENCY SO IMPORTANT, AND ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC?

>> IT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE RAC IS A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE FUNDED BY TAX DOLLARS, HOTEL-MOTEL SALES TAX, SO WHEN VISITORS COME AND WE RECEIVE THAT SALES TAX, WE INVEST IT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

RAC IS A PUBLIC GOOD, SO IT ONLY HELPS US TO COMMUNICATE AND THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO HIDE.

WHEN WE WERE FOUNDED 35 YEARS AGO, NO ONE HAD COVID ON THE MIND, EVEN TWO YEARS AGO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO BEING TRANSPARENT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHERE WE ARE NOT ONLY GIVES US CREDIBILITY AND GOOD WILL, IT HELPS US TO MOVE THIS SECTOR FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO DO THIS TOGETHER.

NOBODY GETS THROUGH A CRISIS ALONE.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU'RE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION ARE LOCAL, NOT-FOR-PROFITS LIKE THE MUNY AND COCA AND OTHER ARTISTS WHO PROBABLY GO AROUND ST. LOUIS FOR THEIR FUNDING.

THEY PROBABLY GO TO THE BENEFACTORS, THE FOUNDATIONS AND THE CORPORATIONS.

FOR YOU TO DO THAT, TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST TAX RECEIPTS, YOU MIGHT BE COMPETING WITH THE ARTISTS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO IS SIT -- IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO GO OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS AND YOU HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE YOU WORKED FOR COCA-COLA, THE ATLANTA MAYOR'S OFFICE, I BELIEVE, AND CARTOON NETWORK, A LOT OF NON-ST. LOUIS ORGANIZATIONS.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO GO OUTSIDE ST. LOUIS AND GET MONEY FOR THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION?

>> NOT ONLY IS IT POSSIBLE, IT'S NECESSARY.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, RAC AND OUR COMMISSIONERS AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT NOT COMPETE WITH OUR GRANTEES AND THE ROLE THAT RAC PLAYS IN THIS COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE WE PROVIDE GENERAL FREIGHTING SUPPORT, WHICH IS NOT OFTEN THE CASE -- GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT WHICH IS NOT OFTEN THE CASE FOR OTHER TYPES OF FUNDING THEY RECEIVE.

SO WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON LOOKING AT SOURCES OF REVENUE FROM NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE WANT OUR EFFORTS TO BE ADDITIVE TO THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, BY NO MEANS COMPETITIVE.

>> YOU WERE THE 2016 EISENHOWER FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT.

YOU SPENT TIME IN JAPAN AND RWANDA.

I THINK THOSE ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIVERSE CULTURES.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS HOW THAT EXPERIENCE HAS IMPACTED THE WORK THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO HERE AT RAC?

BECAUSE WE DO BRING EVERY SINGLE EXPERIENCE WITH US TO OUR PRESENT TIME, DON'T WE?

>> YES, WE DO, AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.

BEING AN EISENHOWER FELLOW HAS BEEN ONE OF MY GREATEST HONORS AND TO HAVE AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN BOTH JAPAN AND RA WANDA, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT CULTURES, AT THAT POINT IN MY CAREER REALLY WAS LIFE-CHANGING AND WHAT I BRING TO RAC FROM THAT EXPERIENCE IS OUR CONNECTEDNESS AS HUMANS.

AND ART HAS AN AMAZING ABILITY TO RECONNECT US.

I'VE BEEN SO PROUD TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S EXPERIENCING THE BLACK RAP OR SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, THE ROLE OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN STRENGTHENING OUR REGION AND OUR RESILIENCE IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN AND RWANDA AND SEEING WHAT WAS SIMILAR IN TERMS OF THEIR ARTS AND CULTURE TO WHAT WE EXPERIENCE HERE IN ST. LOUIS LETS ME KNOW THAT BETTER IS POSSIBLE AND NOT JUST POSSIBLE, IT'S DOABLE.

I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON F I SEE THAT IT EXISTS SOMEWHERE HE IS, THEN IT CAN CERTAINLY HAPPEN HERE WITH COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK AND JUST PUBLIC WILL.

AND I THINK THAT RAC'S ROLE RIGHT NOW IS CRITICAL AS WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AFTER BEING APART FOR SO LONG AND ALLOWING ART TO INSPIRE AND HEAL US.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OUTDOOR ART?

RECENTLY A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS ON HANLEY ROAD TOOK CHALK AND REIMAGINED THE PILLARS ON THE FOREST PARK PARKWAY AND IT'S A TEMPORARY INSTALLATION, BUT I THINK IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD AND I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AT THEIR LEISURE.

I KNOW IN MIAMI, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE ARTISTS WHO ARE GOING INTO SOME OF THE MOST STRUGGLING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY'RE PUTTING GREAT MURALS ON THE SIDES OF BUILDINGS, PAINTING THE WHOLE SIDES OF BUILDINGS IN ORDER TO SPRUCE UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN THEY FOUND THAT COFFEE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS ARE MOVING THERE BECAUSE THE PLACE LOOKS BETTER.

IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT WE COULD BE DOING HERE IN ST. LOUIS?

>> YES, PUBLIC ART IS ESSENTIAL TO COMMUNITY,I IOION ION FIEG, HEALING.

IT'S SAFE FOR OUTSIDE A I THINK NOW AS WE'RE COMING TOGETHER, GETTING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, PUBLIC ART WILL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY.

IF YOU'VE TAKEN A DRIVE DOWN PAGE, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE ARE MURALS OF ST. LOUIS HEROES, ALL ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, OUR ART IS PUBLIC ART.

>> SURE.

>> SO WE BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC ART.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PUBLIC ART THAT WE HAVE NOW AND WHAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT THAT REX ROLAND IS REALLY FOSTERING -- ABOUT RAC'S ROLE IN THAT, IT'S REALLY FOSTERING PEOPLE TO BE CREATIVE AND THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BEAUTIFUL.

>> IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, VANESSA COOKSEY IS OUR GUEST TONIGHT.

SHE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION.

AND IN AN ARTICLE, YOU SAID THAT IT WAS PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE THAT YOU HAVE A PRAYER -- AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I'M PARAPHRASING, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LORD, PLEASE DO NOT LET MY PRIVILEGE ECLIPSE OR MY -- WHAT IS IT?

I'M SORRY, I'M COMPLETELY -- >> NO, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU READ THAT AND IT IS MY DAILY PRAYER, PARTICULARLY IN THIS WORK OF LEADERSHIP AND OUR COMMITMENT TO DEI, IS LORD PLEASE NEVER LET ME PRIVILEGE OUTPACE MY HUMANITY.

>> OUTPACE MY HUMANITY.

I THINK IT'S VERY OBVIOUSLY IN ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE -- VERY OBVIOUS IN ALL THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK, THAT IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE WHICH CAN LEAN TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE FUNDRAISING AND ALL OF THE STRESS INVOLVED ON THAT SIDE OF IT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VANESSA COOKSEY TO EMPHASIZE THE HUMANITIES WITHIN THE ARTS AND TO GO FROM THERE.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

WHO IMPRESSED UPON YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT CONNECTEDNESS AS REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION PRESIDENT AND CEO?

>> YES.

OUR VISION IS A FULL CREATIVE LIFE FOR EVERY ST. LOUISAN, AND WHAT RAC'S ROLE IS, IS TO ENCOURAGE THE CREATIVITY THAT WE ALL HAVE.

IT IS PART OF HOW WE'RE WIRED TO BE CREATIVE AS HUMANS, AND AS WE STRUGGLE AND GRAPPLE WITH RACIAL INEQUITIES, ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, I THINK SOMETIMES IF WE'RE JUST ABLE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AND USING ARTS AND CULTURE AS A PLACE TO START CONVERSATIONS, TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS, TO HELP FINISH CONVERSATIONS AND BRING US TOGETHER, I BELIEVE THAT, FOR THE ST. LOUIS REGION, AS MUCH AS WE NEED AN ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION, WE NEED A CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE NARRATIVES IN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT OURSELVES AND ABOUT EACH OTHER, AND ART PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THAT.

AND SOMETIMES WE GET COMFORTABLE AND THAT'S PART OF MY BELIEF AND MY FAITH THAT INFLUENCES HOW I LEAD.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE RESOURCES AND SOMETIMES IN YOUR COMFORT, IT'S EASY TO NOT HAVE EMPATHY.

IT'S EASY TO RESIST CHANGE, AND IF WE ARE COMMITTED AS COMMUNITY TO REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE TIDE THAT LIFTS ALL BOATS, SOMETIMES THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES PRIVILEGE MAKES US COMFORTABLE AND SO MY PRAYER IS DON'T EVER GET SO COMFORTABLE THAT YOU CAN'T RELATE AND CAN'T CONNECT TO BE HELPFUL.

>> YOU WORKED FOR THE ATLANTA MAYOR AND THAT IS ONE CITY THAT REALLY HAS TAKEN OFF IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES.

I MEAN, CAN YOU COMPARE AND CONTRAST ATLANTA AND ST. LOUIS?

ARE THERE ANY LESSONS FROM ATLANTA THAT ONE MIGHT LEARN HERE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

HONESTLY, I TRY NOT TO COMPARE.

I HEARD A QUOTE THAT COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY, AND I LIVED IN ST. LOUIS FOR 13 YEARS.

I'VE LIVED HERE LONGER THAN ANYWHERE AND ST. LOUIS -- >> WELL, LET ME RESTATE THAT.

HOW ABOUT BEST PRACTICES THAT WE MIGHT LEARN FROM?

>> YES, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM AND SPECIFICALLY TO ATLANTA, I WAS VERY PRIVILEGED TO WORK FOR SHIRLEY FRANKLIN.

THE POWER OF MUNICIPAL LEADERS THAT GOVERN FOR PEOPLE, AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPACTS OUR LIFE ON A DAILY BASIS, AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE FOCUS ON FEDERAL ELECTIONS, BUT TO REMEMBER TO STAY ENGAGED.

AND VOTING IS JUST ONE PART OF IT, BUT STAYING CIVICALLY ENGAGED IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND THERE WAS A PHRASE THAT ATLANTA HAD AS IT WAS GETTING THE OLYMPICS.

THE CITY TOO BUSY TO HATE.

AND I FEEL LIKE SOME VERSION OF THAT IS NECESSARY IN ST. LOUIS.

SOMETIMES WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON OUR DIFFERENCES AND WHAT'S WRONG VERSUS WHAT'S RIGHT, AND LEVERAGING THE ARTS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR HEALING, AND THAT'S ALSO WHERE ATLANTA, AS A BEST PRACTICE, THE CITY INVESTS DIRECTLY IN ARTS AND CULTURE.

GREAT MUSEUMS, GREAT PUBLIC ART, GREAT VISUAL ART, GREAT PERFORMING ART.

GROWING COMMUNITIES NEED ALL OF THAT.

PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT AND LIVE IN PLACES THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL AND WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BELONG.

>> THIS HAS BEEN, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE.

JUST TODAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED JUNETEENTH, A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, INTO LAW.

AND THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING, IT SEEMS DAILY.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF DIVERSITY WITHIN THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION, WITHIN THE ARTS COMMUNITY.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY TALL ORDER, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THAT PROCESS.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH OUR VIEWERS WHAT THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS YOU SEE IT IN YOUR MIND'S EYE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE PRIORITIZING GRANT MAKING AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EXCITES ME MOST ABOUT MY WORK AT RAC IS OUR ABILITY TO INVEST IN LOCAL ARTISTS AND THE BENEFIT OF CREATIVITY IN THIS COMMUNITY IS THE STORYTELLING.

AND BY SUPPORTING GOOD STORYTELLING, ENSURING THAT HOW INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, RAC'S INVESTMENT IN THAT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THOSE STORIES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, ACROSS THIS REGION, IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR WHEN WE HAVE A NEW GRANT-MAKING SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR ARTISTS TO ACCESS DOLLARS AND RESOURCES.

CAPACITY-BUILDING.

OFTENTIMES, WE ENJOY ART BUT DON'T ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE PROCESS.

ARTISTS ARE ENTREPRENEURS.

ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE ARE BUSINESSES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ANY STARTUP THAT WE CELEBRATE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S THE CASE FOR OUR ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, SO CAPACITY-BUILDING, ARTS ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE LOOKING HOLISTICALLY AT HOW WE SUPPORT THE CREATIVE ECONOMY SO THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EXPRESS CREATIVELY AS A CAREER FEEL LIKE THAT'S DOABLE.

I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE DISCOURAGED IF THEY WANT TO PAINT OR PURSUE MUSIC, GET A REAL JOB.

THAT IS A REAL JOB!

SO WE ARE WELL POSITIONED TO COMMUNICATE AND SUPPORT THE VALUE OF OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES ARE CELEBRATED.

>> YOUR ORGANIZATION, WE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS, GETS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR FROM THE -- 93% FROM LOCAL TAXES.

SOME YEARS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.

WE KNOW THAT AND WE HOPE OUR BETTER YEARS ARE AHEAD OF US, BUT HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO GETS THAT MONEY?

WHICH ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH ARTISTS, AND HOW MUCH MONEY GOES TO EACH ENTITY?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF ABOUT RAC'S PROCESS, IT IS VERY COLLABORATIVE AND PUBLIC.

WE INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, TO PARTICIPATE IN GRANT REVIEW PANELS, SO THIS IS ANY PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION, WE OPEN UP AN APPLICATION PROCESS, WE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND THEN WE HAVE BOTH OUR STAFF, OUR COMMISSION, AND COMMUNITY PEOPLE REVIEW THOSE APPLICATIONS, SCORE THEM.

WE HAVE ROBUST DEBATE.

SO DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROGRAM IS, LIKE OUR ARTIST FELLOWSHIP IS A $20,000 AWARD TO A WORKING ARTIST.

OUSH GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS RANGE FROM $5,000 TO WELL IN THE SIX FIGURES, 2-, $300,000 DEPENDING ON THEIR REACH IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M VERY PROUD TO LEAD RAC BECAUSE WE ARE TRULY A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS REGIONAL IMPACT ACROSS ST. LOUIS CITY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND WE DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, SO WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE ST. LOUIS ARTIST RELIEF FUND?

>> YES, WE ARE PROACTIVE IN OUR VALUE -- ONE OF OUR VALUES IS TO BE RELEVANT AND RESPONSIVE.

SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, MANY ARTISTS, COMMISSIONS WERE CANCELLED, PERFORMANCES WERE CANCELLED, SO WE HOPPED INTO ACTION AND COMMITTED $250,000 TO TAKE CARE OF ARTISTS' BASIC NEEDS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN TRINZ AND WE PARTNERED -- IN RESILIENCE AND WE PARTNERED WITH OUR OTHER GRANTEES AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE MONEY AND BASICALLY DOUBLE OUR IMPACT.

WE ENDED UP RAISING NEARLY $600,000 AND WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 500 ARTISTS WITH GRANTS FROM 500 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO KEEP THE HEAT AND LIGHTS ON, TO FIX CARS, BUY FOOD, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG THE PANDEMIC WAS GOING TO LAST, BUT IT WAS -- WE NEEDED TO RESPOND QUICKLY.

>> CAN YOU TELL US, IS THERE STILL A DOWNTOWN ART PLAN?

I KNOW WE WERE DISCUSSING THAT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT AND NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH WHAT WE DID, IS IT STILL ALIVE?

>> YES, SO THERE IS STILL A DOWNTOWN ART PLAN.

RAC IS STILL COMMITTED TO IT.

WE'VE HAD TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF OUR STAFFING AND OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, BUT WHAT WE ALSO WANT TO DO IS BE STRATEGIC AND THINK ABOUT THE POWER OF PUBLIC ART ACROSS THE REGION.

SO DOWNTOWN, IN THE CITY, IN THE COUNTY, HOW CAN WE EXPAND THE IMPACT AND THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF PUBLIC ART?

SO YOU'LL SEE MORE TO COME ON THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

>> WE KNOW THAT YOU GRADUATED FROM UT-AUSTIN AND WE WON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

ALL OF US TIGER FANS HERE, BUT AUSTIN HAS SUCH A VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY.

DID THAT TIE THERE, DID THAT FOSTER THIS LOVE FOR THE ARTS IN YOU, VANESSA, OR WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO THE ARTS?

>> ACTUALLY, MY FAMILY.

I AM THANKFUL THAT BOTH OF MY PARENTS, MY DAD ACTUALLY PLAYED THE SAXOPHONE AND HE WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR, SO I GREW UP WITH MUSIC IN THE HOUSE.

OUR FAMILY COMES FROM THE VERY STRONG FAITH TRADITION, GOSPEL MUSIC, JAZZ, BLUES, SO JUST BEING IN A FAMILY THAT IS COMMITTED TO ARTS AND CULTURE CERTAINLY INFLUENCED ME.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN FILM AND FILM-MAKING.

THAT WAS MY GOAL, I WANTED TO MAKE MOVIES WITH SPIKE LEE AND ENDED UP GOING TO ATLANTA AND WORKING IN ENTERTAINMENT.

IT IS PART OF MY NATURE AS A CREATIVE PERSON TO LOVE THE ARTS AND I'M JUST VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY PAST TOOK ME BOTH IN A CREATIVE SPACE, BUT ALSO A BUSINESS SPACE AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE BOTH IN ENSURING THAT OUR ARTS ARE SUSTAINABLE.

BUT IN MY HEART, I'M A CREATIVE, SO THIS TRULY IS MY DREAM JOB AND I AM THANKFUL TO BE LEADING RAC RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THE CARTOON NETWORK?

>> MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT THERE, I WAS WORKING ON THE DOT-COM SIDE OF THE BUSINESS, MARKETING.

THERE WAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE INTERNET AND DOT-COM WAS STILL VERY NEW.

WE WERE EXPLORING GAMING AT THE TIME AND MY SECOND ASSIGNMENT THERE WAS IN MULTICULTURAL MARKETING AS WELL AS COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND I GOT TO WORK ON OUR CHILDHOOD OBESITY INITIATIVE.

THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT GOT ME TO ST. LOUIS TO WORK FOR SAVE-A-LOT FOOD STORES IN FOOD DESERTS.

I'M VERY MISSION DRIVEN AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT IN EACH OF MY POSITIONS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A PARTICULAR AREA FROM CHILDHOOD OBESITY TO FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND NOW ARTS AND CULTURE.

>> YOU KNOW, I KNOW ST. LOUISANS GO ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SEE ART, AND YOU'VE GOT A VESTED INTEREST IN GETTING PEOPLE TO MOVE -- OR VISIT TO ST. LOUIS BECAUSE THE MORE TOURISTS COME HERE, THE MORE THEY STAY IN HOTELS AND MOTELS, THE MORE MONEY YOUR ORGANIZATION WILL BENEFIT FROM.

SO WHAT CAN THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION IN GENERAL OR ARTISTS IN PARTICULAR DO TO MAKE THIS A DESTINATION SO THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO VISIT ST. LOUIS?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT OUR GREAT ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST ARTS INSTITUTIONS, AND I DON'T WANT US TAKING THAT FOR GRANTED.

AND WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE IT AS RESIDENTS, AND I THINK THAT WE DO.

WE CAN, OF COURSE, DO MORE.

WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE IT.

RAC'S RESPONSIBILITY AS THE LEADING LOCAL ARTS AGENCY FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY IS CULTURAL TOURISM MARKETING.

WHEN PEOPLE COME TO VISIT, LOVE THAT THEY'RE HERE TO SEE THE CARDS, LOVE THAT THEY'RE HERE TO SEE THE BLUES, HERE FOR BUSINESS, BUT CHECKING OUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN GRAND CENTER, AT THE KIRKWOOD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, OUT IN CHESTERFIELD.

WE HAVE AMAZING ARTS INSTITUTIONS ALL OVER THIS REGION AND SHOUTING TO THE ROOFTOPS IS PART OF RAC'S ROLE IN PROMOTING TOURISM.

BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT, I WANT THEM TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE THEN THEY' THEIR FAMILY WILL COME AND VISIT.

>> WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE USED TO BE SO PROUD OF IT, BUT WE'VE HAD A VERY -- THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR THE REGION AND I THINK YOUR ENTHUSIASM IS -- FOR THE REGION AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE INFECTIOUS.

DO YOU SEE A LOT OF REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC IN THE FUTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS, AND SO MANY ST. LOUISANS HAVE HAD GLOBAL IMPACT.

WE HAVE VISUAL ARTISTS, PERFORMING ARTISTS, DANCE, WHO HAVE INFLUENCED ARTS AND CULTURE ACROSS THE GLOBE AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE IT, AND RAC IS GOING TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF TELLING THAT STORY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, OUR ARTISTS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR CORPORATIONS.

THAT IS OUR ROLE AS THE LEADING ARTS AGENCY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> YOU KNOW, MS. COOKSEY, WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BUT IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR PEOPLE, INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS WHO MIGHT WANT TO PUT IN A GRANT PROPOSAL?

IS THERE A DATE OR DEADLINE THAT'S COMING UP?

>> SO FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE GETTING A NEW GRANTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SO WE DO NOT HAVE AN OPEN APPLICATION PROCESS, BUT WE WILL OPEN IN JANUARY AND I'D SAY VISIT RACSTL.ORG.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND HOLD TOWN HALLS AND BE REAL CLEAR ON WHEN THAT MONEY IS COMING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US ON NEXT UP.

VANESSA COOKSEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION.

THANKS FOR BRINGING YOUR ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM TO OUR PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND HE ENJOY.

>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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