>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NINE NETWORK.

>> HEY, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE GATESWORTH WHO NOT ONLY MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT, BUT HOSTED FOR US A FUN DISCUSSION ON TUESDAY NIGHT, WHICH WAS LED BY THE MEDIA VETERAN HERSELF WENDY WIESE.

BILL McCLELLAN IS WITH US TONIGHT, OF COURSE, FROM THE POST-DISPATCH, ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS ON DONNYBROOK.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, MR.

RAY HARTMANN IN HIS USUAL SEAT TO THE FAR LEFT OF ME.

AND ALSO MR.

ALVIN REID FROM THE ST.

LOUIS AMERICAN AND STLMAG.COM AND THAT WAS A FUN TIME AT THE GATESWORTH THE OTHER NIGHT, ALVIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT A CHARMING GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HOSTS AND HOSTESSES, I GUESS, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

>> AND A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR RAUCOUS DISCUSSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE TAX THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ZOO TAX THAT WILL INCREASE THE SALES TAX FROM EIGHTH OF A PERCENT IN PERPETUITY AND WE SEE TODAY FROM LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO BEING STRIEBD AS A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO CAMP OR GO ON SAFARI IN NORTH COUNTY SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THE GIRAFFES UP CLOSE MUCH LIKE THEY MIGHT DO IF THEY WERE ON A, I DON'T KNOW, AFRICAN SAFARI AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S CREATING FOR BREEDING AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, I BELIEVE WE'LL START WITH THAT.

NOT WE LIKE I WORK FOR THE ZOO, BUT I LIVE IN ST.

LOUIS COUNTY.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IF YOU CAN'T CAMP AND IT'S LIKE A SAFARI ELEMENT, ONCE AGAIN, THE ZOO LEADING THE WAY.

THEY NEED THE MONEY TO DO IT, I GET THAT, BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WORKS AND WORKS WELL, SO LET'S LET THEM LOOK WELL.

>> THE ST.

LOUIS ZOO DOES NOT NEED THE MONEY, PERIOD.

IT'S A $100 MILLION OPERATION, IT'S DOES NOT NEED THE MONEY.

EVERYBODY LOVES THE ZOO, NO QUESTION IT'S A FINE ZOO.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS.

A, IT'S UNFAIR PARTICULARLY TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF ST.

LOUIS BECAUSE JEFFREY BONNER HAS SUDDENLY ADOPTED THIS SUGGESTION I MADE TEN YEARS AGO, WHICH IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GET IN FREE ARE THE ONES WHO SUPPORT IT, SO IN THIS CASE, THAT WOULD BE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

THIS IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE $20 MILLION A YEAR OUT OF GENERAL REVENUES FOR ST.

LOUIS COUNTY.

IT'S NOT EVEN OFFICIALLY EARMARKED FOR IT, SO THEY CAN END UP DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH IT, BUT THINK ABOUT IT.

ANYTHING ST.

LOUIS COUNTY DOES, IT'S $20 MILLION THAT'S BEING DIVERTED TO AN INSTITUTION, HOWEVER WONDERFUL, THAT DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY.

>> IT DOES NEED THE MONEY FOR -- TO HAVE THE BREEDING FACILITY AND THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LITTLE BIT BOAT DOWN THERE AND HAVING GIRAFFES COME, IT ALL SOUNDS GOOD TO ME AND NORTH COUNTY CAN USE THIS, AND I'M WITH ALVIN.

>> EVEN THOUGH YOU WANT -- >> LET'S SUPPORT THE ZOO, I SAY.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAFARI LAND, WE DON'T HAVE START DATE ON CONSTRUCTION.

I MEAN, RIGHT?

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> FRANKLY IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE PROPOSAL, BUT GO AHEAD.

>> RIGHT.

WE GO TO BREEDING LAND -- >> YOU CAN'T SAY THAT THIS IS $20 MILLION COMING OUT OF GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THIS IS A TAX BEING CREATED FOR THAT.

IF YOU SAY WE RAISE -- >> NO, NO.

>> IF YOU SAY PASS ANOTHER TAX, BUT YOU CAN'T SAY THAT THIS IS 20 MILLION COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

>> HANG ON, HANG ON.

POINT OF ORDER HERE.

LET ME JUMP IN HERE REAL BRIEFLY.

WE'RE THROWING AROUND THIS 20 MILLION.

WHEN YOU ADD THE PROPERTY TAX WE'RE ALREADY PAYING IN THE COUNTY TO THE EXTRA 20 MILLION FROM THE SALES TAX, IT WILL BE ABOUT $40 MILLION A YEAR TO THE ZOO FROM THE COUNTY.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THE ZMD IS 20 FOR THE ZOO, 20 FOR THE ART MUSEUM.

>> NO, IT WILL BE $40 MILLION WHEN YOU COMBINE THE PROPERTY TAX WITH THE SALES TAX.

>> BUT THE 20 IS FROM ALL THE -- >> NO, WE WANT TO KEEP A WORLD-CLASS ZOO, I SAY WE SAY YES FOR IT.

>> BUT WHAT CHARLIE SEEMS TO BE SAYING IS WE ARE SORT OF BEING LED DOWN THE GARDEN PATH AND WE ARE VOTING IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING THAT, AS YOU SAID, ISN'T EVEN IN THE PROPOSAL.

>> NO, THE PROPOSAL IS NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT THE BREEDING OR THE CHEETAHS OR OTHER MATTERS.

>> OR THE KAYAKING OR THE GIRAFFES.

>>S AN IT'S -- AND IT'S ALL UP TO THE BOARD WHICH CHANGES OUTLINE THE TIME AND THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT, THERE'S TWO BIG PROBLEMS OUT THERE.

THE ZOO IS PART OF SOMETHING CALLED THE ZOO MUSEUM DISTRICT WHICH WAS CREATED TO HAVE THEN UNIFIED AND SUPPORTED.

AMONG THE INSTITUTIONS WHO WILL, OF COURSE, DARE NOT COMPLAIN THAT THIS IS VERY UNFAIR TO IS THE ART MUSEUM, THE HISTORY MUSEUM, THE SCIENCE CENTER AND THE GARDEN BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A UNIT.

THE ZOO IS BREAKING AWAY -- >> NO, THEY'RE NOT BREAKING AWAY.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

LET ME FINISH THAT.

>> BE QUICK, RAY.

>> I WILL BE.

IT'S UNFAIR TO THEM AND AS I SAID, THE ZOO IS OPERATING -- I KNOW HOW MISTY-EYED EVERYBODY IS, WE'RE OPERATING UNDER A 1970 TOURISM MOD DELVE NOT CHARGING -- MODEL OF NOT CHARGING ADMISSION.

>> THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OR THE SCIENCE CENTER OR WHOEVER ELSE IN THE ZMD WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT WHERE IT IS NOW, A SEPARATE ENTITY AND THEY ASKED THE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR IT, IT'S UP TO THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO IT OR NOT.

>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS UNFAIR TO THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

THEY'RE STILL GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WERE GETTING BEFORE AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING, THE ZOO MUSEUM DISTRICT, BUT IF THE ZOO WANTS TO START SOMETHING ELSE AND ASK THE VOTERS TO VOTE ON IT AND I'M A COUNTY VOTE AND I'M VOTING YES FOR THE ZOO.

>> IT'S A REGRESSIVE -- ALVIN HAS A GOOD POINT.

>> WELL, THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE -- >> IT'S REGRESSIVE AND BUSINESS-KILLING ON TOP OF IT.

>> SALES TAX IS ALREADY 11% IN PARTS OF THE COUNTY, 10% IN MANY AREAS, AND IT DOES AFFECT THE POOR.

IF WE WERE NOT GIVING TAX BREAKS TO THE MAJOR CORPORATIONS, I WOULD SAY FINE, BUT WE'RE SHIFTING THE TAX BURDEN FROM THE WELL-TO-DO TO THE LITTLE GUY.

>> THEN LET'S STOP GIVING MONEY TO CORPORATIONS.

>> AMEN, AMEN.

>> I'M NOT BEATING UP THE ZOO.

[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> LET'S NOT SAVE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES, LET'S GIVING MONEY -- >> WELL THAT'S A COUNTY PRIORITY, ALVIN REID, SAVING THE ENDANGERED SPECIES.

>> WOULDN'T IT BE NICE GOING DOWN THE RIVER AND HAVING A GIRAFFE LOOK OVER AT YOU.

>> I GUARANTEED -- >> LET'S MOVE ON.

WE HAVE A BIG SHOW BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF MEASURES ON THE BALLOT.

WENDY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE GASOLINE TAX WHICH SOUNDS GOOD FOR ROAD AND BRIDGES, BUT YOU LOOK AT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, IT TALKS ABOUT GIVING THE MONEY TO THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND MAKING SURE IF I GET A GOLD MEDAL IN THE OLYMPICS OR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, THERE NT WOULD BE ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES AND I WOULD PREFER A MEASURE THAT JUST SAID LET'S RAISE THE GASOLINE TAX FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

>> BUT DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THE VOTERS HAVE REJECTED IT THE LAST TWO TIMES THAT THEY VOTED ON A GASOLINE TAX?

IT'S LIKE A CUPCAKE.

THEY'RE COVERING IT WITH ALL SORTS OF FROSTING AND SPRINKLES AND SAYING THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY, THIS IS ABOUT THE HIGHWAY PATROL.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE HIGHWAY PATROL MONEY INTO ROADS AND BRIDGES, SO YOU'VE LOST EVERYBODY AT THAT POINT AS A RESULT OF THIS GAS TAX.

NOTHING -- I DON'T THINK ANYTHING PITS THE CITY MICE AGAINST THE COUNTRY MICE QUITE LIKE GAS TAX BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH LETTERED HIGHWAYS, YOU KNOW, OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS, AS OPPOSED TO URBAN, YOU KNOW, URBAN THOROUGHFARES, AND THE POISON PILL IS ANOTHER THING THAT IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REALLY OFF-PUTTING.

THE POISON PILL THAT IS PART OF THIS THAT WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO GET INTO GENERAL REVENUE TO BASICALLY GO AROUND THE VOTERS, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY WOULD ALLOW THEIR PET PROJECTS TO GO AHEAD WITHOUT THE VOTERS, AND THERE'S JUST -- IT'S TOO MUCH SMOKE AND MIRRORS FOR MY TASTE.

>> BUT IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, THEN YOU SHOULD BE AGAINST THE ZOO BECAUSE IT HAS NO -- >> NO, NO.

THE GAS TAX AND THE ZOO ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

>> THEY'RE ACTUALLY A SIMILAR PRINCIPLE, IF I MAY.

>> YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ZOO ARE THE SAME?

>> NO, I'LL TELL YOU, I THINK THAT THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE MONEY CAN BE USED ANY WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO USE IT IS THE SAME AND SECONDLY, THE MORE IMPORTANT POINT IS AS WITH THE CASE OF THE ZOO AND ITS ADMISSION POLICY, WE'RE OPERATING LIKE IT'S 1970 IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO THE ZOO.

>> THAT'S NOT THE HIGHWAY TAX.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HIGHWAY TAX.

WE HAVE THE SECOND LOWEST ONE IN THE COUNTRY.

OKAY?

THAT MEANS ALL THE MILLIONS OF TRUCKERS THAT EVERYBODY IS PASSING THROUGH, WHEN THEY BUY THEIR GASOLINE HERE, WE HAVE THE SECOND LOWEST ONE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> I RIGHT, I AGREE.

>> AND WE THINK THAT'S SOME BADGE OF HONOR, AND MEANWHILE, WE'VE THE LEAST SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE LEAST -- >> STAY ON THE HIGHWAYS, YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING ON THE HIGHWAY TAX OR NOT?

>> NO, I THINK WE SHOULD RAISE IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T KEEP BEING THE LOWEST STATE.

>> IT WOULD BE NICE -- IT WOULD BE NICE IF ROADS AND BRIDGES WERE IN THE BALLOT PROPOSAL.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK TOO.

>> I FEEL LIKE, WELL, I CAN'T GET WHERE ALL THIS IS GOING, BUT IT'S ONCE AGAIN LEADING TO THE STATE WHERE EVERYBODY PASSES THROUGH ON I-70, HOW ABOUT WE HAVE A TOLL ROAD.

THAT ONLY MAKES SENSE, BUT NO, I MEAN THE LEGISLATURE GETTING AHOLD OF THIS MONEY AND SOMEHOW IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE STATE PATROL?

GET SERIOUS.

IT AIN'T GOING TO SEE THE -- >> THE BALLOT LANGUAGE HAS TO BE MORE -- I MEAN, PLAIN SPOKEN.

>> EVEN IF IT JUST WENT FOR THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, THAT'S NOT SUCH A BAD CAUSE AND WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND -- GLOOSK IT'S NOT -- >> OF COURSE IT'S NOT A BAD CAUSE.

>> WE HAVE THIS ATTITUDE THAT BEING THE LOWEST TAX -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> IF YOU WANT A TAX FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, MAKE FOR IT ROADS AND BRIDGES AND WE'LL VOTE FOR IT.

DON'T MAKE IT -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> AND WE'LL VOTE TO SUPPORT THE HIGHWAY PATROL.

>> YOU OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T READ THE EDITORIAL BY JOAN BRAY WHO'S A TAX AND SPEND LIBERAL, BUT IN THE PAPER TODAY, SHE SAID THE ZOO TAX AND HIGHWAY TAX ARE TWO TAXES EVEN SHE CAN'T SUPPORT.

>> I'M WITH HER ON THAT ONE AND AS FAR AS THE HIGHWAY TAX -- >> YOU ALREADY SUPPORTED THE HIGHWAY TAX.

>> I SAID ON THE HIGHWAY TAX, I THINK WE HAVE TO RAISE IT.

>> WHO'S ON FIRST?

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE AIRPORT.

SPEAKING OF VOTING, THE MAYOR OF ST.

LOUIS, WENDY WIESE -- OH, AM I GOING TO BILL?

I'M SORRY.

>> ON THE AIRPORT.

>> I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU, BILL, ABOUT LAMBERT AND LYDA, THE MAYOR HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY WHEN SHE SAID IF THEY DECIDE TO PRIVATIZE THE AIRPORT AND GO DOWN THAT ROAD, THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT DOES NOT NEED TO GO IN FRONT OF THE VOTES OF THE CITY OF ST.

LOUIS BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, SHE'S GOT A POINT, DOESN'T SHE?

THE VOTERS HAVE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN AS WELL AS THE BOARS OF APPORTIONMENT AND EASEMENT.

DOES EVERYBODY HAVE TO GO IN FRONT OF THE HOI POLLOI?

>> WELL, THE ALDERMEN THINK IT SHOULD.

IF IT KARA SPENCER WHO WANTS TO PASS A BILL MANDATING A VOTERS VOTE ON IT AND I THINK THEY SHOULD.

THIS IS A BIG DRAMATIC THING THAT FRANCIS SLAY DROPPED ON HIS DESK AS HE WAS WALKING OUT OF THE OFFICE AND NOW HE'S A LAWYER FOR ONE OF THE GROUPS AND JEFF RAY FORD IS WORKING FOR HIM AND EVERYBODY'S HEAD IS SPINNING GOING WHAT IS, THIS AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PRIVATIZE THE AIRPORT SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THEIR ARGUMENT TO THE VOTERS AND THEN IF THE VOTERS THINK, OH OKAY, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, DO IT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE VOTERS TRUST THE CITY OFFICIALS RIGHT NOW ON THIS AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.

>> AND WHO DID SHE KNOW?

IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE BOARD OF E&A WHICH IS HER AND SHE'S GOING TO VOTE HOWEVER THEY TELL HER TO VOTE.

SHE'S ON BOARD.

THEN YOU'VE GOT LEWIS REED, WITHOUT SAYING THIS IS A PROBLEM OR SOMETHING, I'LL VOTE FOR IT IF I GET SOME OF MY BOYS ON BOARD FOR SOME OF THIS DOUGH, SO YOU SEE WHERE HE'S GOING.

THEN YOU HAVE DARLENE GREEN BY HERSELF.

AND THEN YOU HAVE MARLENE DAVIS AND HER CREW THAT PUT TOGETHER THIS WHATEVER COMMISSION WHERE A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID TO TELL US WHAT TO DO, SO YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ALDERMEN, BOARD OF E&A.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S THE MAJORITY OF ALDERMEN, BUT YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN LINE WITH WHATEVER IS GOING ON WITH THIS AIRPORT.

THE PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE ON IT.

>> BUT DON'T FORGET, ALVIN, ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS YOU MENTIONED ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE AND IF THE PEOPLE OF ST.

LOUIS DON'T LIKE THOSE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, THEY CAN GET RID OF THEM AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> QUICK FOR EXAMPLE, THOUGH, CHARLIE, WE ELECTED THESE SAME PEOPLE AND IF THE PEOPLE HAD NOT VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSED SOCCER STADIUM WHERE ST.

LOUIS WOULD BE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE, STLG WOULD BE PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE.

HERE WE HAVE TWO YEARS LATER AND THANKLY FOR THE SAYLOR FAMILY, THEY STEPPED UP AND SO THE PEOPLE WON BY RULING OUT WHAT THE PEOPLE ELECTED -- >> BUT THIS IS HISTORIC.

I MEAN, THIS WOULD BE HISTORIC IN MY ESTIMATION AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD DEFINITELY VOTE.

>> THESE TWO ARE RIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT.

NO, THEY -- YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE ZOO -- >> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, BILL.

YOU HEARD THAT, RIGHT?

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ZOO.

NO, THE AIRPORT IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE CITY'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET AND THE FACT IT'S THAT LOCATED IN THE COUNTY IS JUST THE WAY IT IS.

AND THE IDEA, IT IS A MAJOR ENGINE FOR THE ZOO -- I KEEP -- A MAJOR ENGINE FOR THE CITY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAD THE AIRPORT PRIVATIZATION DEAL IN THE LAST 16 MINUTES OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> SO IT REALLY DOESN'T PASS ANY SMELL TEST AND THE VOTERS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO APPROVE IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> BUT WHEN THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY GENERALLY ARE DECIDED UPON BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT ALL ELECTED.

THEY DON'T HAVE A NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON SHOULD WE GO TO WAR, SHOULD WE BUY THIS.

THE NEW ENGLAND MODEL.

>> THIS IS A SMALL -- THE CITY OF ST.

LOUIS IS NOT 300 MILLION PEOPLE OR HOWEVER MANY WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THEY CAN HAVE AN ELECTION AND LET THE VOTERS DETERMINE -- >> THIS IS A MAJOR, MAJOR THING.

>> OKAY, SO LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME EVER -- AND I MEAN EVER -- THAT A DRUG WAS APPROVED AT THE BALLOT BOX?

HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE?

AND YET -- WHO'S NEXT ON THIS ONE.

IT WOULD BE YOU, BILL.

NOT COINCIDENTALLY MAYBE AS WE TALK ABOUT MARIJUANA AND THAT WOULD BE THREE MARIJUANA MEASURES IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

I MEAN, DID WE VOTE ON ANY OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG?

NO.

WHY MARIJUANA FOR THE FIRST TIME?

>> DIDN'T THE PEOPLE HAVE A SAY IN ENDING PROHIBITION?

>> NOT FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

>> WELL, CHARLIE -- >> IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> YES.

ON THIS ONE, LONG OVERDUE AND, GEE, WHEN I WAS WRITING COLUMNS FOUR TIMES A WEEK, I USED TO PROMOTE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT, BUT AT THE ANY ONLY, THE ONLY DIFFICULT I DIDN'T ON -- AT ANY RATE, THE ONLY DIFFICULTY ON THIS IS THERE'S THREE PROPOSALS ON MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.

PEOPLE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND VOTE FOR AMENDMENT TWO BECAUSE WE WANT TO -- ONE IS FOR A LAWYER IN SPRINGFIELD WHO WILL HAVE A BIG INSTITUTE TO CURE ALL DISEASES.

>> THAT'S AMENDMENT THREE.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S A BAD IDEA.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE GOES TO THE PROPOSITION C, LETS THE LEGISLATURE GET INVOLVED, WHERE AMENDMENT TWO AND MIKE WOLFE WROTE AN EXCELLENT OP-ED IN THE POST-DISPATCH A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, POINTING OUT THAT AMENDMENT TWO IS THE ONLY ONE WE SHOULD VOTE FOR AND ONLY TWO.

>> THIS IS REAL SIMPLE.

VOTE AGAINST THE OTHER ONES AND VOTE FOR AMENDMENT TWO BECAUSE THE ONE THAT GETS THE MOST VOTES IS GOING TO MATTER AND AMENDMENT TWO IS REASONABLE.

IT CREATES A 4% TAX ON IT WHICH GOES TO VETERANS AND IT'S A REASONABLE TAX.

IT ALLOWS DOCTORS TO RECOMMEND -- >> AFTER OVERSIGHT.

>> IT ALLOWS DOCTORS TO RECOMMEND TO THE PATIENTS WHO NEED IT.

IT IS MED MEDICINAL.

IT MODELED AFTER -- YOU ASKED ABOUT VOTES.

A LOT OF OTHER STATES VOTED ON THIS.

IT'S MODELED ON OTHER STATES -- >> DOESN'T IT ALLOW PEOPLE TO GROW MARIJUANA IN THEIR BACKYARD?

IT.

>> ALLOWS THEM TO GROW SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA.

>> WENDY, YOU LIKE THAT?

PEOPLE GROWING MARIJUANA IN THEIR BACKYARD?

>> AMENDMENT TWO IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> WENDY, PEOPLE GROWING MARIJUANA IN THEIR BACKYARD?

>> I WANT CANCER PATIENTS TO HAVE RELIEF.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

>> THANK YOU, WENDY.

THANK YOU, WENDY.

>> I'M WITH STEVE HERE.

>> I THOUGHT I WAS LISTENING TO -- >> I'M GOOD WITH TEAMWORK -- GOOD WITH TEAMWORK BUT YOU POINT OUT -- GOOD WITH TWO, BUT YOU POINT OUT THERE ARE 30 OTHER PLACES, HERE IS MISSOURI AGAIN, WE'RE VOTING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA WHERE THIS WAS DONE IN OTHER STATES 10, 15 YEARS AGO.

HOW ABOUT WE KIP -- WE SKIP THIS AND GO ON THE RECREATIONAL.

>> THERE WERE STATISTICS.

I THINK THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON WHETHER MARIJUANA AS GATEWAY DRUG TO OPIOIDS, BUT FOR PEOPLES WITH DEBILITATING DISEASES -- >> REAL QUICK ON PROHIBITION, IT WAS A PUBLIC ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE GETTING TIRED OF GETTING HIT BY STRAY BULLETS FROM ALL THE -- >> LET ME ASK YOU, WENDY, ABOUT COMMENTS MADE ALSO AT A PRESS CONFERENCE MADE BY MAYOR LYDA KREWSON AND SHE SAID THAT ST.

LOUISANS HAVE TO STOP BEING SO HUMBLE.

THEY HAVE TO START BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

I GUESS SHE'S TAKEN A LOOK AT THE NEWSPAPERS AND RADIO AND TELEVISION COVERAGE SHOWING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS IN ST.

LOUIS LIKE CRIME AND STD AND SCHOOLS AND ALL THAT, AND SHE SAID, LOOK, WE'VE GOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEVELOPMENT GOING ON BETWEEN FOREST PARK AND DOWNTOWN ST.

LOUIS AND WE'RE PICKING UNDER THE TRASH AGAIN AND WE SEEM TO BE MAKING PROGRESS IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

IS SHE RIGHT, THAT ST.

LOUISANS ARE NOT TOOTING THEIR OWN HORNS AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD BE AND COULD BE?

>> I THINK INSTEAD OF HUMBLE OR HUMILITY, I MIGHT HAVE JUST SAID, HEY, BE EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, YES, THINGS HAVE BEEN KIND OF ROUGH LATELY.

HUMBLE, I THINK ST.

LOUISANS, UNLESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BASEBALL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE PRETTY HUMBLE AND SO, YOU KNOW, BE ENTHUSIASTIC, BE EXCITE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO START -- I'VE SAID THIS A MILLION TIMES.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP THINKING THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT PROGRESS.

PROGRESS ISN'T GOING TO LOOK THE WAY IT LOOKED IN THE '70s AND '80s FOR THOSE OF US WHO GREW UP.

IT LOOKS DIFFERENT, SO SHE'S RIGHT, BE EXCITED.

>> ALL RIGHT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO BRAG ON THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR WHERE WE'RE GIVING A TAX BREAK TO A CONDOMINIUM THING THAT OVERLOOKS FOREST PARK, WHICH GREAT REAL ESTATE IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST PAY FOR.

YOU JUST CAN'T BRAG ON THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR ANYMORE AS THE MAYOR.

WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN ADD UP ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT IN DEVELOPMENT, BUT THAT DOESN'T FLY WITH THE AVERAGE ST.

LOUIS VOTER, BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL SEEING THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE DRAGGING THE CITY DOWN.

>> BUT I THINK TAX BREAKS HAVE -- IF WE COULD HAVE -- IF WE COULD IMPLEMENT A FULL STOP, YOU KNOW, NO MORE TAX BREAKS, NO MORE CORPORATE TAX BREAKS, ALL AT ONCE, I THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THIS CITY TO WALK OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY, OKAY, ESPECIALLY NOT NOW.

>> EXACTLY, THERE'S A SMALL DETAIL THAT THEY'RE GIVING THEM EVERY DAY IN CLAYTON AND CHESTERFIELD.

>> NOT SO MUCH, RAY.

>> BUT THE BUILDING THAT OVERLOOKS FOREST PARK IS NOT IN CLAYTON OR KIRKWOOD AND ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU, ALVIN, MY POINT IS WHETHER SHE CHOSE THE PERFECT WORDS OR NOT, THE MAYOR OF ST.

LOUIS SHOULD BE DELIVERING A MESSAGE IN GENERAL -- >> OF OPTIMISM, YES.

>> THAT WE SHOULDN'T GIVE UP.

>> AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES OF TRANSPORTATION OR WHATEVER.

WE KNOW WHAT PROBLEMS WE HAVE STARTING WITH CRIME, BUT WE CAN'T JUST GIVE UP AND WALLOW ABOUT IT, AND SO I GIVE HER CREDIT.

I MEAN, WHAT'S SHE SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE OF ST.

LOUIS TRAVEL TO KANSAS CITY IS IN SOMETHING CALLED THE HYPERLOOP WHERE WE'LL GET IN A POD AND BE TRANSPORTED TO KANSAS CITY IN 28 MINUTES WITH A POSSIBLE STOP IN COLUMBIA AND IT'S GOING TO COST BETWEEN 6 AND $10 BILLION?

>> NOT FOR A TICKET.

>> NOT FOR A TICKET, BUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S FEASIBLE, RAY HARTMANN?

YOU'RE A BUSINESSMAN.

>> IT WOULD HAVE WORKED GOOD FOR ME TONIGHT.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN KANSAS CITY AND NOBODY WOULD HAVE BOTHERING ME FOR MENTIONING THE ZOO TOO OFTEN.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO THINK OF.

I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN -- DO I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

NO.

I WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF THE BULLET TRAIN.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS EXCITING.

I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK TOWARD TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND SO, SURE, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH DREAMING.

>> BUT THE IDEA OF, BOOP, YOU'RE IN COLUMBIA, BOOP, YOU'RE IN KANSAS CITY.

AND THOSE WHO REMEMBER THE PNEUMATIC TUBES AT THE NEWSPAPERS AND PLACES WE WORKED AT, I THINK IT'S COOL.

IT'S WORTH TRYING TO FIND THE INVESTMENT TO DO IT AND JUST ONCE, JUST ONCE, CAN WE BE FIRST AT SOMETHING?

>> MY ONLY PROBLEM, ALVIN, THIS IS IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FIRST WITH OUR HYPERLOOP TRAIN.

WE'RE EITHER GOING TO BE -- GOING TO BE GREAT OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LAUGHING STOCKS AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, THE HYPERWHAT?

WELL, IT WAS GOING TO BE A PNEUMATIC TUBE AND WE WERE GOING TO GET TO KANSAS CITY, AND HOW LONG IS IT?

>> 28 MINUTES.

>> 28 MINUTES.

I JUST -- I'M JUST AFRAID.

THEN AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE BEEN LAUGHING AT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, I ADMIT THAT, BUT THIS DOESN'T SOUND TOO GOOD TO ME.

>> THEY USED TO HAVE -- I WENT UP AS A KID AND I GOT A LITTLE BUTTON, THE TOP OF THE ARTS CLUB, PEOPLE THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS IT WAS OPEN, PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO GO UP THERE.

OH MY GOD, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!

I'M NOT COMPARING THE TWO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK ST.

LOUIS IS IN A POSITION TO SET ITSELF APART NOT ONLY NATIONALLY, BUT INTERNATIONALLY.

I THINK IT'S A COOL THING.

LET'S GO FOR IT.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC BETWEEN ST.

LOUIS AND KANSAS CITY THAT CAN BE JUSTIFIED BY A $10 BILLION INVESTMENT?

>> I THINK YOU WILL MAKE A BILLION DOLLARS MAYBE IN THE FIRST YEAR OR SO JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO DO THIS.

>> AS LONG AS THEY'RE BIG PODS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO CUT THE LEGS OUT FOR TALL PEOPLE, I'M FINE WITH THAT BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN KANSAS CITY.

>> BESIDES, YOU PROBABLY COULDN'T FIT TOO MANY PEOPLE IN A POD ANYWAY.

>> NO.

I'M HOPING IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL POD.

I HAVE SPATIAL ISSUES.

>> I THINK MY FELLOW FOUNDERS ARE MOST LIKELY RIGHT ON THIS, THAT IT WON'T BE HAPPENING.

I WOULD SAY, IF WEEK DREAM -- >> OUR GRANDCHILDREN MAYBE.

>> WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BULLET TRAIN, THERE WERE A LOT OF PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS, SO A LOT OF TIMES THESE THINGS MAKE SENSE, BUT I SUSPECT WE'RE THINKING LIKE HARRY POTTER ON THIS.

>> IF WE BUILD IT, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CHITION INTERESTED IN CONNECTING TO IT.

>> SURE.

I WONDER IF THAT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IS ALREADY BEING EMPLOYED IN THE AREA WITH THESE IDEAS.

LET'S GO TO THE MAILBOX FROM TWO WEEKS AGO.

JUST LOOKED AT MY PROPERTY TAXES FROM 2017 AND $129.10 WENT TO THE ZOO MUSEUM DISTRICT, 38.80 ZZ TO THE ZOO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TENS OR EVEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS THE ZOO GETS, BUT IT PROBABLY NEED AN AUDIT MORE THAN IT NEEDS ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THAT FROM JOHN CARR OF ST.

LOUIS COUNTY.

AND WE HEARD FROM YANNA MUNSICH OF ST.

LOUIS WHO WROTE, I ENJOY THE SHOW, BUT WHY DOES YOUR BACKGROUND ART WORK INCLUDE ST.

LOUIS CARDINALS AND L.A.

RAMS.

THERE'S NO REPRESENTATION OF OUR WONDERFUL ST.

LOUIS BLUES.

AND BEFORE YOU TOUT SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A CONVENTION REMODEL, SHOULDN'T YOU CONSIDER WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE TAXPAYERS MONEY?

WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM THE MONEY?

YOU CAN WRITE IT FROM AT KETC, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108, AND WE LOVE THE EMAILS, LETTERS@KETC.ORG AND THE TWEETS, #DONNYBROOKSTL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, DON'T GO AWAY, STAND BY FOR YOUR TURN.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NINE NETWORK.

>> HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

ALTHOUGH TOMORROW NIGHT, HALLOWEEN PARTY DOWN AT THE MEDIA COMMONS HERE AT CHANNEL 9 ON OLIVE.

I'M GOING TO BE HERE WITH MY WIFE AND SOME FRIENDS, CHECK THIS OUT.

RAY HARMON -- >> HARMON?

>> OH, RAY HARTMANN AND ALVIN REID, IT'S YOUR TURN AND WE START WITH TONY IN BRIDGETON.

HI, TONY.

>> Caller: GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE AMENDMENT TWO.

YOU MENTIONED YOU CAN GROW YOUR OWN MARIJUANA AND THAT'S POSSIBLY TRUE, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE AND IT WILL BE FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES ONLY.

>> OKAY, YEAH.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PRESCRIPTION TO GROW MARIJUANA.

>> NO, WE UNDERSTAND.

>> NOT EVERYBODY JUST GETS TO GROW ALL THE WEED THEY WANT.

>> TONY, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CLEAR, THE POPULARITY OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN MISSOURI ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED, THIS IS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND I THINK IT ACTUALLY HAS A CHANCE TO PASS THIS TIME.

THE SUPPORT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM THE SYMPTOMS OF -- THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND SO MANY PEOPLE KNOW PEOPLE THAT REALLY CAN USE THIS.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO VOTE FOR AMENDMENT TWO, PERSONALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO BARBARA FROM SOUTH COUNTY.

WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, BARBARA?

>> Caller: YES, I AM DEFINITELY FOR THE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION AS FAR AS HIGHWAY PATROL.

THE MONEY WOULD NOT GO TO THE OPERATION OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL, BUT IT WOULD ACTUALLY GO TO THE TROOPERS THAT ARE ON THE ROADS FOR THEIR SAFETY.

>> WELL, WHAT IS THEIR -- JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE FURTHER TO ME, HOW WOULD IT BE FOR THEIR SAFETY?

>> Caller: BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT ON THE ROADS AND THEY'RE GOING AFTER THE CRIMINALS AND ALSO THE OTHER ENTITIES, SO -- >> BUT I'M GOING TO PRESS ON A LITTLE BIT HERE.

ARE YOU SAYING THE ROADS AND BRIDGES WILL BE SAFER, SO THUS THEY WILL BE SAFER?

>> Caller: YEAH, PLUS IT ALSO GIVES THEM SOME MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN, YOU KNOW, DANGER WITH BEING ON THE ROADS WITH THOSE, YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE.

>> OKAY, SO IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON IS NOT JUST FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, BUT IT IS FOR HIGHWAY PATROL MEN?

>> Caller: FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROL.

NOT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO VOTE FOR ON THE GAS TAX WERE FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, NOT NECESSARILY FOR PATROL OFFICERS.

>> Caller: THAT IS ALSO IN THE BILL ABOUT FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROL.

>> OH, LET ME JUMP IN REAL QUICK.

I DIDN'T STATE IT AS CLEARLY AS I SHOULD.

WE CANNOT, AS PRESIDENT OBAMA ONCE SAID, MAKE THE PERFECT THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.

IF WE WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A TAX INCREASE TO SUPPORT THE -- TO JUST BRING OURSELVES UP TO ANOTHER PART OF THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY, KEEP IN MIND WE'RE SECOND TO THE BOTTOM, TO ALASKA, IN HIGHWAY TAXES.

IF WE CONSTANTLY WAIT IN MISSOURI TILL WE HAVE THE PERFECT TAX PROPOSITION, WE'LL NEVER GET ANY REVENUE.

WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST REVENUE STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

PERSONALLY, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DONE TOLL ROADS WHEN WE HAD TOLLING AUTHORITY FOR HIGHWAY 70 BECAUSE WE LEFT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM OUT OF STATE.

WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN WITH THIS.

I'M IN FAVOR OF IT.

I DON'T LOVE OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND HOW IT SPENTS ITS MONEY, BUT WE CAN'T -- SPENDS ITS MONEY, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP BEING THE LOWEST REVENUE STATE OR ONE OF THEM IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHY I'M FOR IT AND I'M SURE, ALVIN, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET SPENT PERFECTLY.

>> I GOT YOU.

YOU MAKE A GOOD ARGUMENT ON THAT AND I DO AGREE WITH YOUR ARGUMENT, I'M JUST KIND OF WARY.

LET'S GO TO DIANE IN CREVE COEUR.

HI, DIANE.

>> Caller: GOOD EVENING, ALVIN AND RAY.

I'M CALLING ABOUT THE ZOO TAX AND THE OPPONENT TO THE PLAN, HIS NAME IS BEN AND I'M GOING TO SPELL THE LAST NAME, U-C-H-I -- >> UCHITELLE.

HE'S ONE OF THE OPPONENTS.

>>.

>> Caller: ANYWAY, HE'S A FORMER MAYOR OF CLAYTON, A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE ZOO MUSEUM DISTRICT BOARD AND HE OVERSEES FIVE MAJOR ST.

LOUIS ATTRACTIONS.

HE SAYS IF APPROVED, THERE WILL BE NO SUPERVISION OR CONTROL OF THE SALES TAX FUNDS BY THE INDEPENDENT ZOO MUSEUM DISTRICT.

ALL MONEY WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE ZOO AND IT WOULD HAVE THE SOLE DISCRETION ON SPENDING THE FUNDS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Caller: ALL THIS WORK PAID BY US AS TAXPAYERS AND CAREFULLY SUPERVISED BY THE DISTRICT.

HE ALSO SAYS, HE'S PRESSING TO DO WHAT OTHER ZOOS ARE DOING, AND HE THINKS THAT WE SHOULD CHARGE ADMISSION AND I KIND OF AGREE WITH HIM.

>> OKAY.

I AGREE AND BEN WAS THE CHAIRMAN -- >> AND I DISAGREE.

>> I BROUGHT THAT IDEA TO THE ZMD WHEN BEN WAS THERE, AND JUST TO KEEP THIS PERSPECTIVE, IN 1970 WHEN THE ZMD WAS ESTABLISHED, OR '72, VIRTUALLY NO ZOO IN THE COUNTRY CHARGED MUCH ADMISSION.

TODAY, WE ARE LEAVING A MAJOR, MAJOR SOURCE OF TOURISM REVENUE AT THE GATES OF THE ZOO.

KEEP IN MIND, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, AND I KNOW BEN, BELIEVE THE ZOO SHOULD REMAIN FREE FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

FOR ONE IS ARGUING THAT.

NO ONE IS ARGUING THAT.

THE QUESTION IS, IF YOU GO TO ALMOST ANY OTHER ZOO IN THE COUNTRY, A FAMILY OF FOUR IS GOING TO SPEND 80 TO $100 TO GET IN WITHOUT COMPLAINT AND WE -- WHEN YOU ADD UP THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO COME HERE FROM OUT OF STATE AND THE REST OF MISSOURI AND REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY, WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THAT WE'RE LEAVING FROM OUT OF TOWNERS AND IF WE WEREN'T DOING THAT, WE WOULDN'T NEED A REGRESSIVE SALES TAX.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IN 1970, I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, ST.

LOUIS ZOO WAS THE FEW PLACES THAT MY FAMILY COULD GO WITHOUT PEOPLE LOOKING AT US CRAZY AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE ZOO WAS FREE AND NOBODY COULD KEEP US OUT OF IT.

>> ALL THE OTHER ZOOS WERE FREE.

>> I WASN'T AT THE OTHER ZOO.

I WAS AT THE ZOO IN ST.

LOUIS.

THANK YOU, DIANE.

>> LET'S GO TO RON FROM ST.

LOUIS.

HI, RON.

>> Caller: YES, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.

>> SURE.

>> Caller: IF THE CITY WANTS TO OUTSOURCE SOMETHING, LET'S OUTSOURCE THE REFUSE DEPARTMENT, THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, AND THE STREETS DEPARTMENT.

BUT LET'S KEEP OUR AIRPORT.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT'S WORKING AS WELL AS IT CAN WORK TO MAKE MORE MONEY FOR THE CITY.

BUT LET'S GET RID OF THE REFUSE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THESE PLACES THAT DON'T WORK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

>> Caller: INCLUDE THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RID OF THEM AND WE JUST CAN'T.

>> OUTSOURCE THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN?

>> ACTUALLY, RON, STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND THREE YEARS FROM NOW, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW -- >> IT'S GOING TO BE SMALLER.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE SMALLER.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUTSOURCED.

>> BUT INSTEAD OF FROM 28, WE'RE GOING DOWN TO 14.

YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.

>> YOU HAVE A GREAT POINT, RON.

I WOULDN'T GO SO FAR AS TO OUTSOURCE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT OUTSOURCE REFUSE.

>> Caller: WE CLEAN THE ALLEY, WE CLEAN THE SIDEWALK, BUT THAT 36 INCHES IN THE STREET WHERE THEY CAN WRITE TICKETS, THEY DON'T WANT US TO CLEAN THAT.

WHY CAN'T WE JUST CLEAN THAN GET RID OF THEM?

>> I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT -- OH MY GOSH.

THAT PART OF YOUR YARD, THE VOTE THAT YOU DON'T KNOWN.

>> EASEMENT.

>> EASEMENT, YES.

EXACTLY.

>> THANKS FOR THE CALL.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOT SOME TWEETS.

NOVICE KRISTEN, I'M ALL FOR PROP Z. THE ZOO IS GREAT FOR ST.

LOUIS AND ADDING ANOTHER POSITIVE SPACE THAT ALL CITIZENS OF OUR CITY CAN PARTAKE IN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT ONE.

FROM JDR 1949, THREE MARIJUANA AMENDMENTS ARE ONE TOKE OVER THE LINE.

>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE, VERY NICE.

SISTER SARA 23.

I HAPPILY BRAG ABOUT ST.

LOUIS.

WE HAVE A GREAT CITY WITH MANY AMAZING FREE ACTIVITIES FROM HIKING TO A GREAT PARK AND GREAT SPORTS TEAMS AND MANY FANS.

#DONNYBROOKSTL, SEND US A TWEET.

>> GOOD FOR SISTER SARA AND LET'S GO TO HOLY STAR 77.

AFTER TUNING IN TONIGHT, I SEE THE FUTURE FOR ST.

LOUIS IS OPEN TO A HYBRID ZOO AIRPORT WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON HAND IF YOU GET SICK FROM HYPERLOOP TRAVEL.

THESE THAT'S A GOOD ONE AND THAT UNDER SOS LIKE A YALE HOLLANDER.

WE APPRECIATE THE SWEETS, KEEP THEN COMING.

LET'S GO TO AN OLD FRIEND, BILL FROM ROCK HILL.

HI, BILL.

>> Caller: GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

FIRST OF ALL, WITH REGARDS TO THE HIGHWAY TAX, IT'S LIKE HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE PEOPLE FINALLY REALIZE THAT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS MONEY AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO ANTE UP.

ALREADY, THERE ARE A LOT OF BRIDGES IN ABSOLUTELY DEPLORABLE SHAPE AND HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO BE BEFORE SOMEBODY'S BRIDGE FALL DOWN AND I'M AFRAID THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO FINALLY TAKE BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN ELSEWHERE THAT FINALLY A BRIDGE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE AND THEN EVERYBODY IS GOING TO POINT FINGERS AND TRY TO BLAME IT ON EVERYBODY ELSE.

WITH REGARDS TO THE HYPERLOOP, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT'S A BUNCH OF HYPE.

IF YOU NEED TO GET FROM HERE TO KANSAS CITY IN A HURRY, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE AIRPLANE THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1909, A TESTED TECHNOLOGY, GENERALLY WORKS QUITE WELL.

SEVERAL FLIGHTS A DAY BETWEEN LAMBERT FIELD AND ST.

JOE INTERNATIONAL AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, THE KANSAS CITY AIRPORT IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO J JOE THAN IT IS TO -- TO ST.

JOE THAN IT IS TO KANSAS CITY.

I HAVE A RAILROAD BOOK PUBLISHED IN 1967 OR 1968.

THE HYPERLOOP IS NOT A NEW IDEA.

THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THERE CALLED THE TUBE TRAIN.

IT WAS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED ABOVE GROUND AND IT WAS GOING TO HAVE A GIANT FAN BEHIND IT THAT WOULD BLOW IT THROUGH THE TUBE.

THE IDEA IS AT LEAST 50 YEARS OLD.

THEY GENERALLY FOUND THAT A LOT OF THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, THEY CAN DO WITH AN EXISTING TECHNOLOGY AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY BOTHER WITH IT?

>> BILL, YOU ARE FOR THE HIGHWAY TAX, I'M ASSUMED?

>> Caller: YES, BUT I'M OPPOSED TO THE HYPERLOOP BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A BUNCH OF HYPE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CALL.

>> JEAN IN CENTRAL WEST END.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> Caller: I'M DOING JUST FINE.

THANK YOU TO TAKING MY CALL THIS EVENING.

I WAS LISTEN ABOUT THE HYPERLOOP.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA.

I WOULD LOVE TO GO FROM ST.

LOUIS TO KANSAS CITY IN 28 TO 30 MINUTES.

ALSO, TOO, I WISH THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO BE VOTING FOR THE HIGHWAY TO REDO OUR BRIDGES AND EVERYTHING, I WISH IT WAS SOME KIND OF WAY THEY DIDN'T ADD OTHER STUFF INTO IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.

>> OH, GOOD CALL.

WE'RE WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.

I'M KIND OF LIKE DEVIL'S INDICATE ON THAT.

I'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO END UP, BUT I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU, WE NEED TO RAISE THE GAS TAX.

>> AND IF WE DON'T -- YOU'RE ACTUALLY RIGHT ON -- OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY WELL, STATE GOVERNMENT NEVER DOES, BUT THE FACT IS WE CAN'T KEEP HAVING SO LITTLE OF IT.

MOST STATE GOVERNMENTS DON'T SPEND MONEY.

ON THE HYPERLOOP, I HAVE TO SAY, MAYBE THIS IS PERSONAL, BUT IT JUST FEELS KIND OF LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF HARRY POTTER, YOU KNOW, AND MY DAUGHTER HAS GOT ME INTO HARRY POTTER AND I DON'T WANT TO BE AN MUGGLE, SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE HYPERLOOP AND I REALLY DON'T THINK IN OUR LIFETIME, WE'LL BE RIDING THE HYPERLOOP TO KANSAS CITY.

>> OKAY.

>> WE'LL SEE AND WE APPRECIATE THE CALL.

LET'S GO TO WAYNE FROM DEPAIR.

>> Caller: YES, READY?

I HAVE LIVED IN THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY AREA FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATURE.

THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON OTHER THAN TO SPEND MONEY AND NOW WE'VE GOT THE REPUBLICANS.

HOPEFULLY I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE BETTER AND THEY'RE AS BAD AS OR WORSE.

I MEAN, IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO LISTEN TO THE CITIZENRY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

WE NEED A GASOLINE TAX THAT PAYS FOR BETTER ROADS AND BRIDGES.

WE NEED A ZOO WHERE THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE ST.

LOUIS AREA PAYS FOR IT.

WE ARE PAYING PLENTY FOR THE ZOO.

SOMEBODY ELSE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT OR AT LEAST HELPING US PAY FOR THE ZOO.

BUT -- AND THE LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IF YOU GO DOWN TO TEXAS, YOU WILL SEE PROGRESS LIKE YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY BELIEVE.

WE JUST RETURNED FROM THERE AND IT IS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON THE ROADS, THEIR BUILDINGS, THEIR RESTAURANTS.

THE DEVELOPMENT IS MIND-BOGGLING.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET WITH IT AND GET INTO THE 21st CENTURY BECAUSE WE ARE -- WE DO OUR BEST TO BE THE WORST.

>> ALL RIGHT, GENE, I -- >> Caller: IT'S TIME TO GET AT LEAST HALFWAY UP THE LADDER.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, GENE, AND OUR TOURISM STRATEGY IS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS YOUR ROTARY WALL PHONE.

>> WAYNE, WHAT YOU GOT IS YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IN TEXAS IS ABOUT THREE TIMES HIGHER AND YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE OIL POINT.

OUR TAXES AREN'T THAT HIGH ON PROPERTY AND WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE THE PETROLEUM, THE OIL, THE GAS AND NATURAL GAS.

I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU, BUT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN TEXAS THAT'S NOT GOING ON IN MISSOURI.

THAT'S APPLE AND ORANGES.

>> LET'S GO TO MIKE FROM LESLIE.

HELLO, MIKE.

>> Caller: EVENING, GUYS.

IT'S AN HONOR TO ONCE AGAIN TALK TO YOU GUYS AND EVERYBODY ELSE LISTENING TO THE TV.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> Caller: FIRST OFF, THIS AMENDMENT THREE, I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER, THE MARIJUANA AMENDMENT THAT YOU SHOULDN'T VOTE, FOR IT'S ALL ABOUT BRAD BRADSHAW, HE'S GOING TO BE -- TURNS OUT HE'S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY AND HOW IT'S EXPENSE.

THE OTHER THING -- MAY I CONTINUE.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO, VOTE!

THIS COMING TUESDAY AFTER NEXT, MOST IMPORTANT VOTE OF YOUR LIFE.

VOTE!

>> GOOD POINT.

I GUESS WE SHOULD STRESS THAT EVERY WEEK, TOO, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THINGS, VOTE.

RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.

>> THANK YOU, MIKE, AND GREAT POINT AND MR.

BRADSHAW SEEMS TO WANT TO BE THE POT CZAR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

AND IT'S A SIDE SHOW.

AMENDMENT TWO IS VERY CLEAR AND VERY REASONABLE AND VERY MEASURED.

IT IS FAIR AND IT IS ABOUT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A RADICAL TO SUPPORT IT.

IT'S REALLY -- IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT AND HAVING IT -- HAVING THE CONFUSION ISN'T HELPING.

MIKE, THANKS FOR THAT GREAT COMMERCIAL.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, PAT IN KIRKWOOD'S NEIGHBOR, LARSON WOODS.

HOW YOU DOING, PAT?

>> Caller: I'M GREAT.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I FLEW TO COLUMBUS, OHIO, ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES THIS WEEK AND THEY HAVE AN 18-PAGE CENTERSPREAD TOUTING ST.

LOUIS AND IT WAS WRITTEN BY A GENTLEMAN MILES HOWARD FROM, OF ALL PLACES, BOSTON.

AND HE LOVES ST.

LOUIS.

HE CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK.

AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU PROUD TO LIVE HERE.

>> OKAY.

>> Caller: INSTEAD OF ALL THE NEGATIVITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> SOUTHWEST HAS EMERGED AS OUR ONE AIRLINE THAT -- >> THAT'S OUR HUB.

>> WE PL MAY NOT OFFICIALLY BE A LUB, BUT AT LEAST THERE ARE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF CITIES YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET TO DIRECTLY THROUGH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND VERY NICE CALL.

WE APPRECIATE HEARING FROM PAT.

WHO'S NEXT?

LYNN FROM CHESTERFIELD.

HI, LYNN, WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND TONIGHT?

>> Caller: WELL, EXCUSE ME, IT'S ABOUT THE ZOO RAISING SOME REVENUE THROUGH A SALES TAX.

SALES TAXES ARE SO REGRESSIVE.

I DON'T SEE HOW IN THE WORLD WE CAN CONSIDER THAT TO BE A POSSIBILITY.

A SMALL ADMISSION TAX FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OR THE COUNTY WOULD BE A GREAT SOLUTION.

BUT A SALES TAX, ALREADY ALREADY PLACES 8, 9, 10% SALES TAX AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE TO THAT?

SO REGRESSIVE, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE EVEN CONSIDERING THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

IT IS REGRESSIVE AND THE OTHER THING, IT'S ANTI-COMPETITIVE BUS ST.

CHARLES COUNTY, AS MUCH A PART OF ST.

LOUIS AS ST.

LOUIS IS, IS A COMPETITOR ECONOMICALLY TO ST.

LOUIS COUNTY, AND WHEN YOU RAISE THE SALES TAX IN ST.

LOUIS COUNTY MORE, IT SENDS POUR -- MORE JOBS AND BUSINESS TO ST.

CHARLES COUNTY, CHINTZ AN EVIL THING, BUT IF YOU'RE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY, IT'S NOT A SMART THING AND IT'S ALREADY TOO HIGH.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT HOW REGRESSIVE IT IS.

>> LET'S GO TO CHARLOTTE IN OAKVILLE.

>> Caller: HI.

I JUST WANT TO SAY WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET A TROLLEY BUILT TO GO A COUPLE MILES IN ST.

LOUIS, HOW IN THE WORLD WILL WE EVER GET A TUBE OR ANYTHING ELSE TO GO TO KANSAS CITY IN A SPEEDY TIME?

OKAY?

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> I HEAR YOU, BUT WE MANAGED TO PUT A MAN ON THE MOON SEVERAL TIMES, I THINK WE CAN BUILD A HYPERLOOP IF WE PUT OUR MINDS TO IT.

IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN AMERICA, WE PUT OUR MINDS TO ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING, WE DO IT AND DO IT WELL.

WE JUST NEED TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I HAVE NO DOUBT IT CAN BE DONE.

WHETHER IT GETS DONE, THAT'S THE DEBATE.

>> FAIR ENOUGH.

LET'S GO TO ERIC FROM WASHINGTON.

HEY, ERIC, WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

>> Caller: HI.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE GAS TAX IS ALWAYS SO MANY CENTS PER GALLON.

SALES TAX AS PERCENTAGE, YOUR PROPERTY TAX AS PERCENTAGE.

WHY NOT PUT THE GAS TAX OR DIESEL FUEL TAX, WHATEVER IT IS, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE PRICE OF THE FUEL.

WHEN THE PRICE OF GAS OR DIESEL GOES UP, THE PERCENTAGE OF TAXES GOES UP BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE GOING TO COST MORE TO BUILD.

WHEN THE PRICE OF GAS GOES DOWN, THE PRICE OF DIESEL GOES DOWN, THE COST TO BUILD AND MAINTAINS ROADS SHOULD IN THEORY GO DOWN.

IT SHOULD BE A PERCENTAGE AS OPPOSED TO A FLAT CENTS PER GALLON.

IT DOESN'T MAKE -- LET THE OIL COMPANIES AND THE GAS STATION OWNERS DRIVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO GET THE PRICE AS HIGH AS THEY CAN AND AT SOME POINT, IT WILL EVEN ITSELF OUT.

>> ISN'T THE SAME, THOUGH?

IF YOU GUY -- IF YOU GO IN A STORE AND YOU BUY SOMETHING FOR A DOLLAR, THE SALE TAX IS THE SAME AS IF YOU BUY SOMETHING FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

>> THAT CANDY BAR YOU BUY ISN'T GOING TO BE A DOLLAR TODAY AND 1.55 NEXT WEEK.

>> YOU RAISED AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I'M GUESSING -- HAS IT GOT TO DO WITH THE WAY THE PUMPS ARE PROGRAMMED?

I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.

IN OTHER WORDS, IN ST.

LOUIS, THE TAX MIGHT BE 9.113% OR WHATEVER IT IS IN A MUNICIPALITY OR A LITTLE MORE OR LESS.

>> IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME.

>> BUT IT'S A PERCENTAGE.

I DON'T KNOW.

ALL I KNOW IS I'M PRETTY SURE UNIVERSALLY, THERE IS A -- ALL 50 STATES HAVE IT.

YOU RAISE AN INTERESTING POINT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR IT.

>> BUT THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU EDUCATED ME.

I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I DO GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> Caller: YEAH, BUT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DONE THAT WAY, CARTS DIDN'T HAVE WHEELS UNTIL SOMEBODY THOUGHT OF IT.

YOU ADJUST ALL OF YOUR SALES TAX, THE RESTAURANT PAYS A PERCENTAGE.

>> NO, WE GET IT, WE GET IT.

>> I DO.

I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> YOU'RE IN WASHINGTON, ERIC?

IS THAT RIGHT, WASHINGTON, MISSOURI?

>> Caller: YES.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU I WAS IN WASHINGTON AND I PICK UP A COPY OF THE WASHINGTON MISSOURIAN -- >> Caller: EXCELLENT NEWSPAPER.

I KNOW THEM.

>> THE WASHINGTON MISSOURIAN AS WUL INSTITUTION -- IS A WONDERFUL INSTITUTION.

THE MILLER FAMILY, I GOT TO PUT IN A PLUG.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO READ THE WEEKEND WASHINGTON MISSOURIAN BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE GOING BACK IN TIME IN A REALLY GOOD WAY AND WHAT A WONDERFUL NEWSPAPER THAT STILL WORKS.

I JUST LOVE IT.

SORRY TO PATRONIZE YOU, BUT IT IS A GREAT NEWSPAPER.

>> THE YEARS THAT I WORK AT ST.

LOUIS AMERICAN, MET THEM AND AROUND THEM AT THE MISSOURI PRESS ASSOCIATION EVENTS, WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NEWSPAPER.

>> Caller: YES, THE MILLER FAMILY IS VERY -- THEY'RE PILLARS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> I WISH EVERYBODY ELSE COULD HAVE A NEWSPAPER THAT WORKED THAT WAY.

IT DOESN'T WORK IN MANY PLACES, BUT IT SURE SEEMS TO THERE.

>> IT TRULY AS GEM.

ALL RIGHT, LOU IN SOUTH COUNTY.

HI, LOU.

>> Caller: HOW YOU DOING, GUYS?

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THE ADMIRAL FOR A MILLION AFTER JOHN CONNALLY BOUGHT IT FOR 600,000 AND STRIPPED THE ENGINES OUT, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO CUT THE LEASE FOR THE RAMS, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO INSISTED ON NO TURNSTILE FEE TO GET INTO METROLINK ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WANT THE ZOO TAX.

THAT SAYS IT ALL RIGHT THERE.

>> I'VE GOT TO CONNECT THE DOTS ON THAT, THOUGH, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE, BUT I GET YOUR POINT.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING -- I DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT IT'S THE SAME PRINCIPLE OF HOW WE SOMETIMES APPROACH ISSUES HERE.

LET'S GO TO SHARON IN LAKE ST.

LOUIS.

HI, SHARON, THANKS FOR CALLING.

>> Caller: HI.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THE ZOO BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND, THAT MAN THAT SAID YOU CAN FLY FROM ST.

LOUIS TO KANSAS CITY.

YOU CAN'T DIRECTLY FLY FROM ST.

LOUIS TO KANSAS CITY.

IF YOU TRY TO GET A FLIGHT FROM KANSAS CITY TO ST.

LOUIS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU TO ATLANTA OR NASHVILLE.

>> DOESN'T SOUTHWEST HAVE DIRECT SERVICE?

>> I THINK THEY DO.

>> Caller: NO, NO.

>> THEY DON'T?

>> Caller: NO, NO, BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND THAT -- YEAH, I HAD A FRIEND TO FLY LAST WEEK, TO TRY TO COME TO ST.

LOUIS FROM KANSAS CITY AND SHE COULDN'T.

>> BY THE TIME YOU GET FROM KCI TO KANSAS CITY, IF YOU GO MOST PLACES IN KANSAS CITY, YOU'RE BETTER OFF DRIVING, YOU REALLY ARE.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, FROM THE TIME YOU GET TO MY HOUSE TO THE AIRPORT IN ST.

LOUIS, I COULD BE IN KANSAS CITY ON THE HYPERLOOP.

>> REALLY, DRIVING AT THIS POINT -- FLYING TO KANSAS CITY IS A REALLY DUBIOUS OPTION.

THERE IS AMTRAK THAT GOES.

THAT NIGHT WORK.

THAT'S A GREAT TRIP, BUT DRIVING WOULD SEEM TO BE THE MORE SENSIBLE OPTION, PARTICULARLY GIVING -- GIVEN OUR LOW GAS TAX.

>> DONNA IN AFFTON.

>> Caller: HI THERE, GUYS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HYPERLOOP.

YOU KNOW, FAR MORE ST.

LOUISANS GO TO CHICAGO FOR BASEBALL GAMES AND SHOPPING AND FAR MORE CHICAGOANS COME HERE FOR THE CARDINAL GAMES AND THE ARTS, ETCETERAS .

I THINK A LOT MORE PEOPLE WOULD RIDE A HYPERLOOP GOING TO CHICAGO AND ST.

LOUIS THAN WOULD EVER GO TO KANSAS CITY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER BOTTOMLESS STUPID MONEY PIT WHERE NOBODY REALLY THINKS ABOUT WHERE THE MOST PEOPLE WOULD GO.

SO WHO KNOWS IF WE EVER GET IT, BUT LET'S GO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO AND USE IT A LOT, YOU KNOW.

>> I AGREE.

>> ARE WE REALLY TALKING -- OKAY, WHEN I HEARD IT, I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE.

I LIKE TO BE FOR PROGRESS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A HYPERLOOP, ARE WE?

>> IF SOMEBODY DECIDES, YES, I'M ALL IN ON THE HYPERLOOP IF I HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY.

BUT I THINK THE REASON FOR THE KANSAS CITY-ST.

LOUIS THING, THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO PLACES IS A STRAIGHT LINE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU CAN GET FROM HERE TO KANSAS CITY WITHOUT CROSSING A RIVER.

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COPS INTO PLAY TRYING TO GET HERE FROM CHICAGO.

>> CARLA FROM FERGUSON, YOU MAY BE OUR LAST CALLER PAN WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

>> Caller: I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS AREA FROM OTHER STATES AND THEY ALWAYS MENTION WHAT GREAT ROADS WE HAVE.

I'M NOT SAYING THERE AREN'T PROBLEMS, BUT IN GENERAL, WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD ROADS, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE NEED -- AND A GAS TAX IS A BURDEN AND OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICES NEED TO LEARN HOW TO WORK WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS AND INSTEAD OF BUILDING AND CONTINUING TO, YOU KNOW, PAVE OVER MOTHER EARTH, LET'S STOP EXPANDING HIGHWAYS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE MORE URBAN SPRAWL, TAKE CARE OF THE HIGHWAYS WEP AND STOP TAXING TO US DEATH FOR EVERYTHING.

>> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE APPRECIATE THE CALLS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROAD YOU ON, BUT WE AIN'T DRIVING ON THE SAME ONE, BUT THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING DONNYBROOK, DONNYBROOK YOUR TURN.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT.