KATKO CALLS FOR AN OLYMPIC BOYCOTT.

ITHACA'S PLAN TO REFORM THE POLICE.

AND HOW TO FIX THE MESS THAT IS ONEIDA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

STAY TUNED.

"IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

I'M DAVID CHANATRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY BOB SPITZER FROM SUNY CORTLAND, KRISTI ANDERSON FROM THE MAXWELL SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN KATKO HAS CALLED FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BOYCOTT NEXT FEBRUARY'S WINTER OLYMPICS IN BEIJING.

KATKO SAYS WE SHOULDN'T COMPLETE BECAUSE CHINA IS VIOLATING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF MUSLIM MINORITIES.

THE U.S. HAS CALLED CHINA'S ACTIONS IN XINJANG PROVINCE GENOCIDE.

SOME HAVE LIKENED THE SITUATION TO THE GAMES IN 1936 IN BERLIN.

IS REPRESENTATIVE KATKO RIGHT ON THIS ISSUE?

SHOULD THE UNITED STATES STAY AWAY FROM THE GAMES?

>> WELL, I ADMIRE THE SENTIMENT IN THE ABTRACT, BUT I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

1.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE THIS IS THE SORT OF ISSUE THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OUGHT TO GET INVOLVED IN.

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON THAT NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF CONGRESS.

THIS, TO ME, IS SORT OF AN EXERCISE IN KNEE JERK SYMBOLIC POLITICS, ALTHOUGH IT IS A SERIOUS MATTER.

THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THE ROAD OF BOYCOTTING OLYMPICS BEFORE.

LET ME MENTION OR REMIND PEOPLE FIRST THAT CHINA HOSTED THE SUMMER OLYMPICS BACK IN 2008.

CHINA WAS AN AUTHORITARIAN NATION AND COMMUNIST NATION IN 2008 AS WELL.

WE DIDN'T BOYCOTT THOSE OLYMPIC GAMES.

THERE IS ONE EARLIER EXAMPLE WHERE WE DID BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS BACK IN 1980 WITH THE THEM SOVIET UNION.

AND I THINK THERE WAS A GENERAL SENSE THAT IT WAS A MISGUIDED EFFORT.

JIMMY CARTER LED THAT EFFORT TO BOYCOTT.

AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHED ASIDE FROM KEEPING AMERICAN ATHLETES AND OTHER ALLIES FROM PARTICIPATING.

THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED TO HAVE THE OLYMPICS IN CHINA.

PART OF IT IS A FINANCIAL ISSUE.

RELATIVELY FEW NATIONS WANT TO TAKE ON THE OLYMPICS BECAUSE OF THE SHEER COST INVOLVED.

AND THE SITUATION OF THE W IS BAD TO BE SURE BUT IT IS BETTER LEFT TO THE DIPLOMATS THAN TO ATHLETES AND THEIR LEADERS.

>> I WANT TO DEFEND REPRESENTATIVE KATKO.

HE IS NOT ASKING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ALLOCATE KIND TO THIS.

I THINK HE IS JUST TAKING A STANCE.

I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH HIM.

IN 200, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS IN 2008 ON THE GROUNDS THAT CHINA WAS TOO AUTHORITARIAN AND NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE ENOUGH RIGHTS AND OTHERS THOUGHT THEY WOULD IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THEY WILL BE LESS PUNITIVE AND LESS AUTHORITARIAN.

THAT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL.

I THINK THIS WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM FREE REIGN TO CRACKDOWN HARDER ON HONG KONG AND THE LEADER.

I WOULD SUPPORT A BOYCOTT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, I WOULD SUPPORT HAVING TWO PERMANENT OLYMPIC SITES, WHETHER IN GREECE OR SOMEPLACE ELSE, A WINTER OLYMPICS AND A SUMMER OLYMPICS, AND GETTING COOPERATION FROM THE WORLD, PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE OLYMPICS, TO SUPPORT THOSE.

AS YOU SAID, IT IS NOT A FINANCIAL WIN FOR A COUNTRY, TYPICALLY, TO HOST THE OLYMPICS.

>> I BELIEVE THE ONLY OTHER CITY THAT WAS INTERESTED-- AND THESE WERE THE WINTER GAMES, AS BEIJING JUST HAD THE SUMMER GAMES.

I BELIEVE THE ONLY OTHER CITY WAS IN KAZAKHSTAN.

SO THERE IS A REAL ISSUE THERE.

LUKE, THERE IS AN INTERMEDIATE STEP PERHAPS?

DOES IT HAVE TO BE EVERYBODY GOES OR NOBODY GOES?

CAN WE FIND SOME INTERMEDIATE POSITION?

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO PARSE THAT.

I DO THINK AMERICA WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GAMES.

IT IS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.

OTHERS HAVE PASSED NON-BINDING LEGISLATION NOT TO PARTICIPATE.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HURTING CHINA IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, NEGATIVELY PORTRAYING THEIR TREATMENT OF THIS MINORITY, WHICH IS BRUTAL.

BUT TO ME, IT COMES DOWN TO FINANCES.

IF PEOPLE REALLY WANT CHINA TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR, EVERYDAY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STOP BUYING GOODS AFROM CHINA.

$450 BILLION LAST YEAR.

THAT WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION IF YOU DO IT ON A MASS SCALE.

IT IS HYPOCRITICAL FOR WESTERN COUNTRIES TO CRITICIZE CHINA, WHEN ALL WESTERN COUNTRIES DROPPED OUT OF THE BIDDING TO HOST THE OLYMPICS BECAUSE OF THE $12 BILLION COST.

>> WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT I MEAN EVERY TIME SOME POTENTIAL BOYCOTT OF THE OLYMPICS COMES UP, YOU HEAR KEEP POLITICS OUT OF SPORTS.

YOU SEE IT ALL THE TIME NOW, EVEN IN THE U.S. WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ISSUE.

BUT I MEAN, THE OLYMPIC GAMES, THESE ATHLETES HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR ENTIRE LIVES TO BE IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND THESE TWO THINGS SHOULD BE IN SEPARATE SPHERES ENTIRELY AND WE'LL LEAVE THE POLITICS OUT.

>> I THINK THE LINE BETWEEN POLITICS AND SPORTS IS IMAGINARY.

I THINK YOU REALLY CAN'T COMPLETELY SEPARATE THE TWO.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA OF POLITICIZING THE OLYMPICS, FOR EXAMPLE, BY THIS KIND OF MEASURE.

I MEAN I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY A BOYCOTT OF THE OLYMPICS IS NOT EFFECTIVE.

AND AS YOU ARE SAYING, IT DOES PUNISH THE ATHLETES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND I DO THINK THE SOLUTION AS KRISTI MENTIONED, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW BEFORE, TO FIND A SUNG WILL PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE OLYMPICS.

GREECE WOULD BE AN OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR THE SUMMER OLYMPICS, AT LEAST.

AND POLITICS, YOU WANT TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE POLITICAL INFUSION INTO SPORTS.

BUT I JUST-- BOYCOTTS, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.

>> OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH CHINA ARE NOT GOOD, CERTAINLY.

AND THEY'RE WORSE EPING.

-- WORSENING.

AND IS IT WORTH THE DAMAGE TO THE RELATIONSHIP TO STAY AWAY IN LUKE, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO START WITH THE CONTEXT THAT AMERICA'S INTERNATIONAL REP REPUTATION WHEN IT COMES TO DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS HAS BEEN SEVERELY ERODED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

THERE IS A TRANSITION UNDER WAY WITH THE PRITION BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND OUR ALLIES IN PARTICULAR, TO LOOK AT US ONCE AGAIN AS A LEADER IN THAT CAPACITY AS WE ONCE WORE.

THAT COMPLICATES DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT OUR PRESIDENTS AND THE LEADER OF CHINA HAS HAD AS WELL.

CHINA IS SUCH AN ECONOMIC SUPER POWER; THERE IS NOT A LOT OF INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO DO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO HUPTSZ AND A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS RHETORIC, NOT BACKED UP TO FINANCIAL REALITY THAT WOULD DISSWAY THEIR BEHAVIOR.

>> ONE LAST NOTE ON THE OLYMPICS.

BOB, YOU MENTIONED THE CARTER BOYCOTT AFTER THE USSR INVADED KAZAKHSTAN.

I THINK MOST OF THE EASTERN BLOC STAYED AWAY FROM THE LOS ANGELES GAMES.

>> YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT, IN RERISE REPRISAL AND IT IS NOT CLEAR THEIR JUSTIFICATION.

I THINK THAT IS A DEAD END WAY TO APPROACH THE OLYMPICS.

>> NOW IN THE WAKE OF LAST SUMMER'S PROTEST AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS, GOVERNOR CUOMO TOLD LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THEY NEED TO REIMAGINE POLICING OR LOSE STATE AID FOR THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

NOW ITHACA HAS THE MOST AMBITIOUS REFORM PROPOSAL IN THE NATION.

IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE ITHACA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CREATE A NEW DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

ONE ARM TO HANDLE CRIMINAL MATTERS.

THE OTHER TO DEAL WITH THE NON-CRIMINAL ISSUES THAT COME UP FOR WHICH POLICE ARE OFTEN CALLED.

KRISTI, IS THE MAYOR ON THE RIGHT APPROACH PROACH TO REFORM AND PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> I THINK HE IS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOME SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF POLICE CALLS IN EVERY CITY, EVERY LOCALITY ARE SITUATIONS FOR WHICH AN ARMED POLICE PERSON IS NOT NECESSARY OR OPTIMAL.

THEY'RE SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE NOTICE A HOMELESS PERSON WHO LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE IN TROUBLE OR THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY IS LOCKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSE OR SOMEBODY IS MENTALLY ILL AND HAVING SOME SORT OF EPISODE THAT RESULTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE DEATH OF DANIEL IN ROCHESTER.

THAT REALLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE PRODUCING A LOT OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND SO ON IN THAT CITY.

SO IT'S BASICALLY, WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO IS TO SAY THAT ITHACA WOULD END A TEAM THAT CAN DEESCALATE CONFLICTS INTO SITUATIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT AND ONLY SEND POLICE OFFICERS TO CRIME SCENES, BASICALLY.

THIS IS ACTUALLY BEEN DONE IN A FEW OTHER PLACES.

EUGENE, OREGON, HAS HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR 30 YEARS, WHICH HAS WORKED QUITE WELL.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH A NON-PROFIT CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM SO THAT ABOUT-- THEY FOUND THAT ABOUT 25, I THINK 25 OR 30% OF THEIR CALLS WERE NOT-- POLICE OFFICERS, ARMED POLICE OFFICERS WERE NOT NECESSARY SO THEY SEND A CRISIS WORKER AND A MEDIC TEAM TO THOSE THINGS AND THE POLICE OFFICERS TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER THINGS.

THEY FOUND THAT THIS GIVES THE POLICE OFFICERS MUCH MORE TIME AND RESOURCES TO PURSUE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MYRICK SAYS, TOO, THAT HE HAD SOMETHING ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICERS CAN CONTINUE INVESTIGATING THE ACTUAL CRIMES RATHER THAN BEING PULLED OFF TO, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH SOME CRISIS THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR GOALS.

>> BOB.

>> I WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS IDEA WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT IN THE NEWS.

AND MY SCEPTICISM, I THINK, WAS NOT WELL PLACED.

IT SEEMS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE MAYOR HAS BEEN SCRUPULOUS IN WORKING WITH THE EXISTING POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO FORMULATE THIS PLAN.

THAT IS ESSENTIAL.

AND THE POLICE, THE OLD POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE REASSEMBLED INTO TWO PARTS.

WHAT HE CALLS THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS SEGMENT OR FORCE OR OFFICE, AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY FORCE.

NOW THE PUBLIC SAFETY PEOPLE WOULD BE GUN CARRYING OFFICERS.

THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS PEOPLE WOULD BE THE ONES THAT WOULD BE DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OR CAT UP A TREE SORT OF STUFF, WHICH TYPICALLY IS A LOT OF WHAT POLICING INVOLVES.

AND THE POLICE IN ITHACA HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT POLICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE HAD, WHICH IS THEY'RE ASKED, IN A SENSE, TO DO WAY TOO MUCH.

BUT ALSO DOING TOO LITTLE.

IN THE SENSE AFTER DRESS-- SENSE OF ADDRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.

SO WORKING WITH THE POLICE, MAYOR MYRICK IS DOING THE RIGHT THING AND OFFICERS CAN RESIGN, LOSE POSITIONS AND REAPPLY FOR WHICH EVER DIVISION THEY FEEL MOST SUITED FOR AND I PRESUME THERE WOULD BE SOME TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

>> THAT IMPLIES THAT NOT ALL OF THE OFFICERS WOULD BE REHIRED.

THE BUDGET IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME.

>> I THINK IN TOTAL IT WOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME.

THERE MAY BE SOME OFFICERS WHO DECIDE THIS IS NOT FOR THEM AND THEY MAY GO ELSEWHERE OR FIND OTHER WORK.

BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PLANNING IS SUCH THAT THEY COULD ACCOMMODATE ALL THE EXISTING POLICE OFFICERS IF THEY WANT TO WORK IN THE NEW FORCE.

I THINK DIVIDING UP IN THIS WAY MAKES SENSE EXCEPT FOR ONE THING WHICH IS THAT ROUTINE CALLS SOMETIMES ESCALATE RAPIDLY INTO SERIOUS DANGEROUS CALLS AND WOULD YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED, YOU KNOW, IF AN OFFICER GOES OUT ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A SOCIAL WELFARE PROBLEM, LET'S SAY OR A HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROBLEM AND SUDDENLY THERE IS A GUN PRESENT OR VIOLENCE ESCALATES.

YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO CALL IN A COP WITH A GUN.

SURE SURELY THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT,000 HAM THAT.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN EUGENE OREGON THERE IS ANOTHER PHRASE FOR THAT, DEFUND THE POLICE, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

IT IS A POLARIZING ISSUE.

FOR ME, FROM A POLITICAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE, I'M KIND OF INTRIGUED.

THE POLICY MAKING DYNAMICS HERE.

USUALLY POLICY CHANGE IS INCREMENTAL AND THIS IS A VERY BOLD PROPOSAL.

AND I THINK THE PROCESS HAS BEEN WELL FORMULATED.

IT IS BASED ON RESEARCH.

A LARGE AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION.

THERE IS COMMUNICATION.

THIS PROPOSAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE JUST THE BEGINNING POINT OF THE OVERALL REFORM PROCESS.

AND I THINK THE GOALS ARE LAUDABLE, TRYING TO ADDRESS RACIAL INJUSTICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AS IT MANIFESTS ITSELF THROUGH POLICING.

THE DOWNSIDE IS THE BIGGER YOUR POLICY AMBITION AND CHANGES, THE MORE POTENTIAL FOR UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES.

SO I ALSO WONDER IF THERE NEEDS TO BE SOCIAL WORKERS OR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS.

I DO THINK THERE WILL BE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU MAY NEED BOTH WHERE THERE IS A SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT COMPROMISES THE PUBLIC SAFETY RISK.

AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT FOOLISH ON THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO NOT ONLY HAVE THEIR JOB REFORMULATED.

THEY WILL BE EQUATED ANNUALLY.

EVERY YEAR THEY WILL BE UP FOR EVALUATION.

SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT POLICE OFFICERS TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING POLICE OFFICERS, PARTICULARLY LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR THE JOB.

AND THIS WILL COMPLICATE THAT EFFORT.

>> AND THAT SEEMS TO IMPLY, AS WELL, PERHAPS AN ISSUE WITH POLICING, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND THERE WAS ONE SENTENCE IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT WE HAVE YET TO FIND OUT HOW THE POLICE UNION IS GOING TO REACT.

NOW YOU SAID THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, WORKING WITH THE POLICE AND IT HAS BEEN COLLABORATIVE SO THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

BUT I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT VERY QUICKLY THAT NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT SOMEWHAT, TO MY SURPRISE, IS LAUNCHING A KIND OF EXPERIMENTAL THING IN THREE PRECINCTS OF THE BRONX, I THINK-- NO, NORTHERN MANHATTAN.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY HIGH LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH CALLS IN WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO SEND OUT TWO E.M.T.S AND A SOCIAL WORKER IN AN EXPERIMENTAL KIND OF THING.

>> SO PERHAPS WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE DATA TO MAKE THEIR DECISION IN ITHACA.

NOW A DIFFERENT PART OF NEW YORK STATE, THE RACE IN THE NEW YORK 22nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS OVER.

CLAUDIA TENNEY HAS BEEN SEATED IN WASHINGTON.

TWO BOARD OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS RESIGNED AFTER MISHANDLING THE VOTE COUNTING AND VOTER REGISTRATION.

THIS CALLS FOR A FORENSIC EVALUATION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COUNTY.

A DEMOCRATIC COUNTY OFFICIAL SUGGESTED MAKE THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS POST CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS AND A GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUP HAS AGREED WITH THAT IDEA.

EVERYBODY AGREES THAT THE RACE WAS A MESS.

SO, LUKE, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

IF WE WERE TO HAVE A FORENSIC EVALUATION, HOW WOULD THAT BE DONE?

WHO WOULD DO IT?

>> THE DETAILS MATTER.

AND MY BIGGEST CONCERN WHEN THE ELECTION FINALLY CONCLUDED WITH THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT GONE, THERE WOULD BE A SHIFTING IN ELECTION COMMISSIONERS AND THINGS WOULD GO BACK AS NORMAL.

AND I'M ENCOURAGED IN TALKING TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT THAT WHAT HAPPENED THIS CYCLE WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

AND ONE OF THE ISSUES IS MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS INCREASED OUTSIDE INPUT ON TRAINING, ON PROCEDURES.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS AT PLAY NOW AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS INVESTIGATION.

IT COULD BE CONDUCTED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

IT COULD BE CONDUCTED BY AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.

IT MIGHT INVOLVE COOPERATION FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AND THEIR ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WHICH IS SOMETHING I'M CONSIDERING, MIGHT HAVE A ROLE IN TRYING TO ASSIST.

SO I THINK IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK TYPE APPROACH.

AND I THINK HOPEFULLY, THERE WILL BE A PROCESS PUT IN PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG AND HOW TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO STEP BACK-- I THINK THIS FORENSIC EXAMINATION, AS YOU CALLED IT, WITH PARTICIPATION OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IS VERY USEFUL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OR I'M CONFIDENT THAT OTHER COUNTIES SCREWED UP, NOT JUST ONEIDA COUNTY.

WE FOUND THAT OUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION.

BUT WE REALLY NEED, WE, NEW YORK STATE, NEEDS TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT OUR ADMINISTRATION OF THE ELECTIONS.

IT'S THE CASE THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES WHERE THIS IS CONTROLLED IN SUCH A PARTISAN WAY BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

IN FACT, COMMON CAUSE, WHICH LOOKED AT THIS, HAS REALLY GOOD PAPER ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE DONE IN DIFFERENT STATES.

AND I THINK THAT ONLY NORTH CAROLINA AND OKLAHOMA ARE THE ONLY OTHER STATES WHERE THE PARTIES ARE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE COUNTIES AND THE WAY THAT WE HAVE THEM.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE TOTALLY CIVIL SERVICE.

THE FACT THAT IT'S ORGANIZED THE WAY IT IS IN NEW YORK, I THINK, HAS A LOT OF LIABILITIES FOR HOW IT HAPPENED.

JUST TO BEGIN WITH, THE FACT THAT THE BIPARTISANSHIP TAKES PLACE AT ALL LEVELS.

SO AT A COUNTY LEVEL, YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION COMMISSIONER AND A REPUBLICAN ELECTION COMMISSIONER.

IF THEY HIRE ASSISTANTS, THEY HAVE TO HIRE ONE FROM EACH PARTY.

NOT ONLY ARE THESE PEOPLE NOT PARTICULARLY TRAINED AND DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANY PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW,RIGOROUS EVALUATION, BUT THEN IN MANY COUNTIES YOU DON'T NEED THAT MANY PEOPLE.

YOU ARE HIRING MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU NEED BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN AT EACH LEVEL.

>> SO IT'S INEFFICIENT AS WELL AS INEFFECTIVE.

>> BUT HERE'S THE THING THOUGH.

WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THE IDEA OF WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, I THINK, IS NOT PARTICULARLY COMPLICATED.

YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE SKILL.

YOU WANT PEOPLE WITH BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION TRAINING, SKILL, BACKGROUND.

AND NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

IF MONTHS GO BY, THIS IS GOING TO RECEDE FROM THE HEADLINES AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF LITTLE OR NOTHING HAPPENING, I THINK, INCREASES.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY MAKING A DECISION TO CHANGE THIS METHOD OF SELECTION VERSUS A STATEWIDE MOVE TO DO THE SAME AND OF COURSE IT IS HIGHLY POLITICIZED AND HIGHLY PARTISAN.

YOU CAN STILL HAVE PARTISAN PEOPLE IN THERE BUT THEY MUST HAVE PROPER TRAINING AND THAT'S A LOOPHOLE.

THAT'S WHERE THIS FELL DOWN.

THE POLITICAL APPOINTEES DIDN'T KNOW THE BASIC INFORMATION THEY NEEDED TO RUN THE OFFICE PROPERLY.

AND KRISTI IS ALSO RIGHT, THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN MANY COUNTIES.

UNFORTUNATELY ONEIDA WAS HELD UP AS THE BAD BOY BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE RACE.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

AND WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THEY JUST HAVE TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS TO GET IT DONE.

>> DOES IT HAVE TO COME FROM THE STATE?

>> THIS IS WHAT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME; THAT IS CAN ONEIDA COUNTY MOVE AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT A COMPLETE REFORM, OR ARE STATE RULES AT PLAY AS WELL?

I'M JUST NOT CLEAR ON THAT RELATIONSHIP.

MAYBE LUKE IS.

>> I THINK IDEALLY IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE STATE BUT I'M KEPT THAT WILL THAT WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE MOMENTUM YOU WOULD NEED.

I THINK LOCALITIES HAVE CERTAIN AGENCIES TO MAKE SOME OF THE DECISIONS THEMSELVES.

THEY CAN SET UP NOMINATING COMMISSIONS TO BROAD EP THE BROADEN THE POOL OF APPLICANTS.

THAT'S ONE SUGGESTION OF ADVOCACY GROUPS TO PUT IN PLACE AND THEY CAN ADOPT CERTAIN ELEMENTS.

THESE ARE THINGS BEING CONSIDERED.

WE HAVE.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT THERE.

WE WILL MOVE TO OUR As AND Fs.

BOB SPITZER, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR F FOR THE WEEK.

>> IN THE NEWS, A MAN WAS KILLED BY AN MOTION WHEN HE WAS CONSTRUCTING A DEVICE FOR A GENDER REVEAL PARTY.

THAT HAPPENED TO A MAN IN LIBERTY.

SOMETHING HAPPENED THE WEEK BEFORE IN MICHIGAN.

ANOTHER GENDER REVEAL PARTY.

ENOUGH WITH GENDER REVEAL PARTIES.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS, JUST TELL THEM.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TELL THEM, THEN DON'T TELL THEM.

THIS IS OUT OF HAND.

>> E F TO KROGER SUPERMARKET.

LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA IMPLEMENTED A WAGE HIKE GIVING THEM AN ADDITIONAL $4 AN HOUR FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE LOW WAGE GROCERY WORKERS DESERVE COMPENSATION FOR THE BIG RISKS THEY TAKE.

KROGER'S CLOSED THE TWO STORES IN LONG BEACH.

KROGER'S PROFITS INCREASED BY 90% LAST YEAR.

>> LUKE, YOUR F, PLEASE.

>> BOB SCOOPED ME.

I WAS GOING TO MENTION THE SAME THING.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A UNIQUE ANGLE.

NORMALLY I SAY DO WHAT YOU LIKE IF YOU ARE AN EXPECTING PARENT BUT THESE CELEBRATIONS HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE ELABORATE AND THE USE OF PYROTECHNICS IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS.

I SAY LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE AND SAFE.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

LET'S GO TO OUR As NOW, BOB.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR PASSING THE EQUALITY ACT; A BILL THAT BARS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.

IN AREAS LIKE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING CREDIT, JURY SERVICE AND MANY OTHER AREAS, SUCH DISCRIMINATION WOULD BE BARRED.

THIS IS NOT SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR GAYS.

THIS IS EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE.

>> KRISTI.

>> GIVING A LOCAL A TO DAVID HAAS, THE CREATOR OF SYRACUSE HISTORY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.

I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE.

WONDERFUL PHOTOS AND INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT THE PAST.

I'M NOT HIS ONLY ADMIRER.

HE HAS 20,000 FOLLOWERS AND HAS RECEIVED LOCAL AWARDS.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE OUR VIEWERS KNEW ABOUT THIS GREAT RESOURCE.

SYRACUSE HISTORY.

>> OKAY.

LUKE, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE FOURTH GRADERS AT MORAL RIDGE ELEMENTARY IN VIRGINIA WHO RESEARCHED LOCAL HISTORICAL MARKERS AND DECIDED NEW YORK NATIVE AND CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE BARBARA ROSE JOHNS SHOULD HAVE ONE AND THEY SUCCESSFULLY PETITIONED THE GOVERNOR TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BEAUTIFUL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO SOME GOOD WORK FROM THE FOURTH GRADERS.

GETTING THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION.

WE LIKE TO SEE THAT.

WE'LL GET THEM UP HERE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE BUT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS, YOU CAN WRITE TO AT DRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

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

I'M DAVID CHANATRY.

AND FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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