A PLAN TO CANCEL ALL STUDENT LOAN DEBT • IS IT TIME TO LEGALIZE PROSTITUTION IN NEW YORK AND, ONCE AGAIN, SYRACUSE TOPS THE LIST FOR CHILD POVERTY RATES.

STAY TUNED IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING AND, WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

I WANT TO START BY SAYING FOR ALL OF US HERE THAT OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS CONTINUE TO BE WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AND WE WILL CERTAINLY RETURN TO A DISCUSSION OF THE WAR IN THE COMING WEEKS.

FOR TONIGHT, WE DECIDED TO TAKE ON A FEW POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE CLOSER TO HOME.

WITH ME TO OFFER INSIGHTS ARE: LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHARIYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE, CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND BEN BAUGHMAN OF CAZENOVIA COLLEGE.

IT PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT INFLATION IS HITTING SOME OF US HARDER THAN OTHERS.

AND HAVING LOTS OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT DOES NOT HELP, CERTAINLY NOT TO THE TUNE OF THE $1.6 TRILLION DOLLARS THAT IS CURRENTLY OWED TO STUDENT LOANS.

IT'S ENOUGH THAT A FORMER SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WANTS PRESIDENT BIDEN TO CANCEL ALL STUDENT DEBT.

HE'S NOT ALONE.

SO DO MANY OTHERS THEY SAY STUDENT DEBT IS DEBILITATING AND THE LENDING SYSTEM IS "BROKEN."

BUT CHAD, THERE'S THE OTHER SIDE THAT ARGUES THAT THE FOLKS WHO TOOK OUT LOANS CHOSE TO DO SO OF THEIR OWN VOLITION.

MANY OF 'EM EARNED A COLLEGE DEGREE.

THE HIGHER SALARY THAT GOES WITH HAVING A DEGREE, SO THEY SHOULDN'T EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO FOOT THE BILL FOR DEBT THAT THEY CHOSE TO TAKE ON.

CHAD, WHERE ARE YOU IN ALL OF >> I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD, DEBT FORGIVENESS FOR STUDENT LOAN IS AMONG THE DUMBEST ECONOMIC IDEAS THE PROGRESSIVES HAVE PUT FORWARD.

>> WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO SAY?

>> THE REASON IT IS SO DUMB, IT'S HUGELY REGRESSIVE AND CLEARLY A POLICY AIMED AT THE BASE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIED.

YOUNG COLLEGE EDUCATED PEOPLE.

SO LET'S THINK ABOUT THE NUMBERS HERE.

A COLLEGE EDUCATED PERSON, PERSON WITH A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE EARNS 85% MORE THAN A PERSON WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE.

LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF PEOPLE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE IS TWICE AS HIGH AS PEOPLE WITH FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM ACUTE ECONOMIC PAIN THAT MIGHT JUSTIFY SOME KIND OF GOVERNMENT REDISTRIBUTION, YOU ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT COLLEGE EDUCATED STUDENTS.

MOREOVER, THE AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN DEBT AMONG BORROWERS IS 37 THOUSANDS.

THAT'S ABOUT A BATES MODEL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.

SHOULD WE FORGIVE CAR LOAN DEBT, TOO.

OF COURSE NOT.

IT'S A DUMB IDEA JUST LIKE THIS.

IT'S A DUMB IDEA.

>> COULD YOU ARGUE THERE IS A PAYOFF PARTICULARLY FOR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, FOR THOSE WHO COME FROM FAMILIES WHO MAKE LESS THAN $75,000, $100,000, AND THAT THERE COULD BE A LONG-TERM PAYOFF FOR THOSE LESS WELL TO DO FAMILIES?

>> OKAY.

SO LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I'M SAYING AND WHAT I'M NOT SAYING.

WHAT I'M NOT SAYING IS THAT PELL GRANTS AND SUBSIDIZED STUDENT LOANS ARE BAD.

I SUPPORT THOSE.

I SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A DEBT RESTRUCTURING TO MAKE SOME OF THE DEBT LESS ONEROUS OR DO YOU SELECTIVE DEBT FORGIVENESS FOR PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE SOCIAL WORK WHERE THE WAGES ARE NOT GOING TO PAY OFF.

WHAT I'M ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO IS THE ACROSS THE BOARD DEBT FORGIVENESS FOR EVERYONE.

>> WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED IS WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION-- I DON'T LIKE THE WORD FORGIVEN, BUT HAS PROVIDED DEBT RELIEF FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS.

THEY CHANGED THAT PROGRAM AND HAS ELIMINATED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD STUDENT LOANS BUT I DID.

>> I DID.

>> SO I THINK YOU MENTIONED INCOME, RIGHT?

MY FIRST SALARY WAS $37,000.

YOU COME OUT OF SCHOOL EVEN WITH A FOOL SCHOLARSHIP TO GRADUATE SCHOOL WITH 80 TO 100,000 IN LOANS, IT IS GOING TO TAKE 20 SOMETHING YEARS TO PAY IT OFF.

I UNDERSTAND IT WHAT YOU SAY IT IS REGRESSIVE BUT YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON YOUR KIDS WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND WHEN THESE FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS WERE IMPLEMENTED FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE HOT WATER HEATER TWO YEARS AGO THAT LED TO COLD SHOWERS AND I HIRED A LOCAL COMPANY TO DO THAT.

I THINK THERE ARE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO GO TO THE WHOLE WORD CHOICE?

IS IT REALLY A CHOICE WHEN 60% OF JOBS REQUIRE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE?

SO IS IT REALLY A CHOICE TO BE SADDLED WITH STUDENT LOANS?

THAT MONEY IS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN OUT.

IT'S ALREADY OUT.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE FORGIVING MONEY THAT IS ALL GOING TO COME BACK.

A QUARTER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ON STUDENT LOANS ARE EITHER DELINQUENT OR HAVE DEFAULTED.

THAT'S $470 MILLION.

THAT'S NOT COMING BACK.

AT LEAST.

>> THAT YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, DUE TO RESTRUCTURING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, THE PRICE OF EDUCATION EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED AND YOU KNOW, THE FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE FROM VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES IS REALLY, REALLY HIGH.

WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT OTHER STRUCTURE ISSUES ARE DRIVING THAT KIND OF FEE.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT SAYING SOMETHING THAT IS DUMB DOESN'T MAKE IT DUMB, RIGHT?

LIKE SO OBAMA, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A THING THAT YOU COULD ONLY PAY 10% OF IMROR INCOME TOWARDS YOUR STUDENT LOANS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS A COMPROMISE PERHAPS I WAS SEEING ONE IF YOU FORGIVE $10,000 WORTH OF LOAN, WOULD TAKE AWAY THE EDGE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PEOPLE WITH LESSER WEALTH THAN OTHERS.

SO I DO THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME GOOD DEBT FORGIVENESS UP TO $10,000 THAT WOULD WIPE AWAY HALF OF THE STUDENT LOANS FOR A LOTTED OF STUDENTS.

BUT I THINK MASSIVE INFLATION OF EDUCATION AND INCREASINGLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SEVERE EDUCATION DEBT AND I HAVE FIVE DEGREES WITHOUT ANY DEBT COMING OUT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT MY AMERICAN COLLEAGUES GO THROUGH.

AND IT'S TERRIBLY DIFFICULT BILL DEBILITATING AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE DEBT CANCELLATION.

>> YOU RAISE ANOTHER QUESTION AND IT WAS ALLUDED TO ALSO, LUKE, IN YOUR COMMENTS, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF WHAT WAS ONCE CALLED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE END, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS THAT A VERY SMALL PERFECT SENT OF THOSE-- PERCENT WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE WERE ACTUALLY COVERED BY THE PROGRAM.

SO HOW DO WE GO ABOUT TACKLING THIS ISSUE OF ENSURING THAT THOSE WHO SHOULD HAVE THEIR LOANS WIPED OUT, IT CANCEL FORGIVEN, WHATEVER YOU WARRANT TO CALL IT, VERSUS THOSE WHO SHOULDN'T.

YOU COULD BE A $10,000 INCOMER ON PAPER BUT THEN HAVE A LOT OF OTHER INCOME THAT IS NOT REPORTED.

SHOULD IT BE ADMINISTRATED BY COLLEGES, BY LOCAL STATE GOVERNMENTS OPPOSED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE INEPT.

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE MINIMUM PAYMENTS WERE SO HIGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE PAID OFF THEIR LOANS BEFORE THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR DEBT RELIEF.

WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS EXPANDED THE ELIGIBILITY OF PAYMENTS SO PAYMENTS THAT I MADE PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR OVER 10 YEARS WHICH IS USUALLY THE CAP, PAYMENTS I MADE PREVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T COUNT NOW COUNTED AND THAT'S HOW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GOT DEBT RELIEF.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT ACROSS THE BOARD THAT CONCERN YOU, CHAD ARE WORTHWHILE.

THE GOVERNMENT AND BIG BANKS SHOULD NOT PROFIT OFF MY INABILITY TO PROFIT.

ITS EXPLOITATION.

>> IT'S A POLICY FAILURE.

>> IT'S A POLICY FAILURE AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS TO THE INNER CITY SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING WHILE WE ARE GIVING MONEY TO THE 25% OR SO OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION?

I'M SURE WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS IF, IN FACT IT MOVES FORWARD.

NOW WE SWITCH TO OUR OTHER TOPIC.

ONE-PARTY RULE IN THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE HAS OPENED THE DOOR FOR DEMOCRATS TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD ON A NUMBER OF LIBERAL PRIORITIES LIKE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, CASH BAIL REFORM, DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

THE LATEST IS TWO LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO DECRIMINALIZE SEX WORK.

IN OTHER WORDS, TO MAKE PROSTITUTION LEGAL.

ADVOCATES SAY THAT THIS WILL MAKE SEX WORKERS SAFER, ALLOW THEM TO UNIONIZE AND GIVE THEM MORE BARGAINING POWER WITH THEIR CLIENTS BECAUSE OF INCREASED DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE.

SEX WORKERS SAY IT'S THEIR BODY, THEIR CHOICE, AND THAT SEX WORK IS WORK.

LAST I HEARD GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS LISTENING.

ANIRBAN, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

>> YEAH, I WOULD FIRST START-- POSITION MY STARTING WITH AN ACRONYM THAT CALL OF YOUR TIREDETH IX.

I THINK-- TIREDETH IX.

I THINK SEX WORK IS SUCCEEDER AND IT IS A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL STATEMENT, ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THAT, WK WE CAN UNDERSTAND SEX WORKERS NOT MERELY VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BUT PRIMARILY WORK.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE UNITED STATES TALKS A BIG GAME ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRIES TO LECTURE THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AND HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO WORK, FREE CHOICE OF EMPLOYMENT, TO JUST AND FAVORABLE CONDITIONS TO WORK AND PROTECTION AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND THESE ALL SHOULD AND MUST APPLY TO SEX WORK.

THAT WILL HELP IN THE LEGAL PROTECTION, REDUCE STIGMA OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, REDUCE VIOLENCE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, LESS POLICE HARASSMENT WHICH IS A CONSTANT THING IN SEX WORKERS LIVES.

AND I WOULD END BY SAYING THIS, RIGHT?

IT'S A COMPLETE HYPOCRITICAL POLICY WHEN YOU CAN CRIMINALIZE SEX WORK BUT WHEN THE SAME THING IS DONE IN FRONT OF A CAMERA, IT BECOMES PORN AND HENCE FREE SPEECH.

SO I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY REGRESSIVE LAW TO DECRIMINALIZE SEX WORK.

SWITZERLAND HAS DONE IT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SEX WORK, PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY BUT WE SHOULD TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY AS NEW ZEALANDER HAS DONE.

>> I USUALLY RAIL AGAINST THE LEFT'S EFFORT TO BAN THINGS LIKE PLASTIC BAGS OR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES BECAUSE ECONOMICALLY OPTIMAL WAY TO REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF THINGS IS TO TAX THEM AS OPPOSED TO BAN THEM.

IS SEX WORK DIFFERENT?

I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT IS.

SO IF YOU BELIEVE THAT SEX WORK OBJECTIVIZES HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT THE OBJECTIVEFICATION IS A MORAL EVIL AND NO AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC GOOD CAN OVERCOME, THEN THE ECONOMICS BECOME IRRELEVANT.

THAT'S WHERE I STAND.

I THINK THERE ARE AREAS OF COMPROMISE LIKE DECRIMINALIZING THE SALE OF ONE'S BODY, BUT KEEPING IT ILLEGAL TO PURCHASE SEX WORKER SERVICES.

YOU WOULD EFFECTIVELY TRYING TO ATTACK THE DEMAND AS A WAY TO REDUCE THE OVERALL CONSUMPTION OF THAT SERVICE AND IN A WAY THAT WOULD BETTER PROTECT WORKER SAFETY, WHICH I THINK IS YOUR PRIMARY CONCERN IN GIVING HEALTHCARE ACCESS, ACCESS TO THE POLICE AND SO ON.

>> SPEAKING OF DUMB, DECRIMINALIZATION.

IT'S DUMB.

YOU HAVE-- YOU ARE SAYING IT IS OKAY.

I'LL TAKE THIS TO WHAT JUST HAPPENED WITH MARIJUANA.

YOU ARE SAYING YOU CAN GROW MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUT IT'S ILL GENERALLY HIVE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR THE DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE IT AND ILLEGAL FOR SOMEONE CAN CANCER TO TAKE IT.

THAT'S WHAT DECRIMINALIZATION IS IN THE MOST SIMPLISTIC FORM.

WHAT THEY FOUND IN THE NECESSITY SEE LAND STUDY IS THAT 57% OF POLICE OFFICER'S ATTITUDES INCREASED IN A GOOD WAY WITH SEX WORKERS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP THEM INITIALLY IN INVESTIGATIONS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH SEX CRIMES WITH POLICE IS RAPE AND INABILITY TO WORK WITH THE ONES WHO SUFFER FROM VIOLENT CRIMES FROM VIOLENT PEOPLE.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT POINT ABOUT VULNERABILITY BECAUSE A RECENT REPORT SHOWED THAT MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION, HAPPEN TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND MINORITIES.

THEY'RE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED.

SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DUMB PART OF IT IS THAT WEARY ESSENTIALLY SAYING TO THEM THAT INSTEAD OF PROVIDING YOU WITH A JOB, PROVIDING YOU WITH THE KIND OF INCOME WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO RISK DISEASE AND VIOLENCE, WE WANT TO YOU JUST GO OUT AND PROSTITUTE YOURSELF AND I THINK THERE IS THE OTHER MORAL ARGUMENT TO BE SAID HERE AS WELL.

LET'S NOT FORGET THE FACT THAT THIS IS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A SOCIETY IN WHICH WOMEN ARE STILL OBJECTIFIED AND THIS ADDS THE WEIGHT OF LAW TO FURTHER OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN.

SURE NOT ALL SEX WORKERS ARE WOMEN, BUT MOST ARE.

>> SURE, I AGREE WITH SOME PARTS OF IT BUT HERE IS MY RESPONSE.

THAT OBJECTIFICATION WE ARE SEEING IN A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR PORN INDUSTRY CONSTANTLY.

WOMEN ARE OBJECTIFIED, BRUTALIZED IN THE PORN INDUSTRY AND THEY EXCHANGE MONEY FOR SEX, RIGHT?

SO AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BAN PORN.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT HAS BEEN TRIED AND THE SUPREME COURT TURNED IT DOWN.

AND I WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT, YES, IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR.

IT'S BOTH AND.

YES, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO HAVE SEX WORK BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC REASONS SO INSTEAD OF CRIMINALIZING THEM, PUTTING MONEY ON POLICE AND PERSECUTING THEM, WE CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TO HELP THEM GET OUT OF THAT CONDITION.

I WANT TO SAY THE NORDIC MODEL HE POINTS OUT DECRIMINALIZING THE SALE BUT NOT THE DEMAND, DID NOT WORK WELL FOR SWEDEN AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

IT CREATED FURTHER VAST PROBLEMS FOR THEM.

>> OKAY.

LAST WORD TO LUKE.

>> ONE RELATED ISSUE HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHICH IS HIGHLY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO DECREASE THAT.

TO BEN'S POINT.

I WONDER IF POLICY REFORM IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS.

MAYBE IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIZE IN CRACKING DOWN AND THERE HAS BEEN SUCCESS IN THAT REGARD IN CITIES IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF THING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> NOT HIGHLY RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

IT IS AN ISSUE OF TRAINING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS IT.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON BUT I WOULD REMISS IF I DID NOT POINT OUT A LOT OF THESE INDUSTRIES WE KNOW ARE NOT GOING TO BE LOCATED OR SITUATED ON FIFTH AVENUE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING IS DRIVE IS.

THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT.

THE THIRD TOPIC, LAST YEAR THE WHOLE COUNTRY SAW A RECORD DROP IN POVERTY • THANKS IN PART TO STIMULUS CHECKS AND OTHER FORMS OF PANDEMIC RELIEF ...

UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF THAT HELP DID NOT HELP THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE LEADS THE U.S. WITH THE MOST CHILD POVERTY.

WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER BIGGER CITIES LIKE DETROIT AND CLEVELAND, THE POVERTY RATE FOR SYRACUSE KIDS UNDER AGE 18 IS NEARLY 50%.

IT'S EVEN HIGHER FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

SADLY, WHILE THE LATEST CENSUS DATA MIGHT BE NEW, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT.

IT'S BEEN AROUND IN SYRACUSE FOR DECADES.

SO LUKE, HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

WHY DOES CHILD POVERTY SEEM TO DOG SYRACUSE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE BEST SOLUTIONS?

>> IT IS CERTAINLY A COMPLEX ISSUE WITH A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS.

I THINK MANY OF THE CAUSES OF CHILD POVERTY RELATE TO THE FINANCIAL INSECURITY OF THE ADULTS WHO ARE PARENTS AND CARETAKERS.

RAISING CHILDREN IS A CHALLENGING AND EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING.

NO CHILD ASKED TO BE BORN INTO POVERTY AND NO CHILD DESERVES TO BE LIVE IN POVERTY AS THE UNITED STATES IS THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

THE FIRST STEP FOR ME AS A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN SYRACUSE IS TO LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP OF CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I THINK THEY SHOULD SET A TARGET.

IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, THE CHILD POVERTY SHOULD BE REDUCED BY 50% AND THEY SHOULD CREE CREATE AN ADVISORY COUNCIL TO HELP MANAGE THAT EFFORT, PLAN WHAT IT WILL TAKE, COORDINATE EXISTING EFFORTS AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COME IN ALREADY TO THE CITY FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN MONITOR THAT PROGRESS IN AN ANNUAL BASIS AS ADMINISTRATIONS COME AND GO.

BECAUSE UNLESS THERE IS THAT FOCUS THAT EXPLICIT FOCUS ON STRATEGIC PLANNING LEVEL, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE.

>> SO YOU ARE THINKING THAT A BIG PART OF THE FUNDING BASE WOULD HAVE TO COME OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

>> AND IT'S THERE.

IT'S JUST NOT BEING UTILIZED I THINK, IN OPTIMAL WAYS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY GOVERNMENT WEBSITE OR THE MAYOR'S STATED OF THE CITY, THERE IS NO DISCUSSION OF CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THE STATE START TO MOVE ON THIS AND SYRACUSE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT.

>> CHAD.

[LAUGHTER] >> BECAUSE YOU ARE ALREADY TOLD US IN THE GREEN ROOM A LITTLE BIT... >> I DON'T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION I WANT TO GO HERE.

I GUESS I'LL START HERE.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING PIECE OF IRONY FOR YOU.

WILLIS CAWRIER IN 1901 INVENTS THE ELECTRIC AIR CONDITIONING.

1930 HE MOVES HIS COMPANY BASED IN SYRACUSE, WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC A.C. STUDENTS THAT LED TO THE MASS MIGRATION AWAY FROM THE NORTHEAST TO THE SOUTH AND THE WEST.

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH CHILD POVERTY?

JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE POINT THAT CHILD POVERTY IS BUT ONE MANIFESTATION OF OUR REGION'S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DECLINE, RIGHT?

2020 WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1950 THAT SYRACUSE SAW AN INCREASE IN THE POPULATION.

UTICA CURRENTLY TWO-THIRDS OF ITS PEAK POPULATION IN 1930 AND SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HUMAN DESIRE TO LIVE IN A WARMER CLIMATE.

SO IT'S TOUGH.

BUT THIS IS AGAIN ONE OF MANY SIGNALS OF OUR ECONOMIC DECLINE.

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT POVERTY IN SYRACUSE IN AN EARLIER EPISODE AND I POINTED OUT THE STUDY THAT SHOWED EXTENSION OF THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LIFTED A LOT OF PEOPLE, CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

SO ONE POLICY THING WOULD BE TO EXTEND THAT CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT AGAIN SHOWS QUITE WELL BY ECONOMISTS THAT IT WILL REDUCE CHILD POVERTY TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL AND THERE COULD BE CHANGES MAKE CAN IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS NUTRITIONAL FOOD, ESPECIALLY WOMEN WITH CHILDREN.

SO I DO THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE THINGS POLICY WISE THAT CAN BE DONE AND STRUCTURAL I AGREE BRINGING IN NEW JOBS AND YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY HELPING PARENTS TO HAVE THE JOBS.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.

BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE FROM LOCAL POLICY, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS FEDERAL POLICY THAT CAN ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE.

>> THE TAX CREDITS WERE SHORT-TERM, AND WE SEE THAT IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

WE'VE BOUGHT TO FIGURE OUT SOME SUSTAINABLE WAY BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, CHILDREN THAT ARE IN POVERTY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN CRIME WHEN THEY GROW UP, VICTIMS OF CRIME WHEN THEY GROW UP AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTED IN THEIR ABILITY TO GAIN ACCESS TO EDUCATION, BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL FIRST CONVERSATION.

>> AND TO GOOD PAYING JOBS AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU POINT OUT.

REMARKABLE TO ME IS THAT WE'VE ALL SORT OF HINTED AT THE NEED FOR FUNDING OUTSIDE OF CITIES THAT ARE OFTEN LIMITED BY THEIR TAX BASE AND THIS IS ALL GOOD THAT WE MANAGED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO COME UP WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR UKRAINE.

MAYBE THAT CAN HAPPEN HERE IN THE U.S. >> I AGREE.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO-- A LOT OF THESE SOLUTIONS ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE FEDERAL LEVEL AND LOCAL LEVEL IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF THING.

I ACTUALLY WANT TO POINT OUT AS A MATTER OF MATHEMATICAL CONSTRUCTION THOUGH, THE POVERTY RATE IS POVERTY DIVIDED BY PEOPLE IN POVERTY, PEOPLE IN MIDDLE-CLASS, PEOPLE IN UPPER CLASS.

AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS SYRACUSE HAS IS A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASSES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE SHORT ON TIME-- >> WE ARE.

[LAUGHTER] >> DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF MID STREAM BUT THERE IS A VOICE IN MY EAR WHICH YOU ALREADY KNOW.

SO THANKS, GUYS FOR A GREAT CONVERSATION.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR AS AND FS AND START WITH FS LUKE.

>> TO GAVIN NEWMAN, A CAPITOL HILL RIOTER WANTED BY THE FBI ON MULTIPLE CHARGES FOR INCLUDING ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER.

THIS WEEK NEWMAN TRADED HIS EXPERIENCES IN OUR DEMOCRACY FOR DICTATORSHIP IN BELARUS WHO GRANTED HIM ASYLUM.

>> ANIRBAN, YOUR F. >> MY F TO THE OSWEGO CHILD PROTECTION PROTECTION SERVICES FOR NEGLECTING THEIR JOB THAT LED TO MULTIPLE DEATHS OF CHILDREN, THE NEGLIGENCE WAS EXPOSED WHEN A 17-YEAR-OLD JORDAN BROOKS DIED AT THE UNSPEAKABLE BRUTALITY OF HIS PARENTS.

THE C.P.S.

WORKERS IN OSWEGO EXHIBITED HOSTILITY.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOSE A JOB.

>> CHAD, YOUR F. >> LAST WEEK THE HOUSE VOTED 424-8 TO SUSPEND NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND BELARUS.

THE CENTER ARGUES IT EMPOWERS THE PRESIDENT POWER TO ISSUE SANCTIONS AND WHILE I'M SYMPATHETIC TO CURTAILING EXECUTIVE POWER, HAVE I TO FIND YOURSELF IF YOU FIND YOURSELF LOSING 424 TO-8 YOU ARE PROBABLY ON THE WRONG SIDE AND GET AN F. >> MY F GOES TO A FLEEING FIRE SETTER.

THE SUSPECT WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA WALKING UP TO A MARKED PATROL VEHICLE, DOUSING IT IN GASOLINE, LIGHTING IT ON FIRE AND WALKING AWAY AS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT PULLED UP, SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, GAVE CHASE, WAS ABLE TO CATCH A SUSPECT.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE CRIMES.

HE WAS A FOURTH TIME HABITUAL OFFENDER.

>> AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE GOT LOTS OF GOOD NEWS SO WE'LL START LUKE, WITH YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE U.S. WILL ACCEPT 100,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

OVER THREE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FLED THE WAR, ONE IN FOUR UKRAINIANS, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THIS IS GOOD FOR THEM AND GOOD FOR US IN SYRACUSE AND UTICA AS COMMUNITIES THAT WELCOME REFUGEES.

>> ANIRBAN YOUR A.

>> TO THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF JAMAICA WHO ARE DEPENDING POLLING AND SLAVERY REPARATIONS AS THE DUKE AND DUTCHESS OF BRIDGE WILLIAM AND KATE PREPARE A TRIP TO THE COLONY.

A LETTER READS WE SEE NO REASON TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF THE ASCENSION OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER TO THE BRITISH THRONE BECAUSE HER LEADERSHIP AND THAT OF HER PREDECESSORS PERPETUATED THE GREATEST HUMAN RIGHTS TRAGEDY IN THE HISTORY OF HUMAN KIND.

SO IT IS TIME THAT THE WESTERN COLONIZERS PAY UP FOR THE CENTURIES OF SIN.

>> CHAD.

YOUR A. I WAS PROCESSING WHAT-- THAT WAS FASCINATING.

>> MY A GOES TO PUERTO RICO WHICH RECENTLY REACHED A BANKRUPTCY AGREEMENT THAT WILL REDUCE ITS DEBT BY ALMOST 80%.

LET US NOT FORGET THAT PRIORITY PRURTANS ARE PERSONS AMERICANS WHO HAVE SEEN THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY SHRINK BY 20% SINCE 2004.

THIS AGREEMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REVERSE THE ECONOMIC DECLINE.

UNLESS YOU THINK THIS A CONTRADICTS MY POSITION ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT FORGIVERNESS, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THIS BANKRUPTCY AGREEMENT IS NOT INHERENTLY REGRESSIVE.

>> IF YOU SAY SO, BEN.

>> I'M GIVING AN A FOR ARNOLD'S ADDRESS BACK ON MARCH 17.

HE SAID, I KNOW YOUR GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU THIS IS A WAR TO DENAZ I PHI UKRAINE.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

HE WENT ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT IS JEWISH, ALONG WITH HIS FATHER'S THREE BROTHERS ALL BEING MURDERED BY THE NAZIS.

HE CONCLUDED WITH TELLING THE RUSSIANS TO HELP SPREAD THE TRUTH AND LETTING PUTIN WAS THE ONE WHO STARTED THE WAR, SO STOP IT.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT HERE IN THE STUD YO'.

BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

RIGHT TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR PERHAPS EVEN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," GOOD NIGHT.

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