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

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S THE SEASO.. DAY COMING UP.

LOTS TO DISCUSS AND MANY ISSUES, BUT FIRST LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS STARTING WITH THE MEDIA VETERAN HERSELF, WENDY WIESE.

WE WELCOME BACK .. WHO TOOK TWO WEEKS OFF.

HE'S BACK.

BILL IS WITH THE ST ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

FROM ST. LOUIS MAGAZ.. 341 PODCAST SARAH FENSKE, AND WE WELCOME EDIT OR AND COLUMNIST WITH THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, ALVIN REID.

WE HAVE NEW ARTWORK THIS WEEK BUT JUST FOR THIS WEEK.

IT'S BY FERRIS WHO CREATED A 2025, 314 DAY LOGO, LOCAL TRAFFIC DESIGNER, CHELSEA FERRIS HAS PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR US AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER PREDICTED FOR TOMORROW NINE PBS'S 341 DAY EVENT WILL BE POSTPONED.

WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IN THE FUTURE WHEN IT'S RESCHEDULED.

THE EVENT HAS BEEN POST APPOINTED.

AND YOU CAN CE.. DAY BY TUNING IN TO 314 DAY "LIVING ST. LOUIS" TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30, AND IT INCLUD.. STORY ABOUT LOGO ARTIST CHELSEA FERRIS AND OTHER GREAT STORIES ABOUT OUR AREA.

MAYBE ONE OF OUR TOPICS, BILL, WILL BE WHY DON'T WE CALL IT 636 AND 618 DAY AND 573.

>> THE MORE HOLIDAYS WE HAVE, THE BETTER.

>> EXACTLY.

I WA.. THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR 15 YEARS ON THIS PROGRAM.

APPARENTLY THE CONTROL OF THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO SWITCH ONCE AGAIN.

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE CONTROLLED POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE CIVIL WAR UNTIL 2013.

THEN IN 2013 THE CITY TOOK CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE MAYOR HIRING THE POLICE CHIEF, ET CETERA.

ACTION THIS WEEK IN JEFFERSON CITY MEANS THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO REGAIN CONTROL.

THE GOVERNOR WILL APPOINT FIVE COMMISSIONERS PLUS THE MAYOR, AND I GUESS A 6-PERSON COMMISSION WHICH WILL OVERSEE THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOUR THOUG.. >> I THINK ALL THE COPS THAT I KNOW ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THIS.

THEY WOULD RATHER BE CONTROLLED BY A BOARD OF BUSINESSMEN.

IF I WAS THE GOVERNOR IT WOULD BE MOSTLY BUSINESSMEN, BUT MAYBE MAN OF FAITH OR WOMAN OF FAITH IN THE GROUP.

THEY WOULD RATHER BE CONTROLLED BY A COMMISSION THAN BY THE CITY POLITICIANS.

I CAN UNDERSTA..

I THINK THE IDEA OF THE BOARD HIRING THE CHIEF IS A GOOD THING, TOO, INSTEAD OF RIGHT NOW UNDER CITY CONTROL IT'S THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE MESS IN THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE AND THINK BOY, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A REVOLUTIONARY THING BY ANY MEANS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO STOP CRIME, BUT I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> I THINK IT'S HORRIFIC..

SHARED THAT ON VARIOUS SHOWS.

ROBERT TRACY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AS POLICE CHIEF.

THE MAYOR HIRED ROBERT TRACY.

ROBERT TRACY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THE POLICE CHIEF IF WE WERE CONTROLLED BY THE STATE.

THERE'S ONE CHANGE THAT WOULD NOT BE POSITIVE.

TWO, VERY DISAPPOINTED IN DEMOCRATS THAT VOTED FOR THIS, ALSO.

CAN'T TR.. FOR PROTECTING THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE.

MY OWN WHO REPRESENTS AT LEAST PART OF KIRKWOOD VOTED FOR THE CHANGE.

I CANNOT TRUST..

THE THINGS THAT HIS CONSTITUENTS STAND FOR, IE, WILL HE VOTE WITH REPUBLICANS ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, TAKING THAT BACK, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

VERY, VERY DISAPPOIN.. DECISION.

I'VE ALWAYS TH.. HORRIBLE IDEA FOR PEOPLE TO HIRE THEIR OWN BOSS.

THAT'S WHAT THE POLICE WANT TO DO.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

IT'S TERRIBLE FOR FOR ST. LOUIS.

>> THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE BILL, THOUGH, ALVIN, THE POLICE HIRING THEIR OWN BOSS.

>> THE POLICE FAVOR THIS BECAUSE I THINK THEY THINK THEY WILL BE IN CONTROL.

I THINK THIS IS A BAD FORMULA FOR ST. LOUIS.

>> I THINK WITH ELON MUSK AND THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, I WOULD RATHER ABOUT THE POLICE CALLING THE SHOTS.

I UNDERSTAND I'M PROBABLY DEAD TO YOU NOW AND I HATE THAT.

BILL, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE POLICE CALLING THE SHOTS IN THE SAME WAY THAT I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS CALLING THE SHOTS, DECIDING THEIR OWN FATE, HOW THE JOB SHOULD BE DONE, HOW THE THINGS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED.

THERE IS SUCH UNIT BETWEEN THE BLACK POLICE OFFICERS UNION AND THE WHITE POLICE OFFICERS UNION, AND AS AWFUL AS THAT IS, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAY I WANT WHATEVER THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY TO PROTECT ME AND MINE, I WANT WHATEVER THEY WANT.

>> I GET WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM, BUT I CANNOT SEE HOW HAVING A CUMBERSOME BUREAUCRACY HAS EVER MADE MANAGEMENT BETTER.

IF YOU THINK THE TAXING COMMISSION DID A GREAT JOB FOR ST. LOUIS, YOU SHOULD WANT A STATE CONTROLLED BOARD RATHER THAN A SIMPLE COMMAND.

IT'S CONTRARY TO WHERE GOOD GOVERNANCE COMES FROM.

>> I DON'T THINK A 6-PERSON BOARD IS A BIG BUREAUCRACY, AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENT, ANY GOVERNMENT, CITY GOVERNMENT AND SAY NOW THIS IS REALLY THE MODEL OF THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE.

>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THE POLICE HAVE -- THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS.

THEY DON'T FEEL THEIR PAY IS COMPETITIVE WITH THE BERB IS AND THEY THINK IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT AND DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AND LOOK AT PEOPLE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

WHAT IF MEGAN .. MAYOR IN FOUR YEARS?

THEY DON'T TRUST THAT.

THEY HAVE SEEN PEOPLE ALREADY WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY ST. LOUIS NO NOT ONLY WANT TO REFORM THE POLICE BUT DEFUND THEM.

THEY SAID WE CAN'T WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S SO SHORTSIGHTED.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING, UNDER MAYOR TISHAURA JONES THEY HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL LARGE RAISES.

7%.

INFLATION STARTS AT 27.

>> THE LEGISLATORS AT JEFFERSON CITY HAVE TURNED DOWN RAISES FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES IN THE PAST.

YOU SAID THE BLACK AND WHITE POLICE UNIONS ARE KUH COOM BIIA MOMENT.

AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ST. LOUIS OTHER THAN TO DISRUPT ST. LOUIS.

>> I DISAGREE WITH Y..

BUT I THINK THEY CARE VERY, VERY MUCH ABOUT OUR TAX SPACE AND TOURISM DOLLARS.

>> THEY DO NOT.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

>> THEY CARE ABOUT T.. >> BLACK POLICE OFFICERS THEMSELVES ENDORSE THE STATE TAKEOVER, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> I DISAGREE.

WHERE .. DON'T KNOW.

THEY A.. >> THE DISCUSSION THAT I WOULD HAVE WITH THE ETHICAL SOCIETY POLICE IS NOT ONE THAT I WOULD HAVE AT THIS DESK RIGHT NOW.

>> LET ME ASK BILL MCCLELLAN.

BILL THINKS THAT THESE BRILLIANT BUSINESSMEN ARE GOING TO BE APPOINTED.

WHAT IF THE ST. LOUIS EQUIVALENT OF ED MARTIN IS APPOINTED?

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT NOW.

>> THE EQUIVALENT OF ED MARTIN COULD BE ELECTED.

I DON'T TRUST THE ELECTORATE ANYMORE.

I .. DONALD TRUMP, WENDALL BAILEY.

>> ANDREW BAILEY.

>> ANDREW BAILEY.

JOSH HAWLEY, I LOOK AT THE CITY.

KIM GARDNER.

SO TO SAY MAYBE THESE BUSINESSMEN WON'T BE GREAT, IT'S NOT LIKE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE BUSINESSMEN.

>> I KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT KEHOE -- YOU ARE ACTING LIKE THIS IS A REVOLUTIONARY THING.

THIS IS THE WAY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

.. WHAT IF ED MARTIN GETS IN.

WHAT IF THIS?

THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT DONE THAT.

>> THERE IS NOT ANOTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY, OTHER THAN KANSAS CITY, THAT'S UNDER THE STRUCTURE.

YOU ..

ALWAYS BEEN, ONLY IN MISSOURI.

>> TWO DEMOCRATIC STATE REPS FROM KANSAS CITY, LEWIS, AND THEY VOTED FOR.

THEY ARE WRONG.

YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DEMOCRACY?

>> AS CRAZY AS T.. ELECTED THESE PEOPLE.

>> GREAT DISCUSSION, WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE ON TO MORE IMPORTANT MATTERS LIKE THE NEW FLAG IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

IF I COULD GO TO THE.. ROOM AND ASK THEM TO SHOW OUR VIEWERS THE NEW FLAG WHICH WAS UNLEASHED THIS WEEK BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAM PAGE, THERE YOU HAVE IT.

IT WAS ANNOUNC..

THE COUNTY ADDRESS THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF $90,000 IN BRAND MARKETING SPENDING.

>> LET'S DO A TEST AROUND THE TABLE.

FALLEN OVER.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A .. ON IT.

BUT EVERYBODY SEES SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>..

I KEEP WAITING FOR IT TO BLINK.

>> HAS TO BE SOMETHING I LEARNED ABOUT IN COLLEGE.

YOU HAVE A DIRTY MIND.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT WHAT THEY ARE SAGO REASAYING ON REDDIT.

>> WE NEVER HAD FRENCH CONTROL OF THE AREA.

WHY IS THE FLORIDA LEE.

>> YOU WILL LOVE THIS IN MACING A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR A FRIEND OF MINE.

STAMP.

&g.. BIRTHDAY.

I HA..

IT'S A CUTE LITTLE PAPER CUT-OUT.

I .. PART OF OUR IDENTITY, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE UNDERMINE, ALL THE BAD FEELINGS.

>> I'M WITH MY FRIEND FROM CHESTERFIELD.

I LIKE..

FLAG.

>> YOU CAN FLY THE FLAG.

THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T FLY IT LIKE THIS.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.

>> MOVE ON TO DISCUSS.

MOVE ON TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL EFFECT MANY OF OUR VIEWERS, BECAUSE SOUTHWEST HAS THREE TIMES THE FLIGHTS OF AMERICAN AIRLINES AT LAMBERT.

AMERICAN IS THE NO.

2 AIRLINE AT LAMBERT.

TH.. PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL.

THEY DECIDED THIS WEEK THAT BAGS WILL NO LONGER BE FREE.

I MEAN, YOU COULD GO -- RATHER SOUTHWEST AIRLINES WITH YOUR GOLF CLUBS, YOUR SKIS, YOUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, PLUS YOUR BAGGAGE FREE.

NOW THEY ARE GOING TO START ASKING PEOPLE TO SAY.

>> I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA BY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IS KIND OF LIKE OURS, AND IT'S DOING BETTER HERE THAN IT'S DOING BETTER IN MOST PLACES.

I GUESS THEY DO INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS OUT OF THERE.

AND THE TERMINAL IS THERE JUST FOR THEM, AND I THINK THAT THIS WILL IMPACT US MORE THAN IT WILL IMPACT OTHER REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S JUS.. DON'T NEED AT THIS TIME.

COME ON, SOUTHWEST, THINK OF.. LOUIS.

.. WALLING ABOUT THIS, EVERYTHING IS CYCLICAL.

I THINK IT'S JUST SORT OF -- MAYBE IT'S JUST MY AGE, BUT YOU SEE IT SO OFTEN.

SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY, REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN THE '80s, IT'S GOING TO DIMINISH IN TERMS OF THAT SUCCESS.

EVERYTHING HAS A CYCLE.

I THINK THAT AFTERNOON THE POST PANDEMIC TECHNOLOGICAL METAL DOWMELTDOWNTHAT SOUTHWEST ENDURED AND ALL THEIR TRAVELERS WERE IMPACTED AT THE WORST TIMES, I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUT UNDERNEATH THAT, AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> MAYBE IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE SEATS LIKE OTHER AIRLINES DO.

>> I'M KIND OF HAPPY ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I ALWAYS GET TO SEE.

EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO CALL AHEAD AND FORGET TO DO IT, THE AS GET IN, AND THE BS GET IN, SO I CAN'T TAKE A CARRY-ON.

BY THE TIME I GET THERE, THEY ARE ALL TAKEN.

>> THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF HEDGE FUNDS, AND DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE MISSION OF THE BUSINESS.

I TH.. FEEL, AND NOW I'M AFRAID LIKE SO MANY OTHER BUSINESSES THEY ARE GOING TO RUIN IT, BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM LINE.

>.. ENTERPRISING FROM THE NEXT GENERATION THAT WILL COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'S EVEN BETTER.

SOUTHWES..

I'M NOT BURYING SOUTHWEST.

I'M SAYING THIS IS PART OF THE NATURE OF BUSINESS.

RIGHT NOW, AS YOU SAID, THE HEDGE FUNDS, THEY WANT TO SEE THE BOTTOM LINE.

THEY WANT TO SEE THE RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

>> WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN US FOR DONNYBROOK MAY 8th.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE DETAILS.

>> IT IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR.

BECOME A MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND TWO, DONNYBASH TIME.

IT..

BUT I WILL GET TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND BECAUSE I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE WILL SEND TO YOU WHEN YOU BECOME A MEMBER RIGHT NOW.

LET'S DIVE IN.

AT THE 75-DOLLAR LEVEL, YOU WILL RECEIVE THAT BEAUTIFUL 70th BIRTHDAY NINE PBS MUG.

IT'S A LIMITED EDITION, AND LIKE I SAID, IT IS -- I SAY THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY LIMITED.

WE ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF OUR STOCK, AND WHEN WE DO, IT'S GONE.

OFFERED AT THE ONE-TIME 75-DOLLAR LEVEL.

THEN AT THE 95-DOLLAR LEVEL, YOU WILL RECEIVE A SINGLE TICKET TO SEE DONNYBASH LIVE AT THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL ON THURSDAY, MAY 8th OF THIS YEAR.

AT THE SHELD.. $95 ONE TIME.

BUT THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST AT THE 15-DOLLAR A MONTH LEVEL, YOU WILL RECEIVE TWO TICKETS TO SEE DONNYBASH LIVE IN PERSON AND ALSO THAT 70th BIRTHDAY MUG THAT I HAVE BEEN BRAGGING ALL ABOUT.

BU.. MUCH FUN.

YOU GE.. DONNYBROOKERS AND ALSO YOUR FAVORITE NINE PBS PERSONALITIES.

I DON'T WANT TO BRAG BUT I WILL BE THERE.

AND I'M DELIGHTED TO MEET ALL OF YOU.

AN..

THERE TOO.

GIVE.. 1-800-568-9099.

OR GO TO.. NINENET.ORG.

RIGHT NO.. DONNYBROOKERS FOR MORE OF THEIR FAN TRAS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION CONVERSATION.

>> WE SURE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU MAY 8th.

IT'S HARRY TRUMAN'S BIRTHDAY AND YOUR CHANCE TO SUPPORT THE NINE PBS NETWORK.

THIS IS THE ONLY FUN.. HAVE ALL WEEK LONG.

IT'S A LIVE BROADCAST A TALK SHOW IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE, CAN YOU THINK OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> I CANNOT, AND IF YOU ARE FLYING INTO ST. LOUIS, THEY WON'T START CHARGING FOR LUGGAGE UNTIL LATE MAY.

IT'S A GREAT EVENING ALL THE WAY AROUND, AND I JUST THINK THAT IT IS SPECIAL IN THAT YOU START BY GREETING US, AND THEN WE DO THE SHOW, AND IT ENDS WITH US GRATING YOU.

SO THAT MAKES IT FUN ALL THE WAY AROUND.

>> NICE FULL BAR T.. NOT A FULL BAR.

THERE'S A BAR THERE.

>> IT'S A FULL BAR.

>> IT FEELS LIKE A COCKTAIL PARTY, AND THAT'S MY KIND OF PARTY.

&g..

IT'S A FUN EVENT.

IT'S LIKE A SEASONAL THING WHERE IT USED TO BE IN THE FALL, AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO KIND OF MOVE INTO THE FALL ON THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND THIS IS THE SPRING AND THE SUMMER.

AND PEOPLE ARE KIND OF COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION, AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE MAYOR'S RACE, AND IT'S JUST A FANTASTIC THING, AND YOU HAVE THE SAME FOLKS COMING IN.

>> IT'S A FAMILY ORIENTED THING.

MY GRANDKIDS, TWO OF THEM, WALK ME ONTO THE STAGE.

THEY ARE IN THE FRONT ROW TO HELP ME.

WHEN I SAID TODAY WENDALL BAILEY, I MEANT ANDREW BAILEY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO WENDALL BAILEY AND HIS FAMILY.

WHEN THE VOTERS ELECTED HIM, I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> WENDALL BAILEY IS THE GUY THAT TRIED TO BRING A FIREARM ON TO A PLANE AT LAMBERT FIELD.

YOU CAN CALL 1-800-568-9099.

CALL OR TEXT.

GIVE TO THAT NUMBER.

YOU CAN JOIN US WITH THAT WONDERFUL DONATION THAT HELPS SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS PLUS "LIVING ST. LOUIS" WHICH TOMORROW NIGHT HAS THE GREAT 314 DAY SPECIAL.

WOW, EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, YOU SEE GREAT PROGRAMS HERE ON NINE PBS WITHOUT COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTION.

THERE'S .. WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

.. WE WILL SEE YOU MAY 8th AT.. BEAUTIFUL SHELDON.

ACOUSTICALLY PERFECT.

>> I HAVE THE DOUBLE SIDE.

YOU HAVE THE DOUBLE SIDE.

>> THIS IS LIKE A HAZING.

SARAH, THERE WAS A STORY IN THE NENEW YORK TIMES TAKING A LOOK AT AND HIGHLIGHTING THE MANY EFFORTS IN ST. LOUIS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN LURING MIGRANTS AND INTERNATIONAL FOLKS FROM ABROAD TO ST. LOUIS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT WE HAD 12,000 MIGRANTS.

BECAUSE OF THE 12,000 IMMIGRANTS TO ST. LOUIS, WE DID NOT HAVE A DROP IN POPULATION.

>> WE HAD A GAIN.

>> THUMBS UP.

AT THE SAME TIME THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS THROWING SOME BARRIERS TO SOME MIGRANTS COMING HERE THROUGH VARIOUS VISAS INCLUDING THE H2B, SEASONAL WORKERS, AND AS WE KNOW THE FUNDING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE WAS SUSPENDED FOR A WHILE.

THEY HAD TO LAY OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT..

LIVES HEAR.

AND 9 SCHOOL WILL ONLY BE PROVIDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING WITH SPECIALIZED EDUCATION FOR IMMIGRANTS FOR ONE YEAR.

BUT THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DECIDED JUST RECENTLY THAT THE SPECIAL INSTRUCTION FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A CLASSROOM BEFORE, MANY OF WHOM WHO DON'T SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH WILL ONLY BE LIMITED TO ONE YEAR.

YOUR THOUGHTS HERE?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ANGRY THAT THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD HAS DONE AND ARE JUMPING ALL OVER THEM FOR THAT REASON.

I ACTUALLY HAVE TO DEFEND THEM ON THIS.

THE CURRENT PAST THINKING IS IT IS BEST FOR THESE KIDS TO BE MAINSTREAM.

IT'S T.. USED TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DIFFERENTLY.

AND WE WOULD PUT THEM IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND CLAIM IT'S FOR THEIR OWN WELL-BEING.

AND THE RESEARCH THAT HAS COME BACK SHOWS THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THEY NEED TO BE WITH THEIR PEERS.

I TH.. AMAZING WORK, VERY DEDICATED STAFF, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD MOVE ON THE PART OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THAT THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE THROWN THAT MIX.

>> I KNOW THAT THE BEST PRACTICES, THE THEORY IS THAT HEY, THESE KIDS WILL BE READY.

BUT I KIND OF TRUST THE TEACHERS ON THIS.

I THINK THE TEACHERS WORKING WITH THESE KIDS ARE IFFY ABOUT IT, AND I WILL GO WITH THE TEACHERS.

>> I AGREE FOR THE SAME ARGUMENT WE WERE HAVING ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DR. BOYKO, PART OF THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD IN THE PAST WITH THE ENUMERATED PROBLEMS ON THIS SHOW IS SHE'S KIND OF A BULLY IN THESE SESSIONS WITH THESE EDUCATORS, AND THEY WERE SAYING THE SAME TYPE OF THING, THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY WEREN'T BEING HEARD, THAT IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL STANDARD PRACTICE, BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE KIDS, CHILDREN WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADAPT AS EASILY AS OTHERS.

>> THIS IS WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY ALSO HAS TO STEP UP.

IT'S NOT THE SAME, BUT WHEN THERE WAS THE GREAT NORTHERN MIGRATION AND PEOPLE CAME FROM THE SOUTH, ESPECIALLY CHICAGO.

THEY HAD EXHIBITS ON THIS ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY SAYS THIS IS HOW YOU SURVIVE HERE, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, AND THIS IS HOW WE LEARN IN CLASS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK THIS IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO STEP UP, AND I SAY THIS WITH MY TONGUE SECURELY IN MY CHEEK.

HOW DO YOU SAY AMERICAN EXPRESS IN SPANISH?

>> AN INTERESTING THINKING, I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF UNTIL THE CONTROVERSY OVER THIS.

FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH HER BEDSIDE MANNER, AND I GET WHERE THE TEACHERS ARE COMING FROM ON THIS, SHE HERSELF IS AN IMMIGRANT WHO CAME FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND SHE LIVED THIS, AND WAS KIND OF THROWN IN AND CREDITS THAT FOR WHERE SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO GET IN LIFE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INTENTIONS YOU CAN HAVE THAT STAPLES LEAD TO WHAT THEY CALL THE BIGOTRY OF SOFT EXPECTATIONS EXPECTATIONS.

>> YOU SUMMED IT UP RIGHT TH..

IN THIS MELTING POT, THEY WILL BE FINE.

I'M SUSPECT OF THE DOCTOR, WHICH IS WHAT I'M SAYING ABOUT THE CREDIT CARD THERE.

TAKE HER OUT OF THE MIX AND HER BEING AN IMMIGRANT, TAKE HER OUT OF THE WAY, THIS IS STILL WHAT'S BEST FOR THOSE KIDS.

YOU GET YOUR GEAR BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT OR YOU WILL NEVER DO IT.

THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S A GIRL WHO'S ABOUT 7.

SHE IS IN OUR NEIGHBOR.. SHE MOVED HER ONE YEAR AGO, AND ONE YEAR AGO SHE WAS IN THE BACKYARD AND SHE DIDN'T SPEAK ONE WORD OF ENGLISH.

AND JUST THIS PAST WEEK I SAID HOW IS SHE DOING?

SHE'S COMPLETELY FLUENT.

CAN YOU IMAGINE LEARNING ENGLISH IN ONE YEAR?

>> WE ARE NOT FLUENT.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT BRENTWOOD MAYOR GREG DIMMIT, WHO HAS A CITY WHO RELIES EXTENSIVELY ON THE GROCERY SALES TAX, 4 TO $5 MILLION A YEAR.

WELL, THERE'S A MEASURE IN THE STATE CAPITOL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE GROCERY TAX.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I LIVED IN STATES WHERE THERE WAS NO GROCERY TAX LIKE MASSACHUSETTS.

I CAN'.. LIKE, BUT IT SEEMS KIND OF ODD THAT WE WOULD TAX THE ONE THING THAT PEOPLE DEFINITELY NEED, FOOD, THE SUBSTANCE OF LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S SUCH A REGRESSIVE HORRIBLE TAX.

IT HITS POOR PEOPLE THE HARDEST, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WITH THE INFLATION WE ARE SEEING.

I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

WE CAN'T ALLOW THIS TO STABBED BECAUSE IT'S HOW WE HAVE DONE THINGS.

AND MARY ELIZABETH COLEMAN, CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, SHE'S LEADING THE CHARGE.

I APPLAUD HER ON THIS ONE.

>> AS LONG AS THEY REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING.

THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED THE MONEY, AND IF THE STATE DOESN'T STEP IN AND SAY WE WILL REPLACE THIS WITH THIS TAX, THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH MONEY SOMEWHERE.

>> COULDN'T THEY COME TOGETHER AND AGREE WE HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAX BY X SO IT'S NOT HITTING ONE PERSON BETTER THAN THE OTHER.

SHOULDN'T THIS BE AN ISSUE THAT THEY WORK ON SOME ALTERNATIVE?

>> THE ALTERNATIVES COULD BE, ALTHOUGH THE STATE DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO IT, CIGARETTE TAXES ARE VERY LOW.

ALCOHOL TAXES ARE VERY LOW.

GAS TAXES ARE LOW, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE LOGICAL WAY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

>> WE KEEP PUSHING BACK THE START OF LEGALIZED GAMBLING IN MISSOURI, AND THAT'S ANOTHER MILLIONS A MONTH WE ARE NOT GETTING.

>>.. >> SHOULD BE HIGHER, ALSO.

>> THIS IS THE TAME.

THIS IS A -- WE ARE SEEING SO MANY THINGS CHANGING IN TERMS OF THE INSTITUTIONAL THINKING, TRIED AND TRUE THINKING.

IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME, IT'S NOW.

>> IF ONLY WE HAD A LE.. THAT WOULD SIT DOWN AND SAY WE HAVE GOT TO DO THIS AND ALL OF THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS, WE COULD GET IT DONE IN A DAY.

>> LIKE TAKING OVER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>>.. >> I THINK THAT -- ONE THING I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THIS ALL TAXES ARE BAD, LET'S GET RID OF THE GROCERY TAX AND THIS TAX.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT OUT WHY WE ARE ELIMINATING THIS TAX?

>> ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE THESE MUNICIPALITIES LIKE BRENTWOOD, WHICH PUT IN TRADER JOE'S AND TARGET AND WHOLE FOODS, DID THEY JUST KIND OF MAKE A BIG MISTAKE BECAUSE THEY BET THE FARM ON GROCERY STORES?

LIKE UNIVERSITY CITY, THEY DECIDED TO GET RID OF BUYERS, LUMBER, AND BOB SEAFOOD AND OTHERS.

>..

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A BEDROOM.

>.. HANCOCK AMENDMENT DOES ALLOW THE CITIZENS THERE TO VOTE ON TAX INCREASES, BUT ALL THESE CITIES SAID NO, OH, WE WILL GO FOR THE SALES TAX, BECAUSE THAT'S.

>> THAT'S NOT A MISTAKE.

>> I THINK IT'S A HUGE MISTAKE.

WHEN I VISIT DIFFERENT PLACES, INDUSTRIES IT MY SISTER IN MILK MAC, THE AVERAGE SALES TAX IS 5%.

COMPARE .. ON WHAT WE ARE USED TO PAYING AROUND HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, SARAH IS RIGHT.

SALES TAX ON FOOD AFFECTS POOR PEOPLE MORE THAN OTHERS.

IT'S NO BIG DEAL FOR SOMEONE WITH A VERY LARGE WALLET, BUT 10% HERE, 10% THERE AS ONE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS ONCE SAID, BEFORE LONG YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REAL MONEY.

IT'S TRUE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S TRUE.

LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY WAS REFUNDED WITH THE 1% EARNINGS TAX.

IT'S $42 MILLION.

WHO KNEW THAT 1% FOR JUST THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY WAS UP $42 MILLION.

>> WHY CAN'T BRENTWOOD, WHY CAN'T THEY LEVY A 1% INCOME TAX AND LET THE POOR PEOPLE HAVE THEIR GROCERIES?

IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT SOLUTION.

>> IT IS A GREAT SOLUTION.

>> WE JUST SOLVED IT.

>> THERE AREN'T THAT MANY POOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY RAZEED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY LIVE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, ALVIN, ABOUT SARAH'S PODCAST, THE 314 THIS WEEK.

SH..

THE NEW TOURISM HEAD IN THE GREATER ST. LOUIS AREA.

IT WAS A GREAT INTERVIEW.

WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE LICENSE TO IT.

HE DESCRIBED DOWNTOWN AS AREAS OF EXCELLENCE SURROUNDED BY MOUNDS OF IMMEDIATE I DON'T CARE DIMEDIOCRITY.OVERALL HE PRAISED THE GREATE R ST. LOUIS AREA QUITE A BIT.

HE'S VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

OVERALL, WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION?

>> I DIDN'T CARE THE MOUNDS OF MEDIOCRITY, AND WHERE ARE THESE MOUNDS?

>> HE TALKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE AREA AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

IT.. >> HE JUST CAME OFF AS A LITTLE TOO POLISHED FOR ME.

AND GOD BLESS THE GUY.

I HOPE HE HAS SUCCESS, I REALLY DO.

BUT SOME..

REACTION, AND I'M NOT SURE.

THIS IS NOT PUERTO RICO.

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE SPEAKING FOR A WHILE.

DO YOU WANT COUSIN JETHROW?

WOULD THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY.

WE HAVE A LIVE ONE.

LOCK THE DOOR.

DON'T LET HIM OUT.

ANYBODY THAT COMES IN AND IS WITH IT ENOUGH TO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO BE PROUD OF, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I LOVE THE MOUND OF MEDIOCRITY.

IT'S HONEST AND TRUE..

THINK TANK OR SPEAK.

YES, HE'S HAD PUERTO RICO TO DEAL WITH, WHICH IN THE CARIBBEAN WE DO NOT HAVE THAT.

WE HAVE A WORKING INDUSTRIAL RIVER, BUT I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT HIS FOCUS AND HIS ABILITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

I SAY LET'S GIVE HIM A SHOT.

>> IT'S A LITTLE UNDERSTATED TO SAY MOUNDS OF MEDIOCRITY.

THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE.

IT'S HAL HOLLOWED OUT.

>> HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING LOTS AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THAT IS BAD.

.. LOUIS, AT LEAST IT WAS THIS WAY LAST WEEK, CITY HALL IS STILL SURROUNDED BY BARRICADES.

THIS IS THE PARK ACROSS THE STREET.

TH..

THINK, TEMPORARILY METAL FENCES DESIGNED TO KEEP THE UNHOUSED, THE HOMELESS OUT OF THERE.

ARE THEY A PERMANENT FIXTURE NOW?

TO THE AREA?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT WAS DOWNTOWN LAST WEEKEND?

THE MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT.

THOU.. THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE WHEN IT WORKS, AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED THE MOUNDS OF MEDIOCRITY, AND IMPROVE THE THINGS WE CAN AND DON'T PUT OURSELVES DOWN.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE'S SAYING.

EX.. A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN TRYING TO CURATE THE COUNT EXPERIENCE.

YOU KNOW I LOVE DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

AND HE'S SAYIN.. LIKE GET RID OF SOME OF THE BARRICADES THAT MAKE IT LOOK TRASHY, CLEAN UP THE PARKING LOTS AND WE CAN'T JUST BE FOCUSED ON BRINGING PEOPLE HERE.

WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY ARE HERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING AROUND AND IN A NICE PLACE.

HE HAS A LOT OF ENERGY, HAS GOOD IDEAS AND I THINK THE TRACK RECORD IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

>> HE WAS BOTH IN MYRTLE BEACH AND PUERTO RICO.

>> AND GOOD RESULTS IN BOTH.

>> I WILL SAY HE SPENT THE WEEKEND WHEN HE WAS HERE RECENTLY, AND HE TOLD YOU, SARAH, THAT HE CHOSE THE WEEKEND FOR WHATEVER REASON WHEN MARDI GRAS WAS HERE, AND HE SAW WHAT OUR CROWD WAS.

I WILL TELL YOU MY DAUGHTER AND HER BOYFRIEND WHO BOTH LIVE IN QUEENS NEW YORK CAME TO ST. LOUIS FOR THE ST. LOUIS MARDI GRAS, WHICH IS SAYING A LOT ABOUT OUR MARDI GRAS.

WORD IS OUT IN NEW YORK, BACK HERE.

AND .. AND THEN THEY LEFT.

THEY SAID IT'S A LITTLE TOO CROWDED.

IT.. YORKERS.

>..

THIS WAS A GREAT TIME, AND THIS IS SOMETHING ST. LOUIS DOES REALLY WELL ARE THESE STREET FESTIVALS.

>.. LOUIS, I WENT TO MARDI GRAS, AND IT WAS LIKE 85 DEGREES.

IT WAS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE IN MANY WAYS.

BUT YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, THEY DECIDED WE NEEDED TO SANITIZE.

THESE ARE THE THINGS I WORRY ABOUT.

WE S.. WHERE WE WANT TO GET AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SAY NOW IT'S TOO WILD, TOO CROWDED.

>> THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATED ABOUT HIS TAKE ON CURATING AN IMAGE, CURATING THE IMAGE OF THE CITY.

..

I THINK HE WANTS TO KEEP ALL OF THAT LOCAL FLAVOR AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE THE MARDI GRAS AS POPULAR AS IT IS, AND WE'VE GOT ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

>> WE WOULD BE REMISS -- BILL, WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE TO GO BEFORE WE GO BACK AND ASK FOLKS TO JOIN US FOR THE MAY 8 DONNYBASH.

BUT IF WE DIDN'T MEN..

FRIEND, THE OWNER WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.

>> YES, HE DID.

JIMMIE O ON HALLERON.

>> AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ANN AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

WE ARE GOING TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THE MAY 8 DONNYBASH.

IT'S THE ANNUAL FUND RAISER.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS.

>> I THRIVE OFF HEARING THE WANT BANTORE BACK AND FORTH.

AND JOIN US AND BECOME A MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF THINGS TO TELL YOU ABOUT.

WHEN YOU JOIN AT THE 75-DOLLAR LEVEL, YOU GET THAT BEAUTIFUL COFFEE MUG THAT I'VE BEEN TELLING EVERYBODY IN MY WHOLE LIFE ABOUT.

IT'S A WONDERFUL C.. OUR 70 YEARS.

NINE PBS IS 70 YEARS OLD.

IF YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE US FOR 70 MORE YEARS, THEN GIVE US A CALL OR TEXT AT THAT NUMBER BELOW.

AT THE 95-DOLLAR LEVEL, YOU WILL RECEIVE A SINGLE TICKET TO SEE DONNYBASH LIVE IN PERSON AT THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL ON THURSDAY MAY 8th.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A.. SPRING SUMMER NIGHT.

SINGERS CROSSED FOR AMAZING WEATHER, BUT YOU GET TO SEE IT ALL LIVE IN PERSON.

BUT THEN AT THE 15-DOLLAR A MONTH LEVEL, YOU WILL RECEIVE TWO TICKETS, SO YOU CAN BUY ANYBODY IN YOUR LIFE YOU WANT TO SHARE IT WITH, MAYBE IT'S THE FIRST TIME OR TENTH TIME, AND YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO EXPERIENCE DONNYBASH LIVE FOR THEIR FIRST TIME AT THE 15-DOLLAR A MONTH LEVEL, YOU WILL RECEIVE TWO TICKETS AND THE 70th BIRTHDAY COFFEE MUG.

IT'S.. NINE PBS FOR 70 YEARS AND A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE DONNYBROOK.

EVERYO..

EVENT.

YOUR RIGHT MEMBERS.

EVERYONE THERE IS JUST LIKE YOU AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS WITHOUT VIEWERS JUST LIKE YOURSELF.

GIVE US A CALL OR TEXT AGAIN AT 1-800-568-9099 OR GO TO THE WEBSITE NINE PBS.ORG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BECOME A MEMBER, REVIEW YOUR MEMBER, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR YOU.

>> WE REALLY ARE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF NINE PBS.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN AROUND?

IT'S BEEN MANY.

AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE WHO WATCH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

>> OH, MY GOSH, AND WHEN WE GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, ALL OF US, WE KNOW HOW SERIOUSLY THE VIEWERS TAKE NINE PBS AND WHAT A GIFT THEY BELIEVE IT TO BE, AND WE ARE SO GRATIFIED TO BE JUST TO REPRESENT THIS LITTLE SLICE OF IT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU FEEL, ALL OF THAT LOVE AT DONNYBASH.

SO YOU'R.. LIKE MINDED PEOPLE IF YOU COME TO OUR BIG PARTY ON MAY 8th.

>> THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TV.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> IN FACT TODAY WAS THE DEADLINE -- NO, TOMORROW IS.

VERY SORRY TO SAY THE PUBLICATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

ONLY A DOLLAR 60 PER A..

PER YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO.

WE MAY BE MORE.. FUTURE ON THE ONES WATCHING THIS PROGRAM.

ITS A LOT OF WORK BUT ITS A LOT OF FUN, AND IT IS A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT THE STATION, NOT JUST OUR SHOW BUT ALL THE GREAT, GREAT SHOWS, NOVA, WHICH IS WHAT I ALWAYS WANT TO CATCH WHEN IT FIRST COMES ON, JUST OTHER SHOWS.

SCOTT MARTIN, PEOPLE..

WHEN IT'S ON.

THAT'S ALL PART OF IT.

WE ARE GLAD TO DO OUR PART TO KEEP THOSE SHOWS ON THE AIR, BUT ESPECIALLY OURS.

>> AND OUR PART ENDS UP BEING THE FUNNIES, BECAUSE THE PARTY IS A GOOD TIME.

SO MANY LOVELY PEOPLE, YOU MEET PEOPLE WHO ARE SO IMPORTANT DOING NICE THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY ALL IN ONE ROOM.

>> WE WISH WE COULD STAND FOR A LAZY SUSAN SO WE COULD ROTATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE THE PICTURES TAKEN WITH EVERYBODY.

BUT PEOPLE WITH VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT POLITICS AND THINGS LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY, THEY HAVE SPIRITED LIVELY CONVERSATIONS, BUT IT'S ALL IN GOOD FUN AND IN GOOD HUMOR.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT DONNYBROOK HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT.

>> WE HAVE PLENTY OF PARKING AND IT'S GOING TO BE MAY, SO I ALWAYS SAY THIS, AND YOU LAUGH AT ME, BUT THE SUN GOES DOWN LATE.

SO YOU WILL .. HOME WHEN IT'S LIGHT OUT.

>> I'M NOT LAUGHING.

>> YOU WILL GET THERE SOMEDAY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE 3:00 BAR.

>> CHANGED YOUR MIND.

>> DON'T FORGET TO TEXT US OR CALL US AND JOIN US MAY 8th.

SHELDON CONCERT HALL IN BEAUTIFUL GRAND CENTER FOR THE ANNUAL FUND RAISER WE CALL DONNYBASH.

THANK YOU IN A..

GENEROSITY.

>> WAS IT A BIG DEAL THIS WEEK WHEN THEY VOTED TO GIVE ITS SUPPORT TO THE CHALLENGER TO THE INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC MAYOR?

THE FINAL ELECTION BETWEEN MAYOR TISHAURA JONES AND HER CHALLENGE, CARA SPENCER, WILL BE IN APRIL.

FOR ..

THE GROUP OF DEMOCRATS DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT BUT HER CHALLENGER.

>> I CAN SEE WHY SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO KNOW PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN ST. LOUIS POLITICS PRETTY WELL, IT WASN'T AS BIG A DEAL.

BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE HAD FOR ALMOST A DECADE IN ST. LOUIS, YOU HAVE HAD TWO FACTIONS VYING TO CONTROL.

YOU HAVE PROGRESSIVES AND MORE OF THE MAINSTREAM DEMOCRATS.

IT'S A PUSH, PULL.

IT CREATED OPPOSITION IN A CITY THAT HAD ONE PARTY RULE FOR WAY TOO LONG.

I THINK WHAT..

THERE'S JUST A FEW MORE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ON THIS COMMITTEE WHO ARE MORE ONLINE WITH WHERE CARA SPENCER FALSE ON RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE REFLECTED IN THAT VOTE?

IT DOES LOOK CERTAINLY GOOD TO SAY SHE WAS ENDORSING IT.

>> IF YOU WERE A FENCE SITTER, THE RESULTS OF THE MUNICIPAL PRIMARY CAN SAY LOOK, I SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING.

IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL.

BUT YEAH, I COULD SEE A FEW OF THOSE FOLKS MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE WE LOVE YOU TISHAURA, BUT I THINK WE SEE WHERE THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO, SO WHY GET ON THE BAD SIDE OF CARA SPENCER?

>> THE THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE MAYOR JONES' OFFICE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AFTER SUNDAY, BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ENDORSEMENT, THEY SAID THIS IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BE RELEVANT.

IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME THING SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT STATE CONTROL AND THE STATE CONTROL VOTE.

OUT OF ENERGY, BUT I THINK THE WRITING IS ABSOLUTELY ON THE WALL THAT WE ARE, AS DR. KIM WARREN SAID, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW MAYOR IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> THE CITY HAS BEEN SLIDING FOR A WHILE.

IT ISN'T LIKE THINGS WERE GOING GREAT AND TISHAURA JONES GOT IN AND THINGS HAVE GONE SOUTH ALL OF A SUDDEN.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB, AND SO MUCH IS TIMING.

COVID CAME ALONG AND THE CITY HAS NOT REBOUNDED AND IT'S HARD TO BLAME PEOPLE FOR SAYING WE NEED A CHANGE.

>> HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN WHEN YOU GET 400 MILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY PLUS ANOTHER ALMOST $300 MILLION IN KROENKE MONEY AND THE FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS RAISED A LOT OF EYEBROWS, TO SAY THE LEAST, AND NOT A PENNY OF THE CRONG CAN I MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT.

IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB, BUT THE RESOURCES HAVE NEVER BEEN GREATER.

>>..

ANYTHING EITHER.

>> THEY ARE SPENDING IT ON DUMB STUFF.

A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE WORTH THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO TISHAURA JONES.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRA..

IT RAISED THE EXPECTATION WHY DOESN'T THIS WORK, WHY DOESN'T THAT WORK?

THE CITY HAS ALL THE RAMS .. AND COVID MONEY.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO SPEND THAT STUFF.

>> GIVE ME A BREAK.

THAT'S SILLY.

OTHER CITIES HAVE SPENT THIS MONEY.

&g.. STAFF THAT WE HAVE IT LEFT FEWER RESOURCES FOR OTHER THINGS, AND I THINK IT BOTH RAISED EXPECTATIONS AND MADE IT HARDER TO DELIVER.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT'S UTTER NONSENSE.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD ABOUT A GOVERNMENT THAT THEY GET THE MONEY.

>> I THINK AT THE END OF.. DAY, WHETHER YOU ARE PROGRESSIVE OR OLD SCHOOL DEMOCRAT, YOU WANT YOUR TRASH PICKED UP, AND YOU WANT THE SNOW REMOVED.

WHEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF A B MINUS AND PEOPLE ARE ENCASED IN ICE, THAT REPRESENTS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED HER INTO OFFICE.

>> I THOUGHT YOU..

BLAME IT ON A POLITICIAN.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT TISHAURA JONES WERE NOT GOOD.

THE WAY SHE HANDLED THE JAIL HAS BEEN AWFUL.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD A SNOWSTORM WITH ICE, I DON'T BLAME THAT ON TISHAURA JONES AT ALL.

>> THE ONLY PROBLEM .. CITIES DID OKAY LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE.

&g.. ST. LOUIS HAS NOT PLOWED THE SIDE STREETS, AND WE HAVE GLOBAL WARMING.

IF.. MONEY ON PLOWS, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SAID WHAT IS SHE DOING?

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON PLOWS.

IN JULY, YOU CAN EBTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN WHO PUSH FLOWS FOR A LIVING AND SAY IF WE HAVE A STORM, CAN YOU BE THERE?

AND WILLIAMS, WHO IS THE STREETS DIRECTOR, SHE STARTED DOING THAT AFTER THE STORM.

>> BUT SEE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN JULY, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE DONE BECAUSE WE DON'T PLOW THE BACK STREETS IN ST. LOUIS.

EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE SAID WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY.

WHAT A WASTE OF TIME.

WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU ARE KIDDING ME, IF LAST JULY, JULY OF 2024, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WE NEED A PLAN TO PLOW THE ANCILLARY STREETS, YOU ALL WOULD HAVE SAID.

>> PRIVATE ENTERPRISE DOES THAT.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANNOUNCE IT.

>> YOU CAN JUST HIRE THEM.

YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU NEED TO PLAN FOR THAT?

>> THE PROGRESSIVES WERE THE ONES WHO WERE UPSET ABOUT BEING ABLE TO NOT GET OUT OF THEIR STREETS.

>> THAT'S FINE.

YOU ARE ..

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS LAST JULY.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT GOOD MANAGEMENT.

>> IF YOU OWN A PARKING LOT IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST STRIP MALL IN CHESTERFIELD, YOU WOULD HAVE THE PLOWS SIGNED UP BY AUGUST.

>.. ANCILLARY STREETS.

WHAT YOU ARE SAY.. SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROGRAM IN JULY OF 2024, AND NOBODY WOULD HAVE SAID IT.

>> THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE HOMELESS, AND YOU HEARD EXTENSIVELY HOW THE CITY WAITS FOR THE LAST MINUTE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT UTTER NONSENSE, AND PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SAID YOU ARE CRAZY.

>> TISHAURA JONES CRAZY TALKING ABOUT SNOW AND ICE IN JULY OF 2024, YOU WOULD HAVE SAID THAT.

>> I WOULD HAVE SAID IT.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT CITY MANAGES DO.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THE CITY HAS NEVER DONE.

>..

PLOW THE SIDE STREETS, WHY WOULD YOU SUDDENLY MAKE PLANS TO DO IT NOW?

>>.. WARMER, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE CLIMATE IS GETTING MORE UNPREDICTABLE.

THAT'S W.. >> WE ACTUALLY HAD A WINTER THIS YEAR.

>.. WHERE THERE WAS NOTHING.

>> WHEN THE RAMS LEFT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PLAN TO SPEND $720 MILLION THE DAY THEY LEFT BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE MONEY WAS COMING.

>> THE MAYOR ACTUALLY MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES AND PUT TOGETHER THE NEW COALITION WHERE THE WHOLE REGION IS NOW GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

>> IT'S ALL IN THE FUTURE.

>> YOU ARE LAUGHING AT IT.

>> HE'S THE ONLY GUY IN TOWN WHO'S PLOWING.

>> I WILL SAY I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

A LOT OF.. OVER, YOU KNOW.

BUT YOU NEVE.. >> YOU NEVER KNOW.

NO, NO.

THAT WHOLE THING, WOULD YOU BET YOUR HOUSE?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> BILL, I WANT TO ASK YOU YOU SPENT MANY A DAY IN A COURTROOM, AND YOU'VE RUN INTO THROUGH YOUR BUSINESS MANY LAWYERS AND JUDGES, AND YOUR REMARKABLE CAREER WITH A LOT OF CONTEXT.

SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU HAPPEN TO THINK ABOUT A PLEA DEAL THAT THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS ENTERED.

..

THERE WAS A FELLOW LAST YEAR, WHO SHOT AND KILLED ONE JOHN CHRISTMAS AT A PHILLIPS 66 IN NORTH ST. LOUIS.

I THINK THE FACTS TELL US THAT JOHN CHRISTMAS HAD A FIREARM ON HIS PERSON.

HE WAS BEING ASKED BY THE PHILLIPS 66 TO GET OUT OF THE PLACE FOR WHATEVER REASON.

HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

MARTIN WENT UP TO HIM, TOOK THE FIREARM.

AND A ..

KILLED CHRISTMAS.

THE DEAL WITH THE PROSECUTOR WAS 7 YEARS IN PRISON, 7 YEARS FOR KILLING SOMEONE.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> THAT'S A VERY SHORT SENTENCE.

MR. MARTIN HAD A TERRIBLE RECORD, AND WAS OUT ON PENDING SENTENCING FOR A CRIME HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN 7 YEARS SO, SO IT'S PROBABLY LIKE THE MURDER WAS FREE.

THE FACT THAT MR. CHRISTMAS HAD A GUN IN HIS WAISTBAND AND WAS ARGUING WITH SOMEBODY MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR MARTIN TO SAY I WAS INTERVENING, AND I WAS AFRAID I WAS GOING TO SHOOT THE GUY.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE VIDEOTAPE THAT EXISTS THAT I'M SURE THAT GABE GORE HAS AND CIRCUIT ATTORNEY, AND GABE GORE'S JUDGMENT HAS BEEN PRETTY SOLID ALL ALONG, AND BY THE WAY, HE WAS AN APPOINTED GUY.

>> ORIGINALLY HE WAS APPOINTED.

>> AND HE HAD TO RUN, AND HE GOT ELECTED.

DEMOCRACY.

>> DEMOCRACY.

BUT I WILL TAKE GORE'S JUDGMENT AND GO WITH THAT, ALTHOUGH I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEBODY WOULD BE UPSET.

..

THE GOOD JOB THAT HE'S DOING.

I FEEL, THOUGH, IF A CRIME WAS COMMITTED WHERE SOMEBODY IS KILLED, 7 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH, AND I WOULD RISK GOING TO TRIAL AND LOSING, I THINK, BEFORE I PLED TO 7 YEARS.

>> I DON'T GET WHY THEY DIDN'T TAKE THIS TO TRIAL AND TAKE CHANCES.

TR.. LIKE THE OJ SIMPSON TRIAL WHERE IT GOES ON FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS.

AND I UN.. CHRISTMAS IS SO UPSET ABOUT THIS.

>.. AND YOU WEREN'T SURE THAT MR. MARTIN DID ANYTHING WRONG, AND YOU THINK THAT HE WAS INTERVENING ON THIS FIGHT WITH THE CLERK.

>> HAVING A GUN WHEN HE WAS CHARGED WITH THAT, OUT ON BOND FOR IT.

>>.. EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO GABE GORE, AND THE WAY THAT HE HAS DONE HIS JOB.

WHAT I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY WAS THE TIME AND ATTENTION AND DETAIL THAT WAS PAID AND THE RESPECTS THAT WERE PAID TO THE CHRISTMAS FAMILY.

I MEAN, THEY REALLY WENT O.. BOARD.

..

HE WAS OUT OF TOWN.

I DON'T CARE FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK WHAT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN IS THAT JOHN CHRISTMAS HAS A RECORD.

I MEAN, HE TRIED TO BURN D.. JERALD'S HOME IN UNIVERSITY CITY JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

HE'S BIPOLAR, HAS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS.

IN THIS CRAZY STATE, HE HAS A FIREARM, THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.

THERE SHOULD BE A RULE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE SHERIFF TO GET A PERMIT FOR A FIREARM.

>> WE SHOULD, WITH YOU BUT WE DON'T.

&g..

MURDERED AND YOU THINK YOU COULD GET A CONVICTION AND MORE THAN 7 YEARS, YOU SHOULD GO TO TRIAL.

>> IF SOMEONE HAD SEEN THE VIDEOTAPE, I WOULD FEEL BETTER.

>> LET'S GO TO THE OLD MAILBAG AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY PROPOSITION B WILL DESTROY, NOT RESTORE THE BALANCE OF POWER THAT OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT ALREADY HAS BY GIVING THE COUNCIL THE POWER TO FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO SHOULD ONLY HAVE ONE BOSS.

I SUGGEST DR.

PAGE PRESCRIBE SOMETHING TO LOWER TEMPERATURES TO COOLER HEADS CAN PREVAIL.

THANK YOU, RETIRED FLOSSER SENT FLOOR SENT MAYOR.

.. GRANOLA BARS CAN BE HELPFUL.

SHARING INFORMATION THAT IS NOT FACTUAL WILL ONLY FURTHER CONFUSE CONSUMERS.

ASK A REGISTERED DIETICIAN.

BOB WILSON WROTE I HURT MYSELF WATCHING YOUR LAST SHOW WHEN MR. REID SAID HE THOUGHT THAT ITEMS LIKE CANDY AND CHIPS SHOULD NOT BE PURCHASED WITH SNAP ALLOCATIONS, I FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME .. SOMETHING I AGREE WITH.

YOU CAN WRITE US 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

DON'T FORGET.. SOCIAL MEDIA USERS, TRY HASHTAG DONNYBROOK STL.

CALL THE NINE LINE AT (315)512-9994.

AND TUNE INTO ..

FAVORITE DONNYBROOK SOURCE AND TUNE INTO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR LAST CALL.

THIS WEEK WE WILL TALK ABOUT COMPETITION FOR DR. SAM PAGE FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

AND SHOULD WE CHANGE THE WAY WE TAX DRIVERS IN ILLINOIS?

IN FACT, A FEW ILLINOIS TOPICS ON LAST CALL.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US MAY 8th FOR DONNYBASH, OUR BIG FUND RAISER.

WE WILL SEE YOU THERE.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND HAPPY 314 DAY.

BY THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.