>> LIVE FROM THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL IN GRAND CENTER, IT'S DONNYBASH!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG.

TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD A DONNYBASH, BUT SO GLAD, WE'RE SO GLAD THAT YOU KEPT A CANDLE IN THE WINDOW AND REMAIN HERE WITH US.

HERE WE ARE IN GRAND CENTER.

WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM TONIGHT, LOTS OF TOPICS, MAYBE TOO MANY AS IT TURNS OUT, BUT WHAT ELSE IS NEW IN ST. LOUIS?

LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS STARTING WITH SARAH FENSKE FROM ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO WHO'S SITTING IN FOR WENDY WIESE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SARAH FENSKE.

[ APPLAUSE ] ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS FROM STLTODAY.COM AND THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, MR. BILL McCLELLAN.

[ APPLAUSE ] ANOTHER FOUNDER, WHO WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING IN THE 1987.

NOW YOU HEAR HIM ON KTRS, READ HIS WORK ON RAWSTORY.COM AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES, RAY HARTMANN.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND THE GUY WHO DID SUCH A COMMENDABLE JOB, MAYBE TOO COMMENDABLE THE LAST THREE WEEKS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN WHERE HE EDITS THE NEWS AND WRITES THAT SPORTS COLUMN, GIVE IT UP FOR IN ALVIN REID.

[ APPLAUSE ] I DO WANT TO MENTION AT THE OUTSET, THAT NINE PBS IS CARRYING THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND THAT WILL START AT 8:00.

SO SINCE DONNYBROOK LAST WEEK, BILL McCLELLAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ST. LOUIS BOARD OF ALDERMEN, LEWIS REED, RESIGNED AND HE JOINS TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, JOHN COLLINS-MUHAMMAD AND JEFFREY BOYD, INDICTED FOR BRIBERY.

THE MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS TOOK THE STAGE THIS WEEK AND SAID, ACTING LIKE THE CHEERLEADER OF ST. LOUIS, I DON'T KNOW, SAID YOU CAN EXPECT MORE INDICTMENTS AND WE ONLY HIT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, HAVING GROWN UP IN CHICAGO -- [ LAUGHTER ] -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUTRAGED AT PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

AND SERIOUSLY, WHEN I READ THE INDICTMENT, THIS SOUNDS LIKE THERE WERE TWO PLAYERS.

ONE OF THEM WAS JOHN DOE AND THE OTHER ONE WAS PUBLIC OFFICIAL NUMBER ONE WHO WAS NOT INDICTED.

AND THE THREE SELLERS WHO WERE INDICTED, I THOUGHT JOHN COLLINS-MUHAMMAD CAME OFF AS KIND OF A KID WHO WANTED TO BE A PLAYER, AND I THOUGHT JEFFREY BOYD, THE ALDERMAN, I HAD SYMPATHY FOR HIM.

I MEAN, HE HAD HIS CAR FIXED FOR NOTHING AND IT WAS A 2006 IMPALA.

I MEAN, IT MADE MY 2013 HONDA SOUND LIKE A NEW PORSCHE.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF JEFFREY HAD BEEN A CROOK FOR YEARS, HE HASN'T HAD MUCH PROFIT ON IT.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND I THOUGHT ALDERMANIC PRESIDENT LEWIS REED CAME OFF SURPRISINGLY NAIVE.

AND ONE OF THE RULES IN LIFE IS NEVER TRUST A STRANGER WHO CALLS YOU BROTHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WAS JOHN DOE PUTTING HIS CASH IN A CASH COUNTING MACHINE AND SAYING, HERE'S $2,000 CASH, MY BROTHER, AND LEWIS REED SAYING, OH, THANK YOU.

IT JUST -- I JUST DIDN'T GET THE IDEA THAT THESE WERE EXPERIENCED GUYS ON THE TAKE.

SO IF I WAS ON THE JURY, I THINK THAT HALL GOLDSMITH, THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE A HILL TO CLIMB FEW IF I WAS ON THE JURY, THEY'D BE THROWN UNDER THE JAIL.

I JUST -- LOOK, IF ALVIN REID HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO BRIBE YOU, WHICH THIS LITTLE PIECE OF MONEY THAT THEY WERE ALL JUST TURNING ON THE PEOPLE OF CITY OF ST. LOUIS FOR, THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DISGRACEFUL.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE LIGHT OF THEY'RE INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE THIS, WHATEVER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE WAS.

THE FACT THE MATTER, A, THEY BROKE THE LAW, BUT TWO, THEY BETRAY THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR THEM.

AS SILLY AS THOSE RECORDED CONVERSATIONS ARE AND ALL THAT, BUT OKAY, BEING A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IS UP FOR SALE?

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO EVERY HARD-WORKING SMALL BLACK BUSINESS PERSON, WOMAN, MINORITY BUSINESS PERSON TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND BE RIGHT, AND HERE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN SAYING I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR YOU.

AND MEANWHILE, THE ATM MACHINE IS CLICKING FOR $2,000.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL ARE WORTH, ST. LOUIS.

$2,000.

THAT'S PATHETIC.

YOU SHOULD GO TO JAIL JUST FOR THE GENERAL JUST INDIGNATION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU.

>> BUT YOU SEE NAIVETE AND I SEE SOMETHING SO CASUAL BECAUSE THEY'RE SO USED TO DOING IT.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY HEMMING AND HAWING OF SHOULD I DO THIS.

IT'S JUST A WAY OF DOING BUSINESS IN SOME QUARTERS OF THE CITY AND THAT'S REPREHENSIBLE.

>> I THOUGHT THAT PUBLIC OFFICIAL NUMBER ONE, WHO MAY BE THE TARGET AND MAY BE THE PERSON THAT THE NAIR WAS TALKING ABOUT, MORE INDICTMENTS TO COME, HE SEEM LIKE A PLAYER.

JOHN DOE, WHO ALSO SEEMED LIKE A PLAYER, WHEN HE OFFERED $10,000 JUST TO MEET WITH THIS PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND IN CASH AND THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL RETURNED THE CASH AND SAID HE WANTED CHECKS, TWO CHECKS TO HIS PAC, AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S A GUY WHO'S USED TO THIS.

AND THEN HE DIDN'T CASH THE CHECKS BECAUSE HE PROBABLY HAD ENOUGH SENSE TO GOOGLE JOHN DOE AND SEE THAT HE'S UNDER FEDERAL INDICTMENT.

AND THINK, I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THIS.

AND THE OTHER FELLOW IS NOT EVEN BOTHERING TO LOOK INTO THE GUY GIVING HIM THE MONEY.

I JUST THOUGHT IT ISN'T BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR THESE GUYS.

>> I'D LIKE TO REMIND MY FELLOW FOUNDER, FIRST OF ALL, PUBLIC OFFICIAL MAY NOT EVEN BE A HE.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

LET'S BE -- NOT A GENDER THING, I MEAN, A PRONOUN THING, BUT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF JOHN -- WHO THAT PERSON MIGHT BE, HE OR SHE.

I WILL SAY THIS.

I WOULDN'T ASSUME THAT THIS IS THE EXTENT OF WHAT THESE THREE GENTLEMEN GOT.

THIS IS WHAT THEY GOT CAUGHT FOR, SO THE IDEA THAT WELL, IT'S JUST A COUPLE THOUSAND, WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IN ANY DIRECTION.

WHAT I WROTE ABOUT THIS WEEK IS I DO FEEL THERE IS -- AND I WILL SAY IT VERY CAREFULLY.

IT DOES NOT MINIMIZE IN ANY WAY THE CRIMES FOR WHICH THESE GUYS WILL HAVE NOW PLED AND WILL BE PUNISHED.

>> HAVEN'T PLED.

>> WELL, RESIGNED AND ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO PLEAD, AND DOESN'T MINIMIZE THAT.

BUT WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING AS A -- FROM 40,000 FEET ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE A POLITICAL SYSTEM BUILT ON QUID PRO QUOS, THAT WE SHOULD NOT -- BECAUSE IN EFFECT, EVEN IF THEY STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LINE, THE JOHN DOES WHO CAN RANGE FROM SMALL-TOWN CRIMINALS LIKE THIS TO BIG FOLKS, YOU KNOW, IN EXECUTIVE SUITES WHO ARE DOING IT ALL BY THE RULES, THE RULES ARE TERRIBLE AND THE ENTIRE PREMISE THAT IF YOU'RE IN OFFICE, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU EITHER SHOULD DO OR THAT WE SHOULD SOMEHOW CONDONE IS THAT IF SOMEBODY GIVES YOU CAMPAIGN MONEY, IF SOMEBODY GIVES YOU SOMETHING OF VALUE, AND OBVIOUSLY 99% OF OUR POLITICIANS ARE NOT CORRUPT ENOUGH OR STUPID ENOUGH TO TAKE CASH, OKAY?

BUT THEY'LL TAKE JOBS FOR A FRIEND.

THEY'LL TAKE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE LEGAL THAT EFFECTIVELY HAVE THE SAME BASIC STRUCTURE.

I GIVE YOU, YOU GIVE ME.

IT'S A QUID PRO QUO.

AND SO I SAY WE AS A WHOLE CULTURE NEED TO RE-EVALUATE THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF JOHN DOES OUT THERE.

>> THE THING IS, RAY, THOUGH, WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, TONY MESSENGER FROM THE POST-DISPATCH HAS WRITTEN STORIES ABOUT HOW LEWIS REED BACK IN THE DAY WAS AGAINST THE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE SCOTTRADE CENTER UNTIL THE BLUE ZONERS GAVE HIM ABOUT $150,000 AND HE CHANGED HIS VIEW.

AND THE SAME IS TRUE WITH MR. REED WHEN IT CAME TO A NORTH ST. LOUIS, I GUESS A HOMELESS SHELTER CALLED BIDDLE HOUSE.

HE WAS FOR IT UNTIL AN ATTORNEY IN TOWN WHO WAS AGAINST IT GAVE HIM A $5,000 DONATION AND HE CHANGED.

BUT THE THING IS, THE VOTERS KNEW THIS.

THEY COULD HAVE KNOWN IT HAD THEY BEEN READING THE TOUCHDOWN AND FOLLOWING THE STORY, BUT IT -- READING THE POST-DISPATCH AND FOLLOWING THE STORY, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER, DID IT?

>> WELL, THAT'S MY POINT.

UNTIL WE HAVE A SENSE OF -- AND I DOUBT WE'RE GOING TO.

THE SUPREME COURT IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO HELP.

I THINK UNTIL WE HAVE A SENSE OF OUTRAGE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT CONDUCT YOU DESCRIBED IS PERFECTLY LEGAL AND ACCEPTABLE TO PEOPLE, I THINK WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM, AND AGAIN, IT DOESN'T TAKE A -- THE POLITICAL CORRUPTION CASES LIKE THIS DESERVE TO BE PROSECUTED.

LET'S DO IT.

>> NOW, YOU SAID SOMETHING LAST WEEK, I WASN'T HERE, BUT I ENJOYED THE PROGRAM BECAUSE I FOLLOWED IT ON OUR PODCAST AS EVERYONE CAN.

LAST WEEK, YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT MR. REED, FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD RESIGN, AND I AGREED WITH YOU BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS KEN PAXTON, HE WAS INDICTED SEVEN YEARS AGO AND HE'S STILL FIGHTING THE CHARGES AND HE JUST BEAT GEORGE P. BUSH IN THE PRIMARY.

THIS IS ALSO GOING ON, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, IN CINCINNATI WHERE THERE'S A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL THERE.

HE WAS INDICTED TWO YEARS AGO AND HE DIDN'T RESIGN.

DIDN'T WE LEARN FROM BILL CLINTON THAT YOU FIGHT THESE CHARGES?

>> WELL, YOU -- >> I DIDN'T SAY HE SHOULDN'T RESIGN.

I SAID HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RESIGN.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> I GOT THE IMPRESSION YOU SHOULD HE SHOULD RESIGN.

>> I SAID HE SHOULD NOT, IF HE WANTS TO FIGHT IT OR WANTS TO MAKE HIS DEAL, HE HAS A RIGHT TO STAY AND DO IT.

I'M GLAD HE RESIGN, BUT I DID SAY THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S INDICTED, THE REST OF US -- >> IF HE IS MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE, WHY IS HE RESIGNING?

>> LET ME PUT OUT A LITTLE ST. LOUIS HISTORY.

WE HAD AN ALDERMANIC PRESIDENT TOM ZICH INDICTED BY THE FEDS IN 1987 IN THE CABLE TV TRIAL AND VERY PROMINENT PEOPLE INDICTED WITH HIM.

JIM CULLEN, A BIG LAWYER, LAWYER FOR THE BLUES.

LEROY TIAS, GENE SLAY, AND I REMEMBER GOING TO THEIR TRIAL AND IT WAS HELD AT THE SAME TIME THE DENNIS BULLOCH TRIAL WAS GOING ON.

YOU REMEMBER DENNIS BULLOCH.

HE TIED UP HIS WIFE -- HE MET HIS WIFE, BY THE WAY, IN THE RFT -- >> HE NET HER 11 MONTHS BEFORE HE KILLED HER AND STILL BLAMED US!

>> AND JULIE WAS TIED UP IN THE GARAGE AND HE SET THE GARAGE ON FIRE.

>> LET IT GO!

>> AND I REMEMBER THAT TRIAL WAS VERY POPULAR.

>> THAT WAS GREAT.

>> BUT I THOUGHT, I WAITED SO LONG FOR THE CABLE TV TRIAL, I GOT TO GO TO THAT, AND DURING ONE OF THE BREAKS, GENE SLAY, ONE OF THE DEFT DENTS CAME UP TO ME AND SAID WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BULLOCH TRIAL?

[ LAUGHTER ] AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS A DEFENDANT AND HE'S MORE INTERESTED -- I'M AT THE WRONG TRIAL.

AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WAS ACQUITTED.

SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE ACQUITTED AND CONVICTED OF THIS STUFF.

>> BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU CAN SEE THESE TRANSCRIPTS.

WE SEE THE CASH COUNTING MACHINE.

WE SEE LEWIS REED SAY THANK YOU.

THERE'S A REASON THIS MAN RESIGNED.

THERE'S NOT A GOOD COUNTER ARGUMENT HERE.

>> WELL, IT SURE SEEMS THAT WAY, BUT -- >> ANYTHING LESS THAN JUST TOTAL DISDAIN FOR WHAT THEY DID, I MEAN, I HEAR YOU THAT THEY NEED TO BE PUNISHED AND ALL THAT, BUT THIS AIN'T ABOUT HOW WE DOOBS IN ST. LOUIS.

>> IT IS.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS ABOUT CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS AND THE SECOND WE START DEFLECTING AWAY FROM THAT IS THE SECOND THAT THE NEXT PERSON SAYS, SEE?

THEY DON'T CARE IF YOU STEAL.

ALL THEY'LL SAY IS, OH, THEY DO IT AT CIVIC PROGRESS OR THEY DO IT OVER HERE.

WELL, GUESS WHAT?

MAYBE THEY DO, BUT THEY AIN'T GOING TO JAIL.

LET'S NOT LOSE TRACK OF JUST HOW FILTHY THIS WHOLE THING IS.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST DISGRACEFUL.

>> WELL, IT IS, BECAUSE THE LOSERS REALLY ARE THE TAXPAYERS.

WHAT THESE GUYS WERE DOING, THEY WERE SELLING CITY PROPERTY AT A HUGE DISCOUNT OR THEY WERE GIVING AWAY TAX BREAKS.

THAT'S TAX DOLLARS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND WHATEVER.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY NEED TO GO TO JAIL.

>> OKAY.

WELL, LET'S MOVE THEN FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY WHERE, SARAH, TONY WEAVER -- AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER EXACTLY HIS TITLE IS OR WAS.

>> IT WAS CHANGE MANAGEMENT ADVISOR FOR THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL.

>> RIGHT.

AND NOW EVERYONE IS RUNNING TO THEIR DICTIONARY LOOKING UP THAT TERM.

WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN?

I'M GOING TO TELL MY SON TO BECOME ONE WHATEVER IT IS, BECAUSE HE STARTED AT $85,000 APPARENTLY.

THIS GUY, HE WASN'T BRIBING, BUT HE WAS TRYING TO DEFRAUD THE GOVERNMENT OF MONEY THAT WAS INTENDED FOR SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF.

AND HE WAS WORKING WITH THE SAME GUY, WE THINK, ALTHOUGH I THINK HIS NAME WAS JOHN SMITH, NOT JOHN DOE IN THE COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT.

AND HE WAS FILLING OUT ALL THESE FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT RELIEF DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO WHO -- ASIDE FROM TONY WEAVER WHO DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HIS FUTURE IS GOING TO BE GOING VERY WELL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHO ELSE IS A BIG LOSER IN THIS CASE?

>> I THINK ST. LOUIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAM PAGE IS A HUGE LOSER IN THIS CASE.

WHAT HE DID IS HE BROUGHT ON THIS MAN WHO HAD BEEN WORKING FOR COUNTY COUNCILWOMAN ROCHELLE WALTON GRAY AND SHE ENDED UP GETTING VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.

THIS GUY NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP AND GIVEN A PATRONAGE JOB, SO SAM PAGE STEPS IN AND GIVES HIM A JOB THAT SHOULD BE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE TAXPAYERS.

THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY JAIL IS A MESS.

THERE'S HUGE PROBLEMS THERE.

THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE HAVE BEEN UNDERPAID FOR YEARS, AND HERE'S THIS GUY WHO'S BROUGHT IN TO HELP MANAGE CHANGE, AND HE SAID HE'S RUNNING AROUND TOWN TALKING TO JOHN SMITH OR JOHN DOE OR WHOEVER THIS GUY IS, AND TRYING TO HELP HIM DEFRAUD THE COUNTY BECAUSE, AS HE SAYS, THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY HERE, WE GOT TO GET OUR HANDS ON THIS, THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

IT'S TERRIBLE, THE JUDGED NA THIS MAN WOULD BE IN -- THE IDEA THAT THIS MAN WOULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE THE JAIL NEEDS REFORM AND INSTEAD, HE GIVES IT TO SOMEBODY WHO WORKS FOR A KAUNL MEMBER TO CURRY FAVOR WITH HIS CONSTITUENTS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FOR CITY-COUNTY COOPERATION, AND JOHN DOE, YOU GOT TO HAND IT TO HIM, HE'S KIND OF BRINGING US TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] IN A LOT OF WAYS.

SHOWING YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MERGER TO WORK TOGETHER.

[ LAUGHTER ] BUT IT'S THE MAJOR CASE SQUAD OR SOMETHING.

BUT I DO THINK SAM PAGE WILL, YOU KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL HAVE ANY CONSEQUENCE TO HIM, BUT THIS HAPPENED AROUND THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THIS HAPPENED, THEY WANTED ROCHELLE WALTON GRAY TO STAY AROUND LONG AFTER HER TERM EXPIRED.

IT WAS A BIT OF A CONTROVERSY WHERE SHE VOTED, I BELIEVE, FOR LISA CLANCY TO BE THE NEXT CHAIR OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AGAINST RITA HEARD DAYS.

THAT ENDED UP GOING INTO A LEGAL DISPUTE WITH ENDED UP WITH RITA, HER DAYS BEING ELECTED COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT BENEFIT THAT WAS INVOLVED FOR PRESUMABLY SAM PAGE, HIS ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY -- HIS STATEMENT IS REALLY, UNLIKE TISHAURA JONES WHO MADE -- AND I REALIZE IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION, BUT I THOUGHT TISHAURA JONES HAD SUCH A HE WIN ELEGANT STATEMENT AFTER WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE CASE OF THE CITY.

SAM PAGE DID HIS USUAL LIKE, PRETENDED IT WASN'T GOOD HIM AND IT WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT SAM PAGE.

>> ONE DIFFERENCE IN THIS IS THE THREE ALDERMEN IN THE CITY WERE ELECTED.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE BAD GUY IN THIS WAS PUT IN BY SAM PAGE.

I MEAN -- AND IT'S SORT OF THE WAY SAM PAGE DOES BUSINESS, TO CURRY FAVOR WITH -- A POLITICAL FAVOR WITH HAZEL ERBY WHEN SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE SHOULD BE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

HE SAID HOW ABOUT IF I GIVE YOU A $70,000 RAISE AND I'LL MAKE UP A JOB IN DIVERSITY FOR YOU, HAZEL.

AND THEN WHEN HE WAS HAVING -- WHEN HE WANTED TO CURRY FAVOR WITH ROCHELLE WALTON GRAY, HE WENT TO TONY WEAVER, HER ASSISTANT, AND SAID HOW ABOUT IF I GIVE YOU A $40,000 -- HE TAKES PUBLIC MONEY AND THROWS IT AT PEOPLE FOR HIS POLITICAL BENEFIT.

I MEAN, SAM PAGE LOOKS TERRIBLE IN THIS AS DOES LISA CLANCY WHO, YOU KNOW, IS MY COUNTY COUNCIL PERSON WHO I THOUGHT WE WERE ELECTING A STRONG YOUNG WOMAN, AND FIRST THING SHE DOES IS ABDICATE THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY AND SAYS WE'LL LET SAM DO THIS.

AND WHAT DOES SAM DO?

THERE'S PEOPLE LOOKING VERY BAD IN THIS ONE.

>> ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, LIKE RAY SAID.

EXPEDIENCY, I STILL GET WITH THAT ABOUT GETTING THAT MONEY OUT AND WHERE IT WENT FROM THERE.

I CAN'T DEFEND THE APPOINTMENT OF TONY WEAVER.

CROOKS IS CROOKS.

MAYBE YOU CAN DO MORE DUE DILIGENCE OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW.

I WILL SAY, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, OH WELL, THIS IS HOW STUFF WAS DONE AND MAYBE IT NEEDS TO CHANGE AND ALL THAT.

BUT IT'S NOTHING NEW THAT PEOPLE CURRY FAVOR BY APPOINTING PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

THIS ONE BLEW UP IN HIS FACE, BUT THAT DOES GO ON ALL THE TIME AND I DON'T THINK NECESSARILY, LIKE IF YOU APPOINT SOMEBODY TO A POSITION, OKAY, AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB, ALL RIGHT, NOBODY ASKED WHY DID THAT PERSON GET APPOINTED TO THAT PERSON IF THEY DO A GREAT JOB.

WHEN THEY DON'T, THEN IT'S LIKE, OH, WHY DID YOU APPOINT THIS PERSON?

>> BUT IT WAS NOTICED THAT NO MONEY WAS LOST AS A RESULT OF THIS SCAM, CORRECT?

>> AND SAM PAGE DID FIRE THIS GUY.

THE MINUTE THE INDICTMENT CAME OUT, YOU GOT TO GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR THAT.

>> OH, I DO, I DO.

YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE'S PAST AND TONY WEAVER, WHO WAS WITH ELBERT WALTON IN THE NORTHEAST FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT SCANDAL, AND SOMEHOW MR. WALTON WAS ROCHELLE WALTON GRAY'S DAD, YOU KNOW, MR. WALTON NEVER WENT TO JAIL, WAS NEVER INDICTED ON THAT, BUT THE COURT TOOK THAT AWAY FROM HIM.

THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, AND HE WAS DISBARRED, AND WEAVER WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THAT.

SO WHEN SAM PAGE GIVES HIM AN $80,000 JOB AS A CHANGE AGENT IN THE JAIL, I MEAN, YOU GO, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.

>> I WOULD BE CURIOUS AS TO WHAT -- EXCUSE ME, BILL -- WHAT ALTERNATIVE SAM PAGE HAD TO FIRING HIM?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT CHANGE MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.

>> WAIT, WAIT.

>> JUST LIKE YOU SAID, OH, HE DIDN'T HAVE -- JUST LIKE HE SAID, IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO RESIGN, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.

>> HE COVER.

>> HE COULD HAVE JUST RELIEVED HIM OF HIS -- NOT HIS DUTIES, BUT PUT HIM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE UNTIL HE RESIGNED.

NO, HE SUMMARILY FIRED HIM.

I JUST HAD TO ADD THIS.

ONE OF THE GREATEST CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER HAVE IN A NEWSROOM WITH SOMEBODY ON THE TELEPHONE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT WAS ELBERT WALTON AND MYSELF ONE TIME WHEN HE COMPARED US TO YOUR NEWSPAPER.

>> I KNOW WE HAD A RUN-IN AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER.

>> AND HE SAID IT IN VERY CRASS TERMS AND I LET HIM KNOW THAT.

>> COME ON, ALVIN, I WANT TO HEAR THAT CONVERSATION.

>> EVEN THOUGH I'M DOWN ON SAM PAGE, BAD GOVERNANCE IS -- I'LL PROBABLY VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S HIRE A NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

>> I RESPECT THAT, I RESPECT THAT.

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT SAM PAGE IS NOT THE FIRST COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO MAKE POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS.

>> NO.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

>> ALVIN, ALVIN -- >> ONLY ONE OF THEM WENT TO JAIL.

>> THE METRO LINK, THERE'S A PROPOSAL THAT THE ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL REPORTED ON TODAY THAT APPARENTLY THE MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS, TISHAURA JONES, AND THE CEO OF BI-STATE OR METROLINK, TAULBY ROACH, HAVE AGREED ON A NORTH-SOUTH ROUTE FOR A METROLINK EXTENSION.

IT WILL START AT JEFFERSON AND CHIPPEWA, GO NORTH, EVENTUALLY LAND AT NATURAL BRIDGE, BUT ALONG THE WAY IT WILL STOP AT THE SOCCER STADIUM, A HOTEL AT JEFFERSON AND MARKET AND WON'T GO TOO FAR FROM THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL AGENCY.

YOU IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF A BILLION DOLLARS?

>> WELL, IF SOMEBODY WOULD GIVE ME A WHOLE GUNCH -- WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY TO CHANGE MY MIND, I LIGHT.

>> I DETECT A JOHN DOE.

>> JOHN DOE IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BUSY RIGHT NOW, BUT HE -- YEAH, THESE GUYS -- HE'S GOING TO BE GETTING DEPOSED FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS PROBABLY.

NO, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT SHOULD RUN EAST-WEST.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M A SUBURBANITE, BUT I AM, OKAY?

BUT WHEN I LIVED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND THERE WERE EXPANDING THE METRO, YOU KNOW, SERVICE THERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY FIRST WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH WAS GETTING THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD USE IT -- OKAY?

-- AND HOPEFULLY STEVE, ST. CHARLES WILL GET ON BOARD, BUT, YOU KNOW IF -- [ LIGHT APPLAUSE ] I JUST THINK IF YOU RAN IT, FOR ALL THE TALK, OH, NOBODY SHOULD -- BLAH BLAH BLAH, IF YOU RAN IT EAST AND WEST, OKAY, THAT THING WOULD BE JAM PACKED EVERY MORNING WITH COMMUTERS.

AND I THINK YOUR FIRST STEP TO PAY FOR THE OTHER LINE IS TO GET ONE LINE RUNNING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY PROFITABLE.

AND I THINK YOU CAN GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU RUN IT EAST-WEST.

>> I'M VERY IN FAVOR OF THIS.

I THINK THE NORTH-SOUTH IDEA -- WE DO HAVE EAST-WEST.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY FOR A LOT OF REASONS THAT ARE POLITICAL AND OTHER REASONS, IT DOESN'T REALLY GO WHERE IT SHOULD.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD -- I KNOW IT'S POPULAR TO KIND OF BEAT UP ON METROLINK, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I THINK RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH AND PARTICULARLY ALONG THE SOCCER STADIUM, THE BIG ISSUE IS GETTING IT TO HAVE ENOUGH TRAFFIC AND DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE NGA SITE, PARTICULARLY IF WE CAN EVER FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEVELOP AROUND IT BECAUSE THE NGA SITE IS A REALLY INTERESTING THING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE, IT'S MOVING FROM THE SOUTH CITY TO NORTH CITY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S A FORTRESS IN SOUTH CITY THAT ISN'T SURROUNDED BY ANYTHING.

IT'S A FORTRESS WHERE CERTIFIES INTO TO WORK AND -- SPIES GO TO WORK AND GO HOME.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE.

IN NORTH CITY, THERE IS AT LEAST THE POSSIBILITY, IF THEY CAN EVER GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER, TO BUILD AROUND IT AND REALLY -- THE ONLY WAY IT'S REALLY TRANSVERSE -- >> HAVE YOU GONE OUT TO THE SITE?

IT'S A FORTRESS WITH NOTHING AROUND IT.

>> I KNOW, BUT IT COULD BE AND IT NEEDS TO BE -- >> BUT RAY -- >> THERE WOULD BE PART OF THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A HALF MILE SURROUNDING THAT FORTRESS THAT YOU CAN'T DEVELOP O SO THERE'S THAT.

NUMBER TWO, THERE'S NO DENSITY ALONG THE ROUTE THAT WE'RE DESCRIBING HERE.

AND THE PEOPLE ARE IN ST. CHARLES.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THE -- IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE STATE.

THE CITY IS ACTUALLY LOSING POPULATION.

>> NO QUESTION.

>> WE WERE TOLD THAT METROLINK WOULD INCREASE IT, BUT ACTUALLY SINCE WE'VE HAD METROLINK, WE'VE JUST LOST POPULATION THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE.

>> BUT THERE'S A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THIS LINE AND THAT'S THAT MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE LOVE LIGHT RAIL.

THEY DON'T WANT TO RIDE A BUS, BUT THEY'LL GET ON THE LIGHT RAIL TO GO TO THE SOCCER GAME, GREAT.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT.

>> 20 TIMES A YEAR.

>> YEAH, 20 TIMES TO THE YEAR AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE CUT BUS SERVICE TO THE BONE IN THIS TOWN AND THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON IT TO GET TO WORK, THEY DON'T RELY ON THE LIGHT RAIL.

THEY RELY ON BUS SERVICE AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOD FUNDING IT AT THE LEVEL WE NEED TO FUND IT TO BE FUNCTIONAL FOR THEM.

THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, RAY HARTMANN, ABOUT FORMER GOVERNOR ERIC GREITENS WHO ACCORDING TO EMERSON COLLEGE'S POLL -- EMERSON COLLEGE, BY THE WAY, HAS WHAT FAMOUS FORMER TONIGHT SHOW HOST AS ITS ALUM?

JAY LENO IS THE ANSWER TO THAT.

>> I KNEW THAT, I KNEW THAT.

>> SO THE LATEST FOLLOW HAS ERIC GREITENS AT 25%, 19% FOR ERIC SCHMITT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THEN ABOUT 16 OR SO PERCENT, TEN POINTS BEHIND GREITENS, VICKY HARD HARTZLER.

IT HASN'T CHANGED.

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO TRUST POLLS AT ALL, MUCH LESS THIS FAR OUT.

THEY ARE ALL WITHIN THE MARGIN OF TRUMP.

OKAY?

WITHIN THE MARGIN OF DONALD TRUMP, MEANING IF DONALD TRUMP DOES AN ENDORSEMENT, WHICH I PREDICT HE WILL, AND I DO THAT WITH SOME TREPIDATION BECAUSE I'M ALMOST ALWAYS WRONG ON THESE PREDICTIONS, BUT IF DONALD TRUMP, AS I THINK HE WILL, I THINK HE'S LIMITED.

HE'S ONLY GOING TO PICK WINNERS NOW.

HE IS PICK SOME LOSERS, BUT HIS EGO IS SUCH, HE'S GOING TO PICK WHO HE THINKS CAN WIN.

I THINK IT'S EITHER GREITENS OR HARTZLER BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HIM ENDORSING THE SAME CANDIDATE AS TED CRUZ.

HASN'T HAPPENED YET IN A NATIONAL RACE AND THAT WOULD HURT CRUZ.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARTZLER OR GREITENS AND I THINK IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> RAY, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN GEORGIA, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT TRUMP CAN PICK WINNERS?

WHAT HE'S DOING IS HE'S FOOWING HIS BASE.

HE'S NOT LEADING THEM.

HE'S PUTTING UP HIS FINGER IN THE AIR, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY THEY'RE GOING AND THEN HE'S TRYING TO GLOM ON TO THAT.

>> HE DIDN'T DO THAT IN PENNSYLVANIA WITH DR. OZ OR -- >> WHO BARELY WON.

>> BARELY WON.

>> NO, I SAID HE DIDN'T DO IT, BUT THE POINT IS, HE BROUGHT HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD.

MY POINT IS, HE DID IT -- AND PARTICULARLY DOUG MASTRIANO, THE GOVERNOR THERE, IS A PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL ONE HE DID, HE'S GOING TO DO WHAT HE THINKS IS RIGHT TO DONALD TRUMP.

IF I HAD TO GUESS, I THINK IT WAS GREITENS, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

OBVIOUSLY I'M ROOTING FOR GREITENS BECAUSE I THINK HE'S THE ONE CANDIDATE THAT THE DEMOCRATS CAN BEAT.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> YOU KNOW, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT GREITENS IS DOING SO WELL, AND I HAVE SAID BEFORE AND SINCERELY THAT IF I COULD PICK A WINNER IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HIGH THINK WILL GO ON AND WIN, I WOULD GO WITH MARK McCLOSKEY.

[ LAUGHTER ] NO, JUST BECAUSE MARK McCLOSKEY, YOU KNOW HE'S GOING TO DO THE WRONG THING, BUT -- [ LAUGHTER ] -- HE BELIEVES IT'S THE RIGHT THING.

HIS DAD LED THE FIGHT AGAINST FLORIDAIZATION AND McCLOSKEY IS OF THAT MINDSET.

THE OTHERS, I THINK THEY ALL KNOW, I'M SURE ERIC SCHMITT DOES, THAT WHAT HE'S DOING IS THE WRONG THING, BUT HE'S GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.

I'D RATHER HAVE A GUY WHO DOES THE WRONG THING, THINKING IT'S THE RIGHT THING.

>> I WOULD ARGUE VICKY HARTZLER SHOULD -- >> IT'S A MORAL POSITION.

>> I'D GO WITH VICKY.

>> GOING TO THE DEMOCRATS, SARAH, I THINK TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE IS BEING CRITICIZED BY A COUPLE OF GROUPS FOR NOT SHOWING UP AT DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONS.

ONE WONDERS, IS THIS A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY OR COULD THIS BE A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY TO IGNORE PEOPLE VOTING IN THE PRIMARY?

>> I'LL SAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD STORY THAT THE RIVERFRONT TIMES DID AND I GUESS THAT PROGRESS SIFRS WANT TRUDY BUSCH VAL LEN STEIN TO MEET WITH THEM.

THEY WANT TO ASK HER QUESTIONS AND THEY WANT TO ASK CATCH HER ON VIDEO SAYING DUMB STUFF.

I DON'T MAIM THEM WANTING TO DO THAT.

I THINK SHE'S SMART TO AVOID THOSE MEETINGS.

IF THERE'S AN INSTALL PROGRESSIVE GROUP, WHAT GOOD COMES TO HER OF SITTING DOWN WITH THEM AND GETTING TRAPPED IN SAYING SOMETHING THAT WHETHER IT'S HURTS HER IN THE PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION, THAT'S NOT A GOOD STRATEGY.

>> BUT WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, YEAH, I'LL GO SPEAK TO SOME SMALL GROUP AND THEY'RE LOOKING -- THEY LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I JUST FELT BAD FOR HER.

BOY, SOMEBODY PUFFS YOU INTO DOING SOMETHING YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO.

>> BUT YOU'RE THE BETTER FUNDED CANDIDATE IN A PRIMARY.

DO YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO NECESSARY THAT UP?

YOU JUST KIND OF WANT TO -- >> SHE'S MESSING IT UP -- THERE'S AN 8,000-WORD STORY IN THE RIVERFRONT TIMES.

ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS SHOW UP AND EAT HORS D'OEUVRES AND SAY I'M WITH YOU AND CALL THEM BROTHER AND SISTER.

MY BROTHER.

>> MY BROTHER, MY SISTER.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN 2022, I THINK TELEVISION IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

I MEAN, ERIC GREITENS IS WINNING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND HE WON'T TALK TO ANYBODY.

ALL HE'S GOT IS SOME TV ADS, AND I THINK TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE, LIKE YOU SAID -- >> I THINK -- BY TV, I HOPE YOU MEAN THE INTERNET BECAUSE TV PER SE IS PRETTY OBSOLETE.

>> HEY, HELLO!

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> HEY, HEY!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LET ME REPHRASE THAT, LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> BY THE WAY, WE WANT TO MAKE -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> LET ME REPHRASE THAT A LITTLE BIT.

IN THE TERMS OF THE CONTEXT OF TV ADVERTISING IN A POLITICAL RACE, NOTHING IS AS IMPORTANT AS PBS, THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING US.

NO, THE -- LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

>> BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT AM RADIO IS REALLY GOING PLACES.

>> IT'S REALLY -- I'D SAY -- AND WE SHOULD DISCLAIM THIS.

I'M JUST A COLUMNIST FOR THE RIVERFRONT TIMES, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PAPER, ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD STORY.

I THINK THE BROADER QUESTION IS, I DISAGREE WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION OF TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE RUNNING.

SHE'S BARELY EVEN GOTTEN UP, MUCH LESS WALKING.

I'M SERIOUS, SHE IS NOT RUNNING A CAMPAIGN THAT ANYBODY CAN SEE.

SHE'S REFUSING TO -- I KNOW FROM LUCAS KUNCE'S FOLKS THAT THEY CHALLENGED TOER A DEBATE ALL THE PLACE AND SHE WON'T DEBATE KUNCE.

IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF SHE WAS A SAFE FRONTRUNNER WHO WAS OUT THERE AND DID NOT NEED TO DIGNIFY SOME LKT CANDIDATE, I GET THAT.

BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO I RESPECT WHO HAVE ENDORSED HER AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW -- I WOULD MUCH PREFER HER AS A SENATOR TO ANY OF THE REPUBLICANS JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A NICE PERSON AND SHE'S A NURSE AND SHE'S DECENT, BUT THE POINT IS -- >> NO, I AGREE.

I WOULD SAY THIS -- >> IF SHE'S NOT WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THIS, LUCAS KUNCE SHOULD GET THE NOMINATION.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, DON'T YOU THINK JANE DUEKER ASKING FOR A DEBATE WITH SAM PAGE BEFORE THEIR PRIMARY SHOULD GET AT LEAST ONE?

>> SURE, I THINK SHE SHOULD GET DEBATES.

>> I AGREE.

>> BUT IN THIS CASE, SHE HASN'T EVEN BEEN WILLING TO GO TO MAINSTREAM PARTY THINGS.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO FILL UP EVERY TIME SOMEBODY HAS A CELL PHONE -- >> NEITHER DOES ERIC GREITENS.

HE DOESN'T GO -- >> BUT HE'S NOT JUST COMING TO MISSOURI.

HE'S STAYING OUT OF MISSOURI BECAUSE HIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN IS NATIONALLY FUNDED.

HE HAS NO REASON TO COME TO NOW.

>> HE MIGHT GET DEPOSED IF HE CAME BACK -- >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> YOU MAY SEE HIM NOT SHOWING UP.

BOB ONDER, A STATE SENATOR, A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ONE, PULLED OUT OF THE ST. CHARLES COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE THIS PAST WEEK AND HE'S PRETTY MUCH LEAVING STEVE EHLMANN AS THE LIKELY WINNER IN THAT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

ANY EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED THERE WITH SENATOR ONDER WHO GOT AS MUCH INK THIS PAST YEAR AS NECESSITY SENATOR IN JEFFERSON CITY, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> BUT A LOT OF FINGERS ARE POINTED AT HIM FOR WRECKING THE SESSION FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND NOT THAT I CARE, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE -- HE AND ERIC SCHMITT, THEY WERE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY AND I THINK ERIC SCHMITT COULD HONESTLY, POSSIBLY BE CLOSER IN THAT RACE, OKAY, IF HE JUST HADN'T PULL ALL THESE SHENANIGANS IN THIS PAST SCHOOL JEER.

HE LOST SOME MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND SOME PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SUPPORTED ONDER BEFORE ALL WHAT WENT DOWN IN JEFF CITY THIS LEGISLATION SESSION, ONCE I THINK HE COUNTED THE CARDS AND SAID I'M GOING TO LOSE, SO I MAY AS WELL SAVE MY MONEY -- >> WELL, LET ME SAY, ONE OF THE TWO CANDIDATES CAME TO DONNYBASH.

[ LAUGHTER ] I THINK THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS CONFIDENCE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, I SAY THIS.

I DISAGREE WITH THE ESTEEMED ST. CHARLES COUNTY EXECUTIVE ON MOST THINGS AND HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PUT THAT ON HIS RESUME, BUT THIS WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE REASON THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS DECENT AND HONORABLE AND TRUSTABLE IS GOING, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, GOING TO MAINTAIN HIS POSITION AS ST. CHARLES COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND I WILL SUBMIT THAT HIS OPPONENT WAS NONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE AFTER WHY THIS GUY WHO RAISED A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS AND BEING REASONABLY WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE BY MOST PEOPLE'S MEASURE OF WINNING THIS, I GUESS IT'S COOL THAT HE MUST NOT HAVE REALIZED HE HAD A FAMILY SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN HE ANNOUNCED.

>> ALVIN REID, FROM ST. CHARLES TO DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

THE INTERIM PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR, DAN ISOM, HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SCOOTERS ARE GOING TO BE BANNED AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS ARE USING THEM, RUNNING AROUND DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS ON THESE SCOOTERS, AND IN SOME CASES GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

TWO TEENS, ONE 13 AND THE OTHER 14, WERE SHOT BETWEEN 8th AND 9th 9 th ON PINE SATURDAY NIGHT.

SOME PEOPLE REPORT THAT THE SCOOTER COMPANIES THEMSELVES, BESPITE THE BAN, ARE STILL OPERATING THEIR SCOOTERS IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

>> FIRST, I FELT LIKE CHRIS ROCK FOR A -- >> THAT'S A DISTRACTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> NO, TAKE IT OUT ON THE SCOOTER COMPANY.

JUST -- HEY, THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE POLICE.

THIS COULD BE LIKE YOUR LOCAL COAL COMPANY.

GET A FLATBED TRUCK, GRAB EVERY SCOOTER YOU SEE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, THROW ON IT THERE AND WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE DUMP IF YOU WANT TO, HOLD THEM HOSTAGE, AND THEN CHARGE THE SCOOTER COMPANY, FINE THEM FOR EVERY ONE THAT YOU PICK UP AND JUST MAKE THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THEIR BUSINESS WITHIN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BLATANTLY BREAK THE LAW LIKE THAT OBVIOUSLY AND I THINK HE SAID, OH, THERE'S MORE SCOOTERS THAN THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.

LIKE I SAID, THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT HAS TO BE LIKE McCLELLAN REED ADVENTURE WHERE, YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE JUST LIKE, LET'S JUST GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF TRUCKS AND GO PICK THEM UP AND TAKE PICTURES OF THEM.

LIKE, HEY, YOU WANT YOUR SCOOTERS BACK?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WHO AM I TO INTERFERE WITH THIS SCHEME?

HOWEVER, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE STORY THAT KSDK HAD AND IT WAS A GOOD SCOOP.

IT CAME JUST A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THIS EDICT CAME DOWN.

THESE ARE OUT-OF-TOWN COMPANIES, THEY HAVE A SKELETON WORKFORCE, GIVE THEM A COUPLE DAYS TO PULL THIS TOGETHER.

THE PROBLEMS DOWNTOWN, THESE ARE PROBLEMS DOWNTOWNSES ARE HAVING ACROSS THE U.S.

RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME.

THEY'RE NO LONGER GOING TO THESE OFFICE BUILDINGS AND DOWNTOWNS ARE SUFFERING.

THERE'S PROBLEMS IN ST. LOUIS AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE UNIQUE TO ST. LOUIS.

>> AND TAKING THE SCOOTERS AWAY WON'T FIX -- >> IT MAY HELP, BUT IT'S NOT -- >> THEY HAVE TRIED A LOT.

THEY TRIED TO PUT UP THOSE JERSEY BARRIERS, CUT OFF THE BRIDGE TRAFFIC FROM EAST ST. LOUIS.

THEY CUT OFF LEN MORE K. SULLIVAN BOULEVARD AFTER 7:00 AND NOW THERE'S TALK POSSIBLY ABOUT A CURFEW.

KMOV HAD A STORY TAKING A LOOK AT ONE FELLOW WHO LIVES IN THE CITYVIEW APARTMENTS AND HE LIKE OTHERS HAVE SEEN TOO MANY BULLET HOLES IN THE SIDE OF HIS EDIFICES, SO NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE A CURFEW FOR DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

THERE WAS A CURFEW IN BOSTON AND CHICAGO DURING THE PANDEMIC.

DO YOU THINK A CURFEW IS DUE?

>> I CAN SEE THE MERIT IN IT.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME TOOL THEY CAN USE TO TELL THESE KIDS GET OUT OF HERE, GET LOST, WE CAN ARREST YOU IF WE STICK AROUND.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CAUSE BEYOND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE.

THEY NEED SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THESE KIDS HAVE RUN AMOK.

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS ARE REALLY FED UP.

IN GENERAL, I'M ANTI-CURFEW, BUT FEFR A SITUATION WARRANTED IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE ONE.

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

IT'S NOT A MATTER OF BEING ANTI-CURFEW.

IF ANY ISSUE HAS BEEN STUDIED TO DEATH IN THIS COUNTRY, IT'S CURFEWS.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

YOU CAN GO TO BROOKINGS INSTITUTE, GO TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND LOOK, AND OVERWHELMINGLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CURFEWS FOR CRIME, NOT COVID, AND OVERWHELMINGLY, THEY DO NOT WORK.

THEY DO NOT -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WELL INTENDED.

IT'S NOT A PHILOSOPHICAL THING.

IT'S A MATTER OF PRACTICALITY, NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT WORK, BUT STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS THAT VIOLENT CRIME, THE ONINCREASE -- IMPACT ON CRIME IS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE HOUR AFTER THE CURFEW GOES INTO EFFECT, THAT THEY GO UP.

THE FACT IS THEY JUST DON'T WORK.

THEY HAVE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS.

THEY INCREASE UNPLEASANT INTERACTIONS BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND YOUNG BLACK KIDS, AND THERE'S JUST NO QUESTION THAT THAT ISN'T A GREAT THING IN AND OF ITSELF.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S KIDS THAT MIGHT BE COMING HOME FROM WORK OR SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY SHOULD THEY BE PULLED -- JUST THE FACT THAT YOU MIGHT BE PULLED OVER AS A TEENAGER, AS A SUSPECT, IS JUST -- THE THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG GO WRONG.

>> BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE ANYWAY.

>> AND IT'S A BAD USE OF POLICE FORCE.

>> WE'RE SHORT ON POLICE AND WE EXPECT THE POLICE TO BE STOPPING AND PICKING UP KIDS WHO ARE 15 AND 16, AND THEN WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THEM?

TAKE THEM TO THE STATION?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROACTIVELY GOING OUT AND PICKING UP THESE KIDS.

IT'S MORE WHEN THEY HAVE A PACK OF KIDS CAUSING TROUBLE, IT GIVES THEM A WAY TO DISPERSE THE PACK.

LET'S FACE IT, NOBODY IS GOING TO BE PROACTIVELY POLICING IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS [ LAUGHTER ] >> I AGREE WITH YOU.

YOU CAN PUT UP A SIGN THAT SAYS DON'T TRESPASS IN THIS PART OF THE WOODS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JUST WALK RIGHT PAST IT.

BUT IF IT STOPS A FEW PEOPLE, THEN YOU BENEFIT FROM IT.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT BROOKINGS OR ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OTHER STUDY.

THEY CAN SAY IT DIDN'T WORK, BUT IF IT SAVED ONE KID'S LIFE, THEN IT WAS WORST DOING.

>> NO, THEY ACTUALLY SAY IT COST LIVES, ALVIN.

>> I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> WELL, I DO AND I'LL TELL YOU -- >> I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> AS A PRACTICE MATTER, THE REASON THEY FOUND THAT CURFEWS DON'T WORK IS THEY TAKE LAW-ABIDING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND THE FEWER LAW-ABIDING PEOPLE -- >> NO, WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT -- >> LET ME FINISH.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT -- >> I'M TELLING YOU, WHEN THERE ARE CURFEWS IN GENERAL, LAW-ABIDING PEOPLE AND THEIR KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET OFF THE STREETS.

THERE ARE FEWER WITNESSES, FEWER ACTIVITY AND THAT BREEDS MORE CRIME.

>> WAIT, WAIT, THIS IS -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> DID MARSHALL DILLON DO THIS STUDY?

WHAT IS THIS?

>> NO, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH FINDINGS THAT YOU CAN BE -- WE WANT TO ARGUE IT ACADEMICALLY, FINE.

THE FACT IS IT DOESN'T WORK.

IT'S BEEN PROVEN NOT TO WORK.

>> WELL, IN THE CHANNEL 4 PIECE, DANELLE WALTERS WHO'S WITH THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE, HIS POINT -- HIS OPINION, THAT THE PARENTS HAVE TO START LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR KIDS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> NO ONE IS SAYING THE PARENTS SHOULDN'T HAVE A CURFEW FOR KIDS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THE POLICE HAVE A CURFEW FOR YOUR KIDS.

OF COURSE PARENTS DO IT, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE MORE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS, YOU GET MORE CRIME.

>> THE PROBLEM IS, THERE AREN'T PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS TO BEGIN WITH.

THAT'S THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

THEY'RE ALREADY GONE.

>> WE SHOULD HAVE A CURFEW BARGE THAT'S PARKED ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND RUN THEM OUT THERE FOR A NIGHT.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, JEFFREY BOYD'S IDEA.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> HE DID, THAT WAS HIS IDEA.

>> JOHN DOE, I'M KIDDING.

>> SARAH FENSKE, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT BOB'S SEAFOOD.

AFTER 44 YEARS, CLOSED UP -- TERRIBLE, ISN'T IT?

ANY BOB'S SEAFOOD FANS IN OUR AUDIENCE?

[ APPLAUSE ] KIND OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CITY STAURS AND MOTHERS IN THEIR WISDOM WERE USING EMINENT DOMAIN TO GET A COSTCO AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE ACROSS THE STREET, BUT BOB'S HAD BEEN THERE 44 YEARS PAYING TAXES AND PEOPLE THOUGHT THE SEAFOOD WAS FANTASTIC AND IT'S KIND OF SAD, THE SAME WEEK ACTUALLY THAT BAER'S GARDENING IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.

I THOUGHT THAT SOMEBODY WOULD SAY, I'M GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE, THESE ARE CIVIC TREASURES.

>> THESE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES DOING AMAZING WORK.

YOU CAN TELL FROM THE REACTION HERE TODAY AND THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT RUNS THEM OUT OF TOWN, FAVORS SOME BIG OUT-OF-TOWN PROJECT THAT ENDS UP DECIMATING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE GOVERNOR OF U-CITY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO EMINENT DOMAIN, AND OF COURSE THERE'S SOME ASTERISKS ON THAT THAT SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO IT FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN THEIR OWN BUILDING.

A BUSINESS THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE DOING BUSINESS THERE, HOW DO THEY NOT GET THE SAME TREATMENT.

I THINK IT'S APPALLING.

>> I HEAR YOU AND I WISH THEY WOULD STAY FOREVER, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT SAID THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND NOBODY CAME TO HELP ME.

I FEEL FOR THOSE INVOLVED AND I'VE BEEN THERE, OKAY?

I DON'T KNOW THAT OTHER THAN WE ALWAYS SAY, WELL, WHO APPROVED THIS BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.

AND YOU GOT TIME MAYBE TO VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE AND MAYBE SAVE BOB'S SEAFOOD.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE EMINENT DOMAIN, IT'S JUST A FACT THAT IT'S OUT THERE IS ENOUGH OF A CLUB THAT IF A BUSINESSMAN IS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE, SOMEBODY SAYS I WANT YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S EVEN THE THREAT OF EMINENT DOMAIN, IT MAKES THE NEGOTIATIONS UNFAIR.

>> WELL, I THINK THE QUESTIONS OF A COSTCO, WHETHER IT'S THIS ONE OR OTHERS OR ANY KIND OF OTHER DEVELOPMENT IS SEPARATE FROM WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING ABOUT HELPING GENERATIONAL BELOVED BUSINESSES.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE DOING.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

>> WELL, IT'S THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S KNOCKING IT OUT BY ALLOWING EMINENT DOMAIN.

>> I'LL TELL YOU, AS SOMEBODY THAT'S KNOWS ABOUT RISK AND REWARD CAPITALISM PRETTY MUCH ON BOTH ENDS, I'LL TELL YOU, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT'S RISK AND REWARD CAPITALISM.

THERE'S A TENDENCY TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THIS DEVELOPMENT -- BUT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING, THESE GUYS WOULD BE FINE.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW THE VARIABLES.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT CHANGE BECAUSE OF ONLINE AND ONLINE, OF COURSE, I CONDEMN IT FOR TAKING AWAY THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TELEVISION.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> FLIP-FLOP.

>> I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT QUITE -- AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY IN FAVOR OF THAT COSTCO PROJECT, BUT I THINK PARTICULARLY LIKE WITH THESE NURSERIES, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BUSINESSES SUCCEEDING AND FAILING.

I'D LOVE TO SEE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE A FUND OR DO THINGS THAT WOULD HELP THOSE KIND OF SPECIAL BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S THE ROLE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NOT THE GOVERNMENT.

>> WELL, IT'S THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S KNOCK IT OUT.

IF THE GOVERNMENT SAYS EMINENT DOMAIN, IT'S NOT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S FAULT.

>> BUT THAT'S -- YOU'RE OVERSIMPLIFYING THE PLIGHT OF A BOB'S SEAFOOD.

IT'S THAT YOU DON'T KNOW -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE, BUT THE NURSERIES WERE EMINENT DOMAIN.

>> NO, THAT'S CORRECT.

I WAS JUST REMARKING HOW SAD IT IS TO LOSE A GREAT BUSINESS.

>> IT IS SAD.

IT IS SAD.

>> I'M NOT BUYING ANY FISH ONLINE, BY THE WAY [ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU CAN DO IT.

>> YOU CAN DO THAT NOW.

HEY, THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE LIKE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

DEE DEE AND SIDNEY HAVE MICROPHONES AND IF YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE AND WE'D LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION TO THE PANEL, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME.

MAYBE YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND HERE'S ONE IN THE SECOND ROW TO MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS GENTLEMAN OVER HERE.

OH, I THINK IT'S BILL FROM ROCK HILL HAS A COMMENT.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

IT'S GOING TO SAY BOB FROM ROCK HILL.

>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM BILL IN A WHILE.

HEY, BILL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WHEN ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BRING BACK YOUR TURN?

I KNOW IT DISAPPEARED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IT STAYED GONE.

WHEN IS YOUR TURN COMING BACK?

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WE DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE AT A DIFFERENT PAY GRADE AND ABOVE.

I DON'T WANT TO PUNT THAT QUESTION, BUT -- THAT'S NOT OUR DECISION.

>> AND I ENJOY INTERVIEWING THE GUESTS, I WILL SAY THAT.

>> WE HAD SOME GREAT GUESTS AND WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT CALLERS.

IT'S A TOUGH ONE.

MAYBE WE SHOULD GO HYBRID.

HOW ABOUT ANOTHER QUESTION?

OH, THIS IS YALE HOLLANDER.

>> LONG TIME VIEWER, FIRST TIME CALLER.

I DO NEED TO TURN MY VOLUME DOWN?

>> NO, YOU NEED TO TURN YOUR TV OFF.

>> I HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTION FOR YOU.

EARLIER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NORTH-SOUTH METROLINK LINE AND, YOU KNOW, HOW COMPLEX THAT CAN GET AND WHETHER IT'S REALLY NEEDED.

DON'T YOU THINK THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR MASS TRANSIT IN THIS REGION IS MORE TROLLEYS?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S HILARIOUS.

I BELIEVE -- >> I WOULD AGREE EXCEPT WE CAN'T GET THE ONE WE GOT TO WORK, YOU KNOW.

>> MAN, THEY DON'T -- >> YALE, BY THE WAY, DID STAND-UP COMEDY ON THE LOOP TROLLEY.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THE TROLLEY STILL FAILED.

>> RIGHT, HE ACTUALLY CONTINUED TO DO IT WHILE IT WASN'T RUNNING, WHICH IS REALLY AMAZING.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE ONE NIGHT THEY HAD PEOPLE ON THAT TROLLEY.

>> NO, IT WAS GREAT.

>> BY THE WAY, HE PRODUCES THE GASLIGHT THEATER.

>> HOW ABOUT ANOTHER QUESTION?

>> MY NAME IS RICH FROM BELLEVILLE.

QUESTION FOR EACH OF YOU.

IF MAYBE WHEN THEY MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT DONNYBROOK, WHAT ACTORS DO YOU WANT TO PORTRAY YOU?

ALSO, YOU CANNOT SAY YOURSELF OR EACH OTHER, AND SARAH, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO ANSWER FOR WENDY.

>> OH BOY.

>> POOR WENDY.

>> WHAT ACTOR PORTRAYS US?

>> YES.

>> OBVIOUSLY FOR ME GEORGE CLOONEY.

>> I THINK WENDY SHOULD BE PLAYED BY CHRISTINE BARANSKY.

>> MICHAEL JORDAN, THE ACTOR.

NOT THE BASKETBALL PLAYER.

I'M SMARTER THAN EASY.

>> I THINK PRETTY CLEARLY TOM SELLICK.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WHO DO I GO WITH?

>> I DON'T KNOW, I WOULDN'T WISH THAT ON ANYBODY.

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE FINALLY RAY IS SPEECHLESS.

[ LAUGHTER ] AFTER 35 YEARS.

THERE'S A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING.

>> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, IT WAS AL PACINO, BUT NOT ANYMORE.

WELL, ACTUALLY -- >> THINK ABOUT THAT ONE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

>> I'M PATTY FROM KIRKWOOD.

THIS IS FOR ALVIN.

I SEE YOU AT PJ'S GETTING CARRYOUT ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU NEVER EAT IN.

WHY IS THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I COOK MOST OF OUR MEALS, OKAY?

AND I DO.

I JUST LIKE EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S CARRYOUT TIME.

>> WELL, YOU -- >> AND ALSO, DURING THE PANDEMIC, OKAY?

AND YOU COULD NOT, YOU KNOW CARRY OUT FOOD, I WAS LIKE MOST AMERICANS AND FOUND OUT, LIKE, HOW MUCH MONEY I WAS SPENDING ON NOT EATING AT HOME, SO I LEARNED, MAN, YOU GOT TO, LIKE, COOL DOWN ON THEM CARRYOUTS ALL THE TIME.

>> BUT IF YOU COME TO PJ'S SOME TIME, WE'LL TREAT YOU, OKAY?

>> ALL RIGHT.

WAIT, WAIT, NO, NO!

[ LAUGHTER ] NO!

NO!

NO.

THAT'S -- THEY DON'T.

>> THROW IN TEN.

>> THEY DON'T.

>> THAT'S HALL GOLDSMITH SEATED BEHIND HER.

>> OKAY.

JAKE FROM KIRKWOOD.

LET'S KEEP IN MIND, ST. LOUIS NOW HAS A NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM HERE TO FRANKFURT AND IN THE BASEMENT OF THAT HUGE AIRPORT, THERE'S AN EVEN LARGER TRAIN STATION, SO NOW PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS CAN FLY NONSTOP TO EUROPE, GO STRAIGHT DOWN BELOW, PICK UP A TRAIN AND GO ALMOST ANYWHERE IN EUROPE, MUCH MORE CONVENIENT THAN ALMOST ANYTHING WE'VE HAD IN YEARS IN ST. LOUIS.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, JAKE Q GUINN OF GUINN TRAVEL.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING WE HAD A BIG TRAIN STATION HERE IN IN ST. LOUIS.

I WAS LIKE, MAN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> ALSO, HE'S ONE OF NINE HUMAN BEINGS ON THE PLANET TO HAVE VISITED EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY ON PLANET EARTH.

>> WHAT?

WOW.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> HOW MANY PEOPLE?

>> NINE.

>> NINE?

>> WOW.

>> HOW DID THEY COUNT THAT?

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

>> I'M A RETIRED ACCOUNTANT, SO THIS WILL NOT BE A FUN QUESTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] OUR LOCAL ELECTRIC UTILITY, AMEREN, IS GETTING INTO A LOT OF FIGHTS WITH THE EPA AND LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CLOSING POWER PLANTS PRETTY SOON HERE.

WHO DO YOU THINK'S GOING TO GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK ON THIS DEAL?

>> USUALLY IT WOULD BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST SAY SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY FOR ALL THIS STUFF, AND IT'S YOU.

I MEAN, ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE CONSUMERS.

I MEAN, I GUESS IF THERE'S LESS ELECTRICITY, IF THEY'RE PRODUCING LESS AND THEY GOT TO MAKE THEIR MONEY, THEY WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE THEIR MONEY.

KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE PUBLICLY TRADED ENTITIES, SO AS MUCH AS YOU AND I MIGHT NOT LIKE IT, THEY ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STOCK IN THEM.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE STOCK IN THEM.

NO, I'M -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> MAY BE A TOPIC FOR NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM.

GREAT QUESTION.

ANOTHER QUESTION FROM OUR AUDIENCE?

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

>> HI, I'M DONNA FROM FLORISSANT.

BILL, I NOTICED YOU'RE REALLY DRESSED WELL TONIGHT.

AND I WONDERED WHO CHOSE YOUR OUTFIT FOR YOU?

>> WELL, THE GUY AT THE TUXEDO RENTAL PLACE.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T -- I WAS THINKING OF GETTING LIKE A MA GENT THAT COLOR OR TURQUOISE COLOR AND I THOUGHT I'LL GO WITH A CLASSIC BASIC ROYAL BLUE VEST AND A WHITE JACKET.

>> LOOKING GOOD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

>> IN THE WORDS OF DON MARSH, YOU LOOK GOOD.

>> YOU LOOK MARVELOUS, BILL.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE, MAYBE TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS AND I SEE ONE BACK THERE IN THE VIP SEATS.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

WE GOT A BATTERY PROBLEM WITH THE MICROPHONE?

>> HI.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> I'M NEAL FROM WILDWOOD.

>> HEY, NEAL.

>> I'M A FORMER PHARMACIST AND HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE YOUR TAKE ON THE LEGISLATURE PASSING THE IVERMECTIN AND HYDROX CHLOROQUINE ISSUE AND ALSO NOT ALLOWING PHARMACISTS TO QUESTION PHYSICIANS ABOUT THE REASON THAT THEY'RE PRESCRIBING THOSE TWO DRUGS FOR COVID.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION FOR NEXT WEEK.

>> YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT THING ABOUT GIVING HORSE MEDICINE TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE WHERE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY NEIGH AND PEOPLE WENT NEIGH!

>> OUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM EVE VI IN THE FRONT ROW.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MY GRANDFATHER, BILL McCLELLAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO SINCE WE'RE ON LIVE TV, THERE'S LIKE ONE ANSWER FOR THIS.

OKAY.

CAN YOU TAKE ME TO CROWN CANDY AND I CAN GET THREE PIG FIGURINES?

[ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] >> GREAT QUESTION, EVIE.

THAT'S A YES.

>> THAT'S A YES.

WE'LL ALL GO.

>> I'M ATRADE THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE -- AFRAID THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR MAKING DONNYBASH 2022 OUR BEST YET.

>> THANK YOU!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> STAY TUNED BECAUSE CHANNEL 9 WILL AIR THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND THAT'S NEXT ON NINE PBS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

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