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

>> I THINK THE WEATHER GOT TO 40 DEGREES TODAY, KIND OF A HEATWAVE HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

WE'LL TAKE IT.

WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF DONNYBROOK.

GOOD.. WE HAVE LOTS TO DISCUSS ON THIS EDITION.

.. JUMP INTO IT.

SHE'S WENDY WIESE, THE MEDIA VETERAN.

.. ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH.

SARAH FENSKE FROM ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE, AND LAST WEEK'S PERSON, WHO DID A TOO GOOD JOB, ALVIN REID.

>>..

INTRODUCING US IN THE RIGHT ORDER BECAUSE I BLEW THAT SKY HIGH LAST WEEK.

ANYWAY, THE CAMERA PEOPLE WERE OFF.

ON US.

>> YOU JUST TOOK OVER.

>> AND HE SAID THIS WILL NOT STAND.

CH.. MADE.

I SPOKE TO BARBARA WASHINGTON, OUR DEAR FRIEND.

SHE SAID TELL OUR SWEETHEART CHARLIE BRENNAN, AND I SAID I NEVER MET SWEETHEART CHARLIE BRENNAN.

>..

THANKS FOR STANDING UP FOR ME.

BARBARA WASHINGTON, SHE'S A FORCE FOR SURE.

ALVIN I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT GOVERNOR MIKE KEY.

KEHOE.

HE'S NO LONGER THE GOVERNOR ELECT, HE'S THE NEW GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

HE WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE.

HE SAID HE'S GOING TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, HE'S GOING AFTER PEOPLE WITH TASK FORCES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, AND THE BIG SUGGESTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS HE WANTS TO TAKE OVER THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE .. OF ST. LOUIS WHICH IN 2013 WENT BACK FROM STATE CONTROL TO CITY CONTROL.

.. ACTUALLY DOWN IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

LAST YEAR 160 -- ACT.. YEARS AGO 160 AND LAST YEAR WAS DOWN TO 150.

SO IS THIS A TIME FOR THE STATE TO BUTT IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE STATE .. REALLY WANT CONTROL OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY JUST WANT TO CAUSE HAVOC IN ST. LOUIS.

TH.. PRETEND TO LIKE US AND THIS IS MORE OF THE SAME.

AS FOR GOVERNOR KEHOE.

HE ON MONDAY HE ORDERED THE FLAG TO BE RAIDED BUT HE SAID THEY WILL RAISE IT UP FOR THE EXCITEMENT OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

HE IS FO.. HAVE NOTHING TO DO FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE STATE OR THE EUN I DON'T KNOW, FOR THAT MATTER.

IT'S BLUSTER AND NONSENSE .. SOMEBODY PLEASE STAND UP TO HIM IN THE COUNCIL.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO STATE CONTROL.

THEY LOOK AT THE POLITICIANS THAT ARE LEADING THE CITY RIGHT NOW, AND JONES AND GREEN IN PARTICULAR AND THEY DON'T REALLY TRUST THEM.

AT LEAST WITH THE POLICE -- IT USED TO BE A POLICE COMMISSIONER'S BOARD AND THAT WAS SOMETHING.

>> THEY MIGHT NO..

I'M NOT PRIVY TO THEIR PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS BUT I THINK ST. LOUIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES GENERATED AND TOURISM.

AND I THINK THEY DO HAVE -- THEY DO HAVE A HORSE IN THIS RACE, IF YOU WILL, THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> IT DOESN'T REALLY.

I'M SORRY, BUT -- >> I GET IT.

I GET IT.

>> THIS IS JUST SOME MORE JEFFERSON CITY NONSENSE.

>> WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, ANCIENT HISTORY, 1988, WE HAD 140 HOMICIDE AND THE POPULATION WAS 425,000.

THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEM.

MURDERS WENT DOWN.

I CREDIT THEM MURDERS WENT DOWN BUT SHOOTINGS WENT UP.

674 SHOOTINGS.

WHICH TOO MANY.

I WAS IN FOLK, POPULATION 1.65 MILLION AND THEY HAD FEWER HOMICIDES THAN WE DID.

>> ST. LOUIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD LESS PEOPLE GET MURDERED AND PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

>> TEN LIVES SAVED.

>> BOSTON HAD 24.

>> BOSTON IS DOUBLE THE POPULATION.

>> I GUESS THAT.

>> TEN LIVES SAVED, THAT IS GREAT.

BUT STILL IT'S.. IS NOT DANCING IN THE STREETS.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY IN A POSITIVE TRAJECTORY NOW IN ST. LOUIS.

YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT THE ONE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE THAT'S RUN BY THE STATE.

THAT'S THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY.

ACROSS THE NATION WE ARE SEEING DROPS IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

ST. LOUIS MIRRORS THAT, THANK GOD AND THAT ISN'T THE CASE FOR KANSAS CITY.

IF THE TRENDS WERE GOING THE WRONG WAY OR SOMETHING HAPPENED WHERE THE MAYOR WASN'T GIVING THE POLICE WHEN THEY NEED OTHER THAN SOMETHING THEY WANT.

SHE HIRED A GOOD CHIEF.

SHE'S GIVEN HIM A LONG ROPE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO HERE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A CRAZY TIME FOR IT TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA.

>> HOWEVER, THE SALARIES FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS IS TOO LOW AND THAT'S WHY SOME OF EMPATHY WANT STATE CONTROL.

THERE ARE TWO FEW.

THEY WENT FROM 1300 TO 900 AND NOW THEY WANT MORE.

I THINK IF YOU INCREASE THE .. YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF INCREASING THE ROLES OF THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>&g.. MAKING IT EASIER TO BE A POL..

OFFICER THAN IT IS TO BE A CRIMINAL IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, I THINK THAT RESONATES WITH SOME PEOPLE.

>> WITH RESONATES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO GET HIM RE-ELECTED BUT IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE THEIR INTEREST AT HEART.

>> SARAH, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM PLAGUING THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND THIS IS A MEETING YESTERDAY TAKING A LOOK AT SNOW REMOVAL IN THE LAST TEN, ELEVEN DAYS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

NINE, TEN DAYS AFTER THE BIG SNOWSTORM, SIDE STRESS STILL WEREN'T CLOUD.

THEY SAID EVEN THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS WERE NOT PLOWED AND RESIDENTS OF COMPLAINING BECAUSE THE SALT HASN'T BEEN PUT DOWN, THEY CAN'T GET MAIL, THEIR TRASH HASN'T BEEN PICKED IN TWO WEEKS.

MAYOR JONES.

>> THERE.. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS IT, I'M DONE.

THE CITY DWELLERS AND I HAVE PUT UP WITH A FAIR AMOUNT LIVING IN THE CITY.

WE LIKE THE CULTURE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW VOTED FOR THE MAYOR BUT THEY ARE IN A SALTY MOOD RIGHT NOW.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY HANG ON TO THE ANGER AS THE SNOW MELTS.

BUT IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS WE DON'T PLOW THE SIDE STREETS.

PEOPLE ACCEPT THAT.

THEY KNOW WE ARE IN FOR A HASSLE WHEN THERE'S A SNOWSTORM.

WHAT PEOPLE DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT THE CITY WOULD DO SUCH A TERRIBLE JOB WITH THE SECONDARIES.

THESE AR..

THEY WILL PLOW.

AND A FULL WEEK AFTER THE STORM THEY HADN'T GOTTEN TO MANY OF THEM IN NEIGHBORHOODS I FREQUENT.

AND ..

THEY WEREN'T SALTED, THEY TURNED INTO ICE SKATING RINKS.

YOU SEE SEE A MAN SKATING DOWN HIS STREETS IN THE CENTRAL WEST END.

AND AT THIS HEARING YESTERDAY I THINK SO MUCH OF THE ANGER INTENDED UP BEING INTENSIFIED BECAUSE THE STREETS DIRECTOR WAS SORT OF SPEAKING CALMER, YEAH, WE HAD 12 HOUR SHIFTS AND NOW WE ARE BACK TO 8 HOUR SHIFTS.

WE ARE DOING IT ON A PER REQUEST BASIS WHEN PEOPLE PUT IN A TICKET.

LISTEN, I HAVE PUT IN TICKETS, GET THIS SHEET OF ICE THAT IS THE ENTIRE ROAD HEADING INTO MY KIDS' SCHOOL AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT STREET.

PEOPLE ARE FED UP.

>> 1979 IN CHICAGO THE MAYOR, THERE WAS A HUGE SNOWSTORM IN JANUARY AND HE DIDN'T HANDLE IT VERY WELL.

HE LOST JANE BURN IN THE PRIMARY.

>.. AT LEAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRIEST ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN IN HER CORNER FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

YOU ARE RIGHT, IT DOESN'T BODE WELL.

>> DON'T..

WEATHER EVENT.

>> THERE ARE BAD.

THERE ARE STRETCHES OF LINDBERG THAT ARE LIKE, OH, MY.

>> THAT'S A SEPARATE PROBLEM.

WE SPENT TIME COVERING THIS AT ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE, THEY ARE UNDER FUNDED AND THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS WELL.

BUT NOT TO GET TO THE SECONDARY STREET AFTER A FULL WEEK AND TO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR IT.

>> I TALKED TO A MAN WHO SAID THE STREETS IN COLUMBIA ARE JUST GREAT BUT THE LOCAL ONES, AS WELL AS THE STATE.

>> IT SNOWED THERE BUT I THINK THEY JUST GOT SNOW.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY GOT THAT SNOW-ICE.

>>.. AND FAR BE IT FOR ME -- I DON'T WANT TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR THIS MAYOR OR ANY ADMINISTRATION BUT I WILL HARKEN BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS ONCE AGAIN WHEN I WAS FIRST ON KMOX I WAS CO-HOSTING A SHOW AND OUR GUEST WAS THE MAYOR.

AND THE STREETS WEREN'T PLOWED.

I WAS ASKING WHY DON'T YOU PLOW THE STREETS?

HE SAID WE REALLY DON'T DO THAT LIKE YOU DO IN NEW ENGLAND, CHARLIE.

AND TO ME THAT'S J.. ST. LOUIS WAY.

>> I..

MOVED BACK.

I HAD .. AND A WEEK LATER I SAID YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR CALLEDDER PERSON AND SAY THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

HE TOLD ME THAT STORY, NO, THEY DON'T PLOW THE STREETS.

>> EXACTLY LIKE WE WERE SAYING LAST WEEK.

IT'S THE CUMULATIVE ..

IT'S THE DRIP, DRIP, DRIP OF ISSUES BECAUSE BACK HAD YOU HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH ME YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING TODAY LIVING IN THE CITY AND DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO STAY IN THE CITY.

>> IT WAS AWKWARD LAST NIGHT.

I TRIED TO GO OUT FOR DINNER ON THE HILL AND ON EDWARDS STREET IT WAS NOT ONLY NOT PLOWED BUT IT WAS LIKE A ONE-LANE ROAD.

THERE WERE TIRE TRACKS HERE AND TIRE TRACKS HERE AND I JUST HAD TO KEEP GOING.

COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PARK.

>> THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME EITHER THAT THE HILL HAS BEEN COVERED WITH ICE.

HEY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR EXCELLENT COLUMN ON SUNDAY, BILL.

YOU TOOK A LOOK AT MATT McCULLOCH WHO USED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER BUT IN 2023 HE WENT TO A TRUNK OR TREAT PARTY PUT ON BY A LOCAL PTO IN KIRKWOOD.

HE WAS AT THE NORTH KIRKWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HE REALLY WENT OFF THE DEEP END.

HE SAID TO THE CROWD, YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DIE, HE TOOK HIS 9-MILLIMETER PIVOTAL AND FIRED BULLETS INTO THE AIR.

THANKFULLYFS TACKLED BY PARENTS BUT THEN A MONTH LATER A GRAND JURY INDICTED HIM ON 15 FELONY COUNTS.

ON THIS PAST WEEK HE DECIDED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO 8 FELONIES, AND NOW JUDGE ALLEN ROBATO WILL DECIDE HIS FATE ON MARCH 14th.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN?

>> IT'S A VERY INTERESTING SITUATION IN THAT NORMALLY WHEN THERE'S A CELEBRITY OR THE SON OF A CELEBRITY BECAUSE, OF COURSE, MATTHEW IS BOB McCULLOCH'S SON AND BOB WAS THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FOR 27 YEARS AND A VERY LAW AND ORDER TYPE GUY, USUALLY WHEN THE CELEBRITY OR CHILD OF A CELEBRITY GETS IN TROUBLE THE JUDGE CAN LOOK AT ONE OF TWO THINGS.

WELL, WHAT HAP.. NONCELEBRITY IN THIS INSTANCE?

LIKE IF IT'S A DUI OR IF IT'S A DRUG CHARGE.

BUT IN THIS INSTANCE I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER PRECEDENT.

IT'S NOT LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SHOT UP THE GRADE SCHOOL PARTY.

YOU GO, WOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ON THIS.

AND MATTHEW McCULLOCH TOOK A BLIND PLEA, THAT IS THERE WAS NO DEAL ON THE TABLE.

THE ONLY DEAL WAS THEY WERE DROPPING THE ARMED CRIMINAL ACTION CHARGES, BUT HE STILL FACED ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD AND UNLAWFUL USE OF A WEAPON AND MAKING A TERRORIST THEFT.

.. AND THE STATE RECOMMENDED THREE YEARS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF A MODEST AMOUNT, ESPECIALLY THERE WAS NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN WESLEY BELL AND BOB McCULLOCH, AND I THINK THE JUDGE WILL, AT THE VERY LEAST, GIVE HIM THREE YEARS.

KNOW THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO THINK OF PUBLIC REACTION BUT I DON'T THINK THE JUDGE CAN GIVE HIM MUCH OF A BREAK BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE IRATE, AND THIS WAS AROUND CHILDREN.

I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY REAL BREAK GIVEN.

I WILL THINK SHE WOULD GIVE HIM AT LEAST THREE YEARS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE.

>> TO ME THREE YEARS FEELS LIKE A DECENT PUNISHMENT HERE.

LIKE HE'S GOING TO BE DOING SOME JAIL TIME, HE WILL HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH HIS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHICH IS SEEMS CLEAR THERE ARE IN THIS CASE, BUT I WOULD WISH WE COULD EXTEND THE SAMBURS IF SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE THE FAMILY CONNECTIONS HE HAS.

I THINK YOU POINTED OUT BOB McCULLOCH WAS NOT A GUY WHO WOULD HAVE DONE THAT HIMSELF.

AND I HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING HE CAN LEARN FROM.

I KNOW HE'S OUT OF OFFICE BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS BECAUSE OF IT.

SOCIETY.

>..

I HATE TO GENERALIZE OR PAINT WITH THAT BROAD A BRUSH.

I'M SURE THAT HE TOOK A LOT OF THESE THINGS INTO ACCOUNT OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT HE WAS IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, BILL, YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DIE, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT PARENTS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ERASING FROM THOSE LITTLE MEMORIES.

SO T.. A LITTLE LENIENT.

>> OH, AND WHAT -- >> TO GET THAT WORK DONE.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY HAD TO MAKE A PLEA BECAUSE YOU CANNOT JUST HAVE YOUR DEFEND WITH CHILDREN TESTIFYING AND ARE YOU STILL TERRIFIED TODAY?

YES, SIR, YES, MA'AM.

SO HE HAD TO PLEAD TO IT.

THIS IS AWFUL.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT .. >> AS THE RESIDENT HERE, WE DON'T LIKE GUNS, WE DON'T LIKE SHOOTING, OKAY?

WE'VE HAD OUR FILL OF IT.

WHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD CAN DISCUSS BIPOLAR AND ALL OF THAT, COME ON, YOU ARE FIRING A GUN WITH LITTLE KIDS AROUND AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH GUNS, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH VIOLENCE IN KIRKWOOD.

THREE YEARS, FINE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

BECAUSE I FEAR STILL THAT HE WILL NOT DO A DAY IN JAIL, AND UNTIL HE IS SENTENCED TO JILL TIME, I WON'T -- JAIL TIME, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IT WILL .. TIME, I THINK IT WILL BE HARD TIME.

>> DOES THREE YEARS MEAN THREE YEARS OR DOES IT MEAN YOU .. OUT IN A YEAR.

>> IF HE WAS SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS AND DID A YEAR AND A HALF, I WANT HIM -- I DON'T WANT TO SOUND MEAN SPIRITED HERE BUT I WANT HIM TO GO TO JAIL.

>> OKAY.

WENDY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT TOBACCO SALES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

TH.. MADE IT POSSIBLE THAT IF YOU OWN A BUSINESS AND YOU HAVE BEEN SELLING TOBACCO WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT BUT IF YOU SELL YOUR BUSINESS TO ANOTHER PROPRIETOR, THEY ALSO CANCEL TOBACCO WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A SCHOOL.

ALMOST EVERY CITY AROUND THE COUNTRY, EACH IN CHICAGO YOU CAN'T SELL WITHIN 500 FEET BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY IT'S KIND OF STANDARD, NO TOBACCO SALES WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A SCHOOL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SHOULD BUSINESSES BUYING INTO THE GRANDFATHER CLAUSE BE EXEMPT FROM THE RULES?

>> I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE.

I STOPPED SMOKING 22 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS TOUGH, BUT I'M GLAD I DID IT.

18, WANTING TO LOOK SOPHISTICATED, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE PACKAGE, IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY TO CONVENIENCE STORES.

IT WAS MORE ABOUT THE MAGA..

I THOUGHT THE OLD JOE CAMEL THING WAS A LITTLE OVERDONE BUT IT'S THE MOVIE STARS, IT'S THE TELEVISION STARS, IT'S NOT PROXIMITY.

AND THEY ARE PRETTY EASY TO FIND THESE DAYS.

IT'S A HORRIBL..

I WISH I HAD NEVER STARTED.

BUT HUMAN BEINGS OR HUMAN BEINGS AND THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BECAUSE, OH, MY -- YOU KNOW, WE GET OUR TAPE MEASURE OUT AND START MEASURING.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT IT.. >> I DISAGREE.

I THINK ANY EFFORT YOU CAN TAKE TO KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM BEGINNING TO SMOKE AND VAPE AND PUTS TOBACCO IN THEIR MOUTH SHOULD BE DONE.

I THINK 1,000 FEET IS REASONABLE.

I DO.. >> I UNDERSTAND THE CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS, THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF TOBACCO AND THEY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF ALCOHOL AND SUDDENLY WE ARE BEING TOLD YOU SHOULDN'T DRINK ANY ALCOHOL.

WE'VE GONE TO A COUPLE DRINKS A DAY IS GOOD FOR YOU TO NOW NONE, AND THEN THE THIRD ITEM IS SNACK FOOD.

SO, I MEAN -- >> THEY MIGHT JUST HAVE A CARD TABLE WHERE THEY USED TO HAVE A STORE THEY SHOULD HAVE A CARD TABLE SET UP IN THE LOT.

>> YEAH.

SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO ALLOW THEM TO MAKE A LIVING.

>> BILL, YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT LIKE ALL THIGHS ADVISES ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US BUT AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS THE THING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY WILL ALWAYS FIND A NEW ADVICE.

>> SO TRUE.

>> A HUMAN WANTS TO GET.. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ALREADY MOVED ON TO VAPING AND THIS IS ALL OVER ALL THESE SCHOOLS AND NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO STOP THEM FROM DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO SNEAK THAN A CIGARETTE.

THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE MY AGE, NOT THE CURRENT 17 YEAR OLDS.

.. FORMER SMOKERS, BUT I LOOK AT THE VAPING, AND I THINK THIS IS -- I THINK EVENTUALLY THIS WILL HAVE HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS THAT WILL MAKE THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH LOOK ALMOST MINIMAL.

>.. >> REALLY?

>&g..

THE CHEMICALS.

>> I DON'T DRINK IT AND I DON'T SMOKE BUT THAT'S THE ONE I LOOK AT.

THEY OUGHT NOT HAVE THAT WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF A SCHOOL TOO.

>> THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO ADVISES YOU DON'T LIKE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I WANT TO G.. ON A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE ST. LOUIS'S GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE -- NOT REPLACE THE MAYOR BUT ADD A CITY MANAGER POSITION, SOMEONE WHO IS HIRED AS STAFF AND WILL OVERSEE THE MECHANICS OF RUNNING A GOVERNMENT AS OPPOSED OF HAVING A POLITICIAN THAT'S GOOD AT GETTING VOTES OF TRYING TO RUN THE BUILDING DIVISION AND PICK UP THE TRASH AND OTHER ASSORTED MUNICIPAL ACTIVITIES.

WHAT.. >> I APPRECIATE THIS PR.. ON THE TABLE.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE FED UP ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES IN ST. LOUIS AND LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER.

THE ALDERWOMAN IS A SMART PE.. AND I APPRECIATE SHE'S PUTTING IT OUT TO THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE THIS AS A PANACEA THAT OTHER PEOPLE SEE IT.

I HAVE COVERED CITIES WH.. HAVE MANAGERS AND THEY HAVE PROBLEMS JUST AS DO CITIES WITHOUT THEM.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE PERSON DOING IT.

TO ME I DON'T SEE IT AS THE GAME CHANGER A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK.

>> I READ THIS, AND WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER IN KIRKWOOD AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE READ IS CITY MANAGERS RUN INTO PROBLEMS WHERE THERE'S BUDGET PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT BECOMES POLITICAL BECAUSE THEY KIND OF HAVE THE, NO, YOU JUST CAN'T DO THIS AND THEY GIVE A FIDUCIARY REASON AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

WELL, IF THAT'S ALL YOU DO, INSTEAD OF SAYING, LIKE YOU SAID -- I'M NO T SAYING EVERY COMMUNITY FLUSH WITH CASH IS DOING WELL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S MORE OF THE CASE THE CITY MANAGER IS MORE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THIS AT THE EXPENSE OF THAT AS OPPOSED TO WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

ALL OF T..

IF WE HAD A CITY MANAGER IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS HE WOULD SPEND THE FIRST YEAR SAYING ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE NEVER, EVER GOING TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHO SUPPORTS HIM NORTH, SOUTH, EAST OR WEST.

HE OR SHE WOULD BE UNDER FIRE IMMEDIATELY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE KIND OF A GENERIC JOB.

GENERIC.

>>.. >.. DIRECTOR.

>&g.. >.. PROFESSIONAL AND NOT GOING TO HAVE POLITICS AND IT'S ANYTHING BUT.

BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THE CITY MANAGERS IN THE SMALLER TOWNS WHEN I WAS REPORTING AS LIKE THE BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THEY WERE .. TO CALL, THEY KNEW WHICH STREETS WERE THE WORST.

>> TO ME IT MAKES SENSE IN A SMALL TOWN WHERE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A FULL-TIME MAYOR.

HE'S COM.. WEEK BEING PAID TO GO TO THE MEETINGS.

AND HERE JONES HAS A FULL-TIME CHIEF OF STAFF AND A DIRECTOR.

THERE'S A GIANT APPARATUS NOW.

IT'S NOT THE MAYOR EVEN DOING THE DAY-TO-DAY THE WAY IT'S SET UP CURRENTLY.

>>.. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE STORY TONY'S RESTAURANT THAT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS 80 YEARS, IT WAS ON THE MAP BEFORE THE ARCH, PRESIDENTS HAVE KIND DID, AND THE ROLLING STONES, FRANK SINATRA, IT GOES ON AND ON, BUT THE THEY DECIDED TO CLOSE ON THE 15th OF FEBRUARY SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE ONE LAST VALENTINE'S DAY THERE.

ANY ANALYSIS?

>> GOSH, NO.

IT IS JUST THE REALITY OF THE WORLD, YOU KNOW.

IT'S TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON AND I THINK THEY HAVE HAD A GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS RUN.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES IT'S JUST PERCEPTION.

WHEN VINCE PALMERITO PASSES ON AND GOES TO THE FIVE STAR RESTAURANT IN THE SKY, WEATHER THEY SKIP A BEAT, THE PERCEPTION IS GOING TO BE IT'S NOT THE SAME.

AND I THINK EVENTUALLY THAT WITH THE INCREDIBLE, YOU KNOW, THE PRICES INVOLVED, THAT'S HOW THEY MADE -- YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SUCH A REPUTATION.

AS YOU SAID, THEY HAD A GLOBAL REPUTATION.

BUT .. CHANGE, THE CULTURE HAS CHANGED, AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE HAD THEM FOR THIS TIME.

>> I'M GLAD I GOT TO GO.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I MOURN THE LOSS OF KEEMO'S.

>> ON GRAND, SURE.

>> AND I WAS AT TONY'S AS RECENTLY AS DECEMBER 28th.

THE HALIBUT WAS FANTASTIC AND THE FOOD AND THE CROWD WAS GOOD.

I EXPECT HE WAS GIVEN A GOOD DEAL.

BUT I ALSO KNOW IN THAT SENTEEN TOWN ON THE FOURTH FLOOR THERE'S A TERRIFIC CAFETERIA LIKE ON A CRUISE SHIP.

SO IF YOU ARE THERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO A RESTAURANT OR ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO THE BUILDING CAFETERIA?

I DON'T THINK THAT HELPED THEM.

>> WELL, WE DON'T HAVE EXPENSE ACCOUNTS LIKE WE DID BACK IN THE DAY EITHER >> THE CAPITOL GRILL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEM, I'VE BEEN THERE ONCE AND IT'S A BOOMING PLACE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> WE .. FAMILY, JAMES IN PARTICULAR.

EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 15th TO GO TO THE LEGENDARY TONY'S RESTAURANT.

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

I'M SAD THE SOUTH SIDE HAS GOTTEN SO SOFT.

ICE, SNOWY SIDE STREETS ARE A WAY OF LIFE AT TIMES IN THE WINTER, ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

YOU DEAL WITH IT AND, YES, YOU DIG YOUR CAR OUT.

THAT'S FROM SOUTH CITY SARAH.

AND ALSO HEARD FROM LARRY THAT WROTE IF MAYOR JONES HAS BEEN AWAY FROM HER JOB FOR 163 DAYS, HOW HAVE HER TRAVELS BENEFITED THE CITY?

THANKS, LARRY.

YOU CAN WRITE US, OR EMAIL US AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA MEDIA.

AND LISTEN TO US LIKE I DID LAST WEEK IN ARIZONA ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE.

STAY TUNED FOR THE YouTube CHANNEL, RATHER THE NINE PBS YouTube CHANNEL, WE CALL THIS PROGRAM LAST CALL AND THIS WEEK WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE CHANGES IN ILLINOIS DRIVING RULES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO JINGLE IN O'FALLON, MISSOURI?

AMONG OUR TOPICS ON LAST C.. THAT'S ON THE NINE PBS YouTube CHANNEL.

TH.. FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

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