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

>> WELL THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS DEFINITELY FRIGHTFUL.

WE HAVE A LITT.. OUR WAY TOMORROW.

I HOPE EVERYBODY IS SAFE.

I HOPE EVERYBODY IS WARM.

TAKE IT EASY WHILE DRIVING, WHICH PEOPLE AREN'T DOING, WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS HERE SHORTLY.

JOINING US ON DONNYBROOK TODAY IS ALVIN REID SITTING IN FOR CHARLIE BRENNAN.

I GUESS YOU FIGURED THAT OUT ALREADY.

.. ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

WENDY WIESE, MEDIA VETERAN.

JOE HOLLEMAN ALSO FROM THE POST DISPATCH.

AND SARAH FENSKE IN MY CHAIR TODAY FROM ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE.

WELL, I HAVE LIVED ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

ONE OF MY STOP.. MICHIGAN.

I HA..

ANYTHING LIKE THE LAST THREE DAYS IN ST. LOUIS.

IT SNOWED.

IT ICED.

IT GOT COLD.

BUT WHY ON EARTH ARE WE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE WEATHER THREE DAYS AFTER ALL THIS HAD BEBEGAN?

SARAH, I WILL .. >> YEAH.

I ..

THIS.

AT THE AIRPORT, MORE IN OTHER PLACES BUT THAT IS NOT A LOT OF SNOW.

THE FACT WE AR..

THE FACT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THEIR CARS INTO SNOW BANKS AND CAN'T GET THEM OUT.

SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE.

AS A CITY RESIDENT WE FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN.

IT'S..

SNOWSTORMS.

YOU ..

DOING ITS WORK AFTER A FEW DAYS TIME.

WHAT SEE.. DENOMINATOR AND A LOT OF THESE BIGGER PROBLEMS I HAVE HEARD ABOUT IS THESE ARE ROADS THAT THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS TASKED WITH DEALING WITH.

THERE'S A LOT OF PRO.. HRPS AND EXITS, AND THAT'S MO DOT'S PROBLEM.

I THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STATE AGENCY.

>> I THINK IT'S GLOBAL WARMING.

WE ARE NOT USED TO ANY STORMS ANYMORE.

IT'S.. ON HOMELESSNESS.

GLOBAL WARMING.

IT WILL NEVER GET COLD.

WHEN IT DOES GET COLD SUDDENLY PEOPLE CAN'T DRIVE.

THERE'S ANOTHER HOMELESS CRISIS.

>> THAT'S WHY GLOBAL WARMING IS SUCH AN INACCURATE -- IT'S REALLY KIND OF LACKING BECAUSE GLOBAL WARMING ACTUALLY ALSO DOES HAVE TO DO WITH COLD WEATHER, TOO.

WE GET LULLED .. SECURITY.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S STILL THAT SORT OF POST PANDEMIC.

WE TALK SO MANY TIMES ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DON'T GET THROUGH OFFICES AS QUICKLY AS THEY SHOULD IN JEFFERSON CITY.

THIS IS THE SAME THING.

THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THAT.

IT'S POST PANDEMIC GETTING BACK UP TO THOSE NUMBERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER WILL, PEOPLE NOT BEING TRAINED.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S SO UNUSUAL TO ME, AND YOU CAN SEND YOUR HATE MAIL TO CHANNEL 9, BUT IT SNOWED.

I CAN'T COME TO WORK THING I..

I KNOW IT MAKES ME SOUND LIKE GET OFF MY LAWN, LADY.

IT WAS JUST A GIVEN THAT WHEN WE WERE ALL YOUNGER, WHEN IT SNOWED, YOU JUST LEFT THE HOUSE EARLIER.

I THIN.. MENTALITY THAT I CAN'T DRIVE, I CAN'T DO THIS.

I CAN'T MAKE IT INTO MY SHIFT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE REALLY VALID EXCUSES IF YOU CAN'T DIG YOUR CAR OUT IF YOU ARE ON A CITY STREET.

BUT IT..

SEEM LIKE A GENERATIONAL SWITCH.

>> I WONDER HOW MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO WITH -- I HAVE NOT LEFT THE CITY SINCE IT HAS SNOWED.

THE CITY DOES THE SAME JOB IT ALWAYS DOES.

WE JUST GET BIGGER STREETS CLEARED AND SIDE STREETS ARE ON YOUR OWN.

THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.

YOU CAN LIKE IT OR YOU CAN HATE IT.

SIDE STREET OR A PLOWED SIDE STREET WITH FOUR-FOOT DRIFTS.

TO ME, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE, THOUGH I MUST SAY THAT EVERYBODY I KNOW WHO WAS DRIVING IN THE COUNTY COMPLAINED LIKE THEY NEVER DID BEFORE.

ONLY FROM THAT.

BUT I WONDER HOW MUCH OF.. THAT MAYBE SUBCONSCIOUSABLY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES REALIZE PEOPLE CAN JUST WORK AT HOME WHICH 20 YEARS AGO WAS NOT A THING.

..

THERE WILL BE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WORKING AT HOME.

>> THERE'S THE SENSE THAT THIS WILL MELT SOON.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO .. ON THE GROUND FOREVER.

>> WHICH IS USUALLY ST. LOUIS SNOW.

.. TWO DAYS.

I THINK YOU MAKE A REALLY .. POINT BUT I WILL SAY AS SOMEBODY WITH YOUNG KIDS THIS HAS BEEN SO FRUSTRATING.

I HAVE.. FRIENDS SAY TO ME I FEEL LIKE I'M BACK IN THE PANDEMIC.

PARENTS ARE FORCED TO DO ONLINE SCHOOLING WITH THEIR KIDS ON ZOOM WHICH WE ALL KNOW DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE THE SIX INCHES OF SNOW IS TOO MUCH TO HANDLE.

EVERYBODY THINKS WE CAN WORK FROM HOME.

IT DOES NOT WORK TO WORK FROM HOME WHEN YOU ARE A PARENT.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE ERA THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE FOUND A WAY TO DIG OUT, GET THE KIDS OUT OF OUR HAIR, AT LEAST.

[LAUGHTER].

>> BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHE.. WANT TO POINT OUT WE HAVE NEW ART FROM JANE MCCLAIRN.

YOU CAN FINDER MORE OF HER WORK AND CONNECT WITH HER ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT WE ARE -- I WON'T SAY POWER MAD, POWER HUNGRY BUT VERY POWERFUL.

THEY WAN.. ST. LOUIS COUNTY TO GIVE THEM A AUTHORITY TO ON A FIVE-PERSON VOTE THROW COUNTY EXECUTIVE OUT, THROW DEPARTMENTS OUT.

WE KNOW BETTER.

WE REPRESENT THE COUNTY.

BILL, WHERE ARE WE AT ON THIS ONE?

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

FIRST THEY ARE GETTI.. KING AND MARIE ANTOIN AN AN TBA TWA ANT WI TH A MARIE.

THE POWER THEY HAVE TO SHOOT DEPARTMENT HEADS IS BIZARRE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN BEGIN TO SEE WE WANT YOU TO TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL.

>> IS IT PAGE DERANGEMENT SYNDROME?

THAT'S WHAT TH..

THEY DISLIKE HIM SO MUCH.

I KEEP THINKING OF STEVE SANGER.

HERE COMES SAM PAGE.

SAM PAGE IS JUST THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING TO THE NEWS BUSINESS TRULY, BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE TRANSPARENCY ALL THE WAY, NEW AND GENTLER KINDLER WHATEVER ERA, AND I THINK THE DYSFUNCTION HAS NEVER BEEN MORE SO.

>> PEOPLE KIND OF WENT TO JAIL.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

HE STEPPED INTO STEVE SANGER'S SHOES.

..

IN MOSCOW THAT HAVE PICTURES OF LESS THALENNON ON IT.

>> AS FAR AS A POWER GRAB, THAT'S A CONCERN.

BUT I THINK WHAT THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S -- I WAS GOING TO SAY DISSATISFACTION BUT IT'S A DISLIKE, BASIC DISLIKE FOR SAM PAGE.

THAT'S WHAT'S PUSHED..

LEGISLATION.

THOUGH I AGREE.. WHAT HAPPENS?

WE GET RID OF ..

IT'S THE THIRD ASSISTANT STREET DIRECTOR.

I GET ..

THIS SPEAKS TO IS NOT SO MUCH A POWER MAD COUNCIL.

AS A REALLY ANGRY COUNCIL FOR THE LONGEST TIME SAM PAGE CONTROLLED THE COUNCIL, AND NOW HE DOESN'T, AND CLEARLY HE MADE NO EFFORTS TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY, AND NOW THAT'S COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM BECAUSE OF ELECTIONS WHICH WE KNOW HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

>>.. COUNTY COUNCIL ACTUALLY WANT THIS POWER AND THAT THE PEOPLE -- THEY THINK THE PEOPLE WOULD APPROVE THIS?

ARE THEY JUST MAKING THIS BROAD GESTURE?

>> I THINK..

RID OF SAM PAGE DO I THINK THEY WANT IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CLEAN HOUSE?

>> THEY .. RECORD ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL LIKE DEPARTMENT HEADS DON'T GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE, AND I FEEL LIKE PAGE IS TELLING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS NOT TO COOPERATE WITH THEM.

ATTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SAY YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT US, TOO, AND YOU CAN'T ANSWER TO ONE PERSON THAT'S KIND OF AN ITEM WITH ONE COUNTY SUPPORTER.

>&g..

THEY..

THERE, BECAUSE THEY ALSO BLAME SAM PAGE FOR THE FACT THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE EITHER NOT SHOWN UP OR BEEN SARCASTIC AND FLIPPANT IN RESPONSIVE TO THE COUNCIL.

THE COUNTY DOE.. COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT DEMAND ANSWERS.

>.. >> IT'S ALL FOCUSED ON SAM PAGE.

>> IT'S LIKE A BAD MARRIAGE.

IF THEY COULD HAVE AN EXORCIST OR SOMEBODY GO INTO THE COUNTY COUNCIL, I THINK THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> ONCE AGAIN THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS ONLY BEING SHORTSIGHTED -- LET'S SAY SAM DECIDED HE WASN'T GOING TO RUN, AND NOW YOU HAD THIS POWER, ALL RIGHT, I'M A DEPARTMENT HEAD, AND I WAS APPOINTED OR GOT THE JOB, YOU KNOW, BY THIS GUY.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S NOT THERE OR SHE'S NOT THERE ANYMORE.

.. COUNCIL AND MAYBE I WANT TO RUN.

WELL, THIS DEPARTMENT HEAD IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE OTHER PERSON, SO THEY HAVE GOT TO GO.

NOT THAT THEY HAVE DONE ANYTHING WRONG BUT HE OR SHE WAS A SUPPORTER OF THE PERSON THAT I'M TRYING TO REPLACE, AND THAT COULD GET OUT OF CONTROL REALLY, REALLY FAST, I THINK.

NOW, ONE THING WE KNEW WAS OUT OF CONTROL IS TO SEE THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE WHILE THE FORMER PROSECUTOR WAS THERE GF GABE GORE.

AND THE AUDIT CAME BACK FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AND AS WE FOND OUT THE AUDITOR WAS NOT DOING HER JOB MANY DAYS AND TRYING TO GET HER NURSING DEGREE.

SHE WASN'T DOING H..

THINK WE ALL NEW THAT.

BUT GABE GORE KIND OF PUSHED BACK IN WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE KIND OF PRESENTED TO HIM.

WE APPRE.. DON'T APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE OVER STEPPING YOUR BOUNDS.

SARAH, YOUR THOUGHTS, NOT ON, YOU KNOW, KIM.

>> WE TALKED ENOUGH ABOUT KI..

GUESS, OVER THE FIVE, SIX YEARS ON THIS SHOW.

BUT I APPRECIATE THAT GABE GORE PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE STATE AUDITORS OFFICE WITH THIS, AND I THINK THE STATE AUDITOR DID A GOOD JOB ON THIS AUDIT.

HE SEEMS LIKE A COMPETENT SMART PERSON.

..

BUT THE STATE IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MEDDLE IN CITY BUSINESS.

THER.. MICROMANAGE.

THE CRIME RATE IS FA..

THEY WANT TO TAKE OVER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S JUST CONSTANT.

I CAN SEE FOR GABE GORE WHO CAN SAY LOOK, I HAVE CLEANED UP THE OFFICE.

.. A HALF.

YOU .. ADDITIONAL CONTROLS WHERE I HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND NOT BE EFFICIENT.

EVERY GOOD MANAGER KNOWS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY DO WELL TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL BOSS.

I GET WHERE HE'S COMING FROM.

IT'S EASY TO SAY HE'S A GOOD BOSS, WE COULD END UP WITH A BAD BOSS AGAIN.

FOR NOW, WE HAVE THE GOOD .. WHY DON'T WE ENJOY IT.

>> PRO FORMA IS PROBABLY NOT THE WORD BUT I APPRECIATE GABE GORE SEEMS TO BE STICKING UP FOR THE TROOPS THAT ARE THERE NOW.

HOWEVER, HE DID OPEN THE DOORS AND SAY COME ON IN.

I THINK ONE MISCONCEPTION IS PEOPLE THINK THAT SOMEHOW THE STATE HAS NO SAY IN PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS OFFICES.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS OFFICE THROUGHOUT THE STATE WERE CREATED BY STATE STATUTE, AND THEY ENFORCED STATE LAWS.

SO THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE JUST SOME UNINTERESTED PARTY BUTTING IN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

AS THE..

CIRCUIT AND APPEALS, ON MIKE PARSON, NO THE STATE DOES HAVE A ROLE IN THESE OFFICES.

THE IDEA THAT IT'S SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE COMING IN I DON'T THINK IS COMPLETELY CORRECT.

I THINK THAT'S A MISCHARACTERIZATION OF IT.

I THINK IT'S A PARTY THAT HAS A ROLE IN THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS OFFICE SAYING HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE.

HAVING COVERED A NUMBER OF THE AUDITS, THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU WHAT WAS WRONG AND GIVE YOU SOLUTIONS.

IT'S.. NOT.

I .. WE'VE GOT THIS UNDER CONTROL.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I DO AGREE WITH THAT.

THE FACT THAT HE IS BASICALLY SAYING ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE DONE A MAY A CUL CULL PA, AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.

AND I THINK THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS IS ALWAYS FEELING DECEIVED.

I GE..

I ABSOLUTELY GET THAT, BUT THEY ARE NOT AN ISLAND.

THERE IS STATE CONTROL GOING ON HERE.

>>.. DEMOCRAT IF IT'S A DEMOCRAT.

>> IN FAIRNESS THE REASON THIS AUDIT BEGAN WITH IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN ASKED FOR ALL TO BE AUDITED.

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THINGS NEEDLESSLY COMPLICATED, LET US RUN THIS.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANYTHING UNTENABLE FOR GABE GORE.

LONG AS HE POSSIBLY WILL.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.

MEANWHILE IN THE COUNTY THE NEW PROSECUTOR THERE IS GLEEFULLY WANTING AN AUDIT OF WHAT WENT ON IN HER OFFICE UNDER WES PLI BELL.

SHE THREW OUT THE CHARGES ON THE CITY CLERK AND SAID THAT I'M NOT A POLITICIAN BUT I'M DEFINITELY RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN TWO YEARS, BUT I THINK SHE'S A LITTLE TOO -- I DON'T KNOW.

I'M WITH IS SARAH, STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.

>> I DISAGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY.

FIRST .. WHY ANYBODY WOULD BE OPPOSED TO ANY POLITICIAN SAYING PLEASE AUDIT MY OFFICE.

THAT'S THE TRANSPARENCY WE WANT, ISN'T IT?

I TRY TO GET IT BUT THEY IGNORE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS FROM THE PRESS OR DELAY THEM FOREVER.

.. OFFICE, SEE WHERE WE ARE AT, TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.

I'M BRAND-NEW.

I DON'T SEE HOW YOU LOOK AT THAT AS BEING ANYTHING NOT ONLY POLITICALLY SAVVY, BUT SMART FROM A GOOD GOVERNMENT POINT OF VAW.

TELL ME WHAT..

THIS OFFICE AND THE AUDIT WILL COME OUT AND LET US KNOW.

IF I WAS TAKING OVER ANYBODY ELSE'S JOB, I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO AUDIT THAT PERSON SO I DON'T GET SADDLED WITH HOW COME HOLLEMAN DEPENDENT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

LOOK AT THE AUDIT.

6 MONTHS BEFORE THAT MY PREDECESSOR DID THAT.

I THINK IT'S OPEN AIR GOOD GOVERNMENT TO INVITE THE AUDITORS IN, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO COME IN ANYWAY.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL INVITED THEM IN, AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL OKAYS THE BUDGET FOR THAT OFFICE.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY COME ON IN.

>> IT'S NOT ONLY SMART, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MS. SMITH IS GOING TO RUN A DIFFERENT SORT OF OFFICE THAN WESLEY BELL RAN.

SHE IS RIGHT AWAY COMING DOWN THAT MY JOB IS TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE.

WESLEY BELL WAS ALL TALK A..

THE VIRGIN AND THIS AND THAT TALKING ABOUT HOW CRIME IS ASTRO ASTRONOMICAL.

SHE'S A ..

THIS.

>>.. SAID.

..

I DON'T LIKE SAM PAGE, AND AS A RESULT WE DON'T LIKE WESLEY BELL.

.. AGAINST THE WALL, EVEN THOUGH I THINK IT'S UNNECESSARY.

I GET IT.

I'M NOT AGAINST THE AUDIT.

BUT I THINK THEY WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE IF THE AUDITOR CAME BACK AND SAID YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.

>> YOU AND I WERE TALKING AB.. MS. VALENTI ABOUT HOW THERE ARE STANDARDS AND THEY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.

I THIN.. IS SAYING IS THAT SHE'S TRYING TO ESTABLISH A NEW STANDARD.

I THINK THAT THAT CAN ONLY BE A POSITIVE STEP MOVING FORWARD.

AS FAR AS THE POLITICIZING, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

>> USUALLY WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS PLAYING POLITICS, WHAT IT MEANS IT'S A POLITICIAN THAT'S ON THEIR SIDE IS DOING WHAT THEY USUALLY DO.

THEY ARE OKAY WHEN POLITICS GETS PLAYED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

THE IDEA THINGS ARE POLITICAL, IT'S IN THE NAME.

POLITICIANS.

BLAME POLITICI..

POLITICAL.

BUT LE.. LOOK, OPEN THE BOOKS, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

WHY ANYBODY WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THAT ON ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, I CAN'T FATHOM.

>> WHAT ABOUT WESLEY BELL.

IF I WERE WESLEY BELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME TO DO AN AUDIT.

BUT I'M HERE IN DC TRYING TO START OVER.

OTHE.. POINT.

..

POLITICIANS DO POLITICAL THINGS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN IF I'M WESLEY BELL, I MEAN, IF IT WAS ILLEGAL OR OUT OF CONTROL, THAT'S ONE THING.

COUNTY, RIGHT NOW YOU NEED ME A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I NEED YOU BECAUSE I AM THE CONGRESS PERSON.

SO.. HEY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS, WESLEY.

..

NEED SOME HELP?

>> ON THE OTHER HAND, IF I WAS WESLEY BELL, I WOULD WANT IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IF THEY DO HAVE CRITICISMS OF IT, IT WILL BE OUT THERE WELL BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> IT COMES AROUND IN TWO YEARS.

>> YOU REPRESENT STATISTIC THAT GOT RID OF LACE E CLAY AND GOT RID OF THE PERSON THAT GOT RID OF LACY CLAY.

AND I'M NOT SURE HOW CONFIDENT HE'S FEELING ABOUT THEY NEED ME MORE THAN I NEED THEM.

>> LACY CLAY WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

>> WITHIN FOUR YEARS TH.. BEEN 3 U.S.

REPRESENTATIVES.

THE IDEA THAT'S LOCK STEP INHERITED CONGRESSIONAL SEED, THAT'S GONE BY THE BOARD.

>> IF CORY BUSH HAD PLAYED HER CARS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, SHE WOULD STILL BE THE CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> BUT SHE DID.. >> I DON'T THINK WESLEY BELL IS GOING TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.

>> I DON'T HEAR HIM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AUDIT EITHER.

>> IF I'M HIM, I WOULD BE THINKING YOU NEED TO COOL ON THE FIRING ON WESLEY BELL BECAUSE I AM IN A POSITION OF POWER NOW.

>> HE'S PROBABLY GOT MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE LAWSUITS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION SUIT COMING UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH MIGHT BE ALSO HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT, TOO.

>> MAYOR TISHAURA JONES TOOK SEVERAL TRIPS, 64, ADDING UP TO 123 DAYS OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

I .. MUCH, TOO LITTLE OR SOMEPLACE IN THE WILLING MIDDLE.

WENDY, DO YOU THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH IN YOUR EYES?

>> IT IS..

I THINK IT IS IN THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK THE CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE HOW MUCH OF AN ISSUE IT IS GOING TO BE TO FOLKS.

IF THEY THINK THAT THE CITY IS RUNNING SPLENDIDLY AND THAT THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE TRASH PICKUP AND 911 RESPONSE TIMES AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, ALL THE TRIPS OVERSEAS AREN'T GOING TO MATTER.

IF THEY ARE A BIT DISGRUNTLED, THEN THEY WILL MATTER.

TISHAURA JONES, MAYOR JONES IS ABSOLUTELY DAZZLING.

SHE'S A DAZZLING POLITICIAN.

THIS HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF -- WAS TO BE A PERIOD OF TRANSFORMATIVE PERIOD.

SH.. TRANSFORMATIVE IS GOING TO MEET PRACTICAL.

I'M NO.. END UP IN THE SPRING FOR HER AS A RESULT.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TURMOIL.

..

THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE BUSINESS JOURNAL PUT THE SUNSHINE REQUEST IN BACK IN OCTOBER.

IT JUS.. TO FULFILL THESE RECORDS REQUESTS.

NO..

FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE ELECTION AT A POINT WHEN VOTERS ARE THINKING WHICH WAY AM I GOING TO IN MARCH.

BUT IT'S ALSO A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DAMAGING STORIES.

IT HURTS MORE.

IF THIS HAD COME OUT IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THINGS FELT LIKE THEY WERE GOING DECENTLY OVER THERE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE HIT.

BUT I THINK IT'S HITTING IN A WAY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED, A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT FEELS LIKE A NUMBER OF CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE THAT TIGHTLY RUN, AND THAT'S THE REASON THE STORY IS GETTING TRACTION, NOT THE TRAVEL IN AND OF ITSELF.

WE DIDN'T PAY FOR ANY OF THIS OTHER THAN ONE VERY CHEAP TRIP.

IT MAKES SOMETHING THAT BECOMES MORE OF A FACTOR.

>> AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BY THE BUSINESS JOURNAL.

THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH BEING A DAILY NEWSPAPER IS..

LOOKING INTO THE CITY AND CRITICIZING THE MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE MONEY THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING OUT AND NOT HAVING VETTED THESE PEOPLE THEY ARE GIVING MONEY TO, BUT THE BUSINESS JOURNAL IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

IT REPRESENTS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S THOUGHTS AND INTEREST.

WHEN.. TO BE GOING AFTER THE MAYOR A LITTLE BIT, THAT DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE MAYOR AS FAR AS GETTING BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR REELECTION.

>>.. SEPTEMBER.

THEY REALLY WEREN'T GREAT -- NOT GREAT CAPITAL G IN SEPTEMBER, NOT QUITE AS HOT.

>> I THINK THEY HAD GOTTEN WORSE.

>> RIGHT, WITHOUT QUES..

BUT SHE HAS A HISTORY OF UNAPOLOGETIC TRAVEL.

WHEN SHE WAS IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE SAME THING, AND HER FATHER WAS DEFENDING HER THEN, TOO.

SOME THINGS .. >> HER TAKE-AWAY, AND JOE YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON, IS THAT VOTERS DIDN'T WANT THEIR MONEY BEING SPENT ON THIS TRAVEL.

THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO TELL US WHETHER THAT WAS THE RIGHT TAKE AWAY.

>> LIKE YOU SAID -- I THINK YOU PUT ENOUGH THINGS OUT THERE, TOO, AND AS WENDY -- FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE GOT TO SAY THAT SARAH HIT ON SUCH A POINT.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN A REPORTER'S ROLE, WHY DID YOU WAIT UNTIL NOW TO DO THE STORY.

I TRIED TO DO IT FOUR MONTHS AGO.

YOU ALL DELAYED AND .. SKATED AND DIDN'T GIVE ME THE RECORDS.

THEY SHOULD HAVE HURRIED THE BUSINESS JOURNAL, THIS INFORMATION TO GET IT OUT WITH JANUARY, AND MAKE IT STRETCH INTO FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL.

NOT GOOD TIMING, NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO THROW AROUND.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IN RETROSPECT TO HAVE PUT A RUSH ON THE BUSINESS JOURNAL'S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST.

IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT W WENDY SAID AND JOE VOLLMER SAID I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO MUCH TRAVEL OR NOT.

LO.. EVERYTHING OKAY IN THE CITY?

THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

>> I..

ADIEU ABOUT NOTHING.

I WILL SAY THAT I THINK WE DID REAP SOME BENEFIT FROM SOME OF THE TRAVEL, MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS CITY HALL WANTS US TO THINK, AND SOME OF IT WE WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY GOTTEN ANYWAY, BUT I THINK IT'S THE MAYOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE CITY AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON OTHER PLACES.

BA.. BEGINNING.

IS I.. IS IT TOO LITTLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M SURE THERE'S MAYORS THAT ARE IN TROUBLED CITIES, SMALL, LARGE, MEDIUM SIZE THAT TRAVEL AND DON'T GET INTO ANYTHING.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS SO.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> BY GIVING GOVERNOR PARSON KUDOS FOR HIS TWO ST. LOUIS PROSECUTING ATTORNEY PICKS IN WHICH HE WAS REQUIRED TO PICK DEMOCRATS, DID THE PANEL FAIL TO REMEMBER PARSON ALSO GAVE US ERIC SCHMITT AND ANDREW BAILEY.

THAT FROM KAREN MCKINLEY.

I RECENTLY VISITED STEAMBOAT ARABIA IN KANSAS CITY.

THE MUSEUM WAS INTERESTING.

BRENNAN SHOULD CHECK IT OUT.

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED HOW INTERESTING IT IS.

YOU CAN WRITE TO US AT DONNYBROOK CARE OF NINE PBS, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

SEND US AN E-MAIL TO DONNYBROOK AT NINE PBS.ORG OR TWEET TO HASHTAG DONNYBROOK STL.

AND YOU CAN RING US UP ON THE COMMENT LINE (314)512-9094.

OF COURSE YOU CAN FIND US ON OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS EVERYWHERE.

HANG AROUND FOR YOUTUBE OR GO TO YOUTUBE, DONNYBROOK LAST CALL IS COMING UP.

I WILL TELL YOU WHAT.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NICKI GLAZIER, HER EXCELLENT JOB ON THE GOLDEN GLOBES AND A LITTLE ZOO ANIMAL TALK.

THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US.

ONCE AGAIN.

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.

IT'S GOING TO SNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SPRING WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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