[HEATED DISCUSSION]
>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
KETC.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,
IT'S COLD OUTSIDE BUT,
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL WARM YOU UP
WITH OUR HOT TOPICS AND WARM
PERSONALITIES.
THANKS TO EVERYONE AT THE
GATESWORTH FOR MAKING THIS
PROGRAM POSSIBLE AS YOU DO WEEK
IN AND WEEK OUT.
A BIG SHOUT-OUT.
LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS JOINING
US FOR THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.
STARTING WITH THE MEDIA VETERAN
HERSELF, WENDY WEISE.
FROM THE POST-DISPATCH AND STL
STLMAG.COM BILL McCLELLAN, AND
FROM ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE RAY
HARTMANN AND FROM STLMAG.COM AND
BEYOND, ALVIN REID.
I WANT TO ASK YOU FIRST OF ALL,
WELCOME BACK AFTER A WEEK'S AND
SENSE.
CHANGES IN THE RESTAURANT SCENE
IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS WITH MIKE
SHANNON'S HAVING BEEN IN
DOWNTOWN FOR 30 OR SOME YEARS
ANNOUNCING ITS GOING TO SHUTTER
ITS DOORS AND THE SAME IS TRUE
FOR HARRY'S, BEEN AROUND FOR 25
YEARS.
A LOT OF YOU THINKING IT'S
BECAUSE OF BALLPARK VILLAGE.
>> I GIVE MAYOR SLAY A LOT OF
CREDIT.
TALKING ABOUT TAX SUBSIDIES AND
THOUGHT IT COULD TRANSFORM
DOWNTOWN.
I'M AFRAID IT HAS.
[LAUGHTER]
THE BALLPARK ISN'T THE ONLY
THING, CRIME DOWNTOWN, AND I
THINK DOLLARS SHANNON AND DAN
HARRY, BOTH FELT THAT.
>> MILE 277, LIKE SUNSET HILL,
THEY'RE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS,
SAYING THE IMPACT, I THOUGHT
THAT WAS --
>> I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE --
BUT I WILL SAY THAT PLACES THAT
HAVE BEEN THERE FOR LITERALLY
DECADES AND WITHIN TWO YEARS OF
BALLPARK VILLAGE OPENING THEY'RE
SHUTTERING THE PLACES.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE TWO.
WHEN -- WHAT I FIND DISCONSUMER
ALERTING, IF IT'S THE CARDINALS
THAT ARE REMOTELY IN ANY KIND OF
WAY INVOLVED IN SOMETHING TO BE
LOOKED UPON NEGATIVELY,
INSTANTLY, OH, NO, IT'S NOT
BALLPARK VILLAGE, IT'S THIS AND
THAT, AND CRIME IS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS -- IT'S PART OF IT BUT
THE WHOLE THING -- NO, THAT --
NO, THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS.
I'M NOT BUYING THAT.
>> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT
THIS, MIKE SHANNON'S AND HIS
RESTAURANT, WONDERFUL
INSTITUTION, INDEPENDENT OF ONE
ANOTHER, MIKE SHANNON ANNOUNCED
HE'S CUTTING DOWN AND THEN THE
RESTAURANT, WHICH IS A FINE
RESTAURANT AND HARRY'S, ALSO AN
INSTITUTION AND A GREAT RUN, YOU
HAVE TO REMEMBER ONE THING --
RESTAURANTS GENERALLY AND BARS
WEREN'T BUILT TO LAST FOREVER.
IF YOU START A RESTAURANT, IT'S
GOT LESS THAN A LIFE
EXPECTANCY -- AND 25 YEARS, 23
FOR HARRY'S IT WAS A GREAT RUN
WITH GREAT OWNERSHIP AND
MANAGEMENT, THE BALLPARK
VILLAGE, I WAS AGAINST THE
SUBSIDY, BUT IT'S DANGEROUS TO
START TRYING TO SATELLITE ANY
PARTICULAR RESTAURANT.
LIKE YOU SAY, RICKWOOD.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT --
KIRKWOOD.
>> TALKING ABOUT CRIME BEING ONE
OF THE FACTORS, YES, CRIME BEING
A FACTOR BUT IT'S HARD REALLY TO
BE CLEAR, TO SAY, WELL, THE
RESTAURANT DIED BECAUSE OF
BALLPARK VILLAGE.
>> PLACES GENERALLY DO WELL FOR
A BALLGAME.
THE CARDINALS HAVE 81 GAMES A
YEAR AND THAT'S A BIG BOOST TO
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WHEN YOU
HAVE A PLACE THAT GOES WITH
THAT, TAKES AWAY FROM A
SHANNON'S OR HARRY'S --
>> I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A
VARIETY OF REASONS WHY SHANNON'S
IS CLOSING AND HIS DAUGHTER,
PAT, HIGHLY THOUGHT OF IN THE
COMMUNITY, SHE SAID THEY'RE
GOING AFTER THEIR -- THEIR --
THE FRANCHISE IN TERMS OF THE
SHANNON'S GRILL AND AS A THAT
KIND OF THING BUT FOR 30 YEARS,
TO HAVE A RESTAURANT 30 YEARS IN
A DOWNTOWN AREA, THAT'S
REMARKABLE.
AND HE WAS -- I MEAN, IT WAS ALL
ABOUT DOING THE BROADCAST AFTER
THE GAME FOR HIM.
SO HE'S SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE
BIT AND EARNED THE REST.
>> I THINK SO FOR SHUFFLE I
AGREE WITH RAY, AT THE RISK OF
BORING EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'RE
AGREEING, YOU KNOW, COMPETITION
IS GOOD, I JUST DON'T THINK THE
COMPETITION SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZED
AND WE DO THAT TOO MUCH.
THERE WAS TAX INCREMENT
FINANCING FOR BALLPARK VILLAGE
AND WE CAN AGREE IT WASN'T
NECESSARY.
>> THAT'S CLEAR.
YOU CAN'T GO IN AND -- BY THE
WAY, IF YOU WANT TO BE MAD, I
DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW, ANYONE
HAS A REAL APPETITE IN THIS TOWN
TO BE BEATEN UP, THE ST. LOUIS
CARDINALS OR BLUES RIGHT NOW.
SO RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK --
IF YOU WANT TO BE DOWN ON
BALLPARK VILLAGE --
>> THERE ARE RESTAURANTS IN
CLAYTON THAT CLOSED.
LIKE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE,
JIMMY'S CLOSED ON JANUARY 4th.
SO --
>> THEY DO THAT.
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> THEY COME AND GO, THAT'S WHAT
THEY DO.
>> THAT'S THE OTHER THING,
BALLPARK VILLAGE, AT LEAST I WAS
TOLD, CAME TO THE LOCAL
OPERATORS TO GET THEM TO TAKE
SOME OF THESE ENORMOUS -- IT WAS
LIKE 35 BUCKS A FOOT AND A LOT
OF TIMES PEOPLE WERE UPSET, THEY
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE
AND I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY IT
WOULD WORK FOR A NATIONAL
OPERATOR AND NOT A LOCAL
OPERATOR BUT THEY REALLY DID TRY
TO GET THE LOCAL FOLKS BEFORE
THE NATIONAL.
>> ALVIN REID, SPEAKING OF
RESTAURANTS, JOHN SARACINO,
WHO -- MICHAEL SARACINO, WHOSE
UNCLE OWNED CHRISTMAS PANCAKES
WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN
FEDERAL PRISON BY A JUDGE WHO
ANNOUNCED THAT THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE STENGER AND POLICE
CHIEF, DON BELL FAR -- BELMAR
WROTE LETTERS TO THE JUDGE
URGING LENIENCY AND CAUSED A
FEWEFUROR AND ASKED BOTH OFFICIALS
TO WRITE LETTERS ON BEHALF OF
HIS NEPHEW.
DO YOU THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE
HE RESIGN FROM OFFICE?
>> I THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE,
AND I THINK IT WAS TOTALLY
INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE POLICE
CHIEF TO WRITE A LETTER.
YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR LENIENCY
AND THEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
WHO I GUESS APPOINTED THE
GENTLEMAN TO THE JOB AND A
SUPPORTER, THIS IS JUST -- THIS
IS SCANDALOUS ON ITS OWN.
BUT LET'S TURN BACK THE CLOCK
TWO YEARS AGO AND THE SITTING
COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAD ONE OF HIS
MAIN STAFFERS RESIGN BECAUSE HE
WAS SUPPORTING THE STAFFER'S SON
WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF A
FELONY DRUG CHARGE, THIS WOULD
BE THE ATOM BOMB OF -- ATOMIC
BATON ROUGE OF SCANDALS.
AND TO DISMISS --
>> YOU'RE SAYING IT COULD HAPPEN
ON DULY'S WATCH --
>> IT'S HORRIBLE IT HAPPENS ON
ANYONE'S WATCH.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> I THINK WE HAVE ALL -- WE ALL
HAVE NIECES AND NEPHEWS WE WOULD
DO ANYTHING FOR.
THE FACT THAT MR. SARACINO SAID
IT'S BEEN GROSSLY MISCONSTRUED.
$130,000, CONSTITUENT RELATION,
BUT WHEN YOU'RE PART OF A
GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE APPEARANCE
OF IMPROPRIETY IS A VERY,
VERY --
>> IN THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, IF
THEY HAD -- IF THEY HAD
INTERFERED WITH THE ARREST, I
COULD SEE THAT, BUT ONCE THE
SENTENCING IS -- EVERYBODY IS
INVITED TO WRITE A LETTER,
CONNECTED AND NOT CONNECTED AND
IT'S NOT NECESSARY THAT THE
JUDGE READ THE LETTER BUT ANYONE
CAN WRITE A LETTER.
I'VE DONE IT, YOU'VE PROBABLY
DONE IT.
>> CHARLEY --
>> FIRST OF ALL, I -- I DON'T
SEE THE SCANDAL IN THIS AT ALL,
ON ANYONE'S PART AND BY THE WAY
CHARLEY APPOINTED SARACINO TO
THE POLICES FOR.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SCANDALOUS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] UNDER ARREST?
NO, I'M SAYING, JOHN SARACINO, I
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT JOHN
SARACINO, A LONG STAY ON THE
POLICE FORCE, IT'S A NEWS STORY
IF SOMEONE UP FOR FEDERAL
SENTENCING DOESN'T GET LETTERS
WRITTEN FOR THEM.
AND I'M WITH YOU, IF STENGER OR
BELMAR HAD MEDDLED AND BEHIND
THE SCENES AND THE POST-DISPATCH
FOUND OUT, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT
STORY.
IT'S NEWS, BUT IT'S NOT
SCANDALOUS, IT'S OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT AND I WANT TO SAY
THIS, AS FAR AS BELMAR SAID, HE
DID NOT ASK FOR LENIENCESY, HE
SAID I'M ASKING -- LENIENCY, I'M
ASKING IN FOR OF THE FAMILY.
>> THE LETTERS WERE SEALED.
ASKED THE JUDGE TO UNSEAL THE
LETTERS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SCANDALOUS AND
BELMAR WROTE ON BEHALF OF THIS
YOUNG MAN WHO WAS ARRESTED ON A
DRUG CHARGE.
IT WASN'T JUST DRUGS, HE HAD
FIRE-BOMBED A HOUSE.
AND --
>> I FOUND FAULT WITH THE JUDGE,
WHO I LIKED BUT FOUND FAULT WITH
HER FOR ALLOWING THE DEFENDANT,
DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO HIS WEDDING
AT CAPTIVA ISLAND, SOMETIMES
THESE FEDERAL JUDGES --
>> FIRST, I DON'T THINK I DON'T
DISAGREE WITH THE LAST THING YOU
SAID ABOUT THE JUDGE, BUT KEEP
IN MIND, AMONG THE PEOPLE
CALLING FOR LENIENCY, WAS THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE ARRESTING
FOLKS BECAUSE -- THEY ASKED FOR
A HEAVIER SENTENCE THAN HE GOT,
RAY, AND THEY -- AND THEY
SPECIFICATIONALLY TALKED ABOUT
THE LETTER IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> IT IS TRUE, THAT SOMEONE IN
THE SYNDICATE FIRE-BOMBED
SOMEONE'S HOUSE BUT THE YOUNG
MAN WASN'T CHARGED WITH THAT --
LET ME SPEAK.
HE WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSING
MARIJUANA WHICH MOST PEOPLE ON
THIS PANEL SEEM TO THINK IT'S AN
OK THING.
AND WHY IS IT THAT HE'S BEING
CRUCIFIED FOR DOING WHAT IS
ACTUALLY LEGAL IN COLORADO
AND --
>> THE QUESTION WASN'T WHETHER
HE WAS INVOLVED IN SELLING POT.
I COULD CARE LESS.
THE FIRE-BOMBING THING IS A
SERIOUS THING BUT ONCE YOU'RE
CONVICTED OF SOMETHING, I DON'T
LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CHIEF OF
POLICE WRITING A LETTER TO THE
JUDGE THAT THIS IS A GREAT
FAMILY AND -- AND STEVE STENGER,
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASKING FOR
LENIENCY.
>> IT'S PART OF PROCESS, I DARE
YOU TO FIND A FEDERAL OTHER
STATE CASE IN SENTENCING WHEN
LETTERS WEREN'T WRITTEN.
>> HERE'S THE POINT --
>> HERE'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE
WRITTEN LETTERS.
MAYA ANGELOU --
>> THIS IS WHY THIS IS
SCANDALOUS, CHARLIE, THEY'RE NOT
WRITING LETTERS FOR LENIENCY,
BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THEIR
BUDDY AND PAL.
THEY PROBABLY WON'T WRITE
ANOTHER LETTER OF LENIENCY FOR
ANYONE.
A 75-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO SOLD A
DIME BAG --
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> ALVIN, YOU WRITE THEM FOR
YOUR FRIENDS --
>> STOP, BY THE WAY --
>> I UNDERSTAND, BILL'S POINT,
BUT I THINK -- I DO UNDERSTAND
THAT, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE CONNECTION IT MIGHT BE TO
YOUR POINT, HE WASES A POLICE
COMMISSIONER AND YOU'VE GOT A
POLICE OFFICIAL, I UNDERSTAND
THAT, BUT I ALSO THINK -- KEEP
IN MIND SOMETHING ELSE, THE HEAD
OF THE POLICE UNION IS TRYING TO
MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS, IS
COURAGELY NEGOTIATING -- HE SAID
SOMETHING ABOUT BEMMAR.
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
A VOTE OF NO CONVERSATION ABOUT
BELMAR, DON'T -- OTHER THAN THIS
STORY, DO WE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
UPSET ABOUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'LL SAY
THIS --
>> IF -- HE'S GOT TO STOP.
>> BUT THE UNION -- THE UNION
PRESIDENT IS USING IT AS PART
OF --
>> IF BLACK LIVES MATTER SAY
THEY HAVE NO CONVERSATION IN THE
CHIEF, I CAN SEE WHY THEY SAID
THAT.
>> I WROTE A LETTER ON BEHALF OF
[INAUDIBLE]
>> SO WHAT?
NO ONE CARES ABOUT THAT.
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> I DID IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT
SOME OF HIS WORK WITH THE --
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> A SUPERSTAR BUT YOU'RE NOT AN
ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> ALL THE TIME AND BY THE WAY,
STENGER HAS A GUY, THE ACTUAL
DEFENDANT --
>> IT'S NOT A SCANDAL.
>> FINAL WORD, IF THE KID DID
THE CRIME, HE SHOULD DO THE TIME
BUT ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO WRITE A
LETTER TO A JUDGE.
IT'S THE JUDGE -- IF THE JUDGE
TAKES MONEY OR SOMETHING, THAT'S
ANOTHER THING.
>> WHAT HE -- LIMBAUGH DOWN
THERE, WRITING A LETTER,
EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE HELPED
SOMEONE, ALWAYS SCRUTINIZED.
BUT -- BUT FOR SOME IT'S A-OK IN
ST. LOUIS COUNTY.
>> I WILL SAY --
[SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
>> ALL RIGHT, GOT TO -- GOT TO
MOVE ON, GUYS, TO WENDY WEISE
WITH A FRONT PAGE STORY IN THE
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" ABOUT A
ST. LOUIS COUPLE HERE ON THE EVE
OF THE 43rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ROE V. WADE DECISION.
THIS COUPLE, NOW DIVORCED,
CREATED EMBRYOS WHILE THEY WERE
MARRIED AND NOW THEY'RE DIVORCED
AND SHE WANTS TO PROCREATE WITH
THEM, HE WANTS THEM DISCARDED
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT HER TO
GIVE BIRTH TO HIS PROGENY.
>> I KEEP THINKING OF THE LATE
GREAT FICTION WRITER MICHAEL
CITEN SAID, JUST BECAUSE --
CREGHTON SAID JUST BECAUSE WE
CAN, SHOULD WE?
THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T A ACT --
THAT IT WAS A ACRIMONIOUS
DIVORCE, COMES INTO PLAY AND THE
FACT THAT THE EMBRYOS ARE
CONSIDERED MARITAL PROPERTY,
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND, OF
COURSE, A SCIENTIST WOULD GIVE
YOU A MUCH BETTER DESCRIPTION OR
DEFINITION BUT TO MY MIND, THIS
BATCH OF EMBRYOS CREATED
CHILDREN, THIS COUPLE, TO
BASICALLY SAY, MY SCOURING PAD,
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT PETRI
DISH -- I THINK IT'S GRIZZLY.
>> I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THAT.
BUT -- BUT, I MEAN, IT'S A VERY
DEEPLY PERSONAL EMOTIONAL
RELIGIOUS ISSUE.
AND I HAVE NO DESIRE TO ARGUE
YOU'RE WRONG, OTHER THAN THAT I
DON'T THINK IN IT CASE THE LAW
SHOULD APPLY TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT
NOT SHARE YOUR VIEWS.
BUT THE GENERAL ISSUE OF
EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS, IT COMES
DOWN TO WHETHER YOU CONSIDER THE
EMBRYOS TO BE HUMAN BEINGS OR
NOT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, IT'S
COMPLICATED BY A CONTRACT.
I HAPPEN TO SIDE WITH THE DAD
BEING RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH THAT HE
DOESN'T WANT HIS ESTRANGED,
ACRIMONIOUS DIVORCE, THAT HE
DOESN'T WANT HER TO HAVE HIS
CHILDREN AND I SIDE WITH HIM,
BUT THEN THERE'S THE OTHER
QUESTION WHETHER HE HAD AGREED
TO IT OR NOT, WHICH MAKES IT A
COMPLICATED CASE BECAUSE I AGREE
WITH THE ATTORNEY SAID REALLY
YOU SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN
YOU ENTER INTO ONE OF THESE.
BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF
THIS CASE, WHETHER HE AGREED TO
IT OR NOT.
>> ANOTHER TOPIC, BILL, THE
STATE AUDITOR, NICOLE GALLOWAY,
RECENTLY ISSUED AN AUDIT ON THE
RECORDER.
DEEDS AND MISDEEDS, SHARON
CARPENTER SAYING SHE BOUGHT A
$2,700 RUG FOR HER OFFICE,
DIDN'T KEEP TRACK OF EMPLOYEE
VACATION TIME.
DIDN'T KEEP THE MILES ON THE CAR
THAT WAS ISSUED TO HER.
AND ISSUED ABOUT $200,000 OF
IMPROVEMENTS IN NO GOOD
CONTRACT -- NO-BID CONTRACTS.
DO YOU THINK SHE'S IN TROUBLE?
>> NO, NO, ADMITTEDLY I LIKE
SHARON CARPENTER, MY ONLY GRUDGE
IS I THINK SHE'S AT AN AGE WHERE
SHE SHOULD HAVE RETIRED AND
LIVED ON A PENSION.
AS FAR AS THE AUDIT, THERE
WASN'T MUCH NEW THERE.
NOT KEEPING TRACK OF HER
EMPLOYEES' VACATION, AS AN
EMPLOYEE, GOOD FOR SHARON.
THE MAIN THING I LOOK AT THAT
AUDIT AND THINK, WE'VE SPENT
$16 MILLION ON THIS GOOFY
STADIUM PROJECT, AND NOTHING'S
EVER GOING TO COME OF IT.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> AND YET PEOPLE GOT HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND
SPENT $16 MILLION AND EVERYBODY
IS TRYING TO SAY, LET'S FORGET
ABOUT THIS AND MOVE ON AND DAVE
PEACOCK DID A WONDERFUL JOB AND
BOB, AND NOW WE'RE AFTER SHARON
CARPENTER FOR A $2,700 RUG.
I DON'T GET IT.
>> THAT'S HARD TO ARGUE, BUT
SHE'S A RECORDER AND ATTENTION
TO DETAIL IS BENEFICIAL.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU HAVE
FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN
ALLEGEDLY ACCORDING TO THE
AUDIT, FROM THE RECORD
RESTORATION ACT AND THEY TURN
INTO CARPETING OR ENTERTAINMENT
OR FURNISHINGS OR DECORATIONS, I
LOVE A NICE DECORATED OFFICE AS
MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> BUT THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, THIS
IS THE RECORDER OF DEEDS.
SO YEAH, PLEASE FOLLOW THE
LETTER OF THE LAW.
AND BE -- FUNDS HAVE BEEN --
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS SILLY TO
HAVE A $2,700 CARP ETC. ON THE
FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER.
>> I ONLY FEEL A LITTLE, I FELT
KIND OF -- JUST SAD WHEN ONE OF
OUR BIG SCANDALS -- CAN DO
BETTER THAN THAT.
MAYBE BECAUSE I WOULD NOT
NORMALLY AGREE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S
SO FRESH AFTER THIS STADIUM --
LIKE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE --
SOME GUY, I GUESS HE USED TO
WORK FOR A CONGRESSMAN, GOT
$75,000 FOR DESIGNING A MINORITY
EMPLOYMENT PLAN, WHATEVER IT
WAS, AND BLESS THEIR HEARTS HOW
HARD THEY WORK, $900,000 AND
WHEN WE'RE FRESH OFF THIS
PAINFUL STADIUM ISSUE, IT REALLY
IS HARD TO BE TALKING ABOUT A
$2,700 RUG.
>> I WILL SAY THIS, HE HAS --
HAD TO RESIGN AND THEN RUN AGAIN
AND WON, IF I HAD BEEN IN THE
OFFICE THAT LONG AND AN AUDIT
WAS DONE ON ME AND THIS IS ALL
OF THE SOUND, IT WOULD NOT BE A
STORY.
IT'S A STORY BECAUSE OF THE
BAGGAGE.
>> RAY HARTMANN, LET ME MOVE ON
TO YOU, LAST WEEK WE TALKED
ABOUT THE TEAM LEAVING
ST. LOUIS.
BUT NOW SUING BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVE THEY HAVE CONTRACTS
BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY PAID
MONEY FOR A TEAM THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE HERE.
DO YOU THINK THEY'LL WIN IN
COURT.
>> NO, BUT I'M ROOTING FOR THEM
PARTICULARLY IF THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN MAKING A CLASS
ACTION LAWSUIT.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY IN ANY PART
OF MY MONEY CAME BACK TO ME AS A
MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.
FOR THE DEPART, FOOTBALL TEAM.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE MUCH OF
A CHANCE BUT I THINK THEY HAVE
AT LEAST A -- BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK THEY DO.
BUT THEY HAVE AN INTERESTING
ARGUMENT WHICH IS WE BOUGHT IT
IN 1995 THINKING WE HAD THE
RIGHTS TO OUR SEAT FORCE 30
YEARS AND ONE WOULD HAVE
EXPECTED THAT IF THEY HAVE HAD
FOUND -- NOW, I -- .
>> SUE THE NFL OR --
>> I THINK THE TEAM.
I THINK YOU'D SAY THE TEAM WAS
THE ONE -- THE RAMS, THE PSL AND
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WIN
BUT I LIKE THE SPIRIT OF IT.
>> THE THING ABOUT THAT, THE
PSLs WERE USED TO PAY OFF THE
BOND IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA AND
NO ONE IS PAYING OFF OR BONDS,
ARE THEY?
>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.
THIS CLASS ACTION -- HERE WE
ARE, LIKE YOU SAID, OH, YEAH,
LET'S GET $1,000, MEANWHILE,
EVERYBODY SAID, WE GOT IT FOR
$16 MILLION BUT PEOPLE WANT A
COUPLE OF THOUSAND BACK.
WE'RE ALL FOR THEM.
FIGURE OUT WHERE THE
$16 MILLION WENT.
GOD BLESS THEM WHO HAVE THE PSL,
THE RIGHT TO BUY SOMETHING?
I DON'T GET THAT.
>> I'M -- CONTRADICT MY OVERALL
THEME ON THIS, WE NEED TO MOVE
ON AND STOP THE PITY PARTY AND
MOVE AHEAD AND REALIZE WE NEVER
HAD A TEAM.
IT WAS A ECHO CHAMBER.
>> DID YOU READ HARRY POTTER?
>> I'M GETTING THROUGH --
>> I PROPOSE THAT THE RAMS
BECOME THE LORD VOLTEMOR OF THE
CITY.
>> ALVIN REID --
>> DOUBLED THE PRICE ALREADY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, ALVIN,
ABOUT A COLUMN IN THE
POST-DISPATCH BY THE FOOD WRITER
WHO WROTE ABOUT DOGS HE SAW AT A
GREAT BREWERY IN THE GROVE AND
UPSET THAT ONE OF THEM EUROPEAN
NATURED ON THE FLOOR AND -- YOUR
HONOR NATUREAND URINATED ON THE FLOOR.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WITH
CREATURES THAT HAVE BODILY
FUNCTIONNESS.
>> I THINK YOU PUT YOURSELF IN
THE PLACE OF THE PERSON, NOT
CRIME AND HORROR, BUT I'M AT THE
EVENT, SITTING HERE WITH A DOG,
ON THE FLOOR, NOBODY CLEANS IT
UP.
THIS GUY RATTING PEOPLE OUT OR
JUST LET IT GO.
I THINK DOGS REALLY SHOULDN'T BE
INSIDE A RESTAURANT.
OUTSIDE, IS OK.
I LOVE DOGS, I LOVE DOGS.
BUT IF YOU CALLED THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, I'D RETURN THE CALL
BUT I DON'T THINK I'D SEND THE
HEALTH SWAT TEAM.
YOU KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW, IT'S.
>> IT'S A PART OF NATURE, YOU
DON'T WANT IT IN THE KITCHEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> PEOPLE HAVE DOGS IN THEIR
HOME, SOME PEOPLE HAVE LIKE
THREE CATS AND ONE DOG.
IT'S LIKE NOAH'S ARK.
>> SO SOMEONE IS GOING TO BRING
THEIR QUARTER HORSE NEXT.
THIS IS GOOFY.
IT DOESN'T BELONG IN --
>> YOU GO TO HOMES WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE TOGS.
-- DOGS.
>> THEIR DOG COULD JUMP ON THE
TABLE AND EAT PART THE DINNER
AND I WOULDN'T BE OFFENDED BUT
IF I'M HOW TO OUTPUT WITH
FRIENDS OF MINE AND A DOG
URINATES, I THINK WHAT ELSE IS
GOING ON?
>> BACK IN THE KITCHEN.
>> I READ THAT AND THOUGHT,
THAT'S AN INTERESTING LITTLE
TALE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY DOGS IN THE
FIGHT.
BUT -- URBAN CHESTNUT, BOY --
>> ALL RIGHT, FINE BEER, WE KNOW
THAT.
LET'S GET TO THE LETTERS AND SEE
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.
WHENEVER PEOPLE START TO HOLD
SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE, YOU CAN BET
ON ONE THING -- NO ONE WILL BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
IT'S FROM KENNETH.
AND IN MY OPINION IT, TAKES A
PILLAGE, A BALLPARK PILLAGE TO
RAZE A CITY.
THANK YOU.
RON OF ST. LOUIS WROTE -- PEOPLE
ARE FIGURING OUT THAT THE NFL IS
A HUGE MOOCH.
YOU CAN WRITE US CARE OF 3655
OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS,
MISSOURI 63108.
DON'T FORGET THE LETTERS AT
KETC.ORG AND THOSE TWEETS.
DON'T GO AWAY, WE'VE GOVERNMENT
"DONNYBROOK, YOUR TURN."
BILL AND I WILL BE TAKING YOUR
PHONE CALLS.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME
THANKS FOR JOINING US, DON'T GO
AWAY.
>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE MEMBERS OF KETC.