>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
NINE NETWORK.
>>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US FOR THIS EDITION OF
DONNYBROOK AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU AT DONNYBASH NEXT
MONTH.
WE'LL GIVE YOU DETAILS LATER IN
THE PROGRAM, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF
HOT TOPICS TO DISCUSS, SO WE'LL
GET TO THEM.
FIRST, LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS
FOR THIS EDITION, STARTING WITH
SARAH FENSKE FROM KWMU, THE HOST
OF ST. LOUIS ON THE AIR ON 90.7.
ALSO WITH US A FOUNDER OF
DONNYBROOK, BACK IN MICHIGAN,
BILL McCLELLAN FROM THE
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH AND
STLTODAY.COM.
HE'S RAY HARTMANN FROM THE BIG
550 KTRS AND THE RIVERFRONT
TIMES WHERE HE WRITES A GREAT
COLUMN.
AND ANOTHER GREAT COLUMNIST FROM
THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN AS WELL
AS 97.1, 590 AND I'M MISSING
SOMEBODY HERE, ALVIN REID.
IT WILL BE STLMAG.COM.
HEY, THE KING OF ALL MEDIA.
>> TRYING ANYWAY.
>> SARAH, THANKS SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
LAST FRIDAY, SHEILA SWEENEY, WHO
USED TO HEAD UP BOTH THE PORT
AUTHORITY AND THE ST. LOUIS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP, GOT SENTENCED TO
ZERO MONTHS IN PRISON FOR HER
ROLE IN, I GUESS A SCANDAL THAT
INVOLVED AT LEAST FOUR
INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO'S BEEN
SENTENCED TO ALMOST FOUR YEARS.
BUT SHE GOT NO TIME AFTER SHE
PLEADED GUILTY TO THEFT OF
HONEST SERVICES, CORRUPTION.
SHE HAD AWARDED CONTRACTS AND
GRANTS TO DONORS OF STEVE
STENGER WILLINGLY, AND SHE GOT
PROBATION, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS
KIND OF INTERESTING WHEN STEVE
STENGER GOT FOUR YEARS.
SHE WASN'T EVEN REQUIRED TO, AS
FAR AS ANY PUBLISH REPORT, TO
PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE, TO
LADLE SOUP IN A SOUP KITCHEN OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
DO YOU THINK SHE GOT OFF EASY?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
FEEL WHAT HAPPENED WAS NOT FAIR.
THIS WOMAN WAS MAKING $500,000 A
YEAR FROM PUBLIC FUNDING AND
COBrdING TO THE ST. LOUIS
POST-DISPATCH'S EXCELLENT
REPORTING, SHE WAS SERVING AS
STEVE STENGER'S PUPPET AND WAS
GOING AROUND AND HAVING
EMPLOYEES DO THINGS THAT THEY
FELT WAS UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL
AND SHE WAS USING THAT WHOLE
ORGANIZATION TO PROP UP HIS
PROSPECTS, AND NOW WE FIND OUT
THAT YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH DOING
THAT.
YOU DON'T GO TO PRISON FOR DOING
IT.
I THINK IT SENDS A REALLY BAD
MESSAGE, SET AND BAD PRECEDENT
AND WILL TELL LOTS OF OTHER
PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT, HEY, AS
LONG AS YOU'RE NOT THE ONE
LEADING IT, YOU CAN GO ALONG
WITH IT AND THAT'S FINE.
>> I WOULD TEND TO AGREE WITH
YOU.
I DO THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE GOT
SOME MINIMAL SENTENCE WHERE SHE
ACTUALLY WAS INCARCERATED.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I'VE COVERED
SOME FEDERAL TRIALS WHERE REALLY
ICKY, ICKY PEOPLE TESTIFIED
AGAINST PEOPLE WORSE THAN --
MORE DESPICABLE THAN THEY WERE
AND SHE GOT A FREE PASS MORE OR
LESS.
>> IS THAT THE WHOLE THING?
YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE WORSE
THAN YOU?
>> I THINK THEY WANTED STEVE
STENGER SO BAD, AND I THINK
SHE'S THE ONE THAT LAID HIM OUT
ON A PLATTER.
>> SO YOU THINK SHE'S THE PERSON
WEARING THE WIRE?
>> YES, I DO.
YES, I DO.
>> I'M WITH SARAH ON THIS.
YOU MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS SHE
MADE AND YOU WILLINGLY STEAL
FROM THE COUNTY, I THINK YOU
SHOULD DO TIME.
I MEAN, IF SHE WENT AND ROBBED
THE 7-ELEVEN STORE, SHE'D BE
LOOKING AT TEN YEARS.
CERTAINLY SHE SHOULD DO A COUPLE
YEARS FOR THIS.
>> MAYBE THE PROSECUTOR SAID,
HEY, HELP US AND WE'LL HELP YOU.
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING, IF YOU
FOLLOW THE TRANSCRIPTS, SHE WAS
WILLING TO GO ALONG WHEN THEY
JAFE JOHN RALLO THE SPECIAL
CONTRACT EVEN THOUGH HE HAD NO
EXPERIENCE IN MARKETING AND SHE
HELPED WITH THE WELL STUN DEAL,
BUT IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, IT
WAS REPORTED THAT THE FBI WAS
FOLLOWING HER.
SHEN THE TRANSCRIPT, SHE'S
REALLY RELUCTANT TO GIVE JOHN
BARGER AND ASSOCIATES ANY
SPECIAL TREATMENT AND YOU CAN
TELL WHERE SHE BEGAN TO
COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
>> THAT'S A LITTLE LATE.
>> I THINK THE KEY QUESTION IS
COOPERATION, MEANING IT'S A LOT
LIKE THE CALCULUS THAT WHEN YOU
SEE PEOPLE IN THE MUELLER REPORT
ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND I
DON'T REALLY HAVE -- I DON'T
DISAGREE WITH ANYBODY
PARTICULARLY ABOUT IT AS MUCH AS
IT REALLY PROBABLY COMES DOWN TO
HOW MUCH, HOW VALUABLE WHAT SHE
KNEW AND WHAT SHE DID WAS TO THE
FEDS.
IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK THAT'S
PROBABLY WHAT DETERMINED IT
ALTHOUGH I HAVE -- WE DON'T KNOW
FOR SURE WHETHER SHE'S GOT NO
COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE --
>> I DIDN'T SEE IT.
>> WE DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT I
DON'T -- YOU KNOW, NOT ARGUING
FOR LENIENCY.
I SUCT IT HAED TO DO WITH
COOPERATION -- SUSPECT IT HAD TO
DO WITH COOPERATION.
>> THEY DID SAY IN THE
TRANSCRIPTS, STENGER IS CAUGHT
ON THERE SAYING THINGS ABOUT HER
THAT WERE SO TERRIBLE THAT THE
PROSECUTOR SAID THEY COULD NOT
EVEN READ THEM IN OPEN COURT
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TOO NASTY,
SO THEY FELT THAT SHE WAS ONE OF
STENGER'S VICTIMS.
>> BUT SHE ALSO MAY HAVE BEEN --
SHE WAS THE KEY TO THEIR CASE.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD WEIGH
HEAVILY, I THINK.
>> SHE WAS ALSO A BIG KEY TO
STENGER BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT HE
DID.
THERE'S NOT A SHRED OF HONESTY
THERE.
>> SHE WAS THE LINCHPIN BECAUSE
SHE CONTROLLED THE FUNDS AT THE
ST. LOUIS PORT AUTHORITY.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> SHE KEPT TRYING TO HIRE
PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND
HIS EMPLOYEES WERE BLOCKING HIM
AT EVERY TURN AND IT WAS ONLY
THROUGH THIS PORT AUTHORITY AND
THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
THAT SHE CONTROLLED THAT HE WAS
ABLE TO PLACE ALL THESE PEOPLE
INTO FAKE JOBS.
>> AND THERE WAS ONE COUNTY
EMPLOYEE, PAM WRIGHT, I THINK
THAT'S HOW YOU PRONOUNCE HER
NAME, TRYING TO STOP HIM THE
WHOLE WAY.
>> DID SHE GET FIRED?
>> WELL, I THINK SHE'S WORKING
IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT NOW, BUT
SHE DESERVES SOME PRAISE FOR
TRYING TO THWART IT.
>> I HOPE I'M NEVER IN THAT
SITUATION, BUT COME ON, WE GOT
TO SING.
I WANT SOMETHING FOR IT.
>> ALVIN REID --
>> TAKE YOUR MONEY AND GO.
>> ALVIN, I WANT TO ASK YOU
ABOUT THE MLS.
IT IS OFFICIAL, THE MLS IS
COMING TO TOWN AND AS SOON AS WE
BUILD A STADIUM, I GUESS WE'LL
BE PLAYING IN MAJOR LEAGUE
SOCCER.
YOU WERE AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT
THIS PAST WEEK AND OVERALL, YOU
THINK IT'S GOING TO BRING JOBS
AND BUSINESSES TO ST. LOUIS AS
SOME OF THE BACKERS SUGGEST?
>> WELL, 400 ON CONSTRUCTION OF
THE STADIUM OR MAYBE 500, AND
THEN 450 PERMANENT JOBS, THAT
WAS IN THE RELESS.
THEY PROMISED TO -- IN THE
RELEASE.
THEY PROMISED TO DO BASICALLY
THE BEST THEY COULD TO FULL FILT
MINORITY BUSINESS AND WOMEN
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE STATUTES FOR
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.
THAT COULD MEAN EVERYTHING, THAT
COULD MEAN NOTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE -- IT'S
GOOD.
IT'S GOOD THAT THE DEAL GOT
DONE.
IT'S GOOD THAT I THINK ANDY
TAYLOR AND I KNOW IT'S HIS
RELATIVES THAT ARE THE THE
FEMALE OWNERSHIP AND I THINK
THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT
ANDY TAYLOR'S BLESSING AND I
THINK MLS KNEW THAT AND I THINK
THEY ALSO BLACKMAIL US TO GET
MORE OUT OF IT TO THE POINT THAT
THE OWNERSHIP GROUP HAD TO STAND
UP AND SAY, LISTEN, IF IT
DOESN'T GET DONE THIS TIME,
WE'RE NOT COMING BACK, BUT WE
GOT TO 2018, THAT'S GOOD.
MAYOR KREWSON CALLED IT
TRANSFORMATIONAL, NOT.
17 GAMES OVER FIVE MONTHS,
THAT'S NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL.
LEWIS REED SAID GIVING KIDS
SOMETHING TO DO FROM POOR SIDES
OF TOWN TO HELP LIFT THEM FROM
POVERTY, I THINK OUR POVERTY IS
MORE OUT OF CONTROL THAN THE
GOOD FOLKS ON THE MLS TEAM
HELPING TO DEVELOP SOCCER
PROGRAMS.
IT IS A GOOD THING, BUT IT IS
NOT GOING TO FIX THE THINGS THAT
WE HAVE BROKEN.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
GOD BLESS THEM FOR BRINGING THE
TEAM HERE AND I GOT A NICE SCARF
OUT OF IT.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> I WAS GOING TO --
>> I THINK IT'S GRK GOOD, BUT I
THINK THE PROGRAMS THAT IT'S
GOING TO BRING BUSINESSES ARE
PROBABLY EXAGGERATED.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO REALLY LIKE SOCCER
AND THAT WILL MAKE ST. LOUIS
MORE APPEALING.
WE HAD THE NFL FOR 20 YEARS AND
HOW MANY BUSINESSES MOVED TO
DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS?
WE PROBABLY LOST MORE THAN WE
GAIN
GAINED.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S
ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
IT MIGHT BRING SOME JOBS.
DEFINITELY THE BEST THING ABOUT
IT IS IT'S A MORALE WIN FOR A
CITY THAT NEEDS A MORALE WIN AND
IT'S GREAT FOR SOCCER FANS AND I
DO THINK ST. LOUIS WILL DO A
GREAT JOB OF SUPPORTING IT.
I THINK THE BIG -- THE
UNANSWERED QUESTION WITH THESE
THINGS IS WE'RE NOW AT POINT OF
THE DEVIL GET INTO THE DETAILS
AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO
SEE WHAT IF ANY PUBLIC GOODIES
THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEY'LL
GET.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO OWN THE STADIUM, WHICH
MEANS THEY'RE NOT PAYING
PROPERTY TAX TO THE SCHOOLS, AND
THERE'S THINGS -- WHEN YOU LOOK
AT WHAT A GOOD INVESTMENT THIS
IS FOR THE TAYLORS, BEING PART
OF THE MLS AND I WROTE ABOUT
THIS AT THE RFT.
THEY'RE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL
MARKETING GROUP, BASICALLY, WHEN
THEY JOIN THE MLS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THEY
REALLY NEED THAT MUCH HELP.
>> I THINK YOU'RE BEING TOO
PICKY ON THIS.
OVERALL, THIS IS A VERY GOOD
THING.
NO ONE REALLY THINKS IT'S GOING
TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL AND AS
FAR AS THIS BEING A GREAT
INVESTMENT FOR THE TAYLORS,
MAYBE SO AND MAYBE NOT.
IT'S BUILT LIKE A PONZI SCHEME,
RIGHT?
AND IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY, I
WOULDN'T BE THINKING OF PUTTING
IT INTO SOMETHING THAT LOOKS
LIKE A PONZI SCHEME.
>> IT'S NOT A POND SKI SCHEME,
AND TO YOUR POINT, THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY THEY HAVE, IT PROBABLY IS
NOT GOING TO AFFECT THEIR BOTTOM
LINE.
I DON'T MEAN THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING THIS IS A GOOD
INVESTMENT PROBABLY BECAUSE OF
THE MARKETING COMPONENT.
>> MAYBE SOCCER BUT I'VE SAID
THIS -- MAYBE SO, BUT I'VE SAID
THIS.
FROM EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN TOLD
AND READ AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
MLS'S BUSINESS MODEL IS TO ADD
TWO TEAMS EVERY THREE OR FOUR
YEARS AND THAT BRINGS IN ANOTHER
300, $400 MILLION AND THAT'S
BASICALLY WHAT KEEPS THIS THING
AFLOAT.
THERE'S ONLY TWO OR THREE
FRANCHISES THAT DECLARE A
PROFIT.
I'M NOT IN THEIR BOOKS AND ALL
THAT, BUT THERE'S VERY FEW TEAMS
IN THIS LEAGUE THAT OPENLY SAY
WE ACTUALLY MAKE SOME MONEY.
SO WHO KNOWS WHAT THE OTHER
TEAMS ARE DOING?
>> IT'S THE MARKETING, I'M
TELLING YOU, AND A PONZI KEEM AS
CRIME.
IT'S A NOT A CRIME IT.
>> DEPENDS ON NEW INVESTMENTS
COMING IN TO PAY THE OLD
INVESTMENTS IS WHAT WE'RE
SAYING.
I HOPE FOR THE TAYLORS IT WORKS
WELL.
>> I DON'T THINK SO, LEAGUES
HAVE DONE GREAT.
>> SOCCER IS EXCITING, BUT THE
IMPORTANT THING IS CRIME IN THE
STREETS OF ST. LOUIS AND A LOT
OF ATTENTION RECENTLY HAS BEEN
PAID TO A HORRIFIC SITUATION,
SARAH, AND THAT'S ABOUT TEN
KIDS, MAYBE 11 NOW, UNDER THE
AGE OF 16 HAVE BEEN KILLED ON
THE ST. LOUIS STREETS SINCE JUNE
AND IT'S CLOSE TO 20 FOR THE
YEAR.
AND MAYBE THE SADDEST COMMENT
I'VE EVER SEEN IN PRINT WERE IN
THE POST-DISPATCH THIS WEEK WHEN
THE MOTHER OF A SLAIN 7-YEAR-OLD
SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT
THAT -- I'M PARAPHRASING HERE --
MAYBE IT'S JUST AS WELL HE WAS
SHOT AT THE AGE OF 7 SO HE
DIDN'T GROW UP THESE STREETS.
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
WAS THIS IS GRIEF TALKING OR WAS
THERE MORE TO THAT?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY IT BEGAN WITH
THE GRIEF TALKING, BUT I THINK
SHE ALSO SAW WHAT HAPPENS IN HER
NEIGHBOR, WHICH THE HYDE PARK IN
NORTH CITY, AND THERE ARE SO
MANY PROBLEMS THERE.
I THINK WHAT SHE WAS REFERRING
TO IN THAT LONGER QUOTATION IS
THAT WHEN SHE SAW THE SHOOTER,
WHO WAS CHARGED WITH KILLING HER
SON, SHE REALIZED IF HE GREW UP
AND TOOK A LONG TIME IN THIS
REALLY TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD
THEY'RE IN, THAT COULD HAVE JUST
AS EASILY BEEN HIM IN TEN YEARS
AND THAT'S THE MOST
HEARTBREAKING THING OF ALL TO
ME, IS THAT'S THE FUTURE SHE
COULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR
THIS LITTLE 7-YEAR-OLD BOY.
XAVIER USANGA WAS HIS NAME.
I CAN SEE WHERE SHE WAS COMING
FROM.
I DON'T THINK SHE WAS INCORRECT
IN SAYING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
HIS FUTURE.
>> I THINK THAT'S GRIEF TALKING.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY SHE DIDN'T
REALLY BELIEVE THAT, BUT I THINK
THAT IS GRIEF.
NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT
BY VIOLENCE.
MY WIFE AND I LOST AN INFANT SON
TO NATURAL CAUSES WHEN HE WAS 10
MONTHS OLD.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD 10 MONTHS, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT CHANDLER WOULD HAVE GROWN
UP TO BE.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN IN THE
WORLD, BUT MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE
TOOK A WRONG TURN.
THE THING IS, I WOULD NEVER SAY
I WISH I NEVER HAD HIM AT ALL
BECAUSE THAT IS -- NO, HUH-UH.
I THINK THAT WAS JUST HER TRYING
TO DEAL WITH THE TRAGEDY THAT
HIT HER LIFE.
>> SHE DIDN'T SAY SHE DIDN'T
WANT TO HAVE HIM AT ALL.
SHE SAID MAYBE IT GOOD THAT GOD
HAS TAKEN HIM NOW RATHER THAN
OLDER.
>> I'M SAYING IT HAPPENS, BUT I
COULDN'T -- I DIDN'T FEAR THE
WORST -- WELL, YOU SAY YOU CAME
FROM A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY, BUT
SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING
TO PLAY OUT.
I WOULD NEVER EVER SAY MAYBE IT
WAS BEST BECAUSE MAYBE HE
WOULDN'T BE EVERYTHING WE
THOUGHT HE WOULD BE.
I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT.
>> WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN WAYS OF
RESPONDING TO GRIEF.
11 KIDS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE
CITY THIS SUMMER AND AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU HAVE SO MANY YOUNG MEN
ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING PEOPLE AND
FOR MURDER AND DOING VIOLENT
ACTS AND THEY HAVE COMING OUT OF
THE SAME MILIEU WHERE YOU CAN
KILL OR BE KILLED AND THAT'S THE
BIGGEST TRAGEDY OF EVERYTHING.
>> AND AS A PARENT, TO ME, IT'S
SO -- THE GRIEF ANY PARENT HAS
WHEN THEY LOSE A CHILD IS SUCH
THAT I JUST -- I THINK EVERYBODY
HANDLES THAT GRIEF DIFFERENTLY
AND EXPRESSES IT, AND I SORT OF
JUST THINK -- MAYBE IT'S A
COPOUT, BUT SORT OF A FREE PASS.
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO EXPRESS
YOURSELF IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
>> IT'S ALMOST SO SAD.
I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF, IF I
WAS A REPORTER, MAYBE I WOULD
HAVE ELIMINATED ONLY BECAUSE I
WOULD HAVE FELT, MAYBE LIKE
ALVIN, THAT IT WAS THE GRIEF
TALKING, BUT I TOTALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR POINT THERE,
SARAH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- THE
SITUATION IS SO DIRE.
ACTUALLY, THERE'S A PROFESSOR
FROM HARVARD AT THE KENNEDY
SCHOOL AND HE'S ARRIVING TONIGHT
AND HE'S GOING TO SPEAK
TOMORROW.
HE'S GOING TO BE AT KMOX AT 8:30
IN THE MORNING.
HE'S WRITTEN A BOOK CALLED "HOW
TO STOP THE BLEEDING ON THE
STREETS," AND HE BELIEVES IF YOU
FOLLOW HIS PRINCIPLES AS BOSTON
AND OAKLAND HAVE DONE, YOU CAN
DECREASE HOMICIDES IN AGE YEARS.
PEOPLE PLAY WANT TO FOLLOW THAT
A LITTLE BIT.
WE'LL TAPE AND PLAY IT ON
MONDAY.
WE'LL HAVE A TOWN HALL
DISCUSSION.
>> WHAT IS THIS -- CAN YOU SAY
HOW HE DOES THIS?
>> YEAH, HE BELIEVES, ABT DOES,
THAT YOU NEED TO FIND THE
RELATIVELY FEW INDIVIDUALS IN
THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S USUALLY
250 OR 400 OF THEM, AND YOU
CONFRONT THEM.
YOU SAY WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH
YOU AND WE'LL GET YOU JOBS AND
TRAINING AND WE'LL GIVE YOU
BENEFITS, BUT IF YOU DON'T
ACCEPT OUR OFFER, WE'RE GOING TO
HURT YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU AWAY FOR
A LONG TIME.
IT'S REALLY MICRO.
HE FOCUSES ON THE INDIVIDUALS
PERPETRATING THESE CRIMES.
HE SAYS THERE'S NOT THAT
DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT AND HE
SAYS IT HAS WORKED IN OTHER
CITIES AND TOWNS.
>> KIND OF LIKE THE HOT SPOT
POLICING THAT OUR CHIEF HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THAT'S SO MICRO.
>> A LITTLE BIT, BUT HE DOES
DISTINGUISH HIS PROGRAM FROM THE
HOT SPOT POLICES.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO ASK
YOU TO JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER THE
26th FOR DONNYBASH.
OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AND A LOT
OF FUN.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS.
>> FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THE
DONNYBROOK CAST HAS BEEN SHOWING
UP HERE EVERY WEEK AND ARGUING
ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND
THE VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS OF THE
DAY, BUT ALSO IN A WAY THAT YOU
CAN TELL THAT THEY ARE GOOD
FRIENDS AND YOU CAN TELL THAT
THEY RESPECT EACH OTHER'S
OPINIONS EVEN WHEN THEY DIFFER.
AND THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THEM
AND A LOT ABOUT CHANNEL 9.
WE TRY TO BRING PROGRAMS THAT
BRING US INTO COMMUNITY, THAT
BRING US TOGETHER, NOT DIVIDE.
AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO
SUPPORT DONNYBROOK AND ALL THE
OTHER PROGRAMS YOU END JI HERE
ON CHANNEL 9 AND THE NINE
NETWORK.
RIGHT NOW, JOIN US AT THE $5
LEVEL AND WE HAVE SOMETHING
SPECIAL FOR YOU.
IT'S THE DONNYBRICK.
WE HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK AFTER
MANY YEARS.
IT'S A RED FOAM RUBBER BRICK
AND, BY GOLLY, WHEN YOU DON'T
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM
SOME DONNYBROOKER, YOU CAN JUST
PITCH IT AT THE TV AND YOU'LL
STILL HAVE A TV WHEN YOU GET
DONE.
THAT'S YOURS WITH JUST A $5
MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION TO THE NINE
NETWORK.
IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN HAVE ONE
TICKET TO SEE DONNYBROOK LIVE
AND IN PERSON, DONNYBASH COMING
UP AT THE MEMORIAL ON SEPTEMBER
26th AND ALL THE GUYS WILL BE
THERE.
YOU'LL GET TO MEET THEM BEFORE
AND AFTER THE SHOW.
IT'S A LIVE BROADCAST AND THAT'S
YOURS AT THE $12 LEVEL.
YOU'LL GET TWO TICKETS TO
DONNYBASH.
YOU'LL ALSO GET THE DONNYBRICK.
IT'S ALL THERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU
JOIN US AT JUST $12 A MONTH.
AND NOW, BACK TO MORE OF
DONNYBROOK.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT DONNYBROOK HAS NOT BEEN
ON THE SET, I THINK, IN 20 YEARS
OR SO.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS A MARTIN
DUGGAN CREATION BACK IN THE MID
1990s.
NOW BEING MODELED BY SARAH
FENSKE FROM KWMU AND WE'LL SEE
HOW HER THROWING ARM IS.
THE IDEA IS WHEN YOU SEE
SOMETHING ON THE SCREEN --
[ LAUGHTER ]
-- YOU THROW THE DONNYBRICK,
IT'S NICE AND SOFT, AT THE
SCREEN AND IT RELEASES
ENDORPHINS.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SOME STUDY WILL CORROBORATE MY
THINKING THERE.
THE SHOW-ME INSTITUTE, SCHOOL.
YOU GET THE DONNYBRICK, WHICH IS
A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR
SOME, AND IT'S ALL PART OF YOUR
CONTRIBUTION WHICH HELPS THE
NINE NETWORK PROVIDE GREAT
COMMERCIAL-FREE PROGRAMMING ALL
YEAR LONG.
IN FACT, THE BEST PROGRAMMING
AROUND AND I BELIEVE THIS FALL,
WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO, RAY,
THE COUNTRY MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
THAT KEN BURNS IS PUTTING
TOGETHER.
THE SAME GUY WHO GAVE US THE
CIVIL WAR, BASEBALL, JAZZ,
VIETNAM, WORLD WAR II, IS BACK
WITH COUNTRY MUSIC AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE GREAT.
>> AS I SAID, ST. LOUIS HAS ONE
OF THE STRONGEST PBS STATIONS IN
THE COUNTRY AND I THINK THAT'S A
BIG PART, BEING PART OF THE
NETWORK AND I DO REMEMBER,
THOUGH, WHEN THESE FIRST CAME
OUT, THERE WAS SOME PEOPLE, I
REMEMBER, SUGGESTING THAT YOU
USE REAL BRICKS.
I DON'T KNOW.
I REMEMBER THAT BEING A BRIEF
CONTROVERSY.
BUT NO, BEING PART OF THE PBS
LINE-UP IS JUST GREAT FOR
ST. LOUIS AND IT'S -- WE'RE JUST
ONE LITTLE PIECE OF IT.
>> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PART OF
IT, FOR SURE, ALL THE GREAT
PROGRAMMING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT'S A FUN
NIGHT.
IT REALLY AS FUN NIGHT.
THOSE THAT COME SAY I DIDN'T
EXPECT IT TO BE THIS FUN.
YOU THINK, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT
IT TO BE?
>> WHY ARE YOU HERE?
>> RIGHT.
BUT, NO, IT'S A GREAT EVENING.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE AMAZED THAT
IT REALLY IS LIVE TELEVISION.
FOR SOME REASON, THEY THINK LIVE
TELEVISION MEANS LIKE JOHNNY
CARSON USED TO BE.
IT WAS TAPED AT 5:30 AND CAME ON
AT 10:30 OUR TIME, BUT NO,
YOU'RE THERE, YOU SEE, IT'S LIVE
AND THAT'S A COOL THING.
>> IT IS INDEED.
CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN,
GET A DONNYBRICK AND JOIN US AT
DONNYBASH SEPTEMBER THE 26th AT
THE SHELDON.
BILL McCLELLAN, I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT BODY CAMS.
MAYOR LYDA KREWSON AND THE CITY
OF ST. LOUIS SAYS SHE'S MOVING
CLOSER TO BODY CAMS.
SHE ALSO SAID THIS WEEK SHE'S
CLOSER TO ENDORSING A PLAN
CALLED CURE VIOLENCE BY
ALDERMANIC PRESIDENT LEWIS REED
WHICH WOULD TRY AND CUT THE
BLEEDING IN THE STREETS, BUT THE
BODY CAMS ARE KIND OF
INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK A
LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING
FOR THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
THE CITY JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE
MONEY.
DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REALLY
PAY POLICE OFFICERS SO THEY CAN
GET A FULL COMPLEMENT AND IF THE
CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR
DECENT PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS
AND TWO OFFICERS PER PATROL CAR,
SHOULD IT HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND
BODY CAMS?
>> I THINK YOU GOT TO FIND THE
MONEY TO FUND BODY CAMS.
AND I THINK MOST POLICE OFFICERS
ARE FINE WITH IT, TOO, BECAUSE
ANYTIME THEY'RE OUT ON THE
STREETS, SOMEBODY'S ALREADY --
CRIME SCENES ARE SO DIFFERENT
THAN THEY USED TO BE,
EVERYBODY'S THERE WITH A CAMERA
NOW, SO THE POLICE ARE ALREADY
ACCUSTOMED TO BEING FILMED.
I THINK THIS IS PROTECTION FOR
THE COPS AS MUCH AS IT WILL
PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM BEING
RIDICULOUS OUT THERE, I THINK.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S ALL GOOD.
>> I DO, TOO, AND HOW MUCH IS
THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN
POLICE DEPARTMENT GOING TO END
UP PAYING PROBABLY TO THE POLICE
OFFICER WHO IS UNDER COVER THAT
THE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS BEAT
UP?
OKAY?
THAT'S A LAWSUIT.
IT WILL GET SETTLED OR WHATEVER,
MONEY.
THE YOUNG POLICE OFFICER, YOU
KNOW, WHO WAS KILLED AND THE TWO
COPS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON DUTY
AND SHE GOT SHOT.
IF THEY HAD BODY CAMS ON, IT
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE BECAUSE
THE SECOND IT GOES OFF, YOU KNOW
THAT YOU'VE TOLD ON YOURSELF
THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON.
IT'S A GOOD THING IN THAT IF I'M
A PROPER POLICE OFFICER, I WANT
ONE ON BECAUSE IT DEFUSES
PROBABLY 99.5% OF ANY KIND OF
ALTERCATION WITH THE PUBLIC EVEN
IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE, YOU KNOW,
DEADLY.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE'S
LIFE.
I THINK THAT WOULD PRETTY MUCH
UPHOLD WHAT THEY SAID, SO I
WOULD WANT ONE.
YOU GOT TO FIND THE MONEY FOR
IT.
I KNOW A CERTAIN SECTOR OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T WANT
ANY PART OF IT.
I THINK THAT'S OLD-SCHOOL
THINKING AND I WOULD WANT TO
WEAR ONE.
>> I THINK THERE'S ONE HUGE
PROBLEM WITH IT AND THAT'S THERE
THERE WAS APPARENTLY A STATE LAW
PASSED A COUPLE YEARS BACK WHERE
THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS FOOTAGE
WILL NOT BE RELEASED AS LONG AS
SOMETHING IS UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
NOW, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING JOURNALISTS, WE KNOW
THAT WHEN THEY DECIDE THAT THEY
DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE RECORDS
ON SOMETHING, THEY WILL SAY IT
IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, YEARS
WILL PASS, YOUR CHILDREN WILL
GROW UP AND GO TO COLLEGE, THIS
THING IS STILL UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RELEASE
THAT FOOTAGE, WHAT GOOD IS
THERE?
>> ACCESS IS GOING TO BE A FUN
PART OF THE WHOLE THING.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE THING ON
THE PART OF THE MEDIA, BUT ALSO
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A
DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND THE POLICE
GO UP THERE AND THE HUSBAND AND
THE WIFE ARE GOING AT EACH
OTHER?
WHO GETS ACCESS TO THAT?
I MEAN, WHAT IF SOMEBODY --
WELL, THE POLICE MISBEHAVED, SO
THEN WE GET TO LOOK AT IT?
OR DIVORCE LAWYERS?
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
FILM OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO WISH WASN'T THERE.
>> IN SOME COMMUNITIES, YOU'RE
NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE THE POLICE
CAM, THE BODY CAM INTO A HOME.
IT CAN ONLY BE ON THE STREETS
AND THE SIDEWALK.
>> WELL, THAT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH
SENSE.
>> WELL, YOU GOT PRIVACY IN
PEOPLE'S HOMES.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
FILMED AND LET'S SAY YOU'RE IN
YOUR BEDROOM AND YOU'RE FILMED
BY THE POLICE AND THEN
SOMEONE -- SOME MEDIA OUTLET
SUBPOENAS IT OR WANTS TO SEE IT
AND SHOW IT TO THE WORLD.
THAT'S NOT FAIR FOR YOU.
>> I THINK HAVING BODY CAMERAS
SHOULD BE SORT OF POLICE 101
NOW, SO I'M IN AGREEMENT,
ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S KIND OF
THING -- I DON'T KNOW, IT'S THE
MLS, GOOD NOT GREAT BECAUSE OF
THE POINT SARAH RAISED, FIRST OF
ALL, AND THE POLICE CAN SAY --
THE OFFICERS UNION THAT'S
LUKEWARM TO IT CAN MAKE THE
POINT THAT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE.
THEY HAVE 153 POSITIONS TO FILL
THAT THEY AREN'T FILLING AND I
STILL THINK THEY NEED TO DO
THIS, BUT THEY ALSO AT SOME
POINT -- IT'S GREAT FOR US TO
SIT HERE AND TALK WEEK IN AND
WEEK OUT ABOUT THE CRIME.
THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
IN THE CITY TO HIRE -- AND I'M
SOMEBODY THAT THINKS THAT THE
EXPERT YOU GOT COMING IN DEALING
WITH THE CAUSES OF CRIME IS A
BETTER SOLUTION THAN MORE COPS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU GOT TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FILL
UNFILLED POSITIONS.
>> THAT'S THE WHOLE THING.
WE'VE BEEN 110 OR 150 OFFICERS
SHORT OF A FULL COMPLEMENT FOR
AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
>> THAT DOES NOT ARGUE AGAINST
BODY CAMERAS.
>> YOU ASK SOMEONE LIVING IN
NORTH ST. LOUIS OR SOUTH
ST. LOUIS, WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT
TO YOU?
A POLICE OFFICER WITH A BODY
CAMERA OR MORE POLICE ON THE
STREET, TWO COPS IN A PATROL
CAR, A QUICKER RESPONSE TIME?
I DON'T THINK BODY CAMS ARE
GOING TO WIN.
>> BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE --
IT'S A FALSE CHOICE, I THINK.
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S A LIMITED PIE.
A LIMITED BUDGET.
>> THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR BODY
CAMERAS, I THINK IT'S A FALSE
CHOICE.
>> MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
>> IS THAT A YEAR OR A
ONE-TIME --
>> BEYOND THE COST OF BODY
CAMERAS, THE COST OF STORAGE IS
TREMENDOUS.
AT ONE POINT LEWIS REED
ANNOUNCED, I HAVE THERE DEAL TO
GET BODY CAMERAS FOR FREE, BUT
THEY NEEDED A MILLION DOLLARS A
YEAR JUST TO STORE THE FOOTAGE.
THEY'RE MASSIVE ONGOING COSTS ON
THIS.
CHARLIE IS RIGHT, THE BUDGET IS
NOT INFINITE.
>> SPEAKING OF POLICE OFFICERS,
YOU WERE TALKING TO A FORMER ONE
LAST NIGHT ON YOUR 550 RADIO
SHOW.
TIM FITCH WAS THE CHIEF OF
POLICE FOR THE COUNTY AND NOW
HE'S A COUNTY COUNCILMAN AND YOU
DON'T HEAR ANY POLITICIAN ASKING
FOR LIBRARY TRUSTEES TO BE FIRED
TOO OFTEN, BUT THAT'S THE CASE
RIGHT NOW WHERE HE WANTS EVERY
SINGLE ONE TO STEP DOWN AFTER A
CONTROVERSIAL REAL ESTATE DEAL
IN FRONTENAC WHERE THEY BOUGHT
PROPERTY FOR $6 MILLION THAT HAD
BEEN APPRAISED FOR $2 MILLION,
AND WOW, IT'S GROUND HOG DAY ALL
OVER AGAIN.
DIDN'T WE DO THIS WITH THE
HISTORY MUSEUM RECENTLY?
>> FIRST OF ALL, HE WAS TALKING
NOT IN HIS POLICE CONTEXT, SO HE
WASN'T SUGGESTING ANY CRIMES HAD
BEEN COMMITTED.
>> TRUE.
>> BUT HE ACTUALLY WAS MORE
MODERATE THAN I WOULD BE.
HE BASICALLY HAS CALLED -- AND
GOOD FOR HIM.
HE'S CALLED, IF YOU FOLLOW MOST
PEOPLE, BUT THE COUNTY LIBRARY,
ENABLED BY A RIDICULOUS STATE
STATUTE THAT EMPOWERS THEM TO
OVERRIDE A LOCAL COMMUNITY'S
ZONING, HAS JUST DECIDED, YOU
KNOW, TO JUST TELL FRONTENAC,
WHICH IS NOT NORMALLY A PLACE
YOU THINK OF AS, YOU KNOW,
IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITY,
BASICALLY TOO BAD, WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE THIS SPOT AND WE'RE
GOING TO DO THIS FACILITY, WHICH
IS LARGELY A STORAGE THING, AND
TIM IS RIGHT THAT REALLY THE
INDIVIDUALS ON THE BOARD, HE
ACTUALLY THINKS THEY OUGHT TO BE
REMOVED ONE AT A TIME TO
PRESERVE THE INSTITUTIONAL
MEMORY OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.
MY OWN VIEW IS THAT GIVEN THAT
THEY ARE ALL FILLING ON EXPIRED
TERMS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE
FIRED.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE
COUNTY COUNCIL SIMPLY NEED TO
REPLACE THEM AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WITH ALL
FIVE OF THEM.
>> I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE
GONE YESTERDAY, BUT I LIKE TO
POINT OUT LEAH THORSON OF THE
POST-DISPATCH IS THE WOMAN WHO
WROTE THIS STORY, AND NO ONE HAD
HEARD OF THEM.
THIS IS WHAT NEWSPAPERS CAN DO.
TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THE LIBRARY
DISTRICT, WHO WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT?
AND THESE PEOPLE, THEY VIOLATED
THEIR OWN BYLAWS.
YOU KNOW, THEIR BYLAWS CALL FOR
THEM TO GET ESTIMATES, AND THEY
JUST WENT AHEAD AND DID THIS,
SPENT PUBLIC MONEY LIKE NOTHING.
I THINK THEY SHOULD BE --
>> MAYBE I AGREE, MAYBE I DON'T,
BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS TIM'S
PLACE TO CALL FOR THEM TO BE
IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED.
I THINK THIS IS THE OPENING
SALVO OF TIM FITCH RUNNING FOR
COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN A FEW YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS IN HIS
DISTRICT, AND NOTHING -- MORE
POWER TO HIM, BUT THIS IS KIND
OF LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF AN
OVERREACH ON HIS PART AND IF
THIS IS THE SAME LYNN BECKWITH
THAT I KNOW, THIS IS A MAN THAT
NEVER RAISES HIS VOICE, BUT THAT
LETTER MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT
HE THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST SOME
NONSENSE.
NOW, THIS DEAL IS BAD, OKAY?
I GUESS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I JUST --
I DON'T KNOW.
>> WELL, IT'S A TERRIBLE DEAL.
>> WAIT, LET ME FINISH.
>> OKAY.
>> WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS I
DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO
USURP THE AUTHORITY OF THIS
LIBRARY BOARD BECAUSE THE NEXT
THING IS, SOMEBODY WANTS TO
USURP THE AUTHORITY OF A LIBRARY
BOARD BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE
THE BOOKS THEY HAVE.
>> BUT THEY'RE ALL ON EXPIRED
TERMS.
I MEAN --
>> NO, NO, NO.
LET ME SAY, THEY CAN GO, ALL
RIGHT?
BUT I'M SAYING TIM FITCH SAYING
THEY SHOULD FIRED IMMEDIATELY,
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OVER --
>> HE DIDN'T SAY -- FIRST OF
ALL --
[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ].
>> I WAS SURPRISED.
I THOUGHT HE SAID IMMEDIATELY,
BUT THEN ON AIR, HE SAID WE
OUGHT TO DO IT OVER TIME, BUT MY
POINT IS, IF I UNDERSTAND
CORRECTLY, AND I THOUGHT I SAW
IT ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, ON
THEIR WEBSITE, IT IS THE BOARD
MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY ARE
APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY
COUNCIL --
>> COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
>> NO, ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
>> OH, OKAY, OKAY.
>> SO I DON'T -- OF COURSE, IF
HE'S ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL, HE
WAS TALKING TO THE -- GOO HERE'S
THE POINT YOU'RE ALL MISSING.
I'M ASHAMED OF YOU FOR NOT
SEEING THIS.
I AGREE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY
PROPERTY, YOU SHOULD GET AN
APPRAISAL.
DIDN'T WE LEARN THAT WITH THE
HISTORY MUSEUM AND THE BOSLEY
PROPERTY AND ALL THAT?
OKAY, BUT WHY WAS FRONTENAC SO
OBSTINATE WHEN IT COMES TO
BUILDING A GENEALOGY CENTER?
IT WASN'T A STORAGE SHED, IT WAS
A GENEALOGY CENTER.
FRONTENAC RESIDENTS GO
EVERYWHERE ELSEWHERE THERE'S
LOTS OF TRAFFIC, BUT ONE TIME
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUNTY
FACILITY IN FRONTENAC, THEY BALK
AND IF IT WAS PLAZA FRONTENAC
THAT WAS GENERATING SALES TAX,
THEY WOULDN'T MIND THE TRAFFIC.
>> WHERE IS THE COUNTY LIBRARY,
CHARLIE?
>> IT MIGHT BE IN LADUE OR
FRONTENAC, BUT -- I THINK IT IS
IN FRONTENAC.
THIS ISN'T THE CITIZENS OF
FRONTENAC.
>> NO, THE CITIZENS OF FRONTENAC
HAVE BEEN OBJECTING BECAUSE IT'S
IN THEIR BACKYARD.
[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ]
>> THE ISSUES I HAVE WITH IT,
UNLESS THE POST REPORTING ISN'T
TRUE, THAT THEY, WITHOUT AN
APPRAISAL, SENT 6 MILLION COUNTY
DOLLARS FOR $2 MILLION WORTH OF
REAL ESTATE.
I MADE THE POINT, I'M NOT
FALLING ON THE SWORD FOR THE
POOR -- I THINK FRONTENAC IS NOT
EXACTLY A DEFENSELESS COMMUNITY
IN TERMS OF ITS ABILITY TO HAVE
RESOURCES, BUT THIS IS A BROADER
ISSUE AND THE COUNTY LIBRARY
SYSTEM, BY THE WAY, IS
CONSIDERED A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM.
>> IT IS, IT IS.
WE AGREE ON THAT.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST --
>> BILL?
>> IT'S JUST IS A GOOD IF WE GET
RID OF THESE PEOPLE THE WAY I
SEE IT.
>> IT COULD BE.
I WILL TO ASK YOU ABOUT SCOTT
FAUGHN WHO'S BEEN ON THIS
PROGRAM BEFORE BUT NOT MUCH
LATELY WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED IN
THE GREITENS CONTROVERSY THAT HE
WAS THE BAG MAN, TAKING IN
20,000, $25,000 IN CASH IN PAPER
BAG TO ALBERT WATKINS, THE
ATTORNEY FOR THE HUSBAND OF THE
WOMAN WHO WAS THE CENTER OF
GREITENS AFFAIR.
HE WAS ON MY PROGRAM.
IS HE A JOURNALIST?
I DON'T THINK SO.
THE GOVERNOR, MIKE PARSON, GAVE
HIM AN INTERVIEW RECENTLY AND
JASON HANCOCK FROM THE KANSAS
CITY STAR WROTE A PIECE
QUESTIONING THAT.
THIS GUY IS NOT EXACTLY A
JOURNALIST AND THAT'S WHY HE WAS
BANNED AT THE STATE HOUSE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I THINK HE'S PRETTY MUCH A
JOURNALIST.
HE'S ALWAYS HAD HIS EAR TO THE
GROUND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
I MEAN, SCOTT IS PLUGGED IN TO
THE REPUBLICAN THINKING AND SO I
THINK, OKAY, SURE, AND THAT'S
WHY GOVERNOR PARSON GAVE HIM THE
INTERVIEW, I'M SURE.
IN HIS LITTLE WORLD, HE'S
INFLUENTIAL.
>> I MEAN, THE GREAT IRONY IS HE
MAYBE GAVE HIM THE INTERVIEW
BECAUSE SCOTT FAUGHN GOT HIM THE
JOB BY TOPPLING HIS PREDECESSOR.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.
GOOD FOR BOTH OF THEM, RIGHT?
>> AS A JOURNALIST, THIS DOES
BOTHER ME.
YOU CAN'T GO AROUND BEING A
POLITICAL OPERATIVE DELIVERING
BAGS OF MONEY TO SOMEONE TO GET
RID OF A GOVERNOR SO YOUR
GOVERNOR OF CHOICE CAN COME IN,
AND THEN PUT YOUR JOURNALIST HAT
BACK ON.
THAT'S CRAZY.
>> FIRST OF ALL, HE HAS A STATE
SHOW THAT AIRS ON 30 -- WHEN THE
WHOLE THING, THE WHOLE
CONTROVERSY HAPPENED WITH THE
MONEY GOING TO WATKINS AND STUFF
AND SCOTT MADE THE POINT VERY
CLEARLY THAT HE DID NOT CONSIDER
HIMSELF A JOURNALIST.
HE THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AS A
BUSINESSMAN.
SO HE IS THE HOST OF A TV SHOW
THAT'S AIRED AROUND TOWN AND IF
PARSON WAS GONE -- THE THING I
THOUGHT WAS MOST INTERESTING,
BECAUSE I HAPPENED TO SEE THE
INTERVIEW, PARSON DID SOMETHING
YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE, WHICH HE
ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY -- HE
BASICALLY KEPT TALKING ABOUT --
ON THE SHOW, HE KEPT SAYING
THERE WILL BE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
AND BASICALLY ANNOUNCED THAT ON
SEPTEMBER 8th, HE'LL BE
ANNOUNCING FOR GOVERNOR, WHICH
THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTION AND
NOBODY REALLY PICKED UP ON IT,
BUT HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS
GOING TO ANNOUNCE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN
ANYBODY DO THAT.
>> YOU MENTIONED POLITICAL
OPERATIVE.
THERE ARE NO TWO BIGGER
POLITICAL OPERATIVES IN THE
ST. LOUIS AREA THAN LAND COB AND
KELLY -- HANCOCK AND KELLY AND
THEY'RE ON RADIO ALL THE TIME
AND THEY HAVE FINANCIAL AND
POLITICAL INTERESTS IN THE
CLIENTS THEY SERVE.
>> AND I DON'T LIKE THAT.
>> BUT HOW CAN I TELL SCOTT
FAUGHN HE CAN'T DO IT, WHEN TO
ME THEY'RE NOT SAME BALLPARK.
>> TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, I'LL
BACK UP HANCOCK AND KELLY ON
THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE MY GOOD
FRIENDS ON KMOX AND THEY'RE ALSO
ON FOX, BUT THEY DO DISCLOSE
THEIR CONFLICTS AND WHEN IT CAME
TO SOME ISSUES LIKE BETTER
TOGETHER, THEY DID NOT TALK
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN
WORKING FOR THAT AND THEY ARE
INSTRUCTED NOT TO INTERVIEW
PEOPLE FROM WHOM THEY RECEIVE
MONEY.
BUT THEY ARE POLITICAL
OPERATIVES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT AND THEY'RE ON THE RADIO.
>> BUT SCOTT FAUGHN HAS NEVER
DISCLOSED WHERE THAT MONEY CAME
FROM THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BRING
DOWN GREITENS.
AT LEAST UNTIL HE DISCLOSES
THAT --
>> WHAT KIND OF A JOURNALIST
DOESN'T DISCLOSE HE'S THE GUY
PRYING THE MONEY TO BRING DOWN
THE GOVERNOR?
>> ONE, DISHONEST, ONE MAYBE
BAD, BUT WITH ALL THE TRASH
GOING ON OUT THERE, HOW AM I
GOING TO PICK HIM OUT?
>> WE CAN ALL QUESTION ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO ABOUT HIM AND
CERTAINLY IT'S FAIR CRITICISM,
BUT HE HAS A TV SHOW.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS --
>> IT'S A COMMERCIAL IS WHAT IT
IS.
>> I'M NOT -- LOOK, IT WAS AN
EASY INTERVIEW BECAUSE I
OBVIOUSLY LIKES PARSON, WHICH IS
WHY HE WENT ON THE SHOW.
>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT
SHOW, IT SAID THE FOLLOWING IS A
PAID COMMERCIAL.
HE'S NOT A JOURNALIST.
>> NO ONE IS SAYING HE IS.
I'M NOT SAYING HE IS.
>> I'M SAYING HE IS.
>> IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY.
>> I'M SAYING HE HAS A TV SHOW.
SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME ON, THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO AND IF
SOMEBODY WANTS TO CRITICIZE HIM,
THAT'S THE FLACK THEY'RE GOING
TO TANK.
>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS ASK
YOU TO BASICALLY PAY US AND THAT
IS TO JOIN US -- WELL, NOT
DIRECTLY PAYING IT, BUT YOU'RE
SUPPORTING THE NINE TEAMWORK
THROUGH OUR BIG ANNUAL
FUNDRAISER, WE CALL IT DONNYBASH
AND HERE ARE THE DETAILS, HOW
YOU CAN JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER
26th AT THE SHELDON.
>> ALL RIGHT, DONNYBROOK IS
WHERE YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU
WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE ISSUES OF
THE DAY DISCUSSED RATIONALLY.
WELL, MOST OF THEM ARE
DISCUSSING IT RATIONALLY AND YOU
CAN DECIDE WHICH ONES YOU THINK
ARE RATIONAL AND WHICH ONES YOU
THINK AREN'T, BUT ALL OF THEM
ARE SITTING THERE LISTENING TO
EACH OTHER, ALLOWING EACH OTHER
TO SPEAK AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES
DONNYBROOK SO IMPORTANT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH
EACH OTHER AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO
AGREE WITH THEM, BUT EVERYONE
HAS A CHANCE TO STATE THEIR
OPINION.
AND ISN'T IT REFRESHING TO HAVE
A PLACE LIKE THAT?
AND THAT PLACE IS RIGHT HERE ON
THE NINE NETWORK.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING
THAT HAPPEN THROUGH YOUR
MEMBERSHIP.
AT JUST $5 A MONTH, YOU'RE GOING
TO RECEIVE THIS CLASSIC
DONNYBRICK AT YOUR $5 SUSTAINING
MEMBERSHIP LEVEL.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN
DONNYBRICK AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE
WHAT YOU HEAR OR JUST CAN'T HOLE
IT IN ANYMORE, YOU THROW IT
DIRECTLY AT YOUR TELEVISION
SCREEN.
OR THE SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP,
YOU CAN JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH
HAPPENING OVER AT THE SHELDON.
IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US AT JUST
$12 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING
MEMBER, YOU CAN GET THE BIG PIJ.
IT'S THE DONNYBRICK AND A TICKET
FOR YOU AND A FRIEND TO GO TO
DONNYBASH AND BE THERE FOR THE
PRESHOW RE SHOSHOW RECEPTION, THE LIVE SHO
W
AND AFTERWARDS, THE POST SHOW
RECEPTION.
YOU TRY TO SAY THAT FAST.
YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
JOINING AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO NOT ONLY WATCH
DONNYBROOK, BUT SUPPORT IT.
ONES YOU DO THAT RIGHT NOW --
WON'T YOU DO THAT RIGHT NOW?
GIVE US A CALL.
>> YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS A LOT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU JOINING
US.
WE'RE JUST WONDERING WHEN SARAH
IS GOING TO THROW THIS
DONNYBRICK AT THE CAMERA.
COULD BE BEFORE THE END OF THE
SHOW.
THE DONNYBRICK WILL BE YOURSELF
SO YOU CAN RELIEVE THOSE
TENSIONS AND RELEASE THOSE
ENDORPHINS AND ALL THAT AS YOU
WATCH OUR PROGRAM AND YOU'LL
HELP CHANNEL 9 SUPPORT THESE
GREAT PROGRAMS FROM PBS AND
BEYOND.
THINK OF ALL THE GREAT PROGRAMS
THAT YOU ENJOY HERE, INCLUDING
OF COURSE THE NEWS HOUR WHICH
PRECEDES US EVERY WEEK NIGHT AND
JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
JOURNALISM IS EXCELLENT.
WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
JOURNALISM.
NOBODY IT DOES BETTER THAN JUDY
WOODRUFF AND HER TEAM AT THE
NEWS HOUR.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH,
OUR FUNDRAISER.
WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
BEING SO GENEROUS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD FOOD, GOOD FUN.
I THINK SOME KNOWLEDGEABLE TALK.
I'M NOT SURE.
>> THAT'S QUESTIONABLE.
>> YOU'VE BEEN IN THE AUDIENCE
BEFORE.
>> WHEN THEY ASK QUESTIONS AT
THE END.
>> THE ONE THING WE KNOW FOR
SURE IS THAT THE VENUE IS GREAT.
THE ACOUSTICS, THE SHELDON IS
ONE OF THE GREAT -- IT'S ALWAYS
A THRILL.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT A LONG TIME,
BUT JUST TO BE PART OF THAT
HISTORY.
IT'S A LOT BETTER FOLKS, MORE
IMPORTANT PEOPLE PERFORM ON THAT
STAGE, BUT SERIOUSLY, IT'S
VERY -- YOU KNOW, IT SEATS 7-,
800 PEOPLE, BUT IT'S VERY
INTIMATE AT THE SAME TIME.
THERE'S OTHER GREAT THEATERS IN
ST. LOUIS, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE
REAL TREASURES.
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS THE ORIGINAL
SITE OF THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF
ST. LOUIS BEFORE IT MOVED OUT TO
CLAYTON ROAD.
>> HOW IRONIC THAT IS.
>> THIS WILL BE THE ONE TIME OR
ONCE A YEAR THAT WE SHARE A
STAGE THAT ALBERT EINSTEIN WAS
ON.
>> KATHLEEN BATTLE, AND MORE.
AND THE DONNY GANG.
PLEASE JOIN US.
CALL THAT NUMBER ON THE SCREEN
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US, SEPTEMBER 26th, NEXT
MONTH, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, SARAH, ABOUT
THE COMIC SECOND AT THE
POST-DISPATCH.
USUALLY I COULD CLICK THROUGH
FACEBOOK AND MY NAME WOULD BE TO
THERE.
YOU DEVOTED AN ENTIRE HOUR --
>> NOT AN ENTIRE HOUR, BUT HALF
AN HOUR BR WE HAD BETH O'MALLEY
CAME ON TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES
MAKING TO THE COMMENT SECTION.
I FIND THIS TOPIC REALLY
INTERESTING BECAUSE I'M A
JOURNALIST, BUT EVERYONE IS
TRYING TO PROMOTE CIVIL
DISCOURSE AND IT'S LIKE HOW DO
YOU GET THERE WHEN PEOPLE ARE
TERRIBLE AND ESPECIALLY ONLINE.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS MOVED AWAY
WITH A FACEBOOK-BASED SYSTEM,
WHERE YOU HAVE TO LOG IN WITH
YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT, WHICH IS
AN ATTEMPT TO GET PEOPLE TO DO
THINGS UNDER YOUR REAL NAME.
NOW YOU'RE DOING IT WITH THE
LOG-IN WITH THE PAPER, IT HEY
NOT BE YOUR REAL NAME, BUT YOU
CAN UP-VOTE COMMENTS THAT ARE
HELPFUL OR PROMOTING THE
DISCUSSION OR DOWN-VOTE SOMEONE
WHO'S BEING A JERK OR NOT
CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISCUSSION.
THE IDEA IS EVERYONE
PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION
WITH HELP TO MODERATE IT AND THE
GOOD COMMENTS RISE TO THE TOP
AND THE BAD COMMENTS ARE BURIED.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WAS A
PUBLISHER OF A PUBLICATION, WE
WOULD NOT HAVE A COMMENT
SECTION.
I MIGHT HAVE A PLACE ONLINE
WHERE YOU CAN HIT AN ICON AND GO
AWAY, BUT NOT AT THE END OF ANY
STORY.
I'M LOST FOR HOW SOMEONE NOT
HAVING TO USE THEIR NAME IS
GOING TO CLEAR UP THAT TRASH
THAT'S IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.
I THINK IT WILL LEAD TO EVEN
WORSE.
AND ALL THEY DO, ALL THE MINIONS
WHO AGREE WITH SOME JUST CRAZY
STATEMENT ON THERE, THEY'LL JUST
BE GIVING IT THE THUMBS UP AND
IT WILL STILL STAY AT THE TOP.
THE HATRED AND ALL THAT WILL BE
RIGHT AT THE TOP.
>> WHAT BETH WAS SAYING, THE
FACEBOOK SYSTEM IS DESIGNED THAT
PEOPLE HAVE TO USE THEIR REAL
NAMES OR FACEBOOK WILL BOOT YOU
IF THEY CATCH YOU USING A FAKE
NAME.
PEOPLE WERE FIGURING OUT WAYS TO
GAME THIS SYSTEM JUST LIKE EVERY
SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, PEOPLE GAME
IT AND THEY WERE ALREADY ON
THERE WITH FAKE NAMES.
WHY FORCE PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH
FACEBOOK WHEN WE KNOW FACEBOOK
BUSINESS DESTROYING DEMOCRACY.
>> THERE'S TWO SIDES OF THIS.
ONE IS THE EFFORT TO HAVE THE
CIVIL DISCOURSE AND LEAD THE
COMMUNITY AND THE OTHER IS THAT
PEOPLE READ THIS BECAUSE IT IS A
TRAIN WRECK.
I MEAN, PEOPLE READ THE COMMENTS
SECTION BECAUSE IT IS SO NASTY.
AND SO I MEAN, IF YOU WANT -- DO
YOU REALLY WANT CIVIL DISCOURSE?
>> CERTAINLY AT MY FORMER
EMPLOYER, THE RIVERFRONT TIMES,
THE COMMENTS ARE JUST
NOTORIOUSLY TON TOXIC AND PEOPLE
WANT TO TUNE IN TO THAT.
>> YOU'RE MY FORMER BOSS, BUT
YOU ALSO FOUNDED THE PAPER SO I
MEAN, I'M SORT OF BECOMING MORE
IN ALVIN'S CAMP ON THIS.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SO MUCH --
IF THE COMMENTS -- YOU REALLY
HAVE TO HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO
MODERATE MORE THAN MOST OF US AS
JOURNALISTS WANT TO BECAUSE WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THESE COMMENTS, AND
I WRITE A COLUMN IN THE RFT, I
STOPPED LOOKING AT THEM.
I'M JUST NOT GOING TO LOOK AT
THE COMMENTS BECAUSE A LOT OF
THEM, BESIDES JUST BEING SLANDER
PER SE AT THE TIME, THE
COMMENTERS HAVING FEUDS AND
GOING AFTER ONE ANOTHER AND
IT'S -- WHICH IS THE TRAIN WRECK
BILL IS TALKING ABOUT, AND IT'S
REALLY -- I CAN -- I SURELY
WOULDN'T CRITICIZE ANYBODY THAT
SHUTS OFF COMMENTS.
>> IT IS DIFFICULT TO MODERATE.
>> I WOULD NOT SHUT OFF -- IF
YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM, HAVE
THEM, BUT I WOULDN'T CRITICIZE
ANYBODY THAT SHUT THEM OFF.
>> I THINK HONESTLY, YOU HAVE TO
BE AN IDIOT TO BE AGAINST CIVIL
DISCOURSE.
>> THIS ISN'T CIVIL.
>> I WOULD SAY -- YOU KNOW --
>> YOU ASK THE QUESTION --
>> BOB COSTAS TALKED ABOUT THIS
A LOT.
HE'LL SAY, OKAY, DAVID BROOKS
SPENDS THREE DAYS WRITING A
COLUMN AND THEN IT'S IN THE "NEW
YORK TIMES" AND THEN YOU CAN
FIND SOME GUY WHO ON THE SEAT OF
HIS PANTS WRITES SOMETHING CRAZY
RIGHT AFTER, NOT WELL REASONED
OR THOUGHT OUT AT ALL.
THAT'S THE POINT OF A NEWSPAPER?
ARE YOU HERE TO GET SOME OF THE
FLY-BY-THE-SEAT OF THE PANTS
COMMENTS THAT IS NOT RESEARCHED
OR FORETHOUGHT OR SOMETHING
THAT'S REASONED AND INTELLIGENT
AND PUT TOGETHER BY A
PROFESSIONAL.
IN THE MEDIA, DO WE CONSIDER
OURSELVES PROFESSIONAL OR ARE WE
JUST ONE MORE VOICE OUT THERE?
>> YOU HAVE TO ADD IN THE
ELEMENT OF ALL THE BOTS OUT
THERE OR THE FAKE WHATEVER.
I'M TO THE POINT WHERE I
REALLY -- PEOPLE ARE SO BRAVE
WHEN THEY HAVE THE ANONYMITY OF
THEIR TWITTER ACCOUNT IN THE
COMMENTS.
I YAD TO THINK, YEARS AGO, THINK
ANYTHING GOES, WE WANT TO
ENCOURAGE THE CONVERSATION, AND
AS I SAY, I'M SORT OF IN THE
MIDDLE IN THAT I WOULDN'T
CRITICIZE ANYONE FOR HAVING IT,
BUT I DEFINITELY LEAN MORE
TOWARDS SAYING THE HECK WITH ALL
OF IT.
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE COMMENTS SECTION AND THE
CALLERS TO YOUR TURN?
>> WELL, THERE IS -- BECAUSE WE
GOT SOME RULES.
THERE'S SOME MODERATION AND
CHANNEL 9 ISN'T GOING TO ALLOW
PEOPLE -- LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING.
I REMEMBER BEING ON CABLE ACCESS
ONCE WHEN IT WAS FIRST A THING
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN TWO
HOURS, THERE WAS LIKE ONE CALL
THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE HUMAN
ANATOMY.
I MEAN --
>> IT'S KIND OF AN ISLAND OF
DECENCY OUT THERE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A CALL-IN SHOW ON
CHANNEL 9, IT'S DIFFERENT.
>> WE GET GREAT CALLS.
>> LET'S MOVE ON.
BILL, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
THAT PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT T-SHIRTS
WITH THE RAMS LOGO ON IT BETWEEN
DECEMBER OF 2010 AND MAYBE
SOMETIME IN 2016, CAN GET A 25%
REFUND THIS THEY KEPT THEIR
RECEIPTS OR IF THEY'RE IN THE
RAMS SYSTEM.
IF YOU BOUGHT IT AT THE STADIUM
AND THE RAMS HAVE YOU ON FILE,
THEY'RE GOING TO SEND YOU SOME
MONEY AND IF YOU BOUGHT TICKSES
AND YOU'RE IN -- TICKS AND
YOU'RE IN THEIR SYSTEM OR GOT
THE RECEIPT, I THINK YOU GET 25%
BACK.
I CAN UNDERSTAND SEASON TICKSES
AND PSLs, BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, IF
YOU BOUGHT A RAMS T-SHIRT OR A
HAT, DOES STAN KROENKE AT POINT
OWE YOU ANYTHING?
>> NO, HE DOESN'T.
HE'S A GREAT ENTREPRENEUR, I'LL
START -- NO, I HATE TO BE A STAN
KROENKE'S SIDE, BUT I THINK IF
PEOPLE WANT TO BUY SOUVENIRS OF
SOME TEAM, THAT'S GREAT, BUT IF
THE TEAM LOSES OR ANYTHING, I
DON'T THINK PEOPLE DESERVE THE
MONEY BACK.
AS FAR AS THE PSL OWNERS, YOU
CAN READ THE LEASE AS WELL AS
ANYONE ELSE.
THIS TEAM CAN LEAVE AFTER TEN
YEARS OR 20 YEARS OR 30 YEARS.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE ABOUT THE PSL
OWNERS.
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I'D LIKE TO
TAKE A STICK AND POKE IT AT
MR. KROENKE, BUT I DON'T THINK
THIS DESERVES ANYTHING.
>> EXCUSE ME, ELECTIONS MATTER
AND VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENT
MATTER.
THIS ONE WAS MADE IN THE SYSTEM.
I DON'T -- I KIND OF DON'T THINK
STAN KROENKE IS GOING TO LOSE A
LOT OF SLEEP OVER IT, BUT I
THINK THAT IF WE -- ST. LOUIS
DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO SHOW FOR
IT.
THEY GOT A SETTLEMENT, GOT A
VERDICT --
>> COME ON, RAY, T-SHIRTS
AGAINST STAN KROENKE?
>> THE BIG WINNERS IN ANY CLASS
ACTION FOR THE LAWYERS, WE KNOW
THAT.
>> $7 MILLION.
>> BUT HAVING SAID THAT --
>> YOU MEAN ANYBODY WHO BOUGHT A
T-SHIRT HAS A CLAIM?
>> THEY DO.
THEY POINT IS ARE YOU FEELING
BAD -- MY POINT IS ARE YOU
FEELING BAD FOR KROENKE?
I DON'T CARE ABOUT A GUY GETTING
25 CENTS BACK FOR HIS T-SHIRT --
>> THAT'S A TYRANNY OF THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
>> YOU'RE THE GUY WHO TOOK THE
SETTLEMENT.
>> BANK OF AMERICA, I READ IT --
[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ]
AND THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS
THEY GOT THIS -- STAN KROENKE
WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE LAST
LAUGH.
THEY GOT THIS LUMP OF SETTLEMENT
MONEY AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE,
WHICH IS THE CASE OF ONE OF THE
ONES I DID, DON'T CLAIM THE
MONEY, WHATEVER IS LEFT, I GOT
TWO CHECKS.
>> DID YOU REALLY?
>> YES, I DID.
SO YOU MIGHT THINK OF ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT COULD CLAIM SOME OF
THIS MONEY, ONLY ABOUT A HALF OF
THEM ARE GOING TO EVEN PROBABLY
BOTHER.
>> WHO KEEPS A RECEIPT FROM A
T-SHIRT?
>> THIS IS AMAZING.
I HAD A PSL --
>> THE PSL OWNERS ARE IN THE
SYSTEM, IN THE COMPUTER.
>> THEY ACTUALLY CALL THEM.
>> IF THEY BOUGHT A T-SHIRT OR
SWEATSHIRT OR HOODIE FROM
MACY'S, YOU BETTER HAVE THE
RECEIPT.
OTHERWISE YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.
>> MAYBE A PHOTO OF YOU IN THE
T-SHIRT.
>> THAT MIGHT HELP.
>> I HAVE TO ADMIT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS BIZARRE, BUT
I'M SAYING THE SETTLEMENT WAS
WHAT THE SETTLEMENT WAS.
WHO DO YOU FEEL BAD FOR?
KROENKE?
>> THAT'S THE POINT.
>> QUITE FRANKLY, IT NEVER WENT
TO TRIAL BECAUSE THEY SETTLED
AND HERE'S THIS MONEY THAT THIS
COMPANY OR MR. KROENKE HAS TO
COME UP WITH AND IF YOU WANT A
PIECE OF THAT PIE, WHO'S MAD?
HE AIN'T MAD.
>> ALVIN, I BET YOU THOUGHT OF
THIS ONE AND THAT IS, WE HAVE A
MLS TEAM COMING OUR WAY.
WE MENTIONED THAT EARLIER IN THE
SHOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MASCOT
SHOULD BE?
>> OH, WOW.
OKAY, WHEN I FIRST HEARD
BATTLEHAWKS, MY FIRST THOUGHT
WAS, WHAT, WHAT?
>> THAT'S THE XFL TEAM.
>> ALL RIGHT -- OH, I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE TALKING --
>> MLS.
>> MLS.
SEE, I HAD XFL ON MY MIND.
THAT'S A CRAZY NAME.
>> YOU'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE
SETTLEMENT.
>> RIGHT.
>> HE'S GOING TO FILL OUT HIS
FORM.
>> LIKE LEWIS AND CLARK KIND OF
THING?
THE EXPEDITION.
>> THE ST. LOUIS AND CLARK.
>> THE JOURNEY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
MASCOT WOULD BE THAT WOULDN'T
OFFEND SOMEBODY, FIRST OF ALL,
SO --
>> IT CAN'T BE THE KINGS.
>> IT CAN'T BE THE KINGS AND --
YOU KNOW.
WE AS A -- I THINK YOU HAVE TO
WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE NAME OF
THE TEAM IS FIRST AND THEN YOU
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MASCOT IS.
>> COULD BE THE TOASTED RAVS.
>> ANYTHING LIKE THAT IS DUMB.
>> HOW ABOUT THE TAX CREDITS?
>> THE ST. LOUIS TAX CREDITS.
>> THE CREDIT.
>> LET'S SEE HOW --
>> SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY GOOD
AT HERE.
>> THE ST. LOUIS ABATEMENT.
>> WELL, TRUTH BE TOLD, IF WE
HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE CARDINALS
BEFORE, NO TEAM HAD EVER BEEN
NAMED AFTER THEM AND SOMEONE
SUGGEST THAT THE NEW MLS TEAM OR
XFL TEAM BE NAME THE CARDINALS,
DO YOU THINK IT WOULD FLY?
>> THE XFL --
>> THAT ISN'T REALLY A THING.
>> IT IS.
>> WHAT THE GUYS NAME -- REALLY?
IT'S NOT EVEN --
>> HE HIRED A LEGITIMATE
INDIVIDUAL IN OLIVER LUSK --
>> THE MLS, I THINK ST. LOUIS IS
A SOCCER CAPITAL AND I'M HAPPY
FOR SOCCER FANS FOR REAL.
I THINK IT'S A THING.
THE XFL IT'S EVEN A THING.
>> IT IS A THING.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT BECAUSE OF
HIM, BUT HE'S NOT RUNNING IT.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO EMPLOY,
YOU KNOW, 3-, 400 INDIVIDUALS,
GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MAKE MONEY
AND PLAY FOOTBALL.
IT DOES HAVE A TV CONTRACT AND
IT'S GOING TO BE A TELEVISION.
SO I CAN'T HATE ON THOSE
PARTICIPATING IN THE LEAGUE.
BY THE WAY, OUR TEAM IS LIKE THE
FRONT OFFICE WAY MORE DIVERSE
AND THIS LEAGUE IS WAY MORE
DIVERSE THAN THE NATIONAL
FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT MAYORS,
I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE --
ABOUT PLAYERS, I'M TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE RUNNING THE ORGANIZATION.
I CAN'T DO IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S
McMAHAN.
>> I CAN.
PEOPLE HAD --
>> SARAH FENSKE, LET'S MOVE ON
TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.
A WOMAN THIS WEEK WROTE ABOUT
THE MIGRATION OF BOSNIAN
REFUGEES FROM THE CITY OF
ST. LOUIS TO THE COUNTY, GOING
TO HIGH SCHOOLS LIKE MEHLVILLE
AND OAKVILLE.
THEY'RE APPARENTLY RIGHT NOW,
THE BOSNIANS ARE FIRMLY
ENSCONCED IN THE MIDDLE CLASS
AND THEY HAVE LEFT THE BEVO MILL
AREA.
YOU POINTED OUT THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET IN THE
NEW YORK TIMES.
>> JOEL MURPHY WROTE THIS STORY
A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THERE'S JUST
A COUPLE DOZEN BOSNIANS LEFT IN
THE BEVO MILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE UPSET
WITH THIS, BECAUSE, A, THEY WERE
MOSTLY LEAVING BECAUSE OF CRIME,
BUT B, I THINK IT KIND OF MISSED
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT STORY,
BUT IT DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THE NEXT WAVE OF
PEOPLE MOVING INTO THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ALREADY HERE.
THEY'RE MEXICANS-ON DUR RANCE,
CENTRAL AMERICANS THAT OPENED UP
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE FILLING
THESE PLACES THAT USED TO BE
OWNED BY BOSNIANS.
IT'S SORT OF THE CYCLE OF THE
CITY.
THEY MOVED TO THE SUBURBS.
BOAST OF THEM STAYED IN THE
ST. LOUIS AREA AND THE NEIGHBOR
HAS A NEW POPULATION THAT'S
DOING GREAT THERE.
>> AND YOU CAN WRITE THE STORY
NOW ABOUT THE SIRIANS WHO ARE --
SIRIANS WHO ARE LARGELY MOVING
FROM THE CITY TO OTHER PLACES
AND A LOT OF THE REFUGEES HAVE
MOVED TO, I THINK IT'S DEARBORN,
MICHIGAN, BECAUSE OF THE BIG
ARABIC SPEAKING COMMUNITY THERE.
PEOPLE GET JOBS AND THEY MOVE
ON.
THAT'S ALL G I GUESS.
IT WOULD BE NICE, THOUGH, FOR US
TO HAVE A LITTLE DAMASCUS IN THE
SKE OR A LITTLE BOSNIA, A LITTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS FUFRL
RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS THAT
REFLECT THE ETHNICITY OF THE
COUNTRY LIKE THE HILL REFLECTS
ITALY.
>> SPEAKING OF THE COUNTRY, I
THINK WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT
THIS, I KNOW WE'RE IN THE BLUE
PART OF A RED STATE, BUT I DON'T
KNOW ANYONE THAT DOESN'T THINK
THAT THE IMMIGRANTS ISN'T A GOOD
THING.
CROSS PARTY LINES, CROSS --
EVERYBODY FEELS THAT'S PART OF
OUR HERITAGE.
WHETHER YOU GO BACK TO THE HILL,
YOU KNOW, BEING AN ITALIAN AREA
OR OTHER ETHNICITIES, AND
CERTAINLY -- EVERYBODY WELCOMES
THEM AND --
>> I DON'T WANT TO AGREE WITH
YOU, RAY, BUT I THINK IT'S
UNWELCOMING IN MISSOURI.
I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY AGREES
ACROSS PARTY LINES.
I THINK THERE'S A NOT OF
NATIVISM HERE AND ANTI --
>> I DON'T SEE IT IN ST. LOUIS
AT ALL.
MAYBE IT IS IN MISSOURI
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
>> I WISH IT WEREN'T.
>> DO YOU SEE IT IN ST. LOUIS?
>> I DO.
>> I THINK PEOPLE LIKE DONALD
TRUMP PLAYS TO THAT.
>> HE DOES.
THAT'S MY POINT.
I DON'T FEEL IT IN ST. LOUIS
WHEN I --
>> WHEN IT CAME TO THE VISA
CONTROVERSY THIS PAST SPRING
WHERE LANDSCAPERS WOULDN'T GET
TEMPORARY WORKERS FROM MEXICO
BECAUSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
WAS DRAGGING ITS HEELS AND THERE
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE
AGAINST THE TEMPORARY WORKERS
COMING HERE FROM MEXICO TO
ST. LOUIS.
>> WHEN I FIRST BACK HERE IN
1995, I HAD A FRIEND WHO LIVE
JUST TO THE, I GUESS WEST OF
BEVO MILL RIGHT OFF OF
KINGSHIGHWAY AND THERE WAS -- AT
THAT TIME, I GUESS IT WAS THE
HEIGHT OF THE BOSNIAN POPULATION
THAT MOVED HERE, THERE WERE A
LOT OF VERY NEGATIVE THINGS
BEING SAID ABOUT THEM, AND I
THOUGHT IT WAS THIS COOL THING
THAT ONLY I HAD READ ABOUT IN
THE NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE
POST-DISPATCH, AND I MOVED BACK,
HAD A FRIEND WHO HAPPENED TO
LIVE THERE AND HE TOLD ME HE HAD
NO PROBLEM WITH THEM, BUT HE
SAID UP AND DOWN THIS STREET,
CAN'T STAND THEM.
>> I PLEAD GUILTY.
I ABSOLUTELY THOUGHT -- MAYBE
I'M JUST BEING AN IDIOT, BUT I
DIDN'T -- I CAN SEE MISSOURI,
AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY A HOT BUTTON
ISSUE THAT TRUMP IS TRYING TO
DIVIDE THE COUNTRY WITH, AND
THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD
THING.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING,
THE WRITER FOR THE NEW YORK
TIMES CAME HERE AS A REFUGEE,
AND SHE WENT TO UNIVERSITY AND
IS NOW WORKING FOR THE NEW YORK
TIMES.
LET'S GO TO THE PAIL BAG.
I USUAL THE LA DOOR SCHOOL
DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER IT'S
POSITION AND TO OFFER THE
NORMANDY STUDENT AND OPPORTUNITY
TO COMPLETE THEIR GRADUATION
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
HE IS WHAT GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICTS
AND CARING COMMUNITIES DO.
THAT FROM JANE BAKER OF
ST. LOUIS.
PHIL WROTE REGARDING THE STORY
ABOUT THE GIRLS SOCCER FIELD
BEING INVADED BY THE BOYS
FOOTBALL TEAM.
ALL OF YOU MISSED A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO SEND A POWERFUL
MERGE.
THE STORY WAS ABOUT ADULTS
BEHAVING POORLY AND SENDING A
MESSAGE THAT THE BOYS SPACE WAS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GIRLS
SPACE.
THANKS, BILL.
YOU CAN ALWAYS WRITE US CARE OF
KETC, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST.
LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.
WE LOVE THOSE EMAILS,
LETTERS@KETC.ORG AND THOSE
TWEETS, #DONNYBROOKSTL.
DON'T FORGET YOU CAN LISTEN ON
APPLE AND SPOTIFY, GOOGLE PLAY
AND TUNE-IN.
THOSE ARE OUR PODCASTS AND WE
HOPE YOU JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH.
THAT'S AT THE SHELDON ON SENSE
THE 26th.
THANKS TO SARAH FENSKE FOR
SITTING IN FOR WENDY WIESE WHO
WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
SARAH, YOU CAN THROW THAT
DONNYBRICK IF YOU'D LIKE TO
RIGHT NOW.
OH, GOOD ARM.
>> I MISSED.
YOU MAKE FUN OF ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
NINE NETWORK.