(Music)
>> Gary Walker: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," ELECTION 2001
IS OVER, AND THERE WERE SOME
SURPRISES.
THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES ARE
SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN, BUT THE
DEMOCRATS NARROWED THE GAP IN
THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND
PULLED A COUP IN THE JUDICIAL
RACE.
BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN FOR
US?
IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL
TALK WITH THE MONROE COUNTY
POLITICAL PARTY CHAIRS ABOUT
THE RESULTS OF ELECTION 2001.
ALSO, WE DEBUT A NEW SEGMENT
ON "NEED TO KNOW," THE
BUSINESS SECTION WITH "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO ELLEN
ROSEN, THE PAPER'S BUSINESS
EDITOR.
ELLEN HAS SOME INSIGHT ON OUR
DECLINING ECONOMY.
BUT FIRST, MONROE COUNTY'S
POLITICAL FUTURE, COMING UP
NEXT ON "NEED TO KNOW."
(Applause)
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Gary Walker: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
NOW THAT VOTERS HAVE MADE
THEIR CHOICES, THE TIME WILL
COME FOR A NEWLY ELECTED
OFFICIAL TO TAKE OFFICE AND
GET TO WORK.
BUT CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER?
DEMOCRATS REMAIN IN CONTROL OF
THE CITY AND REPUBLICANS
CONTINUE TO LEAD THE COUNTY
INTO 2002.
DEMOCRATIC MAYOR WILLIAM
JOHNSON STAYS SEATED, AND
REPUBLICAN PATRICK O'FLYNN WAS
ELECTED AS MONROE COUNTY
SHERIFF.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER RACES TO
TALK ABOUT, RACES THAT MAY
IMPACT CITY AND COUNTY
RELATIONS.
REPUBLICANS KEEP ADVANTAGE IN
THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, BUT
THE DEMOCRATS DID PICK UP
THREE SEATS.
THE G.O.P. RETAINS ITS
MAJORITY IN THE COUNTY
LEGISLATURE.
FOR THE ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL
BOARD, THE 30-YEAR STREAK FOR
DEMOCRATS CONTINUES.
REPUBLICANS WERE UNABLE TO
UNSEAT ANY OF THE
ALL-DEMOCRATIC SCHOOL BOARD
NOR UNSEAT ANY OF THE
ALL-DEMOCRATIC CITY COUNCIL.
THERE WAS ALSO AN UPSET FOR
STATE SUPREME COURT.
DEMOCRAT JOSEPH VALENTINO HAD
THE SURPRISE OF THE EVENING
AND TOOK THE SEAT OVER
REPUBLICAN/CONSERVATIVE MARY
GAIL DOYLE.
LET'S START WITH THE RACE FOR
MAYOR.
REPUBLICANS RAN A SOLID
CANDIDATE THIS TIME AROUND,
BUT A HUGE DEMOCRATIC
ENROLLMENT, COMBINED WITH
LITTLE MONEY FOR A CAMPAIGN,
DIDN'T GIVE LUIS PEREZ MUCH OF
A CHANCE TO PREVENT BILL
JOHNSON FROM GAINING A THIRD
TERM.
AND JOHNSON SAYS THE TIME HAS
COME FOR ALL OFFICIALS TO WORK
TOGETHER.
(Applause)
>> THE VOTERS, MORE AND MORE
VOTERS, ARE SENDING A MESSAGE
THAT POLITICS IS GREAT IN ITS
OWN TIME, BUT AFTER YOU WIN
THE RACE, YOU NEED TO LAY DOWN
YOUR GLOVES AND YOUR ARMAMENT
AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY,
AND I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE ACROSS THE STREET AT THAT
OTHER HOTEL WILL GET THAT
MESSAGE, WILL GET THAT
MESSAGE, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T
GET IT TONIGHT, THEY WILL GET
IT NEXT YEAR AND IN 2003; WE
CAN PROMISE THEM THAT!
(Applause and cheering)
THIS IS THEIR LAST CHANCE TO
WORK WITH US, TO MOVE THIS
COMMUNITY ALONG, MOVE IT
TOGETHER, TO OVERCOME THE
BICKERING AND DIVISION.
SO WE LEAVE TONIGHT GOING HOME
WITH A GREAT, GREAT VICTORY.
THEY WON SOME; WE WON SOME,
BUT WE DID A WHOLE LOT BETTER
THAN PEOPLE EXPECTED US TO DO.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE WON A
GREAT MORAL VICTORY HERE
TONIGHT.
(Applause)
>> EVEN IF WE DON'T WIN, WE
HAVE ALREADY WON.
WE HAVE CREATED A PUBLIC
SQUARE.
WE'VE GOT -- WE HAVE REENGAGED
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BACK IN THE
SYSTEM AND WE'RE TAKING A
GOOD, STRONG STEP TOWARD WHAT
WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH DOWN THE
ROAD.
>> Gary Walker: JOINING US IN
STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT ELECTION
2001 ARE THE FOUR MONROE
COUNTY PARTY CHAIRS.
WE HAVE TED O'BRIEN.
HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE OF MONROE
COUNTY.
STEVE MINARIK IS THE CHAIR OF
THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE OF
MONROE COUNTY.
AND TOM COOK.
HE IS THE MONROE COUNTY
CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIR.
AND THE INDEPENDENT PARTY
CHAIR, DONALD PORTO.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME
CONGRATULATE YOU -- I KNOW,
KIND OF ODD COMING OUT OF ME
-- BUT PARTICULARLY THE MAJOR
PARTIES BECAUSE YOU WORKED
HARD ON FIELDING CANDIDATES
PRETTY MUCH FOR ALL THE CITY
AND COUNTY RACES AS MUCH AS
YOU CAN.
SOME RACES DIDN'T, BUT FOR THE
MOST PART, FROM WHAT I HAVE
SEEN IN MY COVERING POLITICS,
YOU WENT REALLY OUT OF YOUR
WAY TO PUT CANDIDATES IN
POSITIONS AND RAN CREDIBLE
CANDIDATES, NOT TO SAY THAT
THEY WERE WELL FINANCIALLY
SUPPORTED ON EITHER SIDE, BUT
YOU REALLY MADE AN EFFORT, AND
I THINK PEOPLE WERE BETTER
SUITED, HAVING A CHOICE FOR
ONCE AND HAVING A DIALOGUE FOR
THE RACES.
THE SHERIFF'S RACE, THE
MAYOR'S RACE... ALL OF THEM, I
THINK, WERE MOVED UP.
>> THAT'S TRUE, GARY.
I GIVE THE REPUBLICANS CREDIT
FOR RUNNING CANDIDATES,
FIELDING GOOD CANDIDATES FOR
THE CITY.
WE FOCUSED VERY HEAVILY ON THE
COUNTY LEGISLATIVE RACES AND
HAD A SLATE OF CANDIDATES IN
VIRTUALLY EVERY TOWN UNTIL YOU
GET UP TO THE NORTHWEST PART
OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE STILL
NEED TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS.
BUT WE RAN GREAT CANDIDATES,
AND I THINK THAT'S -- IF YOU
DON'T START WITH GOOD
CANDIDATES EARLY IN THE
SPRING, YOU DON'T HAVE THE
KIND OF RESULTS THAT WE HAD ON
ELECTION NIGHT.
>> Gary Walker: I HAVE TO SAY
FOR THE REPUBLICANS, YOU HAD A
CREDIBLE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.
HE WAS A GOOD GUY.
HE DID VERY WELL DURING THE
DEBATES.
YOU HAD A FULL SLATE FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL AND A FULL SLATE
FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANKS.
I'M JUST SICK AND TIRED OF THE
EDITORIAL BOARD FROM GANNETT
COMPLAINING THAT WE DIDN'T
OFFER CHOICES.
I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE OFFER
CHOICES IN A FAR GREATER PACE
THAN DO THE DEMOCRATS.
THIS YEAR WE RAN -- I THINK
EXCEPT FOR ONE SPOT, I THINK A
FULL SLATE FOR ALL OF THEM, SO
IT WAS GREAT.
>> Gary Walker: IS IT
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
CONTINUE FOR FUTURE RACES?
>> I DON'T FORESEE ANY REASON
NOT TO.
I HAVE SOMEONE IN THE CITY
THAT'S REALLY INTERESTED AS
OUR LEADER, AND THAT'S LOU
PEREZ.
HE'S DEDICATED TO THE
COMMUNITY, AN UPSTANDING
GENTLEMAN, AND WANTS TO
PROVIDE CHOICE IN THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER.
>> Gary Walker: SOLID GUY.
LET ME TALK ABOUT VOTER
TURNOUT.
AGAIN, DURING THE TIME SINCE
SEPTEMBER 11th, SOME OF THE
SPECULATION WAS THAT STATEWIDE
VOTERS WOULD COME OUT AND LOOK
AT THIS AS A PATRIOTIC DUTY.
IN BUFFALO, IT WAS HORRIBLE.
LIKE 25% IN BUFFALO.
HERE IT WAS HIGHER THAN MOST
AREAS, AT 45%, BUT STILL, I
MEAN, IT'S NOTHING TO BEAT
YOUR CHEST AND BOAST ABOUT.
WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE
VOTER TURNOUT?
>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T SEEN
ALL THE RESULTS YET DISTRICT
BY DISTRICT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE
TURNOUT OVERALL WAS SOMEWHAT
UP, ONLY MARGINALLY, BUT IT
LOOKS LIKE TURNOUT WAS UP.
WHERE THE REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS ENGAGED IN REALLY
HEATED CONTESTS IS WHERE THE
TURNOUT WAS.
AND SO THAT'S -- AGAIN, WE ALL
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIELD
GOOD CANDIDATES, AND THAT WILL
DRIVE TURNOUT IF WE HAVE GOOD,
HOTLY CONTESTED RACES.
>> Gary Walker: LET ME GIVE A
THUMBNAIL OF ALL OF YOUR
EFFORTS HERE.
AND I THINK MAYOR JOHNSON
ACTUALLY SAID IT, THEY WON
SOME; WE WON SOME...
JUST AS A THUMBNAIL FOR THE
PARTIES, THE G.O.P. HAD SOME
BIG WINS; THE DEMOCRATS HAD
SOME BIG WINS.
CONSERVATIVES, A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTING THIS YEAR FOR
YOU?
>> NO, NOT AT ALL.
>> Gary Walker: AND
INDEPENDENTS, WHERE ARE YOU
GUYS?
WHAT HAPPENING?
>> WE DIDN'T DO TOO BAD FROM
WHAT I CAN SEE.
WE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN A
NUMBER OF RACES.
SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE AS
VISIBLE AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE SEEN THEM, BUT I THINK
WE PUT AN EFFORT OUT IN
HENRIETTA THAT IS NOT DETECTED
BY THE NUMBERS.
I THINK WE PUT AN EFFORT OUT
IN CHILI; I THINK WE WERE THE
DIFFERENCE THERE.
I READ IN THE PAPER THIS
MORNING THAT THE CONSERVATIVES
SAID THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE
WITH (indecipherable)AND WE
MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH
(Indecipherable).
I THINK WE MADE A DIFFERENCE
WITH HENDERSHOT.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW
OF HOW WE DID.
WE ENDORSED 113 CANDIDATES; WE
HAD 91 WINNERS.
WE GOT MORE THAN 12,000 VOTES
FOR MAGGIE BROOKS.
THAT'S WITH 8,000
CONSERVATIVES.
WE WERE IN THE MARGIN OF
VICTORY IN WEBSTER,
SUPERVISOR; IRONDEQUOIT TOWN
JUDGES, CHILI RACES.
SO NO, WE DIDN'T WIN THEM ALL
AND IT WASN'T A GREAT YEAR FOR
US, BUT WE HAD A SOLID,
SUBSTANTIAL YEAR.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT VOTER
TURNOUT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT
PROBABLY, IF YOU GO OVER THE
PARTIES, THE TURNOUT IN THE
CONSERVATIVE PARTY IS PROBABLY
THE HIGHEST.
I WOULDN'T -- IN THE PRIMARY,
IT WAS.
WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE A 40%
TURNOUT IN THE PRIMARY.
SO IT WAS A GOOD, SOLID YEAR
FOR THE MONROE COUNTY
CONSERVATIVE PARTY, DESPITE
WHAT GANNETT SAYS.
>> WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT
GANNETT SAYS...
>> BUT YOU ASK FRED DONATO,
WAS THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
IMPORTANT?
HE'S A LEGISLATOR BECAUSE OF
THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.
>> Gary Walker: WE'RE
PARTNERING WITH "THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE"...
>> THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!
(Laughing)
>> Gary Walker: ...KINDER AND
GENTLER HERE.
LET ME LOOK AT AN OVERALL
TREND AND SEE IF YOU GENTLEMEN
AGREE ON THIS.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT MONROE
COUNTY, THE SCOPE OF IT RIGHT
NOW, THE G.O.P.: COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, COUNTY CLERK,
COUNTY SHERIFF.
EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE SAVE
BRIGHTON HAS A REPUBLICAN
SUPERVISOR OR AT LEAST A
MAJORITY ON THE BOARD, I
BELIEVE --
>> ACTUALLY THERE ARE ONLY
THREE ELECTED DEMOCRATS IN
TOWNS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
>> Gary Walker: SO A VERY,
VERY SOLID... HOWEVER...
HOWEVER, THE DEMOCRATS PICKED
UP THREE SEATS IN THE COUNTY
LEGISLATURE, A STUNNING UPSET
IN, I THINK, THE 7th JUDICIAL
DISTRICT WHERE THE NUMBERS
WERE CLEARLY IN JUDGE
VALENTINO'S FAVOR, AND WE CAN
TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
LATER.
THE ENROLLMENT IS NOW TILTING
DEMOCRATIC IN MONROE COUNTY.
THE CITY OF COURSE IS STILL
SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC.
ARE WE SEEING A TREND TOWARD
PERHAPS DEMOCRATS, AND MAYBE,
Mr. O'BRIEN, YOU COULD TAKE
SOME CREDIT FOR THIS, BUT ARE
WE SEEING A SLOW CHANGE IN THE
POLITICAL MAKEUP OF MONROE
COUNTY?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE
THE CREDIT BECAUSE I THINK THE
TREND HAS STARTED, YOU KNOW --
YOU LOOK AT REGISTRATION
NUMBERS --
>> Gary Walker: TAKE THE
CREDIT WHEN YOU CAN GET IT
BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY WON'T
GIVE IT TO YOU LATER!
(Laughing)
>> WELL, I'LL TAKE CREDIT FOR
SOMETHING, BUT AS FAR AS
REGISTRATION NUMBERS, THERE'S
BEEN A TENDENCY FOR AT LEAST
THE LAST 13 YEARS WHERE, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S A 30,000
REPUBLICAN ENROLLMENT
ADVANTAGE COUNTYWIDE IN 1987
AND NOW IT'S 50/50.
AND I THINK WHAT I WOULD SAY
THAT THE PARTY IN RECENT YEARS
MADE THE MOST IMPACT IS ON
MAKING US VIABLE AGAIN IN
TERMS OF -- WE DON'T MATCH
STEVE'S EFFORTS IN
FUND-RAISING, BUT WE HAVE DONE
A LOT BETTER RECENTLY THAN WE
HAVE IN PRIOR YEARS AND WE
HAVE PROVEN NOW WE CAN WIN IN
COUNTYWIDE RACES, WITH THE
VALENTINO RACE, AND WE HAVE
PROVEN WE CAN WIN COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE RACES.
THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE IS
WHERE WE REALLY FOCUSED OUR
EFFORT THIS YEAR, BOTH IN
TERMS OF GETTING THE BEST
CANDIDATES WE COULD TO RUN AND
IN PUTTING UP RESOURCES.
WE DID HAVE END RESULTS AND WE
SAW GAINS.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED ABOUT
THAT.
>> Gary Walker: STEVE, YOU'RE
BEING VERY POLITE.
>> WELL, IT'S THE MEDICATION
I'M ON.
IT MAKES ME MORE RESERVED.
(Laughter)
I'LL SAY THIS: CLEARLY THE
REGISTRATION NUMBERS ARE GOING
THE WAY OF URBAN COUNTIES
THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST;
THAT'S HOW IT IS.
ALTHOUGH, WE STILL -- YOU
KNOW, MUCH TO OUR CHAGRIN, I
KNOW THEY HAD A BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT IN JULY, AND
WE'RE LIKE 1/10th AHEAD OF
THEM IN VOTER REGISTRATION.
COUNTYWIDE, THOUGH, I DON'T
KNOW HOW ANYONE FROM THE
DEMOCRAT SIDE CAN SAY THAT
THEY'RE COMPETITIVE
COUNTYWIDE.
IF YOU REMOVE FOR A SECOND OUT
THE DYNAMICS OF THE JUDICIAL
RACE, WHICH REALLY ARE
NON-POLITICAL RACES, THOUGH
THIS ONE MAY HAVE CARRIED
POLITICAL CONNOTATIONS,
THOUGH.
BUT IF YOU REMOVE THAT FOR A
SECOND, THEY'RE NOT
COMPETITIVE COUNTYWIDE.
"THE" NUMBER ONE RACE WHEN
THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN SEASON
STARTED WAS THE SHERIFF'S
RACE.
FRANKLY, WE DON'T RUN NAKED
WITHOUT MY FRIEND THE
CONSERVATIVE PARTY VERY OFTEN,
BUT WE RAN NAKED IN THIS RACE
WITHOUT THE CONSERVATIVE
PARTY, AND THIS WAS THE SIGN;
THIS WAS THE TASK.
I THINK THE DEMOCRATS FAILED
MISERABLY.
I MEAN, IT WASN'T EVEN A
CONTEST.
>> I HAVE TO SAY, RATHER THAN
REMOVING THE DYNAMIC OF THE
SUPREME COURT RACE, REMOVE THE
DYNAMIC OF THE TREMENDOUS
FUND-RAISING ADVANTAGE THEY
HAVE.
I MEAN, WE GET OUTSPENT IN THE
SHERIFF'S RACE MAYBE 5, 6,
7-TO-1.
>> OH, NO --
>> IF WE HAD THE RESOURCES
THEY HAD, WE WIN THAT RACE.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE OUR FUND-RAISING
ABILITY AND THEN WE'LL BE
WINNING THOSE RACES, TOO.
>> Gary Walker: TOM, WERE YOU
SURPRISED IN THE SHERIFF'S
RACE?
DID YOU THINK YOU'D BE
STRONGER WITH THE CONSERVATIVE
ENDORSEMENT?
>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
CLOSER FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS.
I DON'T WANT TO AGREE WITH TED
ALL THE TIME, BUT I AGREE WITH
HIM; WHEN YOU'RE OUTSPENT FOUR
OR FIVE --
>> Gary Walker: I THINK YOU'RE
SAFE IN THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT NO, YOU HAVE TO GIVE
CREDIT TO STEVE AND THE
REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION.
THEY WON.
AND I WAS SURPRISED BY THE
MARGIN.
I THOUGHT PROBABLY THEY WOULD
WIN, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
CLOSER.
HE HAD A GREAT VICTORY, AND I
HOPE HE DOES WELL IN THE JOB
AND I HOPE HE GROWS INTO IT.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
LET ME GO INTO THE AREA OF
WORKING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE CLOSER MAJORITIES IN
THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, AND
ACTUALLY IF I COULD JUST CALL
IN A BITE FROM MAYOR JOHNSON
THAT HE GAVE AND ALSO OF
Mr. PEREZ, AND THEY BOTH
TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF
WORKING TOGETHER, SO I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE -- ACTUALLY, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- WELL,
MAYBE IT'S THE SHERIFF.
WELL, OKAY, LET'S HEAR THE
BITE FROM THE SHERIFF'S RACE
THEN.
>> IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE AN
AMERICAN, AND IT'S AN EVEN
BETTER DAY TO BE A REPUBLICAN.
(Applause and cheering)
I'M TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED
TO BE ELECTED YOUR SHERIFF.
I CAN'T SAY HOW IT FEELS RIGHT
NOW TO JUST HAVE THE
CONFIDENCE OF THE COMMUNITY
OUT THERE, AND I WANT TO
REALLY THANK THE VOTERS FOR
THE SUPPORT AND THE TRUST THEY
PUT IN ME, AND I WANT TO JUST
SAY THAT I WILL COMMIT TO
MAKING THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER
AND SAFER PLACE.
(Applause)
>> I WISH THE NEW SHERIFF ALL
THE LUCK IN HIS NEW JOB.
I HOPE -- I HEARD HIM SPEAK
EARLIER TONIGHT AND HE SAID HE
WAS GOING TO START TO TRY AND
DEVELOP A BETTER RELATIONSHIP
WITHIN HIS ORGANIZATION, AND
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU FROM MY
HEART, I THOUGHT THIS RACE WAS
ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT
DROVE ME --
(Applause) -- AND THEY'RE THE
ONES THAT REALLY COUNT.
(Applause and cheering)
AND IF WE RAISED SOME ISSUES
IN THIS RACE -- THERE HAVE
BEEN SOME CHANGES ALREADY IN
THE ORGANIZATION, AND IF WE
RAISED SOME ISSUES IN THIS
RACE THAT MAKE IT A BETTER
PLACE FOR THEM TO WORK AND
SAFER FOR THEM AND MAKE THIS A
SAFER COMMUNITY, THEN THAT WAS
THE WHOLE IDEA OF WHY YOU RUN
FOR OFFICE.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
SOME OF THE MESSAGES IN THAT
RACE AND IN THE DEBATE ALSO
WAS THE INTERDEPENDENCE WE ALL
HAVE FOR EMERGENCY ISSUES AND
WHY CAN'T WE EXTEND THE
INTERDEPENDENCE THAT THE
MUNICIPALITIES USE FOR
EMERGENCY PLANNING TO OTHER
POLITICAL ISSUES, OTHER
POLITICAL AREAS IN GOVERNMENT.
AND MAYOR JOHNSON SAID
SOMETHING SIMILAR: HE'S GOING
TO REACH OUT AGAIN TO THE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN THE TOWNS
AND VILLAGES.
NOW, HE SAID THAT.
WHILE ON OUR AIR, HE ALSO SAID
WHEN WE ASKED HIM DURING THE
DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS A
MAN OF GOD AND HOW THAT PLAYS
INTO HIS JOB, AND HE SAID,
"WELL, I HAVE TO BE A MAN OF
GOD TO DEAL WITH JACK DOYLE."
(Laughter)
SO I MEAN, THAT'S THAT.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF TOUGH TALK
HERE.
AS YOU KNOW, STEVE, YOU SPENT
A LOT OF TIME IN THE COUNTY
LEGISLATURE BEFORE YOU CAME TO
YOUR PLACE; I SPENT A LOT OF
TIME IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE
COVERING IT.
THAT IS NOT A BODY WHERE A
GREAT DEAL OF HARMONY EVER
OCCURS.
IT'S A VERY DIVISIVE GROUP AT
TIMES.
SO I'VE GOT TO ASK: A SMALLER
MAJORITY FOR THE REPUBLICANS
IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE,
STILL SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC
SUBURB AND COUNTY AREA
COMPARED TO A SOLIDLY
DEMOCRATIC CITY...REPUBLICAN.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE WORKING CLOSER
TOGETHER?
>> I THINK THAT WE WORK CLOSE
TOGETHER NOW.
I MEAN --
>> Gary Walker: IN SOME AREAS,
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> I THINK IN MOST AREAS WE DO.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IS
THE NEWS MEDIA LIKES TO PLAY
UPON WHEN THERE'S CONTROVERSY
BECAUSE, FRANKLY, THAT'S WHAT
SELLS NEWSPAPERS, CONTROVERSY.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YOU
HAVE PEOPLE WORKING,
INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION, SO
I THINK THAT THAT IS
OVERPUBLICIZED BY THE
NEWSPAPERS, BY THE NEWS MEDIA,
BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO
FIND A FIGHT.
IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING ALONG,
NO ONE WANTS TO READ THEIR
NEWSPAPERS OR WATCH THEIR NEWS
PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S FINE, YOU
KNOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THEY
DO WORK TOGETHER.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU:
LEGISLATIVE BODIES DO NOT
PROMOTE HARMONY.
AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE
REPUBLICANS AND YOU HAVE
DEMOCRATS, I MEAN, THERE'S TWO
DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES THERE.
SO YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE
CONTENTION.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FROM DAY
ONE OF OUR EXISTENCE IN LIFE,
AND SO DON'T EXPECT THAT
THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSTANT
HARMONY, BUT YOU SHOULD EXPECT
THAT COMMUNITIES GET ALONG
BETTER -- GOVERNMENTS GET
ALONG BETTER IN SAVING
TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS, IN
PROMOTING SERVICES AND
PROMOTING OUR COMMUNITY, AND
FIGHTING THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE
COMING FROM RECESSIONS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
>> Gary Walker: WELL, I'LL
GIVE YOU A "FOR INSTANCE," AND
I DON'T THINK THE MEDIA MADE
THIS UP, BUT JUST A LITTLE
WHILE AGO, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO,
THE WORD IS ON THE STREET THAT
PERHAPS THE PENNY SALES TAX
HAS RUN ITS COURSE AND PRETTY
SOON THE NICE SURPLUSES THAT
WE HAD ARE GOING TO DRY UP AND
THEN PRETTY SOON MONROE COUNTY
IS GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE
TAXES, MAYBE AS EARLY AS NEXT
YEAR.
IN LIGHT OF THAT CONVERSATION,
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID TALK
ABOUT THE SALES TAX AGREEMENT,
EVEN ABOUT LOOKING AT THAT
SALES TAX AGREEMENT, WHICH OF
COURSE TOOK THE MAYOR RIGHT UP
THROUGH THE STRATOSPHERE.
BUT NO, NONETHELESS, IF
THERE'S A SCENARIO WHERE THE
COUNTY HAS TO RAISE TAXES, AND
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
VERY, VERY POINTED REPEATEDLY
THAT THEY HAVEN'T RAISED
TAXES, BUT WHEN THAT PENNY
SALES TAX AGREEMENT STARTS
MEETING ITS MATCH WITH
EXPENDITURES, NOW WE'RE GOING
TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE
HAVE TO RAISE TAXES AND AS A
LOOK AT THAT SALES TAX
AGREEMENT, NOW WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE AN INTERMUNICIPALITY
BRAWL; DON'T YOU THINK?
>> I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS
ARE EVER GOING TO RAISE THE
PROPERTY TAXES.
AND I THINK THAT IS TRIED AND
TRUE AND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGHOUT THIS DECADE SINCE
THEY WILL CONTROL THE COUNTY
LEGISLATURE AND MOST LIKELY
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.
BUT LET ME JUST SAY TO YOU
THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH
THE BUDGET.
IT'S NOT THE COUNTY'S PROBLEM;
IT'S THE STATE'S PROBLEM.
THEY ARE PUSHING DOWN A LOT OF
THE STUFF.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND
A WAY TO CUT SERVICES, TO
REDUCE ANY COSTS WHERE WE CAN.
BUT I THINK IT'S NOT REALISTIC
TO SAY THAT THERE CAN BE A
CHANGE IN THE SALES TAX
AGREEMENT, AND THE REASON THAT
IS IS THAT DEMOCRATS CONTROL
THE ASSEMBLY AND REPUBLICANS
CONTROL THE SENATE.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE JUST NOT
GOING TO RELENT ON HELPING THE
CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT
GOING TO RELENT ON THE
COUNTIES AND TOWNS.
SO WHILE SOMEONE MAY HAVE AN
OPINION, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
MAY HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT
ALTERING THE SALES TAX, THE
REALITY IS THOUGH THERE ARE
CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE
IN OUR GOVERNMENT THAT ARE
GOING TO PROHIBIT THAT.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS JUST
NOT GOING TO BE REALISTIC AND
THERE WILL BE A CHANGE.
I JUST DON'T SEE IT.
>> Gary Walker: IT STILL COULD
BE A HANDY THING TO POINT AT
IF YOU HAVE TO RAISE TAXES.
>> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO -- I DO NOT
BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICANS
WILL RAISE PROPERTY TAXES.
>> I TEND TO AGREE WITH STEVEN
IN MUCH OF HIS COMMENTS --
>> Gary Walker: THAT'S WHY WE
SAT THE TWO OF YOU TOGETHER
NOW.
>> TWO PEAS IN A POD, RIGHT?
I HOPE NOT!
BUT WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY
TAXES, I THINK THE VOTERS HAVE
INDICATED IN PAST YEARS AND
THIS YEAR THAT THE PROPERTY
TAX WE NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM.
PEOPLE EMBRACED THE SALES TAX
LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS WHEN IT
WAS FIRST INCREASED FROM 7% TO
8%.
PEOPLE WERE CALLING
LEGISLATIVE OFFICES SAYING,
"WE WANT THE INCREASED SALES
TAX."
BUT AT SOME POINT -- YOUR
QUESTION REALLY IS WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE GET DOWN TO
THE POINT WHERE WE NEED
INCREASED REVENUE; WHERE IS IT
GOING TO COME FROM?
YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN FIND WAYS
TO DO IT WITHOUT INCREASING
PROPERTY TAX, WE NEED TO DO
THAT, BUT THAT MAY REQUIRE
RE-EXAMINATION OF THE SALES
TAX FORMULA, AND THAT
DISCUSSION SHOULD TAKE PLACE
AT ANY RATE.
>> Gary Walker: I WANT TO SEE
TOM WEIGH IN HERE.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT
COMMENT, THOUGH.
ARE YOU SAYING WE SHOULD BE
TAKING REVENUES AWAY FROM THE
CITY OF ROCHESTER?
>> NO, I THINK THAT --
>> BECAUSE WHERE'S IT GOING TO
HAPPEN?
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
RE-EXAMINATION, WHERE DOES
THAT GO?
>> THIS IS NOT JUST A
DISCUSSION OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, BECAUSE REMEMBER,
WE HAVE BOARDS FROM VILLAGES
AND TOWNS.
>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM
THE TOWNS AND THE SCHOOL
BOARDS?
>> I THINK ALL GOVERNMENTS,
INCLUDING COUNTY GOVERNMENT,
HAVE TO RUN MUCH MORE
EFFECTIVELY.
THERE'S BEEN NO PRESSURE ON
COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO RUN AS
EFFICIENTLY AS THEY CAN --
>> NO PRESSURE?
YOU'VE HAD A CITIZENS'
COMMISSION REVIEWING ALL THE
FACETS OF GOVERNMENT --
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
ARE YOU SAYING, THOUGH, THAT
WE SHOULD BE TAKING MONEY AWAY
FROM THE TOWNS?
>> AND IT MAY WELL BE THAT WE
NEED TO --
>> ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE
ADVOCATING?
>> NO, I'M SAYING THAT THERE
MAY NEED TO BE SOME
REALLOCATION AMONGST THE TOWNS
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT --
>> SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO
ALTER THE FORMULA TO TAKE
MONEY AWAY FROM TOWNS?
I JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON THE
RECORD BECAUSE THAT'S A NEW --
>> CLEARLY --
>> -- POSITION.
>> LET'S UNDERSTAND MY
POSITION.
MY POSITION IS THAT THERE IS
ULTIMATELY A POT OF MONEY
ALLOCATED TO TOWNS AND
VILLAGES --
>> AND YOU WANT TO TAKE IT
AWAY FROM THEM.
>> -- THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE CITY OR THE COUNTY.
THAT POT -- BUT BETWEEN TOWNS,
RIGHT NOW, THE ALLOCATION
FORMULA ISN'T A FAIR ONE.
IT SUBSIDIZES WEALTHY TOWNS
AND --
>> YOU WANT TO TAKE MONEY AWAY
FROM TOWNS --
(Talking simultaneously)
>> NOT AWAY FROM TOWNS --
>> I JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON
THE RECORD.
(Talking simultaneously)
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT
REALLOCATING THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT GOES BETWEEN TOWNS.
(All talking simultaneously)
>> Gary Walker: WE HAVE ABOUT
A MINUTE LEFT.
>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S FAIRNESS THERE.
>> I DON'T THINK THE FORMULA
IS FAIR, THAT IT GIVES TOO
MUCH TO THE CITY, BUT I AGREE
WITH STEVE; I DON'T THINK THAT
THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE
ARE GOING TO CHANGE IT.
BUT THE WHOLE THING CENTERS
AROUND THE NEXT BIG RACE
COMING UP, AND THAT'S 2003.
THAT'S THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
RACE, AND I THINK THERE'S
RAMIFICATIONS FOR THAT RACE
AND THE VALENTINO RACE THIS
YEAR AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A
VERY HEATED RACE BECAUSE
THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT IT
WAS A REFERENDUM ON JACK
DOYLE.
IT WASN'T, BUT THE DEMOCRATS
MAY THINK IT WAS SO THEY'LL
GET THEIR BEST CANDIDATE, WHO
MAY BE SANDY FRANCO OR JOE
ROBACK, WHOEVER.
BUT THE FORMULA IS NOT FAIR.
I THINK WE GIVE MORE TO THE
CITY THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN
NEW YORK STATE, BUT I AGREE
WITH STEVE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
CHANGE IT AT THIS TIME.
>> Gary Walker: WHICH IS
PROBABLY WHY WE'RE NOT IN THE
SHAPE BUFFALO IS IN NOW, WHICH
IS IN $250 MILLION DEBT...
GENTLEMEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME.
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME
OUT OF YOUR WEEK.
I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED FROM YOUR
CAMPAIGNS; I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED
FROM ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE
DONE.
THANKS FOR SITTING DOWN.
WE'LL DO THIS AGAIN REALLY
SOON.
WE'RE INTRODUCING A NEW
SEGMENT INTO "NEED TO KNOW."
WE ARE NOW COLLABORATING WITH
THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
TOGETHER, WE'LL BRING YOU
UPDATES ON ROCHESTER'S
ECONOMY.
"NEED TO KNOW's" "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH "THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE" IS NEXT.
(Music)
>> Gary Walker: JOINING US NOW
IN STUDIO IS ELLEN ROSEN, THE
BUSINESS EDITOR FOR THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> Ellen: THANK YOU, GARY.
>> Gary Walker: I THINK IT'S
NO SURPRISE TO ANYBODY THAT
THE ECONOMY WAS IN A GENERAL
DECLINE HEADING INTO SEPTEMBER
11th, AND THE EVENTS OF THAT
DAY, MOST PEOPLE THINK IT
ACCELERATED THE DECLINE IN OUR
ECONOMY.
IS THAT BODING THE SAME FOR US
LOCALLY AS WELL AS NATIONALLY?
>> Ellen: ACTUALLY, WE HAVE
HAD A TEAM OF BUSINESS AND
METRO REPORTERS LOOKING AT
THAT VERY SUBJECT FOR THE LAST
WEEK OR SO, AND THEY'LL BE
REPORTING ON THAT IN-DEPTH IN
A STORY APPEARING IN THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" THIS
SUNDAY.
WHAT THEY'RE FINDING REALLY IS
A MIXED BAG.
FOR OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS,
BUSINESS HAS INDEED BEEN
DIFFICULT, AND FOR SMALL
START-UP COMPANIES, VENTURE
CAPITAL IS BASICALLY DRYING
UP.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
CONSUMERS ARE OUT THERE,
BUYING CARS; ZERO PERCENT
FINANCING DREW THEM OUT.
HOPEFULLY THE MONEY THAT
THEY'RE NOT SPENDING TO TRAVEL
THEY WILL BE BUYING FURNITURE
WITH.
SO IT'S REALLY A LITTLE BIT
HARD TO TELL EXACTLY WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM HERE.
TRADITIONALLY, THE ROCHESTER
ECONOMY HAS KIND OF BEEN --
HISTORICALLY, WE'VE BEEN AN
EVEN ECONOMY; WE HAVE NOT
SUFFERED THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS
THAT YOU CAN SEE IN A REGIONAL
ECONOMY.
>> Gary Walker: PARTICULARLY
THE REST OF UPSTATE, TOO; WE
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MORE STATIC.
>> Ellen: VERY TRUE.
FOR INSTANCE, WE DIDN'T
BENEFIT FROM THE ECONOMIC BOOM
OF THE '90s THE WAY MANY OTHER
REGIONS DID, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, WE DIDN'T SUFFER IN THE
LAST RECESSION THE SAME WAY.
SO I THINK THEY ARE HOPING
THAT PATTERN WILL HOLD TRUE.
>> Gary Walker: I'M SURPRISED
TO HEAR THAT IN YOUR REPORTING
BECAUSE I WOULD IMAGINE
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS WHAT'S
DRAGGING PARTS OF THE ECONOMY,
BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE
CASE IN ROCHESTER.
>> Ellen: NO, WE DID A LITTLE
BRIEF, SORT OF UNSCIENTIFIC
SURVEY LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE A MONEY PANEL OF
PEOPLE THAT HAVE AGREED TO
SPEAK WITH US, AND THEY DON'T
SEEM UNDULY DEPRESSED ABOUT
THIS.
THEY ARE WILLING TO RIDE IT
OUT; THEY HAVE FAITH THAT
ROCHESTER HAS BEEN THROUGH
THIS BEFORE AND COME OUT ALL
RIGHT AND HAVE FAITH THAT IT
WILL AGAIN.
>> Gary Walker: ARE THERE
PARTS OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY
MORE AFFECTED THAN OTHERS?
I KNOW YOU SAID SALES DON'T
SEEM TO BE AFFECTED, BUT I
KNOW THAT ONE LOCAL
BROADCASTER JUST HAD TO LAY
OFF SOME FOLKS BECAUSE OF A
DECLINE IN ADVERTISING
REVENUE.
SO ARE THERE PARTS OF THE
LOCAL ECONOMY MORE AFFECTED
THAT OTHERS?
>> Ellen: CLEARLY ADVERTISING
WAS AFFECTED.
RIGHT AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11th
ATTACKS, A LOT OF COMPANIES
WITHDREW THEIR ADVERTISING
BECAUSE THEY FELT IT DIDN'T
HAVE THE RIGHT TONE TO
REPRESENT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN
THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW,
SO THAT COMPANIES ARE
SUFFERING FROM THAT.
AND TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS HAS
BEEN HIT PRETTY HARD, TOO.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF -- KODAK'S
-- EXCUSE ME, CORNING'S
DECISION TO CLOSE ITS
HENRIETTA PLANT WAS A BIG BLOW
TO OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
OUR TELECOM COMPANIES ARE NOT
DOING AS WELL AS I THINK THEY
THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE IN THE
FUTURE.
>> Gary Walker: WHAT ABOUT OUR
MAJOR EMPLOYERS?
I MEAN STILL KODAK AND XEROX,
HAVE THEY BEEN MORE AFFECTED
BY THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER
11th THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE
ECONOMY?
>> Ellen: WELL, THEY HAVE
DEFINITELY BEEN MORE AFFECTED
THAN THEY THOUGHT.
THE THIRD QUARTER WAS
DIFFICULT FOR BOTH KODAK AND
XEROX.
KODAK GETS HALF OF ITS REVENUE
AND A THIRD OF ITS PROFIT FROM
CONSUMER PHOTOGRAPHY.
AND SO THE INCURSION OF
DIGITAL INTO THAT HAS BEEN
CAUSING PROBLEMS ANYWAY, BUT
THEN SEPTEMBER 11th HIT;
PEOPLE STOPPED TAKING
VACATIONS.
THE THEME PARKS, WHICH ARE
MAJOR VENUES FOR SALE OF KODAK
FILM, HAVE BEEN EMPTY, AND SO
KODAK'S FILM SALES TUMBLED
DRAMATICALLY.
THE COMPANY, AS YOU KNOW, IS
PREDICTING -- ITS
THIRD-QUARTER REVENUES WERE
DOWN 77%, AND THEY'RE
PREDICTING THE FOURTH-QUARTER
EARNINGS WOULD ONLY BE
SOMETHING LIKE 15 CENTS A
SHARE, WHICH IS MARKEDLY OFF
WHERE IT WAS.
THE EXPECTATION, I THINK, WAS
46 CENTS A SHARE.
XEROX, SAME THING.
XEROX IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A
BIG TURNAROUND, AND THEY'VE
BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN
IMPLEMENTING THAT TURNAROUND,
BUT SEPTEMBER 11th CAUSED SOME
PROBLEMS FOR THEM, TOO.
NOT ONLY IS IT A BUSY TIME OF
YEAR FOR XEROX AND SALES WERE
OFF DRAMATICALLY, BUT ALSO
THEY WERE HIT WITH A BIG
INSURANCE BILL FOR EQUIPMENT
THAT WAS LOST IN THE BUILDINGS
THAT WERE DEVASTATED.
>> Gary Walker: WHAT ABOUT
LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
GOING TO BE WELL SUITED TO
WEATHER THIS OUT OR EVEN GROW?
>> Ellen: OH, I THINK THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF THEM.
FOR INSTANCE WEGMAN'S, WHICH
IS A PRIVATELY HELD COMPANY,
BUT STILL THEY'RE SHOWING
GREAT SIGNS OF GROWTH AND
INNOVATION INSIDE THEIR
STORES.
IF YOU LOOK, THEY'RE ALWAYS
DOING NEW AND DIFFERENT
THINGS.
PAYCHEX, C.E.O. TOM GALISANO
HAS SAID THAT THEIR BOOMING
GROWTH WILL SLOW, BUT THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.
I THINK THAT THE MERGER OF
FRONTIER WITH CITIZENS WE KNOW
IS GOING TO BRING NEW JOBS
HERE, AND THEN THERE'S A
COMPANY LIKE HARRIS R.F. WHICH
IS MILITARY CONTRACTS.
THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING THINGS
FOR THE GOVERNMENT, OUTFITTING
SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT.
>> Gary Walker: SO IT'S NOT
ALL BAD NEWS?
>> Ellen: NO.
>> Gary Walker: THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE IS READY TO LAUNCH
THE LIST OF TOP-100 PRIVATELY
HELD BUSINESSES.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
I KNOW THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" ARE GOING TO BE
DOING A LOT OF REPORTING ON
THAT.
MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME WHY IS
IT IMPORTANT AND WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO WITH IT?
>> Ellen: WELL, WE HAVE A
SPECIAL SECTION COMING OUT
THIS SUNDAY IN THE BUSINESS
SECTION, AND I CAN'T SAY TOO
MUCH ABOUT IT BEFORE THEN, BUT
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S
IMPORTANT ABOUT THE TOP 100 IS
IT'S REALLY KIND OF A
BAROMETER FOR OUR ECONOMY.
THESE ARE PRIVATELY HELD
COMPANIES WITH REVENUES OF $1
MILLION A YEAR OR MORE AND
THEY'RE CHARTED ON GROWTH OF
REVENUE OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS.
SO IT REALLY GIVES US A GOOD
INDICATOR OF WHERE THE ECONOMY
IS GOING.
AND THIS YEAR THERE REALLY ARE
SOME SURPRISES.
SOME COMPANIES THAT YOU HAVE
TRADITIONALLY SEEN ON THE
TOP-100 ARE NOT THERE BECAUSE
OF THE ECONOMY, AND EVEN ONE
OF THE MOST HIGHLY PLACED
COMPANIES ON THIS YEAR'S LIST
SAYS THEY WON'T BE THERE NEXT
YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
AND THAT WILL BE IN THIS
SUNDAY'S --
>> Ellen: THIS SUNDAY'S
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
>> Gary Walker: ELLEN, THANK
YOU.
>> Ellen: THANK YOU, GARY.
>> Gary Walker: THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS EDITION
OF "NEED TO KNOW."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, STOP BY
OUR DISCUSSION BOARDS OR GET A
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PROGRAM.
JUST LOG ON to
www.wxxi.org/ntk.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN
"NEED TO KNOW" GOES INSIDE
STRONG HOSPITAL'S NEWEST
TRANSPLANT CENTER, THE ONE FOR
HEART TRANSPLANTS.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)