>>
Gary: JUST AHEAD ON "NEED TO
KNOW," A LOOK BACK TO 2001 AS
SEEN BY US HERE AT "NEED TO
KNOW."
IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A
TUMULTUOUS YEAR BETWEEN THE
SLUMP OF WALL STREET AND THE
DEVASTATING TERRORIST ATTACKS
AND A MORE BIZARRE THAN EVER
STATE BUDGET PROCESS.
ROCHESTER HAS BEEN STRUGGLING
RIGHT ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE
NATION.
WE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE GOOD
TIMES AND THE BAD TIMES OF THE
YEAR 2001.
IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "NEED
TO KNOW."
>> THINGS ARE GOING TO BE
DIFFERENT, A LOT DIFFERENT, AND
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL EVER SEE
THEM GET BACK TO THE WAY THEY
WERE.
>> 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.
>> Gary: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
IT WAS A DAY THAT WILL BE ETCHED
UPON OUR MINDS FOREVER,
SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001.
JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK,
"NEED TO KNOW" AND WXXI RADIO
91.5 FM AND AM 1370 PARTNERED
WITH THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" TO HOST A LIVE
COMMUNITY FORUM.
THE FORUM INCLUDED LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS,
AS WELL AS GRIEF COUNSELORS AND
SECURITY EXPERTS.
IT WAS A WAY FOR ROCHESTER TO
START THE HEALING PROCESS.
HERE'S AN EXCERPT.
>> I WOULD SAY MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE HAS ENGAGED MY OWN
SPIRIT AND THE PEOPLE I'VE
TALKED TO, MORE AT THE LEVEL OF
JUST TRYING TO ABSORB THIS
PERSONALLY, AND I FIND THAT, IN
MY OWN LIFE, AND AS BEST I CAN
INTUIT IT AND THE LIVES OF
OTHERS, PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT
EVERY ONE OF US NEEDS SOME KIND
OF HEALING AND PEACE AND
RECONCILIATION OF THIS HORRIBLE
EVENT INSIDE OUR OWN HEARTS.
>> WHEN THEY HEAR MY NAME,
MOHAMMED SHAFIK, THEY LOOK AT ME
LIKE I'M SOMETHING, LIKE I'M
DIFFERENT, NOT AS AMERICAN.
THEY SHOUT, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY
IN PAIN TODAY, AND I WANT TO
SHARE.
I SHARE THAT WITH ANOTHER
GATHERING ALSO.
THIS MORNING -- YESTERDAY MY
DAUGHTER DID NOT GO TO WORK.
THIS MORNING SHE WAS NOT GOING
AGAIN BECAUSE SHE WEAR SCARVES
AND SHE -- YESTERDAY ON TUESDAY
WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SHE SAID,
WHEN I WAS SERVING THE HOSPITAL,
I FELT THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING
AT ME.
SHE'S A MUSLIM, TOO.
TODAY WHEN I SAY TO HER, "PLEASE
DON'T WEAR A SCARF AND GO TO
WORK," SHE CRIED AND SHE WEPT.
>> I DON'T THINK THE MAGNITUDE
OF ALL HAS REALLY SET INTO OUR
HEARTS AND OUR SOULS.
I THINK WE'RE OPERATING ALL IN A
KIND OF SENSE OF SHOCK AND A
FUZZINESS, AND WE HAVE TO BE
AWARE OF THAT.
DO WE RETALIATE?
DO WE TURN THE OTHER CHEEK AS OF
COURSE THE GOSPELS HAVE OFTEN
COUNSELED US?
WHAT DO WE DO?
DO YOU FIND THAT YOUR RESPECTIVE
COMMUNITIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH
THIS RIGHT NOW?
>> MOST ASSUREDLY, THEY ARE.
AND I THINK THERE'S A SENSE IN
WHICH I'M HAPPY THEY ARE AND I'M
HAPPY THAT WE'VE GOT THE TIME TO
THINK AND FEEL AND EXPERIENCE
WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE OUR
IMMEDIATE REACTIONS PROBABLY
WILL NOT BE OUR BEST REACTIONS.
>> Gary: ROCHESTER CERTAINLY
HASN'T HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF
BEING A TARGET FOR TERRORISM,
BUT NONETHELESS PEOPLE BEGAN TO
ASK QUESTIONS: WHAT IF SUCH AN
ATTACK WERE TO HAPPEN HERE?
JUST WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?
HOW WOULD ROCHESTER RESPOND?
WE RESPONDED BY GIVING YOU A
CHANCE TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF.
"NEED TO KNOW," JUST A COUPLE
WEEKS AFTER THE ATTACK, BROUGHT
TOGETHER A TEAM OF LOCAL
EMERGENCY DISASTER EXPERTS
WILLING TO TAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS
AND E-MAILS.
HERE'S A CLIP OF THAT PROGRAM.
>> WE'VE HEARD CONSIDERABLE
CONCERN FROM OUR VIEWERS AND
LISTENERS OVER THE PAST COUPLE
WEEKS ABOUT THE TERRORISM HERE,
EITHER BIOTERRORISM OR
OTHERWISE.
SHOULD FOLKS HERE BE CONCERNED?
>> OH, I THINK IT'S ONLY NATURAL
TO BE CONCERNED BUT, GARY,
LISTEN, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS COMMUNITY, AND YOU'RE GOING
TO HEAR THIS TONIGHT FROM THESE
EXPERTS, THIS COMMUNITY IS MORE
PREPARED THAN PROBABLY MOST
OTHER COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA, TO
HANDLE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES AND
THESE KINDS OF CHALLENGES.
>> Gary: HAS THERE BEEN ANY
CASE OR ANY LEGITIMATE THREAT,
MEDICAL, BIOTERRORISM, OTHERWISE
IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS?
>> NO.
FORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY
SERIOUS SITUATIONS.
WE HAVE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF
SITUATIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO
RESPOND TO AND WE, AS Mr. DOYLE
IS SAYING, WE HAVE REALLY AN
INCREDIBLY GOOD RESPONSE SYSTEM
IN PLACE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THIS
AREA, HIGHLY TRAINED FIRST
RESPONDERS.
>> I WANT TO KNOW IF ROCHESTER
WOULD REALLY BE PREPARED TO DEAL
WITH A SITUATION LIKE THAT, AND
I'M ASKING EVERYBODY ON THE
PODIUM THERE.
>> Gary: OKAY.
HOW ABOUT IT, CHIEF?
>> I'LL JUMP IN FIRST.
I THINK THIS CITY IS WELL
PREPARED, AND AS THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE SAID, I THINK THIS
COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IS PROBABLY
BETTER PREPARED THAN MOST
COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA.
>> Gary: HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE
WORK?
>> WE OPERATE UNDER THE UMBRELLA
CALLED THE MONROE COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH SETS OUT
GUIDANCE AND, AS YOU SAID, WE
ALL KNOW EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE
WORK TOGETHER IN PLANNING AND
TRAINING TO PROMOTE THE
CO-OPERATION AND TO UNDERSTAND
THE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT CAN BE DRAWN ON DURING AN
EVENT.
>> WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE, WHEN
THERE'S WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE
AN EVENT, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF
RESPONSES.
THERE'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT
RESPONSE AND THERE'S A MEDICAL
RESPONSE.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE
WOULD INVOLVE LOCAL POLICE BUT
ALSO THE F.B.I.
THEN THERE'S A PROTOCOL FOR THE
MEDICAL PEOPLE, THROUGH HAZ-MAT,
THROUGH THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
TEAM, WHICH IS VERY WELL
TRAINED, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT
HAS ACTUALLY BEEN TRAINED ON
LIVE ANTHRAX DOWN IN ALABAMA.
>> Gary: THE ATTACKS CAME AT A
VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR AMERICA.
WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN TO SPIRAL
INTO A RECESSION.
AND ROCHESTER CERTAINLY WAS NOT
IMMUNE TO LAYOFFS AND CLOSINGS.
IN APRIL WE LEARNED THAT THE
GENESEE HOSPITAL WAS SHUTTING
ITS DOORS.
THE HOSPITAL'S CLOSING WAS A BIG
BLOW TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
GREATLY MISSED BY THIS COMMUNITY
WHEN IT GOES OUT OF BUSINESS.
>> THAT'S VIA HUMP C.E.O. TOM
LIST, MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT
MARCH 28th THAT, AFTER 114 YEARS
OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY,
GENESEE HOSPITAL IS SHUTTING ITS
DOORS.
FOR GENESEE'S PATIENTS AND THE
COMMUNITY IT HAS LONG SERVED,
THERE ARE STILL MANY UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS.
HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?
HOW COULD AN INSTITUTION LONG
SINCE SO VITAL TO ROCHESTER'S
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FALTER?
HOW COULD A HOSPITAL GO OUT OF
BUSINESS WHEN IT'S A
CONSUMER-DRIVEN INDUSTRY OF
PATIENTS' AND INSURANCE DOLLARS.
THE TRUTH IS THERE IS NO ONE
REASON FOR GENESEE'S FINANCIAL
TROUBLES.
MANY FACTORS PLAYED A ROLE.
>> THE MERGER BETWEEN GENESEE
AND ROCHESTER GENERAL NEVER
RESULTED IN WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT
TO SEE, THE REDUCTION IN COST,
THE REDUCTION IN OVERLAP IN
SERVICES AND THAT KIND OF THING.
>> MY OWN OPINION IS THAT'S
BECAUSE OF COMPETITION.
>> THE TWO TELL A TALE OF
COMPETITION AND FAILED
MANAGEMENT.
(Siren)
>> EVEN E.M.S., EMERGENCY
MEDICAL, IF AN AMBULANCE PICKS
YOU UP AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE
OPTION OF GOING TO GENESEE.
WELL, MAYBE IT'S ONLY FIVE
MINUTES MORE TO GO TO GENERAL OR
STRONG, BUT FIVE MINUTES CAN BE
PRETTY IMPORTANT.
>> Gary: AN UPDATE, RECENTLY
THE HOSPITAL'S BEING UTILIZED AS
AN OUTPATIENT FACILITY.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A LOT OF
OTHER CONTROVERSIAL HAPPENINGS
IN THE COMMUNITY THAT "NEED TO
KNOW" HAS REPORTED ON, LIKE THE
FAST FERRY.
CITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON DEVELOPING THE PORT OF
ROCHESTER AND THE SURROUNDING
CHARLOTTE AREA.
THEY EXPECT TO LAUNCH THE FAST
FERRY SERVICE TO TORONTO NEXT
SUMMER.
ALONG THE SAME LINES, EXPANSION
PLANS FOR THE SENECA PARK ZOO
HAS ALSO BEEN A HOTBED OF
DISCUSSION.
HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM ONE OF
OUR REPORTS.
>> THE SENECA PARK ALLIANCE SAY
THE COUNTY HAS TO COME TO A
REALIZATION OF SENECA PARK'S
LIMITATIONS.
>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND
ACCEPT THAT, WITHIN SENECA PARK,
WE WILL NEVER HAVE A WORLD
PLANNED ZOO.
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY IN THIS
COMMUNITY TO FUND THAT SORT OF
THING AND THERE ISN'T ENOUGH
SPACE IN THE PARK TO HAVE IT.
EVEN IF THE ZOO TAKES OVER THE
ENTIRE PARK, IT'S STILL ISN'T IN
THE PLANS FOR A MAJOR ZOO.
(Music)
>> Gary: LAST YEAR THE
PRESERVATION LEAGUE OF NEW YORK
STATE CAME OUT WITH ITS SEVEN TO
SAVE LIST AND SENECA PARK WAS ON
IT.
SEVEN TO SAVE IS A LISTING OF
ENDANGERED STATE AND NATIONAL
LANDMARKS THAT ARE CONSIDERED
IRREPLACEABLE LINKS TO NEW
YORK'S HERITAGE.
THE LEAGUE PLACED SENECA PARK ON
THEIR LIST AS A DIRECT RESULT OF
THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED ZOO
EXPANSION.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE
EXECUTIVE WAS LOOKING AT A WAY
OF KEEPING AND RETAINING
UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT WE DO HAVE LEAVING
THE AREA TODAY.
>> Gary: YOU'RE SAYING IT'S A
QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
>> IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
>> OUR POSITION IS THAT SOME
MODEST ZOO EXPANSION MAY BE
APPROPRIATE, BUT WE THINK IT
COMES DOWN TO AN ISSUE OF
SPENDING PRIORITIES AND LACK OF
COMMUNITY INPUT AND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THAT INPUT.
>> Gary: PLANS FOR BOTH THE
FAST FERRY AND THE ZOO EXPANSION
ARE STILL NOT SETTLED.
EDUCATION, AS ALWAYS, WAS A BIG
ISSUE IN 2001.
WE ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT A VERY
CONTROVERSIAL WAY OF MEASURING
OUR CHILDREN, STANDARDIZED
TESTING.
>> THE MESSAGE THAT'S BEING SENT
TO ALL THE SCHOOLS, TO ALL THE
670-ODD SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS
STATE, IS THAT DON'T YOU DARE
INNOVATE.
DON'T YOU DARE TRY AND DO
ANYTHING THAT IS OUT OF THE BOX
FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING, BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DO IT.
ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
>> WHAT THEY'RE THERE TO MEASURE
IS THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OF THE
CAPACITY OF THE CHILD'S NEEDS,
THE STANDARDS IN READING,
WRITING, MATH, SCIENCE AND
SOCIAL STUDIES TO WHAT WOULD BE
OUR COMMON STANDARD THAT WE'RE
EXPECTING FROM ALL HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES.
>> I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN
ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT I'VE NEVER
BELIEVED IN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THE SAKE OF GIVING KIDS TESTS.
I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE USED
TO DIAGNOSE WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING
IN THE LEARNING PROCESS, TO
IMPROVE LEARNING OUTCOMES, TO
HELP TEACHERS BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
IN TEACHING STUDENTS, TO GIVE
PARENTS GOOD INFORMATION.
>> Gary: SPEAKING OF
MEASUREMENTS, HOW DOES OUR
GOVERNMENT MEASURE UP?
FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS WE'VE HAD
TO DEAL WITH A LATE STATE
BUDGET.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?
>> IT'S CALLED A BASELINE
BUDGET.
IT'S CALLED AN AUSTERITY BUDGET,
BUT I THINK IT REALLY IS -- THE
BEST DESCRIPTION IS A BARE-BONES
BUDGET; BARE BONES MEANING NO
MORE MONEY.
AND IT HAS AN ENORMOUS EFFECT ON
THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE I
BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> THE STATE UNFORTUNATELY HAS
NOT BEEN TOO RELIABLE IN MANY OF
THESE INCIDENCES.
WE END UP GETTING OUR MONEY
EVENTUALLY, BUT WE WOULD MUCH
RATHER HAVE IT SOONER THAN
LATER.
IN TOO MANY INSTANCES IT COMES
WAY TOO LATE.
>> ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE KEY
WORD.
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT THE
BUDGET IS WORKABLE IF IT'S NOT
FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY POORLY
PLAYED TRANSPARENT CHESS GAME.
>> Gary: I GUESS I GOTTA START,
LIKE MOST MEDIA HAS TO START.
OKAY, VETERAN ALBANY WATCHERS:
COMPARED TO THE LAST 17 YEARS OF
BUDGET FUTILITY, WHERE DID THIS
YEAR RANK?
>> FOR 17 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD
LATE BUDGETS.
THEY HAVE BEEN LATER AND LATER,
AND IT'S THREE MONTHS AFTER THE
BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR
WHEN WE HAVE A STATE BUDGET.
>> BUT THIS LATEST WRINKLE WHERE
THE LEGISLATURE IS USING KIND OF
THEIR OWN POLITICAL JUJITSU TO
DRAG THE GOVERNOR INTO
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE BUDGET, IT'S
EITHER GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A
NEW INTERESTING CHAPTER IN HOW
BUDGETS GET DONE OR NEW LEVEL OF
DYSFUNCTION.
ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
>> Gary: AND YET IT'S DELAYED.
ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY HAD
SOME EXCITING RACES FOR THE
ELECTION 2001, MONROE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S RACE AND THE RACE FOR
ROCHESTER'S CITY MAYOR.
WXXI TEAMED UP WITH THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" AND
NEWS SOURCE 13 TO BRING YOU TWO
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" DEBATES.
WE ALSO OFFERED THOSE DEBATES IN
SPANISH, A FIRST EVER FOR A
LOCAL PRODUCTION.
HERE'S A LITTLE BIT FROM THOSE
EVENTS.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 21
YEARS, MONROE COUNTY WILL ELECT
A NEW SHERIFF.
TONIGHT "VOICES OF VOTERS"
BRINGS YOU A DEBATE AMONG THE
CANDIDATES IN THIS HOTLY
CONTESTED RATES.
THE CANDIDATES ARE PATRICK
O'FLYNN, THOMAS VASILE, JAMES
CALDWELL AND VINCENT FAGGIANO.
WHAT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS DO YOU
PLAN TO IMPLEMENT AS SHERIFF?
AND PLEASE EXPLAIN THE GOALS OF
THOSE PROGRAMS AND HOW THE
PROGRAMS WOULD BE PUT INTO
OPERATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE BEGIN WITH Mr. O'FLYNN.
>> WELL, THE PHILOSOPHY OF
COMMUNITY POLICING IS SOMETHING
THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS
WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS.
WE'VE HAD CRIME PREVENTION
DEPUTIES IN OUR ZONES TO WORK
WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND WE
DEVELOPED TOWN AND VILLAGE
MEETINGS TO ENSURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY GETS THEIR WORD TO THE
DEPUTIES, AND THEN WE CAN WORK
ON SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.
>> SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO
BE MORE VISIBLE IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO HAVE MORE
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITIES AND DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE AN OUTREACH
LIKE WE DO IN THE NET STATIONS
WHERE WE HAVE -- SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENTS THERE AS WELL AS
MONROE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THE COALITION SHOULD BE
THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE WORKING
TOGETHER TOWARDS THE SAME GOALS
AS FAR AS BUILDING MORE TRUST IN
THE COMMUNITY SO THAT PEOPLE
WILL BE WILLING TO COME TO US
WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES INSTEAD OF
RUNNING AWAY WHEN THEY SEE US
COMING.
>> Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> COMMUNITY POLICING IS REALLY
A PHILOSOPHY.
IT'S NOT A PROGRAM OR AN OFFICER
ON A BIKE.
IT'S THE ATTITUDE OF THE
OFFICERS THAT DEAL WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE NEED -- THAT STARTS
FROM THE TOP DOWN.
SO I THINK WE NEED FIRST OF ALL
TO INSTITUTE A PHILOSOPHY OF
COLLABORATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY, AND IT MUST BE WITH
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST
THE AREA THAT SHARES PATROLS BUT
ALSO OTHER AREAS OF OUR COUNTY.
I ALSO THINK IT HAS TO GO
FURTHER.
COMMUNITY POLICING CAN PLAY A
SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE SERVICE
OF THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL.
I THINK INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY
IN THAT OPERATION I THINK WILL
HELP US TO SOLVE SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS THERE AND BRING ABOUT
CHANGE THAT'S NEEDED THERE.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION,
BECAUSE MY ENTIRE CAMPAIGN IS
BASE ON COMMUNITY POLICING.
I HAVE PICKED OUT SEVERAL THINGS
THAT I'D LIKE TO DO AS THE
SHERIFF, BUT AS FAR AS COMMUNITY
POLICING IS CONCERNED, AN
OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, TO
INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN
DECISION MAKING, I PROPOSE
HAVING TOWN QUARTERLY MEETINGS
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY
AND THE CITY, THE SHERIFF AND
HIS COMMAND STAFF TO GO OUT AND
ANSWER QUESTIONS, DEVELOP THAT
RELATIONSHIP.
>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET US
FIRST INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES
FOR MAYOR OF ROCHESTER.
WILLIAM JOHNSON IS THE INCUMBENT
AND HE IS SEEKING HIS THIRD TERM
AS MAYOR.
HE REPRESENTS THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY AND IS 59 YEARS OLD.
LUIS PEREZ IS THE CHALLENGER
REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN AND
CONSERVATIVE PARTIES.
HE IS A SOCIAL WORKER AND PASTOR
AT BETHEL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.
HE IS 46 YEARS OLD.
>> WHEN I CAME TO OFFICE IN
1994, THIS COMMUNITY WAS IN FEAR
OVER THE LEVELS -- PARALLEL
LEVELS OF VIOLENCE THAT WERE
ERUPTING ON OUR STREETS.
WE INTRODUCED AND INCORPORATED A
MULTIFACETED APPROACH, CHANGE IN
THE CULTURE WITHIN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS
RESISTANCE TO COMMUNITY ORIENTED
POLICING.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
VICTOR RAUL GOLATEO.
THERE YOU ARE, SIR.
>> WHAT IS A DEMOCRATIC MAYOR OR
A REPUBLICAN MAYOR GOING TO DO
FOR HISPANIC YOUTH IN THIS CITY?
>> Mr. JOHNSON ANSWERS FIRST.
>> I'VE BEEN PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT I AM THE MAYOR OF ALL THE
CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
ANY SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, WE
MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE
AND AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS.
CERTAINLY THERE ARE THOSE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY NEED MORE
HELP AND WE TARGET SPECIFIC
HELP, BUT I'M JUST AS CONCERNED
ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH AS
I AM ABOUT LATINO YOUTH.
I'M JUST AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE
WHITE YOUTH WHO LIVE IN THIS
CITY AS I AM ABOUT MINORITIES
WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
FACING WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY
IS THAT, OUTSIDE OF THE GROWTH,
THE LEADING CENSUS DATA IN
GROWTH, WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE TOTEM POLE IN ALL THE OTHER
AREAS.
AND ALTHOUGH Mr. JOHNSON AND I
WANT TO BE A MAYOR OF ALL THE
PEOPLE, I THINK THAT THERE'S
SOME PARTICULAR ATTENTION THAT
NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
>> Gary: WE'RE STILL LEARNING A
LOT FROM THE CENSUS 2000.
FOR EXAMPLE LATINOS ARE NOW THE
FASTEST GROWING POPULATION
ACROSS THE NATION, AS WELL AS
RIGHT HERE IN ROCHESTER.
THE CITY LATINO POPULATION IS UP
BY 48%, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST A
CITY JUMP.
IN THE SIX-COUNTY REGION, THE
LATINO COMMUNITY HAS INCREASED
BY 60%.
HERE'S A CLIP FROM ONE OF OUR
PROGRAMS.
>> THE SANCHEZ FAMILY OWN A
BAKERY, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN
SPANISH, CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH
AMERICAN DESSERTS AND
SANDWICHES.
YOU WOULD PROBABLY EXPECT TO
FIND IT ON SIMPSON AVENUE IN
ROCHESTER, TRADITIONALLY A
LATINO SHOPPING AREA.
BUT THE BAKERY IS LOCATED ON
MERCHANT'S ROAD, RIGHT ON THE
BORDER OF IRONDEQUOIT AND
ROCHESTER, WHERE IT CAN
CONVENIENTLY CATER TO BOTH
LATINOS AND NON-LATINO
CUSTOMERS.
>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS I KNEW I
WOULD GET THE HISPANICS TO
PATRONIZE THE BUSINESS, BUT I
FELT THAT THE NON-HISPANICS WAS
READY FOR A SPANISH BREAD BAKERY
JUST BECAUSE OF THE COMMERCIALS
ON TV, THE SPANISH PROGRAMS, THE
POPULATION.
>> Gary: WE ALSO DISCOVERED
THAT ROCHESTER HAS BEEN DEEMED
ONE OF AMERICA'S SAFE HAVENS.
SEVERAL DOZEN YOUNG SUDANESE
REFUGEES HAVE NOW SETTLED HERE
IN ROCHESTER.
HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM "NEED TO
KNOW'S" "THE LOST BOYS."
>> I CAME FROM SUDAN, I'M A LOST
BOY SINCE 1987.
IN MY COUNTRY, I AM UNWANTED
CHILD OF SUDAN.
THAT IS MY TITLE.
>> ABRAHAM IS 17 YEARS OLD AND
LIVING IN ROCHESTER, BUT THAT'S
WHERE SIMILARITIES WITH OTHER
ROCHESTER TEENAGERS ENDS.
ABRAHAM IS ONE OF THE LOST BOYS,
A GROUP OF CHILDREN FLEEING THE
CIVIL WAR RAGING IN THEIR
HOMELAND OF SUDAN.
ABRAHAM IS ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN
ROCHESTER, BUT HE WILL NEVER
FORGET HIS JOURNEY AND THE
COUNTRY HE HOPES TO RETURN TO.
>> THAT IS MY MAIN GOAL WHAT I'M
DOING NOW BECAUSE, IN OUR
COUNTRY, OUR PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING AND THEY NEED HELP.
SO AFTER I COMPLETE MY
EDUCATION, I WILL GO BACK TO
SUDAN AND HELP MY PEOPLE THERE.
>> Gary: SOMETHING ELSE NEW TO
ROCHESTER.
WE REPORTED ON STRONG HOSPITAL'S
HEART TRANSPLANT CENTER.
IT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR
OUR AREA.
RIGHT NOW THE HOSPITAL HAS TEN
PEOPLE WAITING FOR A HEART.
"NEED TO KNOW" ALSO KEPT UP WITH
THE FORMER ROCHESTER FAMILY
WHOSE SMALL SON HAS BEEN WAITING
FOR A HEART FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF
YEARS.
HERE'S HIS STORY.
>> HE'S WORKED HIS WAY INTO THE
HEARTS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> ROCHESTER NATIVES KIMBERLEY
LAYMAN-HOSER AND HER HUSBAND
RUSSELL HAVE BEEN SPREADING THE
WORD ABOUT ORGAN DONATION
AWARENESS.
THE HOSERS, WHO NOW LIVE IN
OHIO, SPENT YEARS WAITING FOR A
HEART FOR THEIR SON JONAH.
ANOTHER YEAR WENT PAST, BUT ON
FEBRUARY 23rd, 2001, THE HOSERS
GOT THE CALL THEY HAD BEEN
WAITING FOR.
IT WAS THE PERFECT MATCH.
JONAH BEAT THE ODDS AND GOT HIS
NEW HEART.
BUT THE CELEBRATION IS
BITTERSWEET.
>> IT WAS A REAL STRUGGLE WITH
ME AT FIRST.
I HAD TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE
IDEA THAT ANOTHER FAMILY HAD TO
LOSE THEIR CHILD SO THAT MINE
COULD LIVE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM VERY FAIR, YOU
KNOW.
IT'S REALLY HARD.
\M Happy birthday to Jonah \M
>> JONAH, WHO'S NOW FOUR YEARS
OLD, DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE DOES
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO
HAVE A HEALTHY HEART AND A VERY
HAPPY FAMILY.
>> Gary: AND JONAH CONTINUES TO
DO WELL TODAY.
A FEW MONTHS AGO "NEED TO KNOW"
BEGAN COVERING CULTURAL EVENTS.
IT'S A UNIQUE WAY TO PARTICIPATE
IN ROCHESTER'S ART.
HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM ONE OF
OUR SEGMENTS.
>> THE HISTORY OF THE SUFFERAGE
MOVEMENT.
THIS IS IN THE ANTHONY HOUSE AND
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN
YOU GO OUT IN THE PARK, ALONG
THE STREET, THE POTENTIAL,
THE CHANCE OF ANOTHER ONE
WALKING THE SAME FOOTSTEPS,
THAT'S FASCINATING TO ME.
WE WANT THEM TO BE AS INVITING
AND MOST COMFORTABLE AND THAT
PEOPLE COULD ENGAGE AND ACTUALLY
TOUCH THEM SITTING ON THEIR
LAPS.
LASTLY IT'S THE IDEA PERCEIVE
THEM AS A HUMAN BEING.
>> Gary: "NEED TO KNOW" HAS
BEEN COVERING NOT ONLY
ROCHESTER'S PAST AND PRESENT.
WE'VE ALSO TAKEN AN INTEREST IN
ROCHESTER'S FUTURE.
WE HELPED BURY THE 2001 TIME
CAPSULE.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> OUR MESSAGES NOW LINGER IN
BOTH THE FUTURE AND THE PAST.
>> WE ARE RESPONDING TO A STRONG
DESIRE, MAYBE EVEN A NEED, TO
COMMUNICATE ACROSS TIME.
WE WANT TO SPEAK TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS AND WE WANT TO BE
UNDERSTOOD.
WE WANT TO TOUCH THE PEOPLE OF
THE FUTURE IN THE SAME WAY WE
WERE TOUCHED BY THE PEOPLE OF
THE PAST.
>> IN 2134, 133 YEARS FROM NOW,
THE PAST WILL MEET UP WITH THE
FUTURE AGAIN.
ROCHESTER WILL TURN 300 YEARS
OLD, AND THE CONTENTS OF THE
2001 TIME CAPSULE WILL BE PART
OF THE CITY'S CELEBRATION.
>> THIS GIFT THAT WE HAVE
CREATED TOGETHER ARE TO GIVE
PEOPLE OF ROCHESTER IN 2134 A
VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT IN THIS CITY; WORKING
TOGETHER, CARING TOGETHER FOR
EACH OTHER AND PROUD OF WHAT WE
ARE.
>> Gary: AS WE SAID AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, ONE OF
THE BIGGEST STORIES HAS
CERTAINLY BEEN THE ECONOMY.
AND FOR THAT WE GO TO OUR
PARTNERS AT THE NEWSPAPER, THE
BUSINESS SECTION WITH THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS
ELLEN ROSEN.
SHE'S THE BUSINESS EDITOR OF THE
THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE.
ELLEN, END OF THE YEAR.
HARD TO BELIEVE.
>> IT IS.
>> Gary: REALLY, REALLY
DIFFICULT YEAR FOR THE ECONOMY
AND THE NATION AND OF COURSE
COMING OUT OF SEPTEMBER 11th.
OVERALL, HOW DID OUR FUTURE FARE
COMPARED TO THE NATION?
>> WELL, THE JURY'S STILL OUT ON
THAT.
THE STATISTICS KIND OF LAGGED
BEHIND BUT IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU
KNOW, WE TOOK A HIT ALONG WITH
EVERYBODY ELSE, PERHAPS NOT AS
BAD.
SOME OF OUR COMPANIES DID
SUFFER, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE
HOLDING THEIR OWN AND EVERYBODY
SEEMS TO BE LYING IN WAIT FOR
THE RECESSION TO BE OVER.
>> Gary: OF COURSE.
ON SEPTEMBER 10th, THE ECONOMY
WASN'T THAT GREAT.
WE WERE HEADING INTO A
RECESSION.
SEPTEMBER 11th OF COURSE WAS A
TERRIBLE BODY BLOW TO THE
ECONOMY.
WHAT ABOUT OUR MARQUIS
COMPANIES?
HOW DID OUR BIG COMPANIES FARE
IN 2001?
>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENED ON
SEPTEMBER 11th JUST MADE
EVERYTHING THAT WAS COMING
HAPPEN JUST THAT MUCH FASTER AND
THAT QUICKLY.
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.
XEROX FOR INSTANCE LOST A LOT OF
EQUIPMENT IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE
TWIN TOWERS.
KODAK SAW ITS FILM SALES DROP
OFF MARKEDLY AS PEOPLE STOPPED
GOING ON VACATIONS, STOPPED
FLYING.
SO IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR
THEM.
>> Gary: IN A TIME OF
RECESSION, WOULD KODAK HAVE
SUFFERED THAT LOSS, TOO, OR IS
SEPTEMBER 11th SOMETHING
UNIQUELY THAT PEOPLE FOCUS ON
JUST WRAPPING OFF TAKING
PICTURES?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY FILM SALES
HAD BEEN DECLINING ANYWAY AS
PEOPLE HAD MOVED INTO DIGITAL
EVEN MORE RAPIDLY THAN THE
INDUSTRY WAS EXPECTING, BUT THIS
REALLY MADE IT HAPPEN MARKEDLY
FASTER.
KODAK HAD SOMETHING LIKE I THINK
A LARGE PERCENT OF ITS PROFIT, A
THIRD OF ITS PROFIT OR SOMETHING
FROM CONSUMER PHOTOGRAPHY, AND
THOSE USER PARKS, DISNEY WORLD
AND THE KEY CENTERS FOR THAT,
PEOPLE WEREN'T GOING.
>> Gary: UNDERSTOOD.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OR
DISAPPOINTMENT LOCALLY IN OUR
ECONOMY?
>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE WERE
PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE
CORNING DEAL, THE IDEA OF A NEW
COMPANY COMING TO TOWN.
OBVIOUSLY CORNING IS NOT A NEW
COMPANY BUT NEW TO US.
THEY WERE ALREADY HERE IN THE
FORMER ROCHESTER PHOTONICS, BUT
THEY WERE PLANNING TO OPEN THIS
BRAND-NEW PLANT HERE THAT WAS
GOING TO PROMISE SEVERAL HUNDRED
NEW JOBS, HIGH PAID, HIGHLY
SKILLED JOBS, JUST THE KIND OF
JOBS AN ECONOMY WANTS.
>> Gary: GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT
WHEN IT CAME OUT.
>> YEAH.
THE COMMUNITY REALLY WENT OUT OF
ITS WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THE CITY EXTENDED EMPIRE ZONES.
MAYOR JOHNSON AGREED TO DO THAT.
IT WAS PROJECT "X" AND THEY
ACTUALLY WERE COURTING CORNING
FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, AND AT
ONE POINT THEY PAST US OVER AND
WENT TO PENNSYLVANIA AND SECOND
TIME AROUND DID COME HERE.
SO I THINK WHEN THEY PULLED OUT,
ALTHOUGH THE WRITING HAD BEEN ON
THE WALL, EMPLOYMENT THERE HAD
NEVER REACHED THE LEVELS THEY
THOUGHT IT DID AND ACTUALLY WAS
DECLINING, I THINK PEOPLE WERE
VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY SHUT
IT.
>> Gary: ANY CHANCE THE DEAL
COULD BE RESURRECTED IF THE
ECONOMY REBOUNDS?
>> I THINK THAT ONE'S PRETTY
MUCH DONE FOR NOW.
AT LEAST CORNING'S STILL HERE
THROUGH ROCHESTER PHOTONICS AND
THEY SAY THEY MAY STILL GROW
THERE, AND I THINK CORNING IS
LOOKING AT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ITSELF.
CORNING IS A COMPANY THAT HAS A
HISTORY OF REINVENTING ITSELF
AND DEFINING -- ONCE IT WAS
LIGHT BULBS FOR EDISON AND THEN
IT WAS COOKWARE AND DIFFERENT
THINGS.
NOW THEY MAY BE COMING DOWN WITH
YET A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRODUCT.
>> Gary: IT WASN'T ALL DOOM AND
GLOOM.
I IMAGINE SOMETHING HAD TO GO
RIGHT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SUCCESSES
OF 2001 LOCALLY?
>> JetBLUE HAS ACTUALLY HAD A
WONDERFUL IMPACT ON OUR
COMMUNITY HERE.
BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO COME
HERE, THEY REALLY WANTED
GUARANTEE FROM THE LOCAL
BUSINESSES THEY WOULD USE THEM
TO FLY BECAUSE SOMETHING LIKE
70% OF THE TRAFFIC OUT OF OUR
AIRPORT IS BUSINESS TRAVEL.
AND THEY GOT THAT AND THEY
AGREED TO COME HERE.
ACTUALLY WE HAVE MOVED DOWN FROM
BEING ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE
TWO OR THREE WAYS TO FLOAT
AROUND EXPENSES TO FLY FROM IN
THE COUNTRY AND WE'RE MOVING
SLOWLY DOWN SCALE, AND THEY
THINK THAT BY THE END OF THE
YEAR WE'LL REALLY SEE THE
IMPACT.
>> Gary: YOU THINK JetBLUE IS
REALLY THE STIMULUS FOR BRINGING
US DOWN?
>> OH, CLEARLY.
THEY'RE REALLY THE ONLY LOW-FARE
CARRIER WE HAVE HERE.
>> Gary: OKAY.
NOW, YOU'RE THE BUSINESS EDITOR
OF THE NEWSPAPER.
YOUR JOB IS TO LOOK OUT OVER THE
LANDSCAPE, AND YOU DO IT VERY,
VERY WELL.
WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION
LAST YEAR.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED
THIS PAST YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT
OR THAT GREW FASTER OR SHRUNK
MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT?
>> WELL, CLEARLY WE DIDN'T SEE
SEPTEMBER 11th COMING AND
CLEARLY WE DIDN'T SEE --
ALTHOUGH THE SIGNS WERE UP, WE
REALLY DIDN'T SEE THE SHRINK IN
THE ECONOMY QUITE THAT QUICKLY.
SO THAT SORT OF DIDN'T REALLY --
>> Gary: NO ONE REALLY DID.
>> RIGHT, NO ONE REALLY DID
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
REALLY HIGHLY FOCUSED ON.
>> Gary: HOW IS THAT POSITION,
AS YOU LOOK NOW, GOING INTO THE
NEXT YEAR?
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT HAVING
DEPRESSION HERE, BUT WHERE ARE
WE GEARED TO GROW OR THRIVE IN
2003 LOCALLY?
>> WE JUST HAD TWO VERY
PROMINENT ECONOMISTS, DEAN
CHARLES PLOSSER FROM THE SIGNING
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER,
AND MARK SOLOMON, WHO'S THE
REGIONAL ECONOMIST FOR J.P.
MORGAN CHASE, SAID THAT ACTUALLY
OUR COMMUNITY IS PROBABLY BETTER
POSITIONED THAN MANY OTHERS IN
THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE
ALREADY STARTED ON THIS NEW
ECONOMY.
WE'RE NOT TOTALLY RELIANT ON THE
OLD ECONOMY MANUFACTURERS
BECAUSE MANUFACTURING JOBS
CONTINUE TO SHRINK.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR GROWTH
IN TELECOM, INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
AND HEALTH SERVICES.
NEIL BARR IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR
PLAYER IN THAT.
>> Gary: WE CAN READ ABOUT IT
ALL IN THE BUSINESS SECTION OF
THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE?"
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PLANNING.
>> Gary: ELLEN ROSEN, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
ELLEN ROSEN IS THE BUSINESS
EDITOR FOR THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
AND THAT'S THIS WEEK'S "NEED TO
KNOW."
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW"
OR DISCUSS ANY OF THESE TOPICS,
LOG ONTO OUR WEB SITE,
wxxi.org/ntk.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S
PROGRAM.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK AS WE LOOK AT
THE IMPACT BOTH ON THE ECONOMY
AND ON THE COMMUNITY OF
SEPTEMBER 11th.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)