>>
Gary: JUST AHEAD ON "NEED TO
KNOW," ROCHESTER'S NEXT CITY
BUDGET.
TAXES WILL BE GOING UP.
CITY SERVICES WILL BE
ELIMINATED.
HOW DO YOU FIT INTO THE NUMBERS?
WE'LL HAVE THE MAN WHO DEVISED
THE PLAN, MAYOR WILLIAM JOHNSON,
TO TALK ABOUT HOW HE CLOSED AN
ALMOST $25 MILLION BUDGET GAP.
ELLEN ROSEN JOINS US FOR THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF THE BUSINESS
SECTION WITH THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," AND A LOCAL WOMAN
MAKES IT BIG ON BROADWAY.
BUT FIRST ROCHESTER'S NEXT
BUDGET IS COMING UP NEXT ON
"NEED TO KNOW."
>> I'M SENDING OUT A MESSAGE
THAT, ESSENTIALLY, THE COMMUNITY
HAS TO DIG AND FIND A FEW EXTRA
PENNIES.
>> Gary: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
MAYOR JOHNSON HAS ANNOUNCED HIS
CITY BUDGET PLAN AND IT WOULD
APPEAR THAT ALL ROCHESTER
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WILL BE
IMPACTED.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET TOTALS $349
MILLION.
IT INCLUDES A 5.39% PROPERTY TAX
INCREASE AND A $29 ANNUAL
INCREASE FOR GARBAGE COLLECTION,
ADDING UP TO A ROUGHLY $65
INCREASE FOR THE AVERAGE
HOMEOWNER.
JOHNSON'S PLAN CALLS FOR CUTTING
$5.3 MILLION IN PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AND USING MORE THAN $6
MILLION OF THE CITY'S RESERVES,
ALL THIS IN AN EFFORT TO CLOSE A
$24.9 MILLION BUDGET GAP.
BUDGET GAPS ARE NOT REALLY NEW
FOR THE CITY.
THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE SEEN
PROJECTING FUNDING HOLDS FROM 9
TO $29 MILLION.
"NEED TO KNOW'S" MATT CUMMINGS
LOOKS AT HOW THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
SHORTFALL CAME TO BE.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE WILL TO
RECOGNIZE YOU CAN'T SPEND MORE
MONEY THAN YOU HAVE.
>> Matt: ON THE HEELS OF THE
RECENT ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT'S BUDGET CRISIS, MAYOR
WILLIAM JOHNSON ANNOUNCED HIS
CITY BUDGET PLAN.
AND AS IF CITY RESIDENTS WEREN'T
ALREADY TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT
CUTBACKS FROM SCHOOL OFFICIALS,
JOHNSON'S PLAN CALLS FOR
REDUCTIONS IN CITY SERVICES AS
WELL.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE,
JUST SORT OF TRIMMED BACK A
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE
VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE
CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING.
JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO DO
EVERYTHING, AND SO WE JUST MADE,
YOU KNOW, THESE DECISIONS WHERE
THEY HAD TO BE MADE.
>> Matt: MAYOR JOHNSON'S
PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS WHAT HE
SAYS IS THE NEED TO PARE DOWN
CITY SPENDING IN THE WAKE OF A
NEARLY $25 MILLION BUDGET
DEFICIT FACING THE CITY FOR THE
UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.
JOHNSON'S PROPOSED PLAN CUTS
$1.2 MILLION FROM THE CITY'S
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
HOWEVER JOHNSON SAYS THAT WILL
BE MADE UP BY FUNDING FOR
CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES.
THE BUDGET ALSO ELIMINATES THE
EASY RIDER SHUTTLE SERVICE,
SUNDAY HOURS AT AREA RECREATION
CENTERS, 80 VACANT FULL-TIME
CITY POSITIONS AND REDUCES
FUNDING FOR THE 911 CENTER,
LIBRARY SERVICES AND HOUSING AND
STREET PROGRAMS.
>> I'M SENDING OUT A MESSAGE
THAT ESSENTIALLY THE COMMUNITY
HAS TO DIG AND FIND A FEW EXTRA
PENNIES.
>> Matt: LOOKING FOR A FEW EXTRA
PENNIES IS A COMMON THEME FOR
UPSTATE CITIES.
BUFFALO IS DEBATING A 4.1%
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE ALONG WITH
CUTTING MORE THAN 200 CITY JOBS,
WHILE SYRACUSE HAS APPROVED AN
ALMOST 8% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
JOHNSON SAYS ROCHESTER IS
FEELING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF
THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF
SEPTEMBER 11th, INCLUDING
SHORTFALLS IN STATE AID AND
SALES TAX REVENUES.
COMBINED WITH A CONTINUOUSLY
DECREASING PROPERTY TAX BASE,
ROCHESTER'S BUDGET TOOK THE HIT.
>> WE HAD THREE STRIKES AGAINST
US.
>> Matt: AS AN ECONOMIC ANALYST
FOR THE CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL
RESEARCH, KENT GARDNER AGREES
WITH JOHNSON'S ASSESSMENT, BUT
SAYS OTHER FACTORS ALSO
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CURRENT
BUDGET GAP.
>> KODAK, BAUSCH & LOMB AND
XEROX, THE NATIONAL
MANUFACTURING ECONOMY AND A
WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN,
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT CAUSED
THE MARKET IN ROCHESTER TO
SHRINK IN 2001.
THAT WAS A TOUGH YEAR FOR US.
AND THEN TO CROWN THAT DIFFICULT
YEAR, WE DID HAVE 9/11.
>> Matt: A DAY THAT CREATED AN
ECONOMIC FALLOUT THAT HAS HAD A
TWO-PRONGED EFFECT ON THE
ROCHESTER ECONOMY.
>> ONE IS MONEY FROM THE STATE
AND THEN A SECOND IS SALES TAX
REVENUE.
THE SALES TAX REVENUE IS A
PRETTY VOLATILE SOURCE OF
REVENUE FOR ANY MUNICIPALITY.
WE'VE SEEN MANY YEARS WHERE
SALES TAX REVENUE HAS GONE UP BY
MORE THAN PEOPLE EXPECTED, YOU
KNOW, YEAR IN, YEAR OUT.
WELL, FINALLY, TOTAL SALES
STARTED TO DECLINE, AND AGAIN IN
2001 WE SAW A WEAKNESS IN THE
RETAIL MARKETS BECAUSE THE
MARKET ECONOMY IN ROCHESTER WAS
RELATIVELY WEAK.
SO WE SAW SOME SOFTNESS IN SALES
TAX, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT
CAME WEAKNESS AT THE STATE LEVEL
AND THE STATE FINDING ITSELF
UNABLE TO HELP OUT
MUNICIPALITIES LIKE ROCHESTER
AND BUFFALO AND SYRACUSE.
>> Matt: WHILE UPSTATE CITIES
MAY LOOK TO ALBANY FOR HELP,
GARDNER SAYS ROCHESTER SHOULD
LOOK AT ITSELF, TOO.
>> THE OTHER ISSUE FOR THE CITY
OF ROCHESTER IS THAT THE VALUE
OF AGGREGATE REAL ESTATE IN THE
CITY HAS ALSO BEEN DECLINING,
AND AS VALUE GOES DOWN, THEN
THAT LEADS TO A REDUCTION, EVEN
IF YOU DON'T CHANGE PROPERTY TAX
RATES, BECAUSE THE BASE ON WHICH
THAT YOU'RE TAXING HAS SHRUNK;
AND THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR
SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE THE BASE
IS SHRINKING.
>> Matt: MEANING WITH
ROCHESTER'S HOUSES VALUED FOR
LESS THAN IN PAST YEARS, THE
CITY IS FORCED TO RAISE PROPERTY
TAX RATES IN ORDER TO PULL IN
THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE.
FOR THE CITY TO INCREASE
PROPERTY TAX EARNINGS, IT WILL
HAVE TO RAISE RATES EVEN HIGHER.
>> SO IT MEANS THAT THE CITY HAS
BEEN BUFFETED ON ALL SIDES IN
TERMS OF REVENUE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE MAJOR
SOURCES OF REVENUE, THE GOING TO
BE STATE AID AND SALES TAX AND
PROPERTY TAX, AND IF ALL THREE
ARE UNDER STRESS, THEN THAT CAN
PUT A HOLE IN YOUR BUDGET PRETTY
QUICKLY.
(Music)
>> Gary: JOINING ME NOW IS
ROCHESTER MAYOR WILLIAM JOHNSON.
MAYOR JOHNSON, THANKS FOR COMING
ON.
>> GOOD GARY TO BE HERE.
>> Gary: WELL, HOLD ON.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT YOUR BUDGET MESSAGE
FIRST.
YOU HAD A QUOTE IN YOUR BUDGET
MESSAGE THAT, IF THE SALES TAX
DOES NOT REBOUND, WE WILL ONLY
HAVE FORCED ALL THE INEVITABLE
OF BEING GREATER EXPENSE AND
SERVICE REDUCTIONS AND/OR HIGHER
PROPERTY TAXES.
MAYOR, IF ALL REMAINS THE SAME
THIS YEAR AS IT DID LAST YEAR,
ARE WE LOOKING AT A SIMILAR
BUDGET NEXT YEAR?
>> OR WORSE, BECAUSE WE WERE
ABLE TO RELY ON SOME DEVICES
THIS YEAR WHICH MAY NOT BE
AVAILABLE TO US.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE ABLE TO
TRIM ABOUT $5.6 MILLION WORTH OF
PROGRAM REDUCTIONS WITHOUT
MATERIALLY REDUCING THE LEVEL OF
SERVICES THAT CITIZENS HAVE COME
TO EXPECT.
I DON'T FORESEE US BEING ABLE TO
DO THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN TRIMMING AWAY FOR
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THE PIECE WE JUST SAW, KENT
GARDNER'S ANALYSIS, WAS VERY
ACCURATE.
OUR PROPERTY TAX VALUES HAVE
BEEN DECLINING.
WE'VE LOST ALMOST A BILLION
DOLLARS OFF OF THAT BASE OVER
THE LAST DECADE, AND A LOT OF IT
HAS TO DO WITH DECLINING
PRESENCE OF COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN KODAK IS
DOWNSIZING, IT HAS ALSO BEGUN TO
DOWNSIZE FACILITIES LIKE KODAK
PARK.
YOU'VE GOT THAT GOING ON.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW,
I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS FOR A
LONG TIME, WE'VE GOT SO MUCH
BUILDING GOING ON OUTSIDE THE
CITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE MUCH MORE
CHOICE THAN WE HAVE.
A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF ABANDONED
HOUSES IN THE CITY.
ALL OF THIS HAS HAD A
DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT ON OUR
ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE.
>> Gary: LET ME AS YOU THIS
THEN.
ARE WE SEEING THIS YEAR THE
FIRST OF A SUCCESSIVE NUMBER OF
BUDGETS THAT WILL SHRINK CITY
SERVICES RATE OF TAXES THAT
COVER THOSE DECLINING SERVICES
IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
IS THIS THE FIRST OF A LONG LINE
OF BAD-NEWS BUDGETS?
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT,
BUT UNLESS WE CHANGE SOMETHING
DRAMATICALLY, AND I THINK IT'S
NOT JUST THE CITY.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK,
GARY, ALMOST AT EVERY SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND TOWN IN MONROE
COUNTY AND VILLAGE HAS HAD TO DO
THE VERY SAME THING BUT ON A
SMALLER SCALE THAN WE'RE DOING
IN THE CITY.
THE COUNTY'S BUDGET ITSELF IS
UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE
BECAUSE OF UNFUNDED MANDATES AND
THE LIKE.
I MEAN, WE ARE IN A SITUATION
HERE, AND I RAISED THIS ISSUE ON
TUESDAY WITH THE COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENT, IF WE DON'T CHANGE
SOMETHING DRAMATICALLY, EVERY
ONE OF US IS GOING TO BE IN SAD
SHAPE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
>> Gary: SO, IN OTHER WORDS,
YOU'RE SAYING IN THE LONG HAUL,
THIS IS -- WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME
PRETTY DARK TIMES THEN.
SALES TAX REVENUE HAS BEEN FLAT
OR DECLINING.
OUR ECONOMY, EVEN DURING THE
GOOD TIMES, THIS AREA HAS LAGGED
BEHIND THE GROWTH AREAS OF THE
STATES.
WE'RE NOT GROWING IN TERMS OF
POPULATION OR PER CAPITA INCOME.
THE CITY CONTINUES TO LOSE
POPULATION.
COSTS KEEP CLIMBING BECAUSE
COSTS ALWAYS CLIMB.
SO HOW DO YOU STOP THIS
RETRENCHMENT?
>> WELL, I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR
A LONG TIME.
I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO
EXAMINE THE STRUCTURES OF
GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS PAINFUL FOR SOME PEOPLE
TO HEAR.
THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL.
EVEN ON TUESDAY, I TOOK A MILD
TONGUE-LASHING FROM ONE OR TWO
OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO SAID, JUST
BY RAISING THE QUESTION THAT
MAYBE WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH
GOVERNMENT, WE'RE TRYING TO
SUPPORT TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT IN
THIS COUNTY, THAT I'M
FRIGHTENING PEOPLE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO GET REAL FRIGHTENED WHEN ALL
OF A SUDDEN THEY FIND OUT, YOU
KNOW, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE FIRE
SERVICES, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
AS MANY POLICEMEN ON THE
STREETS.
THE LIBRARIES ARE GOING TO BE
CLOSED.
THE QUALITY OF OUR LIFE COULD
CONCEIVABLY DETERIORATE BEYOND
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN IMAGINE.
AND THEN WE'LL BE BEHIND THE 8
BALL, SO TO SPEAK.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT BEFORE MATTERS GET WAY
OUT OF HAND.
>> Gary: MAYOR, LET ME -- I KNOW
THAT YOU DID HAVE -- WELL, LET'S
STICK TO THE CITY PROBLEM FIRST
BEFORE WE TALK, AND WE WILL TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
CONSOLIDATION.
YOU HAVE TALKED A GREAT DEAL
ABOUT CONSOLIDATION.
BUT ALSO IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CITY
SCHOOL BUDGET, WHICH BY THE WAY
IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN THE
CITY'S BUDGET ON VERY MANY
LEVELS, AND YOU HAVE SAID I AM
NOT GOING TO GIVE THAT $1.2
MILLION INCREASE TO THE CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I AM GOING TO GIVE THEM SERVICES
OR CONSOLIDATE SOME SERVICES.
IN ALL FAIRNESS, BEFORE YOU CAN
REALLY GO TO THE REST OF THE
VILLAGES AND TOWNS AND COUNTIES,
DON'T YOU HAVE TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES
BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CITY'S
SCHOOL DISTRICT?
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
PROPOSING TO DO.
WE'VE HAD THIS ON THE TABLE FOR
YEARS, AND I CAN SAY THERE'S
BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE
ON BOTH SIDES, BECAUSE WHAT IT
AMOUNTS TO IS SOMEBODY'S GOING
TO END UP LOSING A JOB OR BEING
DOWNGRADED.
AND THIS IS HOW THE WHOLE
CONSOLIDATION ISSUE HAS BEEN
DEFINED.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET BEYOND
THAT.
AND WHAT WE INDICATED, AND I
HAVE TO GO BACK AND REMIND YOU
THAT WE CUT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT'S APPROPRIATION AT $1.2
MILLION.
THE OFFER FOR THE CONSOLIDATION
CAME AT THE SAME TIME.
THERE'S A LETTER THAT I SENT TO
Dr. JANEY BACK IN JANUARY SAYING
ONE WAY THE DISTRICT CAN OFFSET
THIS LOSS OF $1.2 MILLION IS FOR
US, YOU AND I, TO INSTRUCT OUR
STAFFS TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT
THESE CONSOLIDATIONS.
>> Gary: DON'T YOU FEEL, IN
ORDER TO HAVE THE BULLY PULPIT
TO TALK ABOUT CONSOLIDATION
COUNTYWISE, YOU REALLY NEED TO
MAXIMIZE IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN
FULLY WITHIN THE CITY AND THE
CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M INTENDING TO
DO.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED A LIST OF ABOUT
$38 MILLION WORTH OF
CONSOLIDATION TARGETS.
THESE ARE NON-INSTRUCTIONAL
AREAS, THINGS THAT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE TO DO
THEMSELVES.
THEY CAN CONTRACT IT OUT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CONTRACT IT
OUT WITH US.
THEY CAN CONTRACT OUT WITH OTHER
PARTIES IN ORDER TO LOWER THEIR
COST STRUCTURE.
AND I'M SUGGESTING, AND I'VE
BEEN SAYING THIS IN QUIET,
BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONVERSATIONS
WITH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, THAT
THIS YEAR, MORE THAN ANY OTHER
YEAR, THEY NEED TO BE SERIOUS
ABOUT THAT.
WE CAN'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT
THAT.
>> Gary: LET ME ASK YOU THIS
NOW.
GOVERNOR PATAKI WAS IN ROCHESTER
THIS WEEK SAYING I'D LOVE TO
GIVE BIG-CITY MAYORS CONTROL
OVER THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
QUESTION ONE: DO YOU WANT
CONTROL OF THE ROCHESTER CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT?
>> NOT NECESSARILY, BUT I THINK
WE HAVE THE CONCERN -- I'M NOT
EVADING YOUR QUESTION -- WHAT
THE OPTIONS ARE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A VERY
STRANGE PLACE.
ONLY FIVE COMMUNITIES IN NEW
YORK STATE ARE IN THIS PLACE
WHERE THESE LARGE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE TAXING,
INDEPENDENT TAXING AUTHORITY.
>> Gary: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ROCHESTER'S BEING ONE OF
THOSE.
THAT MEANS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
IS ALWAYS PUT IN THE POSITION OF
BEING A SUPPLICANT TO THE CITY.
WE RAISE THEIR MONEY AND WE SEND
THEM A CHECK.
>> Gary: BUT THEY CONTROL THE
SPENDING.
>> BUT THEY CONTROL THE
SPENDING --
>> Gary: YOU GIVE THEM THE
MONEY.
>> -- WHICH HAS CREATED
TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION ON OUR
SIDE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE WAY THE MONEY IS BEING
SPENT.
>> Gary: DO YOU WANT CONTROL OF
THAT?
>> WELL, I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO
ADDRESS THAT.
EITHER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
GIVEN INDEPENDENT TAXING
AUTHORITY AND THAT THEY ARE
COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE
CITY GOVERNMENT, OR THE REVERSE
OF THAT SITUATION, WHICH MEANS
THAT THEY BECOME A DEPARTMENT OF
THE CITY.
AND GIVEN THOSE TWO CHOICES AND
GIVEN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE PAST,
THEN I PREFER THE LATTER THAN
THE FORMER.
I MUST TELL YOU THAT I TREMOR IN
MY BOOTS AT THE THOUGHT OF
GIVING TAXING AUTHORITY TO THE
ROCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> Gary: IF WILLIAM JOHNSON HAD
CONTROL OF THE ROCHESTER CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT, CAN YOU TELL US
RIGHT NOW WHAT WOULD BE
DIFFERENT ABOUT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT'S BUDGET AND THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT'S MAKEUP AND THE
SERVICES IT PROVIDES?
>> WELL, RIGHT -- IMMEDIATELY,
THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY DEBATE
ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY
IDENTIFIED AS THOSE AREAS OF
OVERLAP THAT WE CURRENTLY
PROVIDE.
IF THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WERE
MERGED INTO ONE, ALL OF THOSE
NON-ACADEMIC AND
NON-INSTRUCTIONAL ITEMS THAT THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY
TRYING TO PROVIDE WOULD BE
ASSUMED WITHIN THE STRUCTURE
THAT CITY GOVERNMENT IS
CURRENTLY DOING.
NOW, NOT EVERY ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS,
BUT IT WOULD BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF
SHAKEOUT.
I'LL GIVE YOU A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSED
ELIMINATING THE LIBRARIANS FROM
-- THE ELEMENTARY LIBRARIANS.
WE HAVE A CITY LIBRARY SYSTEM
AND, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S BEEN
EFFORTS GOING BACK TO MAYOR
LAMB, MAYOR RYAN, MAYOR MATE.
EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW CAN YOU CONSOLIDATE AND
MERGE THOSE TWO SYSTEMS?
WE'VE EVEN FACILITATED IT BY
BUILDING OUR LIBRARIES NEXT TO
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
NUMBER 12 SCHOOL COMES TO
EXAMPLE.
WHEN THE NEW SOUTH AVENUE
LIBRARY WAS BUILT, IT WAS BUILT
ADJACENT TO THE NEW SCHOOL
NUMBER 12.
YOU HAVE A SCHOOL LIBRARY.
YOU HAVE A CITY LIBRARY SITTING
ON THOSE VERY SAME PREMISES.
IF WE WERE TO RUN THAT SYSTEM,
WE COULD IMMEDIATELY CONSOLIDATE
THOSE FUNCTIONS AND ELIMINATE
THE DISPARITY THAT NOW CURRENTLY
EXISTS.
THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE IS THIS.
THE REASON SCHOOL LIBRARIANS
HAVE RESISTED MERGER WITH US IS
BECAUSE FIRST THEY WORK TEN
MONTHS A YEAR.
THEY HAVE LOTS OF VACATION TIME.
IN OTHER WORDS THEY FUNCTION --
THEY WORK WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE
OPEN.
IF THEY WERE CITY LIBRARIANS,
THEY'D HAVE TO WORK A 12-MONTH
SCHEDULE.
>> Gary: WELL, WHAT'S IT GOING
TO TAKE TO GET YOUR
CONSOLIDATION AGENDA WITHIN THE
CITY DONE?
>> I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD
HAVE RATIONAL, CALM MINDS ON THE
SCHOOL BOARD, AND I -- THIS
MORNING'S PAPER, THERE WAS AN
ARTICLE.
I'VE SPOKEN BRIEFLY TO BOLGEN
VARGAS.
I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION THIS
MORNING WITH JIM BOWERS.
I'M CONSTANTLY IN CONVERSATION
WITH MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL
BOARD.
BUT I THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO --
THEY HAVE TO BECOME COMFORTABLE
WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO END UP LOSING A LOT IN THIS
EQUATION.
THERE CAN BE NO -- THERE'S NO
OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT.
AND TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK, YOU
HAD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ON OUR
SHOW AT VARIOUS TIMES.
IN THEIR MINDS, THEY ARE
PREPARED TO RELINQUISH THE POWER
AND AUTHORITY THAT THEY HAVE,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S CLEAR THEY
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO RUN THIS
SYSTEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE
WILL TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS
TO CLOSE THE BUDGET GAP.
I MEAN, YOU WOULD THINK THEY
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TURN IT OVER.
>> Gary: CALMER MINDS ASIDE ON
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IS IT GOING
TO TAKE A CHANGE IN THE
AUTHORITY STRUCTURE THAT THE
MAYOR STARTS RUNNING -- AS THE
GOVERNOR SUGGESTED, IF THE MAYOR
RUNS THE SCHOOL BOARD TO GET
THIS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND LET ME SAY I'M HOPING TO
MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE
DELEGATION IN A FEW DAYS.
WHAT I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IS
THE EXTENT TO WHICH GOVERNMENT
PATAKI IS PROPOSING THIS
TAKEOVER.
IN THE PAST, HE'S TALKED ABOUT
ONE THING.
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BLOOMBERG
HAS BEEN VERY ADAMANT.
HE'S PICKED UP WHERE MAYOR
GIULIANI LEFT OFF, AND HE WANTS
TO HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL
THOSE SCHOOLS.
IF HE'S SAYING -- IF GOVERNOR
PATAKI IS SAYING HE WANTS TO
GIVE US THE SAME KIND OF POWER
IN NEW YORK STATE THAT MAYOR
DALEY HAD IN CHICAGO, WHICH WAS
COMPLETE, ABSOLUTE AND
UNFETTERED CONTROL OF THE
SCHOOLS, THEN I AM READY TO STEP
UP AND TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
>> Gary: QUICK QUESTION.
WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
YOU SAID YOU WANT A BETTER
RELATIONSHIP.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A -- KIND OF
YOUR LEGACY IS THAT YOU WANT TO
HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH
Mr. DOYLE.
IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING, HE
WAS KIND OF TERSE IN HIS REPLY.
I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU, IS THE
DIFFERENCE -- THE STRAINED
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU TWO
BASED SOLELY ON POLICY AND
POLITICAL DIFFERENCES OR DO YOU
JUST NOT LIKE EACH OTHER?
>> THE DIFFERENCES AREN'T HEARD
IN THE OFFICE.
IN FACT I DEVOTED A PASSAGE IN
MY STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS TO
DEAL WITH THAT.
LOOK, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
JACK DOYLE AND BILL JOHNSON
PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE VERY
BAD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOM FRY
AND TOM RYAN.
THAT WAS A QUITE -- YOU WORKED
ON --
>> Gary: YEAH, I REMEMBER THE
RELATIONSHIP BACK THEN.
>> AND BETWEEN TOM RYAN AND BOB
KING.
THAT WAS OUT IN THE OPEN AND IT
WAS CLEAR THERE WAS BLOOD BEING
SPILLED BY THOSE TWO GUYS.
NO, I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS
WE REPRESENT DIFFERENT
CONSTITUENCIES, ONE WHICH IS
MUCH POORER THAN THE OTHER, ONE
WHICH IS PERCEIVED AS MORE
FLUENT.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, IF I HAVE
ONE FALLOUT WITH HIM, HE REALLY
DOES NOT SEE THE CITY AS PART OF
HIS CONSTITUENCY.
>> Gary: OKAY, MAYOR, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND I DO
WISH YOU WELL IN THIS UPCOMING
BUDGET YEAR.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
THIS DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY
BUDGET, LOG ONTO OUR WEB SITE
wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE YOU CAN ALSO
TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY INTERNET
POLL, AND FOR COMPREHENSIVE
DAILY COVERAGE OF STATE ISSUES
AND NEWS, IT'S nycitizens.org.
NOW
IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS
ELLEN ROSEN, EDITOR OF THE
BUSINESS SECTION OF THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN
THIS WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, GARY.
>> Gary: I UNDERSTAND WE FINALLY
GOT SOME LONG FORM CENSUS DATA
FROM THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AGO
AND IT'S OUT AND HAVING TO DO
WITH INCOME FOR OUR AREA.
>> YES.
THE FIRST OF THE -- THAT WAS
THAT LONG FORM THAT NOT
EVERYBODY GOT THAT HAD ALL OF
THE REALLY DETAILED QUESTIONS ON
IT.
THE FIRST BATCH CAME OUT TODAY,
AND IT DOES PERTAIN TO INCOME.
IT WASN'T RELEASED IN ALL STATES
BUT IT WAS RELEASED IN NEW YORK.
BASICALLY IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
FOR US IT SHOWS THAT, WHILE WE
-- THE MONROE COUNTY STILL HAVE
ONE OF THE HIGHER MEDIAN INCOMES
AROUND THE STATE, WE ACTUALLY
DID NOT KEEP PACE WITH INFLATION
AND ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN
MONROE COUNTY, THE AVERAGE HAVE
LESS BUYING POWERS THAN THEY DID
IN 1990, ABOUT A LITTLE OVER
1.5%.
>> Gary: THAT'S SURPRISING.
WE DIDN'T KEEP RATE WITH
INFLATION?
>> RIGHT.
>> Gary: NOT JUST WITH THE
GROWTH AREA BUT WITH INFLATION.
>> RIGHT.
>> Gary: THAT'S NOT VERY GOOD
NEWS.
>> WELL, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE
SHIFTING OF JOBS.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TYPES OF
JOBS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
IT HAS TO DO LARGELY IN THIS
AREA WITH OUR SHIFTING FROM THE
HIGHER-PAYING MANUFACTURING JOBS
TO THE SLIGHTLY LESS-PAYING
SERVICE SECTOR JOBS.
>> Gary: WELL, LOOKING AT IT, I
KNOW YOU JUST GOT THE LONG FORM
REPORT TODAY BUT, IN YOUR MIND,
IS THIS A TREND?
IS THIS GOING TO KEEP CONTINUING
THIS WAY?
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE DO EXPECT
THE BIG TREND AWAY FROM
MANUFACTURING AND TOWARD SERVICE
SECTOR IS GOING TO CONTINUE,
ALTHOUGH WE DID HAVE THAT STORY
IN TODAY'S PAPER ABOUT THAT
LITTLE TAIWANESE COMPANY THAT'S
GOING TO COME HERE WITH 20 JOBS.
YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
BUT FOR INSTANCE YOU HAVE 1,500
PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO LOSE
JOBS THAT PAY AN AVERAGE WAGE
AND BENEFITS OF $39 AN HOUR
VALUE.
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?
THOSE MANUFACTURING JOBS DON'T
EXIST.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY
CONTINUE TO SEE THIS.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IN SOME
OTHER AREAS, LIKE ONTARIO COUNTY
HAVE ACTUALLY SAW THEIR INCOME
-- THEIR BUYING POWER RISE BY
ABOUT 3%, I THINK, OVER THE
TWO-MONTH CENSUS.
>> Gary: WHY WOULD THAT BE?
A SHIFT OF JOBS?
>> YES, RIGHT, OTHER KINDS OF
GROWTH THERE AND OTHER KINDS OF
HIGH-PAYING JOBS GROWING THERE
WHERE THEY HAD BEEN LEFT BEFORE.
AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, AND
YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE STUFF ON THE
WEB TODAY, BUT WE'LL HAVE A FULL
DETAILED STORY IN THE PAPER
TOMORROW THAT WILL ACTUALLY SHOW
YOU THE SPECIFIC TOWNS WITHIN
THE COUNTY THAT DID BETTER OR
WORSE.
>> Gary: OH, REALLY?
PROBABLY HAVING TO DO WITH THE
MIGRATION OF BUSINESS AND JOBS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Gary: ALTHOUGH IT'S DIFFERENT
FOR PEOPLE FOR UPSTATE, IF
MONROE COUNTY STILL HAS THE
HIGHER INCOMES AND CAN KEEP RATE
WITH INFLATION, THEN COMPARED
WITH GROWTH AREAS OF THE
COUNTRY, WE'RE JUST NOT DOING
THAT WELL.
>> VERY TRUE.
NEW YORK AS A WHOLE DID NOT DO
AS WELL AS MANY OTHER STATES.
>> Gary: OKAY.
YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, WHAT
TIME IS IT, MAY?
>> RIGHT.
>> Gary: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
LOT OF KIDS COMING OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL.
>> RIGHT.
>> Gary: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
COUPLE OF FIRST-YEAR OR TWO-YEAR
COLLEGE KIDS COMING OUT FOR THE
SUMMER BREAK.
THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GOING TO
WANT TO DO IS PICK UP SOME CASH.
WHAT'S THE JOB OUTLOOK FOR THEM?
>> THE JOB OUTLOOK IS VERY TOUGH
RIGHT NOW, NOT ONLY FOR THE --
YOU'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE
NOW.
YOU HAVE THE COLLEGE KIDS COMING
HOME LOOKING FOR WORK AND YOU
HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WHO
WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL SOON AND
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WORK.
AND THE TRADITIONAL JOBS THAT
THEY HAD GONE INTO MAYBE AREN'T
THERE ANYMORE.
THEY'RE FILLED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE HAVE A STORY IN SUNDAY'S
PAPER BY DANIEL COST THAT'S
GOING TO LOOK AT THAT IN DETAIL.
BUT KIDS TYPICALLY TEND TO GO
FOR THE JOBS WORKING IN RETAIL,
SCOOPING CUSTARD,
GROUNDSKEEPERS, THOSE KIND OF --
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT
HIRING SEASONAL WORKERS.
THEY WANT FULL-TIME -- THEY WANT
PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO STAY
LONG TERM, OR THOSE JOBS ARE
FILLED BY OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE
OUT OF WORK BECAUSE OF THIS
SITUATION RIGHT NOW.
AND ANOTHER AREA THAT'S
INTERESTING IS A LOT OF THESE
KIDS FELL INTO INTERNSHIPS WHICH
ARE CAREER-BUILDING PARTICULARLY
FOR THE COLLEGE KIDS, BUT A LOT
OF THE COMPANIES AREN'T OFFERING
THOSE THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE
IN A CUTBACK MODE.
>> Gary: THINGS LIKE CO-OPS AND
PAID INTERNSHIPS.
>> RIGHT.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE VERY
DIFFICULT TO COME BY THIS
SUMMER.
>> Gary: IS THERE ANY ONE AREA
OF THE JOB SEARCH THAT'S WORSE
THAN THE OTHER FOR KIDS?
I MEAN, IS IT RETAIL?
>> I THINK THE KIDS ARE FALLING
BACK ON THE LOWER-END,
LOWER-PAYING JOBS, THE FAST FOOD
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
EVEN THOSE PLACES SAY THEY'RE
NOT HIRING TO THE SAME DEGREE.
A LOT OF THESE KIDS THAT WANTED
INTERNSHIPS OR CLERICAL WORK IN
COMPANIES, THE JOBS AREN'T OUT
THERE.
>> Gary: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.
THAT'S ALL WE'VE HEARD FOR THE
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND I GUESS
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO
BE REALLY TOP OF THE LIST AS WE
GO INTO ALL OUR POLITICAL
SEASON.
FOR SUMMER JOBS FOR KIDS RIGHT
NOW, IT'S NOT LOOKING PRETTY
BRIGHT.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
>> YES.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING RIGHT
NOW.
>> Gary: WE'LL SEE THAT WHEN?
SUNDAY'S PAPER?
>> THAT'S IN SUNDAY'S PAPER.
>> Gary: AND YOU GO ON-LINE AND
YOU CAN FIND -- AS FAR AS MONROE
COUNTY.
>> YES, BUT ALSO IN TOMORROW'S
PAPER, IN FRIDAY'S PAPER WE'LL
HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE
CENSUS DATA.
>> Gary: GREAT.
ELLEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
ALL RIGHT.
AND NOW FOR THE STORY OF A LOCAL
GIRL WHO MADE IT BIG.
DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN PROVED THAT
HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION
REALLY DO PAY OFF.
(Music)
>> WELL, I STARTED OUT, THE
FIRST KIND OF LESSONS THAT I
TOOK WAS DANCE LESSONS.
THEN WHEN I WAS ABOUT 7, I
PICKED UP PIANO LESSONS.
AND THEN WHEN I WAS 9, I PICKED
UP FLUTE LESSONS.
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 11, I PICKED UP
VOICE LESSONS AND I NEVER
ACTUALLY TECHNICALLY STUDIED
ACTING, IRONICALLY (Chuckling)
UNTIL I WENT TO COLLEGE.
(Music)
FOR MOST OF THE MY HIGH SCHOOL
CAREER, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE
PRACTICE IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I MEAN, THE STAFF HERE IS
ASTOUNDING.
ALSO IT WAS JUST VERY
CONVENIENT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I
COULD TAKE MY VOICE AND MY PIANO
AND MY FLUTE AND MY DANCE ALL IN
ONE PLACE.
(Music)
I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF GREAT
PEOPLE.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH
ANDREW LLOYD WEBER, WHICH IS
JUST, I MEAN, BEYOND THRILLING
AND SO EDUCATIONAL.
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, YOU JUST GO
TO REHEARSAL AND YOU'RE JUST
LIKE, MM-HMM, UH-HUH, LIKE
MENTAL NOTE, MENTAL NOTE.
THESE MEN ARE GENIUSES AND
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS
AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
I MADE MY BROADWAY DEBUT, WHICH
WAS VERY EXCITING.
I WAS MARY JANE IN JAMES JOYCE'S
"THE DEAD" WITH CHRIS WALKEN,
AND BLAIR BROWN AND STEVE
SPINELLA, ALICE RIPLEY.
I MEAN, THE CAST -- PART OF THE
MOST THRILLING THING ABOUT THE
DEBUT WAS LITERALLY SITTING ON
STAGE AND JUST LOOKING
(Laughing) AT EVERYBODY ELSE ON
STAGE WITH ME AND JUST BEING
LIKE, OH, MY LORD!
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I AM
SHARING THE -- YOU KNOW, AND
THEY ARE LOOKING AT ME AND THEY
KNOW MY NAME, AND I DID THREE
WITH HAL AND STARTED REALLY
DOING MORE RECORDINGS AND CDs.
EVERY YEAR HAS BEEN BETTER THAN
THE ONE BEFORE IT, WHICH IS SUCH
A BLESSING, BECAUSE SOMETIMES,
YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS -- YOUR
CAREER CAN BE VERY UP AND DOWN,
UP AND DOWN.
(Music)
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT MY
UPCOMING PROJECT.
CAROLYN WROTE A MEMOIR CALLED
"ONE MORE TIME," AND IT'S ABOUT
HER LIFE, AND SHE PUT THAT INTO
A PLAY WITH HER DAUGHTER,
CARRIE, CARRIE HAMILTON.
THEY WROTE A PLAY TOGETHER AND
THEY SENT IT TO HAL PRINCE AND
SAID "DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO
WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT THIS?"
AND HAL WROTE BACK AND SAID,
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT IT.
SO I WAS WORKING WITH HAL ABOUT
A YEAR AGO ON A SHOW, AND HE
CAME UP TO ME DURING REHEARSAL
AND HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME AND
HE SAYS, YEAH, UM, I'M WORKING
ON THIS PROJECT AND, YOU KNOW,
CAROL BURNETT, YOU KNOW,
BLAH-BLAH-BLAH-BLAH-BLAH.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, I WAS
WONDERING IF MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE
NEED SOMEBODY TO PLAY CAROL
BURNETT.
I DON'T KNOW, ARE YOU
INTERESTED?
I THOUGHT I'M FIRED.
(Music)
I THINK EVERYONE'S HOPE IS THAT
IT WILL MOVE INTO BROADWAY, BUT
YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE
STEP AT A TIME, AND SO THE NEXT
STEP IS CHICAGO.
AND I'M THRILLED TO BE A PART OF
IT, AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE
A FUTURE BEYOND IT BUT,
REGARDLESS, CHICAGO, THE
GOODMAN, HOLLYWOOD ARMS, I'M
THERE.
I'M SO EXCITED.
SO, YEAH, I JUST HOPE I'M FUNNY.
(Laughing)
>>
Gary: AND THAT PRODUCED BY
OUR JOY PARKER.
THE SHOW "HOLLYWOOD ARMS" OPENED
IN CHICAGO TO OUTSTANDING
REVIEWS.
IT'S EXPECTED TO HIT BROADWAY IN
OCTOBER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEED TO
KNOW," JUST LOG ONTO
wxxi.org/ntk.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)