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>>
ROCHESTER'S ECONOMY LIKE THAT OF UPSTATE NEW YORK HAS
BEEN STRUGGLING IN RECENT YEARS.
MANUFACTURING REMAINS THE BEDROCK OF THE ECONOMY.
BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO EMERGING BIOTECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRIES AND SMALLER STARTUP COMPANIES AS A CURE.
WHAT IS THE BEST ANSWER FOR IMPROVING THE ROCHESTER ECONOMY?
TONIGHT, WXXI PUBLIC BROADCASTING TEAMS UP WITH THE DEMOCRAT
AND COMMON NICKEL AND WOKR "NEWSSOURCE 13."
IT'S PART OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WE CALL FIGHTING FOR
ROCHESTER'S FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY AND HOW TO
IMPROVE IT.
NO ONE WOULD DENY THAT ROCHESTER IS THE HOME OF WORLDWIDE
HISTORY AND HAS A HISTORY OF STRONG EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S ALSO HARD TO DISPUTE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, ROCHESTER
LIKE MUCH OF UPSTATE NEW YORK HAS SEEN THE JOB MARKET SLIDE.
THE REGION HAS 24,000 FEWER JOBS THAN IT DID FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE KNOW THE REASON FOR THE LAYOFFS.
THERE HAS BEEN LAYOFFS IN MAJOR COMPANIES AS ROCHESTER
RESHAPES ITSELF FROM COMMUNITIES BASED ON THREE LARGER
MANUFACTURERS TO ONE HELD UP BY SMALLER FIRMS.
HOW DO WE PERK UP THIS ECONOMY?
TONIGHT WE PUT THREE BUSINESS LEADERS AND OUR COMMUNITY ON THE
SPOT.
WE ASK THEM WHAT TACTICS THEY WOULD TAKE FIRST TO IMPROVE ROCHESTER'S
ECONOMIC FORTUNE.
IN THE STUDIO IS ARUNAS CHESONIS, C.E.O. OF PAETEC
COMMUNICATION.
SANDRA PARKER, PRESIDENT OF THE ROCHESTER BUSINESS ALLIANCE,
AND MICHAEL FINNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER ROCHESTER
ENTERPRISE.
EACH WILL TAKE THEIR TURN MAKING THEIR CASE FOR A PARTICULAR
TACTIC AND WE WILL SUBJECT THEIR PROPOSALS TO
CROSS-EXAMINATION.
AFTER THAT, THE CITIZEN'S PANEL WILL WEIGH IN.
"NEWSSOURCE 13'S" KATHY KRIZ WILL BE WITH THEM.
>> THESE PANELISTS HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE JANUARY AND THEY
HAVE MET WITH US AND GAVE US INSIGHT ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT
TO THEM.
WE AS JOURNALISTS OFFERED STORIES THAT HAVE POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS.
OUR PANELISTS ARE BRADLEY HURST, NEWS SERVICES PROGRAM
DIRECTOR FROM IRONDEQUOIT, MIRIAM ZINTER FROM BRIGHTON.
JUAN CONTRERAS, A RESTAURANTEUR FROM EAST ROCHESTER, AND DAN
RICHARDSON FROM PARMA.
WE WANT YOUR INPUT.
CALL US AT 454-6300 AND ASK A QUESTION OF THE PANELISTS OR
MAKE A COMMENT.
ELLEN ROSEN, BUSINESS EDITOR OF THE "DEMOCRAT AND COMMON
NICKEL" IS HERE TO FIELD YOUR E-MAIL COMMENTS AND QUERIES.
SEND THOSE TO NEEDTOKNOW@WXXI.ORG. >> SO, LET'S BEGIN.
ARUNAS CHESONIS, C.E.O. OF PAETEC TOLD US EARLY ON THAT HE
WANTED TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US CAN DO RIGHT NOW
TO BOLSTER THE ECONOMY, THIS TACK TAKE, BUY LOCAL.
>> WE'RE STANDING AT THE CORNER OF WOODBURY AND CLINTON
IN
DOWNTOWN, AND WE'RE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT WHAT CAN EACH ONE
OF US DO TO HELP BUILD THE ROCHESTER ECONOMY.
I KNOW SANDY AND MIKE ARE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT GREAT
IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE PURSUING TO BUILD THE
TOWN, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY GET PAID TO DO THIS.
SO, WHAT CAN EACH ONE OF US DO TO GROW THE ECONOMY.
IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STREET, THERE'S A GREAT COMPANY
CALLED FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS.
IT HAS A GREAT HISTORY FROM THE ROCHESTER TELEPHONE DAYS.
I HAVE A WARM SPOT IN MY HEART FOR THEM.
I STARTED WORKING THERE OUT OF COLLEGE, AND I GOT MY MBA AT
THE SCHOOL FUNDED BY FRONTIER.
THEY HAVE DONE THAT FOR MANY STARTUP COMPANIES AND FOLKS
HERE IN TOWN.
LET'S THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THIS COMMUNITY.
IF YOU'RE BUYING, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR LONG DISTANCE SERVICE AT
HOME FROM QWEST OR SPRINT OR SOME OTHER COMPANIES THAT DON'T
HAVE THAT MANY EMPLOYEES HERE IN TOWN AND THE PRODUCT THAT
FRONTIER HAS IS A GOOD PRICE, GOOD QUALITY OF SERVICE, WHY
WOULDN'T YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE
CREATING JOBS AND DONATING TO THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. THAT'S
THE BASIC CONCEPT THAT WE CAME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, BUY
FROM WORLD CLASS COMPANIES HERE IN ROCHESTER.
MADE IN ROCHESTER IS A GOOD THING.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT.
LET'S WALK DOWN THIS WAY.
I CAN SHOW YOU ANOTHER WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION THAT WE
SHOULD SPEND MONEY WITH.
LOOK OVER HERE.
WE'RE STANDING UNDERNEATH THE THEATER AWNING.
WHY GO TO NEW YORK CITY OR TORONTO, WHY GO TO BUFFALO WHEN
YOU HAVE PHENOMENAL PLAYS, MUSICALS, SHOWS HERE, NOT JUST
STUFF FOR ADULTS BUT CHILDREN.
HOW MANY OF US, YOU KNOW, END UP NOT GOING TO HERE BEFORE WE
GO TO SYRACUSE FOR A SHOW OR NEW YORK CITY FOR A SHOW.
LET'S SPEND OUR MONEY HERE.
IT'S A PHENOMENAL ORGANIZATION AND YOU WILL ENJOY IT IF YOU
ACTUALLY JUST SPEND THE TIME.
LET ME SHOW YOU ONE LAST EXAMPLE.
I HAVE THESE WINE BOTTLES OUT OF THE HOME THIS MORNING.
ONE IS A BOTTLE OF RED FROM CASA LARGO.
ONE IS A CALIFORNIA RED.
YOU THINK ABOUT IT TO YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF US
SPEND MONEY WITH AUSTRALIAN WINES OR FRENCH WINES,
CALIFORNIA WINES.
THERE'S PHENOMENAL WINERIES HERE SOUTH OF US IN THE
ROCHESTER REGION, AND WE'RE NOT SAYING MAKE ALL OF YOUR PURCHASES
AND -- FROM ROCHESTER-BASED COMPANY, BUT IF THE
PRICE IS THE SAME AND THE QUALITY IS GOOD, WHY NOT JUST
SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH ROCHESTER-BASED COMPANIES THAN
WITH FIRMS FROM OUTSIDE THE LOCATION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST FOR CONSUMPTION OF PRODUCT AND
SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN TOWN.
LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE A BUSINESS THAT HAS AN OPERATION IN
PITTSBURGH AND YOU NEED TO BUY THREE VANS.
WHY NOT PURCHASE THE THREE VANS HERE IN TOWN AND SHIP THE
VANS DOWN THERE?
YOU'RE HELPING GENERATE MORE ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR ALL OF US
HERE BECAUSE THAT COMMISSION THAT THE SALESPERSON GETS FROM
DORSCHEL, HE'S GOING TO BE SPENDING IT HERE IN TOWN.
ALL OF US DO GOOD WORK, WHETHER WE'RE AT HOME AND BUSINESS
PURCHASING FOLKS THINKING ABOUT SPENDING WITH FIRMS HERE IN
TOWN, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT MANY OF US DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
HOW MANY OF US KNOW THAT JENNINGS U.S.A. THAT SO MANY
EMPLOYEES ARE BASED HERE IN ROCHESTER AND THEY HAVE
PHENOMENAL PRODUCTS WITH GREAT PRICES.
WE SHOULD ALL LOOK TO SPEND MORE WALLET SHARE HERE IN TOWN.
LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT NEXT TIME.
IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT, CALL SOMEONE AT G.R.E., ROCHESTER
BUSINESS ALLIANCE AND BUSINESS JOURNAL PUTS OUT LISTS OF HOW
MANY EMPLOYEES THAT THE COMPANIES HAVE.
YOU KNOW WHICH ONES HAVE IMPACT WHETHER THEY ARE
HEADQUARTERED HERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY'RE BUILDING OUR ECONOMY,
WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT BUYING FROM THEM.
>> WE'RE NOW HERE IN THE STUDIO WITH MR. ARUNAS CHESONIS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU FOLKS, BY THE WAY, THAT YOU CAN WEIGH
IN BY GIVING US A CALL AT 454-6300.
OR YOU CAN E-MAIL US AT NEEDTOKNOW@WXXI.ORG.
MR. CHESONIS, LET ME ASK YOU RIGHT AFTER THE BAT.
YOU SAY BUY LOCAL.
DOESN'T THAT SEEM RETRO IN A WORLD OF GLOBALIZATION, TO BUY
LOCAL?
>> I THINK THE MAJOR POINT IS THAT WE HAVE WORLD CLASS
COMPANIES THAT MOST OF US DON'T REALIZE IT.
YOU TALKED TO PEOPLE JUST IN OUR INDUSTRY IN THE TELECOM
CLUSTER HERE IN TOWN, AND THERE'S 50, 60, 70 COMPANIES THAT
PAETEC COULD DO BUSINESS WITH.
WE JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT IT AND THEY'RE NOT IN THE FRONT OF
OUR MIND.
>> WE'RE A GLOBAL WORLD.
WE'RE MARKETING ALL ACROSS THE WORLD.
SHOULDN'T WE BE FOCUSING OUR HE EFFORTS ON -- IN OTHER
WORDS, WHY GO BACK DOWN TO THE BUY LOCAL?
>> I THINK IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVELY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT YOU CANNOT THINK GLOBALLY, SELL
GLOBALLY, BUT YOU CAN PURCHASE FROM LOCALLY BASED COMPANIES
HERE OR COMPANIES WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO, YOU KNOW, FOR CONSUMPTION OUTSIDE. THERE'S A
LARGE CUSTOMER THAT WE HAVE THAT'S BASED HERE IN
ROCHESTER THAT WE HAVE THEIR SAN DIEGO OPERATION.
40% OF THE JOBS AT PAETEC ARE HERE IN ROCHESTER SO THAT THE
SAN DIEGO PURCHASES THEY'RE MAKING AND THE SELLING WE'RE
DOING IN SAN DIEGO DRIVES JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN
ROCHESTER.
YOU AND ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING.
YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET AT ME THERE, MIKE, A LITTLE BIT,
OKAY?
>> LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, THIS IS A SILLY QUESTION,
MAYBE, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BUYING LOCAL.
HOW DOES ONE KNOW THEY'RE BUYING A LOCAL PRODUCT.
IS IT INCUMBENT UPON THE CONSUMER TO KNOW THIS OR ON THE
SELLER TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS A ROCHESTER PRODUCT.
>> I THINK THERE'S SOME RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE
TO
INVESTIGATE JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK ALL OF THE GOOD
THINGS THAT GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN ARE DOING, THEY'RE GOING TO BE
MARKETING MORE AND MORE OF THE COMPANIES HERE THAT ARE GOING
TO BE MAKING THE INFORMATION EASIER FOR ALL OF US TO GET TO,
WHETHER IT'S BASED ONLINE OR THROUGH DIFFERENT KINDS OF
PRINT MEDIA, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS TO REALLY
JUST COMMUNICATE THAT MORE AND MORE TO THE BUSINESS LEADERS
TO THE FOLKS HERE IN TOWN.
>> IF THE BIG COMPANIES ARE NOT BUYING LOCAL, WHY SHOULD
SMALL BUSINESSES BUY LOCAL? WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER BUY LOCAL?
>> WELL, I GUESS IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO COACH BECAUSE YOU'RE BUSY AT WORK,
IT'S DIFFICULT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COACHING.
IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COMMIT TO IT.
IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO RECYCLE, THEN IT'S DIFFICULT FOR
YOU TO COMPLAIN ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO DO THEIR PART.
JUST BECAUSE THE BIG COMPANY IS NOT DOING IT, DOESN'T TAKE
THE RESPONSIBILITY OFF OF ANY ONE OF US TO DO AS MUCH AS WE
CAN.
>> THE BIG COMPANIES ARE DOING IT?
>> THEY SHOULD DO MORE.
ALL OF US COULD DO MORE.
IT'S NOT JUST THE BIG COMPANIES.
IT'S EVERYONE.
I PURCHASED MY LAST CAR FROM A SYRACUSE COMPANY.
SHAME ON ME, YOU KNOW THE NEXT MONTH WHEN THE LEASE EXPIRES
I'M GOING TO MARKETPLACE MALL TO ONE OF THE AREAS THERE AND
PURCHASE A CAR.
>> I HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS.
YOU THINK THAT BUYING LOCAL MAKES SENSE, BUT I THINK THERE
ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WILL SAY, KODAK, BAUSCH
& LOMB, THEY'RE SENDING OUR JOBS AWAY FROM THE AREA.
ISN'T THAT THE REAL POINT? >> I THINK EVERYONE IS LOOKING
AT DOING SOME THINGS THAT
MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THE BUSINESS, AND THERE ARE PROBABLY
JOBS THAT ARE GOING AWAY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE
THE SKILLED TALENT AND THE PEOPLE, THE ENGINEERS AND THE
DEVELOPMENT TEAMS AND THE FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME YOU ARE MAKING A PURCHASE AT KODAK, YOU
ARE HELPING THE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY.
>> BUY LOCAL.
WHEN DO WE START, TOMORROW?
>> TODAY.
>> TODAY.
THANKS A LOT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE PANELISTS.
>> NICE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU AND YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF
WHAT
YOU JUST HEARD.
MR. HURST, I'M WONDERING IF YOU YOURSELF THINK ABOUT THIS
WHEN YOU'RE AT A STORE MAYBE LOOKING AT CAMERAS OR LOOKING
AT OTHER PRODUCTS.
MAYBE YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR A WINE.
DO YOU SPECIFICALLY PURCHASE LOCAL AND COULD YOU THINK
THAT'S ENOUGH TO SAVE JOBS HERE?
>> I'M A SUPPORTER OF THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THE
CHALLENGE IS CAN WE ACCURATELY DETERMINE AND WHO IS AND WHO
IS NOT BUYING LOCAL AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOSE THAT ARE,
CAN WE KEEP THOSE PEOPLE HERE SO THAT NOT ONLY THEY WILL BUY
LOCAL BUT THEIR CHILDREN WHEN THEY GET OLDER WILL BUY LOCAL AS
WELL.
>> MS. ZINTER, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING
NATIVE TO ROCHESTER TO HAVE THE MENTALITY OF BUYING LOCAL
AND STAYING LOCAL?
>> I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO BE NATIVE TO ROCHESTER AT ALL.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM SYRACUSE.
MOST OF MY FAMILY LIVES IN ABLE KIRK I CAN, HOWEVER, I DO GO
TO A POINT TO BUY KODAK FILM AND BUY NEW YORK STATE WINES.
MY REFRIGERATOR CAN ATTEST TO NEW YORK STATE WINES.
THE PROBLEM THAT I FEEL IS I FEEL A SENSE OF BETRAYAL FROM A
LOT OF THOSE CORPORATIONS.
WHEN KODAK SENT AWAY THE INSTANT CAMERAS TO CHINA AND
STOPPED THAT UNIT OF EMPLOYEES HERE, I FELT BETRAYED.
I STILL BUY KODAK FILM.
I STAND BY THEM, BUT I THINK THAT CORPORATE GREED IS TAKING
OVER.
>> WHAT ABOUT THAT, MR. CONTRERAS TO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE
LOST JOBS.
SHOULD THEY CONTINUE TO BUY LOCAL AND SUPPORT THE COMPANIES
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE LOST JOBS?
>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT
YOU KNOW THEY'RE SENDING THE JOBS ACROSS THE WORLD.
HOWEVER, YOU ALSO NEED TO REALIZE THAT IT IS THE COMPANY
THAT LOCAL ROOTS, SO YOU REALLY NEED TO SUPPORT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE WITH OUR RESTAURANTS HERE IN THE PUBLIC MARKET.
WHAT WE DO, WE MAKE SURE THAT ANY AND EVERYTHING THAT I CAN BUY
FOR MY RESTAURANT, I BUY IT ESPECIALLY AT THE PUBLIC
MARKETS, OR IN THE VICINITY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE COMPANIES -- NOW, YOU HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT THE PERSON WHO GROWS THE PRODUCT, THE POTATOES
AND EVERYTHING THAT WE USE FOR OUR RESTAURANT USE.
SO, WE HAVE TO THINK NOT JUST, I THINK, OF THE LARGE
CORPORATIONS, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE TO THINK OF THE FARMERS AND
EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED IN THE AREA.
>> THANK YOU MR. CONTRERAS.
WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO ELLEN ROSEN WHO HAS AN E-MAIL OR A
PHONE CALL.
>> ACTUALLY, I DO.
I HAVE A COMMENT FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO TAKE IT A STEP
FURTHER BEYOND BUYING LOCAL BUT LOOKING AT WHERE WE'RE
ACTUALLY MAKING THE PURCHASES.
PAUL FROM ROCHESTER.
HE SAYS RECENTLY ROCHESTER HAS BEEN HOME TO CORPORATE GODS
WHO VACUUM UP ALL OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY.
WAL-MARTS, TARGETS, HOME DEPOTS, LOWS, BEST BUYS, ET CETERA.
HE SAYS, EXCEPT FOR SOME OF THE COMPANIES, DOESN'T ANYBODY
REALIZE THAT NONE OF THE STORES GIVE BACK TO THE CITY AND
ESSENTIALLY STRIP ROCHESTER OF ITS BEAUTY.
ONE MAJOR -- THEY SAY -- IT STRIPS US OF THE ROCHESTER
BEAUTY, DO IT OURSELF ATTITUDE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
MICHAEL, I THINK YOU HAVE A PHONE CALL?
>> I THINK WE DO. CALLER, ARE YOU ON THE AIR WITH US RIGHT
NOW?
CALLER: HELLO.
>> YES.
YOU'RE ON THE AIR.
WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION.
OR MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
CALLER?
CALLER: HELLO.
>> YES.
YOU'RE ON THE AIR.
HE CAN'T --
CALLER: HELLO.
>> YES, SIR, YOU'RE ON THE AIR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
A
COMMENT?
CALLER: YES, I WANTED TO ASK OUR LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS,
HOW DO THEY PLAN TO CHANGE THE GENERAL CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE
THAT'S PERVASIVE AND STUNTS GROWTH AND KEEP GOOD IDEAS HERE
INSTEAD OF LOSING THEM TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, SUCH BANKS AND INVESTMENT BANKING THAT DON'T
SUPPORT GREAT IDEAS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE.
FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A CONSERVATIVE ALTITUDE
IN ROCHESTER AND HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT CONSERVATIVE
ATTITUDE?
>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT ROCHESTER IS A LITTLE
BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE AVERAGE PLACE IN THE
COUNTRY.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY A BAD THING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE COMPANIES AND JUST THE
INTERNET WORLD AND THE TELECOMMUNICATION WORLD, THEY BLEW
APART AND THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY.
THEY'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE.
MAYBE SOME OF THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE IN ROCHESTER HELPED A
LOT OF THE COMPANIES THROUGH TIMES AND, YOU KNOW, KEPT MORE
JOBS HERE IN TOWN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST HAD THEY BEEN IN
PLACES LIKE SNOWS OR DALLAS OR OTHER LOCATIONS.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THERE'S THAT PERCEPTION THAT WE'RE
CONSERVATIVE?
>> BECAUSE WE ARE.
WE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
I THINK WE ARE.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE WORST THING
IN THE WORLD, BUT GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE CAN --
>> NOT AT ALL -- CONSERVATIVE CAN BE VERY CONSISTENT WITH
BEING CREATIVE AND THOUGHTFUL AND HARD-WORKING AND
PROFESSIONAL.
THEY CAN GO HAND IN HAND.
IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO SANDRA PARKER. SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE
ROCHESTER BUSINESS ALLIANCE,
FOCUSING ON A SOLUTION THAT WE HEAR OTHERS IN ROCHESTER TALK
ABOUT.
HER TACTICS ATTRACTING THE YOUNG.
>> THE FACT IS WE'RE LOSING TOO MANY OF OUR SKILLED AND
VERY
TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS TO CONTINUE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB LETTING THESE STUDENTS
KNOW THAT DOWNSIZING AND LAYOFFS DON'T REVEAL THE FULL PICTURE,
THAT OUR SMALL AND MID-SIZED EMPLOYER BASE IS
EXPANDING.
WHILE THE LARGER EMPLOYERS HAVE STREAMLINED OPERATIONS,
THESE COMPANIES STILL REQUIRE SPECIALIZED AND TECHNICAL
SKILLS IN ORDER TO GROW AND BE COMPETITIVE.
STUDENTS ALSO NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS INVESTED IN PROJECTS LIKE THE INFOTONIC,
BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THE
MEDICAL VINES SCIENCES.
MANY OF THESE ARE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE THAT WILL HELP
MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.
SO, WHAT DO WE DO?
THERE'S NO SHORT TERM SOLUTION.
AFTER ALL, WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING OUT MIGRATION FOR SOME
TIME NOW.
WE ARE DOING SOMETHING -- SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP AS WE
MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS MEET EMPLOYERS,
VISIT THEIR
LOCATIONS, AND LEARN ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE WAY TO KEEP OUR YOUNG HERE IS THROUGH CO-OPS AND
INTERNSHIPS LIKE THE ONES AT R.I.T., ONE OF THE LARGEST
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO RETAIN A STUDENT'S -- A
STUDENT IN OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN THE WORKPLACE, LIKE
THOSE AT KODAK.
STUDENTS BEING TRAINED HERE AT THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER MEDICAL SCHOOL ARE A VALUABLE
RESOURCE.
GIVEN THE NEED FOR QUALITY RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE, WE MUST
NOT LOSE THE IMPORTANT RESOURCE.
IT'S CLEAR THAT ALL OF US MUST PLAY A PART TO KEEP THE YOUNG
AND TALENTED HERE.
OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT,
GOVERNMENT, ALL ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE ON THE LINE.
I THINK WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN ATTRACTING AND KEEPING YOUNG
PEOPLE HERE.
TO DO IT, WE MUST MAKE THIS A CRITICAL COMMUNITY OBJECTIVE.
OUR FUTURE DEPENDS UPON IT.
>> NOW, YOU HAVE HEARD MS. PARKER MAKE HER CASE.
LET US HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.
CALL US AT 454-6300.
OR YOU CAN E-MAIL US AT NEEDTOKNOW@WXXI.ORG. MS. PARKER.
>> MICHAEL.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A QUESTION.
>> I'M READY.
>> WE HAVE PEOPLE NOW WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.
ADULTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.
WHY FOCUS ON KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE HERE?
>> WE NEED ALL AGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A NEED FOR VARIOUS LEVELS OF EXPERIENCES, VARIOUS
LEVELS OF EXPERTISE.
SO, WE NEED MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE THE FULL SPECTRUM OF
AGES, EXPERIENCES, AND TALENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY -- IF OUR
COMMUNITY IS GOING TO GROW AND WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE JOB
NEEDS OF FINE EMPLOYERS.
>> IT'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND, THOUGH.
IF THE JOB MARKET IS NOT THERE, HOW CAN WE BRING IN MORE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THIS AREA?
I MEAN, WE DON'T -- WE ARE NOT SEEING MORE JOBS, WE'RE
SEEING LESS?
>> THERE ARE JOBS, THOUGH, MIKE.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE
OUR -- WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW PROBABLY ONE OF THE
HIGHEST LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT THAT WE HAVE HAD IN A LONG
TIME, R. TIME THERE ARE STILL JOBS THERE.
HOPEFULLY, THIS PERIOD OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT WILL BE SHORT
TERM. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, A YEAR OR TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE
COULD VERY WELL BE FACED WITH A SITUATION WHERE WE
EXPERIENCE A SHORTAGE OF THE MANY SKILLS THAT WE HAD LIKE WE
HAD TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.
>> IT WAS JUST TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
IN THE TOOL AND DYE INDUSTRY AND OTHER INDUSTRIES WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.
IS THAT STILL IN EXISTENCE?
IT WOULD SEEM ON THE SURFACE THAT THE ANSWER IS NO.
>> WE STILL HAVE SHORTAGES IN CERTAIN AREAS.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE -- THERE ARE DEFINITELY IS STILL EMPLOYMENT
GOING ON.
EVEN AS WE WENT THROUGH THE TIME WHEN OUR LARGE EMPLOYERS
WERE EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT DOWNSIZINGS.
AT THE SAME TIME THE LARGE EMPLOYERS WERE HIRING PEOPLE IN
SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL AREAS.
WHENEVER EVEN IN A TIME WHEN WE HAVE VERY HIGH LEVELS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT, WE STILL HAVE EMPLOYMENT GOING ON IN CERTAIN
AREAS.
>> OKAY.
SO, HOW DO YOU MARKET TO THE YOUNG?
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, AND I COULD BE WRONG, CORRECT
ME IF I AM, IT'S A PROBLEM OF A PERCEPTION?
A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH PERCEPTION.
HOW DO YOU MARKET TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE?
>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD IS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN KNOWN AS A THREE-COMPANY TOWN.
THOSE -- WHEN THE THREE LARGE EMPLOYERS HAD MADE MAJOR
HEADLINES, IT APPEARED THERE WAS NOTHING GOING ON HERE.
WHEN IN FACT WE HAD MANY, MANY FINE SMALL EMPLOYERS LIKE
PAETEC THAT WAS ACTUALLY ADDING TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT BASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS GET MANY OF THE
SMALL EMPLOYERS TO GET OUT TO THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND
ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE CO-OPS OR INTERNS EARLY ON.
I'M A BELIEVER THAT IF YOU DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, AND IN THE SOURCE OF A YEAR WE HAVE
OVER 80,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET OUR HOOK IN THEM, DEVELOP A
RELATIONSHIP SO THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THEM TO MAKE THE
DECISION OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR A JOB, THEY'LL
LOOK HERE IN ROCHESTER.
>> ARE YOU FAVOR OF INCENTIVES.
WHAT I MEAN BY THE QUESTION RANGES THE GAMUT FROM BUILDING
UP OUR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER TO MAKE US MORE ATTRACTIVE OR
HAVE MORE AMENITIES IN THE AREA ALL THE WAY UP TO REAL
INCENTIVES, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO BRING PEOPLE HERE.
ARE YOU FOR ANY OF THOSE?
>> I'M FOR ALL OF THOSE.
>> WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES?
>> I THINK AS YOU LOOK, AND PARTICULARLY AS YOU LOOK AT
THOSE AREAS WHERE WE ARE REALLY EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT
SHORTAGES, WHERE IN ORDER FOR AN EMPLOYER TO REMAIN IN THE AREA,
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE TALENT HERE.
I THINK IT'S NOT INAPPROPRIATE TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT OFFERING
PROGRAMS WHERE PERHAPS COLLEGE LOANS WOULD BE FORGIVEN.
I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO IS
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S EXCITING FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOUNG PEOPLE RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO
MOVE TO THE SUBURBS AND BUY A HOME.
THEY WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
THEY WANT TO HAVE EXCITING PLACES TO GO TO.
SO, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT IS
HERE.
>> MS. PARKER, WE HAVE A PHONE CALL, MARCIE FROM GREECE.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
CALLER: YES.
>> DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR A QUESTION?
CALLER: I HAVE A COMMENT.
I'M COMING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SCHOOL TEACHER, AND I
AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE
SHOW.
I JUST HAVE A REAL CONCERN.
PEOPLE USUALLY MIGRATE TO AN AREA REGARDING EDUCATION FOR
THEIR CHILDREN, AND I WAS HIRED BY THE CITY SCHOOLS LAST
YEAR.
TAUGHT FOR A YEAR, WAS LAID OFF.
THEN I JUST FOUND OUT LAST TUESDAY I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FROM EAST
IRONDEQUOIT.
I JUST SEE SO MANY CUTS WITH TEACHERS.
I WONDER WHAT THE VIEWPOINT IS ABOUT EDUCATION FOR OUR AREA.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PHONE CALL.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING TO BRING UP HERE.
EDUCATION.
A YOUNG FAMILY STARTING, ALL OF THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EITHER GOING TO BRING YOU HERE OR
MAKE YOU LEAVE.
>> IT'S THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
AREA, THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS K
THROUGH 12 HAVE REALLY BEEN A STRONG SUIT FOR THIS
COMMUNITY.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAD LEFT THE ROCHESTER AREA AND WENT TO
NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA WITH VERY GOOD, LARGE EMPLOYERS.
THEY ENDED UP COMING BACK TO THE ROCHESTER AREA SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS THERE.
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THROUGH THESE VERY
DIFFICULT TIMES AND DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES IN THE BUDGET
CUTS THAT THE MANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING TO BE
EXPERIENCING THAT WE KEEP ZEROING IN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> I JUST HAVE A FEW SECOND, BUT SHOULD WE BE GOING FOR
THE
KIDS WHO ARE NOT FROM ROCHESTER, COMING TO ROCHESTER
COLLEGES, SHOULD WE BE GOING FOR THOSE KIDS, TOO?
>> ABSOLUTELY. A LOT OF THE KIDS WHO NECESSARILY ARE NOT
FROM ROCHESTER,
THEY SPEND FOUR OR FIVE YEARS HERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF THOSE KIDS.
>> LET'S HEAR FROM THE PANEL.
>> MIKE, I'D LIKE TO START WITH MIRIAM ZINTER.
GO BACK FOR A MOMENT TO THE IDEA OF BEING RAISED HERE OR
GOING TO SCHOOL HERE.
THE GROUP OF KIDS OR YOUNG ADULTS WHO GO AWAY.
I TALKED TO A RESTAURANTEUR ON -- IN THE CITY WHO MENTIONED
TO ME, HE BELIEVES IT HAPPEN ACE LOT.
THERE'S AN EXODUS FROM ROCHESTER.
KIDS GO AWAY TO COLLEGE, MAYBE, OR AFTER COLLEGE, THEY MOVE
AWAY, BUT ROCHESTER HAS GREAT QUALITIES HERE.
GREAT QUALITIES IN TERMS OF RAISING A FAMILY HERE.
AND NETWORKS THERE ARE GENERATIONS AFTER GENERATIONS WHO
HAVE STAYED IN ROCHESTER.
IS THAT ENOUGH FOR ROCHESTER?
CAN YOU EXPECT PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, TO LEAVE AND EVENTUALLY COME
HOME?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH RIGHT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUT OF MY FAMILY, THREE GIRLS AND MY MOM AND
DAD, I'M THE ONLY ONE LEFT IN ROCHESTER.
MY PARENTS LEFT FOR THE SOUTHWEST.
MY ONE SISTER LEFT FOR NEW YORK CITY.
MY OTHER SISTER LEFT FOR THE EAST COAST BECAUSE SHE AND HER
HUSBAND LIKE TO SAIL ON THE OCEAN. SO, I'M THE ONLY ONE LEFT.
I'M ALWAYS TELLING THEM ROCHESTER IS EXCELLENT.
ROCHESTER HAS EXCELLENT SCHOOLS.
IT HAS EXCELLENT PLACES FOR FAMILY.
BUT IT ALSO IS STARTING TO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CITY LIVING OPPORTUNITIES, A LOT OF LOFT
OPPORTUNITY, WONDERFUL CLUBS.
I THINK THAT THE ONE THING THAT ROCHESTER DOESN'T HAVE IS
ENOUGH ENTRY LEVEL JOBS THAT PAY THE SALARIES THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE WANT WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LACKING.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
>> MR. CONTRERAS, I TALKED TO PEOPLE IN BIOTECH DURING THIS
SERIES.
THEY WERE SAYING HOW IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE U OF R AND
R.I.T. IN ROCHESTER AND FORM ALLIANCES WITH THEM.
SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SMALL
BUSINESSES AND HELP ASSIST AND WORK ON NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS
WITH THE BUSINESSES.
SO, THERE'S GREAT POTENTIAL HIRES.
MEDIUM TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, ARE
BUILDING IN ROCHESTER.
WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THIS POINT TO RECRUIT PEOPLE
WHO GRADUATE, SAY, FROM U OF R, R.I.T. AND KEEP THEM HERE?
>> I THINK WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT AS T.'S PEOPLE LEAVING
ROCHESTER, BUT YET ALSO PEOPLE COMING INTO ROCHESTER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALL NEGATIVES.
I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.
I'M HERE.
I COME FROM CHILE IN SOUTH AMERICA, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
WORLD.
I'M HERE.
I HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT HAVE
MADE ROCHESTER THEIR HOME.
SO, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
NOT EVERYBODY IS LEAVING.
NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO, SOMETHING THAT SANDRA SAID STRUCK A
VAIN THERE.
CORPORATIONS.
LARGE CORPORATIONS DO NOT EMPLOY MOST OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEES.
IT IS THE MOM AND POP STORES THAT ACTUALLY ACCORDING TO THE
CENSUS, 90% OF US ARE ACTUALLY PEOPLE -- PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
EMPLOYED BY THE MOM AND POP STORE, NOT THE LARGE
CORPORATIONS.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN LAY OFF A PERSON OR TWO, IT DOESN'T MAKE
THE NEWS OR THE HEADLINES, BUT WHEN KODAK OR XEROX DOES,
EVERYBODY HEARS IT.
SO, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE.
IT AS NOT AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS.
>> MR. RICHARDSON, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU.
WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF WHAT MS. PARKER SAID?
>> I THINK SHE'S RIGHT ON.
WE HAVE ENORMOUS ASSETS IN OUR TOWNS THAT ARE SILOED.
THE U OF R IS MORE OF AN INFLUENCE ON OUR ECONOMY THAN IT
WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH THAT WE CAN BUILD STRONGER LINKAGES,
R.I.T. IS A GOOD MODEL FOR THAT WITH THEIR CENTERS THERE
WHERE THEY'RE BRINGING STUDENTS INTO CO-OP PROGRAMS ON THE
CAMPUS.
THERE'S MORE OF A PUSH TO GET THE STUDENTS OUT INTO SMALL
AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES.
>> RIGHT.
>> THEY ARE A REAL ASSET TO US.
YOU CAN DEVELOP THAT LINK EARLY ON, I THINK THEY'LL STAY
HERE AND START A BUSINESS AS WELL AS MAYBE JUST LOOK FOR
JOBS.
>> ELLEN ROSEN FROM THE "DEMOCRAT AND COMMON NICKEL"
HAS
ANOTHER E-MAIL FOR US.
>> YES.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD A NUMBER OF RESPONSES THAT WHILE PEOPLE
SAY THE TALK OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS TERRIFIC, REALLY,
IT'S THE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. PARKER, WHAT IS THE ROCHESTER
BUSINESS ALLIANCE DOING TO BRING TOGETHER THE SMALLER EMPLOYERS
WITH THE CAREER SERVICE OFFICES OF THE HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS?
>> WITH THE COLLEGE PLACEMENT OFFICES, ALL OF THE NINE
COLLEGES IN THE AREA FROM T.R. RECRUITS AND WHAT WE DO WITH
THEM IS WE HAVE SPONSORED SEVERAL REVERSE JOB FARES OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PAST TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS FALL WHERE WE
WILL INVITE EMPLOYERS TO COME IN TO A VENUE WHERE THERE'S
ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC AND FOOD AND EMPLOYERS ARE THERE TO
TALK ABOUT CO-OP OPPORTUNITIES, INTERNSHIPS, AND REGULAR
FULL-TIME JOBS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYERS THAT PARTICIPATE WITH US IN
THOSE -- THOSE JOB FAIRS ARE SMALL EMPLOYERS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO IS WE'RE SPONSORING SYMPOSIUMS
WHERE SMALL EMPLOYERS CAN COME IN AND MEET WITH STUDENT
LEADERS AND GIVE PRESENTATIONS ON THEIR COMPANIES.
WE'RE ALSO ENCOURAGING MANY OF THE SMALL EMPLOYERS WHO DON'T
HAVE CO-OP PROGRAMS OR INTERNSHIPS TO DEVELOP THEM.
>> ELLEN, WE HAVE ANOTHER PHONE CALLER.
ANDREW FROM ROCHESTER, ARE YOU WITH US?
CALLER: YES, I AM.
>> WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION OR MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
CALLER: WELL, MY GENERAL COMMENT IS THAT THE OVERALL FOCUS
OF THE PROGRAM SEEMS TO BE ON WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO AND/OR
GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS WORKING TOGETHER.
I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS WITH NEW YORK STATE AND UPSTATE
NEW YORK IS HIGH TAXES.
IT CREATES A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, A PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT
WHERE IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.
MANY OF THE PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY TAKING MONEY FROM
TAXPAYERS, FOR INSTANCE, THE FAST FERRY, STADIUMS,
EXPENDITURES, HIGH FALLS.
THIS ISN'T MONEY THAT'S BEING CREATIVE.
IT'S BEING TAKEN OUT OF TAXPAYERS' POCKET AND GIVEN TO
SPECIAL INTERESTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THERE'S A VIEW THAT WHEN ROCHESTER -- I SEE THIS ON THE
NEWS, WHEN ROCHESTER GETS A STATE GRANT, IT USED FOR
SOMETHING POSITIVE.
THAT SOMETHING IS COMING FROM EVERYWHERE AND WE'RE PAYING
FOR STATE GRANTS ELSEWHERE.
>> WHY DON'T WE LET --
CALLER: AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ET CETERA.
THE OVERALL POINT IS THAT WE NEED TO LOWER TAXES.
>> ANDREW A QUICK COMMENT ON THAT, AND THAT IS TRUE.
YOU CAN BUY LOCAL, BUT IF THE TAXES ARE HIGH, THAT PROBABLY
GETS PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMERS.
MAYBE IT'S NOT WORTH BUYING LOCAL.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH THE CALLER.
>> WHAT DO YOU DO, THEN?
>> WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND WE HAVE LOWERED OUR TAXES
SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE YEARS.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. NEW YORK DEFINITELY DOES HAVE
TO BECOME MUCH MORE
COMPETITIVE AND AS BUSINESS LEADERS, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE STATE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO
HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT HERE THAT'S VERY CONDUCIVE FOR
BUSINESSES TO WANT TO BE HERE, AND FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO
LIVE HERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MICHAEL FINNEY, OF THE GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE TOOK OUR
CAMERA CREW AND MICROPHONE TO THE STREETS OF ROCHESTER.
HE ASKED ABOUT OUR IMAGE AND THE COHESION OF ROCHESTER'S
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
IT WAS HIS WAY TO ILLUSTRATE THE TACTIC, PULLING TOGETHER TO
CONVINCE EXISTING BUSINESSES TO EXPAND.
>> WE HAVE ONE WORD OF ADVICE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WITH RESPECT TO IMAGE AND BUSINESS CLIMATE, WHAT WOULD THAT
ADVICE BE?
>> TO -- WE SEEM TO SORT OF HAVE A ROCHESTER DISEASE IN
THAT
WE JUST DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP
WITH THE COMMON THEME AND FOCUS AND TO SET EGOS ASIDE IN
ORDER TO JUST MOVE IN A COMMON DIRECTION IN A VERY
PRODUCTIVE AND POSITIVE WAY.
>> IF I COULD PRESUME TO GIVE THAT ADVICE, I WOULD SAY PULL
TOGETHER.
IT'S DIVISIVE WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE CANNOT WORK
TOGETHER TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF IT. I DO THINK THAT IF THERE
WERE MORE DISCUSSIONS AMONG OUR
POLITICAL LEADERS AT HIGH LEVELS, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IF
THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO DECIDE ON A LIST OF
PRIORITIES AND A LIST OF THINGS TO GET DONE IN THE
COMMUNITY, WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT FROM THAT.
>> WE BROUGHT PEOPLE IN FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND EVEN THOUGH
THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THIS NECK OF THE WOODS IS NOT A GOOD
AREA, WHEN WE BRING IN EXECUTIVES FROM OTHER AREAS AND WE
SHOW THEM AROUND, LET THEM TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED
HERE FROM VARIOUS AREAS, THEY LOVE IT HERE.
>> WE HAVE JUST CONCLUDED A NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS WITH
ROCHESTER AREA CITIZENS DISCUSSING THE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
OF THE REGION.
KEY AMONG THEIR COMMENTS WAS THE NEED FOR US TO WORK
EFFECTIVELY AS A TEAM, AND THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES IN THE COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF OUR REGION.
ALSO KEY WAS THE NEED FOR US TO MARKET OUR REGION MORE
EFFECTIVELY OUTSIDE OF THE GREATER ROCHESTER AREA.
THE GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING
TEAMWORK, MARKETING THE COMMUNITY AGGRESSIVELY, FOCUSING ON
EXISTING BUSINESSES AND FINDING OUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST
FOR THEM TO GROW AND DEVELOP, MARKETING THE COMMUNITY
OUTSIDE THE REGION TO THOSE COMPANIES THAT REPRESENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THE AREA, AND,
OF COURSE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION.
>> MR. FINNEY HAS MADE HIS CASE.
MAKE YOURS NOW BY CALLING 454-6300 OR E-MAILING US AT
NEEDTOKNOW@WXXI.ORG.
MR. FINNEY, THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
I WANT TO -- YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GOING TO GO TO A QUOTE THAT I SAW IN THE SPECIAL SECTION
IN THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" SUNDAY.
WHAT YOU SAID WAS THAT WE NEED TO TARGET BUSINESSES THAT ARE
HERE BUT HEADQUARTERED ELSEWHERE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A SAFE STRATEGY, BUT DOESN'T THIS AREA NEED
TO TAKE A CHANCE?
DO SOMETHING BOLD?
GO AFTER COMPANIES THAT AREN'T HERE.
GO AFTER INDUSTRIES THAT ARE NOT HERE.
>> WELL, MIKE, I -- I TEND TO AGREE WITH THAT.
I CERTAINLY THINK THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO GO
AFTER SOMETHING NEW, WE SHOULD PURSUE IT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE MUCH LONGER SHOT
THAN FOCUSING ON EXISTING BUSINESSES AND IDENTIFYING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GROW AND DEVELOP.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF THINKING ABOUT ROCHESTER FIRST THAT ARUNAS
REFLECTED ON AND SHARED WITH US IS AN IDEA THAT WILL DRIVE
FOR THE CREATION OF ONE JOB, TWO JOB, THREE JOBS AND A LOT
OF THE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED COMPANIES THAT EXIST IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU TAKE HUNDREDS OF SMALL COMPANIES
THAT ARE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, IF WE
FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE COMPANIES, AND THEY CAN GROW BY
ONE EMPLOYER, TWO EMPLOYEES, THE NET EFFECT OF IT IS JUST AS
SIGNIFICANT AS IF WE GO OUT AND FIND A COMPANY THAT IS
WILLING TO RELOCATE 500 EMPLOYEES HERE.
THE NICE THING OR THE BEAUTY OF WORKING WITH EXISTING
COMPANIES IS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HERE AND ALL OF
THE POLITICS OF THE REGION AND SO ON.
SO, WE CAN GET OVER THOSE ISSUES VERY QUICKLY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SELL THOSE COMPANIES ON THE BUSINESS
CLIMATE AND TAXES AND SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
THEY ALREADY UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AN ATTRACTION, YOU DO HAVE TO DO A
MAJOR SALES JOB.
YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME THE OBJECTIONS.
IT TENDS TO BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT PULLING TOGETHER.
WE HEARD THE FOLKS TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR US TO PULL
TOGETHER.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ASK, EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE BLAMING
THE GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO, WE DON'T PULL TOGETHER.
THEY BLAME -- IT'S THE MAJOR, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES, THE
LEGISLATURE, WHAT ABOUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR?
SHOULDN'T THE PRIVATE SECTOR BE LEADING THE SPIRIT OF
BRINGING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. >> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH
YOU, MIKE.
GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE IS A PRIVATE SECTOR-LED
ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 70 INVESTORS.
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY ARE INVESTORS, BUT
THEY'RE TWO OF 70.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE PRIVATE BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE NOT-FOR-PROFITS BUT IT'S TRULY A PRIVATE SECTOR-LED
INITIATIVE.
I THINK IT'S AN UNDERSTANDING OR REALIZATION ON THE PART OF
THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT THEY NEED TO PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN
THE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION OF THE REGION.
OUR ORGANIZATION IS ACTUALLY CHARGED WITH CARRYING THAT
MISSION OUT.
SO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE
AGGRESSIVELY.
IT HAS AGREED TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION.
THE OFFICIAL INITIAL FUNDING IS FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
WE FULLY EXPECT THAT WE WILL PLAY A REVITALIZING ROLE IN THE
REVITALIZING OF THE REGION.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A PHONE CALL.
IS IT DEBORAH?
CALLER: YES.
>> WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR QUESTION OR THE COMMENT. CALLER:
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE
AREA EMBRACING TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTRY IS LEADING TO.
THE REASON I SAY THAT, IN 1974, 1975, I WAS INVOLVED WITH
THE FIGHT ORGANIZATION.
AT THAT TIME WE WENT ON A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO THE WHITE
HOUSE IN WASHINGTON AND AT THAT TIME, NATIONAL LEGISLATION
WAS CHANGING FROM HUMAN SERVICE TO -- THE FUNDING WAS
CHANGING FROM HUMAN SERVICE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHICH
IS WHAT YOU SEE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES, WHATEVER WITH THE ADVENT OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM
TO BE THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT BY THE YEAR 2000.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE SLOWLY TRYING TO EMBRACE IT, BUT WE'RE
AFRAID BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE ETHNIC GROUPS THAT
HELPED TO BUILD ROCHESTER, AND FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK FOR
EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO EMBRACE THE SUBJECT OF THIS -- THE STEPS
FOR THE MUSEUM, BUT NOT JUST BLACK FOLKS BUT THE ENTIRE
COUNTY.
>> WHY DON'T WE ASK THAT OF MIKE.
I THINK WE GOT THE GIST OF THAT COMMENT.
ARE WE TOO SLOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE,
TOURISM TO BRING TRAVELERS HERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SIGN UP FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM
AS THE PRIMARY STRATEGY FOR US TO REVITALIZE OUR ECONOMY
HERE.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CORE TECHNOLOGIES AND BUSINESSES
THAT ALREADY EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD ON
THOSE.
CERTAINLY, TRAVEL AND TOURISM PLAYS A ROLE.
I'M A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE AREA.
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
I FREQUENTLY SIT WITH ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS,
AND I HEAR PEOPLE EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT A LACK OF THINGS TO
DO.
MY WIFE AND I AND MY FAMILY, WE ARE FLABBERGASTED BY THAT,
WE CANNOT -- WE ARE CONSTANTLY TURNING DOWN THINGS BECAUSE
OUR AGENDAS ARE TOO FULL.
CLEARLY, THERE'S JUST A MASSIVE NUMBER OF THINGS TO DO IN
THIS COMMUNITY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS TO THE CALLER,
TOURISM IS CERTAINLY A WONDERFUL RESOURCE TO HAVE, BUT I
DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD ARGUE, YOU KNOW, VERY STRONGLY THAT
WE SHOULD TRY TO BUILD THE ECONOMY AROUND THAT.
THERE ARE TECHNOLOGIES THAT EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY OPTICAL
IMAGING, PHOTONICS, FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES AND
MICRO TECHNOLOGIES.
THESE ARE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL DRIVE THE COMMUNITY
LONG-TERM AND I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR RESOURCES ON
BUILDING THE TECHNOLOGIES.
>> LET'S HEAR FROM THE PANEL.
>> OKAY, MICHAEL.
JUAN CONTRERAS, YOU OWN TWO RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, AND YOU HEARD IN THE PACKAGE, THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO
SAID THAT ROCHESTER IN SELLING ITSELF HAS NO COMMON
THEME, NO COMMON FOCUS.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO AGREE ON WHAT TO SELL TO OTHER PEOPLE TO
GET THEM HERE?
>> I THINK THAT CAN BE DONE TO -- A LOT CAN BE DONE TO
PROMOTE THE DIVERSITY OF THE ROCHESTER AREA.
YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUCH A REPRESENTATION FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
I REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC MARKET IN OUR TAKEOUT RESTAURANT
THERE AS THE -- WHERE CULTURES MEET BECAUSE THERE IS WHERE
EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER.
I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT -- JUST HOW MUCH AND
HOW RICH ROCHESTER REALLY IS IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE
FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
IN -- I THINK I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE SPONSORING AN INTERNATIONAL SPANISH FESTIVAL RIGHT AT THE
PUBLIC MARKET WITH THE IDEA OF PROMOTING THIS -- THE
DIFFERENT CULTURES OF THE SPANISH COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, I THINK THAT IS SAYS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY FOCUS
NOT JUST IN THE SPANISH COMMUNITY BUT AS A COMMUNITY IN
GENERAL. THAT WOULD BE MY TAKE THERE.
>> MR. RICHARDSON, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PULLING TOGETHER,
MAKING ROCHESTER SUCCESSFUL TOGETHER AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO I INTERVIEWED FOR ONE OF MY PIECES WHO OWNS A RESTAURANT
AND A CLUB ON EAST AVENUE WAS SAYING WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO FIND
IN ROCHESTER TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL IS TO FIND LOCAL
PEOPLE WHO CARE AND ARE WILLING TO INVEST THEIR LIFE SAVINGS
AND GO FOR IT.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT OPINION?
>> YES, I WOULD.
I THINK WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WITH ALL THREE OF
THE EXPERTS TONIGHT.
WITH ARUNAS'S POINT, HE SAYS BUY LOCAL.
YOU WANT TO BUY LOCAL FROM A COMPANY THAT'S INVESTED
LOCALLY.
IF THEY HAVE TAKEN IN CASE OF A SMALL BUSINESS OR
MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS THEIR EARNINGS AND WEALTH AND DIDN'T
PUT IT IN BANKS THAT ENDS UP IN FLORIDA OR EUROPE, BUT IN
FACT ENDS UP INVESTED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THAT'S CORRECT.
SANDY TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR KIDS, OUR YOUTH, AND
MR. FINNEY, LIKEWISE.
LET'S INVEST AND PUT THE RESOURCES IN A BUSINESS THAT IS
ALREADY HERE.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN PULL TOGETHER.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER FOR SOLUTIONS RATHER
THAN ONE MEGA SOLUTION FROM GOVERNMENT.
I THINK AS PRIVATE CITIZENS WORKING TOGETHER THAT CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
>> TAKING THE NICHE TIFF.
>> EXACTLY. >> ELLEN ROSEN HAS AN E-MAIL FOR US.
>> YES, I HAVE AN E-MAIL FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO MAKES
REFERENCE TO NIAGARA FALLS AND THE OPENING OF THE CASINO AND
WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
HE SAYS, WE HAVE A GREAT VENUE AT MIDTOWN PLAZA AND THE
VACANT PROPERTIES NEARBY, WOULDN'T THAT BE A GREAT
DESTINATION FOR THE FERRY RIDERS, TOURISTS AND CONVENTION
YEARS AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD?
>> IF IT'S A SUGGESTION THAT WE CONSIDER BUILDING CASINOS
IN
ROCHESTER, I REALLY THINK THAT YOU NEED TO DIRECT THAT
QUESTION TO OUR GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS.
YOU KNOW THERE ARE MORAL AND OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO CASINOS AND
WERE THEY'RE APPROPRIATE IN THE REGION OR NOT.
FRANKLY, I JUST HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I DO THERE ARE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF
MIDTOWN THAT INVOLVE MORE TRADITIONAL VISIONS.
I THINK THAT DOWNTOWNS ARE JUST RIPE FOR MIXED USE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, YOUNG FOLKS WANT TO BE IN COOL PLACES.
COOL PLACES THAT HAVE A LOT TO DO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING ALONG EAST
AVENUE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE HIGH
FALLS DISTRICT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PIECE IN BETWEEN, THE MIDTOWN MALL
ACTUALLY FITS IN BETWEEN. SO, SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO CONNECT THOSE
WITH A LOT OF THE WONDERFUL ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING IN HIGH
FALLS, AND
WONDERFUL ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE EAST END WITH
RESTAURANTS AND SMALL SHOPS.
I THINK THAT IS A VERY APPROPRIATE AND I THINK ACCEPTABLE
STRATEGY FOR ALL FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
OUR CASINOS TEND TO BE MORE CONTROVERSIAL.
>> WE'RE NOT QUITE DONE WITH THE THREE BUSINESS LEADERS
JUST
YET.
I WANT TO PUT THE QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU IF I CAN.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE PRESENTATIONS.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE COMMENTS.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET AT ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE
HERE TODAY.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO FIRST?
WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW?
LET ME GIVE THAT TO YOU, ARUNAS.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING FIRST?
WE HAVE FINITE RESOURCES.
WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS TO SPEND.
WHAT DO WE GO AFTER FIRST TO IMPROVE THIS ECONOMY?
>> I STILL GO BACK TO SORT OF THE FIRST POINT WE TALKED
ABOUT TODAY.
I STILL THINK YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON HELPING FIRMS THAT SPEND
A LOT OF RESOURCES DEVELOPING ROCHESTER, WHETHER THEY'RE
BASED HERE OR THEY HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES HERE.
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO SPEND MORE MONEY WITH THE FOLKS THAT
ARE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> MIKE, I HAVE TWO ISSUES.
THE FIRST IS I THINK WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY, WORK MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY AS A TEAM.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA
AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT, WE DON'T HAVE AS FAVORABLE A HISTORY OF
WORKING TOGETHER IN A COMMON WAY TO ACHIEVE AN ECONOMIC
SUCCESS HERE.
>> WHERE IS THAT GOING TO COME FROM?
WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP GOING TO COME FROM?
IT USED TO BE IT WAS GOING TO COME FROM THE C.E.O. OF KODAK
OR XEROX.
WHERE IS IT COMING FROM NOW?
>> I THINK WE HAVE ACTUALLY CREATED A FORMULA THAT IS
STRONGER THAN A SINGLE ENTITY.
THAT IS THE GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE.
WE HAVE 70 INVESTORS.
THOSE INVESTORS REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS, THEY REPRESENT LARGE
COMPANIES, SMALL COMPANY, NOT-FOR-PROFITS, GOVERNMENT, AND I
THINK IT'S THAT KIND OF AN EFFORT THAT WILL PROVIDE THE
LEADERSHIP.
THE SECOND ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE
THAT WE EXIST.
ONE OF THE OBVIOUS THINGS THAT I NOTICED IN COMING TO THE
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PROACTIVE SALES
AND MARKETING PROGRAM TO LET BUSINESSES KNOW, TO LET CORPORATE
LEADERS OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT ROCHESTER
IS A GREAT DESTINATION FOR THEIR PARTICULAR BUSINESS.
WE HAVE THOSE TWO ISSUES ARE PROBABLY THE TWO THAT ARE MOST
APPROPRIATE FOR US TO SPEND RESOURCES ON IMMEDIATELY.
>> I WILL GO RIGHT NOW.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IS -- I
DEFINITELY AGREE WITH MIKE IN THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS AS A
COMMUNITY.
BUSINESS LEADERS NEED TO SPEAK WITH A SINGLE VOICE.
I THINK THE MERGER THAT RECENTLY OCCURRED BETWEEN THE I.M.C.
AND THE CHAMBER TO FORM ROCHESTER BUSINESS ALLIANCE IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO FORM A LOUD BUSINESS VOICE
THAT WORKS TOGETHER TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES INTO THE
AREA, AND TO KEEP THE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
>> SHOULD OTHERS BE LOOKING AT MERGER AND/OR CONSOLIDATION
IF WE WANT TO USE THAT WORD?
>> IF'S APPROPRIATE, ABSOLUTELY.
>> MORE THAN WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IT?
>> I WOULD HOPE IN TIMES WHERE WE ARE EXPERIENCING LIMITED
RESOURCES THAT R.B.A. COULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER
ENTITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
>> IF SOME OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUT OF OUR CONTROL?
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TAX STRUCTURE IN
THE STATE THAT ISN'T CONTROLLED BY MONROE COUNTY AND
ROCHESTER.
WE HAVE THE HIGH COST OF ENERGY. THESE HIGH COST THINGS, ARE THEY
OUT OF OUR CONTROL.
IS THERE NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THOSE?
>> I THINK SOME OF THOSE ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, BUT EVERY
SINGLE COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY OR OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN EVERY SINGLE AREA.
WE JUST NEED TO FOCUS MUCH MORE ON OUR STRENGTHS AND BUILD
ON THEM AS OPPOSED TO FOCUS ON THE WEAKNESSES.
>> MR. FINNEY, HOW MUCH WILL THE G.R.E. GO TO ALBANY, LET'S
SAY, OR TRY TO GET THAT CONSORTIUM TO GO TO ALBANY AND SAY,
YOU HAVE GOT TO HELP US OUT.
YOU HAVE GOT TO GIVE US A BREAK.
>> OUR STRATEGY IS TO WORK WITH ALL ENTITIES THAT WE THINK
CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE
DRIVING.
IF THAT'S ALBANY, IF THAT IS WASHINGTON, D.C., WHEREVER WE
NEED TO GO, WE ARE PREPARED TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO HELP
REVITALIZE THE ECONOMY HERE.
I THINK ALBANY WILL HAVE A FAVORABLE LISTENING EAR.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO IN A UNIFIED WAY.
THE COMMENT THAT I MADE EARLIER, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GO
IN A UNIFIED WAY IN ORDER FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
>> I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COMMENT ON THAT QUESTION.
>> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE
WELL
IN ALBANY OR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS GIVE A UNIFIED
APPROACH.
WE HAVE GONE WITH SEPARATE ENTITIES AND OFTENTIMES SEPARATE MESSAGES.
WE HAVE GOT TO DEVELOP WHAT'S OUR MESSAGE, WHAT ARE THE
NEEDS, WHAT ARE OUR WANTS.
THEN DELIVER THAT WITH A SINGLE VOICE.
>> YOU ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT MAYBE DIVISION AMONG POLITICAL
LEADERS.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VOICE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN
ALBANY AND WASHINGTON?
>> AND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL DELEGATION, BUT WORKING WITH
GOVERNMENT SO THAT IT'S GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
THAT ARE GOING WITH A SINGLE VOICE.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT AS
CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY, WE TOUT ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES
HERE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OFTENTIMES WE ARE NOT
MARKETING THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE OURSELVES.
WE NEED TO BE BETTER AMBASSADORS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> WE HAVE A CALLER, LOUIS FROM ROCHESTER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR ASK A QUESTION?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE UPSTATE
COMMUNITIES WERE BUILT THROUGH THE ERIE CANAL.
NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN GROWING IN CONNECTICUT, LONG ISLAND,
NEW JERSEY.
WHEN NEW YORK CITY GROWS INTO CONNECTICUT AND NEW JERSEY, IT
DOESN'T HELP NEW YORK STATE.
LAST TIME I WAS IN TORONTO, THEY HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN TO GROW
TORONTO METRO AREA ALL THE WAY TO NIAGARA FALL, ONTARIO.
MY QUESTION IS WHY DON'T THE UPSTATE COMMUNITIES, NIAGARA
FALLS, BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, SYRACUSE, ALBANY, REALLY FOCUS ON
HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN THESE TWO GROWTH CENTERS AND MAKE --
REALLY RECONNECT THESE TWO DYNAMIC CITIES THROUGH THE
UPSTATE COMMUNITY?
>> WHY DON'T WE JUST QUICKLY --
>> WELL, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE -- WE NEED TO LOOK
REGIONALLY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T ISOLATE OURSELVES AND JUST TAKE
-- LOOK AT WHAT IS IN MONROE COUNTY.
WE HAVE TO EXPAND OURSELVES.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AREAS LIKE RALEIGH DURHAM.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE AREAS AND THE SUCCESSES THAT THEY
HAVE HAD AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S BEST AND APPROPRIATE FOR
THE REGION.
>> WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PANEL.
>> YOU HAVE HEARD MISS PARKER SAY, WE NEED TO GO TO OTHER
ENTITIES, WASHINGTON, D.C., ALBANY, AND DELIVER A MESSAGE OF
WHAT WE WANT AND WHAT WE NEED.
WHO SHOULD DO THAT, DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, ALL OF THE LEADERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS LISTENING TO WHAT MISS PARKER SAID, AND I AGREE.
I LIVED IN CHARLOTTE FOR FOUR YEARS.
I WATCHED THE DRAMATIC GROWTH THIS THAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN THE
MID 1980'S.
I THINK AS A COMMUNITY AND THOSE THAT SERVE IN THE
LEADERSHIP CAPACITY HAVE TO, AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE LISTENING
TONIGHT, WE HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND ACCENTUATE THE
POSITIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.
ELIMINATE THIS DOOM AND GLOOM MENTALITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE.
AS YOU KNOW, POSITIVE THOUGHTS LEAD TO POSITIVE ACTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT HURTS US.
WHEN I MOVE -- I MOVED BACK HERE FROM THE COAST OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
>> WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
>> I TOOK UP WIND SURFING, KAYAKING, THE SAME THINGS THAT
I
DID THERE, I COULD DO THAT HERE.
I STARTED A FRIEND OF MINE AND I STARTED A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM HERE.
I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS.
IT'S -- I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL TO REALLY LOOK AT THE
POSITIVES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND TO ME, QUALITY OF LIFE
PLAYS A LARGE ROLE IN THAT, BUT AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO ELIMINATE
THIS DOOM AND GLOOM MENTALITY THAT WE ALL -- ROCHESTER IS
NOT A PLACE TO BE.
I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
>> MIRIAM ZINTER, I WOULD LIKE IT HEAR FROM YOU. YOU HAVE
HEARD THREE SOLUTIONS TONIGHT.
WHICH OF THE THREE DO YOU AGREE MOST WITH AND SHOULD BE
INITIATED FIRST?
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU WHICH SHOULD BE INITIATED FIRST.
I THINK MOST HAVE TO BE DONE IN TANDEM.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
I THINK THAT CAN BE BUYING LOCALLY.
I THINK THAT YOU CAN TALK WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO HAVE A UNIFY THE STANCE
WHEN THEY GO TO ALBANY AND MAKE A PITCH FOR THE DOLLARS TO
COME HERE.
I THINK WHAT PEOPLE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE PAYING THE
TAX DOLLARS.
THE TAX COLOR DOLLARS CAN GO DOWNSTATE OR THEY CAN COME
UPSTATE.
WHEN WE HEAR THAT WE GET A GRANT OR FUNDING OR SOMETHING IS
COMING TO ROCHESTER, THAT'S SOMETHING TO REJOICE ABOUT.
BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING OUT OF OUR
POCKET.
THEY MIGHT AS WELL COME BACK HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT I HEARD FROM THE PANELISTS THAT I
THINK THAT WE COULD BE DOING, THAT WE COULD BE DOING BETTER.
I THINK THAT ROCHESTER REALLY HAS THE CHUTZBA TO DO IT.
WE HAVE THE LEADERS AND THEY NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
AND GET MORE EXCITED ABOUT ROCHESTER.
WE ARE OUR MAIN DIRECTORS. ROCHESTER HAS A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS
TO OFFER.
IT HAS WONDERFUL BUSINESSES GREAT AND SMALL AND WE CAN
REALLY BAND TOGETHER AND LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW GREAT IT IS TO
BE HERE.
SOMETIMES I THINK WE WANT TO KEEP THE SECRET TO OURSELVES
AND IT'S TO OUR OWN DETRIMENT.
MR. CONTRERAS IS NODDING HIS HEAD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD TO THAT?
>> MOST DEFINITELY.
AGAIN, WHAT I SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE NOT AS BAD
AS THEY LOOK.
I THINK THINGS ARE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY LOOK FOR SURE.
BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID HERE, I THINK MICHAEL SAID IT,
THAT WE NEED TO GROW THE SMALL BUSINESS.
ADD ONE OR TWO EMPLOYEES, AND THAT HAS -- YOU KNOW, IT WOULD
HAVE SUCH A TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY.
>> START WITH SMALL STEPS.
>> YES.
>> THE SOLUTION IS NOT IN GOVERNMENT.
THE SOLUTION IS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND IT'S IN THE
INVESTORS AND THE HARD-WORKING ENTREPRENEURS.
THAT'S WHERE THE SOLUTION IS.
IT'S NOT IN GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR US.
>> MR. RICHARDSON, ONE MINUTE LEFT.
ANY LAST COMMENTS? >> I HAVE TO SAY ON JUAN'S COMMENTS,
THE SOLUTION HAS ALWAYS
BEEN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT HAS JUST PRETENDED TO BE THE SOLUTION
TO ALL OF THIS.
WELL, THAT'S THE FAULT OF US AS CITIZENS IF WE EXPECT TOO
MUCH OF THE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY FROM THE LEADERS THAT WE
HAVE HEARD FROM, THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE A PLAYER, BUT IT'S
THE PRIVATE CITIZEN, THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON THAT HAS TO
TAKE CHARGE.
I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRIVATE RESOURCES A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS IN
THIS COMMUNITY.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE REALLY HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED TO ALBANY
OR WASHINGTON FOR SOLUTIONS, BUT THE SOLUTION, JUST LIKE
WHAT DOROTHY FOUND OUT WITH THE RED SLIPPER, THEY WERE RIGHT
HERE.
SHE HAD THEM ALL THE TIME.
OUR GEMS ARE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME FOCUSING.
ARUNAS SAID IT SIMPLY, THE ANSWERS TO THE COMMUNITY ARE ALL
AROUND US.
THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE.
START BY BUYING LOCAL.
YOU DO WHAT SANDY SAYS, TAKE THE KIDS, THE 80,000 YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE SCHOOLS HERE AND
LET'S TRY TO KEEP THEM HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> YOU HEARD FROM THEM, MICHAEL CAPUTO.
BACK TO YOU.
>> WE KNOW THERE IS NO SINGLE ANSWER TO OUR ECONOMIC
SITUATION AND WE KNOW EVERY SOLUTION COMES WITH A NEW SET OF
CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROBLEMS.
OUR GOAL TONIGHT WAS SIMPLY TO GENERATE SOME THOUGHT AND
PERHAPS EVOKE DEBATE ABOUT ROCHESTER'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.
IN THE COMING MONTHS, WXXI, THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
AND
WOKR-TV WILL TACKLE OTHER ISSUES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL "NEED TO KNOW."
GOODNIGHT.
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