>>
Coming up on "Need to Know" local candidates are busy
filing
the paperwork they node to run for office.-
To mark this unofficial start to the election season we
assemble an astute group of people to talk about our local
campaigns.-
We also have the business section with the Democrat and
chronicle on the way on "Need to Know."-
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>> This is "Need to Know" Rochester area's only
in-depth news
program.-
It is a production of WXXI news and public affairs covering
issues, politics, education and current events.-
"Need to Know" is made possible through the support
of viewers
like you.-
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>> Thanks for visiting with us.-
I'm Michael Caputo.-
The 4th of July wind usually means park cues and family and
the
flag for most of us but for those who want to lead our towns,
city and county government it was the alarm, the bell that
rings the signal to the start of campaigning.-
So it is time to talk politics in Rochester and Monroe county.-
What is this to talk about?-
How about jack Doyle's laments about the city of Rochester
Rochester last week?-
How about the rather odd sight of bill Johnson trying to court
Republicans?-
What about the empty spaces downtown including a theered and
motor vehicle office used as campaign back drorps.-
Then there's the third party dance for district attorney.-
Plenty to talk about.-
So, in the studio to bat around the political season is a group
called.-
WXXI political roundtable.-
Curt Smith a professor, columnist and broader who hosts
perspective tiffs.-
Elissa Marra seasoned broadcast journal who work for WXXI
television and Bob Smith.-
Thank you all for coming.-
The focus in Rochester political world bay be those who want
to
be cute executive but right now jack Doyle is county executive
and gave his state of the doubt address at hisal ma father.-
McQuaid Jesuit high school.-
He brought up the city's problems, what he called a combination
of rising taxes, failing schools and increased crime.-
Here is what he went on to stay.-
-
>> As a city resident someone lived this the city all
my adult
live and raised my family here and who loves the city, I
continue to fear its decline.-
I know as I believe you also know, that the answer does not
lie
in false patrols of grandiose schemes.-
However, answers exist and we have seen them work.-
-
>> The county executive was talking about mayor Rudy Giuliani
when he made the last work and how a city can be turned
around.-
I will start with you, curt.-
Was the comment on the site of the city truthful or political
-
>> First of all it is good that we are affectionately
known as
the roundtable.-
Part of this farewell address on his part of it is personal
and
part political.-
Personal he has a deep animus and hostility toward mayor
Johnson that endures and it will color much of the campaign.-
The political part is look this is part of a calculate and
cynical attempt by the Republican party to divide the county
into suburbs versus the city and the mayor is the embodiment
in
essence of the city but my point is this.-
This is an unseamry address.-
Fair well that addresses are bipartisan, he knows that.-
George Washington's farewell address, Ronald Reagan's in 1989
talking about America that.-
Is what it should have been.-
It was not.-
It was political.-
I thought it was a classy guy but there is unclassy act.-
-
>> State of union address, state of the city and county
have
long back political -- -
>> This was his farewell.-
Different.-
-
>> Let me low it out to the rest of you.-
What he said about the city, does that not resonate with
anybody that might be listening?-
-
>> Based on the reaction of his fellow majority members
of the
county legislature it didn't look like it was something they
wanted to deal with all that much.-
They downplayed it in their reaction in the discussion that
we
had when we broadcast it live after the time.-
-
>> But when people heard it, Elissa, what did people think
-
>> They thought oh, yes, it is right.-
I think the whole area is in decline.-
Whenever you see jack Doyle that's what you expect to hear.-
So whenever you see jack Doyle you expect to hear bad things
about the mayor add the city because of the mayor.-
That is the Doyle-Johnson problem.-
I think it has been a problem a long time.-
-
>> This is the equivalent of radio bickering.-
What jack Doyle talked about is correct.-
He had one sentence in the speech he said that these are issues
that young families look at when they decide where are they
going to raise their kids and live.-
40,000 people have left Monroe county in the last decade but
Doyle didn't say the vastior was in Rochester but the county.-
It is the future and they are leaving it is not minority, it
is
white.-
Middle class.-
Jack Doyle is talking about people leaving and perhaps he
should look in a mirror because it is the county, not the
city.-
-
>> In fact in the newspaper we saw that it wasn't in the
major
counties, it was in the cities that were in decline.-
The suburbs were growing.-
-
>> It is is not that people are leaving Monroe county
entirely.-
The question again is the truthfulness of what he said or did
it resonate with people.-
I would say that it probably did, that people are looking at
the city right now and saying if the troubled city, doesn't
that make bill Johnson vulnerable?-
Elissa?-
-
>> No, I don't think it necessarily does because I think
the
overriding sentiment is everything is in trouble and I think
it
has to do with job, the fact that people are leaving.-
When you say something is in decline it probably means to us
the economy is bad.-
There aren't jobs.-
It doesn't matter what is growing or not growing.-
People too far work.-
They can't come here.-
The whole thing.-
-
>> It is an open question then whether or not this is
going to
play the way people expected.-
Or whether people are going to simply say the region is in
trouble, what are we going to to about it, who has the answer.-
It may play in a very different direction than Mr. Doyle
evidently determined.-
-
>> So you think it is an open question whether Johnson
is
vulnerable?-
If somebody says rising taxes, increased crime, failing
schools, this is under the watch, and how long has bill Johnson
been there?-
Eight or nine years.-
Won't that be something he has to deal with?-
-
>> Yes and the code word is consolidation which is the
Republican mantra.-
In my view consolidation is their code word for their coming
to
get you, you mean thing suburbs and anyone who is liberal.-
Not a subtle message.-
-
>> It could be far different if the conditions were different.-
The fact that this occurred, it is quite true if you look at
people in their 20's, where they are leaving, most of them are
leaving the county, not the city of Rochester.-
What is most interesting is the perception that is a region
wide problem and rear that regionwide solutions.-
Maybe no one is ready to embrace a Louisville style
consolidation.-
-
>> Not only can you embrace that but in New York state
you
would have to get the state legislature involved and change
the
constitution for that to happen.-
Elissa let me ask you.-
Has bill Johnson been able to define what he means when he
talks about consolidation?-
Does he think the average voter knows what he is talking
about?-
-
>> I don't think the people really understand it.-
I don't think they necessarily want to study it to the extent
he has.-
One thing I would like to say if you want to talk tactically
about the speech.-
That set up the way the campaign will be run for county
executive.-
The city bad campaign.-
That will be problematic for voters because they won't learn
anything and not be able to make any informed decisions because
it really takes some study.-
-
>> The basis is that is the preview of a coming attraction.-
-
>> But if runs the city of Rochester that is his weapon.-
How can they not talk about the mayor's record if he is running
for county executive?-
-
>> There are two records.-
One is jack Doyle and by and large I think in many people's
eyes that is county executive is apparently not flaw lts and
the question is will that be stuff in the future.-
The question is which is the better qualified, which is better
for the community of Monroe county and that is the debate that
the Republicans wish to avoid.-
That is why you saw in Doyle's speech and you will see it the
essence of bill Johnson to is the only issue in the campaign.-
If he lets them do that brooks can win.-
-
>> It invites another comparison which Doyle might not
like.-
Johnson can say my government's finances are better than
yours.-
-
>> Yes, no one is addressing the deficit in the county.-
No one is addressing the Monroe county difficulty.-
-
>> On the subject of bill John sop, he held a press conference
this last week that opens the door to more questions.-
He interviewed the Republicans and independents for Johnson
and
leading the proceedings was a businessman registered Republican
prosecution the Republican party chairman's reaction was
basically a shrug of the shoulders.-
Let me give this question to you, Bob.-
Bill Johnson, a Democrat in the city, does he really have any
hope of convincing Republicans outside of the city to vote for
him?-
-
>> Historical prosecute precedent, the county executive
election in 1987, time frye did something similar and won.-
He basically assumed that he was going to have a strong base
in
the city, which he did.-
Then he went out to the suburbs, campaigned aggressively, was
everywhere out there, had people passing out literature
everywhere out there.-
Sent his message out to the suburbs with the idea that he might
not Woodrow Wilson bridge but he would do well enough to allow
his city majority to carry him through.-
Now as it turned out he did better than even he expected.-
He carried almost all of the suburban towns as well as the city
and that was a surprise on that election night in 1987.-
But I think Johnson, who is now running a lot more competitive
race than the 1987 race started out being, the prior one was
very much a come from behind.-
This is much closer.-
But Johnson is trying to replay 1987 over.-
-
>> I want to go back to the days of Joe Wilson when business
was unbelievably important in politics and I think there are
rumblings of the business community that they are shut out of
the political process.-
I want to ask you a question.-
Mike I want to hear from you because you are a bright light.-
-
>> All of this ferks.-
Affection.-
-
>> How should the business community be involved in politics?-
I think there are feelings in the community that whale they
want us to fund their campaigns and fund things but other than
that we are being shut out.-
-
>> I think clearly the business community is going to
play a
pivotal role.-
The Rochester business alliance has talked about we are if
going to get involved in the debates and bringing the
candidates to the table.-
I think they are going to be far more involved and I think that
is an opening for bill Johnson.-
But the question is do they believe, do they really believe
bill Johnson is going to win?-
And that usually is what drives people in terms of how much
they are going to give.-
-
>> Politics, yes.-
Money is the mother milk of politics.-
But the question is not whether Johnson will win.-
We don't know that until November.-
Is he competitive?-
I think he is.-
The devil is in the details of politics, election note night
is
in the numbers.-
The numbers are if you have the city of Rochester and the most
liberal enclave in the county you do not get past 25% or 30%
of
the votes.-
Bill Johnson has to put his tent out in places.-
And he can run in many ways.-
I talked to people for him and he is a fiscal conservative in
the eastern suburbs, talking about consolidation, what this
conservative wouldn't focus on any conservative to sauf money.-
Then in the conservative areas I'm the only fellow who has a
facility talk about the rising terrorism and violence in the
city, the decline of the two parent family.-
The sells.-
-
>> Let me give you another switch.-
Lalings year Tom McCall tried to repeal did -- tried to appeal
to the middle class suburban voter and lost his base and in
every major city there was a poor turnout for the run for
governor.-
Is bill Johnson in the same position?-
-
>> No, he is doing what he should be doing.-
He cannot win with his base.-
They can't make him competitive.-
-
>> Don't you think he is popular refuse I where this -
>> I don't think he is -- -
>> As a personality.-
-
>> He knows he has to buck brooks lead in white suburbia
and
south and west of the city.-
-
>> Why doesn't that make him vulnerable in the city.-
-
>> If he is speaking to them why isn't he vulnerable in
the
city.-
-
>> We ought to go back to doim's speech to find the answer
because by setting up the us versus them mentality it
antagonizes the city and the city will be unreceptive to any
message tamped to that message.-
-
>> The speech didn't do him any good?-
-
>> It absolutely didn't do him any good in the city and
probably turned him off in the city and suburbs near the city.-
-
>> Back to the speech,--
>> Wrong speech, wrong some time.-
Marginal for bill Johnson.-
-
>> And you don't think that it leaves his other plank
going to
the center?-
-
>> No because the Democrats want to win and they know
the only
way Johnson can win is get the vote out on election day.-
But most of the time the lion's share in this area you cannot
be competitive.-
-
>> Let me switch gears.-
I want to take you to a place that once bustled with activity
but now makes the news for emptiness.-
It is Sibley building but more specifically the closed
Department of Motor Vehicles in the downtown building.-
What does this have to do with politics?-
You may remember that the state closed down the office earlier
this year.-
Since then both the Johnson and brooks campaigns have been
talking about it.-
Johnson says brooks ought to be trying to find a new home for
the downtown D.M.V.-
Brooks says she worked to develop a mobile D.M.V. unit and is
working to get a downtown office in place rather than standing
on the sidelines and complaining.-
I question to you and Elissa, the afrling voter, does this mean
anything to them when they are arguing about the Department
of
Motor Vehicles and who did what and does if mean anything to
the person out on the west side of the city?-
-
>> Is that how you think of me, the average voter?-
I think it is inconvenient and I think people will complain.-
I think that is what will happen.-
When it goes down to election day will it come down to that?-
I'm sorry, I think it will come down to can people get a job,
will my kid go to college?-
Can we educate them here and they never go out.-
New York state is not a business friendly state.-
I don't think where the D.M.V. is is on my mind and I don't
think the 23-year-old skid kid is looking in the want ads sand
of and saying I hope they have broad way plays in Rochester.-
That is not what is making people died decide to get involved.-
-
>> What you are getting at it the downtown theatre and
there
was a grant to refurbish the theatre.-
You are a political strategist of sorts.-
What does this mean when politicians stand in front of there
and say I've gotten this amount of money.-
How important is that?-
-
>> The D.M.V. is very silly.-
It has this in common with the problem over the theatre and
in
effect trying -- Republicans fear that consolidation may be
a
bill Johnson that the lack of achievement, lack of being a
heavyweight may help brooks.-
Bill Johnson's situation is work.-
That is a lot of Republicans.-
He has to have something.-
Right now she doesn't have a soccer stadium, doesn't have a
performing arts center.-
She doesn't have any kind of thing that bill Johnson in effect
by himself brought to Rochester.-
They are trying to give her something to treat and which to
run.-
-
>> I would argue that the Achilles' heel for bill John
sn is
jack Doyle.-
The people who bickered, Maggie brooks is not going to BIC
are.-
In fact the D.M.V., what they are doing with that, brooks is
saying let them complain.-
I'm the one who has been talking with the administration and
I'm the one who isn't getting into the squabbles.-
That is why I wondered if this has, if this is going to mean
anything to the voters.-
-
>> That invites the next question, which is OK, you are
talking
with them.-
What are you getting out of it?-
What are you getting out of it?-
If you are getting something out of it, if you have something
to announce, let's say by the way, I've persuaded the governor
to bring this back and relocate an office for everybody's
convenience, then she has something to sell.-
But -
>> But it does present her as being hard working and he
she may
well be that while the politics are going on I'm working on
the
problem.-
And what I think she has going on for her is presence.-
She is everywhere.-
And I see her at a lunch or gathering I think about the county
executive race.-
I don't think there's the county clerk any more.-
I think there's the candidate and I think that is pretty bad
tack tk.-
-
>> Johnson has been in a lot of suburbs that you and I
might
not go every day.-
But in terms of brooks saying I don't like the squabbling,
where was she during the 10 years.-
Why didn't she say something.-
If she didn't like the course of the administration why was
she
part of it?-
-
>> I have a question for you.-
Imchange -- I have a couple of minutes left and I want to get
to this fast.-
Mike, these are our district attorney candidates.-
Mike green got the independents' nod kind of.-
It is bickering among themselves and we don't know who will
get
it and it is like what happens every three or four years on
the
local level.-
My question is, what do these parties mean?-
Independent party, conservative party, in an election where
mike green, a Republican is now a Democrat and an Marie one
time a Democrat and now a republic.-
Does it mean anything?-
-
>> Yes, a half way house.-
If you are a Republican and can't bear to talk about or think
about voting bill Johnson for Democrat, this gives you another
option.-
Ross perot showed that.-
He was the halfway house for millions of voters who couldn't
vote for bill Clinton and didn't vote for bush.-
-
>> But do people really associate themselves or is it
like -- -
>> To a certain degree I would agree with curt.-
It has an image of its own basically create d by Tom
dellasandro.-
But what it does is reinforces that whoever gets it is a center
right pro reform person at heart.-
That's the message that sells.-
-
>> When I read that in the paper I thought, yeah.-
I think it depend on how local the party will be and you said
sort of, kind of.-
Now Republicans agree that is happening.-
They are unhappy with the way the Republicans are running the
campaign.-
I just think I'm confused.-
-
>> I want to thank you for being here.-
I'm not sure I cleared up any of the confusion but we want to
get people thinking.-
You are invited to add to the conversation.-
You can do that in two ways.-
Either on the web at wxxi.org/ntk
or by email at
needtoknow@wxxi.org.-
Now here is the business
section with "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
>>
Joining us is Ellen Rosen the business editor for the
Democrat and chronicle.-
How are you?-
-
>> I'm fine.-
-
>> The Sibley build something in the news, why -
>> The owners owes the city a lot of money and almost
11.5
million in both back taxes and loans that the city has helped
renegotiate.-
And the city and they have been trying to negotiate some
payment on this and it hasn't been happening and according to
city attorney the city lost patience and filed suit to get the
money back.-
-
>> Does it mean anything for, Sibley is empty, there's
a lot of
empty space.-
I think mcc is still committed to the area but there's the
D.M.V. office.-
Does that mean anything for what's going to happen?-
-
>> It really does.-
The city has been very clear about the fact that they don't
want to own it but see somebody own it with a development
plan.-
It is across the street from mid town and they are trying to
get that going.-
So it is key to that redevelopment of downtown that the two
anchor areas get going so the city wants to see somebody in
there with a plan and a vision and can pay the taxes while they
are building it.-
-
>> I might be going overboard but Wilmer Wright should
be
thought about.-
-
>> I can't feel how they feel about the lawsuit.-
And we haven't really talked to them about that.-
But apparently the developer told the Syracuse chamber of
commerce that it is Dodd.-
It was supposed to be -
>> It was supposed to be the mall on America.-
-
>> It was big are.-
It was going to include an aquarium.-
Life size molt of the erie canal and they broke on something
this summer, a golf course.-
Now it is dead.-
They tried to get a number of public tax breaks and the
legislators can came out that there were too many questions
unanswered.-
I imagine some of the people here who own retail that they,
this would be good news because they were kind of -- they were
worried.-
Wal-Mart was on the record that they were worried.-
That is why they took a big expansion.-
-
>> Let's talk more about downtown and there was a study
that
came out about downtownhousing.-
What did it tell us?-
-
>> It said there's about a 3% vacancy rate.-
And a hot market is considered five.-
What this does is reinforces what the developers are saying
is
that we need more housing downtown.-
As you know they have always said that to have a thriving
downtown you need people and the services that are required
to
live.-
That is what makes it a 24-hour downtown so we have proven that
there's a market for people who want to live there.-
-
>> Let May change it a little bit.-
Some want the option of buying wind generated power.-
Talk about that story and what that might mean.-
-
>> It is more expensive because it is more expensive to
the
utility to produce and deliver.-
It actually is a nod to environmentalism and really a cleaner
power.-
A natural power and it is trend in the industry now.-
A lot of companies are getting into it.-
Niagara mohawk are trying to get into it as an alternative for
customers willing to pay and try the new resource.-
Their big push is for industrial and commercial customers in
the beginning, but they aring if to offer it in the fall to
residential customers and they are hoping that a minimum
contract for residential customer would be about 30% of your
power.-
So you wouldn't be getting all of your power from wind power.-
You would still have the traditional power sources but you
could buy some of it.-
-
>> There is a possibility that I mean I speak to environmental
hi constitution shuss people.-
You say this is good of -
>> It is and to tell you the truth with natural gas prices
going the way they are there is no way of predicting that the
prices will be that much higher than what you pay to stay with
the traditional power.-
-
>> What is coming up I think this surnl the construction
industry?-
?-
-
>> Yes we are looking at the construction industry at
their
busiest time of the year.-
A lot of people are idle and things not happening.-
The big ticket is upcoming ground breaking at that.-
-
>> We want your feed bag on "Need to Know."-
You can give us your comments by visiting our discussion board
on the web at wxxi.org/ntk,
or emailing us at
needtoknow@wxxi.org.-
Next week we work on the shortage of nurses in the Rochester
region and why it is difficult to get new people into the
field.-
We will see you then.-
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