>>
Coming up on need to know the election seven gets down to
business.-
We have a primary election on Tuesday the voters can start
making voices heard and we have a call from the business
community a message to voters and politicians to pay attention
to the economy.-
We will talk to the Monroe county party chairs about the
election season and open the business section with the Democrat
and chronicle.-
And in this disconnected world we will look at one place where
the discussion of current event still occurs.-
The barbershop.-
That is all on the way on need to know.-
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[Captioning Made Possible by the U.S. Department of Education]
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>> Thank you for joining us.-
I'm Michael Caputo.-
If you are a registered voter and chose to enrole in a
political party Tuesday is the day for your ultimate stadium.-
Republicans, Democrats, conserve kitchens and independent party
voters can choose candidates in some places.-
In the Rochester region Democrats normally have competition
in
the city of Rochester and this year is no different with school
board and court in play.-
This year is unusual for Republicans.-
Normally we don't see G.O.P. primaries in this area.-
But this year there are some key primaries for town supervisor
races in pen field, chili and Henrietta.-
But the question is how many of you will show up.-
Turnout numbers in the past local primary elections show that
no one bothers to show up.-
In 2001 the September 11 primary was called after the world
trade tower attacks and were held two weeks later 15% of
Republicans and Democrats eligible to vote did so even with
a
heightened sense of patriotism.-
In 1999 the turnout numbers didn't break 20% of the eligible
party voters.-
This is a not lost on people.-
On Thursday a group of influential business and community
leaders the rump group held a news conference.-
Primarily they called for a serious look at containing public
sector costs, referring to a report they commissioned.-
But representatives of the group implored those running for
public office to engage in a substantive debate.-
-
>> One who lives hear knows the area is a great place
to work
and raise a family.-
However, our economy and government finances are not good.-
We are caught in an ongoing cycle of high taxes, combined with
a stagnant economy and government deficits.-
In is an unsustainable model.-
We must break the cycle.-
We need to move away from showing begans and partisanship and
focus on solving specific problems.-
-
>> When the report came out which was a little before
we
anticipated it would, we were disappointed in the way people
responded to it in the sense that it became immediately a
partisan issue saying this indicates my position or this
indicates my position, whoever you are.-
And we are trying to get beyond that.-
We don't think this is intended to vindicate did I indicate
anybody's position.-
The issue is not what happened but the issue is how we are
going to deal with it in the future and we are trying to move
this beyond a partisan response and into a response that is
specific in terms of solving problems.-
-
>> We hope that the candidates will incorporate that into
their
debate about issues.-
If we are wrong about the severity of the problems of our
community, then they can establish that we are wrong, believe
me we will be delighted.-
This isn't something we need to be right on.-
We think that this is a crisis situation and we hope it is part
of the discussion in the election process.-
And we hope that it provides some substance to the candidates
as far as having addressed these issues.-
-
>> With us to talk about the primary election and runup
to the
general election are two people who are right in the middle
of
it all Monroe county Republican chairman Steve Minarik and
democratic chair Molly.-
Are we going to see a substantive debate at all this year?-
-
>> Absolutely.-
I think both candidates have said they are very interested this
talking about issues.-
They have begun to and I think it will be a great campaign.-
-
>> We have a lot of ads coming out all through the fall.-
How are we going to get beyond it and talk about some of the
issues that the rump group brought up?-
Steve.-
-
>> Probably do debates like on WXXI -
>> How many debates do we have lined up for the county
executive race?-
-
>> Four public and broadcast debates.-
I think that is the first time in my time, 13 years we have
had
that many debates.-
That is outstanding.-
-
>> We want to have more than that.-
We have accepted I think over 20 invitations to either debates
or forums and some have agreed to and some she has not -
>> Why not do 20?-
-
>> First there's not enough time in an election season.-
I believe that the forums that they place 10 dollar forums.-
Just so many things, there are hundreds of events and things
to
go to.-
Four public broadcast debates is a huge advantage.-
I think that you usually only see one or two in this
community.-
You only have four presidential debates -
>> There will be eight presidential debates for the democratic
campaigns and people are ready to talk issues and they want
to
hear from candidates and this is a great way to talk in front
of numbers of people which makes it a good way to spend your
time.-
-
>> I want to get to the primary elections but I want to
ask
about the way the media interplays with the politics.-
Last year the media was criticized for not really pounding on
the budget in a statewide election in New York.-
They are saying the same thing about what happened in
California, that the media didn't get in and get the debate
going on what was going on with the budget in both gray Davis
and George Pataki.-
Do you think the media locally is ready?-
-
>> I think the news media in this area has always made
it a
priority to raise the level of discussion upon issues in this
community.-
I think that clearly there's a number of news articles, a
number of programs we have seen talking about budgets, talking
about infrastructure improvements, talking about the economy,
talking about crime.-
I think the media does a good job about raising levels of
discussion.-
-
>> Do you agree?-
-
>> No, I wouldn't.-
I think there's huge questions about the size of the county
deficit, its range from 18 to 8 million dollars.-
Basically we haven't had a balanced budget for the last six
years.-
The Republicans have been spending like drunken sailors and
I
think we are up against a Pataki-like situation where if the
needia doesn't delve any deeper we will wake up January and
find out the prices here are worse than you saw with the rump
group.-
-
>> I just don't know very much about county government
but let
May say by law there's a balanced budget every year and you
may
choose to want to disagree but you should have a better
understanding of county government because they are supposed
to
be doing a balance budget each year and I think you have that.-
-
>> I think when you call using Tobacco settlement dollars
and
sales tax dollars -- you spend -- what we have happening this
year is a continual thing we have seen between from bill
Johnson and from Molly over here, a constant negative barrage
of things.-
The sky is falling and everything is so negative and on top
of
that, while people are just tired of that kind of tone and you
continue it and some day you will get it, some year, some
election season you will have a good time and figure out that
people do not want to continue to speak in negative tones about
campaigns.-
-
>> The rump group a claims it is a crisis situation, the
economy is in a crisis situation.-
-
>> The economy is not the economy budget.-
The economy is every -- -
>> They point to the county budget.-
They claim we can't raise taxes, deficits -- we can't raise
taxes.-
That is exactly correct.-
We cannot raise taxes.-
We must continue to find new and creative ways to get our way
through this problem.-
That really is not in any county's bailiwick.-
It is a state problem.-
The Medicaid portion of our budget is spiraling out of control
and the government, not only Monroe but Erie and that is say
and you have Republicans an Democrats leading the counties but
they face the same problem.-
Medicaid spending is out of control and there's no way for
local governments to deal with that situation.-
I wish we would just kind of impress that upon our local
delegation, upon our, all of the leaders in Albany.-
We need to do something about Medicaid spending.-
It is killing the local governments.-
-
>> We could as Steve suggests bury our head and say there's
no
problem but I don't think that's the responsible thing to do.
I
think that is why you are seeing the rump and other groups
saying we are facing a crisis and we need real leadership and
in my view there's one leader and that is bill Johnson.-
-
>> I want to talk about the primary election.-
Why are turnout levels for both parties and you haven't had
a
lot of primaries in your day, but in the recent years why are
they so paltry?-
We are talking 15% 10%.-
Is it that, is the party making an effort to get people out?-
-
>> The parties are not participating in primaries.-
We just -- by regulation, by law we don't get in the middle
of
primaries so we don't do anything to encourage either side in
primaries.-
I think it is incumbent on -- also had difficult this year the
increased coverage on the primaries but it has been difficult
in the few we have had to get people's awareness level up.-
They are coming off of summer months and back to school and
the
primary is here and people don't focus a lot of attention on
it.-
-
>> That gets back to the media.-
You said there's not a lot of attention.-
-
>> I'm talking about the primary.-
The primary is difficult.-
How do you fit it in with all of the big occurrences?-
Just coming off the summer months, people have
responsibilities, too.-
It is not just the news media, not just the political pearpts
and candidates but peel have a responsibility.-
They have to be able to have the time to focus on a primary
election.-
The timing perhaps of the primary if if, if it were a different
time of year it may make a difference.-
-
>> Isn't it embarrassing to see 15% of the registered
enrolled
Democrats, is it embarrassing to see that?-
-
>> I can it is disappointing any time you don't have the
voter
turnout you would like to see but I think Steve is right to
some degree.-
There's not a lot you can do about that when you have higher
visibility primaries layers much higher turnout.-
In the local races the candidates don't have a lot of money,
there isn't that awareness there.-
-
>> You like to see primary races in the town?-
-
>> Do I?-
-
>> You have got Henrietta, chili.-
-
>> I think that we elect people to be Republicans and
we hope
that people would abide by the choices of our committee.-
People who made those decisions for candidates are elected
officials.-
We have full committees on all of our towns and sometimes
though it happens.-
I find it difficult myself to get into the middle of two
elected officials, you know.-
People who are not elected officials or, you know, that would
be a different story.-
But I have a legislative supervisor that chooses to wage a
battle over a position, it's hard to get in the middle and say
you have to stop or tell a supervisor they have to stop.-
I don't think it is right to do that.-
-
>> On the other hand Democrats always see primaries most
of the
time like school board you have seven people for four seats.-
I have been saying that David gant had a strong role, an
influential role in who was chosen at the may convention and
this could be a test for his position within the party.-
Would you agree?-
-
>> Well, I think we will see.-
The foyer candidates who are ultimately designated had the
support, but the rest of the democratic party, you know it is
a
democracyment so I think we will see on Tuesday.-
It is a good slate of candidates that represent a balance
between older and younger and different backgrounds.-
-
>> I'm not a fan of David gant but I don't think it is
fair to
say the primary results are indicative of his role or any other
elected official's role.-
It's an individual thing.-
I'm not a big fan of his but -- -
>> Ultimately is their choice.-
-
>> I don't think that is -- -
>> Ultimately primaries are giving voters another choice
and
that's simply what it is.-
-
>> I want to talk about how parties function in elections
in
general.-
Polls help both of you make decisions on the, the issues you
are going after.-
One, isn't that true?-
And two, to what degree, Molly?-
-
>> I think you get a sense from talking to people on the
street
what their issues of concern are.-
-
>> But you use polls, don't you, to gauge a that?-
-
>> We have done so in the past.-
-
>> How much to you depend on them?-
-
>> They are basically a good yardstick but again what
matters
most is talking to people every day and hearing them.-
-
>> You use polls, don't you, to gauge what people think?-
-
>> We don't survey research work, sure.-
Everybody does.-
But you can't govern or lead by using survey research work.-
You have to have a candidate and an electioned official who
has
a connection with the people.-
The decisions in this community are made by the individuals
who
make up the community.-
-
>> But isn't that the politics to know what the electorate
thinks?-
-
>> Of course.-
But if your elected official is in tune with the people, they
will have the idea of what they need to do to lead our
community.-
Not special interests, not organizations.-
And as much as I like the individuals, every one of them,
people involved in the rump group, they are also citizens and
entitled to their opinions but there's no one person that has
a
greater opinion than the others.-
-
>> How free is Maggie brooks to give her opinion on issues
from
here out?-
-
>> She has her own platform developed by her and her campaign,
just like any other candidates have their own decisions and
--
-
>> Is she a phone call away for us working with her, the
press?-
-
>> Have you ever had a problem being a phone call away?-
I don't think you can say that by any Republican or Democrat.-
If they put a wall between the news media and themselves they
are only hurting themselves.-
I think both Democrats an Republicans are phone call away from
the news.-
-
>> Is that your case with your candidate for county executive?-
-
>> Absolutely.-
He has been accessible for the press for 10 years. -
>> I agree with that.-
It would be foolish for anyone to think other than that.-
Why would you be the elected official?-
You are the representative of the people.-
Even you are a member of the community.-
-
>> Thank you both for coming.-
I wanted to talk a little about the election and the process
behind it.-
This discussion continuation. Write us at the web at
wxxi.org/ntk,
or we invite to you email us at
needtoknow@wxxi.org.-
Now
let's open the business section with"THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
>>
With us is Ellen Rosen editor for the Democrat and
chronicle.-
Welcome back.-
I wanted to ask you as the anchor and appeared to be doing well
that the empire brewing company closed it doors, in your
reporting what have you -- what have you heard about what this
closure says to them?-
-
>> It's hard to tell.-
The city insists that which has invested a lot of money both
in
empire and the high fall district say they have other people
they are looking at and we have talk to others that think about
going in there.-
How long the space is vicinity will tell.-
If they can get somebody else in there that is viable but it
is
tough to do business on a daily basis.-
I think empire was doing well on the weekends when there were
ball games but you cut your workforce at Kodak, not that will
people walking around looking for lunch so I think it was
getting difficult to fill the seats so that could make it
difficult to sell the spot.-
-
>> The surprise nature of how they left mirrored what
they did
in Buffalo.-
-
>> Yes and not unlike things other businesses have done
before.-
-
>> The city founded the developer for the group there.-
Is this affecting your feeling about high falls?-
-
>> No, they say they are very high on high falls.-
They think things are going to go well.-
-
>> They are still in -
>> Obviously they would like to see that space filled
but they
are in for the long haul.-
-
>> The city says they have a couple of prospects.-
-
>> Yes.-
Apparently there was nots a complete surprise.-
Empire had been up front about the difficulties and were trying
to see what they could work out.-
-
>> The nuclear power plant, that was as also a news maker.-
Could you explain a little bit about that?-
-
>> What happened was that energy east which owns the utility
and owns the power plant actually formally petitioned the
public service commission for permission to sell ganet.-
They have some potential buyers but it could be a while before
we see anything finalized.-
-
>> One question I have is whether the workforce there
and I
guess that are 300 or 400 people.-
Does that mean anything to them?-
-
>> Part of the filing that energy made with the P.S.C.
they say
they would expect the new owner would continue to employ the
people there and at the reasonable wages they were earninging.-
-
>> It sounds like they are not getting sold tomorrow.-
It's a long process.-
-
>> Yes but we could know who the buyer is within a couple
of
months.-
-
>> Today's paper, hospital wars.-
That is probably too strong a term, but the competition is
great among hospitals in this area.-
Tell us about that.-
-
>> Strong Memorial Hospital was able to court away some
cardiologists affiliated with general.-
It is basically going to cost Rochester general 3 1/2 million
a
year they will lose from heart surgery and particularly open
heart cases.-
About 500 cardiac patients that will if.-
It was a competitive battle.-
Strong wouldn't say what they actually gave the doctors, but
they said they tried to match what strong offered which was
$2
million in salaries to four or five doctors.-
-
>> Try to give us the position of strong.-
Because a lot of people are saying why are they doing this?-
This is so predatory.-
We are talking about healthcare.-
But give us what strong would tell usment -
>> They would say they need to be strong to survive.-
They need to be able to offer the right kind of care in their
specialties.-
But the demand is out there, the doctors are from the finger
lakes area and they were seeing demands for patients out there
and they feel they are doing the right thing for healthcare,
that they can provide the services and they need to be a strong
and viable entity making money to provide adequate healthcare
for the community.-
-
>> I guess there's always the question of whether we have
the
beds in the community and I know your reporters have been
looking at that.-
Whether we have too many beds, is there a time where we will
look at some place that's really downsizing?-
-
>> You have got via health and unity health talking about
mergers the they say that wouldn't affect services simply
effect administrative functions.-
But the talk hasn't been so much about beds as cutting costs
in
other areas and providing the right kind of care and getting
the right specialists.-
We have lost certain specialists and there are shortages.-
And the doctors you are talking about living wages, that they
can make more in other communities than here in Rochester due
to healthcare reimbursement.-
-
>> Tell us what you have coming up Sunday.-
-
>> This Sunday we are taking a look at the airline industry
and
how it has fared in the two years since 9-11.-
-
>> Thank you for being with us.-
As we gear up for the upcoming elections part of every campaign
is getting out into the community and meeting with citizens
and
listening to their concerns, learning from real people what
the
real issues are the in the African-American community urban
barbershops have a history of providing a forum for discussion
of some of the same problems that candidates are trying to
solve.-
Reporter Carlet Cleare visited some local urban barbershops
to
bring us the buzz of not only the clippers but the history of
the hot topics of the day.-
-
>> I wasn't there, man.-
Kobe Bryant and the girl knows.-
That's it.-
-
>> We don't know what a man doing in the privacy of his
own
room, man.-
-
>> Did you say did or didn't do?-
-
>> I would have to put my money on the time that the makers
ain't going to win next year.-
-
>> Urban barbershops offer more than just a snip of shears,
the
glide of the raise zor and the aroma of clubmen's talcum
powder.-
After all these years the barbershop remains a meeting place
for answer in Rochester and for those around the country.-
Tony Fada, a loyal customer at Dixon's barbershop on chili
avenue explains.-
-
>> You meet a lot of people that you see on the streets
and
never know who they are but you can come here and you start
talking about stuff going on in the city and they get to know
people.-
Yes, more like a family get together.-
-
>> Business owner lien ton Dixon remembers when his father
would take him to the barbershop as a child.-
-
>> Used to have the old timers sit around and talk about
things
and the community.-
And today we are seeing the same thing.-
People talk about current events.-
-
>> Am is not a school district problem.-
This is our problem.-
-
>> You get to know me and I get to know you.-
We chitchat here.-
We get to know each other.-
Most people come here don't know each other so the more they
come they get to know each other.-
-
>> The long established tradition of black barbershops
is more
than a technical service but a family atmosphere providing a
location where people can come and not only discuss what is
going on outside their neighborhood doors but most importantly,
get to know each other through those conversations.-
-
>> Barbershops have become a way to make connections in
a
society that is increasingly disconnected.-
And their history as a meeting place is a long one.-
-
>> So, this was really a connecting institution from the
periods of slavery right into the period of emancipation.-
-
>> Referend John walker of Christian friendship missionary
Baptist church says black barbershops were the first places
where freed African-American slaves began to strike out on
their own.-
-
>> And it has been a place that has provided ample opportunity
during the periods of racial oppression for black men
particularly to air their views and opinions without fear of
any punitive measures.-
So it has had, I think, a profound meaning for black men as
a
place where we can come and recreate, have fun, it's always
a
source of much humor but as well to discuss things that are
of
a very serious nature.-
-
>> These institutions are a networking of plaque businesses
that offer the community a hand, ear or even a voice of
advice.-
It is having its hands stretch outside to those who may not
get
a hair cut but come for the fellowship -
>> They would come not to have a hair cut but talk.-
They would have checkers to play and some would play cards.-
There was a place where they just came and sat and would sit
all day long.-
-
>> I'm about four out on him.-
-
>> How many, Charlie?-
-
>> About four.-
You are talking about this time.-
All the time.-
-
>> Whether you know Charlie will be tcheeting on you.-
He cheats a lot.-
But I'm going to beat him before the day is gone.-
-
>> It is the fighting and fussing and complaining, it
is time
to get together.-
We know God is the solution.-
-
>> I say Kobe Bryant is a person to me who appears to
be the
type of individual -- -
>> Oh, appears to be.-
-
>> That would want to have sex.-
I don't know him that well.-
-
>> Mike Tyson.-
-
>> Tyson is an animal.-
-
>> Come on.-
-
>> You know he is.-
He is an animal.-
-
>> He is a fighter.-
-
>> Clearly during times when people are frequently
disconnected, this is a place for reconnection.-
-
>> And you know, a lot of people come in not knowing each
other
and leave, you know, shaking hands and knowing names.-
Sometimes they even exchange numbers.-
-
>> I think it is definitely a meeting place.-
-
>> Thank you.-
Before we go join WXXI A.M. Sunday morning or Tuesday evening
for perspectives with Curt Smith.-
He looks at the state of television.-
Next week on need to know the Mann profit sector is normally
thought of as the united way but organizations exist by raising
money.-
With the economy the shape it is in that job of fund-raising
has never been harder.-
Please join us.-
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