>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF "DONNYBROOK".

BOY, DO WE HAVE A LOT OF TOPICS COMING YOUR WAY.

SO LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS AND THEN GET THINGS STARTED.

HEY, HELLO, AND WELCOME BACK TO WENDY WIESE, TALK SHOW HOST OF THE BIG 550 KTRS, WHO TOOK A RARE WEEK OFF.

WE WELCOME FOR THE FIRST TIME JAIME MOWERS, CO-OWNER AND EDITOR AND CHIEF OF THE WEBSTER KIRKWOOD TIMES.

WELCOME ABOARD, JAMIE.

THERE SHE IS, SARAH FENSKE, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE.

AND EDITOR AND COLUMNIST WITH THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN ALVIN REID.

JAIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TONIGHT WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>>..

NEWSPAPER AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, I GUESS, WERE ALLEGES BI A LITTLE BIT STARTLED WHEN THEY READ ONE THE PRINTING OPERATION IS GOING FROM SUBURBAN ST. LOUIS COUNTY TO COLUMBIA, AND AS A RESULT, THE SPORTS SCORES WILL NO LONGER BE IN THE MORNING PAPER, THE PRINT EDITION, IF THE GAME IS AT NIGHT.

THAT'S GOI..

GUESS FOR THE READERS OF THE SPORTS SECTION, AND THEN THE HOFFMANN FAMILY, WHO HAVE PROPERTY ALL OVER FROM NAPLES TO NAPA AND OF COURSE ST. LOUIS COUNTY, AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO BUY A 5% STAKE OF THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH AND OWN PAPERS IN THE NAPA AREA.

MAYBE BE THE NEW OWNERS OF THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

DO YOU SEE ANY SILVER LINI.. ALL OF US?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T.

I'M A HUGE PROPONENT.

PRINT PRODUCT.

I WANT ALL PAPERS THAT ARE STILL PRINTING TO SURVIVE.

LUCKILY THE POST-DISPATCH WILL KEEP PRINTING.

IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE REALLY, REALLY ARE GOING TO MISS THE CARDINALS GAME SCORES, THE SPORTS GAMES.

I THINK .. BE REALLY MISSED.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE STILL WILL SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT THE PRINT EDITION OF IT.

I DO THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOSS.

I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S A GREAT LOSS.

I OBVIOUSLY --..

OWNER, I WANT TO SEE ALL NEWSPAPERS THRIVE AND SURVIVE IN WHATEVER WAY, SHAPE, FORM THEY CAN.

>> WITH SOMEONE WH..

VICTIM OF THE LOSSES OF PRINT NEWSPAPERS, I THINK THE THREAT IS VERY REAL.

BUT I THINK THAT THE POST-DISPATCH STAFF HAD AN INKLING THIS MIGHT BE COMING TO A LONG TIME, MOVE OF OUTSOURCING TO A CHEAPER PRIPTE PRINTER AND SHUTTING DOWN SMALLER PRESSES.

THE SPORTS STAFF, IN PARTICULAR, FROM TALKING TO SOME FRIENDS THAT ARE ON IT, THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS AND THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR A WHILE.

THEY ARE NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REINVENT HOW THEY COVER THE TEAM.

I THINK IT'S GOING T..

CHALLENGE.

I TH..

THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE FOR SPORTS FANS TO STILL PAY FOR THE DAILY PAPER TO BE DELIVERED TO THE HOUSE AND PUTTING IN A LOT OF THOUGHT AND ENERGY.

..

WORRIED.

IF ANYBODY CAN RISE ..

CHALLENGE, IT'S A PRETTY SMART STAFF WHO HAS WEATHERED A LOT.

>> ONE SILVER LINING, I THINK, IS THEY WILL PRINT, AND I WILL SAY THAT I'M GLAD THAT THE PEOPLE WILL GET A LOOK AT THE POST-DISPATCH BECAUSE MAYBE THEY WILL BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING IT.

HAVE BOUGHT THE PAPER.

AND THEY SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO TOP THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, BUT Y.. WORTH THAT, BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THIS TYPE OF THING.

THEY BOUGHT LA..

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOVED ME AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHEN THEY PURCHASED PAPERS AND I WAS ON THE SPLASH DOWN TEAM IN ARKANSAS, AND I KNOW HOW THEY WORK WHEN THEY DO THIS KIND OF THING.

.. AS FOR THE HOFFMANNS, THIS IS I'VE GOT MONEY, JOHNNY COLLATELY, AND I'M GOING TO BUY A NEWSPAPER.

I'M TELLING YOU THAT DON'T.. >> ISN'T THAT SURPRISING, THOUGH, TO EVERYBODY THAT AFTER THE DEBACLE OUT IN WINE COUNTRY HERE CLOSE BY IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY, THAT THEY WOULD NOW TRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND PRINT JOURNALISM?

>> I HAV.. RELATED TO SOME OF THE DEBACLE.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN BAD PRESS COVERAGE LATELY.

THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL UP THERE.

THAN.. HAS BEEN ON IT.

SOME OF THE PRESS COVERAGE HASN'T BEEN SO FAVORABLE.

IF THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT, BILLIONAIRES THAT HAVE PLANS, THEY DON'T LIKE BAD PRESS COVERAGE.

IF Y.. YOU CAN CONTROL WHAT'S IN IT.

>> SPEAKING OF CONTROLLING MESSAGES, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT FLIESFLEISCHMANN BILL, BUT IT ANNOUNCED IT'S MOVING OUT OF DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS FROM NORTH BROA BROADWAY TO CLAYTON.

IT'S..

CORPORATIONS INCLUDING FOUR FROM THE FORTUNE 500, GORDON, EMERSON, ALONG WITH ENTER PRICE RENT A CAR IN DOWNTOWN CLAYTON.

THE DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS GROUP THAT'S TRYING TO PROMOTE DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS ON TWITTER TODAY SAID A GOOD CORPORATE STEWARD SHOULD STAY IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

DO Y.. >> I DO AGREE.

I HATE THEY LEFT AND MADE THIS DECISION AND APPARENTLY DIDN'T CONSULT THE MAYOR, DIDN'T TRY TO FIND SOME WAY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEEDED A MUCH SMALLER OFFICE SPACE.

PEOPLE AREN'T COMING INTO THE OFFICE FIVE DAYS A WEEK ANYMORE.

THIS REPRESENTS A BIG DOWN-SIZING FOR WHAT THEY WANTED.

.. SOMETHING NEW.

BUT I WISH THAT THEY HAD G..

THOUGHT TO CAN WE MAKE THIS WORK IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS, TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME PLAN.

IT'S A LOT.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS..

SOME KIND OF INTERNAL ANGST ON THE PART OF FLEISCHMANN MAKING THIS DECISION, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS RIGHT FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE, SO I DON'T BEGRUDGE THEM THE MOVE.

>> WHERE DOES THE CEO LIVE?

>> WELL THE DEPARTING CEO ACTUALLY LIVES ACROSS THE STREET BASICALLY FROM THE NEW HEADQUARTERS, BUT HE'S NOW IN IRELAND.

.. >> THERE IS YOUR ANSWER RIGHT THERE, SAN FRANCISCO.

I GOT THIS BIG OLE BUILDING WE HAD WHEN WE WERE THE WORLD'S LARGEST PR FIRM, AND SOMEHOW IT SQUEEZED INTO THE BUILDING, AND NOW WE ARE STILL IN THIS BUILDING.

I CAN .. WHERE OBVIOUSLY SQUARE FOOT PER BUSINESS PROPERTY IS MUCH LOWER HERE THAN IT IS THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME LOOKING AROUND LIKE PAYING LIKE $15,000 A MONTH A FOOT IN SAN FRANCISCO, SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO PAY FOR THIS.

I'M NOT RENT.. BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

I THINK THAT GOES WITH THE PERSON NOT BEING HERE, AND HE CAN TALK ALL HE WANTS TO ABOUT I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF FLEISHMANHILLARD IN ST. LOUIS.

NO, HE DOESN'T.

HE DOESN'T CARE.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

PITTSBURGH HAS -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PITTSBURGH.

CINCINNATI HAS FOUR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES IN THEIR DOWNTOWN, KROGER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A GOOD WEEK FOR THE MAYOR IF SHE'S IN MEXICO CITY WHILE ANOTHER FIRM ANNOUNCES THAT IT'S LEAVING.

>.. WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> BUT SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN ON TOP OF IT?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WAY SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> THEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS WE HAVE BEEN MEETING PREEMPTIVELY WITH OTHER CORPORATE CITIZENS, AND THEY ARE ALL STAYING, AND THEY ARE EXCITED.

THEN WHEN TH..

PROVIDE A LIST OF NAMES FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT THEY MET WITH, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- IT SEEMS A LITTLE -- IT SEEMS A LITTLE SHADY.

>>..

THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE.

>> NOT RIGHT NOW.

>> ALVIN, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT RAY HARTMANN, OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE HERE ON THE ROUNDTABLE.

IN FAC.. OF "DONNYBROOK" BACK IN 1987.

HE LEFT THE GLORIOUS JOB TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

IT TURNS OUT HE'S TAKING 5,000 OR SO DOLLARS PER MONTH FROM HIS CAMPAIGN FUND.

DONORS ARE GIVING HIM MO.. RUN FOR OFFICE.

THE LAW ALLOWS HIM TO TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, SO HE'S TAKING THAT.

HIS OPPONENT, ANN WAGNER, IS CRITICIZING HIM FOR THAT, SAYING HE'S BILL BEIN BILKING PEOPLE.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> HE'S NOT BILKING PEOPLE.

HOW SHE SEES THE WORLD AND THE REST OF US SEE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I DON'T LIKE THIS LAW THAT YOU CAN DO THIS.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE.

ANY CANDIDATE.

OBVIOUSLY SOME CANDIDATES WHO COULDN'T QUITE RUN IF THEY HAD TO GO TO THEIR FACTORY JOB EVERY DAY OR WHATEVER, SO I GET IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE THERE'S SOME WAY, SOME WAY THAT YOU CREATE SOME OTHER KIND OF POLITICAL FUND, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE THING.

IS THERE STILL THAT INCOME TAX THING WHERE YOU CAN GIVE A DOLLAR.

>.. HAD PUBLIC FINANCING FOR ELECTIONS, AND PEOPLE FOUND ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO COMBAT THAT.

WE DO NOT WANT TO OPEN THAT PANDORA'S BOX HERE.

YOU ARE MAKING THE POINT YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE.

ANN WAGNER IS A MILLIONAIRE OR BILLIONAIRE OR WHICHEVER IT IS.

FOR SOMEBODY LIKE RAY TO RUN FOR THE JOB, HE NEEDS TO HAVE SOME INCOME COMING IN.

IT'S WHAT ALLOWS HIM TO DO THAT.

>> RIGHT.

THER.. WOULD REALLY -- THAT WOULD BE A MAKE OR BREAK DECISION, INCLUDING POSSIBLY ABRAHAM LINCOLN AT ONE TIME.

>> THINK THE MEDIA DESERVE A D MINUS IN THE COVERAGE OF THE RACE.

A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE ME..

COMPLAIN THIS GUY IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

THE ..

THE MEDIA, STATIONS LIKE THIS, RADIO STATIONS, NEWSPAPERS, DO NOT COVER CONGRESSIONAL RACE.

IF YOU RUN RAY'S NAME THROUGH GOOGLE NEWS, YOU WILL FIND THIS RACE HAS GOTTEN ALMOST NO COVERAGE SINCE HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I'M NOT GOING TO DEFEND THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT -- I'M NOT COMPARING THE TWO, BUT I KIND OF AM.

THE REASON..

THE BASEBALL SCORES IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE OR CAN'T PAY THE PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

I THINK EVERY RACE SHOULD BE COVERED, ESPECIALLY SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

A LO..

GOING ON ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE GOT ELECTED.

THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE AGENDA WAS, AND THEY STOPPED COVERING THE RACES AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AT.

>> MAYBE SOME OF THE RAMS MONEY SHOULD GO TO THE MEDIA.

>> NO.

>> WHY?

&g.. DISTRICT.

IT'S BELIEVED ..

CONCLUSION THAT ANN WAGNER HAS THE UPPER HAND HERE.

I AGREE.

THERE ARE SO MANY PE..

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES LIKE ABORTION AND OTHER THINGS, RAY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LOT MORE COVERAGE THAN THIS.

>> I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE A TOWN HALL AND DEBATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>..

IT'S VERY HARD TO GET HER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

>> YES, IT HAS.

WE REACHED OUT TO HER MULTIPLE TIMES.

RESPONSES.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> ALMOST THE SAME WITH.. SCHOOL BOARD.

SHE'S BEEN GETTING ATT..

BUT SHE DID REPORT THIS WEEK, WENDY, THAT THERE'S A FIRM IN NORTH COUNTY IT'S OFFICIALLY LISTED AS A HOME HEALTHCARE AGENCY.

I .. REFLEXION.

IT'S..

BUSES, AND I THINK NINE OF THEM ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.

.. PLATES, WHICH IS NOT THAT RARE IN OUR AREA, BUT THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE THE MARKINGS ON THE SIDE THAT SAY THE NAME OF THE COMPANY, WHERE IT'S BASED, NOR DO THEY HAVE IN THE BACK THAT STENCIL THAT SAYS STATE LAW, YOU MUST STOP WHEN THE BUS IS LOADING AND UNLOADING.

I GUESS THE ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS JUST TOOK THEM OUT OF COMMISSION.

I'M THINKING THOSE ARE NOT SERIOUS SAFETY INFRACTIONS.

WHY DIDN'T THEY KEEP THOSE BUSES RUNNING UNTIL SOME GUY COULD STENCIL THE SIDE OF THEM?

>> WHY DON'T WE PUT THEM IN MAYBE A REFRIGERATOR THAT SAYS ACME FISH.

LET'S THROW THEM IN THE BACK OF A -- I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE BEING SO LACKADAISICAL WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND CHILDREN, AND MAKING SURE, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE, EVEN THE MOST OUT OF CONTROL DRIVERS, WHEN THEY SEE SCHOOL BUS, AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE BABY ON BOARD OR PO POMERANIAN ON BOARD.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LITTL..

CAUTIOUS.

THE FACT THAT THE 7 BUSES AND NO COMMENT READ T REID TO REID, NO COMMENT ON WHAT WAS WRONG, WHY IT WASN'T CLEARED AHEAD OF TIME.

BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL THOSE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

THESE ARE CHILDREN.

>> BUT THESE ARE BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES.

YOU'RE SAYING WE CAN'T TELL THEY ARE SCHOOL BUSES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STENCILING.

TO ME, IT'S A LOT SAFER TH..

TAXI.

>.. EXTENSION ARMS THAT STOP THE CHILDREN FROM CROSSING OR CROSS THE MOTORISTS FROM MOVING.

Z IN MY MIND YOU WANT EVERY SINGLE SAFETY REQUIREMENT, GOD FORBID IN CASE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

>> I AGREE.

BECAUSE THE SAFETY ARMS, THAT'S A BIG DEAL, AND THERE COULD BE MORE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS GOING ON THAT JUST WE DON'T KNOW YET.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL BACK IN THE DAY, THE KIDS WOULD BUMPER HITCH IN THE SNOW AND HAVE NINE GUYS IN A CHEVY VAGUE VEGA.

OR WE WOULD BE HITCHHIKING AND HE SAID WHEN HE WAS 16 IN IOWA HE DROVE THE SCHOOL BUS AT AGE 16.

SAFETY REGULATIONS.

>> PROPER LICENSING.

>> THIS IS WHY WE DON'T HAVE ANY SCHOOL BUSES.

WE'VE MADE IT REALLY COMPLICATED AND USED TO BE WE JERRY RIGGED THE SITUATION.

IT DOESN'T QUALIFY UNDER THE REGULATION.

>&g..

THE STENCIL SCHOOL BUS ON THE SIDE.

THE ARMS WERE ONE .. THAT WASN'T EVERY TIME.

>> ALSO YOU COULD MAYBE HAVE AN ESCORT CAR LIKE YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY.

.. BY THE WAY, MOST KIDS IN THE DISTRICT NOW ARE GETTING TO SCHOOL ON TIME.

NOW, 85% FINANCIAL STANDARD IS 99%.

>> I AM NOT EXCUSING THIS ANARCHY THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON DOWN THERE, BUT I AM SAYING THAT THEY ARE MAKING SOME STRIDES, SO LET'S WORK WITH THEM INSTEAD OF NOT.

>>.. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, I THINK OF NINE, MAYBE SEVEN FORD MUSTANG MOCK E CROSS OVER SUV'S AT $46,000 APIECE, ALVIN REID.

I LOOKED AT ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR.

USED CAR GOING.. YOU BUY THE USED RENTAL CAR RIGHT NOW.

WHY CAN'T THE CITY BUY THOSE?

>> YOU WEREN'T THINKING AS OLD AS THE FOSSIL FUEL.

IN REALITY, IT'S HERE.

IT'S TIME.

EVERYBODY IS TALKING NOT JUST CLIMATE CONTROL BUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE GOING TO BE ABOUT?

THE EV AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES AND WHAT NOT, IT'S TIME.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO REPLACE A VEHICLE, REPLACE IT WITH A $47,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLE, AND IN THE LONG RUN YOU WILL SAVE MONEY.

ENVIRONMENT, BUT YOU WILL ALSO ULTIMATELY SAVE MONEY, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY WANT TO START IN THE CITY.

THEY HAD TO BUY VEHICLES ANYWAY, AND APPARENTLY PART OF THIS GRANT OR WHATEVER, THEY HAD TO BE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

NOW WE ARE HAGGLING BECAUSE THE WORD MUSTANG IS ON THERE.

>> IT'S $46,000.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

ALSO, I WILL SAY THIS.

I UNITED STATES CARA SPENCER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, BUT CARA SPENCER IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR, AND THIS IS ONE THING SHE CAN TRY AND THROW AND SEE IF IT STICKS TO THE WALL.

>> IN DEFENSE OF THE CITY HERE, THERE'S APPARENTLY A CITY ORDINANCE WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR REENS ALVIN TALKED ABOUT, BUT AT THE SAME LAW THEY TRIED TO USE THE STATE PROCUREMENT STUFF, AND THE STATE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE GOT TO BUY AMERICAN, AND IT MIGHT SPECIFY YOU CAN DO FORD OR GM, AND WHILE $46,000 SEEMS LIKE A SHOCKING AMOUNT FOR A CAR, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, APPARENTLY IT'S NOW THE MEDIUM PRICE POINT.

CARS HAVE GOTTEN REALLY EXPENSIVE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S SHOCKING, WE CAN'T PICK UP TRASH.

WE CAN'T TRIM TREES.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY, EVEN THOUGH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS LOGICAL.

>> YOU DON'T SUSPEND VEHICLE PURCHASES.

DID ..

AIRPLANE TO MEXICO CITY?

>> AS WE CONTINUE, YOU HAVE A STORY THIS WEEK THAT METROLINK HAS ACTUALLY SOME GATES FOR THE PASSENGERS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING THAT PEOPLE HAVE JUST WALKED ON TO METROLINK WITHOUT HAVING TO BUY A PARTICULAR.

NOW WE HAVE GATES ESTABLISHED AT FOUR METRO EAST STATIONS BUT YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THEY ARE BEING OPERATED.

>> FOUR OF THE GATES ARE TOTALLY UP, OPERATIONAL, AND 7 THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME ONLINE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, BRINGS PART OF THE SAME SYSTEM.

BUT 4 OF THESE STATIONS AND THE ONES THAT GET FINISHED IN THE NEXT YEAR, THE FARE CARDS THAT GO WITH THE SECURITY GATES ARE NOT YET IMPLEMENTED AND UP AND RUNNING.

.. JOB IT IS TO STAND THERE AND SWIPE EACH PERSON THROUGH.

WHEN I ASKED METROLINK, THIS IS A TEMPORARY THING, RIGHT?

THIS WILL BE GOING ON A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

NO, THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON FOR THE NEXT 15 MONTHS.

IT SEEMS A LITTLE CRAZY TO ME.

IS THAT THE BEST USE OF MANPOWER THAT WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL TO SWIPE US THROUGH?

I WILL BE YOUR PUBLIC TRANSIT BALLET.

LET ME S.. >> YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE LITTLE CHILDREN.

AND THE LITTLE CHILD.. METRO, AND SO DO THE ADULTS.

WE ARE GOING TO BE INCONVENIENCED FOR A YEAR TO 15 MONTHS, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SECURITY.

>.. >> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

>> THEY WILL BE ARMED UNLIKE THE AMBASSADOR.

THAT M.. >> I LAKE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE EYE TO EYE WITH SOMEBODY TO GET ON THAT TRAIN FOR 15 MONTHS, AND IT WILL BE LIKE D.C., PORTMAN, ALL THE OTHER PLACES THAT YOU USE YOUR SWIPE CARD AND GET OUT.

THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.

THIS IS PROGRESS.

>> SLOW PROGRESS.

>> THANK.. ALLEN.

>>.. OF SAFETY THERE.

WHEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMEONE EYE TO EYE, AND THE OTHER THING IS I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SAID THIS CAN BE FLEXIBLE.

SHE WAS SAYING MAYBE IT WON'T HAVE TO BE FOR SO LONG.

HOPEFULLY -- I DON'T KNOW.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO RIDE.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO RIDE BECAUSE OF SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY.

.. HOPEFULLY WILL FILL THAT SAFETY AND THE REPUTATION.

>> HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL STORY, TAKING A LOOK AT MARILYN MAYOR MARYLAND WALKAT MARYLANDWALK, AND ACROSS T HE STREET, ACROSS THE PARKING ALLEY IS A GARAGE CONNECTED TOKER THAN SON AND COMMERCE BANK.

BEAUTIFUL EXCEPT THERE'S NO ARTIFICIAL DECORATION ON THE FOUR STORIES.

THEY ARE SAYING WHAT ABOUT US?

WHY DON'T YOU PUT THE BEAUTIFUL SIDING ON THE SIDE THAT FITS US?

>> YES.

THOSE PEOP.. FOR THOSE CONDOS, AND THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BASICALLY LOOK THE SAME, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPERS, WHEN THEY WERE HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND YES, IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL.

YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S A PARKING GARAGE.

YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW.

AND NOW WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT?

AN UGLY PARKING GARAGE.

>> MEANWHILE IN KIRKWOOD, THEY BUILD MONSTROSITIES IN DOWNTOWN KIRKWOOD.

WERE..

LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AND TRAFFIC WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM AND ALL OF THAT.

.. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY.. OF CLAYTON, AND YOU GET TO STARE AT IT.

AND ..

THIS.

ANYMORE.

.. NOW THAT IT'S THERE, WHAT CAN I DO?

>> IT WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

>> BEAUTIFULER.

>> THESE CONDOUGH DWELLERS WERE PAYING IN 2006, 500,000 TO 1.4 MILLION TO GET INTO THE CONDOS.

AN..

ASKING FOR WAS SLATS, JUST SLATS, AND NOW THERE ARE NO SLATS, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNHAPPY CONDOUGH OWNERS, AND I THINCONDO OWNERS, AND PEOPLETHAT THINK THE Y ARE ..

RIGHT THING DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE.

>> I DESERVE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING NICE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT.

>> THIS REGION IS LETTING ITSELF DOWN.

AESTHETICS ARE SO IM..

WHETHER IT'S THE HIGHWAYS, BUILDINGS, AND FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THE APARTMENT STRUCTURES SHOULD BE UNDERGROUND LIKE WASH-U DOES.

I DO..

STORIES HIGH.

>> IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN IT'S UNDERGROUND THAN ABOVE GROUND.

>> SO IT'S EXPENSIVE.

BEAUTY IN THE AREA IS KEY.

WE DON'T HAVE THE MOUNTAINS, OCEAN, IF WE WANT TO COMPETE AND ATTRACT PEOPLE HERE, TOURISTS AND NEW WORKERS, WE HAVE TO MAKE OURSELVES LOOK GOOD.

YOU DID A STORY ON MURALS THIS WEEK.

>> I'M A GREAT FAN O..

I CAN'T SAY THAT I'M TOO WORKED UP ABOUT THE CONDO OWNERS WHO ARE STARING IN THE BACK OF A PARKING GARAGE.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S .. THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THEM, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU OWN A 1.

1.7 MILLION DOLLAR CONDO.

>> LET'S GO TO THE MAILBAG AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

THE POLLING OF ITS RESIDENTS BY THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS MONIES TAKE ME BACK TO WHEN MY FIANCE AND I WERE PLANNING OUR WEDDING.

AS.. CONSULTED BUT I KNEW DEEP DOWN I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT FROM EVERETT LEWIS OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS.

WRITE US IN CARE OF NINE PBS, 3655 OLIVE STREET 63108.

"DONNYBROOK" AT NINE PBS.ORG AND USE HASHTAG "DONNYBROOK" STL ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

CALL THE NINE LINE.

AND I HOPE YOU LISTEN TO US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TO JAIME MOWERS FROM THE WESTWOOD KIRKWOOD TIMES FOR JOINING US.

GOOD JOB.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE IN SEVEN DAYS.

>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.