(Music)
>> THIS IS THE "VOICE OF THE
VOTER" MAYORAL DEBATE.
CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER TAKE CITIZEN
QUESTIONS ON CITY ISSUES.
THE MAYORAL DEBATE IS
PRESENTED BY THE VOICE OF THE
VOTER COLLABORATION OF WXXI TV
AND RADIO, WOKR NewsSource 13,
AND THE "ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
NOW, FROM THE WXXI TV STUDIOS,
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PRESENTS
THE CANDIDATES FOR THE MAYOR
OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER.
(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: AND THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
I'M ELISSA MARRA OF WXXI.
WELCOME TO OUR TELEVISION, OUR
RADIO AND OUR INTERNET
AUDIENCE.
WITH TWELVE DAYS TO GO UNTIL
ELECTION DAY, AREA CANDIDATES
ARE IN THE HOME STRETCHES OF
THEIR CAMPAIGNS.
TONIGHT "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
BRINGS YOU A DEBATE BETWEEN
THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF
ROCHESTER.
THEY ARE INCUMBENT WILLIAM A.
JOHNSON AND CHALLENGER LUIS
PEREZ.
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" IS A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN WXXI,
WOKR NewsSource 13, AND "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE," AND
IT INCLUDES A CITIZEN PANEL.
SOME OF THOSE CITIZENS ARE
HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND WILL
BE ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR.
ALSO JOINING US THIS EVENING
ARE POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL
CAPUTO FROM "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE;"
SHAWANDA ROBERTS IS HERE FROM
WOKR NewsSource 13, AND BUD
LOWELL IS WITH US TONIGHT FROM
OUR RADIO STATION WXXI AM 1370
RADIO.
NOW TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS ALSO
OFFERED TO VIEWERS IN SPANISH,
USING S.A.P., THE SECONDARY
AUDIO PROGRAMMING FEATURE ON
YOUR TELEVISION.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT 5:30,
WE'LL AIR THE PROGRAM AGAIN
WITH THE PRIMARY AUDIO IN
SPANISH AND THE S.A.P. IN
ENGLISH.
THE FORMAT FOR TONIGHT'S
DEBATE IS AS FOLLOWS: EACH
CITIZEN "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
PERSON HERE WILL ASK ONE
QUESTION THIS EVENING AND THE
ORDER OF THE CANDIDATES'
RESPONSE WAS DETERMINED BY A
COIN FLIP.
WILLIAM JOHNSON WON THE COIN
TOSS AND WILL ANSWER THE FIRST
QUESTION FIRST, FOLLOWED BY
LUIS PEREZ'S RESPONSE.
THE ORDER OF THE RESPONSE WILL
REVERSE FOR THE SECOND
QUESTION AND THEN ALTERNATE
FOR THE REST OF THE DEBATE,
AND THEN EACH CANDIDATE WILL
HAVE ONE MINUTE AND THIRTY
SECONDS FOR THEIR RESPONSE
TIME.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET US
FIRST INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES
FOR MAYOR OF ROCHESTER.
WILLIAM JOHNSON IS THE
INCUMBENT, AND HE IS SEEKING
HIS THIRD TERM AS MAYOR.
HE REPRESENTS THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY AND IS 59 YEARS OLD.
LUIS PEREZ IS THE CHALLENGER
REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN
AND CONSERVATIVE PARTIES.
HE IS A SOCIAL WORKER AND A
PASTOR AT BETHEL CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP.
HE IS 46 YEARS OLD.
AND NOW WE'RE READY TO BEGIN
OUR DEBATE.
TONIGHT'S FIRST QUESTION COMES
FROM OUR CITIZEN PANELIST AND
HER NAME IS MONA HALBERT.
MONA, GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> ARE YOU A LEADER OR A
FOLLOWER?
>> WELL, I THINK I HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT I HAVE
TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP SKILLS,
AND I HAVE DEVELOPED THOSE
OVER THE YEARS IN A VARIETY OF
SETTINGS BUT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DISPLAY THOSE SKILLS DURING
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, NEARLY
EIGHT YEARS OF BEING MAYOR.
I THINK LEADERSHIP REQUIRES
VISION AND REQUIRES THE
ABILITY TO COMPROMISE, THE
ABILITY TO GATHER, FACILITATE
AND BROKER VARIOUS SOURCES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE KIND OF
INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE
UNDERTAKEN DURING THESE EIGHT
YEARS, I THINK YOU'LL SEE EACH
OF THOSE INGREDIENTS HAVE BEEN
CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I CAME TO
OFFICE IN 1994, THIS COMMUNITY
WAS IN THE THROES OF FEAR OVER
THE UNPARALLELED LEVELS OF
VIOLENCE THAT WERE ERUPTING ON
OUR STREET.
WE INTRODUCED AND INCORPORATED
A MULTIFACETED APPROACH, A
CHANGE IN THE CULTURE WITHIN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE HAD BEEN TREMENDOUS
RESISTANCE TO
COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING.
I WENT OUTSIDE THE CITY, HIRED
AN EXPERIENCED CHIEF OF POLICE
WHO WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND IN
QUICK ORDER TO BRIDGE THAT
GAP, INTRODUCE FAR-REACHING
INITIATIVES, AND WE HAVE
ELIMINATED A TREMENDOUS
ANIMOSITY THAT HAS LONG
EXISTED BETWEEN THE VARIOUS
SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
THROUGH THESE
COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING
INITIATIVES.
WE HAVE HEARD OUR CITIZENS.
THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE OUR SERVICES MORE
ACCESSIBLE, AND WE HAVE
CREATED THE KIND OF RESPONSES.
SO I THINK THAT I HAVE
DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP ON A
VARIETY OF FRONTS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT
I'M A LEADER AND MORE THAN
THAT, I'M A SERVANT LEADER, A
KIND OF LEADER THAT WOULD NOT
ASK PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING I
WOULDN'T DO FIRST.
I BELIEVE IN LEADING BY
EXAMPLE.
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP.
MY LAST ELEVEN YEARS AS A
PASTOR AND SOCIAL WORKER OUT
OF BETHEL, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET A LOT OF
DIFFERENT PEOPLE, A LOT OF
DIFFERENT GROUPS WITH THE
NUMBER OF INITIATIVES WE PUT
OUT.
BEFORE THAT, I SPENT 14 YEARS
AT EASTMAN KODAK WHERE I WAS A
SUPERVISOR.
THE LAST ASSIGNMENT I HAD
THERE, I WAS AN INTERNATIONAL
SUPPLY PLANNER TO A PLANT IN
MEXICO AND HAD TO WORK WITH
EIGHT LINES OF BUSINESSES AND
LEAD PEOPLE IN THAT EFFORT.
SO I BELIEVE I HAVE A STRONG
RECORD OF LEADERSHIP.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
WHAT I WANT TO DO WHEN I
BECOME MAYOR IS TO BE A
SERVANT LEADER AND LEAD BY
EXAMPLE.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ
WILL ANSWER THE NEXT QUESTION
FIRST AND IT COMES FROM OUR
PANELIST NAMED JOHN SPENCER.
JOHN?
>> THE CITY HAS FANTASTIC
HOTELS, FINE ARTS, MUSEUMS,
AND CONVENTION ACCOMMODATIONS,
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN AN
EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE CITY FOR
BUSINESSES TO HOLD THEIR
CONVENTIONS HERE AND ATTRACT
TOURISTS.
BUT FRANKLY, ONCE ONE LEAVES
THEIR HOTEL THERE'S NOT THE
NIGHTLIFE OR DAYTIME DINING
AND SHOPPING THAT THERE ONCE
WAS ON DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET
ROCHESTER.
I REALIZE THE CITY MAY NOT GO
BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS, BUT
HOWEVER MY QUESTION: WHAT IS
YOUR BUSINESS PLAN AND
STRATEGY AND HOW WILL YOU
IMPLEMENT INCENTIVES TO
RETAILERS AND DINING
FACILITIES, OTHER THAN FAST
FOODS, GENERATING PROSPERITY
AND GROWTH FOR DOWNTOWN
ROCHESTER, AND HOW WILL THE
CITY ASSIST IN ANY BUSINESS TO
REMAIN DOWNTOWN LONG-TERM?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ,
YOU ARE FIRST.
>> I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS A
LOT TO OFFER.
I JUST GOT BACK FROM SAN
ANTONIO A FEW DAYS AGO WHERE I
WAS PROMOTING A CONFERENCE
WE'RE BRINGING HERE IN THE
YEAR 2002.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
NEEDS TO HAPPEN, FOR A LOT OF
DIFFERENT REASONS, AND THIS IS
ONE OF THEM: WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE OUR SPENDING IS UNDER
CONTROL AND OUR PROPERTY TAXES
ARE KEPT STABLE SO THAT WE CAN
ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THIS AREA
AND KEEP PEOPLE IN THE CITY
AND NOT HAVE THEM BE THINKING
ABOUT LEAVING.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE
PUT ON THE TABLE THAT I THINK
NEEDS TO BE GIVEN ATTENTION IS
THE WHOLE SECTION OF DOWNTOWN
FROM EAST AVENUE DOWN TO ABOUT
STATES STREET, A REDEVELOPMENT
THERE, INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE
TO COME AND PUT THEIR
BUSINESSES THERE, AND HAVING
PEOPLE -- GIVING PEOPLE REASON
TO WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN.
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF
THAT WORK TAKING PLACE,
LIKE AT HIGH FALLS.
WE HAVE TO NOW FOCUS ON SOME
DIFFERENT AREAS AND ENGAGE THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, MAKING
SURE THEY'RE STABLE AND WHAT
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS NOT
BEYOND WHAT THEY CAN DO, AND
THEN WITH THAT STABILITY BRING
FORTH SOME NEW VENDORS AND NEW
BUSINESSES THAT CAN DRAW
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.
>> Elissa Marra: RESPONSE,
Mr. JOHNSON?
>> I WOULD ONLY ASK YOU TO
REMEMBER WHAT THIS DOWNTOWN
LOOKED LIKE BEFORE 1994.
TRULY IT WAS DEVASTATING, AND
I CAN IMAGINE NOW THE
TREMENDOUS DEVELOPMENT THAT
HAS TAKEN PLACE, THE
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE
STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
HIGH FALLS IS NOT THE ONLY
AREA.
WE'RE SITTING ON HIGH FALLS
AND BEFORE 1994, THIS AREA WAS
LITERALLY DEVASTATED, A GHOST
TOWN.
IT'S A HIGHLY VIBRANT AREA.
THE St. PAUL CORE HAS BEEN
BROUGHT TO LIFE BASED ON
INCENTIVES AND INITIATIVES.
THE EAST END -- AND WE DIDN'T
USE THAT TERMINOLOGY, BUT IT'S
BEEN BUILT UP.
IT NOT ONLY IS A PLACE WHERE
THERE ARE THE KIND OF
RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS -- NOT
FAST FOOD BUT HIGH-QUALITY
RESTAURANTS, TONICS AND TWO
VINES, JUST TO NAME TWO OF
THEM THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE
1994, THAT KIND OF BUILDUP.
NOW, LET ME SAY THAT WHAT I
CALL GROUND ZERO, THE AREA
SURROUNDING MAIN AND CLINTON,
HAS NOT DEVELOPED, BUT WE HAVE
STRATEGIES, ARE WORKING ON
STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP THAT.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS
LOOK AT THE KIND OF BUILDINGS
THAT EXIST IN THAT AREA.
THEY'RE NOT THE SMALL SHOP
KIND OF BUILDINGS.
THEY ARE REALLY OFFICE
BUILDINGS, FORMER DEPARTMENT
STORES.
THEY CANNOT BE EASILY
SUBDIVIDED UP.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> BUT WE'RE WORKING TO BRING
THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT THAT
ALL OF US WANT TO SEE HAPPEN
IN THAT AREA, BUILDING ON THE
SUCCESSES OF THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS.
>> Elissa Marra: NEXT QUESTION
FROM OUR CITIZEN PANELIST.
>> AS A STUDENT, WE HAVE
LEARNED ABOUT THE WORLD GOING
THROUGH THIS TECHNOLOGY ERA
AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW
YOU AS MAYOR WILL KEEP THE
CITY EQUIPPED AND ECONOMICALLY
STABLE WHILE EMPOWERING
CITIZENS AT THE SAME TIME?
>> ONE OF OUR GREATEST
INITIATIVES IS OUR CITIZEN
EMPOWERMENT EFFORTS.
THE N.B.N. PROCESS HAS BEEN
INFECTIOUS.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WHO WERE NOT INVOLVED
-- YOU COULD CALL THEM
APATHETIC -- WHO ARE NOW
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
DETERMINING THE FATE, THE
DIRECTION, THE SCOPE OF
ACTIVITIES THAT WILL TAKE
PLACE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER
NOT AS ADVERSARIES, BUT
THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER AND
RECOGNIZING THAT THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS, THEIR SECTORS,
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL
REVITALIZATION OF THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK VERY HARD
ON THAT STRATEGY, AS A
RESPONSE TO THE LAST QUESTION,
TO STABILIZE OUR BUSINESS
BASE, TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE AND
TO BRING OTHERS IN.
THERE HAS BEEN NOW A NUMBER OF
INITIATIVES.
THE CITY AND COUNTY HAVE
WORKED TOGETHER THROUGH THINGS
LIKE CONNECT ROCHESTER.
WE HAVE OUR OWN SEPARATE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS,
SO WE ARE WORKING TO STABILIZE
OUR SMALL BUSINESS, OUR MEDIUM
AND OUR LARGE BUSINESSES.
I MEAN WE CAN DEMONSTRATE
MOM-AND-POP KIND OF
BUSINESSES; WE CAN DEMONSTRATE
THE EFFORTS THAT WE TOOK TO
KEEP GENESEE BREWERY AND
COMPANIES LIKE THAT HERE, BLUE
CROSS/BLUE SHIELD.
WHEN IT WANTED TO MOVE, WE
OFFERED THE KIND OF PROGRAM
THAT COULD KEEP THEM IN
DOWNTOWN.
SO I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO
HAVE A WIDE VARIETY AND
DIVERSITY OF STRATEGIES THAT
WILL ACHIEVE WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT AS WE MOVE INTO
THIS 21st CENTURY ECONOMY.
>> Elissa Marra: RESPONSE,
Mr. PEREZ?
>> COULD YOU ASK THE QUESTION
AGAIN?
>> AS A STUDENT, AS THE WORLD
GOES THROUGH THIS TECHNOLOGY
ERA, HOW WILL YOU AS MAYOR
KEEP OUR CITY EQUIPPED AND
ECONOMICALLY STABLE WHILE
EMPOWERING CITIZENS?
>> Elissa Marra: ONE MORE
TIME.
>> AS A STUDENT, I HAVE
LEARNED ABOUT THE WORLD GOING
THROUGH A TECHNOLOGY ERA.
HOW WILL YOU AS MAYOR KEEP OUR
CITY EQUIPPED AND ECONOMICALLY
STABLE WHILE EMPOWERING
CITIZENS?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK THAT OUR ECONOMIC
STABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
SPENDING THAT THE CITY IS
INVOLVED IN.
FOR INSTANCE, IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET, THE MAYOR PROPOSED A
3% INCREASE IN SPENDING, ABOUT
$10 MILLION.
I UNDERSTAND IT WILL CHANGE
NOW BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMICS OF
WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER
11th, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT,
WE HAVE ABOUT $334 MILLION IN
DEBT THAT'S COSTING US RIGHT
NOW, IN THIS LAST BUDGET YEAR,
$49 MILLION TOWARD DEBT
SERVICE.
SO WE TALK ABOUT STABILITY AND
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD
LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE WE
REIN THAT BACK FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS.
AGAIN, TO KEEP TAXES DOWN AND
TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE WE CAN
USE RESOURCES TO EMPOWER
PEOPLE AS YOURSELF.
THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED SOME
OF THE PROCESSES THAT THEY
HAVE USED, AND MY CRITICISM TO
THAT HAS BEEN, ALTHOUGH I
AGREE WITH IT AND IT'S GOOD,
IT HASN'T GONE TO THE PEOPLE
ENOUGH.
IT'S BEEN FROM THE TOP-DOWN
AND NOT THE BOTTOM-UP.
MY PROPOSAL IS THROUGH OUR
INITIATIVES TO SET UP 100
CITIZEN CENTERS, OPEN AN
OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED
INITIATIVES, TO BEGIN TO
EMPOWER PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING
-- WE TALK TO PEOPLE THROUGH
OUR CITIZEN CENTERS WHO SAY,
"WE HEAR ABOUT THESE PLANS; WE
HEAR ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON,
BUT WHERE WE LIVE NOTHING IS
CHANGING."
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE
FOCUSED ATTENTION TO WHERE
PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH THE
VIOLENCE AND CRIME THAT'S
TAKING PLACE, WHERE HOUSING IS
DETERIORATING, AND GIVE SOME
ATTENTION THERE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM THE
MEDIA, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR
"THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE,"
MICHAEL CAPUTO.
>> GENTLEMEN, EARLIER THIS
YEAR, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
GEORGE PATAKI MADE A CALL FOR
MAYORS TO APPOINT SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS RATHER THAN THE VOTERS
ELECTING THEM.
IT WENT NOWHERE.
THE MAYOR HAS EVEN MADE A PUSH
FOR MORE DIRECT CITY
INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOTH OF
YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS.
WOULD EITHER OF YOU SUPPORT
ADDED CONTROL AND
RESPONSIBILITY?
>> Elissa Marra: WE'LL START
WITH Mr. PEREZ.
>> I THINK THE KEY WORD HERE
IS NOT "CONTROL" BUT
"INFLUENCE."
IN A RECORD $517 BUDGET THAT
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS THIS
YEAR, WITH $127 MILLION OF
THAT CONTRIBUTED BY CITY
TAXPAYERS, I THINK THAT IT'S
IMPERATIVE THAT THE MAYOR AS
THE PRIMARY LEADER OF THE CITY
BE WORKING TO INFLUENCE -- NOT
TO CONTROL BUT TO INFLUENCE
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
SCHOOL BOARD.
THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE GETTING
-- YOU READ IN THE NEWSPAPER
YESTERDAY ABOUT THE RESULTS OF
OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
I CONTEND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF
MONEY.
WE'RE SPENDING ALMOST $14,000
PER STUDENT, BASED ON A $517
MILLION BUDGET.
AND SO I'M SAYING IT'S NOT A
QUESTION OF MONEY; IT'S A
QUESTION OF FOCUS AGAIN.
I BELIEVE THAT THE MAYOR
SHOULD BE INVOLVED.
THE MAYOR SHOULD BE MAKING
SURE THAT THERE'S
ACCOUNTABILITY THERE, AND THE
MAYOR SHOULD BE GIVING HIGH
INPUT AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE OF
PEOPLE WHO GIVE $127 MILLION
TOWARD THAT BUDGET, TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE
RESULTS THAT PARENTS EXPECT.
THE REASON THIS IS A MAJOR
CONCERN, AGAIN, AS WE HAVE
CANVASSED AT OUR CITIZEN
CENTERS, I HAVE HAD FAMILIES
TELL ME, "IN TWO YEARS WE'RE
MOVING BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE
GOING TO START SCHOOL OR GO
INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL."
THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT
WE LOOK AT WITH URBAN BLIGHT
AND URBAN SPRAWL, OF THE
REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON.
>> FIRST, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BUDGET IS NOT $517 MILLION.
IT'S PUBLISHED AS $496
MILLION.
ALSO, IT'S NOT 14,000 PER
STUDENT BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT
MONEY IS ALLOCATED TO ADULT
BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND
SOME OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH DO
NOT TOUCH THE 38,000 SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
SO THE ACTUAL PER DOLLAR
AMOUNT IS MUCH LOWER.
I HAVE TO CORRECT THAT
BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO
THROUGHOUT THESE DEBATES, TO
CORRECT THE KIND OF
MISINFORMATION THAT Mr. PEREZ
IS PUTTING OUT.
BUT LET ME FOCUS ON YOUR
QUESTION, MIKE.
FIRST, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO
SUPPORT -- AND I MADE IT CLEAR
TO THE GOVERNOR IN OUR
PERSONAL MEETING, THAT I DO
NOT THINK THAT APPROACH TO
HAVE A MAYOR APPOINT ONE OR
TWO MORE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
IS THE SOLUTION.
IN FACT, RIGHT NOW EVERY --
EACH OF THE SEVEN SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS THAT SERVES IN
ROCHESTER HAS ALL BEEN ELECTED
WITH MY DIRECT SUPPORT, AND
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THEY
OPERATE BY CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENT AS AN AUTONOMOUS
ORGANIZATION, AND THEY'RE
QUICK TO REMIND ME OF THAT.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH
YOU HELP ME GET ELECTED; I
HAVE MY OWN STATUTORY
AUTHORITY."
THEY HIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT.
WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IN MY
TERM IS TO ELIMINATE THE
CONTENTIOUSNESS BETWEEN THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO INCREASE
THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION THERE
AND TO COOPERATE WITH THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THEIR
INITIATIVES WHICH WILL
EVENTUALLY PRODUCE THE KIND OF
PERFORMANCE RESULTS THAT BOTH
Mr. PEREZ AND I WANT TO SEE
OCCUR IN THIS DISTRICT.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
JACK OTTO.
JACK IS ONE OF OUR "VOICE OF
THE VOTER" PANELISTS.
GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK DOYLE
HAS BEEN MAKING OMINOUS NOISES
ABOUT THE SHARING OF THE SALES
TAX WITH THE CITY.
IF HE WERE TO GET AWAY WITH
ALTERING IT, THE CITY WOULD
HAVE LESS MONEY TO WORK WITH.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DEFEND THE
CITY'S SHARE OF THE SALES TAX?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON
GETS THAT ONE FIRST.
>> NOT ONLY AM I WILLING TO
BUT I HAVE DONE IT VERY
AGGRESSIVELY, AND I HAVE
POINTED OUT TO Mr. DOYLE SINCE
HE MADE THAT RATHER CURIOUS
SUGGESTION, THAT WE NEED TO
RE-EXAMINE THE FORMULA, THAT
THERE ARE TWO FORMULAS, BOTH
OF WHICH ARE ESTABLISHED AND
PROTECTED BY LAW.
THE MORIN/RYAN FORMULA IS WELL
ESTABLISHED AND WHATEVER
ALTERATIONS OCCURRED TO IT, AS
OCCURRED THIS YEAR, OCCUR AS A
RESULT OF POPULATION CHANGES.
THAT ADJUSTMENT HAS ALREADY
TAKEN PLACE.
AS A RESULT, BOTH THE CITY AND
THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE LESS
FUNDS FROM THE 3% THAT WE HAD
IN THE PAST YEAR.
THE 1%, WHICH CAME AS THE
RESULT OF A REQUEST FROM THE
REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION BACK
IN 1991, HAS BEEN SHARED WITH
50 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES SINCE
1995.
AND THAT IS ALSO PROTECTED BY
STATE LAW.
IT HAS SUNSET.
NOW, THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN
CHANGE, IF Mr. DOYLE IS
DETERMINED TO FOLLOW HIS
INSTINCTS AND TRY TO ONLY TAKE
AWAY FROM THE CITY, MY
POSITION IS WHY JUST THE CITY?
THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
THERE ARE TOWNS, THERE ARE
VILLAGES THAT ALL BENEFIT FROM
THE SALES TAX.
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY
ADJUSTING AND TINKERING WITH
THE FORMULA, WE NEED TO LOOK
AT IT FOR ALL OF THE
PARTICIPANTS AND NOT JUST ONE.
BUT IF HE TAKES A HARD-LINE
APPROACH AND HE AND I
NEGOTIATE, THEN THE 1% WILL GO
AWAY.
HE WILL BE OBLIGATED TO
NEGOTIATE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF
COOPERATION RATHER THAN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF THREATS AND
INTIMIDATION.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ,
YOUR RESPONSE TO THE SALES TAX
QUESTION?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT
THE JOB OF THE MAYOR IS TO
PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE
CITY.
IF IT CAME TO BATTLING AND
NEGOTIATING AND WORKING TOWARD
SECURING WHAT WE HAVE -- YOU
KNOW, ONE OF MY CONTENTIONS IS
DON'T LET GO WHAT YOU ALREADY
HAVE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAD $3.2
MILLION ON THE TABLE FOR THE
FERRY AND THEY LET IT GET
AWAY.
BUT GOING BACK TO THE TAX
ISSUE, YOU DON'T GIVE AWAY
MONEY THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
THE OTHER CLEAR DISTINCTION
BETWEEN MY OPPONENT AND I IS
THAT WE WOULD NOT BE
DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE THROUGH
THE MEDIA AND SOUND BITES.
I'M THE KIND OF PERSON -- I
SAID IT ONCE AND WILL SAY IT
AGAIN -- I WILL WALK IN
HUMILITY.
WE WILL NOT HEAR ABOUT THESE
ISSUES THROUGH THE MEDIA.
I WILL BE A LEADER THAT WILL
BE AT THE TABLE AND I WILL
LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED TO
PROTECT AND TO FURTHER THE
INTERESTS OF THE CITY.
WHAT WE NEED IN THIS DAY AND
AGE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE
WILLING TO REACH ACROSS THE
TABLE AND SAY, "I WANT TO WORK
WITH YOU.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, HOW CAN I
HELP YOU?
AND SECOND OF ALL, HOW CAN YOU
HELP US?"
ONE OF MY INITIATIVES THAT I
HAVE IS GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT.
WE HEARD A REPORT YESTERDAY,
BOTH IN THE MEDIA AND THE
NEWSPAPER -- TV AND NEWSPAPER,
A REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS THAT THE MAYOR HAS
NOT BEEN ATTENDING THOSE
MEETINGS.
THE MAYOR WAS QUOTED AS SAYING
WHEN HE'S READY TO ATTEND
THOSE MEETINGS, HE WILL.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE
HAVE HERE IS WE HAVE AN
OVERCONFIDENT INCUMBENT WHO
HAS FORGOTTEN THAT HE'S HERE
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE.
OUR NEXT QUESTION, QUESTION
NUMBER SIX COMES FROM BEVERLY
JACKSON, "VOICE OF THE VOTER."
GO AHEAD, BEVERLY.
Mr. PEREZ WILL ANSWER FIRST.
>> GENTLEMEN, AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, MY QUESTION TO
YOU IS AS MAYOR, IF YOU ONLY
HAD ONE STRATEGY TO USE IN
ORDER TO ASSIST IN THE
FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES IN
ROCHESTER, WHAT WOULD BE THAT
ONE STRATEGY?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ?
>> AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO
BE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE;
AS THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
WHAT IS GOING TO HELP YOU?
I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE
STABILITY OF OUR SPENDING, THE
STABILITY OF OUR TAXES WITH A
LONG-TERM LOOK AT BEING ABLE
TO TELL YOU AS A BUSINESS
OWNER, "THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN
LOOK FORWARD TO.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE
GOING TO ASSIST YOU.
THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HELP YOU."
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE A HIGHLY
CRITICAL, VIABLE ENTITY WITHIN
THE CITY AND THEY NEED FOCUSED
ATTENTION GIVEN TO PEOPLE LIKE
YOURSELF WHO HAVE DREAMS AND
ASPIRATIONS, COMING ALONGSIDE
OF YOU AND LOOKING AT
OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE FOR TAX
INCENTIVES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW, AND ALSO THE ABILITY TO
LOOK AT A BIG PICTURE IN TERMS
OF DEVELOPMENT AND THINKING
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO WORK
AND BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO
WHERE YOUR PARTICULAR BUSINESS
IS AT.
SO I THINK THAT THE FINANCIAL
STABILITY IS THE BIG ISSUE.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
Mr. JOHNSON, SMALL BUSINESS
STRATEGY?
>> I WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE
FOR USING 30 SECONDS OF MY
TIME TO RESPOND TO Mr. PEREZ'S
PREVIOUS ANSWER.
I HAVE SAID TO HIM
CONSISTENTLY THAT HE IS THE
ONLY ONE IN ROCHESTER WHO
DOESN'T GET IT.
IT WAS THE COUNTY THAT LOST
THE $3.2 MILLION; IT WAS THE
COUNTY EARMARKED FOR THE FAST
FERRY, AND HE'S RIGHT TO
CONTINUE TO DEPLORE THAT, BUT
HE ATTACKS THE WRONG PERSON
FOR LOSING IT.
AND REGARDING THE COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS, I MADE IT VERY,
VERY CLEAR: THAT REPORT THAT
WAS RELEASED CITED NUMEROUS
EXAMPLES OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY,
COUNTY AND TOWNS.
THE MEETINGS ARE ESSENTIALLY
SHALLOW MEETINGS, AND IF I
HAVE SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT
TO DO WITH MY TIME -- BUT I
HAVE NEVER ONCE REFUSED TO NOT
CO-OPERATE WITH ANOTHER
MUNICIPALITY.
I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO COUNCIL
OF GOVERNMENT MEETINGS IN
ORDER TO PURSUE THAT LEVEL OF
COOPERATION.
NOW, TO YOUR POINT, YOU SAID
IF THERE WAS JUST ONE THING...
WE'RE VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO
THIS BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WE HAVE
ARTICULATED NUMEROUS
STRATEGIES TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES.
BUT THE ONE THING THEY NEED IS
CAPITAL.
THE ONE THING THEY NEED IS TO
HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING, NOT
JUST WITH THE BANKS BUT WITH
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,
TO OPEN UP THAT CAPITAL TO
THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND
WE'RE WORKING ALSO TO
STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS TO ENSURE THAT AT THE
TIME THEY GO TO APPLY FOR THIS
CAPITAL THEY WILL BE APPROVED.
SO THAT IS WHERE I WOULD PUT
AND WHERE WE'LL CONTINUE TO
PUT OUR EMPHASIS, ON
STRENGTHENING THAT
CREDIT-WORTHINESS SO THEY CAN
SUCCEED.
>> Elissa Marra: THE NEXT
QUESTION FROM VICTOR RAUL
GUITERRA.
>> WHAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC
MAYOR OR THE REPUBLICAN MAYOR
GOING TO DO FOR HISPANIC YOUTH
IN THIS CITY?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON
ANSWERS FIRST.
>> I HAVE BEEN PROUD OF THE
FACT THAT I AM THE MAYOR OF
ALL THE CITIZENS OF THIS
COMMUNITY AND ANY SERVICE THAT
WE PROVIDE, WE MAKE THAT SURE
IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE
TO ALL CITIZENS.
CERTAINLY THERE ARE THOSE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY NEED
MORE HELP, AND WE TARGET
SPECIFIC HELP.
BUT I'M JUST AS CONCERNED
ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH
AS I AM ABOUT LATINO YOUTH;
I'M JUST AS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE WHITE YOUTH WHO LIVE IN
THIS CITY AS I AM ABOUT THE
MINORITY YOUTH WHO LIVE IN
THIS CITY.
WE HAVE DONE THIS.
WE HAVE REVISED AND
REPOSITIONED OUR RECREATION
CENTERS.
WE HAVE MADE THEM OPEN ON THE
WEEKENDS.
WHEN I BECAME MAYOR IN 1994,
EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM WAS
CLOSED ON THE WEEKEND.
WE HAVE INCREASED -- PART OF
MY BUDGET INCREASES IS TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO
YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE HAVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS NOW UPGRADING THROUGH
OUR RECREATION CENTERS.
WE HAVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
WHERE PARENTS CAN NOW SEND
THEIR CHILDREN KNOWING THEY'RE
GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN
PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES.
WE HAVE COMPUTER TRAINING,
ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING.
EACH CENTER HAS TEEN COUNCILS
AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF
GOVERNANCE WHERE THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE NOW CAN BE INVOLVED
WITH THE SOLUTION.
I HAD A MAYOR'S YOUTH SUMMIT
WHEN I FIRST BECAME MAYOR.
WE HAD ALMOST 100 YOUTH FROM
AROUND THE CITY.
I GOT A FOUNDATION TO GIVE ME
$50,000.
THAT MONEY WAS GIVEN TO THOSE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS AND BE ABLE TO
IMPLEMENT THAT SOLUTION.
SO I'M FOR ALL THE YOUTH, NOT
JUST FOR ONE SECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE FACING WITH THE LATINO
COMMUNITY IS THAT OUTSIDE OF
THE GROWTH, BELIEVING THE
CENSUS DATA AND GROWTH, WE'RE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM
POLL IN ALL OTHER AREAS.
ALTHOUGH Mr. JOHNSON AND I
WANT TO BE MAYOR OF ALL THE
PEOPLE, I THINK THERE'S SOME
PARTICULAR ATTENTION THAT
NEEDS TO BE GIVEN.
IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF
THIS EXPONENTIAL GROWTH WITH
THE CENSUS DATA THAT SAYS
WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
TOTEM POLE IN SALARIES, IN
HOME OWNERSHIP, IN EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT, ACTUALLY LEADING
SOME AREAS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL
DROPOUTS.
ONE COMMENT WE HAVE GOTTEN AS
WE HAVE GONE TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZEN CENTERS
IS THAT THERE ARE POCKETS OF
AREAS WHERE WE COULD USE MORE
RECREATION.
I LIKE THE WORK THAT THE GROUP
"OUTA" IS DOING.
WE'RE SITTING WITH THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND MAKING
KNOWN SPECIFIC NEEDS AND
STRATEGIES FOR THE LATINO
POPULATION.
MANY OF OUR LATINO STUDENTS
THAT COME INTO THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AT TIMES ARE
SPANISH-DOMINANT, AND ISSUES
LIKE THAT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL
ATTENTION, SOME ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES SO AS THEY MOVE
THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
THEY CAN CATCH UP AND BE ABLE
TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE WANT
THEM TO BE.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO
BE SOME FOCUSED ATTENTION
GIVEN TO THAT BASED ON THE
DOUBLE-EDGED DESCRIPTION THAT
I GAVE.
THAT'S AN AREA THAT I THINK
SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME
ATTENTION.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
WE WELCOME CHANNEL 13 REPORTER
SHAWANDA ROBERTS.
SHE'LL ASK THE NEXT QUESTION
AND Mr. PEREZ WILL ANSWER
FIRST.
>> WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE
FAST FERRY AND HOW IMPORTANT
IS THAT VENTURE TO THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER BEYOND REDEVELOPMENT
OF THE CHARLOTTE WATERFRONT?
>> AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR
SURVEYS, ALL THE SURVEYS WE
HAVE GOTTEN BACK, ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE ON
THERE FOR THE PEOPLE IS WHAT
IS THE PRIMARY PROJECT THAT
THEY FEEL IS MOST IMPORTANT
FOR OUR AREA.
AND WITHOUT QUESTION, THE FAST
FERRY HAS BEEN NUMBER ONE.
AND SO IN TRYING TO BE A VOICE
OF THE PEOPLE, I WOULD SAY,
FOR THAT REASON, ONE OF THE
REASONS, THAT THE FAST FERRY
WOULD BE NUMBER ONE.
BUT ALSO, AS WE HAVE ALREADY
HEARD IN OTHER DEBATES, THE
FAST FERRY IS UNIQUE.
THE FAST FERRY, I THINK,
BRINGS DISTINCTION TO
ROCHESTER, AND IT'S JUST A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW
PEOPLE TO BE BROUGHT INTO THIS
AREA AS AN ENTRY POINT THROUGH
CANADA INTO THE ROCHESTER
AREA, ACTUALLY INTO THE
NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY.
I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE
LEADERS IN IRONDEQUOIT WHO
SAID THEY REALLY BELIEVE THAT
THE FAST FERRY CAN BE A NEW
ENTRY POINT INTO THE U.S. FROM
EUROPE, WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE
HAVING TO TRAVEL THROUGH OUR
AREA, WHICH WOULD BE AN
ECONOMIC BOOST AND CERTAINLY
GIVE US A NEW LEVEL OF
PRESTIGE AND ATTENTION.
SO I WOULD SAY IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT PROJECT.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT
THIS ADMINISTRATION LET -- YOU
KNOW, WHAT I SAID IS THAT
THERE'S NO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IN THIS CITY THAT WOULD
SURVIVE LETTING $3.5 MILLION,
$3.2 -- WHATEVER THE MAYOR
WANTS TO MAKE IT -- GET AWAY
FROM THE TABLE AFTER IT SAT
THERE FOR THREE YEARS.
AND SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WE
HAVE LOST THE FAST FERRY FOR
AWHILE BASED ON THE ECONOMIC
CONDITION THAT THE STATE FINDS
ITSELF IN RIGHT NOW.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON,
THE RESPONSE.
>> THE FAST FERRY IS IMPORTANT
BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK AND
REITERATE BASED ON Mr. PEREZ'S
LAST COMMENTS.
HE'S RIGHT: IT WAS A RECKLESS
AND IRRESPONSIBLE ACT TO LOSE
THE $3.2 MILLION,
AND BY HIS DEFINITION, WHOEVER
LOST THAT SHOULD BE HELD
HIGHLY ACCOUNTABLE.
IT WAS THE COUNTY.
IT WAS THEIR MONEY.
THEY DID NOT APPROPRIATE IT.
THAT'S ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS
APPROPRIATE IT.
THEY LET IT GO BACK.
Mr. DOYLE HAS NOT DENIED THAT
IN THE PRESS.
IT JUST CONTINUES TO ESCAPE ME
WHY REVEREND PEREZ IS THE ONLY
PERSON WHO CAN'T GET THAT
THROUGH HIS HEAD,
THAT IT WAS THE COUNTY WHO
LOST THAT MONEY.
BUT THE FAST FERRY IS A VERY
COMPLICATED PROJECT.
WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD.
RIGHT NOW -- LET ME SAY TO YOU
RIGHT NOW IT'S PART OF THE
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.
I WAS ON THE PHONE ALL OF
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE
ALBANY DELEGATION TO FIND A
WAY TO GET MONEY FOR THE FAST
FERRY THROUGH THESE BUDGET
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE COMING UP.
I HOPE HE IS.
I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH THE
ASSEMBLYMAN THIS MORNING BUT
HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO CARRY THOSE
NEGOTIATIONS.
BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE PART OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THERE ARE MANY LAND-BASED
DEVELOPMENTS IN CHARLOTTE THAT
CAN PROCEED AND ARE PROCEEDING
WITHOUT THE FAST FERRY.
HAVE YOU BEEN UP THERE LATELY?
YOU SEEN THE TREMENDOUS
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE GONE
ON?
THERE ARE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE ASKED TO SUBMIT
PROPOSALS FOR HOTELS,
RESTAURANTS, MARINAS,
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT.
CHARLOTTE IS GOING TO LOOK A
LOT DIFFERENT WITH OR WITHOUT
A FAST FERRY IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE
A TREMENDOUS BOON TO LAND
VALUES THROUGHOUT THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PANELIST
CHRIS HOLDRIDGE.
Mr. JOHNSON WILL ANSWER FIRST.
>> GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.
I'M PROUD TO SAY I'M AN
ENGLISH TEACHER AT EAST HIGH
SCHOOL AND MY QUESTION
CONCERNS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE
FACING TODAY, A FEW OF THEM
BEING ABSENTEEISM, LOW TEST
SCORES, AS "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" HAS REPORTED, AND
NOW THE PROPOSED $19 MILLION
BUDGET CUT, I BELIEVE IS THE
NUMBER, DO YOU HAVE ANY
CONCRETE IDEAS ON ACTIONS THAT
CAN BE TAKEN FROM YOUR OFFICE
TO HELP THE SCHOOLS MAKE IT
OVER THESE HURDLES?
>> WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT,
AND BECAUSE OF OUR POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, WE MET LAST WEEK
WITH SUPERINTENDENT, PRESIDENT
AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF SCHOOL
BOARD, THE PRESIDENT OF CITY
COUNCIL AND MYSELF, AND WE
HAVE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO
HELP THE DISTRICT AVOID THIS
$19 MILLION SHORTFALL,
INCLUDING ALLOWING THEM TO USE
SOME OF THAT CASH CAPITAL FOR
THIS YEAR'S OPERATING EXPENSES
AND ALSO LENDING THEM MONEY TO
HELP THEM OVER A PARTICULAR
HURDLE.
THESE THINGS WE HAVE DONE
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND
BECAUSE WE ARE TIED -- NOT
BECAUSE I CONTROL THE CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WE
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OUR
FUTURE.
BUT THAT WILL ONLY DEAL WITH
THE SHORT TERM.
THEY FACE EVEN MORE CRUCIAL
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN THE
FUTURE, AND I'M NOT ONE WHO
BELIEVES THAT GOING TO ALBANY
IS THE ANSWER.
IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
HEADLINES THAT APPEAR IN THIS
MORNING'S "BUFFALO NEWS,"
YOU'LL NOT SEE THIS HEADLINE
IN THE ROCHESTER PAPER.
556 TEACHERS BEING LAID OFF IN
BUFFALO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
GET THEIR STATE AID.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM FOR US.
WE ARE TOO RELIANT ON STATE
AID.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
DISTRICT NOW TO HELP THEM
STABILIZE THEIR FINANCIAL
BASE; WE ARE BRINGING IN
CONSULTANTS TO WORK WITH THEM,
AND I THINK WITHIN A $496
MILLION BUDGET, WE CAN FIND
WAYS TO SAVE WITHOUT IT
IMPACTING THE CLASSROOM.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE, SIR.
RESPONSE?
>> YES.
LET ME TALK ABOUT INTERNALLY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
LACKING BOTH WITHIN THE CITY
BUDGET AND ALSO I BELIEVE
WITHIN THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET
IS THE ABILITY TO BE PROACTIVE
AND LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING DOWN
THE PIPE.
I BELIEVE THAT, AS I ALREADY
STATED EARLIER IN THIS DEBATE,
IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF MONEY;
IT'S AN ISSUE OF FOCUS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE
A HARD LOOK AT THAT BUDGET.
AGAIN, WE DON'T CONTROL IT,
BUT AS THE CONTRIBUTOR OF $127
MILLION, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD
BE TRYING TO INFLUENCE IT AND
LOOK AT WHERE WE CAN SHIFT
SOME OF THAT MONEY WITH THE
FOCUS BEING ON WHAT I CALL THE
CUSTOMERS: THE PARENTS, THE
STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS.
I BELIEVE IN A STRUCTURE THAT
BIG, THERE HAS TO BE SOME ROOM
FOR SOME CHANGES.
WE'RE NOT ABOUT PERPETUATING
BUREAUCRACY.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WOULD
DO IN TERMS OF SOME OTHER
INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE ON
THE TABLE IS THE OFFICE OF
FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF
GOOD-INTENTIONED PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO COME ALONGSIDE
SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE DONE IT
THROUGH BETHEL.
WE'VE BEEN IN SEVEN SCHOOLS
FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
WE JUST GO IN TO FIND OUT "HOW
CAN WE HELP YOU MAKE THESE
KIDS SUCCESSFUL?"
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
INITIATIVES WE'VE BEEN DOING
FOR YEARS IN THAT WAY.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THE OFFICE
OF FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES CAN
BE A VERY GOOD PARTNER TO HELP
SCHOOLS MEET THE NEEDS OF
THEIR STUDENTS, WHETHER IT BE
IN TUTORING, WHETHER IT BE IN
MENTORING, JUST SOME
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT
AREN'T COSTING THE GOVERNMENT
ANY MONEY BUT ARE CERTAINLY
BRINGING SOME VALUE TO THE
SCHOOLS.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM A
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PANELIST.
IT WILL BE ASKED BY JAMAL
FRIGGS-DONALDSON.
HE IS RIGHT THERE IN THE BACK
ROW.
Mr. PEREZ WILL ANSWER FIRST.
>> GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.
MY QUESTION IS, AS A COLLEGE
STUDENT, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS
AND STRATEGIES SO FAR AS
RETAINING AND CREATING JOBS
FOR POTENTIAL COLLEGE
GRADUATES?
>> I'LL GO BACK TO, AGAIN, I
THINK THE WHOLE STABILITY OF
OUR TAX BASE AND SPENDING IS
KEY TO KEEPING BUSINESSES HERE
IN THE ROCHESTER AREA.
I HATE TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE
LEAVING THE AREA.
THE LATEST FIGURE THAT I SAW
WAS THAT ABOUT 25 TO 26% OF
OUR POPULATION IS 17 AND
UNDER, AND THAT'S THE LARGEST
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT
WE HAVE IN THE ROCHESTER AREA.
AND SO IT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION THAT YOU BRING UP IN
TERMS OF DOWN THE ROAD THIS
GROUP BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEIR
NEEDS MET IN THIS PARTICULAR
AREA OF ROCHESTER.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT, AS WE HAVE ALREADY
TALKED ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES
BEING STRENGTHENED AND BEING
AVAILABLE FOR ENTRY POINTS FOR
PEOPLE COMING OUT OF COLLEGE.
BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE TAX
BASE IS STABLE, THAT OUR
SPENDING IS STABLE SO THAT
THAT'S AN INCENTIVE FOR
COMPANIES TO STAY HERE AND NOT
HAVE REASON TO LEAVE THIS
AREA.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON?
>> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN AN
ONGOING EFFORT, NOT ONLY TO
KEEP OUR HOMEGROWN YOUNGSTERS
HERE, THOSE LIKE MY DAUGHTERS
AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN
WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE,
HAVING THEM COME BACK INTO THE
COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN WORK
AND SUCCEED AS WE PASS OFF OF
THE SCENE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
MORE THAN 50,000 COLLEGE
STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM MIGRATE
FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING NETWORK
OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
IN THIS AREA.
WE ALSO HAVE A VERY HIGH-TECH
ECONOMY WHICH IS VERY CAPABLE
OF ABSORBING THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE.
WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS THAT IT'S
NOT JUST THE JOB BUT IT'S THE
QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE.
WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD OVER
THESE LAST EIGHT YEARS TO
CREATE A COMMUNITY, A VIBRANT,
24-HOUR-A-DAY, 7-DAY-A-WEEK,
365-DAY-A-YEAR COMMUNITY, NOT
JUST WITHIN THE CITY, BECAUSE
EVERYBODY IS NOT GOING TO LIVE
IN THE CITY, BUT TO INTEGRATE
A NETWORK IN THE SUBURBS AND
AROUND.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY COMPACT
COMMUNITY, THAT'S BEEN A VERY
IMPORTANT STRATEGY.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE
EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11th AND
THE RECESSION THAT WE WERE IN
PRIOR TO THAT HAVE THROWN US
OFF COURSE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT
WE WILL BE VERY PREPARED AS WE
COME OUT OF THIS RECESSION AND
AS WE RECOVER FROM THIS
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE THAT
WE'RE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN TO
IMPLEMENT MANY OF THE
STRATEGIES THAT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON.
THAT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
BETWEEN THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
SECTORS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU
HAVE ASKED FOR, AND IT WILL BE
DONE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Mr. JOHNSON WILL ANSWER OUR
NEXT QUESTION FIRST.
IT IS OUR FINAL "VOICE OF THE
VOTER" QUESTION, AND IT COMES
FROM SANDRA.
GO AHEAD.
>> GENTLEMEN, CORRECTING LEAD
PROBLEMS WOULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
CHILDREN EMOTIONALLY AND IN
TERMS OF THEIR ABILITIES TO
LEARN.
WHAT LEADERSHIP CAN YOU
PROVIDE WITH THIS ISSUE IN
TERMS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
PREVENTION STRATEGY?
THIS IS A TWO-PART QUESTION
ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
THE SECOND PART IS WHAT KIND
OF SUPPORT CAN YOU PROVIDE AND
LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO ENSURE
THAT THE NEWLY REOPENED
GENESEE HOSPITAL STAYS OPEN AS
AN URGENT CARE FACILITY?
THANK YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: MINUTE AND A
HALF.
Mr. JOHNSON.
>> THOSE ARE TWO VERY, VERY
COMPLICATED QUESTIONS, SANDY.
BUT ON THE LEAD-BASED PAINT,
WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN A MAJOR
PLAYER, THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY, THROUGH EFFORTS THAT
HAVE BEEN SPAWNED AROUND
SCHOOL 17.
THAT NORTHEAST AREA HAS THE
HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF
LEAD-BASED INFECTED HOUSES OF
ANYPLACE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE BLOOD LEAD POISONING LEVEL
OF THE CHILDREN AT SCHOOL IS
HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN
THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE
PROBLEM TO REMEDIATE, BUT WHAT
WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THROUGH
-- AND WE HAVE STARTED NOW --
AGGRESSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
WITH LANDLORDS BECAUSE THERE
ARE MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN
CONTAIN THE PROBLEM.
AND WE'LL ALSO BE GETTING,
THROUGH THIS COALITION, TO
HAVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR
TENANTS SO THAT THEY KNOW HOW
TO CONTAIN THE PROBLEM.
I THINK THAT THIS EFFORT IS
UNDER WAY AND WE RECOGNIZE IT.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS WAS A
PROBLEM 30 YEARS AGO IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND THERE WAS A VERY
ACTIVE EFFORT AND IT WAS NEVER
RESOLVED, AND NOW WE HAVE TO
GO BACK AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.
I HOPE THAT THIS TIME WE WILL
KEEP FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEM.
ON THE GENESEE HOSPITAL, I
KNOW THERE'S TREMENDOUS
EMOTION AROUND GENESEE
HOSPITAL AND THERE'S BEEN SOME
CRITICISM THAT I HAVEN'T
SPOKEN UP.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> BUT I ALSO KNOW, AND I MET
WITH SOME PEOPLE LAST WEEK,
THAT GENESEE, IF THEY DON'T
GET THE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL
SUPPORT THEY NEED FROM THE
STATE, THE DREAM FOR MANY IS
NOT GOING TO MATERIALIZE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE TO WORK ON, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN IT OPENS IT HAS THE
SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT
THAT WILL KEEP IT OPEN.
NO ONE WANTS TO SEE IT OPENED
AND CLOSED.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE, SIR.
Mr. PEREZ?
>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF LEAD POISONING.
WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE WORK
THAT SPANISH ACTION COALITION
HAS DONE, AND THE RESEARCH HAS
COME FORTH, THE ENORMOUS ISSUE
THAT WE'RE FACING, ESPECIALLY
IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA WHERE
NUMBER 17 SCHOOL IS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M
WORKING ON IN MY REGULAR JOB
IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
COMMUNITY-LEVEL CORPORATION,
AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST
FOCUSES HAS BEEN THE WHOLE
ISSUE OF LEAD PAINT
REMEDIATION.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT EFFORTS
ARE TAKING PLACE.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
PRINCIPAL SPEZZIO HAS DONE IN
GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AND
HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT
A SERIOUS ISSUE THIS IS AND
HOW IT'S AFFECTING THE KIDS
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE.
I WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE
FOCUSED ATTENTION TO THAT AREA
KNOWING THE EFFECT THAT IT'S
HAVING ON THAT COMMUNITY.
IT ALSO PROVIDES AN
OPPORTUNITY, FOR INSTANCE,
THROUGH A COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO
PROVIDE JOBS, CREATE JOBS,
THROUGH PEOPLE WHO WILL BE
WORKING ON THE REMEDIATION OF
THESE PROPERTIES AND ALSO
RECAPTURING SOME OF THE
PROPERTIES SO THAT THEY CAN BE
USED AND PROVIDE HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> IN TERMS OF GENESEE
HOSPITAL, I APPLAUD THE
EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE.
I THINK THE FOCUS HAS TO BE
KEPT ON THE PEOPLE AND THEY
NEED TO BE SUPPORTED EVERY WAY
THEY CAN KNOWING THAT
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED BY THE FACT THAT THE
HOSPITAL DID HAVE TO CLOSE
DOWN.
IT'S A VERY BIG ISSUE FOR A
LOT OF FAMILIES AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THAT
QUESTION.
NOW I'M GOING TO SWITCH TO THE
MEDIA.
WE ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY
BY WXXI 1370's BUD LOWELL.
BUD HAS A QUESTION FOR THE
CANDIDATES.
>> GENTLEMEN, IN THE 1980's
THE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY IN
ROCHESTER BEGAN TO FALL.
SINCE THEN, SOMETHING LIKE $1
BILLION IN PROPERTY VALUE HAS
EVAPORATED AS HOUSING AND
OTHER PROPERTY PRICES FELL IN
THIS CITY.
THAT SETS UP KIND OF A VICIOUS
CYCLE WHERE YOU'RE COMPELLED
TO PLAY RAISING THE TAX RATE
ON THE PROPERTY OWNERS JUST TO
MAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY,
OR YOU HAVE TO START CUTTING
BACK ON SERVICES.
AS MAYOR, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT
IT?
CAN YOU REBUILD THOSE VALUES
AND ARREST THAT SLIDE?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ,
YOU'RE FIRST.
>> AGAIN, I THINK ONE OF THE
FIRST THINGS WE CAN CONTROL IS
OUR SPENDING AND OUR TAX BASE
SO WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE
DITCHING THE CITY AND MOVING
OUT.
THE OTHER THING, AGAIN, AS WE
HAVE GONE THROUGH
NEIGHBORHOODS AND TALKED TO
PEOPLE, ONE OF THE
OBSERVATIONS THAT'S BEEN
SHARED WITH US IS THAT IN
TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT, THERE
HAVE BEEN POCKETS WHERE THE
DEVELOPMENT HAS NOT BEEN
COMPLETE AND SO EVEN THOUGH A
NEW HOUSE OR A NUMBER OF
HOUSES HAVE BEEN BUILT IN A
PARTICULAR AREA, THE FACT THAT
CRIME WASN'T DEALT WITH, THE
FACT THAT MAYBE BOARDED-UP
HOUSES AND EMPTY LOTS WEREN'T
DEALT WITH AS A COMPLETE UNIT,
THESE PEOPLE NOW FIND
THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEIR HOUSES ARE
DROPPING IN VALUE AND THEY
FEEL LIKE WE COULD HAVE DONE
SOMETHING ELSE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
PUT ON THE TABLE IS MAYBE A
CUTTING DOWN OF THE
DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES IN A
PARTICULAR AREA BUT HAVE IT BE
MORE HOLISTIC, HAVE IT BE MORE
COMPLETE SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T
FINDING A SITUATION LIKE THE
COUPLE I JUST DESCRIBED.
IT'S A VERY, VERY COMPLICATED
ISSUE, AND I KNOW THE MAYOR
WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK
AT PARTICULAR AREAS AND BE
AGGRESSIVE ABOUT BRINGING DOWN
HOUSES AND BE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT
INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN
INTEREST IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING IN
PARTICULAR.
AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT,
WHEN WE GO INTO AN AREA TO DO
A JOB, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE
HOLISTIC AND COMPLETE EVEN IF
IT HAS TO BE SCALED DOWN JUST
A LITTLE BIT.
>> Elissa Marra: RESPONSE,
Mr. JOHNSON?
>> FIRST, THIS IS NOT JUST A
PROBLEM IN ROCHESTER.
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT
DEVASTATES THE ENTIRE
NORTHEAST, AND SO IT'S PART OF
A TREND.
AND IT ALSO IS NOT DUE TO ANY
LACK OF EFFORT ON OUR PART.
WE HAVE ENGAGED IN WIDESPREAD
NEW CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE WORKED TO KEEP
BUSINESSES AND WE HAVE
PROGRAMS THAT RENOVATE
EXISTING BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE DEMOLISHED BLIGHTED
STRUCTURES.
WE HAVE A MASSIVE RENOVATION
PROGRAM AND REHABILITATION
PROGRAM.
ALL OF THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE
AND THIS TREND HAS STILL
CONTINUED.
THERE IS, IN MY MIND, ONE VERY
LOGICAL REASON FOR IT.
IN AN AREA WHERE OUR
POPULATION HAS NOT INCREASED
SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE LAST 30
YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT
WE OCCUPY HAS INCREASED ALMOST
80%.
OUR POPULATION -- THE SAME
POPULATION THAT IN 1950, WHEN
60% OF THE POPULATION WAS
CONCENTRATED WITHIN THE CITY
OF ROCHESTER, NOW ONLY 30% OF
THE POPULATION IS CONCENTRATED
WITHIN THE CITY OF ROCHESTER,
BUT THOSE BUILDINGS ARE STILL
HERE TO A LARGE DEGREE, MANY
STANDING UNUSED WHILE WE'RE
OUT IN THE SUBURBS AND OUT IN
THE COUNTRYSIDE BUILDING NEW
HOUSES, BUILDING NEW STRIP
MALLS, BUILDING NEW RETAIL
MALLS AND THE LIKE.
AND UNTIL -- I HAVE TO SAY
THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN
Mr. DOYLE'S -- NOT ONLY HIS
UNWILLINGNESS PERSONALLY TO
TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT
HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO LET HIS
REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS TALK
ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
YOU TALK TO DAVID CHANCE IN
IRONDEQUOIT.
HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT
HE CANNOT DO IT.
THAT'S THE ISSUE WE HAVE TO
DEAL WITH.
>> Elissa Marra: TIME FOR THIS
ANSWER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO MICHAEL
CAPUTO, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" FOR
THE NEXT QUESTION.
MICHAEL?
>> GENTLEMEN, A WAY TO SHRINK
TAXES -- AND WE WERE TALKING
JUST A MINUTE AGO ABOUT A
SHRINKING TAX BASE.
A WAY TO SHRINK TAXES IS TO
SHRINK GOVERNMENT.
A WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS QUICKLY
COULD BE CONSOLIDATION.
IT'S UNPOPULAR.
SO MY QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU
IS WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN BROAD
DISCUSSIONS ON CONSOLIDATION
SUCH AS POLICE SERVICES OR
OTHER SUCH BROAD IDEAS?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON
GOES FIRST ON THAT ONE.
>> NOT ONLY AM I WILLING BUT I
HAVE DEMONSTRATED MY
WILLINGNESS.
IN MY FIRST STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS I WENT THROUGH A
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THIS
ISSUE, PROPOSED A TASK FORCE
THAT WOULD LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO
BRING THAT TASK FORCE UP.
JUST LAST WEEK, I SENT A
COMMUNICATION TO Mr. DOYLE,
WITHOUT ANY KIND OF PRESS
CONFERENCE ACCOMPANYING IT,
ASKING HIM TO JOIN ME IN A
WIDE-SCALE EXAMINATION.
TO SINGLE OUT ONE THING LIKE A
WATER AUTHORITY OR OUR CIVIL
SERVICE MISSES THE ISSUE
COMPLETELY.
WE NOT ONLY HAVE 50 UNITS OF
GENERAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENT IN
MONROE COUNTY THAT ENGAGE IN A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
DUPLICATION OF EFFORT, AND ONE
HAS TO QUESTION WHETHER THAT
SYSTEM IS TOO OBSOLETE,
BUT WE ALSO ARE SURROUNDED BY
COUNTIES, EIGHT OF THEM IN
THIS METROPOLITAN AREA, THAT
HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, LARGE NUMBERS OF
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
THERE'S TREMENDOUS
DUPLICATION.
THE QUESTION IS NOW WHETHER WE
CAN AFFORD THAT MUCH
GOVERNMENT IN TIMES OF CRISIS?
I AM, AND I CALL ON HIM TO
JOIN ME IN A FULL-SCALE
EXAMINATION, NOT JUST WHAT THE
CITY CAN DO TO CONTRIBUTE BUT
WHAT EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN
THIS COUNTY AND BEYOND CAN DO
TO REDUCE THE COST OF
GOVERNMENT.
AS PAINFUL AS THAT MIGHT BE --
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> -- WE HAVE TO DO IT.
THE CITIZENS EXPECT NOTHING
LESS.
Mr. PEREZ IS QUITE RIGHT: WE
CAN'T KEEP RAISING TAXES;
WE HAVE TO CUT COSTS.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO GIVE UP
SOME POWER AND WE HAVE TO BE
WILLING TO DO THAT.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ?
>> AGAIN, I'M GOING TO START
AT HOME.
WE HAVE TO START AT HOME.
WE CAN NOT BE ASKING PEOPLE TO
DO WHAT WE WON'T DO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT
BUDGET THAT'S IN PLACE, THE
MAYOR'S LINE WENT UP 8%.
THAT OFFICE WENT UP 14.9%.
THE BURDEN TO THE HOME OWNER
THAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO
CARRY WENT UP BY 3%.
SO WE HAVE TO START AT HOME.
YOU MENTIONED BIG GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE TO COME TO THE PLACE
WHERE WE UNDERSTAND THAT
GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
DO IT ALL, AND THERE ARE A LOT
OF OTHER ENTITIES THAT WE NEED
TO CONNECT WITH TO HELP US
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN STRIFE
AND STRUGGLING.
AS FAR AS CONSOLIDATION, I
THINK THAT'S A KEY AREA THAT
WE HAVE NOT -- AGAIN BECAUSE
OF THE DYNAMICS OF THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT'S IN PLACE,
THAT I BELIEVE WE HAVE NOT
TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE OF.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE
NEED -- ONE OF MY PROPOSALS IS
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT,
WHERE WE WILL GO AND WORK WITH
PEOPLE, FIND OUT HOW WE CAN
HELP THEM AND HOW THEY CAN
HELP US.
AND GOING BACK TO THE STATE OF
THE CITY ADDRESS, BASICALLY
THE MAYOR WAS JUST CREATING
ANOTHER STRUCTURE, AND IN THE
WORDS OF BOB COOK, WHO WAS ON
CHANNEL 9 THAT NIGHT WITH ME,
THE MAYOR JUST FOUND A WAY TO
GO OVER JACK DOYLE'S HEAD.
THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT I
BELIEVE HAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED
OUR COMMUNITY IN A BIG WAY AND
THE COUNTY HAS ALMOST A
BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE SITTING
DOWN AND TALKING ABOUT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO
CONSOLIDATE, EVERY OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE HAVE TO SAVE MONEY,
AND DEAL WITH BIG GOVERNMENT.
>> Elissa Marra: OUR NEXT
QUESTION COMES FROM NewsSource
13.
SHAWANDA ROBERTS IS WITH US,
AND SHE'S GOING TO ASK IT.
>> GENTLEMEN, YOU ADDRESSED
EARLIER YOUR PLAN TO BRING
MORE BUSINESS TO DOWNTOWN
ROCHESTER.
WHAT ABOUT BRINGING MORE
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AS RESIDENTS,
BRINGING MORE LIFE TO THE CITY
24/7?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. PEREZ
GOES FIRST ON THAT ONE.
>> AGAIN, THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF WAYS YOU CAN DO THAT:
AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE
SMALLER BUSINESSES, MAKING
SURE THAT THEY'RE THERE AND
STABLE AND STRONG AND NOT
GOING ANYWHERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING FORTH
A LEVEL OF MIXED HOUSING
THAT'S ATTRACTIVE BOTH TO
PROFESSIONALS, PEOPLE WHO ARE
THINKING ABOUT MOVING INTO THE
AREA AS WELL AS THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS
BEING STRENGTHENED.
WHEN I LOOK AT -- THE MAYOR
MENTIONED THE EAST END.
I SPEND MOST OF MY DAYS ON THE
EAST END BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
I WORK.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT SURROUNDING
AREAS WHERE I GREW UP IN,
MARKETVIEW HEIGHTS AND THOSE
KINDS OF AREAS, I BELIEVE THAT
FOCUSED ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE
GIVEN TO AREAS THAT ARE
DEPRESSED, SOME CONCENTRATED
EFFORT IN HOW WE CAN BEGIN TO
BUILD STREET BY STREET,
ENGAGING PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE
AS PART OF THE SOLUTION SO
THAT PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO
DOWNTOWN AND BROUGHT INTO THAT
AREA.
SO IT'S A NUMBER OF THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE HAPPENING.
AGAIN, I BELIEVE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THAT SECTION OF
MAIN STREET THAT I MENTIONED
EARLIER IS KEY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMITTED
VENDORS THERE NOW THAT I HAVE
BEEN TALKING TO THAT ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF
ACTIVITY AND SO WE NEED TO
FIND WAYS TO HELP THEM
CONTINUE TO STAY THERE BY
BRINGING PEOPLE DOWN HERE.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON?
>> THE PROBLEM IS CRITICAL AND
WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING IT.
BACK IN 1994 THERE WAS HARDLY
ANYONE LIVING DOWNTOWN OUTSIDE
OF 111 EAST AVENUE AND A
COUPLE OF OTHER SMALL
APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
SINCE THEN, YOU HAVE CHEVY
PLACE, WHERE WE TOOK A
CONTAMINATED BROWNFIELD,
CLEANED IT UP AND MADE IT INTO
NEARLY 100 UNITS OF MARKET
RATE HOUSING.
AND THEN THAT STIMULATED
ANOTHER PROJECT RIGHT BESIDE
IT, HIGH-END HOUSING.
WHEN I BECAME MAYOR, AND I
CAMPAIGNED ON THIS PROMISE, I
WASN'T GOING TO JUST FOCUS ALL
MY ENERGIES DOWNTOWN; I WAS
GOING TO GIVE EQUAL ATTENTION
TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD
Mr. PEREZ GREW UP IN,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S BEEN
THESE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT LET
ME TICK THEM OFF TO YOU: FIRST
PLACE, EDISON PLACE, CUBA
PLACE.
THESE ARE JUST THREE PROJECTS.
THE HOUSING ALL ALONG CENTRAL
PARK... ALL OF THIS DONE AS A
PART OF THE CITY-ORCHESTRATED
PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE DONE THIS.
WE ARE AS MUCH MINDFUL OF
TRYING TO GENERATE AND WORKING
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO GET
NEW HOUSING INTO DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE CORNHILL LANDING THAT
SHOULD BE GOING INTO THE
GROUND NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE CASCADE PLACE.
WE HAVE --
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> -- IN THE ST. PAUL PLANS A
NUMBER OF LOTS, THE OLD
MICHAEL STERN BUILDING
CURRENTLY BEING RENOVATED TO
BRING IN LOFT APARTMENTS.
A NUMBER OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE
ON THE DRAWING BOARD AND
YOU'LL SEE THEM PRODUCED IN A
VERY SHORT TIME.
>> Elissa Marra: WE HAVE TIME
FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.
IT'S GOING TO COME FROM BUD
LOWELL OF WXXI AM.
GENTLEMEN, YOU EACH HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO ANSWER,
AND Mr. JOHNSON WILL GO FIRST.
BUD?
>> GENTLEMEN, BOTH OF YOU ARE
MEN OF FAITH.
ONE, IT'S YOUR PROFESSION; THE
OTHER IS A REGULAR
CHURCH-GOER.
I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THAT
FAITH BASICALLY GUIDES YOU IN
YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS ANY
OTHER FACTORS THAT YOU USE IN
MAKING DECISIONS AND SETTING
YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. JOHNSON?
>> IF I HADN'T BEEN A MAN OF
FAITH, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DEAL WITH JACK DOYLE
OVER THESE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
(Laughter)
IT IS MY FAITH THAT GETS ME
GOING EVERY MORNING TO DEAL
WITH THE UNEXPECTED.
BUT IT ALSO HELPS ME RECOGNIZE
SOMETHING ELSE: THAT MINE ARE
NOT THE ONLY RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS, AND MINE IS NOT THE
ONLY WAY OF DOING THINGS.
I HAVE HAD THIS TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THROUGHOUT
THIS COMMUNITY, TO WORSHIP AND
MEET PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT
FAITHS: IN THE UKRAINIAN
CHURCH AND THE VIETNAMESE
CATHOLIC CHURCH, IN THE
PENTECOSTAL, THE VARIOUS
VARIETIES OF PENTECOSTAL, AND
I'VE BEEN TO REVEREND PEREZ'S
CHURCH.
I GO AROUND AND I UNDERSTAND
THAT EACH OF THESE FAITH
GROUPS HAS SOMETHING TO
CONTRIBUTE.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM TO
HELP THEM DO THE KINDS OF
THINGS THAT REVEREND PEREZ
SAYS HE WANTS TO DO; WE'RE
ALREADY DOING THEM.
BUT AS A PERSON OF FAITH, I
WILL NEVER, EVER PUSH MY VIEWS
DOWN ANYONE'S THROAT BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT
TOLERANCE AND DIVERSITY --
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THE
QUESTION, SIR.
Mr. PEREZ?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AS FAR AS FAITH GOES AND THE
WAY IT AFFECTS MY LEADERSHIP
AND HOW I LOOK AT PEOPLE,
BECAUSE I BELIEVE EVERYBODY IS
MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE, I BELIEVE
EVERYBODY HAS TREMENDOUS
POTENTIAL.
AS A PASTOR AND A SOCIAL
WORKER, I OFTEN SAY I HAVE
BEEN THE CONSUMMATE PUBLIC
SERVANT, HELPING PEOPLE GROW
IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
PART OF MY LIFE, OBVIOUSLY,
AND I THINK IT HELPS ME WALK
IN HUMILITY.
IT HELPS ME WANT TO LOOK TO
HOW CAN I EMPOWER PEOPLE NOT
ONLY SO THAT I CAN HELP THEM
BUT SO THEY CAN HELP OTHERS.
THAT'S A RULE OF THUMB THAT I
USE IN WORKING WITH PEOPLE, IS
LOOKING FOR THAT ABILITY, THAT
GIFT THAT MAYBE HASN'T BEEN
TAPPED INTO YET AND DRAWING IT
OUT AND HAVING THEM USE IT NOT
ONLY FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT BUT
FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO
THAT WHEN I BECOME MAYOR.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT,
GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT FOR
EACH OF YOU TO MAKE A CLOSING
STATEMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH
Mr. PEREZ.
A FINAL STATEMENT?
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR COMING, THE INVIGORATING
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN.
AS I HAVE SHARED IN THE PAST
IN THIS CAMPAIGN, SOME FEW
WORDS IS ABOUT CHOICE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
FOUR YEARS AGO AT THE POLLS
YOU DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE.
IT'S ABOUT CHANGE.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE MAYOR
HAS DONE, AND I HAVE COMMENDED
HIM IN THE PAST FOR HIS EIGHT
YEARS OF SERVICE, BUT WE HAVE
TREMENDOUS ISSUES AND
CHALLENGES FACING OUR
COMMUNITY.
IN PARTICULAR, AS YOU LOOK AT
CRIME AND DRUGS AND THE FOCUS
THAT'S GIVEN THERE.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS RACE IS
ABOUT THE STATUS QUO, NOT
WANTING TO MOVE ON.
THE MAYOR HIMSELF IN PREVIOUS
TWO DEBATES SAID HE THOUGHT
ABOUT RETIRING BUT THE PARTY
WOULDN'T LET HIM.
THE MAYOR, WHEN HE RAN FOUR
YEARS AGO UNOPPOSED, HAD MORE
IDEAS AND NEW PLANS ON THE
TABLE THAN HE'S PUT ON THE
TABLE THIS YEAR.
HE HAD A BOOKLET WITH A COUPLE
OF THEMES THAT HE TALKED
ABOUT.
HE HAS NOT DONE THAT.
HE SAYS, "WELL, WE HAVE A PLAN
IN PLACE," BUT IT'S REALLY
ABOUT THE STATUS QUO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, IF
YOU LOOK WHERE THE MONEY AND
FOCUS IS, IT'S TIME FOR A
CHANGE.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE.
Mr. JOHNSON, YOUR CLOSING
STATEMENT?
>> THANK YOU TO THE "VOICE OF
THE VOTER" FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON VIEW
TONIGHT, AND I HOPE ALL THE
VIEWERS WILL SEE THE CONTRAST.
I HOPE THAT ANY NOTION THAT I
HAVE LOST MY ZEST, MY ENERGY,
MY DESIRE FOR THIS JOB IS PUT
TO REST HERE TONIGHT.
I HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT IN THE EIGHT YEARS AND
I HAVE AT LEAST, AT LEAST FOUR
MORE GOOD YEARS LEFT IN ME
WHICH I INTEND TO DEVOTE TO
SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF THE
CITY OF ROCHESTER.
YES, WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS.
WE HAVEN'T SOLVED ALL THE
PROBLEMS.
THERE'S STILL DRUG HOUSING;
THERE'S STILL CRIME;
THERE'S STILL DECLINING
VALUES.
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WORSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
IF WE HADN'T DONE THE THINGS
THAT WE DID.
WE HAVE INVOLVED CITIZENS.
THIS NOTION ABOUT TOP-DOWN IS
CRAZY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE
EVERY DAY; WE'RE OUT THERE
RESPONDING TO THEM.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> SO YOU LOOK AT ME AND YOU
SEE A MAN WHO IS FULLY CHARGE,
READY TO GO AND SERVE THIS
COMMUNITY FOR ANOTHER FOUR
YEARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR THE LAST EIGHT.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR
PARTICIPATING IN THE DEBATE
TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BOTH
CANDIDATES FOR BEING HERE.
AND ESPECIALLY OUR MEDIA
PARTNERS AND THE "VOICE OF THE
VOTER" CITIZENS, THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.
WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THERE
WILL BE COVERAGE OF THE DEBATE
IN TOMORROW'S "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" AND WATCH FOR
COVERAGE OF THE DEBATE OF
COURSE TONIGHT ON NewsSource
13 AT 6 AND OF COURSE WE WILL
BE ABLE TO HAVE COVERAGE
TOMORROW MORNING FROM
NewsSource 13 at 6 AS WELL.
NEXT WEEK WE BRING YOU ANOTHER
DEBATE, A "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
DEBATE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
(Music)