(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," AT THE
ELEVENTH HOUR, THE STATE SAYS
DAY CARE FUNDING FOR MONROE
COUNTY WILL COME THROUGH.
THE SUBSIDIES ARE RESTORED FOR
NOW.
WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE DAY
CARE CRISIS AND HOW IT'S
AFFECTING EVERYONE.
PLUS THE ZOO PROJECT AND THE
SOCCER COMPLEX, THEY'RE NOW ON
HOLD.
WE HAVE "THE WEEKLY BUSINESS
REPORT" WITH THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" AND THE SOUNDS OF
ROCHESTER NATIVE CAB CALLOWAY
TONIGHT, ON "NEED TO KNOW."
>> FOR OUR WORKING PARENTS,
WORKING POOR PARENTS IN THE
COMMUNITY, THE DAY CARE
SUBSIDY IS A LIFELINE TO
QUALITY CARE AND FEELING
COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU GO TO
WORK THAT YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE
AND IN AN APPROPRIATE PLACE.
(Music)
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M ELISSA MARRA.
GARY WALKER HAS THE DAY OFF.
TONIGHT THE HOT TOPIC IS THE
FUTURE OF DAY CARE SUBSIDIES
IN MONROE COUNTY.
WE WILL DISCUSS THAT IN JUST A
MOMENT.
BUT FIRST, THE COUNTY JUST
CAME OUT WITH ITS CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN THIS WEEK.
IN ORDER TO AVOID DEFICITS AND
SAVE MORE THAN $41 MILLION
OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE
SENECA PARK ZOO PROJECT AND
THE AMATEUR YOUTH SOCCER
COMPLEX HAVE NOW BEEN
POSTPONED.
RENOVATIONS AT THE HALL OF
JUSTICE WILL ALSO BE DELAYED.
THIS BECAUSE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
JACK DOYLE SAYS WITH ALL THE
FISCAL PRESSURES OF THE
MOMENT, HE WILL NOT SUPPORT A
PLAN WITH ANYTHING IN IT BUT
THE FUNDAMENTALS.
>> CERTAINLY EVERY OF OUR
TAXPAYERS KNOWS THAT THEY
CANNOT SPEND MONEY THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE WHEN THEY'RE PAYING
THEIR HOUSEHOLD BILLS.
AND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY
DEMONSTRATES MY COMMITMENT TO
ENSURE THAT OUR COUNTY
GOVERNMENT PLAYS BY THE SAME
RULES AS THE FAMILIES THAT PAY
TO FUND OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
>> Elissa Marra: AND WE'RE
CHECKING IN NOW WITH WXXI
RADIO NEWS REPORTER BUD LOWELL
FROM WXXI-AM 1370.
TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING
ON HERE, IS THIS THE FIRST OF
MANY PAINFUL ANNOUNCEMENTS, DO
YOU THINK?
>> Bud Lowell: I THINK IT'S A
DOSE OF REALITY, BASICALLY,
ELISSA.
WE HAVE HAD TEN YEARS OF GREAT
PROSPERITY; WE'VE PRODUCED
TREMENDOUS SALES TAX REVENUES
FOR THE STATE COMING BACK TO
THE COUNTY, AND NOW IT AIN'T
THERE.
AND WE'RE GETTING BILLIONS
LESS THAN EXPECTED IN THE LAST
INSTALLMENT THIS YEAR, AND
JUST AS WE HAD TO DO BACK
DURING THE '80s WHEN WE HAD
SOME RECESSIONS, WE HAVE TO
PULL IN A LITTLE BIT.
BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT IS
HAPPENING.
>> Elissa Marra: NOW, AS THEY
MAY OR MAY NOT INVOLVE COUNTY
FUNDING, BUT WE THINK OF OTHER
PROJECTS, FAST FERRY,
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THOSE
KINDS OF THINGS, THE THINGS WE
HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT,
THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN
OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT
FEW YEARS.
HOW DOES AFFECT -- IT PROBABLY
DOESN'T AFFECT THEM THAT MUCH.
>> Bud Lowell: BASICALLY
UNAFFECTED BY THIS.
THIS IS COUNTY-FUNDED CAPITAL
PROJECTS, AND THERE'S A WHOLE
HOST OF THEM, SO MANY OF THEM
THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT THEM
IN BROADCASTING.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION
ON PARKS, SOME OF THE BIG ONES
IN THE COUNTY, WHICH WILL BE
DEFERRED FOR A COUPLE OF
YEARS.
THINGS WILL BE PUT OFF;
HIGHWAY PROJECTS WILL BE PUT
OFF.
THEY'RE MOSTLY FUNDED BY A
COMBINATION OF STATE, FEDERAL
AND PRIVATE DOLLARS.
THEY DON'T GET SUBSTANTIAL
COUNTY -- THE BORROWING.
WHAT THEY ARE REALLY CUTTING
BACK ON IS HOW MUCH THEY
BORROW.
WHEN THE COUNTY GOES OUT TO
BUILD A ROAD, THEY GET A
MORTGAGE, JUST LIKE YOU DO
WHEN YOU BUILD A HOUSE.
THEY WON'T HAVE THE REVENUE TO
PAY OFF THE SAME AMOUNT OF
BORROWING AS THEY EXPECTED
THEY WOULD HAVE BECAUSE TIMES
HAVE GONE SOUTH A LITTLE BIT.
SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS NOT
BORROWING AS MUCH MONEY.
NOW, THEY'RE NOT PLANNING TO
BORROW OR BOND THOSE BIG
PROJECTS, SO THEY'RE LARGELY
UNAFFECTED.
THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS OF
RAISING MONEY, BUT IT'S NOT
AFFECTED BY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THIS
WEEK.
>> Elissa Marra: REALLY, WE'RE
HEARING A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS
THAT REGARD THE ECONOMY,
THOUGH, IN TERMS OF THE FACT
THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF
MONEY TO DO THINGS.
YOU JUST RETURNED FROM
SPEAKING WITH MAYOR BILL
JOHNSON ABOUT THE DAY CARE
SITUATION, AND THAT'S A
SITUATION WHERE THERE'S GOING
TO BE LESS MONEY.
WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
IT?
>> Bud Lowell: BASICALLY THAT
IT'S A TEMPORARY TACT, AND
THAT'S KIND OF EMBLEMATIC,
THE WAY WE HANDLE FINANCIAL
PROBLEMS IN THIS STATE AND A
LOT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
DO.
AND SO THAT MONEY IS GOING TO
RUN OUT AT THE END OF THE
YEAR.
THEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?
WE HAVE SHOVED OFF THE PROBLEM
FOR NINE MONTHS OR SO, BUT
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THEN?
I MEAN, HE'S HAPPY, I GUESS,
THAT THE MONEY IS RESTORED FOR
THOSE FAMILIES FOR THIS YEAR,
BUT HE'S WONDERING WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT YEAR?
THAT'S SOMETHING HE'S WORKING
INTO THE STATE OF THE CITY
MESSAGE THAT HE'S WORKING ON
NOW AND HE'LL BE DELIVERING
MONDAY NIGHT,
THAT WE HAVE TO BASICALLY DEAL
WITH OUR PROBLEMS NOW RATHER
THAN SHOVE THEM OFF A COUPLE
OF YEARS AND HAVE THEM COME
BACK TO BITE US WORSE IN THE
FUTURE.
>> Elissa Marra: JUST A COUPLE
OF SECONDS LEFT.
ARE YOU REPORTING OR HEARING
ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT MIGHT
BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD IN THE
NEXT YEAR OR SO?
>> Bud Lowell: IN TERMS OF
LARGE PROJECTS?
WELL, THEY'RE STILL GETTING
THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE BIG
FOUR: THE ART CENTER, THE
FAST FERRY, ALL THE ONES THAT
ARE WORKING ON PRIVATE AND
STATE FUNDS.
THE BUS TERMINAL, THE AMTRAK
RAILROAD STATION, WE'VE HAD AN
ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK PUSHING
THOSE PROJECTS FORWARD.
THEY HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM, BUT
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR
THEM.
SO THEY CAN SUPPORT THEM.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
BUD.
WE'LL LISTEN MORE FOR YOUR
REPORTS ON WXXI-AM 1370.
AND NOW ON TO THE CRISIS THAT
WAS AND TO SOME EXTENT STILL
IS FACING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES
IN MONROE COUNTY WHO DEPEND ON
SUBSIDIES TO PAY FOR DAY CARE.
IT ALL STARTED IN JANUARY WHEN
COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK DOYLE
ANNOUNCED A SHORTFALL OF STATE
MONEY COULD LEAD TO 2,000 CUTS
IN DAY CARE SUBSIDIES.
A SHORT TIME LATER, MORE THAN
700 SLOTS WERE RESTORED AFTER
THE COUNTY RECEIVED A $1
MILLION GRANT, AND JUST
YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED WORD
THAT ALBANY WILL INDEED
CONTINUE PAYING FOR THOSE 2002
SUBSIDIES AFTER ALL.
BUT THERE IS A CATCH.
THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
WILL CHANGE IN 2003, AND MANY
FAMILIES WILL BE IN THE SAME
POSITION THEN AS THEY WERE
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
TONIGHT WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES, A COUNTY
LEGISLATOR AND A DAY CARE
PROVIDER ON HAND TO DISCUSS
THE ISSUE.
BUT FIRST, "NEED TO KNOW'S"
MATT CUMMINGS VISITS WITH ONE
FAMILY THAT WOULD BE DEEPLY
AFFECTED BY THESE CUTS.
>> WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
HOW AM I GOING TO AFFORD TO
PAY DAY CARE, YOU KNOW, AND
LIVE TOO?
YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY GOING
TO HAVE TO WORK DOUBLE AND IF
I WORK DOUBLE, THAT'S PAYING
MORE DAY CARE...
>> Matt Cummings: THIS WEEK,
LISA THOMAS WAS COMING TO
GRIPS WITH THE NOTION SHE
COULD HAVE LOST A STATE
SUBSIDY THAT ENSURES HER TWO
CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE DAY CARE.
THOMAS WORKS AS A NURSING
ASSISTANT AT MONROE COUNTY
HOSPITAL.
BEFORE RECEIVING FINANCIAL
HELP, SHE SAYS SHE PAID UP TO
$300 EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR DAY
CARE.
WITH THE SUBSIDY, $46 PAYS FOR
HER DAUGHTERS' CARE FIVE DAYS
A WEEK, FROM 7 a.m. TO 6 p.m.
>> IT HELPS OUT A LOT.
IT HELPS ME TO DO MORE FOR
THEM BECAUSE ME HAVING TO PAY
HIGH DAY CARE, I MEAN, IT CUTS
INTO RENT, RG&E, ALL THAT
STUFF.
I MEAN, ALL THAT IS LIKE MORE
FOR ME TO DO TO KEEP AFLOAT.
IF THEY DID TAKE THAT AWAY, IT
KIND OF PUTS ME REALLY ON TO
THE POVERTY -- I'M NOT EVEN ON
POVERTY LEVEL.
I WOULD BE REALLY UNDER.
YOU KNOW, I WON'T EVEN BE ON
NOWHERE, SO IT'S KIND OF
DIFFICULT.
>> Matt Cummings: THIS IS A
COPY OF THE LETTER MONROE
COUNTY SENT TO ABOUT 1,300
FAMILIES EARLIER THIS MONTH
INFORMING THEM THE COUNTY HAD
SET A MARCH 1st DEADLINE FOR
WITHDRAWING DAY CARE SUBSIDIES
DUE TO AN $8 MILLION SHORTFALL
IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
HOWEVER, YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR
GEORGE PATAKI ANNOUNCED THE
STATE AFTER ALL WILL PROVIDE
THE FUNDS AND RESTORE THE
SLOTS FOR ALL FAMILIES LIVING
AT 200% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL
OR BELOW, UNTIL THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, BEGINNING IN 2003,
ONLY FAMILIES LIVING AT 140%
OF THE POVERTY LEVEL OR BELOW
WILL RECEIVE DAY CARE
SUBSIDIES.
DIANE LARTER IS THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE MONROE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
SHE FEARS THAT CUTS IN GENERAL
WILL PUT SOME FAMILIES IN A
TOUGH SITUATION.
>> A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE
RELATIVES TO FALL BACK ON.
SO I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE
SURE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
I THINK THEY'LL GO TO LESS
SUPPORTIVE CARE, AND SOME OF
THEM WILL HAVE TO QUIT.
BUT THEY'LL ADD A LOT OF
STRESS TO THEIR LIVES WORRYING
ABOUT UNSTABLE DAY CARE
SITUATIONS FIRST.
THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO JUST UP AND QUIT.
THEY'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE,
AND THEY ARE;
THEY'RE TELLING US THAT'S WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
>> Matt Cummings: LARTER SAYS
SINCE 1997, THE PROGRAM HAS
SUBSIDIZED FAMILIES EARNING UP
TO 200% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL.
FOR A SINGLE PARENT AND CHILD,
THE PARENT WOULD BE MAKING
ROUGHLY $11 AN HOUR.
A FAMILY OF THREE, EARNING
$23,000 TO $29,000 A YEAR, OR
ABOUT $14 AN HOUR, WAS
ELIGIBLE FOR THE SUBSIDY.
NEXT YEAR, THAT CHANGES.
>> THAT'S ONLY $8 OR $10 AN
HOUR, DEPENDING ON YOUR FAMILY
SIZE, FOR SMALL FAMILY SIZES.
SO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
MAKING $16,000 OR $20,000 A
YEAR, SUPPORTING ONE OR TWO
KIDS, BEGIN TO TAKE YOUR RENT,
YOUR RG&E, AND YOUR CAR
PAYMENTS, PROBABLY PAY A
LITTLE INSURANCE AND SOME
OTHER INCIDENTALS, AND YOU
DON'T HAVE MUCH LEFT.
SO THIS IS THE PIECE THAT HAS
ALLOWED THESE PARENTS TO FEEL
COMFORTABLE WORKING, THAT
THEIR KIDS WERE SAFE, AND TO
EASE SOME REALLY TIGHTLY
STRETCHED BUDGETS.
>> Matt Cummings: COUNTY
EXECUTIVE JACK DOYLE SAYS HE
WOULD NOT USE COUNTY FUNDS TO
PAY FOR THE SLOTS THIS YEAR
BECAUSE TAXPAYERS WOULD HAVE
HAD TO FOOT THE BILL AND HE'S
OPPOSED TO RAISING TAXES.
PLUS DOYLE SAYS HE FEELS
UNABLE TO USE COUNTY FUNDS TO
FILL A STATE FUNDING SHORTAGE.
>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT ARE
PRESSURING US THAT FRANKLY ARE
FINANCIALLY OF MORE
CONSEQUENCE THAN THE DAY CARE
ISSUE.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL
ABOUT.
>> Matt Cummings: LARTER SAYS
THESE SUBSIDIES ARE VITAL FOR
THE SUCCESS OF AFFECTED
FAMILIES.
>> THEY'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT
WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO.
WE SAID, "WORK.
YOU NEED TO WORK."
AND SO THEY'RE WORKING.
THEY NEED THIS TO TRANSITION
THROUGH TO A HIGHER INCOME
THAT WILL SUPPORT THEM AND
THEIR KIDS.
(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: SO ONE
PERSONAL STORY THERE, AND
TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR PANEL OF
EXPERTS TO TALK TO US ABOUT
THE FUTURE.
IT SEEMS THAT THIS REALLY IS
OKAY FOR NOW; THINGS ARE
DEFERRED FOR THE MOMENT,
FOLKS, BUT LET'S START WITH
RICHARD SCHAUSEIL FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
REALLY JUST OKAY FOR THE
MOMENT, THOUGH, RIGHT?
>> WE'RE OKAY FOR THE MOMENT.
IT'S VERY GOOD NEWS FROM NOW
UNTIL DECEMBER 31st OF THIS
YEAR.
SO CALL IT A SHORT-TERM
SOLUTION.
AND NOW THE COMMUNITY HAS A
LOT OF TIME TO REALLY TAKE A
LOOK AT HOW WE FUND THIS
THROUGH OTHER MEANS, THROUGH
PRIVATE DONATIONS, THROUGH
CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS, THROUGH
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS.
BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE
LACK OF REVENUE, AND PROGRAMS
FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT ARE
FUNDED THROUGH TAXES, SO IF
THERE'S LESS REVENUE, THERE
MAY BE LESS APPROPRIATIONS.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE FOR
US HOW THE ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO
CHANGE?
THEY ARE GETTING STRICTER,
RIGHT, AND SOME ARE
GRANDFATHERED IN RIGHT NOW,
CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THE GROUP OF 1,300 INDIVIDUALS
WHOSE CASE WAS GOING TO BE
CLOSED, THEY ARE RECEIVING THE
SUBSIDY AT THE CURRENT LEVEL
OF 200% OF POVERTY, WHICH IS
ROUGHLY $29,000 FOR A FAMILY
OF THREE.
EFFECTIVE APRIL 1st, NEW
APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO
QUALIFY AT 140% OF POVERTY,
AND IN ADDITION, THESE 1,300
INDIVIDUALS WHOSE SUBSIDY
EXPIRES IN DECEMBER WILL NO
LONGER BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE
EVERYONE WILL BE COVERED AT
140% OF POVERTY.
AND THE REASON THAT WE HAVE
DONE THAT IS BECAUSE, AGAIN,
THE ALLOCATIONS, THE TOTAL
ALLOCATIONS, HAVE NOT BEEN
SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE
EXPLODING DEMAND.
FIVE YEARS AGO, WE FUNDED
2,400 INCOME-ELIGIBLE DAY CARE
INDIVIDUALS.
NOW WE'RE IN EXCESS OF 7,000.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY.
YOU THREW OUT A FEW POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS THAT I'M SURE WOULD
HAVE BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION AND
WILL BE.
CHRIS WILMOT, MONROE COUNTY
LEGISLATOR, DEMOCRATIC MONROE
COUNTY LEGISLATOR, YOU THREW
YOUR OWN MONEY BEHIND THIS AND
HAD YOUR OWN IDEA ABOUT A
SOLUTION.
>> YES, I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF
THE FEW TIMES BEING IN
GOVERNMENT WHERE I WAS GLAD I
WAS WRONG.
I WAS TELLING EVERYBODY OUT
THERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT
SEEMED VERY DOUBTFUL AT THIS
ELEVENTH HOUR THAT WE WOULD
HAVE A SOLUTION.
SO WHAT I DID WAS I WAS AT THE
LEGISLATURE A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO.
I WAS OUTRAGED AT THE FACT
THAT WE WERE -- IT SEEMED WE
WERE TELLING PEOPLE TO GO OUT
AND GET A JOB; "WE'LL MAKE
SURE YOUR KIDS ARE HELPED, IN
SECURE, ACCREDITED DAY CARE,"
AND THEN WE WERE PULLING THE
RUG OUT FROM UNDER THESE
WORKING MOTHERS AND WORKING
FAMILIES, AND THIS WAS PART OF
THE WELFARE REFORM MOVEMENT.
AND I THINK THE IDEA HERE IS
THAT I WAS SO INCREDIBLY
OUTRAGED AND UPSET WITH THE
SITUATION THAT I DECIDED TO
PUT SOME OF MY OWN MONEY UP,
AND I OFFERED THAT AS A
MATCHING GRANT TO CORPORATIONS
AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, JUST THE NIGHT BEFORE
WE FOUND OUT THE GOOD NEWS,
THAT AT LEAST FOR THE REST OF
THE YEAR WE WOULD HAVE THESE
CHILDREN COVERED UP TO 200% OF
THE POVERTY LEVEL, I MADE A
DEAL WITH THE CHURCH IN MY
DISTRICT, IN MY LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT, TO USE THEIR
501(c)(3) AS A WAY TO RAISE
MONEY AND THEN DISTRIBUTE THAT
MONEY TO ACCREDITED DAY CARE
CENTERS IN THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS
NEXT YEAR.
AS RICHARD SCHAUSEIL SAID A
SECOND AGO, WE'RE GOOD FOR THE
NEXT TEN MONTHS BUT WE'RE NOT
GOOD INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
>> Elissa Marra: IS THIS A
SOLUTION THAT YOU THINK AND
THE COUNTY THINKS COULD WORK,
WHAT CHRIS IS TALKING ABOUT
HERE?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A TERRIFIC
IDEA, WHETHER IT'S AN
INDIVIDUAL, A FOUNDATION OR A
CORPORATE ENTITY.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE
PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
WORKING AND ENJOYING THEIR
WORK, AND IF GOVERNMENT FUNDS
ARE NOT AVAILABLE -- AND AT
WHAT LEVEL DO YOU FUND
ELIGIBILITY?
A FAMILY OF FOUR IS $35,000 AT
200%.
THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS
THAT DON'T MAKE THAT MUCH.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE DAY
CARE AND WORKING INDIVIDUALS
ARE IMPORTANT AND PRODUCTIVE
TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> Elissa Marra: JEANIE HARRIS
FROM GENERATIONS CHILD CARE
CENTER,
CHRIS SAID HE WAS OUTRAGED.
WE ARE BREATHING A LITTLE
EASIER NOW, BUT WHAT DID YOU
SEE HAPPENING?
YOU MUST HAVE SEEN SOME KIND
OF TERRIBLE COLLISION
HAPPENING FOR FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT THE TIME.
>> SURE.
WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN
WITH US FOR YEARS FACING "WHAT
AM I GOING TO DO NEXT WEEK?"
AND THEY WERE FRIGHTENED,
TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED.
I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO A FEW
OF THE FAMILIES LAST NIGHT, TO
SAY, "OH, GOOD NEWS.
YOU'RE OKAY UNTIL THE END OF
THE YEAR."
I THINK AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE
REALLY SO RELIEVED, THEY'RE
NOT READY TO TALK ABOUT "OKAY.
WHAT DO WE DO IN JANUARY NOW?"
BUT IT WAS TERRIBLY
FRIGHTENING.
SOMEONE ASKED ME, "HOW DO YOU
TELL A FOUR-YEAR-OLD THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR CHILD
CARE?"
I'M NOT SURE AND I WAS REALLY
GLAD THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO
THAT.
>> Elissa Marra: ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT CAME UP BEFORE IN
THE NEWS FROM THE STATE WAS
ABOUT EXTENDING THE DEADLINE
SO THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE
MORE BREATHING ROOM, BUT THE
COUNTY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.
IS THERE A CHANCE, DO YOU
THINK, THAT WE'LL RUN OUT OF
TIME A YEAR FROM NOW, OR DO
YOU THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH
MOMENTUM THAT THE REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS WILL WORK
TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A
PLAN?
CHRIS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK WE ALL KNOW
NOW THE SEVERITY OF THE
SITUATION, AND WHILE I APPLAUD
THE GOVERNOR AND THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE, REALLY.
MY COLLEAGUE JOSE CRUZ, AND
MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
ALSO,
WE LOBBIED HARD AND WE WERE
AGGRESSIVE.
SO I APPLAUD EVERYONE WHO
PROVIDED THE MONEY UNTIL THE
END OF THE YEAR,
BUT I THINK THAT IT IS
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
I THINK ULTIMATELY, MONROE
COUNTY HAS BEEN A LITTLE MORE
GENEROUS THAN SOME COUNTIES IN
NEW YORK STATE, GETTING UP TO
THAT 200% POVERTY LEVEL
HISTORICALLY, BUT THE FACT IS
WHEN GOVERNMENTS FAIL, WHEN
GOVERNMENT IS NOT ABLE TO
FINANCE THIS TYPE OF CARE INTO
THE INDEFINITE FUTURE, WE NEED
TO TURN TO CORPORATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT
ROCHESTER PER CAPITA HAS
INORDINATELY HIGH UNITED WAY
DONATIONS.
THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY
CHARITABLE, GIVING COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S WHY I WENT TO
CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
TO SAY, "LET'S GET TOGETHER
AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM."
AND IT DOES NEED TO BE SOLVED
NEXT YEAR, IN 2003.
>> Elissa Marra: THE MONEY DID
COME FROM THE STATE IN THE END
AND SOME LAWMAKERS THIS
MORNING WERE SAYING THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE MONEY MIGHT HAVE
BEEN THERE ALL ALONG AND THE
COUNTY SORT OF JUMPED THE GUN
BY SAYING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
THERE.
COULD THAT BE THE CASE, THAT
IT WAS JUST A LITTLE ALARMIST?
>> NO.
THIS WAS AN ACTION THAT I
WOULD NEVER TAKE OR RECOMMEND
OR NOTIFY SO MANY INDIVIDUALS
THAT THEIR CASE WAS GOING TO
BE CLOSED KNOWING THAT THE
MONEY WAS GOING TO BE THERE.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY INTENSE
AND STRESSFUL LAST MONTH.
WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT KNOWING
THAT THE MONEY WAS THERE.
ONE OF THE COMPLICATIONS IS,
YOU'RE OVERLAPPING -- NOT YOU,
BUT THE PROCESS OVERLAPS:
A COUNTY FISCAL YEAR WHICH IS
A CALENDAR YEAR, THE FEDERAL
FISCAL YEAR WHICH STARTS IN
OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR, AND THE
STATE FISCAL YEAR WHICH STARTS
IN APRIL.
AND WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR
ALLOCATION, RETROACTIVE
ALLOCATION IN OCTOBER OF LAST
YEAR, IT COVERED PART OF LAST
YEAR AND PART OF THIS YEAR.
WE HAD BUDGETED CLOSE TO $8
MILLION MORE THAN WE RECEIVED.
SO WE FACED A DEFICIT LAST
YEAR AND THEN HAD TO EXTEND
THAT BUDGET INTO THIS YEAR.
SO WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS IN
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
THAT STARTS IN APRIL, AND WE
HAD TO BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY.
THE ALLOCATION WE WERE GIVEN
YESTERDAY COVERS THAT.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCED
ALLOCATION.
LET'S REMEMBER THAT THE
STATE'S BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN
ADOPTED, SO THAT'S PART OF THE
PROBLEM.
WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO OUR
STAFF AND TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS
JUST TO CREATE A PROBLEM AND
THEN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
>> Elissa Marra: CHRIS, YOUR
FEELINGS ON THAT?
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO JUMP
IN THERE.
>> I MEAN, LOOK, EVERY
POLITICIAN, EVERY MEMBER OF
THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS AN
OPINION ON THIS IS GOING TO
SAY WHAT THEY THINK REALLY
HAPPENED HERE.
I DON'T DISPUTE WHAT
Mr. SCHAUSEIL OR Mr. DOYLE OR
ANYBODY ELSE SAYS NECESSARILY,
BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT
IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR A
POLITICIAN LIKE ME IN THE
FUTURE TO VOTE FOR THINGS LIKE
THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, WHICH I
DID VOTE FOR, THE S.L. CENTER,
WHICH MANY OF MY DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES DID NOT VOTE FOR
BUT I DID VOTE FOR.
IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT IN
THE FUTURE TO SUPPORT THESE
KINDS OF ENTERTAINMENT, LUXURY
ITEMS, IF YOU WILL, WHEN WE'RE
NOT DOING THE BASICS OF WHAT
WE NEED TO DO TO HELP THESE
LOW-INCOME CHILDREN MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE ENOUGH DAY CARE AND
SUPPORT SO THEIR PARENTS CAN
CONTINUE TO BE IN THE WORK
FORCE.
SO I DON'T WANT TO GET IN A
GAME THAT THE COUNTY WASN'T
SINCERE OR THE STATE DIDN'T
TELL US THEY REALLY HAD THE
MONEY, BUT THE FACT IS AT THE
ELEVENTH HOUR WE DO HAVE A
SOLUTION.
BUT IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION; I THINK WE HAVE TO
REMEMBER THAT.
AND GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE
AND I THINK AT SOME LEVEL, THE
PRIVATE SECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE.
>> Elissa Marra: YOU HAVE SEEN
AN INFLUX -- I MEAN, AS FAR AS
I CAN ASK ANY OF THE THREE OF
YOU, IS PART OF THE ANSWER
HERE JUST TO MOVE PEOPLE OFF
PUBLIC SOCIAL ASSISTANCE MORE
SLOWLY, JUST TO WATCH THE RATE
AT WHICH WE'RE MOVING THEM
OFF?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S
SOMETHING THAT THE ADVOCATES
IN THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE
WILL TALK ABOUT.
IT'S ALREADY, I THINK, A BIG
JUMP FROM SOMEONE WHO IS AT
200% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL TO
GO FROM PAYING A PARENT FEE OF
MAYBE $40 OR $50 OR $60 A WEEK
TO PAYING THE WHOLE SHOT,
WHICH IS $150 OR MORE PER
WEEK.
IT'S ALREADY A BIG JUMP.
I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, A
PLACE WHERE WE LOSE A LITTLE
BIT OF THAT SAFETY NET.
I THINK LOOKING AT IT
LONG-TERM, HOW WE CAN
EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT THESE
PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THEY
DON'T RETURN IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT.
AND WE HAVE TALKED IN OUR
GROUPS THAT EVEN 200% OF THE
POVERTY LEVEL ISN'T ADEQUATE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
GUARANTEED FLOOR OF 200%, THAT
WE FUND NO LESS THAN 200% OF
THE POVERTY LEVEL AND GO UP
FROM THERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
NEXT STEP IN TERMS OF THE
LAWMAKERS?
ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE MORE
STEPS WITH YOUR EFFORTS AND
WORK WITH THE REPUBLICANS?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
IS THERE A PLAN?
>> JOSE CRUZ, THE LEADER OF
OUR CAUCUS, HE'S WORKING
TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES
WITH BILL SMITH ON THE OTHER
SIDE.
I WILL WORK WITH JOSE CRUZ,
BUT I ALSO WILL CONTINUE MY
PRIVATE EFFORTS BECAUSE I
THINK ULTIMATELY AS GOVERNMENT
IN NEW YORK STATE BECOMES
SMALLER AND MORE EFFICIENT IN
THE FUTURE, BY NECESSITY, THAT
THE PRIVATE EFFORTS HAVE TO
CONTINUE.
SO I WILL DO BOTH.
AS A POLITICIAN, I WILL ALWAYS
DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO INSIDE
THE CHAMBER, THE LEGISLATIVE
CHAMBER, BUT AS A CITIZEN OF
THIS COMMUNITY WHO WAS
OUTRAGED BY WHAT HAPPENED, I
WILL CONTINUE MY PRIVATE
EFFORTS AND WILL HAVE A LITTLE
MORE TIME NOW TO BUILD A KITTY
UP AND BUILD THE FUND UP SO WE
CAN HELP CHILDREN OUT NEXT
YEAR IF WE HAVE TO.
>> Elissa Marra: GREAT.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR
PANEL.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
DAY CARE SITUATION, YOU CAN
LOG ON TO OUR WEB SITE AT
wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN
ALSO TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY
SURVEY QUESTION.
AND, OF COURSE, FOR
COMPREHENSIVE DAILY COVERAGE
OF STATE ISSUES AND NEWS, IT'S
NYcitizens.org.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: AND JOINING
US NOW IN STUDIO IS ELLEN
ROSEN, THE BUSINESS EDITOR FOR
"THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE"
FOR THIS WEEK'S "BUSINESS
SECTION."
HI, ELLEN.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
DAY CARE AND PRIVATE
CORPORATIONS
BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE
LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING THAT SOME
HELP IS GOING TO COME THERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
CORPORATIONS ARE ALREADY
STRAPPED.
DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO
COME UP WITH ANY MONEY?
>> Ellen Rosen: I THINK THAT'S
TRUE; I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY
STRAPPED.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THEY
PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT
BECAUSE WITH ISSUES OF FINDING
EMPLOYEES, MAKING SURE THAT
OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES
GO WELL REALLY HELPS ATTRACT
AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES.
SO EMPLOYERS WORRY A LOT ABOUT
DAY CARE, BUT WHERE THAT MONEY
WOULD COME FROM, I'M NOT SURE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE EVEN
HEARD THAT SOME COMPANIES MAY
BE CUTTING BACK ON THEIR OWN
REFERRAL SERVICES AND OTHER
THINGS BECAUSE IT'S ONE AREA
THAT THEY CAN.
>> Elissa Marra: WE'LL HAVE TO
SEE HOW THAT SHAKES OUT.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING AT
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE,"
BAUSCH & LOMB INTRODUCING ITS
NEW PRODUCT CALLED ENVISION.
WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT DO YOU
THINK?
>> Ellen Rosen: IT'S CALLED
ENVISION T.D., AND ACTUALLY
MICHAEL WENTZEL, OUR
TECHNOLOGY REPORTER, HAS A BIG
STORY EXPLAINING IT ALL.
IT WILL BE RUNNING IN SUNDAY'S
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
THEY DID ANNOUNCE IT THIS
WEEK.
IT'S A NEW WAY OF DELIVERING
MEDICATION, LITERALLY TO THE
BACK OF THE EYE,
A SMALL SURGICAL IMPLANT ABOUT
THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE
THAT THEY PUT INTO YOUR EYE
THAT DELIVERS MEDICATION IN A
MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE WAY THAN
EVER HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
IT'S PRIMARILY USED FOR THREE
MAJOR DISEASES WHICH ARE THE
MAJOR CAUSES OF BLINDNESS.
>> Elissa Marra: OH, WOW.
AND ANALYSTS THINK IT MIGHT
RESUSCITATE THE COMPANY?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, ANALYSTS
THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY A BIG
GROWTH MARKET FOR BAUSCH &
LOMB.
IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A
$3 BILLION TO $5 BILLION A
YEAR MARKET, DEPENDING ON HOW
CLINICAL TRIALS TURN OUT ON
SOME OTHER THINGS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE TO
DO, A LOT OF TREATMENTS FOR
THESE DISEASES OF MACULAR
DEGENERATION AND UVEITIS,
WHICH IS AN INFLAMMATION OF
THE EYE, AND DIABETIC MACULAR.
THESE ARE DIFFICULT THINGS TO
TREAT AND RIGHT NOW TREATMENTS
AREN'T WORKING, SO REALLY THE
MARKET IS OUT THERE AND IT'S
JUST GOING TO BE A QUESTION
NOW.
THIS IS NOT A TECHNOLOGY THAT
B&L DEVELOPED ITSELF; IT WAS
ACTUALLY DEVELOPED BY SOMEBODY
ELSE, BUT THEY HAVE THE
WORLDWIDE MARKETING RIGHTS TO
IT.
>> Elissa Marra: ARE THEY IN
CLINICAL TRIALS WITH IT YET OR
NO?
>> Ellen Rosen: THEY'RE IN
LATE CLINICAL TRIALS WITH IT,
YES.
WHAT THEY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE
MANUFACTURING IT,
UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, IN
WATERFORD, IRELAND.
THEY'RE PUTTING A $15 MILLION
EXPANSION INTO THEIR WATERFORD
PLANT, WHICH PEOPLE MAY
REMEMBER IS WHERE THEY
TRANSFERRED A LOT OF THEIR
CONTACT LENS FUNCTIONS, FROM
THE GOODMAN PLANT OVER TO
WATERFORD.
AND NOW THEY'RE PUTTING THIS
ADDITION ONTO WATERFORD, AND
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO
BE DOING LATE PRODUCTION,
PREPRODUCTION WORK.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
KODAK.
THEY WENT TO THE
PHOTOMARKETING ASSOCIATION,
AND THEY INTRODUCED SOME NEW
PRODUCTS THERE AS USUAL.
>> Ellen Rosen: THEY HAD SOME
NEW CAMERAS DOWN THERE.
THINGS WERE VERY WELL
RECEIVED.
THEY WON SOME AWARDS FOR SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE
SHOWING.
I THINK KODAK CAME AWAY
FEELING IT WAS REALLY A PRETTY
GOOD WEEK FOR THEM.
>> Elissa Marra: AND BEN RAND
IS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THAT?
>> Ellen Rosen: BEN RAND HAS
BEEN WRITING ABOUT IT ALL WEEK
AND I EXPECT WE'LL CONTINUE TO
SEE THIS -- ESPECIALLY IN THE
DIGITAL WORLD.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
HEWLETT PACKARD WANTING TO
CLAIM THE DIGITAL WORLD AND
TAKE KODAK'S POSITION.
SO WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO
FOLLOW THAT.
>> Elissa Marra: CAN YOU GIVE
US A SNEAK PREVIEW OF WHAT
KODAK INTRODUCED THERE?
>> Ellen Rosen: THEY
INTRODUCED A CAMERA CALLED - -
WELL, IT WAS ANOTHER FORM OF
EASY-SHARE, AND SOME OTHER
THINGS.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER -- I
DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS
OF EXACT CAMERAS, BUT THERE
WERE A COUPLE OF DIGITAL
CAMERAS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
>> Elissa Marra: IT SEEMS LIKE
THE PHOTOMARKET ASSOCIATION IS
A PLACE WHERE -- IS IT
BECOMING EVER MORE
CONSUMER-ORIENTED IN TERMS OF
THE DIGITAL WORLD?
CONSUMERS ARE OBVIOUSLY INTO
DIGITAL NOW.
IS THAT THE WAY EVERYTHING IS
GOING OR --
>> Ellen Rosen: DIGITAL IS THE
WAY EVERYBODY IS FOCUSED,
RIGHT.
IT'S THE WAY EVERYBODY IS
FOCUSED.
WHAT IT REALLY IS NOW IS PART
OF IT IS THE CAMERAS, BUT A
LOT MORE OF IT HAS TO DO WITH
GETTING PHOTOS USED.
IT'S EASE OF USE FOR THE
CONSUMER, WHICH IS WHAT
HEWLETT PACKARD IS PITCHING,
THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR
PICTURES ON A HEWLETT PACKARD
CAMERA AND THEN HAVE IT
SCANNED ON A HEWLETT PACKARD
SCANNER, PRINT IT OUT ON A
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPUTER ONTO
HEWLETT PACKARD PAPER,
WHICH IS SOMETHING KODAK CAN'T
COMPETE WITH BECAUSE THEY
DON'T MAKE COMPUTERS AND THEY
DON'T MAKE SCANNERS AND OTHER
THINGS.
BUT THIS IS REALLY THE MARKET
WHERE EVERYBODY IS GOING.
IT'S EASE OF USE.
THEY REALLY WANT YOU -- NOT TO
BE TAKING PICTURES, BUT THE
MONEY FOR THESE COMPANIES IS
IN YOU PRINTING PICTURES AND
SHARING THEM WITH OTHER
PEOPLE, ON-LINE SERVICES AND
THINGS.
>> Elissa Marra: SO THE IDEA
IS YOU HAVE TO BUY A LOT OF
EQUIPMENT AND BUY --
>> Ellen Rosen: YES, RIGHT.
IT'S PAPER; IT'S THE ON-LINE
SERVICES THAT THEY CAN CHARGE
YOU FOR TO SEND PICTURES OUT
TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY.
WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE
STORIES IN "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ELLEN
ROSEN, FOR THIS WEEK'S
BUSINESS SEGMENT WITH THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ALL RIGHT.
THROW ON YOUR ZOOT SUIT AND
GET READY TO SING THOSE
HI-DE-HO's WITH MINNIE THE
MOOCHER.
THE CAB CALLOWAY ORCHESTRA
RECENTLY VISITED NAZARETH
COLLEGE.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT CAB
CALLOWAY, WHO MADE "HI-DE-HO"
FAMOUS, WAS A NATIVE OF
ROCHESTER.
NOW HIS GRANDSON, CALLOWAY
BROOKS, IS KEEPING THAT
TRADITION ALIVE.
>> THE WORLD-FAMOUS CAB
CALLOWAY ORCHESTRA.
(Applause)
>> WELL, THIS IS REALLY THE
GREATEST, I FEEL, AMERICAN
MUSIC THAT OCCURRED DURING THE
LAST CENTURY.
DURING THE PERIOD OF THE
1900s, THIS WAS THE MUSIC THAT
REALLY GOT AMERICA TO BEGIN
STARTING TO PLAY ITS OWN MUSIC
AND WAS THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT
WAS BROADCAST FOR THE FIRST
TIME ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY A LOT
OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE,
PEOPLE FROM EUROPE, PEOPLE
FROM AFRICA.
THERE ARE NATIVE AMERICAN
INFLUENCES, LATIN AMERICAN
INFLUENCES, AND PEOPLE FROM
ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT
CULTURES AND PERSUASIONS CAME
TOGETHER TO CREATE THIS GREAT
MUSIC THAT WE CALL SWING
MUSIC.
ACTUALLY, THE CALLOWAY FAMILY
HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH MUSIC
EVER SINCE THE 1920s, IF YOU
CAN IMAGINE THAT.
MY GRANDDAD IS THE MOST FAMOUS
OF THE CALLOWAYS.
HIS NAME WAS CAB CALLOWAY.
HE HAD A FANTASTIC CAREER THAT
SPANNED DECADES AND DECADES.
HE STARTED BACK IN NEW YORK,
WENT TO A PLACE CALLED THE
COTTON CLUB, AND HE LED ONE OF
THE GREATEST BIG BANDS IN
HISTORY.
A LOT OF THE MUSICIANS IN THE
ORCHESTRA TODAY PLAYED WITH MY
GRANDDAD WAY BACK WHEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CAB
CALLOWAY ORCHESTRA BRINGS TO
JAZZ IS THAT WE BRING THE FUN
SIDE OF JAZZ OUT.
WHEN YOU COME TO A CONCERT
LIKE THIS, YOU GET TO HEAR
WHAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT
INSTRUMENTS ARE LIKE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR THE
SAXOPHONES, THE TRUMPET, THE
GUITAR PLAYING, THE PIANO
PLAYING, SOME BASS.
I TRY TO FEATURE ALL THE
MUSICIANS IN THE BAND DURING
THE COURSE OF THE SHOW.
AS A RESULT, I THINK IT REALLY
HELPS TO ENRICH THE EXPERIENCE
FOR EVERYBODY.
(Applause)
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: CAB CALLOWAY
WAS BORN IN ROCHESTER IN 1907.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
STORY YOU JUST SAW AND THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEED TO
KNOW," OR TO DISCUSS ANY OF
THESE TOPICS, JUST LOG ONTO
wxxi.org/ntk.
AND THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT.
WE'RE OFF NOW FOR THREE WEEKS.
IN OUR PLACE, YOU WILL CATCH
THE WXXI MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN LATE
MARCH.
(Music)