LATINO VOTERS -- 17 October 2002

>> >> Michael: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," LATINOS IN
ROCHESTER ARE AN UNDENIABLE
FORCE IN THE ELECTORATE, AND
INCREASINGLY LATINOS ARE
ASSUMING POSITIONS OF
LEADERSHIP.
TONIGHT WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
THE INFLUENCE OF LATINOS IN
GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY GROWING
BUT CHANGING.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR WEEKLY
BUSINESS SECTION WITH THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE," AND
A LIGHTHEARTED LOOK AT THE
CONSERVATION EFFORTS AT THE
SENECA PARK ZOO.
THAT'S STRAIGHT AHEAD ON "NEED
TO KNOW."
(Music)
>> I THINK IT'S A SHEER
NUMBERS KIND OF SITUATION, AND
OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S HAPPENED, THE
POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE MADE A
MAJOR EFFORT TO COURT THE
LATINO VOTE.
>> 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 DORSCHEL LEXUS AND
THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF VIEWERS
LIKE YOU.
(Music)
>> Michael: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M MICHAEL CAPUTO.
FROM THE CITY SCHOOL BOARD TO
CITY HALL TO THE COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, LATINOS
IN ROCHESTER ARE TAKING THEIR
PLACE IN POSITIONS OF POWER.
THE NUMBERS OF LATINOS IN THE
REGION ARE GROWING, ESPECIALLY
SIGNIFICANT WHEN YOU FIGURE
THAT ROCHESTER'S POPULATION
OVERALL REMAINS FLAT.
WHAT'S CLEAR IS THAT THE NEWER
GENERATION OF LATINOS ARE MORE
INDEPENDENT THAN THE OLDER,
WHICH LEANED DEMOCRATIC.
ACCORDING TO A JUST-RELEASED
NATIONWIDE POLL, LATINOS PROVE
TO BE INDEPENDENT POLITICAL
THINKERS, MORE SOCIALLY
CONSERVATIVE, BUT ALSO MORE
ACCEPTING OF GOVERNMENT AS A
SOLUTION TO SOCIETAL PROBLEMS;
AND THERE REMAINS AN UNTAPPED
POTENTIAL IN THE LATINO VOTE.
NATIONWIDE, ONLY 57% OF LATINO
ADULT CITIZENS WERE REGISTERED
TO VOTE, THE SECOND-LOWEST
REGISTRATION RATE OF ANY MAJOR
RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP.
DON'T THINK THAT BOTH MAJOR
PARTIES HAVEN'T NOTICED.
ACCORDING TO LATINO VOTER,
ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, WHICH HADN'T BEEN
ACCEPTED BY THE OLDER GUARD
LATINOS.
BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE AN APPEAL
WHEN THERE REALLY ISN'T A
LATINO VIEWPOINT ON A NATIONAL
LEVEL?
"Need to Know's" ALICIA
CLAUSSELL TAKES A CLOSER LOOK
AT LATINOS' EMERGING POWER IN
POLITICS.
(Music)
>> THE LATINO IS MORE
SOPHISTICATED TODAY.
THEY HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATION,
YOU KNOW, ACADEMIC EDUCATION
TODAY THAN THEY DID THEN.
THEY USUALLY ARE THE ONES ARE
SECOND GENERATION, BORN IN
THIS COUNTRY, GONE TO COLLEGE
IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> Alicia: EMILIO SERRANO HAS
SEEN THE EVOLUTION OF LOCAL
LATINO INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS
OVER THE YEARS.
A POLITICAL ACTIVIST FOR THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY SINCE THE
LATE 1960s, SERRANO BELIEVES
LATINOS ARE BECOMING
POLITICALLY ACTIVE AND SAVVY,
FORCING BOTH MAJOR PARTIES TO
WORK HARDER FOR THEIR
LOYALTIES.
>> REALLY THE REPUBLICAN HAS
BEEN MORE ACTIVE IN TRYING TO
ATTRACT LATINOS TO THEIR RANKS
THAN THE DEMOCRATS.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SORT OF
TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED THE FACT
THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE
LATINOS VOTE DEMOCRATIC.
AND SO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO
WORK HARDER IN ORDER TO
ATTRACT YOU AND HAVE TO OFFER
SOMETHING BACK IN RETURN IN
ORDER TO ATTRACT THE LATINOS.
>> Alicia: THE EMERGENCE OF A
LATINO MIDDLE CLASS APPEARS TO
BE CHANGING THE DYNAMICS OF
THE LATINO VOTING BLOCK.
THIS MONTH, THE PEW HISPANIC
CENTER AND KAISER FAMILY
FOUNDATION RELEASED A SURVEY
OF LATINOS NATIONALLY THAT
SHOWS OLDER LATINOS, 55-PLUS,
REMAIN LOCAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
HOWEVER, LATINOS IN YOUNGER
AGE GROUPS ARE NOW LOOKING AT
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND OTHER
POLITICAL OPTIONS IN GROWING
NUMBERS, SHOWING THAT AS
LATINOS ACHIEVE HIGHER LEVELS
OF EDUCATION AND AFFLUENCE,
THEIR PRIORITIES AND VIEWS MAY
ALSO BE CHANGING.
>> I THINK THESE ARE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS,
DOCTORS, LAWYERS, WHO NOW HAVE
RESOURCES, WHO ARE NOW
INVESTING THOSE RESOURCES IN
THE COMMUNITY AND ARE LOOKING
FOR SOME DIFFERENT KINDS OF
ANSWERS.
>> Alicia: COUNTY LEGISLATOR
JOSE CRUZ KNOWS THERE'S POWER
IN NUMBERS.
MORE THAN 48,000 LATINOS LIVE
IN THE ROCHESTER REGION, A 50%
RISE SINCE 1990.
ABOUT 28,000 LIVE IN THE CITY.
ABOUT 13% OF THE POPULATION.
HISTORICALLY SOCIAL ISSUES
HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART OF
LOCAL LATINO VOTERS.
ONE QUARTER LIVE BELOW THE
POVERTY LINE.
CRUZ SAYS THE PROMISE OF A
BETTER DAY HAS SPURRED
POLITICAL INTEREST AMONG
YOUNGER LATINOS.
>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR
YOUNG FOLKS WERE BASICALLY
GIVEN A PROMISE, AND THAT IS
TO SAY ONCE THEY WENT TO
COLLEGE AND THEY GOT A DEGREE
THAT THEY WOULD GO OUT AND
FIND A JOB.
WELL, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING
TODAY.
SO A LOT OF OUR YOUNG FOLKS
ARE ACTUALLY NOT SEEING THE
DREAM THEY WERE ONCE PROMISED,
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT I
THINK IT'S CREATING CONCERNS
ON THEIR PART.
WHERE DO WE GO IN THE FUTURE?
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR
FAMILIES?
WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
WE NEED TO BE DOING TO
INFLUENCE THE PROCESS SO THAT
WE, ONCE WE GET OUT AND OUR
CHILDREN GET OUT THERE, THEY
DON'T HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF
DIFFICULTIES.
>> Alicia: I'M AT SCHOOL
NUMBER 9, JUST NORTH OF THE
BUSINESS DISTRICT.
YEARS AGO THIS WAS THE SITE OF
CAFARELLI'S RESTAURANT, AN OLD
MEETING PLACE FOR THE EARLY
COUNTY REPUBLICAN LATINO
MOVEMENT.
THEY KNEW THEN, AS THEY SURELY
KNOW NOW, THE TRUTH OF THE OLD
ADAGE: TO WIN THE GAME, YOU
HAVE TO BE IN THE GAME.
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID SINCE
DAY ONE, SINCE I BECAME CITY
LEADER IN THE YEAR 2000, THAT
ONE OF MY PRIMARY GOALS IS NOT
ONLY TO CONTEST EVERY SEAT IN
THE CITY, BUT TO GET A
DIVERSITY OF CANDIDATES,
ESPECIALLY FROM OUR END.
>> Alicia: LAST YEAR PEREZ WAS
THE FIRST LATINO CANDIDATE TO
RUN FOR MAYOR OF ROCHESTER.
CRUZ BECAME THE FIRST LATINO
CAUCUS LEADER IN THE MONROE
COUNTY LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR,
UNTIL A SUBSEQUENT VOTE BY
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OUSTED HIM.
BUT CRUZ SAYS LATINO ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE INCREASINGLY
VISIBLE.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST CHANGE
HAS BEEN THIS: WE ARE NOW AT
THE TABLE.
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS WE
WEREN'T AT THE TABLE.
MANY OF OUR ISSUES WERE
SECOND-GUESSED OR THEY WERE AS
AN AFTERTHOUGHT KIND OF THING.
BUT TODAY, ANY TIME WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT PROBLEMS, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS TO
THOSE PROBLEMS, THE LATINO
LEADERSHIP IS, AS A NORMAL
COURSE OF THINGS, IS CALLED
UPON TO PROVIDE INSIGHT AND
PROVIDE THE KINDS OF OPINIONS
AND SWAY AND INFLUENCE.
(Music)
>> Michael: THANKS, ALICIA.
HERE IN STUDIO TO CONTINUE
THIS DISCUSSION ARE THREE
EXPERTS, DENISE MARIE
SANTIAGO, A COLUMNIST FOR THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE,"
P.J. ESTEVEZ, CO-CHAIRMAN OF
THE MONROE COUNTY REPUBLICAN
HISPANIC COMMITTEE, AND SAUL
MANEIRO, LEADER OF THE MONROE
COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
LET ME START WITH YOU, P.J.,
IF I CAN.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE CHANGE
HAS COME?
DO YOU THINK IT'S COME WITH
THE POLITICAL PARTIES OR HAS
IT COME WITH THE LATINO VOTER?
>> I THINK IT'S BOTH.
IT IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
THE POLITICAL PARTY,
ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, HAS REALIZED WHAT
IMPORTANT VOTE THE LATINO VOTE
IS, AND IN DOING SO, A LOT OF
THE LATINOS THEMSELVES HAVE
SEEN THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF
STATE IN THAT VOTING, AND VIA
THEM RACING TO VOTE AND
SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS, THEIR
VIEWS, THEIR CONCERNS ARE
GOING TO BE HEARD.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
BOTH SIDES REALIZE THAT IN THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> Michael: SO, YOU KNOW, IN
THE REPORT THAT WE'VE JUST
HEARD, WE HEARD THAT THERE
AREN'T A LOT OF LATINOS
REGISTERED.
THOSE WHO ARE REGISTERED
AREN'T VOTING.
WHY IS THAT AND HOW DO WE GET
AT THAT PROBLEM?
IS THAT A PROBLEM WE JUST SEE
ACROSS THE BOARD OR IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
ADDRESSED IN PARTICULAR?
>> I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD,
IN ALL ETHNIC GROUPS, ALL
RACIAL GROUPS, VOTERS FEEL
DISAFFECTED BY THE WHOLE
PROCESS.
I MEAN, THERE'S GROWING
SENTIMENT THAT BOTH PARTIES
AREN'T ADDRESSING THE ISSUES
THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL
PEOPLE AND ALL ETHNIC GROUPS.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S A
NATIONAL TREND OF APOLITICAL
SENTIMENT.
>> Michael: BUT DOESN'T IT
ALSO-- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A
LANGUAGE BARRIER AT TIMES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
ARE COMING TO THIS COUNTRY
MAYBE NOT EVEN KNOWING HOW THE
PROCESS WORKS.
DOESN'T THAT COME INTO PLAY,
DENISE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT REGISTERING AND GETTING
PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE?
>> THAT'S PART OF IT.
I ALSO THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
JUST-- A LOT OF LATINOS DON'T
FEEL VERY INVESTED IN THE
PROCESS.
IN PUERTO RICO, FOR INSTANCE,
WE KNOW THAT VIRTUALLY
EVERYONE IS REGISTERED AND
TURNOUT IS REGULARLY BETWEEN,
YOU KNOW, 78 AND 90%.
AND THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR
THAT, BUT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHY HISPANICS, YOU KNOW, ON
THE EAST COAST PUERTO RICANS
VOTE HERE; AND THE GOVERNOR OF
PUERTO RICO IS NOW DOING A
PROJECT TO INCREASE VOTER
REGISTRATION BUT, AS WELL,
LOOK AT WHY PUERTO RICANS
HERE, ON THE MAIN LAND, DO NOT
VOTE IN THE NUMBERS THAT THEY
DO THERE.
I KNOW THAT P.J. IS WORKING
WITH THE PROJECT.
HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT,
BUT--
>> Michael: I DON'T MEAN TO
INTERRUPT, BUT WHY IS IT THAT
80% ON THE MAIN LAND VOTE; WHY
DOESN'T THAT HAPPEN HERE?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS
THAT GO ON THERE?
>> WELL, THESE POLITICAL
PROFESSIONALS MIGHT BE ABLE TO
SPEAK TO THAT BETTER, BUT PART
OF IT IS THAT THERE'S-- YOU
KNOW, JOBS ARE TIED TO THE
GOVERNMENT, SO THERE'S A LOT
OF PATRONAGE, SO THERE IS A
REASON TO DO IT.
IT'S A VERY-- IT'S VERY
POLITICAL.
I MEAN, DURING THE POLITICAL
SEASON, YOU SEE THESE MAJOR
CARAVANAS THAT GO THROUGH THE
ISLAND, AND IT TIES UP
TRAFFIC, AND EVERYONE ACCEPTS
IT BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE
PROCESS.
SAUL MIGHT BE ABLE TO...
>> WELL, I JUST THINK-- I
MEAN, BEING A SOMEWHAT YOUNG
PERSON MYSELF, I THINK THAT A
LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY, FEEL AS SHE SAID
UNAFFECTED BY THIS WHOLE
PROCESS, THAT THE WAY THEY ACT
POLITICALLY ISN'T GOING TO
AFFECT THEIR LIVES, AND THEY
DON'T DRAW THE CONNECTION.
>> Michael: P.J., IS THE
EFFORT GOVERNOR CALDER¢N IS
DOING, IS LEADING THIS EFFORT
OR ACTUALLY TRYING TO SPUR ON
THIS EFFORT TO GET PUERTO
RICAN PEOPLE HERE VOTING, TO
REGISTER; IS IT WORKING?
>> YES, IT IS.
LET ME TELL-- THE GOVERNOR'S
INITIATIVES CALLED "QUÇ NADA
NOS DETENGA," LET NOTHING STOP
US OR GET IN OUR WAY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
INITIATIVE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS
NOW.
OUR GOAL IS TO REACH AS MANY
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, LETTING
LATINOS KNOW EVERYWHERE THAT
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHICH
PARTY THEY VOTE BUT THAT THEY
SHOULD VOTE, BECAUSE THEN THEY
ARE GOING TO BE COUNTED AS
LATINOS.
OBVIOUSLY WHEN THEY ASK MY
OPINION, I TELL THEM TO VOTE
REPUBLICAN AND I TELL THEM
WHY.
I DON'T TRY TO SELL THEM ON
IT.
I JUST TELL THEM BASICALLY
VERY SIMPLY, IF THEY DO NOT
SEE WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY
CAN SEE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO
GO IF THEY GO REPUBLICAN.
AND THAT IS THAT YOU NEED A
CHOICE.
FOR TOO LONG... VOTE HAS BEEN
TAKEN FOR GRANTED BY THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY START
LOOKING.
>> Michael: OF COURSE GETTING
REGISTERED IS ONE THING.
VOTING--
>> VOTING IS THE OTHER, RIGHT.
WELL, GOING BACK TO THE
VOTING, GETTING TO THE POLLS
HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR
LATINOS FOR MANY REASONS.
ONE IN PARTICULAR IS THE FACT
THAT THEY'RE NOT COMPELLED--
THEY DON'T SEE THEIR VOTE
COUNTING.
THEY DON'T SEE THEIR VOTE
GOING ANYWHERE.
THEY VOTED FOR YEARS FOR
DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE WHO NEVER
DID ANYTHING FOR THEM, NEVER
CAME BACK AGAIN AFTER THEY GOT
THE VOTE AND THANKED THEM OR
HAD ISSUES, THEY COULDN'T GET
AHOLD OF THAT PARTICULAR
PERSON.
THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE
REALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
>> Michael: I WANT TO GET AT
AND TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE
INDEPENDENT MIND SET OF THE
LATINO VOTER.
ACCORDING TO THE KAISER
FOUNDATION POLL, LATINO
REPUBLICANS, LATINO
REPUBLICANS WERE MORE
ACCEPTING OF LARGER GOVERNMENT
THAN THEIR CAUCASIAN
COUNTERPARTS.
BUT LATINO DEMOCRATS-- THIS IS
ON THE FLIP SIDE-- WERE MORE
OPPOSED TO LEGAL ABORTION THAN
THEIR CAUCASIAN COUNTERPARTS.
SO I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION,
SAUL, MAYBE I COULD START WITH
YOU: CAN LATINOS THEN BE
VIEWED AS A SORT OF MODERATING
FORCE IN THE TWO POLITICAL
PARTIES?
>> I THINK SO, BUT I ALSO
THINK THAT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE CONSERVATISM THAT LATINOS
HAVE, IT'S MORE ON A PERSONAL
LEVEL.
I THINK IT'S LESS OF A
POLITICAL ISSUE WITH US.
I THINK A LOT OF US ARE
PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO CERTAIN
THINGS, LIKE I PERSONALLY AM
OPPOSED TO DIVORCE, AND I
PROBABLY WOULD NEVER ENCOURAGE
SOMEONE TO HAVE AN ABORTION;
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
POLITICALLY, I THINK SOME OF
THOSE OPTIONS SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE.
>> Michael: THINK HOW THAT
MIGHT RADICALLY CHANGE THE
PARTY, I MEAN ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE EQUATION.
SAME THING WITH THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
IF YOU'RE MORE ACCEPTING OF
LARGER GOVERNMENT, THAT FLIES
RIGHT IN THE FACE OF WHAT
REPUBLICANISM IS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
DO YOU SEE THAT BEING A
MODERATING FORCE IN THE TWO
PARTIES?
>> YES, BUT ALSO PARTICULARLY
HERE IN ROCHESTER, WHAT SEEMS
TO BIND THE COMMUNITY IS THE
CULTURE IN SOME RESPECTS,
BECAUSE THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS IT'S STILL A VERY SMALL
COMMUNITY.
IT'S GROWING, AND PERSONALLY I
THINK THIS WHOLE DRIVE HAS
MORE TO DO WITH THE SHEER
NUMBERS AND THE POTENTIAL
RATHER THAN WHAT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING NOW.
BUT IT'S SUCH A SMALL
COMMUNITY.
WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE, YOU KNOW, KNOW EACH
OTHER'S PARENTS FOR THE MOST
PART, AND A LOT OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING IS ON A VERY
BIPARTISAN BASIS; AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING FOR INSTANCE WITH
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN TERMS
OF-- IT'S STILL PRETTY SMALL.
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON A LARGER
ASPECT IN TERMS OF LATINO
ADVOCACY COALITION, THERE'S A
GROUP OF LATINO PROFESSIONALS
WHO HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS, AND ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE
TACKLING IS THIS WHOLE IDEA OF
INVIGORATING THE LATINO
ELECTORATE.
AND SO IN SOME RESPECTS, IT'S
ABOUT TAKING POWER, NOT JUST
WITH REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS
BUT AS THE CULTURE AND AS A
GROUP.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK
OF THAT IS BECAUSE I REMEMBER
TALKING A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN--
TO JOSE CRUZ AND WITH LUIS
PEREZ, AND JOSE SAID, "YOU
KNOW WHAT?
WE ACTUALLY PROBABLY AGREE
MORE THAN WE DISAGREE."
AND IT ALSO GOES BACK TO WHAT
HAPPENED RECENTLY WITH JOSE
CRUZ, WITH-- IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
I CHATTED WITH LUIS PEREZ
ABOUT IT, AND HE WAS VERY,
VERY INSULTED.
NOW THIS IS A REPUBLICAN
TALKING.
VERY, VERY INSULTED.
>> Michael: LET ME MOVE TO
YOU, SAUL.
JOSE CRUZ SITUATION.
BASICALLY HE WAS MINORITY
LEADER OF THE CAUCUS; AND THEN
IN JUNE, THERE WAS ANOTHER
VOTE.
STEPHANIE ALDERSLEY WINDS UP
TAKING THAT POSITION.
BILL JOHNSON TAKES OFFENSE.
OTHERS TAKE OFFENSE.
HOW DOES THE LATINO COMMUNITY
SEE THIS SITUATION?
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
WERE UPSET BY IT.
I THINK THEIR ANSWERS,
STEPHANIE ALDERSLEY AND SOME
OF THE OTHERS, WERE A LITTLE
DISMISSIVE.
I DISAGREED WITH THE DECISION.
JOSE'S A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF
MINE.
I ACTUALLY MANAGED HIS
CAMPAIGN FOR REELECTION LAST
YEAR.
A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE
COMMUNITY DID EXPRESS THEIR
UNHAPPINESS WITH WHAT HAD
HAPPENED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MUCH
SMARTER THAN THAT.
WE KNOW THAT THINGS GO MUCH
DEEPER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE
MERE ETHNIC ASPECTS.
>> Michael: BUT IT DOES CAUSE
A RIFF IN THE PARTY, DOESN'T
IT?
>> IT DOES.
WE'RE-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY A
FACTION IN THE PARTY, BUT
WE'RE CERTAIN WE'RE A DISTINCT
GROUP WITHIN THE PARTY.
WE HAVE FOLKS AND WE'VE ALWAYS
HAD FOLKS, AND WE WERE
CRITICAL OF THE PARTY AND WE
WERE CRITICAL OF THOSE
LEGISLATORS.
I'M ALSO OF THE OPINION THAT
THAT STUFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN
LEFT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THAT
YOU DON'T AIR YOUR DIRTY
LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC LIKE THAT.
BUT, I MEAN, I WILL ALWAYS BE
CRITICAL OF THE PARTY WHEN
THEY DO SOMETHING I BELIEVE IS
WRONG.
>> Michael: YES.
>> BUT IT GOES BEYOND THAT.
RECENTLY THEY AGAIN ARE
SHOWING WHY LATINOS SHOULD BE
DIVERSIFIED.
THEY AGAIN ARE SHOWING WHY WE
SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT.
I MEAN, THE JOSE CRUZ
SITUATION REALLY PROVES TO
ANYBODY WHO WAS QUESTIONING
WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN
MAINTAIN THEIR ALLIANCES TO
THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, SHOULD
THEY STILL VOTE FOR THE
CANDIDATE THEY LIKE?
WELL, THE ANSWER IS DEFINITELY
YES.
THEY ARE NOT RESPECTING THE
JOSE CRUZ OF THE WORLD
INVOLVED IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS.
>> CAN I JUST SAY THAT I AGREE
WITH YOU, AND IT DEFINITELY
WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
BUT I DON'T SEE A LOT OF--
IT'S STILL, IN MY SENSE, A
VERY CLOSED KIND OF GROUP, AND
WHILE IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING
AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE
DIFFERENCE, I JUST DON'T SEE
THE HIERARCHY CROSSING THE
BOUNDARIES.
>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WITH
JOSE HAS SO MUCH MORE TO DO
WITH THE INTERNAL POWER
STRUGGLES WITHIN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAN IT HAS
TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT HE'S
LATINO.
NOBODY VOTED IN FAVOR OF
OUSTING JOSE BECAUSE HE'S
LATINO.
>> I BELIEVE THAT, TOO.
>> AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH TAKING OUR ETHNIC GROUP
FOR GRANTED.
IT HAD TO DO WITH THE POWER
STRUGGLE, AND THERE'S-- YOU
KNOW, WITHIN EVERY POLITICAL
PARTY, THERE'S A POWER
STRUGGLE.
>> Michael: I HAVE A MINUTE
LEFT.
I WANTED TO ASK P.J., THERE
WAS AN ARTICLE IN "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" TALKING ABOUT
PATAKI DOING VERY WELL,
REPUBLICANS DOING VERY WELL
WITH THE LATINO VOTE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS
BACK, PETER WILSON IN
CALIFORNIA, PROPOSITION 187,
VIEWED AS ANTI-IMMIGRATION IN
SOME QUARTERS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS STILL
STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH?
>> YES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'M
STRONGLY INVOLVED BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT HOW THE
MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP BELIEVES IN A
SENSE, FROM THE PRESIDENT ALL
THE WAY DOWN, LOCALLY TO
PATAKI.
I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN VERY
BAD FOR THE PARTY, TO HAVE
THAT LINGERING AROUND, THE
ANTI-IMMIGRATION AND
ANTI-HISPANIC AND WHATNOT.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST TO
WORK ON THAT.
WE HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF
DOING SO.
IF YOU EVER LOOK AT THE BOOK
BY LINDA CHAVEZ, CONSERVATIVE,
SHE POINTS OUT, IN HER 12
STEPS, WHY EVERY LATINO SHOULD
CONSIDER TO VOTE REPUBLICAN IN
NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.
>> Michael: I THANK YOU ALL
FOR COMING.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE,
BUT THE CONVERSATION DOES
CONTINUE.
IF YOU VISIT OUR WEB SITE,
www.wxxi.org/ntk, WHILE YOU'RE
THERE YOU CAN TAKE PART IN OUR
WEEKLY INTERNET POLL, AND FOR
THE LATEST ON POLITICS AND
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING COLUMNS
FROM WXXI NEWS REPORTERS, IT'S
nycitizens.org.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."

(Music)


I'M HERE WITH ELLEN ROSEN,
EDITOR OF THE BUSINESS SECTION
FOR THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, JACK DOYLE.
JACK DOYLE SAYS HE'S GOING TO
COMBINE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES THAT ARE EITHER
DIRECTLY OR KIND OF INDIRECTLY
CONNECTED TO MONROE COUNTY.
WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THIS?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE BIG
CRITICISMS OF THE WHOLE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN HERE
IS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A
CONCERTED COORDINATED EFFORT,
THAT YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF
DIFFERENT GROUPS ALL OUT DOING
DIFFERENT-- THE SAME THING AND
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ONE GROUP
REALLY TAKING IT AND SEEING IT
THROUGH WITH COMPANY "X"
COMING THROUGH AND REALLY
SEEING IT THROUGH.
SO THIS IS DOYLE'S ATTEMPT TO
OFFER THAT AT THIS LEVEL.
ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WHETHER
THIS IS GOING TO CONFLICT WITH
THE WORK OF THE GREATER
ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE, WHICH
JUST CAME OUT WITH ITS NEW
"ROCHESTER MADE FOR LIVING"
SLOGAN YESTERDAY.
AND DOYLE SAYS IT WON'T.
HE SAYS IT'S GOING TO
COMPLEMENT IT, THAT G.R.E.
WILL SEE THEM LEAVE AND THEN
THEY WILL TAKE IT UP ON THAT
AND THEN THEY'LL TAKE THE
COMPANY OR BUSINESS'S INTEREST
IN COMING HERE AND MOVE IT
THROUGH, SHOW THEM SITES AND
REALLY MOVE IT THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
>> Michael: DOES THE G.R.E.--
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW
THIS YET-- BUT DOES THE G.R.E.
FEEL THE SAME WAY?
DO THEY FEEL LIKE THIS WILL BE
A COMPLEMENTARY THING?
>> WELL, THEIR NEW DIRECTOR
MIKE FINLEY SAID HE REALLY
DOES.
HE THINKS THIS WILL BE FINE
AND THE TWO SHOULD BE ABLE TO
COEXIST PEACEFULLY.
>> Michael: NOW, SPEAKING OF
PUBLIC SECTOR, YOU'RE "WORKING
HERE," A SPECIAL SECTION TALKS
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND I
THINK THE WAY IT WAS PUT WAS
THAT IT USED TO BE THE SAFE
HAVEN FOR JOBS, BUT IT MAY NOT
BE ANY MORE.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THAT.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, YEAH. THIS
IS THE "WORKING HERE" SECTION
CAME OUT IN TODAY'S NEWSPAPER
FOR HOME DELIVERY PEOPLE, AND
IT WILL BE ON NEWS STANDS ON
SUNDAY.
GOVERNMENT JOBS ARE TYPICALLY
YOU GOT THEM AND YOU STAY IN
THEM FOREVER.
BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE HAPPENING
ANYMORE.
THE NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED OFF,
BUT SURPRISINGLY NOT AS MUCH
IN THIS COUNTY AS IT HAS IN
SOME OTHER COUNTIES.
IN FACT WE'VE GROWN SOME.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME
STATISTICS IN HERE THAT TALKED
ABOUT ACTUALLY THE NUMBER OF
JOBS BEING KIND OF FLAT OR
GROWING WHEN SOME OTHER AREAS
WERE LOSING EMPLOYMENT.
>> SO THE ROCHESTER CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT PROBLEMS, THE
COUNTY PROBLEMS, THE CITY
PROBLEMS, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AS
SEVERE.
>> WELL, OF COURSE THOSE
WOULDN'T BE FACTORED INTO HERE
YET BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE 2000 CENSUS, AND
THOSE HAVE HAPPENED EARLIER.
THESE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT
2000 CENSUS NUMBERS.
>> Michael: WE'RE LOOKING AT
PERHAPS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> YES.
I BELIEVE IT WILL BE CATCHING
UP, YES.
>> Michael: B&L CAME OUT WITH
ITS EARNINGS REPORT I BELIEVE.
I BELIEVE IT SAID--MAKE SURE I
HAVE THIS RIGHT.
SALES ARE UP.
EXPENSES ARE UP.
NET EARNINGS ARE UP.
SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY PROFITS ARE
DOWN BECAUSE THE COMPANY HAD
TO TAKE SOME CHARGES FOR
RESTRUCTURING AND FOR INSTANCE
SEVERANCE PAY FOR PEOPLE WHEN
THEY MOVED THEIR PUREVISION,
WHEN THEY GOT THE INJUNCTION,
THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PRODUCE
THE PUREVISION LENSES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THEY WERE MAKING THEM HERE IN
ROCHESTER.
THEY HAD TO MOVE THAT ALL OVER
TO WATERFORD, IRELAND.
SO THEY HAD TO PAY SOME
SEVERANCE AND SOME OTHER
CHARGES FOR THAT.
SO THAT ACTUALLY TOOK A BIG
CHUNK OUT OF THEIR PROFIT.
BUT, OVERALL, AS ANALYSTS LOOK
AT IT, IT SHOWS THE COMPANY IS
ON THE PATH THAT IT SET FOR
ITSELF, TO RESTRUCTURE, TO
REDUCE COSTS AND BECOME MORE
PROFITABLE, AND THE C.E.O.
TODAY SAID HE'S VERY PLEASED
WITH THE PATH THEY'RE ON.
>> Michael: THERE ARE A FEW
ANALYSTS, THOUGH, THAT ARE
WORRIED ABOUT THE PUREVISION
SITUATION.
WEREN'T THERE A FEW OTHER--
>> YEAH.
PUREVISION WAS REALLY B&L's
NEXT REALLY BIG PRODUCT AND IT
WAS REALLY GOING TO TAKE OFF.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT
INJUNCTION ONLY DOESN'T ALLOW
SALES IN THE UNITED STATES.
YOU CAN STILL SELL OVERSEAS,
AND THERE'S A HUGE MARKET FOR
CONTACT LENSES IN ASIAN
COUNTRIES AND OTHER AREAS.
SO THAT SORT OF REMAINS TO BE
SEEN.
BUT, YES, IT WOULD BE NICE FOR
B&L, IT WOULD BE DEFINITELY A
LOT BETTER IF THEY COULD SELL
PUREVISION IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> Michael: PAYCHECKS IS GOING
TO BE HOLDING ITS ANNUAL
MEETING ON THURSDAY.
THERE'S SORT OF A MIXED BAG
THERE.
I KNOW THAT THE STOCK HAS GONE
DOWN IN RECENT MONTHS, BUT
THEY JUST HAD A BIG
ACQUISITION.
>> YES.
>> Michael: SO WHERE DO YOU
THINK THINGS STAND AS WE GET
READY TO HEAR WHAT PAYCHECKS
HAS TO SAY?
>> WELL, WE'RE WAITING FOR
PAYCHECKS TO REALLY TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE, AND WE'VE
GOTTEN SOME HINTS THEY MAY BE
TALKING SOON ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO DO
WITH THAT NEW ACQUISITION AND
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MERGE IT
INTO THE COMPANY.
THE BUZZ AROUND THERE OF
COURSE RIGHT NOW HAS REVOLVED
AROUND THE ELECTION AND TOM
GOLISANO'S ROLE IN THE COMPANY
AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT RIGHT
NOW.
>> Michael: HOW IS IT, BY THE
WAY, DONE?
HOW DO SHAREHOLDERS VIEW HIS
RUN?
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, HOW
HAVE SHAREHOLDERS VIEWED THE
C.E.O. RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN
PAST YEARS?
>> I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW THE
ANSWER TO THAT.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
PAYCHECK'S SHAREHOLDERS HAVE
BEEN PRETTY WELL REWARDED.
AND I THINK AS LONG AS THE
STOCK IS STILL DOING WELL AND
THE COMPANY IS STILL
PERFORMING IN A VERY TOUGH
MARKET; THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
GROWING AS QUICKLY, BUT
THEY CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN A
GOOD STOCK FOR MOST PEOPLE, SO
YEAH.
>> Michael: ELLEN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH
A BRIEF LOOK AT ONE MAN'S
CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN
ROCHESTER.
WXXI's JOHN KAISER TALKS WITH
Dr. JEFF WYATT, A SENECA PARK
ZOO VETERINARIAN, WHO TOOK A
COUPLE OF MINUTES TO EXPLAIN
TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN ABOUT
HOW HE DEALS WITH SPECIES BOTH
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE SENECA
PARK ZOO.
>> THIS IS A TYPICAL BEHAVIOR
OF A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY
GIRAFFE, AND THE FACT THAT
HE'S INTERESTED IN EATING
THESE GRAPE LEAVES LEADS ME TO
BELIEVE THAT HE'S DOING VERY
WELL.
THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A
ZOO VETERINARIAN IS THAT I CAN
HELP WITH CONSERVATION.
OUR THEMING AT THE ZOO AND OUR
MISSION IS ABOUT CONSERVATION
OF SPECIES AND WILD PLACES
THAT ANIMALS LIVE.
THIS YEAR THE ZOO LAUNCHED THE
MONARCH BUTTERFLY BELTWAY
PROJECT.
IT'S CALLED THE BUTTERFLY
BELTWAY PROJECT BECAUSE WE
WANT TO PROMOTE BUTTERFLY
HABITAT THROUGHOUT THE
NINE-COUNTY REGION THAT THE
ZOO SERVES, AS WELL AS IF
POSSIBLE BUTTERFLY HABITAT
BETWEEN HERE AND MEXICO CITY.
WE ARE RELEASING ABOUT 1,000
BUTTERFLIES THIS SUMMER.
THESE ARE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
THAT WE'VE RAISED AT THE ZOO
FROM AN EGG, AND WHAT WE ARE
HOPING TO DO IS RELEASE THESE
SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEIR
WAY BACK TO MEXICO; AND BEFORE
WE RELEASE THEM WE'RE GOING TO
PUT LITTLE TAGS ON THEIR WINGS
SO IT HAS A NUMBER ON IT, AND
THAT NUMBER IS UNIQUE TO THIS
BUTTERFLY.
THERE ARE BIOLOGISTS IN
MEXICO, WHEN AND IF THESE
BUTTERFLIES MAKE IT, THAT WILL
GIVE US A CALL AND SAY, HEY,
YOUR BUTTERFLIES FROM SENECA
PARK ZOO MADE IT ALL THE WAY
TO MEXICO CITY.
AT A ZOO WE WORK WITH RARE AND
ENDANGERED ANIMALS, AND IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT WITH THESE
ENDANGERED ANIMALS THAT WE
HELP THEM RAISE FAMILIES, AND
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT IS ONE OF
THE MOST ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN
THE WORLD.
WHAT WE HOPE TO DO AT SENECA
PARK ZOO IS TO HAVE A BABY
ELEPHANT AT THE ZOO.
AND WE WERE ASSISTING OUR
ELEPHANT THIS MORNING WITH THE
TRAINING PROCEDURE SO THAT
HOPEFULLY SOON SHE WILL BECOME
PREGNANT AND HAVE A CALF OF
HER OWN.
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO
NOTE, THOUGH, THAT AN AFRICAN
ELEPHANT IS PREGNANT FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS, 22 MONTHS.
SO WE PLAN LONG AHEAD AND
WE'VE BEEN TRAINING OUR
ELEPHANT, JENNY C., FOR THIS
PROCEDURE FOR QUITE AWHILE.
I FEEL LIKE I'M PLAYING AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THAT
CONSERVATION MESSAGE WHERE I
CAN KEEP THE ANIMALS HEALTHY,
AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL
CONSERVATION PROJECTS WHERE
WE'RE HELPING ROCHESTERIANS
BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN
MAKE EVEN THEIR OWN BACKYARD
HABITAT FRIENDLY FOR ANIMALS
THAT REALLY NEED OUR HELPING
HAND, LIKE THE MONARCH
BUTTERFLIES, LIKE THE BOG
TURTLE, THE SPOTTED TURTLE.
I ENJOY THE MEDICAL CARE OF
THESE ANIMALS, BUT I VERY MUCH
MORE ENJOY THE CONSERVATION
PURPOSE OF THE ZOO AND HOW I
CAN HELP ELEVATE AWARENESS
ABOUT CONSERVATION MESSAGES TO
OUR ZOO VISITORS.
>> Michael: WE'RE ABOUT OUT OF
TIME.