>>
Gary Walker: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," THE
EVER-CHANGING PICTURE OF THE
CITY SCHOOL BUDGET.
THE EXPENSE AND REVENUE
PROJECTIONS SEEM TO CHANGE
DAILY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A PAINFUL
YEAR FOR CITY SCHOOL OFFICIALS
AND TEACHERS, AND MAYBE FOR
PEOPLE WHO SEND THEIR KIDS TO
CITY SCHOOLS.
IT'S ALSO POLITICALLY
EXPLOSIVE.
ALSO, WE'LL TALK WITH BOB
SMITH ABOUT THE STATE OF THE
COUNTY, AND ELLEN ROSEN JOINS
US FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF
"THE BUSINESS SECTION" WITH
THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
IT'S ALL NEXT ON "NEED TO
KNOW."
>> I SEE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS
AS THE HEART OF OUR
DECISIONMAKING PROCESS OVER
THE NEXT WEEK.HOW MUCH REVENUE CAN WE SAFELY
PUT INTO OUR BUDGET AND THEN
WHAT PROGRAMS DO WE RESTORE
BASED ON THAT REVENUE?
(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.
(Music)
>> Gary Walker: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
SAYING THAT BUILDING JOBS IS
THE SINGLE ISSUE THAT WILL
DEFINE THE COUNTY'S FUTURE,
COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK DOYLEOUTLINED HIS PLANS THIS WEEK
DURING HIS STATE OF THE COUNTY
ADDRESS.
DOYLE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE
OF ENCOURAGING GOVERNMENT AND
BUSINESSES TO WORK TOGETHER
AND OFFERING GOVERNMENT
BENEFITS TO THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY.
THE COUNTY LOST MORE THAN
11,000 JOBS IN 2001, AND THE
LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HIT AN
18-YEAR HIGH OF 6% IN
FEBRUARY.
HOWEVER, DOYLE DID NOT DISCUSS
IN ANY DETAIL MONROE COUNTY
GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL PROBLEMS.
COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THEIR
FINANCIAL RESERVES ARE LOW AND
HINT LAYOFFS COULD COME AS
SOON AS THIS SUMMER.
JOINING US IN STUDIO FOR SOME
ANALYSIS OF THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE'S PLANS IS WXXI-AM
1370's BOB SMITH
Listen
to audio clip here
>> Bob Smith: WHAT YOU GOTFROM JACK DOYLE'S STATE OF THE
COUNTY MESSAGE EARLIER THIS
WEEK WAS BASICALLY AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, FIRST OF ALL,
THAT THE RULES HAVE CHANGED ON
THE ECONOMY OF MONROE COUNTY,
THAT WHAT WAS ONCE A FLEXIBLE
ENOUGH, A GROWING ENOUGH
ECONOMY TO ABSORB ALL OF THE
LAYOFFS AND THE JOB CUTS FROM
THE BIG FIRMS LIKE KODAK AND
XEROX NO LONGER HAD THAT
FLEXIBILITY OR ABSORPTIVE
CAPACITY.
WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS A SERIOUS
SITUATION THAT HAD TO BE
ADDRESSED AND ACKNOWLEDGED.
BUT WHAT YOU GOT AT THE SAME
TIME WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT
THAT MONROE COUNTY AS AN
INSTITUTION DOESN'T HAVE A
WHOLE LOT THAT IT CAN DO.
SO WHAT YOU HEARD WAS A LIST
OF VOLUNTARY PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS WITH MOST OF THE
RESOURCES APPARENTLY TO COMEFROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MOST
OF THE LEADERSHIP PERHAPS FROM
THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN
CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL
BUSINESS, THAT THEY HOPE WILL
HELP TURN THINGS AROUND OR AT
LEAST STOP THINGS FROM GETTING
WORSE.
>> Gary Walker: AT LEAST UNDER
THE RUBRIC OF JOBS FIRST, WHAT
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS
INCREASING THE INCENTIVES OF
BUSINESSES TO COME HERE.
APPARENTLY A 90% TAX BREAK AND
AFTER TEN YEARS WHITTLING THAT
DOWN TO FULL TAX LOAD AGAIN.
ANYTHING NEW IN THIS?
>> Bob Smith: NOT A WHOLE LOT,
REALLY.
THERE ARE A FEW INCREMENTAL
CHANGES, INCREMENTAL
EXPANSIONS OF SOME TAX BREAK
ZONES, OF SOME FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES IN TERMS OF LOW
INTEREST RATES FOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT AND THE REST, BUTNOT MUCH IN COUNTY MONEY
BECAUSE THERE JUST ISN'T MUCH
COUNTY MONEY TO OFFER.
>> Gary Walker: AND
REALISTICALLY, HOW MUCH CAN A
SINGLE GOVERNMENT DO ANYWAY
BECAUSE IF -- OKAY, IF YOU
GIVE AN INCENTIVE FOR COUNTY
TAXES, THERE'S STILL SCHOOL
TAXES; THERE'S STILL OTHER
TAXING ENTITIES IN MONROE
COUNTY, AND I IMAGINE
BUSINESSES COME TO AN AREA FOR
MANY REASONS AND NOT JUST A
FRIENDLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
>> Bob Smith: UP TO AND
INCLUDING SOME OF THE THINGS
THE TAX MONEY, IF IT'S WISELY
SPENT, WILL GET YOU, IN TERMS
OF QUALITY OF LIFE THAT
ATTRACTS EMPLOYEES, IN TERMS
OF INFRASTRUCTURE, IN TERMS OF
ALL OF THE SERVICES, PUBLIC
SAFETY AND THE REST, THAT THE
TAXES PAY FOR.
SO IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.YOU CUT TAXES; TO A CERTAIN
DEGREE, YOU CUT SOME OF THE
POSITIVE THINGS THAT
GOVERNMENT DOES TO MAKE
BUSINESS AND MAKE LIVING IN AN
AREA ATTRACTIVE.
>> Gary Walker: BOB, QUICKLY,
NOT A MENTION OF, IN ANY REAL
DETAIL, ABOUT THE COUNTY --
THE FISCAL CRISIS THAT THE
COUNTY MAY BE FACING.
NOW, THEY HAD A TEN-YEAR
SURPLUS SITUATION WITH THE
PENNY SALES TAX AND ALL THAT
TOBACCO MONEY.
WELL, IT SEEMS TO BE GONE
RIGHT NOW.
>> Bob Smith: THAT'S WHAT
COUNTY LEGISLATORS OF BOTH
PARTIES THAT I TALKED WITH
AFTER THE BROADCAST OF THE
STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS
WANTED TO KNOW.
THEY KNOW THAT JACK DOYLE WILL
PRESENT A BUDGET THAT HOLDS
THE LINE ON COUNTY PROPERTYTAXES.
THEY KNOW HE'S GOING TO DO
THAT THROUGH CUTS AND NOT
THROUGH ANY KINDS OF INCREASES
IN FEES, SERVICES OR TAXES.
>> Gary Walker: WHEN DO YOU
THINK WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT?
>> Bob Smith: DEFINITELY
OCTOBER BECAUSE HE MUST
PRESENT A BUDGET BY THAT TIME.
BUT MAYBE NOT MUCH BEFORE.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
WE'LL KEEP LISTENING TO THE
"AM 1370 CONNECTION" EVERY DAY
AT NOON UNTIL 2 ON WXXI-AM
1370.
NOW, BOB ALSO HAD SOME
FIREWORKS ON HIS RADIO PROGRAM
THIS WEEK.
"THE 1370 CONNECTION" HOSTED
FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER
WILLA POWELL TO DISCUSS THE
SITUATION AROUND THE CITY
SCHOOL BUDGET.
NOW, THE MAYOR CALLED THE
PROGRAM WITH SOME VERY STRONGWORDS REGARDING THE HIGH
SCHOOL BUDGET DEFICIT AND THE
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PAST TWO
WEEKS.
NOW, WE INVITED MAYOR JOHNSON,
AS WELL AS SUPERINTENDENT
JANEY, TO JOIN US FOR THIS
PROGRAM TODAY.
BOTH MEN UNAVAILABLE, BUT WE
HAVE THREE GUESTS IN OUR
STUDIO TO REACT TO THE
TELEPHONE CALL ON "1370
CONNECTION" AND TO TALK IN
GENERAL ABOUT THE LATEST
SCHOOL BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED
CUTBACKS.
WE HAVE TEACHERS' UNION
PRESIDENT ADAM URBANSKI, ALONG
WITH ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS JIM BOWERS AND ROB
BROWN.
WE'LL BE TALKING WITH THESE
GENTLEMEN IN JUST A MOMENT.
FIRST, LET'S LISTEN TO A TAPE
OF MAYOR JOHNSON'S COMMENTS ON
WXXI-AM 1370.
>>
Mayor Johnson: THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER GIVES MORE TO THE
ROCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT THAN
THE CITIES OF BUFFALO AND
SYRACUSE COMBINED.
I'M FRANKLY SICK AND TIRED OF
THIS BASHING OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, WHICH HAS GONE OUT
OF ITS WAY TO BE RESPONSIBLE
AND TO BE GENEROUS TO THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND COMMENTS
FROM SOMEONE AS INTELLIGENT AS
WILLA POWELL TO
(Indecipherable) THIS ISSUE IS
NOT HELPFUL AT THIS POINT IN
TIME.
>> Willa Powell: MY CRITICISM
ISN'T ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THE
CITY IS GIVING THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
ACTUALLY, AN HONEST DIALOGUE
ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THE STATE
SAID THE CITY CAN AFFORD TO
GIVE US IS A GOOD THING.
WHAT I HAVE A LOT OF
DIFFICULTY WITH IS THEFINGER-POINTING AND THE
BLUDGEONING THAT WE HAVE TAKEN
AT THE HANDS OF THE MAYOR, THE
ULTIMATUMS THAT HE HAS GIVEN
US THAT IMPLY THAT WE WON'T
GET ONE RED CENT IF WE DON'T
DELIVER A BUDGET THE WAY HE
WANTS TO SEE IT.
YES, I UNDERSTAND THE URBAN
PROBLEM, AND WHAT I THINK
SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ALL
ALONG IS THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD
HAVE DEMONSTRATED ENOUGH
LEADERSHIP TO BRING TOGETHER
THE LEADERS OF CITY COUNCIL
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SO ON
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN A
CONSTRUCTIVE FASHION, AND THAT
DID NOT HAPPEN.
>> Mayor Johnson:
(Indecipherable) Ms. POWELL,
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE.
LAST SEPTEMBER -- LAST AUGUST
OR LAST SEPTEMBER, WE CAME UP
WITH A PLAN TO SOLVE WHAT WAS
THEN PROPOSED BY Dr. JANEY ANDMr. CASH AS A $21 MILLION
DEFICIT.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
NOTHING THOUGH WAS DONE IN
JANUARY AND DECEMBER THAT WAS
HELPFUL TO THE SITUATION THAT
WE NOW FACE.
MY ANGER CAME WITH COMPARISON
TO THE ANGER OF PARENTS WHOSE
CHILDREN HAVE TO GO TO THESE
SCHOOLS EVERY DAY WHO -- WHO
HAD MADE CONSCIOUS CHOICES TO
TRY TO STAY IN THE SCHOOL.
THEY HAD EVERY REASON TO
EXPECT THAT LAST TUESDAY
Dr. JANEY AND HIS STAFF WOULD
PRESENT FOR SCHOOL BOARD
CONSIDERATION A BUDGET.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS
PRESENTED.
AND TO BE VERY TRUTHFUL TO
YOU, Mrs. POWELL, THAT'S NOT
WHAT Dr. JANEY GAVE TO THE
SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT.
THIS DOCUMENT HAS NEVER BEEN
FINALIZED.THERE IS NO BUDGET, AND THIS
COMMUNITY IS BEING -- ON A
ROLLER COASTER BECAUSE THAT
SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF
CAN'T GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
AND FOR YOU, WHO IS A
KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON, TO GO ON
THE PUBLIC AIR WAVES AND TO
TRY TO ALLUDE TO THE FACT THAT
Dr. JANEY AND HIS STAFF HAVE
DONE, HAVE MET THEIR
OBLIGATIONS, IS NOT ONLY
UNTRUTHFUL BUT IS EXTREMELY
UNFAIR.
(Indecipherable)
AND I JUST THINK YOU SHOULD BE
CHALLENGED BECAUSE YOU SHOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO GO ON THE AIR
WAVES -- NOR SHOULD
Dr. URBANSKI -- SPREADING THIS
KIND OF UNTRUTH.
NOW, I'M A BIG BOY.
I CAN TAKE CRITICISM.
BUT THIS IS BEYOND CRITICISM.
HERE WE ARE, LESS THAN TWO
WEEKS AWAY BEFORE THE DISTRICTHAS TO PRESENT ITS BUDGET FOR
CONSIDERATION; THE SCHOOL
BOARD STILL DOES NOT HAVE A
BUDGET.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S
ACCEPTABLE, Mrs. POWELL?
>> Willa Powell: FIRST OF ALL,
I HAVE TO GO BACK AND SAY THAT
YES, YOU WERE VERY HELPFUL
LAST YEAR AND IT WAS HANDLED
IN A VERY DIGNIFIED AND
INTELLIGENT AND PROFESSIONAL
WAY LAST YEAR.
BUT THAT PRETTY MUCH CHANGED
IN FEBRUARY WHEN YOU STARTED
STIRRING UP THE COMMUNITY AND
CALLING FOR Dr. JANEY'S HEAD
ON A PLATTER.
THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED
TWO WEEKS AGO WAS -- AND
Dr. JANEY SAID IN SO MANY
WORDS, "I DON'T BELIEVE IN
THIS BUDGET.
I CAN'T GET BEHIND THIS
BUDGET.
IT CAN'T BE DONE."
>>
Bob Smith: BEFORE YOU GO, I
WANT TO ASK YOU AT THIS POINT
HAS, IN YOUR OPINION, CLIFFORD
JANEY FINALLY GONE THAT BRIDGE
TOO FAR AND OUTWORN HIS
USEFULNESS TO THE ROCHESTER
SCHOOL DISTRICT?
IS IT TIME TO GO?
IS JIM BOWERS RIGHT, IN YOUR
OPINION?
>> Mayor Johnson: I DON'T
THINK -- AND I TOLD JIM BOWERS
THIS, THAT I DON'T THINK
THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE
QUESTION FOR THE DAY.
THE APPROPRIATE QUESTION FOR
THE DAY IS HAS Dr. JANEY MET
HIS FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY
AND PRESENTED A CREDIBLE,
SUBSTANTIVE BUDGET TO THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION WHICH IS BY
LAW REQUIRED TO REVIEW IT AND
APPROVE IT BEFORE THEY SUBMIT
IT TO ME AND I SUBMIT TO CITY
COUNCIL?
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION ISABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> Gary Walker: MAYOR WILLIAM
JOHNSON ON "1370 CONNECTION"
THIS TUESDAY CALLING FROM A
CAR PHONE.
HE DID SAY HE PULLED OVER
BEFORE HE CALLED.
NOW, THE MAYOR IS DEMANDING IN
HIS OWN WORDS, GENTLEMEN, THAT
THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DO
THE JOB HE'S PAID TO DO.
NOW, ONE OF YOU, Mr. BOWERS,
IS CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL
OF THE SUPERINTENDENT; ONE OF
YOU SAYS THAT IT'S THE MAYOR
WHO IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
Mr. BROWN, YOU HAVE ALLUDED TO
THAT.
THE OTHER ONE OF YOU,
Mr. URBANSKI, SAYS DON'T
EXPECT JOB CONCESSIONS FROM
TEACHERS THIS YEAR TO HELP
SOLVE THIS.
I WANT TO START WITH
Mr. BOWERS FIRST OFF.
AS A MEMBER OF THE ROCHESTERCITY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DO
YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION
FROM THE DISTRICT TO DO YOUR
JOB AND HAVE PROPER OVERSIGHT
OVER A BUDGET?
IF NOT, WHY NOT?
>> WELL, IT'S GETTING BETTER,
BUT AS I HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY,
THERE ARE STILL SOME THINGS
THAT I BELIEVE WE ARE MISSING.
WHILE I RESPECT THE
SUPERINTENDENT IN SAYING HE
CAN'T RECOMMEND THIS BUDGET,
HE STILL DOES HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO PRESENT FULL
INFORMATION.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, TO PRESENT TO
US ONLY DATA ON WHAT HE WOULD
CUT AND NOT PROVIDE US WITH A
LISTING OF THE PROJECTS THAT
ARE TO BE FUNDED IN EFFECT
DOES SAY HE DOES NOT HAVE A
FULL BUDGET YET.
>> Gary Walker:
(Indecipherable) -- HAS
ANGERED YOU THIS WEEK?>> YEAH. (Chuckling)
THOUGH I'M A LITTLE CALMER
THAN I WAS A WEEK OR SO AGO
BECAUSE WE ARE BEGINNING TO
MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
LET'S MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF
Mr. BROWN.
YOU'VE BEEN SAYING THE PROBLEM
IS NOT THE DISTRICT'S
BUDGETING BUT THE STATE'S
FUNDING OF EDUCATION AND THE
MAYOR'S ROLE HAS BEEN
DETRIMENTAL IN HIS COMMENTS.
Mr. BROWN, DOES THE DISTRICT
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE
ANY CULPABILITY IN THE STRING
OF MISJUDGED DEFICITS?
>> YOU KNOW, GARY, I THINK
THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS,
BECAUSE OF THE FRUSTRATION
THAT'S CAUSED BY ESSENTIALLY
CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF URBAN
EDUCATION IN THIS STATE,
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
LASHING OUT.I THINK WHAT WE JUST SAW WITH
Mrs. POWELL AND BILL JOHNSON,
PEOPLE FOR WHOM I HAVE A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT,
WAS A LOT MORE HEAT THAN
LIGHT.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT A 410 OR 30
MILLION DOLLAR OPERATING
BUDGET, HALF A BILLION DOLLAR
BUDGET WHEN YOU COUNT THE
CAPITAL, THAT KIND OF THING IS
TOO BIG TO MANAGE IN A
TWO-WEEK PERIOD OR EVEN IN A
FIVE-MONTH PERIOD WHEN YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR REVENUE
IS GOING TO BE.
THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
I SUBSCRIBE FULLY TO DAVID
GANT'S VIEW THAT A RIGHT
BUDGET IS BETTER THAN AN
ON-TIME BUDGET, BUT IT MAKES
OUR PROBLEM VERY DIFFICULT.
AND WHAT HAPPENS, I BELIEVE,
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEINGNOW IS THAT THE FRUSTRATION
THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOOD
WILL IN THIS PROJECT HAVE,
OVER NOT BEING ABLE TO PIN
DOWN THE NUMBERS, NOT BEING
ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND
OF RESOURCES WE HAVE AND NOT
HAVING THE POWER INDEPENDENTLY
TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, HAS
CAUSED A LOT OF GRIEF AND
INTERNECINE WARFARE THAT JUST
DOESN'T HELP.
>> Gary Walker: WELL, LET ME
TURN QUICKLY TO Mr. URBANSKI.
NOW, YOU MAY BE LOSING
HUNDREDS OF TEACHER POSITIONS.
COULD YOU TELL US RIGHT NOW,
WILL THERE BE TEACHER
CONCESSIONS TO HELP CLOSE THIS
BUDGET DEFICIT THIS YEAR?
>> MAYBE, BUT THE APPROPRIATE
PLACE TO DISCUSS THOSE WOULD
BE AT THE NEGOTIATIONS TABLE.
LAST TIME -- THIS IS THE
SECOND FISCAL CRISIS IN THE
SPAN OF A FEW MONTHS.LAST TIME, NOT ONLY THE
TEACHERS' UNION BUT ALL UNIONS
LINED UP SQUARELY BEHIND THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD
AND HELPED TO CLOSE THE
DEFICIT.
THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE SAME
INCLINATIONS, SPEAKING FOR THE
TEACHERS, AND WE ARE OPEN TO
MAKING THE KIND OF
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WOULD HELP
THIS DISTRICT.
BUT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE
NEGOTIATED.
IT CANNOT BE EITHER AT THE
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TABLE OR
THROUGH THE MEDIA.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
LET ME OPEN THIS UP TO ALL OF
YOU.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
WHETHER IT'S A CHRONIC
UNDERFUNDING OR WHATEVER
REASON YOU WANT TO PIN ON IT,
THE ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS HAD SEVERALBALLOONING DEFICITS THAT WERE
JUST TOTALLY MISJUDGED AS TO
THEIR SIZE AND SCOPE OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL BUDGETS.
>> GARY, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
NOW, YOU'VE GONE AND DONE IT
AGAIN, SEE.
YOU'RE STIRRING UP THE DOGS.
WE HAVE NOT HAD SEVERAL
BALLOONING DEFICITS THAT HAVE
BEEN MISJUDGED --
>> Gary Walker: Mr. BROWN, I'M
NOT MAKING THIS UP.
>> -- WE HAD A $30 --
>> Gary: WE HAD --
>> -- WE HAD A $30 MILLION
PROBLEM THAT WAS OUR FAULT
LAST YEAR THAT PUT US BEHIND
THE EIGHT BALL.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT
THAT.
THIS YEAR, THERE'S NO
BALLOONING ANYTHING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
PERSPECTIVE BUDGET.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUTANYTHING THAT'S OUT OF CONTROL
OR ANYTHING THAT IS
MISAPPREHENDED OR MISJUDGED.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A
FUNDING LEVEL THAT DOES NOT
MEET THE MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDING A
SOUND, BASIC EDUCATION TO THE
POOREST CHILDREN IN THE STATE.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU STIR IT
UP AND SAY "SEVERAL BALLOONING
DEFICITS THAT HAVE BEEN
MISMANAGED" JUST CONTRIBUTES
TO THE PROBLEM.
IF THIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT
PULL TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM, IT CANNOT BE SOLVED
AND IT WILL LAST FOREVER.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
Mr. BROWN, I ASSURE YOU THAT
THIS IS NOT GARY WALKER
SPEAKING; THIS IS AN OPINION
SHARED BY STATE LAWMAKERS
PUBLICLY ON OUR PROGRAM, THE
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
ON THIS PROGRAM LAST MONTH WHOHAS HELD THIS POSITION.
SO IT'S NOT MYSELF TALKING.
>> LET ME -- GARY --
>> Gary: THE PUBLIC VIEW OF
THIS IS THAT WHAT STARTED OFF
AS A $20 MILLION OR $21
MILLION DEFICIT HAS ALL OF A
SUDDEN GROWN TO ENORMOUS
SIZE --
>> GARY --
>> Gary: -- AFFECTING --
>> GARY, IT WAS NOT $21
MILLION THIS YEAR.
YOU MUST SEPARATE THE YEARS.
YOU MUST GET IT RIGHT --
(All talking simultaneously)
>> LET ME SAY THIS:
I HAVE BEEN AROUND THIS BLOCK
FOR MANY YEARS.
FOREVER IN THIS COMMUNITY
BEFORE Dr. JANEY'S TENURE
HERE, WE WENT THROUGH THIS
SPRING RITE OF ANNOUNCING HUGE
DEFICITS, PEOPLE BEGGING FOR
PROGRAMS AND EVENTUALLY
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
>>
Gary Walker: AND THE STATE
COMES IN AND --
>> AND THE STATE COMES IN AND
WHATEVER.
NOW, THE INTERESTING THING,
GARY, IS THIS: THAT WITH
Dr. JANEY'S TENURE, WHEN HE
FIRST CAME HERE, SINCE HE CAME
HERE, THAT STOPPED.
WE DID NOT HAVE DEFICITS.
WE DID NOT HAVE FISCAL
ARGUMENTS AND CRISES.
THIS COMMUNITY WAS NOT PUT ON
THE EDGE OF A NERVOUS
BREAKDOWN, EXCEPT THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR, AND FOR NEXT YEAR,
WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTIES.
SO THE REAL TRUTH HERE IS THAT
THIS IS NOT A LONG HISTORY OF
DEFICITS UNDER Dr. JANEY'S
TENURE.
IT IS THIS YEAR.
NOW, THIS YEAR, THERE WERE
SOME FACTORS THAT WERE HIGHLY
UNUSUAL, AND I DON'T THINK
THAT THEY SHOULD DENY THATTHEY COULD HAVE MANAGED SOME
OF IT BETTER THEMSELVES, BUT I
THINK THAT THE WHOLE THING HAS
BEEN JUDGED SLIGHTLY UNFAIRLY
BY NOT RECOGNIZING THAT
Dr. JANEY ACTUALLY DID A
TERRIFIC JOB UNTIL THIS
YEAR BLEW UP THE WHOLE --
>> Gary Walker: YOUR FIRST
ASSISTANT, Mr. GILLETTE, WAS
ON THIS PROGRAM LAST MONTH AND
SAID IN THE UNION'S VIEW, THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION WAS VERY
TOP-HEAVY AND THAT THERE WERE
NOT ENOUGH TEACHERS IN
CLASSROOMS TEACHING.
THIS IS Mr. GILLETTE TALKING;
THIS IS NOT ME.
SO NOT TO --
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND.
>> Gary: BUT DOES THAT NOT
SPEAK TO -- (All speaking
simultaneously) -- MORE THAN
WE CAN AFFORD?
>> ABSOLUTELY AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE IJOINED AS A TEACHER IN THIS
DISTRICT 32 YEARS AGO, THAT
WE'VE HAD ALTOGETHER TOO MANY
NON-TEACHING ADMINISTRATORS
AND TOO FEW SERVICES IN
SCHOOLS.
SO THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE
CASE.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TO
SAY THAT AS FAR AS THE
TEACHERS AND TEACHERS' UNION
ARE CONCERNED, WE THIS YEAR
HAVE SOME VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEMS AND WE ARE LETTING
OUR OWN ACTIONS DO THE TALKING
FOR US.
WE WANT TO WORK COOPERATIVELY
TO RESOLVE THESE.
AND I THINK IF THE STATE HELPS
US MORE AND IF THE CITY STARTS
HELPING US, WHICH THEY
HAVEN'T, I THINK WE CAN
ACTUALLY GET THROUGH THIS YEAR
WITHOUT VERY, VERY SERIOUS
DAMAGE TO INSTRUCTION.
>> Gary Walker: I WOULD LIKETO TALK TO Mr. BOWERS ONCE
AGAIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
THAT POINT, TOO, BECAUSE ALSO
THE MAYOR DID ADDRESS THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL
THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT Mr. BOWERS FIRST.
GO AHEAD.
>> LET ME GO BACK.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ROB THAT
URBAN EDUCATION IS WOEFULLY
UNDERFUNDED.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT
ALL, AND THERE'S SOME SERIOUS
SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES
THAT NEED TO BE OVERCOME.
HOWEVER, FACING THAT REALITY,
THE DISTRICT DOES HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO BE FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE, AND I THINK WHAT
YOUR INITIAL QUESTION GETS AT
IS THAT IT IS -- IT IS TRUE
THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AT
LEAST, BETWEEN THE SPENDING OF
ITS RESERVES -- I THINK IT WAS$20 MILLION, $21 MILLION
RESERVES, AND THE MID-YEAR
PROJECTED DEFICIT, INTERNAL
PRACTICES WITHIN THE DISTRICT
AT LEAST OVER THIS LAST
TWO-YEAR CYCLE HAVE GENERATED
A LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND
TRUST.
NOW, THAT IS PARTLY WHAT I
THINK WE'RE EXPERIENCING NOW
THIS YEAR SOMEWHAT UNFAIRLY
GIVEN THE NEW EFFORTS BY
Mr. MARINI AND HIS FINANCE
STAFF TO WORK WITH VERY HONEST
NUMBERS.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK
IT COMES OUT LIKE A DOOMSDAY
BUDGET IS THAT WE BEGAN USING
VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE
ESTIMATES SO AS NOT TO REPEAT
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
BUT I'M NOT IN DISAGREEMENT
WITH YOU THAT THERE HAS BEEN
IN THE PAST SOME SERIOUS
ISSUES.
>> Gary Walker: AGAIN, THIS ISNOT ME --
>> I KNOW --
>> Gary Walker: LET ME SAY
THIS: NOW, THE MAYOR HAS SAID
-- AND TELL ME IF HE'S OUT OF
LINE -- THAT THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER PUTS MORE OF ITS TAX
REVENUE IN, MORE THAN BUFFALO
AND SYRACUSE DO COMBINED IN
THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> BUT NOT MORE THAN YONKERS
AND NEW YORK CITY ON A
PERCENTAGE BASIS.
IT'S VERY CONVENIENT TO PICK
AND CHOOSE NUMBERS.
>> Gary Walker: BUT THE CITY
IS ALSO IN A DEFICIT SITUATION
WHERE THE MAYOR SAYS WE'RE
GOING TO CUT POLICE OFF THE
STREETS, FIRE OFF THE STREETS,
RECREATION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE CUTTING
BACK IN EVERY SINGLE CITY
DEPARTMENT THIS BUDGET YEAR.
DOES IT FOLLOW THAT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT ALSO HAS TO DO THATAS FAR AS THEIR SHARE OF CITY
REVENUES?
>> NO, NO.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT EVEN IF
SHE WERE RIGHT ABOUT THAT --
AND I THINK HE'S RIGHT ABOUT
SOME CITIES, IN COMPARING US
TO SOME CITIES AND NOT TO
OTHERS.
BUT EVEN IF YOU WERE RIGHT
WITH ALL CITIES IN THE
UNIVERSE, THE POINT REMAINS
THAT THIS IS THE WORST TIME TO
START REDUCING REVENUES TO A
SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY
ON THE ROPES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK
THE MAYOR SHOULD TAKE UP THESE
ISSUES OF ADJUSTMENTS WHEN
THEY CAN BE TOLERATED, BUT TO
DO IT NOW IS TO ESSENTIALLY
DOOM THE SCHOOLS AND THEREFORE
DOOM THE CITY.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
WE HAVE AN EXIT QUESTION HERE
NOW, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHATWILL BE, IN YOUR MIND, THE
SCOPE OF THE CUTBACKS, I
GUESS, FOR THIS DISTRICT IN
TERMS OF JOBS?
I KNOW THERE'S TEACHERS; I
KNOW THERE'S AIDS; I KNOW
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF JOBS ON
THE LINE HERE.
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA?
Mr. BROWN, DO YOU HAVE AN
IDEA?
>> I THINK WHEN PUSH COMES TO
SHOVE, THE NET PROBLEM THAT WE
WILL HAVE TO SOLVE WILL BE
BETWEEN 5 AND 7%, AND I
BELIEVE THAT THAT'S SOLVABLE,
5 TO 7% OF THE BUDGET.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
$41 MILLION IS 10% OF OUR
BUDGET.
THAT MEANS IF YOU HAVE A
$50,000 A YEAR INCOME, YOU
HAVE TO DEAL WITH $5,000.
THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT
IT'S NOT A CATASTROPHE.
>> BUT THE NET EFFECT OF ALLOF THAT WILL BE THAT YOU WILL
HAVE SUCH CROWDED CLASSROOMS
AND SUCH LESS SAFE SCHOOLS
THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE
THAT THE CITY SCHOOLS ARE NOT
FIT FOR THEIR KIDS.
>> Gary Walker: Mr. BOWERS, DO
YOU BELIEVE THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK I'M PROBABLY
IN CLOSER AGREEMENT WITH
Dr. URBANSKI IN THAT I THINK
WHAT ADAM UNDERSCORES IS
SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CONSIDER: IT'S WHERE WE MAKE
THE CUTS THAT BECOME
IMPORTANT, AND WHERE WE CAN,
THEY DO NEED TO BE FARTHEST
AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, THERE'S
ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN CUT FROM
CENTRAL OFFICE AND EVEN THAT
HAS TO BE DONE WITH SOME
STRATEGY.
>> Gary Walker: I WISH ALL OF
YOU GENTLEMEN WELL IN THE JOB
THAT YOU HAVE AHEAD OF YOU.WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY AND
PROBABLY DOING MORE
PROGRAMMING ON IT.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
CITY SCHOOL BUDGET, LOG ON TO
OUR WEB SITE AT wxxi.org/ntk.
THERE WILL BE SOME AUDIO OF
THE MAYOR'S PHONE CALL IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN AND ALSO
A TRANSCRIPT.
YOU CAN ALSO TAKE PART IN OUR
WEEKLY INTERNET POLL, AND FOR
COMPREHENSIVE DAILY COVERAGE
OF STATE ISSUES, IT'S
NYcitizens.org.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH THE "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS
ELLEN ROSEN, EDITOR OF THE
BUSINESS SECTION OF THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."ELLEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS
WEEK.
>> Ellen Rosen: THANK YOU.
>> Gary Walker: JOBS, JOBS,
JOBS...THAT WAS ON THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE'S LIST THIS WEEK
IN THE STATE OF THE COUNTY
ADDRESS AND HIS JOBS FIRST
PROGRAM.
ANYTHING NEW IN THERE,
DIFFERENT IN THERE?
>> Ellen Rosen: THERE IS SOME
NEW THINKING.
I MEAN, WE HAD A STORY IN
TODAY'S PAPER LOOKING AT THE
JOBS PLUS PROGRAM, WHICH IS
ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST
GENEROUS TAX INCENTIVE
PROGRAMS ANYWHERE.
IT'S TWICE AS GENEROUS AS THE
MINIMUM GUIDELINES THAT THE
STATE SETS FOR SUCH PROGRAMS.
BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
PERHAPS LOADING SOME OF THOSE
THINGS BACK FURTHER AND GOING
AFTER SOME COMPANIES WITHBIGGER -- THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT REALLY TARGETING
COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO
CREATE A LOT OF JOBS.
RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TO PROMISE
SOMETHING LIKE A 10% INCREASE.
NOW THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO GO
UP TO COMPANIES THAT ARE
GUARANTEEING AT LEAST 100
JOBS.
>> Gary Walker: CAN A COUNTY
GOVERNMENT -- I MEAN IT'S ONE
ENTITY, ONE TAXING ENTITY.
IS IT REALLY GOING TO HAVE
THAT MAJOR AN EFFECT IN
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES HERE?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, YOU
KNOW, THE JURY IS REALLY OUT
ABOUT WHETHER THESE TAX
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND OTHER
KINDS OF THINGS ARE --
>> Gary Walker: IT'S
CONTROVERSIAL RIGHT NOW.
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, IT'S
BEEN KIND OF CONTROVERSIAL FOR
A FEW YEARS, BUT WHETHER THESEKINDS OF PROGRAMS ACTUALLY DO
CREATE JOBS AND CREATE JOBS AT
THE MAGNITUDE THAT COUNTIES
NEED...
BUT ONE THING THAT IS
IMPORTANT IN WHAT DOYLE IS
TALKING ABOUT IS THIS KIND OF
PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS LAUDED BY
SOME OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS
HERE, THIS COMING TOGETHER,
BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAY HAS
BEEN MISSING FOR A LONG TIME
IS THIS PROMOTION OF ROCHESTER
AS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND
LIVE AND TO HAVE A COMPANY.
AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT THESE
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
THAT WOULD SORT OF DO SOME
MORE OF THIS MARKETING OF THE
REGION AND ALSO GETTING IN
SOME VENTURE CAPITAL MONEY
BECAUSE THIS AREA HAS ALWAYS
LAGGED VERY BADLY IN GETTING
VENTURE CAPITAL MONEY HERE.
COMPANIES JUST DON'T WANT TO
DO IT, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORREALLY A PROVEN RECORD NOW
BEFORE THEY'RE WILLING TO
INVEST AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT
MAKES THE WHEELS START GOING.
>> Gary Walker: SO THE PRIVATE
PARTICIPATION IS KEY IN THIS
PLAN?
>> Ellen Rosen: IT IS.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
WE'LL KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT AND
I'M SURE THE PAPER WILL AS
WELL.
KODAK, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, NOT
LIKELY TO BE HIRING, ADDING
JOBS ANY TIME SOON, BUT THEY
DID HAVE THE
INVESTOR/STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING
YESTERDAY.
ANY MAJOR THEME COME OUT OF
THAT?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, I THINK
DAN CARP REITERATED SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT HE HAS BEEN
SAYING, WHICH IS THAT WHILE
ECONOMISTS MAY BE SAYING THAT
THE ECONOMY IS RECOVERING,MOST BUSINESS LEADERS WOULD
TELL YOU IT'S NOT QUITE THERE
YET, AND SO HE SAYS IT'S GOING
TO BE AT LEAST AGAIN 2003.
BUT ONE THING HE DID SAY -- HE
REALLY SORT OF REMINDED PEOPLE
NOT TO GIVE UP ON KODAK.
FILM IS REALLY HERE TO STAY.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 500
MILLION CAMERA USERS BUT
YOU'VE ONLY GOT 29 MILLION
DIGITAL USERS.
WELL, YES, DIGITAL HAS A WAYS
TO GO BEFORE IT CATCHES UP
WITH FILM.
SO HIS QUOTE WAS THAT REALLY,
YOU KNOW, "THE GLASS WE'VE GOT
-- MAYBE THE GLASS IS HALF
FULL, BUT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THE GLASS
TO THE BRIM, GET PEOPLE TO
TAKE MORE PICTURES, MAKE
CAMERAS EASIER TO USE,
INCREASE FILM SALES, AND FILM
IS REALLY A VERY VIABLE
PRODUCT FOR KODAK, SO DON'TCOUNT IT DEAD YET."
>> Gary Walker: KEEP OUR EYE
ON FILM.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE BUFFALO BILLS'
CAMP COMING TO TOWN AND SOME
NEWS TODAY ABOUT THE
SPONSORSHIP OF THAT.
WEGMAN'S GAVE UP SPONSORSHIP
LAST YEAR.
BAUSCH & LOMB.
>> Ellen Rosen: THAT ACTUALLY
WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.
IT WAS SOMETHING WE WEREN'T
REALLY EXPECTING WHEN WE HEARD
ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK B&L IS
PROBABLY LOOKING FOR SOME NAME
RECOGNITION, ALIGN ITSELF AS A
COMPANY THAT'S TRYING TO RISE
AGAIN WITH A TEAM THAT'S
TRYING TO RISE AGAIN, GET OUT
THERE IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
I'M SURE -- BAUSCH & LOMB IS
ALSO A COMPANY WITH A LONG
HISTORY OF COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT.THIS IS PROBABLY PART OF THAT,
BUT WE'LL FIND OUT MORE LATER
TODAY WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR
PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> Gary Walker: BECAUSE I'M
WONDERING WHAT THEY GET OUT OF
IT OTHER THAN NAME RECOGNITION
OR LINKED WITH A --
>> Ellen Rosen: THAT'S
PROBABLY A LOT OF IT.
AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS WEAR
CONTACT LENSES AND ALL SORTS
OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> Gary Walker: THAT I DIDN'T
THINK OF.
WHAT'S COMING UP?
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?
>> Ellen Rosen: ACTUALLY, YOU
RAISED KODAK BEFORE AND THAT'S
REALLY INTERESTING.
SUNDAY BUSINESS THIS WEEK,
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A GOOD
LOOK AT THE MOVIE THEATER OF
THE FUTURE BASED ON NEW
DIGITAL PROJECTION SYSTEMS
THAT KODAK IS JUST ABOUT READYTO ROLL OUT.
>> Gary Walker: SO IT'S NOT SO
MUCH A MOVIE THEATER BUT A
DIGITAL PROJECTION THEATER?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, REALLY A
WHOLE EXPERIENCE, A REALLY NEW
WAY OF TAKING THE MULTIPLEX,
WHERE YOU CAN HAVE WHOLE
DIFFERENT USES AND ONE SYSTEM
THAT REALLY ALLOWS THE THEATER
OPERATOR TO HAVE ALL DIFFERENT
KINDS OF THINGS GOING, PERHAPS
SIMULCAST OF A LIVE BROADWAY
PRODUCTION, A CONCERT, YOUR
ANNUAL BOARD MEETING, ALL
SORTS OF THINGS THAT COULD BE
GOING ON.
AND WE ARE REALLY GOING TO
GIVE YOU NOT JUST THE STORY
BEHIND IT, BUT WE'VE GOT THIS
REALLY WONDERFUL GRAPHIC THAT
REALLY SHOWS YOU WHAT THAT
THEATER'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE
FROM THE CONCESSION STAND ALL
THE WAY INTO THE SCREEN.
>> Gary Walker: AND WE'LL BE SEEING THAT SUNDAY.
>> Ellen Rosen: YOU'LL BE
SEEING THAT SUNDAY.
>> Gary Walker: IN THE
BUSINESS SECTION OF THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> Ellen Rosen: THANKS, GARY.
>> Gary Walker: NOW, FOR MORE
INFORMATION ON THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW,"
JUST LOG ON TO THE WEB SITE,
wxxi.org/ntk.
ALSO ON THERE, THERE WILL BE
AN AUDIO FILE OF THE MAYOR'S
CALL TO "1370 CONNECTION"
AND SOME ANCILLARY STORIES
THAT WE HAVE PUBLISHED ON
THERE.
IT'S ALL THERE FOR YOU TO SEE
ON wxxi.org/ntk.
NOW, THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE THE
BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF
ROCHESTER.SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)