>>
Gary Walker: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," DELIVERING
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT
SPEECH IN HIS CAREER, GOVERNOR
GEORGE PATAKI PRESENTED HIS
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
WEDNESDAY.
POLITICAL PUNDITS SAY IT IS A
SPRINGBOARD FOR HIS REELECTION
CAMPAIGN.
BUT WHATEVER THE POLITICS,
YOUR POCKETBOOK AND THE
ECONOMIC HEALTH OF ROCHESTER
WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE
GOVERNOR'S PLANS.
PLUS WE HAVE ELLEN ROSEN OF
THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
JOINING US TO DISCUSS JOBS AND
THIS WEEK'S LOCAL BUSINESS
NEWS IN THIS WEEK'S "BUSINESS
SECTION."
AND FROM THE STATE OF THE
STATE TO THE STATE OF THE
ROCHESTER PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA.
WHY IS THE R.P.O. ALMOST HALF
A MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT?
WE'LL TELL YOU.
BUT COMING UP FIRST, NEW
YORK'S STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
THAT'S NEXT ON "NEED TO KNOW."
>> Governor Pataki: WE CAN BE
CONFIDENT ABOUT THE FUTURE,
CONFIDENT THAT THE HEROIC
SPIRIT THAT GUIDED US THROUGH
THIS DISASTER WILL GUIDE US TO
A BRIGHTER TOMORROW.
>> 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.
>> Gary Walker: THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
PARDON OUR DUST.
WE'RE REMODELING HERE ON
"NEED TO KNOW."
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE DONE BY
NEXT WEEK.
AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, GOVERNOR
GEORGE PATAKI FOCUSED HIS
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON
PATRIOTISM AND THE ECONOMIC
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION WHILE BRIEFLY
OUTLINING NEW YORK'S FINANCIAL
FUTURE.
ALBANY LEGISLATORS AGREE THE
STATE WILL FACE A BUDGET
DEFICIT THIS SPRING BUT THE
AMOUNT IS IN QUESTION, WITH
ESTIMATES RANGING FROM $5
BILLION TO $8 BILLION.
DESPITE FACING A RECESSION IN
THE UPCOMING BUDGET BATTLE
WITH STATE LEGISLATORS, MUCH
OF PATAKI'S SPEECH WAS GEARED
TOWARDS RECOGNIZING THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NEW YORKERS
AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11th
TRAGEDY.
PATAKI ALSO DISCUSSED HIS
PLANS TO GO AHEAD WITH $300
MILLION WORTH OF TAX CUTS AND
HIS WISH FOR A HIGH-TECH
CORRIDOR IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
IN FACT, PATAKI HIGHLIGHTED
UPSTATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH,
INCLUDING REFERENCE TO
ROCHESTER'S PROPOSED FAST
FERRY AND OTHER WATERFRONT
DEVELOPMENT.
HE SAID NEW YORK WILL WEATHER
THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN
SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 11th
ATTACK.
LET'S LISTEN TO SOME OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S
SPEECH.
(Applause)
>> Governor Pataki: DESPITE
THE ENORMITY OF THE ATTACKS
AND DESPITE THE MAGNITUDE OF
THE CHALLENGES WE NOW FACE, WE
CAN BE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE
FUTURE.
SINCE SEPTEMBER 11TH,
PARTISANSHIP HAS GIVEN WAY TO
A NEW SPIRIT OF UNITY.
THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO CHANGE
AND IT SHOULDN'T CHANGE
BECAUSE NEW YORKERS NEED US TO
STAY UNITED.
PEOPLE WANT AN END TO PARTISAN
POLITICS, AND THEY DESERVE IT.
...ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WAS
SEVERELY STALLED, DECIMATING
TAX REVENUES, AS THE NATION
ENTERS A RECESSION.
OUR PROJECTED REVENUE LOSSES
WILL REACH INTO THE BILLIONS
THIS FISCAL YEAR AND NEXT.
WE WILL LOSE MORE REVENUE THAN
MANY STATES COLLECT.
WE SET ASIDE LAST YEAR 1.8
BILLION OF OUR BUDGET'S
SURPLUS IN A NEWLY CREATED
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY RESERVE
FUND.
WE PLANNED FOR THE BEST, AND
WE DID ALL THAT WE COULD TO
PREPARE FOR THE WORST.
...WE'RE NOT GOING TO SELL
PRISONS TO OURSELVES TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
(Applause)
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SLASH
EDUCATION FUNDING IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
(Applause)
WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE FISCAL
GIMMICKS TO CONCEAL REALITY.
(Applause)
IN SHORT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO
RESORT TO ANY OF THE
IRRESPONSIBLE MEASURES THAT
WERE TAKEN IN PRIOR YEARS WHEN
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE NOT
NEARLY AS GRAVE AS THEY ARE
TODAY.
(Applause)
...IN THE COMING WEEKS, I WILL
ASK YOU TO PASS A BROAD
PACKAGE OF INITIATIVES THAT,
COMBINED WITH THE INNOVATIVE
AND SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENTS
ALREADY UNDERWAY, WILL HELP TO
REINVIGORATE OUR ECONOMIC
PROGRESS.
I WILL PROPOSE A NEW EMPIRE
OPPORTUNITY FUND THAT WILL
SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS THAT WILL CREATE JOBS
AND SPARK GROWTH IN UPSTATE
NEW YORK AND ON LONG ISLAND.
(Applause)
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,
THE EMPIRE OPPORTUNITY BANK
COULD BE USED TO FUND PROJECTS
LIKE INNER HARBOR
DEVELOPMENTS, DOWNTOWN
COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATIONS,
CRUCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING TO OUR
BUILD NOW-NY SITES, FAST FERRY
PROJECTS AND WATERFRONT
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK
STATE.
THIS NEW EMPIRE OPPORTUNITY
FUND IS THE FIRST PART OF AN
AMBITIOUS PLAN TO ATTRACT NEW
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS INNOVATIVE NEW APPROACH
WILL CREATE THOUSANDS OF NEW
JOBS WHILE MOVING NEW YORK IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THE
ROAD TO RECOVERY.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE
PLEDGED MORE THAN $400 MILLION
FOR CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, IN
BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, ALBANY,
AND LONG ISLAND.
THESE EFFORTS ARE MOVING
FORWARD, BUT WE'LL DO MORE TO
MAKE NEW YORK STATE AN
INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN
HIGH-TECH AND BIOTECH.
I WILL PROPOSE THAT THIS YEAR
WE WILL INVEST $250 MILLION
FOR INITIAL FUNDING OF THE
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
IN ROCHESTER, WE WILL BUILD
INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER AND
BIOTECH COMPANIES TO DEVELOP
NEW APPROACHES TO TREAT
ILLNESS SUCH AS AIDS, CANCER
AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, SCHOOL
LEADERS AND EDUCATORS HAVE
ASKED US TO GIVE THEM
FLEXIBILITY IN SPENDING THESE
RESOURCES SO THEY CAN MEET THE
SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR
CHILDREN.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM THE
FLEXIBILITY THEY SEEK AND
RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THE
EDUCATION FUNDING GOALS I SET
FORTH LAST YEAR, TO THROW OUT
THE EXISTING SCHOOL AID
FORMULA AND TO ACHIEVE EQUITY,
WITHOUT PITTING ONE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
THIS YEAR, WE SHOULD ANSWER
THAT CALL.
MAYOR, YOU ARE RIGHT.
REAL EDUCATION REFORM MEANS
GIVING YOU AND THE MAYORS OF
OUR OTHER BIG CITIES THAT
CONTROL.
I WILL FIGHT TO GIVE YOU THAT
POWER THIS YEAR.
(Applause)
...TOGETHER, WE HAVE MADE
STATE GOVERNMENT SMALLER,
SMARTER AND MORE EFFICIENT.
IN THE COMING WEEKS, I WILL
CREATE A TASK FORCE TO ADVANCE
THIS GOAL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
BY EXPLORING INNOVATIVE
REFORMS AND NEW IDEAS AIMED AT
MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE
EFFICIENT AT THE VILLAGE,
TOWN, CITY AND COUNTY LEVELS
AS WELL.
WE MUST EMPOWER THE PEOPLE
FURTHER -- WE TRUST THEM -- BY
GIVING THEM THE RIGHT TO PLACE
POPULAR PROPOSALS ON THE
GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT.
THAT'S WHY --
(Applause)
THAT'S WHY THIS YEAR -- THAT'S
WHY THIS YEAR I WILL CALL FOR
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD ESTABLISH
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN
NEW YORK STATE.
(Applause)
IN THE SAME SPIRIT, WE MUST
TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT
EVERY NEW YORKER'S VOICE IN
THE POLITICAL PROCESS IS
HEARD.
THIS YEAR, LET'S PASS
MEANINGFUL AND COMPREHENSIVE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
(Applause)
(Music)
>> Gary Walker: MODEST
APPLAUSE ON THAT ONE.
WHILE THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH
OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, POLITICAL
EXPERTS SAY IT WAS ALSO THE
UNOFFICIAL START OF HIS
REELECTION CAMPAIGN.
JOINING ME NOW IN STUDIO TO
BREAK DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S
SPEECH IS SENATOR JAMES ALESI,
REPUBLICAN FROM THE 55th
DISTRICT;
POLITICAL REPORTER MIKE CAPUTO
OF "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE;"
PATTI MALGIERI, PRESIDENT AND
C.E.O. OF THE CENTER FOR
GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH; AND
ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH MORELLE,
DEMOCRAT FROM THE 132nd
DISTRICT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
LET ME START OFF WITH OUR
LAWMAKERS AND JUST ASK YOU
THIS: DON'T YOU WISH YOU HAD
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET TO DO OVER
AGAIN?
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS IT
WOULDN'T HAVE MADE ANY
DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WITH
SEPTEMBER 11th, IT'S CHANGED
ALL THE DYNAMICS, SO HAD WE
HAD LAST YEAR'S BUDGET TO DO
OVER AGAIN, WHICH I'M SURE WE
WOULD ALL AGREE WE WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE DONE, I THINK WE WOULD
STILL BE IN THE SAME POSITION
IN TERMS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
FINANCES OF THE STATE.
SO OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO
TRY TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB
THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR WAS THE WORST
PERHAPS EVER.
>> Gary Walker: LET ME JUST
ASK THIS AND, SENATOR, WE'LL
GET TO YOU.
I HEAR THE GOVERNOR SAY THAT
HE'S GOING TO CUT STATE
SPENDING, GOING TO CONTINUE
THE TAX CUTS.
WE'RE IN A RECESSION.
MANHATTAN NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
UPSTATE ECONOMY AND BOLSTERING
IT BECAUSE IT IS FLAGGING.
THE ONLY THING I HAVE HEARD
REVENUEWISE IS PERHAPS A 39
CENTS PER PACK TAX ON
CIGARETTES.
IF YOU DO THE QUICK MATH, WITH
A $5 BILLION TO $8 BILLION
DEFICIT, NO MATTER HOW YOU
JUDGE IT, THE NUMBERS AREN'T
ADDING UP.
>> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
WE'LL SEE WHEN THE GOVERNOR
DELIVERS HIS BUDGET IN A WEEK
OR TWO.
WE'LL SEE THE DETAILS THERE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HE
WOULDN'T BE PROPOSING ANYTHING
THAT AT LEAST ON PAPER DOESN'T
BALANCE OUT.
SO WHATEVER THE REVENUE
FIGURES ARE, I THINK THAT HE
MIGHT BE RELYING ON THE MOST
RECENT NEWS, AND THAT IS THAT
THE DEFICIT THAT'S A RESULT OF
9/11, THE TRAGEDY IN NEW YORK
CITY, ISN'T GOING TO BE AS
LARGE AS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
SO THERE WILL BE MORE REVENUE
THERE.
AND THERE IS REVENUE BEING
DRIVEN OUT OF A NEW INDUSTRY,
AND THAT IS RELATED TO ALL OF
THE EVENTS AT THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER.
SO THERE'S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
GOING ON THERE, BUT IT'S A
REACTIONARY KIND OF BUSINESS.
>> Gary Walker: I WAS GOING TO
ASK AND BRING PATTI MALGIERI
IN ON THIS, TOO.
THE REVENUE ESTIMATE -- OF
COURSE THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE
AND GOVERNOR HISTORICALLY
DON'T AGREE ON REVENUE
ESTIMATES, AND THIS YEAR, I
THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE
KEY THAN EVER.
BUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING, AND
SIMILAR TO WHAT SENATOR ALESI
JUST SAID, IT'S JUST NOT AS
BAD AS $5 BILLION TO $8
BILLION.
IS THAT YOUR FEELING?
>> I THINK -- IT'S A MOVING
TARGET.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO
FIGURE THIS OUT.
NOW WE'LL BE WATCHING IT VERY
CLOSELY.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE
EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE,
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THERE'S SO
MUCH UNCERTAINTY.
OUR ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT EVEN
IF THE NATION IS COMING OUT OF
A RECESSION, OR EVEN IF THE
STATE IS, OUR PARTICULAR AREA,
BECAUSE OF CONTINUING
DOWNSIZING IN MANUFACTURING,
MAY STILL LAG A LITTLE BIT, SO
WE HERE IN ROCHESTER ARE STILL
CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING TOO
OPTIMISTIC.
AND I THINK WE'LL BE
MONITORING IT VERY CLOSELY AS
WILL THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND
THE LEGISLATURE.
>> Gary Walker: I'M GETTING AN
UPSTATE/DOWNSTATE FEEL TO THIS
BUDGET, MORE STRONGLY THAN I
HAVE IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS NEED IN
MANHATTAN, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
BUT UPSTATE, AS THE LAST
SEVERAL ELECTIONS HAVE SHOWN
US, PEOPLE ARE SAYING, "THINGS
AREN'T GREAT UP HERE, AND WE
NEED SOME HELP AS WELL."
HOW DO YOU BALANCE BOTH?
THE GOVERNOR SAID IN HIS
SPEECH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
ECONOMIC CORRIDORS AND WE'RE
GOING TO HELP UPSTATE'S
ECONOMY, BUT WE HAVE TO
REBUILD MANHATTAN.
HOW DO YOU DO BOTH?
>> GARY, I THINK ONE OF THE
INTERESTING THINGS IN THE
SPEECH WAS THAT HE MENTIONED
QUITE PROMINENTLY THE UPSTATE
ECONOMY, TALKED ABOUT THE
UPSTATE ECONOMY, TALKED ABOUT
AN EMPIRE OPPORTUNITY FUND
WHICH SOUNDS, RIGHT NOW, GOOD
I THINK TO UPSTATE COUNTIES.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT DOES THE FUND MEAN?
AND LOOKING THROUGH IT FROM
THE POLITICAL PRISM, WAS IT A
WAY TO SORT OF GET OUT IN
FRONT AND SAY, "WE'RE NOT
FORGETTING ABOUT UPSTATE,"
BECAUSE THEY KNOW RACES ARE
WON BY MAKING SURE YOU TAKE
CARE OF UPSTATE AND DON'T
FORGET ABOUT UPSTATE WHILE
YOU'RE CAMPAIGNING.
>> IF I COULD JUST INTERRUPT A
SECOND.
THIS WAS SORT OF A FANTASY
SPEECH ON THE GOVERNOR'S PART.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE UPSTATE
ECONOMY AND HOW WELL IT'S DONE
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS;
HE TALKED ABOUT THE JOB
GROWTH; HE TALKED ABOUT HOW
UPSTATE WAS DOING SO WELL
UNTIL SEPTEMBER 11th, AND
THAT'S HAD A DRAMATIC DOWNTURN
IN THE UPSTATE ECONOMY.
I'M NOT SURE WHICH STATE THE
GOVERNOR'S LIVING IN AND I'M
NOT SURE WHICH UPSTATE HE'S
REFERRING TO, BUT UPSTATE NEW
YORK, IF IT WERE ITS OWN
STATE, WOULD RANK ABOUT 48th
IN THE NATION OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS IN TERMS OF JOB
GROWTH.
WE SIMPLY HAVE NOT SHARED THE
PROSPERITY THAT THE REST OF
THE UNITED STATES SHARED IN
DURING THE ECONOMIC EXPANSION
WHICH WAS THE GREATEST IN THE
HISTORY OF MAN.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE
GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT.
HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE HAVE
HELPED SO MUCH.
WE HAVEN'T BUILT THE CENTER
FOR EXCELLENCE YET.
HE TALKED ABOUT EMPIRE ZONES,
WHICH WERE ASSEMBLY IDEAS.
HE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF
OTHER IDEAS.
BUT THE FACT IS UPSTATE'S
ECONOMY HAS LAGGED; IT
CONTINUES TO LAG, AND THE
GOVERNOR SIMPLY DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
TRANSITIONING FROM A
MANUFACTURING ECONOMY TO AN
INFORMATION ECONOMY.
WE HAVE DABBLED IN IT A LITTLE
BIT, BUT HE HASN'T MADE THAT
KIND OF COMMITMENT.
AND WHILE TAX CUTS ARE VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT AND WE'RE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO DO THEM BECAUSE
IT DOES AFFECT THE CLIMATE AND
ENVIRONMENT FOR JOB GROWTH,
THERE'S A HOST OF OTHER THINGS
HE HASN'T DONE.
HIS TALK ABOUT ACCESS TO
CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSES,
LIKE HE JUST DISCOVERED IT,
FOR THREE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN
BEGGING HIM TO IMPLEMENT A
PROGRAM WHICH WE HAVE FUNDED
ON ACCESS CAPITAL FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
>> Gary Walker: SENATOR, I
KNOW YOU WANT TO COME IN HERE.
>> I THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE UPSTATE ECONOMY,
CERTAINLY COMPARED TO THE REST
OF THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE
LAGGED.
BUT I THINK THAT THE
GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE EFFORTS
OF THE SENATE AND THE
ASSEMBLY, HAVE SHOWN THAT
THERE IS A STRONG INTEREST IN
TALKING ABOUT CENTERS FOR
EXCELLENCE, TALKING ABOUT THE
GENESIS PROGRAM OUT OF THE
SENATE.
TALKING ABOUT, IN HIS SPEECH
YESTERDAY, THAT HE WANTS TO
INITIATE $250 MILLION JUST FOR
THAT PURPOSE.
BUT MY FEELING IS THAT WHEN A
GOVERNOR IS SAYING THAT WE
HAVE DONE SO MUCH, HE IS
BENCHMARKING IT AGAINST
SOMETHING ELSE THAT HE TOUCHED
ON IN HIS SPEECH YESTERDAY AND
THAT IS THE CUOMO YEARS.
OF COURSE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO BRING NEW YORK CITY AND
UPSTATE TOGETHER OUT OF THE
CUOMO YEARS AT THE SAME TIME.
NEW YORK CITY CAME OUT OF THE
CUOMO YEARS VERY QUICKLY
BECAUSE OF THE UPTURN IN THE
ECONOMY, AND A LOT OF THAT WAS
DUE TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY,
BUT A LOT OF IT WAS DUE TO THE
GOVERNOR'S TAX POLICIES AND A
PRUDENT FISCAL APPROACH.
>> Gary Walker: WE'RE EIGHT
YEARS OUT OF THE CUOMO YEARS,
AND THIS UNDERLINES MY POINT.
PATTI, YOU CAN HELP HERE
BECAUSE THE CONVENTIONAL
WISDOM OF UPSTATE IS THAT NEW
YORK CITY IS A BLACK HOLE OF
TAX DOLLARS.
THE REALITY HAS BEEN THAT'S
THE ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR THE
STATE AND THEY'VE PAID OUT
MORE TAXES THAN THEY EVER TAKE
IN OVER THE PAST, I DON'T
KNOW, PROBABLY TEN OR FIFTEEN
YEARS.
>> UM-HMM.
>> Gary Walker: NOW THERE'S A
BIG NEED AND THERE MAY BE THAT
THE BALANCE OF PAYMENT AND
DEBT, AS THE CENTER FOR
GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH HAS
DOCUMENTED, MAY HAVE TO SWITCH
THIS WAY.
IS THERE A CASE FOR THAT
UPSTATE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THE PIE
IS SHRINKING AND THAT WE HAVE
NOT IN RECENT YEARS BEEN ABLE
TO ACCESS MONEY FOR SOME
PROJECTS THAT WE'VE WANTED.
I THINK WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED
TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER IN
ORDER TO TRY TO GET A PIECE OF
THAT SHRINKING PIE, SEVERAL
PIECES OF THE SHRINKING PIE.
THE ENVIRONMENT IS LOOKING
VERY BLEAK FOR US IF WE DON'T
AS A COMMUNITY TAKE SOME
CONCERTED ACTION ON WHAT OUR
PRIORITIES NEED TO BE.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
QUICKLY, BECAUSE TIME IS GOING
TO GO QUICKLY, TWO THINGS:
WHAT GETS CUT?
WE'VE GOT TO CUT THE BUDGET.
WHAT GETS CUT?
DOES SCHOOL AID GET CUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULDN'T
CUT SCHOOL AID MIDDLE OF THE
YEAR.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FINISH A
BUDGET SOMETIME IN APRIL.
THAT WILL BE THE MIDDLE OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
SO HE'S TALKING ABOUT NO
DOWNTURN IN TERMS OF SUPPORT
FOR EDUCATION...
>> (Inaudible) -- THAT BUDGET?
>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT
IN APRIL.
(Chuckling)
I THINK.
I HOPE!
HE'S MADE A DEAL WITH THE
BIGGEST HEALTH CARE UNION IN
NEW YORK CITY NOT TO CUT
MEDICAID.
HE'S -- AND I AGREE WITH THIS:
HE'S NOT DEFERRING THE TAX
CUT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HIS MATH IS
GOING TO ADD UP.
IT WILL BE VERY, VERY
INTERESTING IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS TO SEE.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO GLOSS OVER
WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP HERE,
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS HE
BROUGHT UP WAS THE
BIPARTISANSHIP, AND I DID NOT
HEAR THE CHALLENGE TO THE
LEGISLATORS TO "LET'S GET A
BUDGET DONE ON TIME."
WE HAVE HEARD THAT IN PAST
SPEECHES.
WHERE WAS IT THIS TIME?
>> I TELL YOU WHAT GETS CUT.
I THINK IT WAS AS PLAIN AS
SOMETHING ON THE END OF OUR
NOSES.
WHAT GETS CUT?
OUR TAXES.
THAT'S THE BENCHMARK OF
EVERYTHING THIS GOVERNOR HAS
BROUGHT TO NEW YORK STATE FOR
THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
(Talking simultaneously)
>> Gary Walker: BUT IF YOU CUT
TAXES, YOU'RE CUTTING REVENUE,
AND YOU HAVE A DEFICIT
ALREADY.
YOU'VE GOT TO CUT SOMETHING.
YOU HAVE TO CUT SPENDING.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT
THE AREAS OF CUTTING IS WHAT
MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
AS I SAY, THE PRIORITY FOR ME
IS CUTTING TAXES.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO
IS GO BACK ON THOSE TAX CUTS
THAT WERE PROMISED FOR THESE
YEARS BECAUSE BUSINESSES AND
FAMILIES HAVE LIVED
MULTI-YEARS ON THE PROMISE
THAT THOSE TAXES WOULD BE CUT.
>> Gary Walker: WHAT GETS CUT?
STAR?
SERVICES?
>> YOU CAN'T CUT STAR.
THAT'S HIS PROGRAM.
SO YOU KNOW HE WON'T CUT THAT.
>> AND CERTAINLY THERE HAVE
BEEN RUMORS ABOUT 5,000 JOB
CUTS IN THE STATE BUREAUCRACY.
HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT.
I ASSUME THERE WILL BE SOME
HEFTY WORK FORCE CUTS.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
QUICK EXIT QUESTION ALMOST,
AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO
ANSWER BUT LET ME ASK THIS:
WITH THE SHRINKING BUDGET, IS
THIS THE YEAR THAT WE CHANGE
IN NEW YORK STATE THE SCHOOL
FUNDING FORMULA?
SCHOOL DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW AS
IT'S SET UP HAVE A SAVE
HARMLESS AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT
CAN'T GET LESS IN AID THAN IT
GOT IN A PREVIOUS YEAR AND
SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE
"RICH" SUBURBAN DISTRICTS --
>> I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT
THE GOVERNOR WON'T SUGGEST A
FORMULA THAT'S FAIRER THAN THE
ONE WE HAVE.
THE TIME TO HAVE DONE THIS WAS
DURING THE HUGE EXPANSION IN
TERMS OF STATE AID
BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO -- YOU
KNOW, EVERY BOAT GETS LIFTED
IN A RISING TIDE.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TIME
TO DO IT.
HE SHRUNK AWAY FROM THAT.
HIS BIGGEST APPROACH IN
EDUCATION IS TO SUE, TO MAKE
SURE WE OVERTURN THE DECISION
BY THE SUPREME COURT THAT WE
HAVE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL
FORMULA.
MY GUESS IS HE DOES ALMOST
NOTHING.
HE'LL DO SOME FLEXIBILITY AID,
WHICH SORT OF LUMPS EVERYTHING
TOGETHER, AND SAY, "DEAL WITH
IT, LEGISLATURE."
>> HE WAS RIGHT TO SUE BECAUSE
THE DECISION WAS MADE ON
THREE-YEAR-OLD INFORMATION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUMPED
OVER $3 BILLION IN SCHOOL AID
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
CONSECUTIVELY.
BUT I THINK WHEN HE'S TALKING
ABOUT FLEX-AID, HE'S FOCUSING
THE NEW FORMULA CONCEPT ON
GIVING MORE DETERMINATION,
SELF-DETERMINATION TO LOCAL
SCHOOLS, AND I THINK THAT'S
VERY WISE.
>> Gary Walker: BUT WILL HE
REDO THE SCHOOL FORMULA, DO
YOU THINK, THIS YEAR?
>> MY PREVIOUS ANSWER SAYS
THAT THE DETAILS WILL BE IN
THE BUDGET AND I THINK WE'LL
SEE THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR
TWO WHEN THE BUDGET COMES OUT.
>> Gary Walker: INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDUM, DO YOU SUPPORT IT?
>> IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.
IT'S BEEN A FAILURE IN
CALIFORNIA.
IT WILL BE A FAILURE IN NEW
YORK.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> Gary Walker: SENATOR ALESI?
>> I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED IT.
I THINK THE CONCEPT IS
SOMETHING THAT GIVES PEOPLE
SELF-DETERMINATION IN A
DEMOCRACY SUCH AS OURS, BUT
THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH IT
THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BEFORE
WE IMPLEMENT IT.
>> Gary Walker: REALITY CHECK,
PATTI?
>> I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO LOOK
VERY CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN PLACES
LIKE CALIFORNIA DOESN'T HAPPEN
IN NEW YORK STATE.
>> Gary Walker: POLITICAL
REALITY, MIKE CAPUTO?
>> I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE
PARTISANSHIP IN ALBANY AGAIN.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> Gary Walker: THERE YOU HAVE
IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
GOVERNOR PATAKI'S STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS, PLEASE LOG ON
TO OUR WEB SITE AT
wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE THERE, YOU MAY ALSO TAKE
PART IN OUR WEEKLY SURVEY
QUESTION, AND ALSO FOR
COMPREHENSIVE DAILY COVERAGE
OF THE STATE ISSUES AND NEWS,
INCLUDING THE STATE OF THE
STATE, IT'S nycitizens.org.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS
SECTION" WITH "THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
>> Gary Walker: JOINING US NOW
IN STUDIO, ELLEN ROSEN, THE
BUSINESS EDITOR FOR "THE
DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK
AGAIN THIS WEEK.
>> Ellen Rosen: THANKS, GARY.
>> Gary Walker: THE GOVERNOR
MENTIONED ROCHESTER TWICE, OR
ROCHESTER PROJECTS TWICE, IN
THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH,
THE FAST FERRY AND BIOTECH,
THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, WITH
THE U OF R AS WELL.
SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR AREA?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, THE
FAST FERRY IS SOMETHING THAT
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO REALLY
BOOST THE TOURISM TO THE AREA,
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TORONTO
AND ROCHESTER.
I MEAN, WE'RE JUST A STONE'S
THROW ACROSS THE LAKE BUT IT'S
A THREE-HOUR DRIVE ACROSS THE
BORDER, SO THEY'RE REALLY
HOPING THAT WILL BE A BIG
BOOST AND PEOPLE WILL COME
FROM THERE, SHOP IN OUR STORES
AND EAT IN OUR RESTAURANTS.
BIOTECH IS REALLY THE BIG
NEWS.
THEY HAD ASKED ORIGINALLY --
IT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT COMES
OUT ACTUALLY IN THE BUDGET.
THEY ASKED FOR SOMETHING
ORIGINALLY, LIKE $30 MILLION,
OF WHICH A SMALL PIECE WOULD
GO TOWARD DEVELOPING THIS
INCUBATOR THAT THE U OF R
WOULD RUN THAT WOULD INCUBATE
BIOTECH COMPANIES OVER AT THE
ROCHESTER TECHNOLOGY PART.
SO ACTUALLY HOW MUCH MONEY
THEY END UP GETTING WILL
DEPEND REALLY ON HOW BIG A
PROJECT THIS IS.
>> Gary Walker: I'VE GOT TO
TELL YOU, I THINK MOST PEOPLE,
INCLUDING MYSELF ARE SAYING,
"BIOTECH, WE SAY THOSE WORDS
ALL THE TIME.
WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN
AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN
ROCHESTER THAT'S BIOTECH?"
>> Ellen Rosen: BIOTECHNOLOGY
IS A SMALL BUT GROWING
BUSINESS HERE.
THERE'S I THINK NOW ABOUT
7,000 PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN IT,
AND IT'S EVERYTHING FROM A
MAJOR COMPANY LIKE
ORTHOCLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS,
WHICH IS A DIVISION OF JOHNSON
& JOHNSON, TO SMALL COMPANIES,
UPSTARTS LIKE ONE THAT'S
REALLY JUST GETTING GOING THAT
WE PROFILED.
THEY ARE DEVELOPING SOME
VACCINES FOR CANCERS AND SOME
OTHER THINGS.
SOME OF THESE ARE COMPANIES
THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER HOPES TO SPIN OFF
WITH TECHNOLOGIES THEY'RE
DEVELOPING THAT COULD TURN
INTO MARKETABLE PROJECTS.
IT'S A GROWING INDUSTRY AND
ONE THAT U OF R PLANS TO MAKE
A DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY HERE.
>> Gary Walker: YOU HAVE
ACTUALLY MADE THAT A BEAT AT
THE PAPER?
>> Ellen Rosen: YES, WE DO.
WE HAVE A FULL-TIME REPORTER,
MICHAEL WENZEL, WHO IS
ASSIGNED TO COVERING THAT.
>> Gary Walker: SO YOU'RE
GUESSING RIGHT NOW THAT IT'S
JUST GOING TO BE TOMORROW'S
BUSINESS OR MAYBE ONE OF THE
ECONOMIC GENERATORS OF OUR
FUTURE?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, IT'S NOT
JUST OUR GUESS.
I MEAN, TOM JACKSON, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER, AND JAY STEEN, THE
HEAD OF THE U.R. MEDICAL
CENTER, HAVE SAID THAT THEY
INTEND TO BECOME A MAJOR
ECONOMIC DRIVER.
REALLY, AS ROCHESTER HAS
SHIFTED FROM THIS
MANUFACTURING ECONOMY AND OUR
MANUFACTURING JOBS CONTINUE TO
DECLINE, SERVICE JOBS HAVE
GROWN, BUT THEY'RE NOT GROWING
AT THE RATE THEY WERE, SO YOU
REALLY NEED TO BRING SOMETHING
NEW IN.
AND BIOTECH IS REALLY A WAY TO
DO THAT.
THEY ARE NEW JOBS, WELL-PAYING
JOBS, HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE
WHO NEED TO WORK IN THESE
JOBS, VERY TRAINED.
IT'S A WONDERFUL BASE FOR AN
ECONOMY.
AND U OF R HAS SAID THEY
INTEND TO MAKE THIS A MAJOR
DRIVER OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
>> Gary Walker: AN ANALOGOUS
SITUATION WOULD BE LIKE THE
SILICON VALLEY OF BIOTECH.
>> Ellen Rosen: UM-HMM.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
LET'S GO TO GROWTH AND TO NOT
SOME GREAT NEWS THAT I READ IN
THE PAPER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF 100 JOBS LOST
AT BETANGA COMPANY HERE.
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR JOB
LOSSES IN ROCHESTER NOW?
WHAT COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE
--
>> Ellen Rosen: IT'S REALLY
HARD TO SAY.
I MEAN, WE KNOW WHERE THE BIG
LAYOFFS WILL COME -- KODAK AND
XEROX AND WE'VE HEARD RUMOURS
-- YOU KNOW, WHAT VALLIO HAS
SAID.
SO THAT'S BIG NUMBERS WE HAVE
ALREADY HEARD, BUT WHAT WE'RE
REALLY WATCHING FOR AND WHAT'S
REALLY HARD TO PREDICT ARE
THESE SMALLER COMPANIES THAT
MAY BE TEETERING RIGHT NOW IN
THE UNCERTAIN ECONOMY,
UNCERTAINTY REALLY BEING THE
KEY WORD WITH THE ECONOMY.
IT'S HARD TO PREDICT.
THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR HAS
BEEN VERY HARD HIT, BUT SO
HAVE PORTIONS OF THE SERVICE
SECTOR.
>> Gary Walker: HOW DO
COMPANIES DECIDE WHO THEY'RE
GOING TO LAY OFF?
WHAT TYPES OF JOBS OR --
>> Ellen Rosen: THAT'S
INTERESTING.
I MEAN, IT USED TO BE, NOT
THAT LONG AGO, THAT IT WAS
LIKE LAST-IN, FIRST-OUT. THE
NEWEST PERSON HIRED, LEAST
SENIORITY, THEY LOST THEIR
JOB.
COMPANIES AREN'T LOOKING THAT
WAY ANYMORE.
THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING TO THE
BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY
WHICH MEANS RETAINING CERTAIN
KEY SKILLS THAT ARE KEY TO
THEIR MISSION AND WHERE THEY
ARE MOVING THE COMPANY.
>> Gary Walker: OKAY.
SO IF YOUR COMPANY SAYS,
"WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A JOB
REDUCTION," WHEN THEY ANNOUNCE
IT, IS IT FETE ACCOMPLI THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SAY IN IT?
IS THERE SOMETHING A WORKER
CAN DO TO POSSIBLY SPARE
THEMSELVES?
>> Ellen Rosen: I THINK
THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS YOU CAN
DO TO LESSEN YOURSELF BEING --
IF THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE AMONG
PEOPLE, THERE ARE DEFINITELY
THINGS YOU CAN DO, AND WE
ACTUALLY HAVE A STORY THAT
WILL BE RUNNING ON THIS SUNDAY
IN THE BUSINESS SECTION OF
"THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR
DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR,
OBVIOUSLY, CLEAR SKILLS, A
CERTAIN SKILL THAT YOU HAVE.
SO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOUR
SKILLS ARE AND HOW THEY FIT
INTO THE COMPANY'S FUTURE
PLANS.
ATTITUDE IS A BIG DEAL.
I MEAN, IF A COMPANY -- IF
THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A
HIGHLY SKILLED WORKER WHO IS
KIND OF CRABBY TO WORK WITH OR
A WORKER WHO MAYBE THEY CAN
TRAIN THAT IS EASIER TO GET
ALONG WITH, THEY'LL LIKELY
TAKE THE EASIER TO GET ALONG
WITH WORKER.
SO TRAINING SKILLS, HOW
WILLING YOU ARE TO LEARN AND
DO SOMETHING NEW, YOUR OWN
FLEXIBILITY, THOSE ARE ALL THE
KINDS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO
HELP PROTECT YOURSELF.
>> Gary Walker: THANK YOU,
ELLEN, FOR THIS WEEK'S REPORT.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
EARLIER WE DISCUSSED THE STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND ITS
IMPACT HERE AT HOME.
TONIGHT, THE ROCHESTER
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA IS
DEALING WITH ITS OWN BUDGETARY
CONCERNS, AFTER LEARNING IT
POSTED A $491 MILLION DEFICIT
LAST YEAR.
"NEED TO KNOW'S" NANCY ZAWACKI
SAT DOWN WITH R.P.O. PRESIDENT
RICK NOWLIN TO DISCUSS THE
STATE OF THE ORCHESTRA.
(Music)
>> Nancy Zawacki: FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS,
THE ROCHESTER PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA IS FACING A DEFICIT.
LAST YEAR, R.P.O. EXPENSES
EXCEEDED REVENUE BY NEARLY
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> I THINK THE SORT OF STATE
OF THE CITY, THE STATE OF THE
ECONOMY LOCALLY HAS PLAYED A
ROLE IN WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH
THE R.P.O.
>> Nancy Zawacki: IN 2001,
TICKET SALES WERE DOWN BY
$90,000.
ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERSHIPS WERE UP,
CORPORATE GIVING AND
UNDERWRITING SUFFERED
SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES AND NEW
CONTRACTS WITH MUSICIANS
CHIPPED AWAY AT THE BUDGET AS
WELL.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THE MONEY
HAS TO BE MADE UP.
R.P.O. PRESIDENT RICK NOWLIN
SAYS HE'S TRYING TO AVOID ANY
FUTURE STAFFING CHANGES.
>> MY THOUGHT IS THAT'S THE
LAST THING WE WOULD POSSIBLY
WANT TO DO.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE
LOOKED AT THINGS LIKE ALL
TRAVEL IS CUT OUT, CONFERENCES
ARE CUT OUT, HOTELS ARE CUT...
ALL THE THINGS THAT BUSINESS
IS DOING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
LOOKING AT DOING.
>> Nancy Zawacki: THE 2001
FISCAL YEAR ENDED IN AUGUST SO
2002 TECHNICALLY BEGAN IN
SEPTEMBER.
AT FIRST, TICKET SALES WERE
STRONG.
>> WHEN SEPTEMBER 11th
HAPPENED, WHERE WE SAW THE
CHANGE WAS IN THE SINGLE
TICKET BUYER.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE DOWN THIS
YEAR.
SERIES DID VERY WELL.
THE VERY COMMITTED CONCERT
GOER IS BACK WITH US, BUT
THOSE WHO MAKE A DECISION ON A
WEEKLY BASIS OR A DAILY BASIS
ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO
GO OR NOT, I THINK THEY
DECIDED TO CUT BACK A LITTLE
BIT IN THEIR SPENDING.
WE'RE DOWN ABOUT 12%.
>> Nancy Zawacki: TO TOP IT
OFF, THE R.P.O. IS STILL
WAITING TO HEAR HOW MUCH MONEY
IF ANY IS EARMARKED FOR THEM
IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.
USUALLY THEY RECEIVE $200,000
TO $300,000.
>> THAT ACTUALLY WILL BE
MONEYS FOR NEXT SEASON FOR US,
NOT THE CURRENT SEASON.
AND SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED
THAT THERE MAY ACTUALLY BE NO
STATE MONEY THAT COMES INTO
THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THAT WOULD BE OUR BIGGEST
CHALLENGE THIS YEAR.
>> Nancy Zawacki: DESPITE THE
APPARENT BATTLE AHEAD, NOWLIN
REMAINS POSITIVE.
>> IF YOU THINK THE OVERALL
SIZE IS FINE -- WHEN I CAME
HERE IN THE EARLY '90s, THERE
WAS TALK OF THE ORCHESTRA
BEING IN THE STATE OF CRISIS
AND THE COMMUNITY SAID, "GET
YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER.
MAKE SURE YOUR EXPENSES AND
REVENUES ARE EQUAL," AND WE
HAD FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS OF
OPERATING SURPLUSES, BUT WE
WERE ALSO ABLE TO GROW THE
REVENUE.
WE HAVE GROWN OUR ENDOWMENT
FROM ABOUT $6 MILLION TO ABOUT
$15 MILLION, SO OUR NET ASSETS
ARE MUCH HEALTHIER THAN THEY
WERE...
>> Gary Walker: OVERALL,
GOVERNMENT FUNDING HAS BEEN
CONTINUOUSLY CUT FOR THE
R.P.O. DURING THE LAST DECADE.
IT USED TO BE MORE THAN $1
MILLION A YEAR IN AID.
NOW THE R.P.O. HOPES FOR ABOUT
$900,000.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEED TO
KNOW," OR TO DISCUSS ANY OF
THESE TOPICS, LOG ON TO THE
WEB SITE, wxxi.org/ntk.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S
PROGRAM.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK AS WE GO
INSIDE THE WORLD OF
TELEMEDICINE.
DOES IT PRESENT INEQUALITY FOR
HEALTH CARE?
WE'LL FIND OUT.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
(Music)