>> Coming up on "Need to Know the ROCHESTER said children Sun Street -- children's own planning phase is over.
It's time to put it into action.
New developments on the plan to dramatically improve the lives of eight children living in some very troubled neighborhoods on richer -- Rochester's northeast side.
There are two Democrats seeking to win the northeast seat on ROCHESTER city council this fall.
Lovely Warren and Jim bowers -- what do they bring to the table?
-- lovely Warren and Jim bowers.
>> Rochesters newsmagazine since 1997.
This is "Need to Know >> Welcome to this edition of "Need to Know."
Today we had to a part of the city that has more than its share of challenges.
42% of the people who live there live below the poverty line.
The unemployment rate is 3% higher than the City wide unemployment rate.
More than two-thirds of the households are headed by single mothers and nearly all of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Coming up, we have an update on an ambitious program to tackle problems like these, and we will talk to two people want represent this area on the city council.
First, a major announcement from a company who has a presence in northeast Rochester, Bausch and Lomb.
A private firm is moving to take control of Bausch and Lomb, Rochester is oldest company.
Our business reporter has been covering Bausch and Lomb and joins us to talk about the proposed takeover.
It is a big question in Rochester of how this will affect the local operations for the company.
Let's talk about what those are.
>> The short answer is that we do not know because the firm who is moving to take over Bausch and Lomb is not talking at this point.
They are pretty much convinced that there will not be that big of an impact for local operations which include the headquarters building downtown and the manufacturing and research development building.
Bausch and Lomb finished up spending about 35 million to approve those facilities.
>> It is a total of about 1500 jobs.
>> Analyst tell me that because this private equity firm does not have its own network of manufacturing plants or offices that and other health-care competitor Perper Mike, there's no reason for them to move the facility -- that another competitor might, there is no reason for the intimate facilities.
>> What about Warburg Pincus because it seems like more companies are being taken over by private equity firms?
>> Their well-established in this field.
They are about 35 years old.
They are one of the better known names in this private equity business.
Analysts tell me that it is not their style to hold onto a firm for 25 or 30 years and they may be looking to get into Bausch and Lomb's management and operations and improve them and perhaps eventually bring them back to the public market.
>> The company has, Bausch and Lomb, as cluster 50 days to try to find a more attractive offer.
-- has close to 50 days to try to find a more attractive offer.
>> This deal has a go-shop provision which allows Bausch and Lomb to consider other offers.
Analysts are split as to whether one of those will be forthcoming.
There was a merger several weeks ago that included names like Pfizer as it?
General suitor.
With the stock trading roughly about were the prices of the offer of $66 a share, analysts are not sure whether another suitor would want to jump in at that price now.
>> They are trying to acquire a firm that had trouble filing timely public financial statements.
How do stockholders know and determine if this is a fair deal?
>> They will have a chance to review the proxy materials that are being sent out.
They have the shareholders' meeting.
If it comes to that, the reporting troubles are perhaps one of the reasons this deal is being consummated.
When you are seeing how well the private equity deals in the markets, because of the new stringency of financial reporting requirements, a lot of companies are finding in more worth their while to go private and not have to bear the scrutiny and cost and the time it takes to produce the stricter reporting requirements.
When they are private, they do not have to live up to those regulations.
>> There are also hundreds of pending lawsuits against Bausch and Lomb with the moisture lot product.
Some say been private will help them with those lawsuits.
>> It may give them more time to focus on these arrangements and also be able to do it quietly.
So every lawsuit --
>> How can it be quiet?
>> There will be immediate attention, but there will also be less recording requirements on their part to disclose some of these things.
There are perhaps 344 lawsuits filed, and they do not have to report on every single one.
With the document, they can perhaps give their legal department time to focus exclusively on those lawsuits and get the deals done and behind them.
>> Briefly, this is a company that has a long history in Rochester.
>> 154 years now.
Millard Fillmore was just one to get his turn as president when Franklin Pierce was taking over when Bausch and Lomb -- when Bausch and Lomb founded the company.
They did everything to Xerox copiers to military optics.
It is in -- and iconic name in American business.
>> Thank you for coming in.
Business reporter for the "Democrat and Chronicle."
Not to the ROCHESTER children to sound.
It is a concept pushed by the superintendent.
-- the ROCHESTER children to zone.
He launched the project about a year ago to dramatically improve the lives of children living in northeast Rochester by resolving all of the societal problems that cause children to do poorly in school.
Since then, people outside the effort have seen little visible progress, but organizers say that is about to change.
>> There is that sense of community foot tapping wondering where it is.
>> Jana Carlisle works for the city's school district.
She has been leading phase one of the ROCHESTER is the children's sone planning.
>> We are trying to undo the policy, and it has taken a year to plan.
It is relevant and necessary.
>> Now it is time for phase two, implementation.
Two months ago, organizers released a plan with dozens of objectives for this poor and troubled section of Rochester.
These objectives include things like breaking the cycle of poverty, improving neighborhood safety, and reducing teen pregnancy.
>> A lot of people look at the committee plan and think that there is no priority spare and how would you do it all, and the real point is -- there is no priority there, and their point is is that it represents dreams of the community.
It is up to us as a community to make that vision a reality.
>> I wanted to be able to come to Northeast ROCHESTER and say that I remember when that was -- look at it now.
I want that reaction.
Not just cosmetically, but in terms of the kids also.
I remember when there used to be kids walking the streets, and now they're all in school.
>> An apparent in the zone will be among those attending the First Conference next week.
Eight.
In the zone.
This is proof that the past year has been a fruitful one.
>> Building relationships is really difficult.
Building them between people and institutions with there is no trust or reason for trust or at least a perception that an institution may not care or may be racist, those kinds of things are huge barriers to overcome.
>> She says have been residents and communities by in to go with the action plan is critical to sustain the project and to raise funds are rounded.
Four million dollars was included in this year's state budget.
>> When we look at trying to undo the ills of poverty, it will take a lot more money.
>> This is becoming increasingly clear to Jana Carlisle as she spends more time in the northeast district.
>> I do not know if I have been shocked as much as disappointed, not in the people who live here but in our systems and our country for allowing this to happen.
That is where my drive has come from.
Being committed to making sure that my children and anybody else's children have the opportunity as well as the access and ability to go on and do what it is the dream of doing.
We have to make that possible for the next generation of all children.
If we do not, we will be in trouble as a country, and most people said that, but I am not sure they believe it.
I think you will be really surprised if they do not get up and do something.
>> I think we can make it happen.
I know we can make it happen.
>> Jana Carlisle says this man is among local residents emerging as leaders in this project.
She says one of them will likely be named executive director as the project transitions into its own entity.
Jana Carlisle said there will be a delay if the right to free up the funding coming from Albany.
She will remain committed to the project in some capacity for the long haul.
You can learn more and talk to Jana Carlisle about the ROCHESTER Children's zone on Monday.
She will be on 1370 connection on wxxi am 1370 from noon until 1.
There are two Democrats vying for the seed in city council.
They include lovely Warren, attorney the recently appointed to the agency but must seek reelection.
The other is Jim bowers, a University political science professor.
We talked to both candidates.
First, Jim Jowers was asked about the relationship between the city council and the city school district should be.
-- Jim bowers was asked this.
>> A lot of the problem in the city government is one of relationships.
Unfortunately, those relationships are more often to deteriorate rather than be strong.
I will not hold the district plan was, but having been on the other side, I have seen the animosity.
I have experienced the animosity.
I think you have to start with some fundamental respect from elected officials.
I can tell you, having been there, counsel and frequently mayors have treated elected school boards as, basically, kind of like a disease.
Represent the same constituency.
When I was there, my constituency was larger than four of the city council members.
Part of this respect, but it has to get down to and honesty.
It is understanding the city's responsibility is not for education.
That is the school boards, but the city has the responsibility for those external factors that impact our children's ability to learn -- public safety, the quality of the neighborhoods, the quality of housing, the quality of job opportunities.
So frankly, my argument would be that the city government used to focus on those things that is its responsibility and with a sensitivity to have those impact the ability of our children to learn.
We need to let the school district and all its responsibilities.
There is a tendency for the city government to try to get too involved in what is really the core functions of the ROCHESTER public school system.
>> The city and council sometimes thinks of itself, because it provides a lot of funding to the school, as a fiscal watchdog.
They do have a responsibility of doing a final review of the school budget.
Do you think that is a legitimate role for the city government?
>> It is a legitimate role because the district is fiscally dependent.
But even they have to understand, and as a member of Council, we have to understand what our limits are.
You cannot change the items.
You cannot do item reductions.
You can do a yes or no vote.
If you disagree with the way the district is putting its money, and he should vote no.
I have voted no on school board budget.
I was one of the few of no votes over there.
Fiscal responsibility is important, but it does not necessarily mean second-guessing the judgments that are made by the people elected in charged with that authority.
As the this the other day and one meeting, and I do not know if it will give me in trouble with people, but here's the reality, whatever that relationship.
I would expand the City School District 29 numbers corresponding to counsel, five at large, four elected from districts paralleling city council districts.
I would do that because then you have a council member and a board member responsible for the same geographic area.
I would next give the district its fiscal independence which is copy that if the budget goes to a vote.
-- which is caveat if the budget goes to vote.
I would sever their relationship.
It can function for its core responsibilities, and we do the same, and then we collaborate in those areas where it is necessary such as in the children's zone which the city needs to do more than just verbally support.
They need to support it with resources.
>> How about sharing up services for the school district to save dollars, and that gets into consolidating services.
-- >> This topic discussions into began on a level playing field where each part of government is seen as co-equal.
In the past, discussions have taken place and there was a memo of understanding that was recently signed.
When you read this things, there is an indication of perception that the city is a secure level of government.
Also if you are going to have this discussion, and all the key stakeholders have to be at the table.
Not just the superintendent and the mayor.
The board and the heads of each of the affected unions should be there.
If any of those things take place, they all have to be at the table.
A cannot be unilateral, and it cannot be the assumption that one is superior to the other.
There is an arrogance of power that takes place between elected officials and other elected officials, and that of some elite undermined good governments.
>> But -- and that ultimately undermines good governance.
>> That's talk about this before the city tries to run a network of programs and centers to try to keep kids out of trouble.
Police are looking to start an athletic league for the same purposes.
At D.C. City Council facilitating WolrdCom -- how D.C. City Council facilitating this -- how do you see the city council facilitating this and providing this?
>> I think the standard of -- Standard relic of services, and the council has an obligation there, mainly to review the effectiveness of the programs in place.
A district council member has an added responsibility to serve as a facilitator in bringing in additional private sector initiatives.
Here's an example, and they know and member of the churches do this.
This is in the Northeast as it would be in other parts to the city, a perfect opportunity to try to pull fate-based organizations -- faith-based organizations for after-school centers.
And the constant support and encouragement of that district council member.
I was just that the club meeting the other night, and they run a summer lunch program out of one of the churches and the area.
Given that I have a range of connections, one of the things I look to do for them is to put them in to contact with a service scholar program that we have with the college to see if that would be applicable as a volunteer service for our students.
The role the district council member has to be above and beyond with the institutional role is.
That is to be that person who can find resources, and that does not always made money.
Sometimes it is people.
They become a problem solver for these private voluntary organizations like these clubs who would like to do more in their area.
>> Northeast District City Council candidate, Jim Powers.
>> I will ask the set -- We ask the same questions to lovely Warren.
He asked Warren with the relationship between Rochester city council and the city school district should be.
>> City Council and the school board are all elected officials.
We have the obligation to the people we represent to do what is best for them.
The Patteson office so we can do just that.
-- that put us in office so we can do that.
I will not help this community -- working with each other to try to move this community Ford is what we need to do.
We have to have a working relationship to do that.
To move this committee for board.
>> The role as defender for the school district.
The council will usually feel is a fiscal watchdog as well.
It is required to give it scrutiny before it approves the final budget that the school district sends over track to the city budget.
Where do you see that the role of the council members should fall in making sure that the district is being irresponsible in fulfilling its mission?
>> I think that is the job of the school district and the school board to make sure that they are sending the dollars the way that -- they are spending the dollars the way they should.
I think the counsel's job is to work with the school district in ensuring that.
Winters than that right now we have some tough fiscal decisions -- we understand that right now we have tough fiscal decisions to make.
Some school districts have a lot more money.
We also have a declining enrollment in school districts, and you have a high dropout rate.
So understanding that and the cost that it would take to educate our children, we have to look at all the factors and do what is best on behalf of the city and the community.
>> Will come back to the city finances and a bit, but there's a lot of talk that the city or the school districts should be sharing services with other layers of government to save dollars when things are tight.
What do you think should be done and how would you go about it?
>> At think we need to consolidate some services.
I believe that we can look at ways to cut costs and be more fiscally prudent for the citizens of this community.
One way is health care costs -- in the stand that if we could -- I understand that if we could use one health-care provider for the school district and may be joined with the county, then you can probably cut some costs there that you are spending towards that.
>> The city has a wide variety of services programs and park programs that are funded by all kinds of government and private grants and extend with the city's tax money.
That constantly changes.
Somehow the city always manages to provide at least basic services.
What D.C., first of all, as the need for you -- what do you see as the need for the school district, and is the city during its responsibility to your part of the city?
>> I see that the Northeast needs a lot.
You have the committee place during a phenomenal job.
The part, and so the program that we have their with the community Lutheran Services are wonderful services.
Giving those services to the community is where we sometimes may fall behind -- giving the services to the community is where we may fall behind.
He also have the health center that is intricately part of the program of trying to keep the health center in the Northeast and properly running on behalf of our children.
So I believe that we have to provide services to the community, and one way to do that is by utilizing the community centers and the organizations that we have in the Northeast already.
>> We have this whole network of public and non-profit agencies and churches kind of working together to provide everything from after school meals to homework clubs and computer training and recreational programs, what do you do to protect these when there are times when we're looking at city deficits and it is sure that people will say that we will have to cut back in these departments?
>> I think that how we protect those is to really look at the programs for the community that they're serving.
The programs they are actually running and who are they helping?
If we can consolidate some of those, that would be a way to go about doing it.
If we are not, if the program has one or two people that are serving, then it is something that we should take a different approach to and maybe combine it with another program that is actually serving a similar or a great number of people.
>> That is northeast district Rochester city council member, lovely Warren, who is running a primary battle against Jim bowers.
You can take another look at these interviews on our web site onwww.wxxi.org and click on the Podcast session.
That wraps up this edition of "Need to Know."
Next week we go to High Falls.
Now that the City of Rochester has parted ways with the Kurdish company, what is next for this district -- the has parted ways with this company, which is next for this district?
Have a great week.
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