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IT'S A SCORCHER THIS WEEK, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT TOPICS TO GET TO, SO LET'S DO THAT, BUT FIRST MEET THE PANELISTS.

STARTING WITH THE BIRTHDAY GIRL HERSELF, WENDY WIESE, THE MEDIA VETERAN.

BILL MCCLELLAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

JOE HOLLEMAN ALSO FROM THE POST-DISPATCH.

AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN PROVOCATEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE ALVIN REID.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

GLAD TO BE BACK HOME.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU IN THE MIDDLE SEAT.

I LISTEN ON MY FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCES AS EVERYONE DOES WHEN THEY ARE ON VACATION.

YOU THIS WEEK WERE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN THE GOVERNOR OF MISSOURI MIKE KEHOE ANNOUNCED MUCH ANTICIPATED POLICE BOARD.

FOLKS KNOW THAT THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS RAN THE POLICE BOARD FROM 2013 UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR, LEGISLATIVE ACTION CHANGED THAT.

AND NOW THE POLICE BOARD GOES BACK TO THE CONTROL OF THE STATE.

SO THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE MAYOR WHO HAS A DE FACTO ROLE ON THE BOARD.

SO HE APPOINTED DON BROWN, CHRIS SARACINO WHO RUNS CHRIS'S PANCAKES.

AND EDDIE MCVEIGH WHO RUNS MAGGIE O'BRIEN'S, GREAT RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS.

AND MAGGIE'S WEST NEVER BEEN THERE.

GOT TO GET THERE.

>> I HAVE IN.

>> SONIA JENKINS GRAY, THE FORMALLY EMBATTLED DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

HOWEVER, THE PRESS CONFERENCE, ONE STATE SENATOR WAS CONSPICUOUS BY HIS ABSENCE.

>> KARLA MAY WAS THERE.

I WALK FROM THE AMERICAN PAST THE SOCCER STATION TO THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

IT WAS A HUNDRED HEAT INDICES.

IT WAS A HOT DAY.

WAITING FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO COME OUT.

I DID NOT KNOW WHO THEY WERE.

WHEN SONIA GRAY WALKED OUT I THOUGHT OF BILL WHO SAID PART OF THE REASON WE NEED A STATE CONTROLLED POLICE BOARD IS BECAUSE OF THE SHENANIGANS THAT INVOLVE CHRIS GRAY, AND NOW SHE'S NOMINATED TO BE ON THE POLICE BOARD.

I ASKED THE GOVERNOR, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE RESIDENTS OF ST. LOUIS THAT DON'T FAVOR THIS, THAT DON'T WANT A STATE TAKEOVER?

HE SAID WE ARE PRETTY WELL AWAY FROM THE CIVIL WAR.

AND IF ANYBODY ASKED YOU A QUESTION, THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH WOULD NOT BE CIVIL WAR.

I WOULD NOT GO DOWN THAT PATH.

WHILE I DON'T HAVE PERSONAL ANIMOSITY AGAINST ANY OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE NAMED TO IT, I THINK I GOT TROUBLE WITH NO ONE FROM THE NORTHSIDE BEING ON THIS BOARD AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS CHRIS GREW UP, WHILE I GREW UP IN PINE BLUFF.

I CAN'T KEEP THINKING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT TO PICK WHO THEY WANTED TO BE ON THE BOARD AND THE GOVERNOR ACQUIESCED TO THEM.

>> THE COMMISSIONER, THE NOMINEE COMMISSIONERS DID NOT TAKE QUESTIONS.

>> WE WERE TOLD BEFORE THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE QUESTIONS.

THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS.

ANY INTERVIEWS.

>> NOT OUT OF A GOOD SIGN OF TRANSPARENCY.

WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THEY DO DO INTERVIEWS THAT WILL BE HANDLED THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT.

YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUE IS HE POST-DISPATCH, CHRISTINE BUYERS WAS RECENTLY ON SARAH FENSKE'S PODCAST.

SHE SAID ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT HAVING A POLICE BOARD IS TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE AT THE MEETINGS THE COMMISSIONERS WILL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

MAYBE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> LET ME TALK ABOUT SONIA GRAY FOR JUST A MINUTE.

I SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM HAVING CITY CONTROL.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT IN A POLICE COMMISSIONER, LIKE IN ANY ADVISOR, YOU WANT GOOD JUDGMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW THESE OTHER MEN, ALL THESE WHITE MEN WHO WERE PICKED FOR THE BOARD.

I'M TRUSTING THEY HAVE GOOD JUDGMENT.

MS. GRAY, WHEN SHE TOOK A CITY CAR AND A CITY EMPLOYEE TO JEFFERSON CITY TO LOOK FOR HER HUSBAND, I DID NOT THINK THAT THAT WAS GOOD JUDGMENT, BUT MAYBE THE GOVERNOR IS A ROMANTIC AND THINKS WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS OF THE HEART JUDGMENT GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

I WAS STUNNED WHEN HE PICKED MS. GRAY.

>> I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO TAKE A JAB AT THE PREVIOUS MAYOR TO CHARLES JONES.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S A SMART THING TO DO.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CERTAINLY HAS BEEN WELL SERVED BY THESE APPOINTMENTS, AND THAT WAS WHAT YOU WANTED.

>> THAT'S WHAT BILL WANTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT BILL WANTED.

WE ARE ALL POINTING OUR FINNING ARE AT BILL.

THEY HAVE A LOT -- THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL AT STAKE.

THEY ARE INVESTED UP TO THEIR EYEBALLS.

THEY PROBABLY HAVE BEEN SUFFERING, MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN SUFFERING SILENTLY FOR QUITE A WHILE.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

GOVERNOR KEHOE SAID THIS IS STILL CHIEF TRACY.

THIS IS HIS OPERATION.

TO THE POLICE FORCE, I'VE GOT YOUR BACK AND THAT KIND OF THING.

WHY NOT?

LET'S MAYBE THINK THE GOOD THOUGHT, MAYBE HOPE FOR THE BEST AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE HOPING, TOO.

BUT I DO THINK THIS WAS -- I WASN'T SURPRISED ABOUT SONIA.

>> CHIEF TRACY WAS IN JEFF CITY ARGUING AGAINST THE STATE TAKEOVER.

>> YOU CAN'T PREDICT HOW THIS BOARD IS GOING TO BEHAVE WHEN THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO BEHAVE ABOUT ANYTHING YET.

WHETHER OR NOT THESE PEOPLE TURN OUT TO BE GREAT COMMISSIONERS OR NOT, THAT'S GUESSWORK.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT OTHER THAN I DID QUESTION THE JENKINS GRAY APPOINTMENT.

I QUESTIONED NOBODY FROM THE NORTHSIDE LIVING THERE NOW.

I DON'T THINK LIVING IN BATEN IS QUITE THE SAME AS I LIVE IN BATEN.

LET THEM GO THROUGH THEIR TERMS, WHICH IS ALL STAGGERED.

BEFORE WE SAY THE BOARD IS BAD, HOW ABOUT WE LET THEM SAY SO.

>> CHRIS IS CURRENTLY ON THE CONVENTION BOARD RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE A REPUTATION FOR BEING PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW CHRIS.

WE ARE NOT CLOSE FRIENDS.

I KNOW CHRIS.

WE ARE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.

WHAT WENDY SAID IS THEY CARE ABOUT THE CITY.

HOW ABOUT WE GIVE THEM A CHANCE.

>> I'M NOT SAYING HAVE ULTERIOR NOTIFY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT HAPPY WITH HOW THIS TURNED OUT BUT OF COURSE I DIDN'T WANT THE STATE TO TAKE OVER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> HE WAS THE ONE I HEARD USING THE NORTHSIDE.

>> KARLA DID, ALSO.

>> BECAUSE OF THAT STAGGERING, WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ACTUALLY.

>> I WANT TO GO TO YOU AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP DROPPED SOME BOMBS ON THE NUCLEAR FACILITIES THIS PAST FRIDAY IN IRAN.

THE BOMBS, THE MASSIVE ORDINANCE PENETRATOR IS ACTUALLY MADE IN ST. CHARLES.

MISSOURI HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE PRESS BECAUSE THE BOMBS WERE DELIVERED BY JETS FROM WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, WHICH IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE.

I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED THERE WASN'T ANY RALLYING CRY OR DISCUSSION SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT, ST. LOUIS PLAYED A ROLE IN WHAT MIGHT BE AN IMPORTANT PART IN WORLD HISTORY BY MAKING THESE BUNKER BUSTERS.

I SAY YOU BECAUSE YOUR MOM WAS.

>> PUTTING ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FOR AIRPLANES.

SHE GOT HIRED IN 1943 AND WORKED THERE UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR.

NOBODY CELEBRATED THEM.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE TEND TO -- WE HAVE RALLIES WHOSE BOOTS ARE ON THE GROUND OR IN THE SHIPS AND IN THE AIRPLANES FLYING OVER THE COMBAT ZONE.

I DON'T THINK AS A RULE -- THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE HILL MAKING PISTON RINGS FOR WORLD WAR II.

NOBODY CELEBRATED THAT.

IT WAS THE THANKLESS JOB THAT PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND DID EVERY DAY.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED WAS AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER AND ALL THE GUYS CAME HOME, ALL THE WOMEN GOT FLACKERED.

AND THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO COME HOME AND HAVE A BABIES.

SHE GOT FIRED.

I DON'T THINK AS A RULE -- AND MAYBE WE SHOULD -- WE DON'T CELEBRATE THOSE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THINGS.

ALTHOUGH I DID SEE PEOPLE AT WHITEMAN, POLITICIANS AND THINGS SHOWING BANNERS.

>> IN RECENT YEARS OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS BLASTED BOEING, JOSH HAWLEY, CORI BUSH, PROUD OF BEING PROUD OF HAVING BOEING IN THE BACKYARD WHICH MADE A $2 BILLION INVESTMENT.

SOME OF OUR LEADERS HAVE AN OPEN DESTAIN FOR IT.

>> BOEING HAD PLANES FALL OUT OF THE SKY.

SOMEBODY NEEDED TO LOOK INTO THAT.

THAT WAS BAD ON THEIR PART.

THIS IS A REGION THAT NEVER GRASPED THE SPACE PROGRAM.

I THINK WE MISSED THAT BOAT.

SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE MAKING ARMIMENTS.

>> THE CITY IN CONNECTICUT THAT MAKES THE SHIPS?

THEY ARE VERY PROUD THAT THEY HAVE A SHIPYARD.

>> THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHIPS AND BOMBS.

>> BUNKER BUSTERS.

>> SOMETHING STRANGE ABOUT CELEBRATING BUILDING BOMBS.

>> UNLESS THE BOMB IS USED TO DESTROY A BOMB.

I KNOW THERE'S QUESTIONS AS TO THE EFFICACY OF THE WHOLE EFFORT.

>> THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE REASON THEY ARE NOT CELEBRATING.

WE CALL SHIPS HERS.

AND WE CALL BOMBS BOMBS.

>> I THINK IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES.

I REALLY DO.

>> I THINK IT MIGHT BE A TRADITIONAL MEDIA ISSUE.

IF YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN WHERE THOSE BOMBERS TOOK OFF FROM AND WHERE THEY RETURNED TO.

SOCIAL MEDIA, IT WAS SORT OF A RALLY AROUND THE FLAG AND THAT KIND OF THING.

DIFFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU.

BILL MCCLELLAN I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE EMBATTLED ST. LOUIS SHERIFF, ALFRED MONTGOMERY.

THIS WEEK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI HAS SAID THAT HE'S FILING, I THINK, ILLEGAL PROCEDURE TO TRY AND REMOVE ALFRED MONTGOMERY FROM HIS JOB.

WHY?

WELL, HE CITED IN THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE PUBLISHED THIS WEEK, HE SAID MR. MONTGOMERY HIRED HIS HALF BROTHER.

HE HAD DEPUTIES DRIVE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL.

HE REFUSED TO TAKE INCARCERATED PRISONERS AT THE JAIL TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ON BADGES AND GOLF CARTS AND THE LIST GOES ON.

I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE ALLEGATIONS.

DO YOU THINK ALFRED MONTGOMERY LIKE KIM GARDNER, THE ATTORNEY WHO IS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, WILL RESIGN?

>> I LOOK AT THIS MONTGOMERY AGAINST BAILEY, WOULD YOU RATHER BE EATEN BY A SHARK OR SMOTHERED BY A PYTHON?

IF WE CAN'T GET RID OF BOTH OF THEM, WE OUGHT TO GET RID OF WHOEVER WE CAN.

THAT'S GOING TO BE SHERIFF MONTGOMERY, AND I THINK THE NEPOTISM CHARGE IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS CRIMINAL AND THAT THAT WILL BE WHAT GETS HIM.

I WISH THAT POLITICS WERE LIKE IT WAS IN THE DAYS WHEN GARY GOLD WATER AND HOWARD BAKER COULD GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND GET RICHARD NIXON TO RESIGN.

I WISH DEMOCRATS IN THE CITY COULD GO TO SHERIFF MONTGOMERY AND SAY EVERYBODY HAS LOST FAITH.

YOU HAVE GOT TO RESIGN, BUT I DON'T THINK MONTGOMERY WILL.

>> THERE WAS SHAME IN 1972, 1974.

THAT WAS A BY THE BIG COMMODITY.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE.

SHERIFF MONTGOMERY ISN'T UNPROFESSIONAL.

HE'S UNHINGED.

WE HAVE THE ROLLING OF THE DICE LAWSUIT THAT'S HANGING OUT THERE.

I THINK I SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT WE WERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM BEING A NATIONAL STORY.

SURE ENOUGH, IT'S A NATIONAL STORY.

I THINK THIS IS SO DAMMING FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS SILLY.

BUT TRULY WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT STARTING BUSINESSES OR RELOCATING TO CERTAIN AREAS, IT'S LIKE WHAT KIND OF CLOWN SHOW IS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS?

WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAPPEN HE HAS TO GO.

>> WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THE CITY BOARD OF ALDERMEN AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE NEED TO LOOK AT NOT ABOLISHING THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF BUT CHANGING THE WAY THE SHERIFF -- NO MORE ELECTIONS.

IT'S AN APPOINTED JOB.

THEY NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGES, LOOK INTO THAT.

THE POLITICIANS DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE POLITICAL INFLUENCE THEY HAVE OVER THOSE KINDS OF OFFICES.

THEY LEAVE THEM THERE AND GET THEIR PEOPLE JOBS WHEN IT CHANGES AROUND.

ALFRED MONTGOMERY DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE THE SHERIFF OF ST. LOUIS.

IT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HE HAS SHOWN HE'S INCAPABLE OF CARRYING OUT THE JOB LIKE A MATURE ADULT WOULD.

>> I WILL SAY HE'S NOT A MODEL OF EFFICIENCY, AS YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE A WORSE PUBLIC SERVANT.

DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHEN A JUDGE FRIEDA WOMAN BY THE NAME OF SANDRA HENNY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLED THE WARDEN AND SAID DON'T RELEASE HER?

HOW UNETHICAL IS THAT?

>> THAT MEANS HE HAS NO MORAL AUTHORITY OVER SOMEONE.

>> YOU WANT TO GET RID OF SHERIFF MONTGOMERY.

>> AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> BUT WE CAN'T GET RID OF BOTH OF THEM.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON GETTING RID OF WHO WE CAN GET RID OF.

>> I KNOW.

BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE A WOMAN IN JAIL AND ARGUE THE GUY SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ON A GOLF CART, THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GET DOWN TO MORAL AUTHORITY FROM POLITICIANS.

>> WE SHOULD EXPECT IT.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALFRED MONTGOMERY.

NOW YOU SAY FIND OUT A WAY TO GET RID OF ANDREW BAILEY.

FIND OUT SOMETHING HE DID.

>> ONE THING ABOUT ALFRED MONTGOMERY, I'M NO FAN OF HIS, BUT HE WASN'T ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

>> I WILL SAY THAT KIM GARDNER WAS A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

I DON'T THINK HE'S COME TO THAT POINT.

I THINK EVEN WENT TO TRIAL OR HEARING, I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BRING HIM DOWN WAS THIS HALF BROTHER, AND QUITE FRANKLY DAVID MASON WHO WAS REPRESENTING HIM, I THINK HE CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT YOU SHARE A FATHER DOES NOT MAKE YOU RELATED.

I THINK THAT KIND OF SOUNDS CRAZY.

BUT I'M SAYING THAT WILL BE IT?

BEING DISPUTED RIGHT NOW LEGALLY, BUT IF HE HAS TO GO BECAUSE OF NEPOTISM, WHAT ABOUT KANIKA CUNNINGHAM?

>> I THINK ALVIN AND I ON THE SHOW AGREED I DON'T THINK THE PROCESS IN GENERAL.

THEY WERE ELECTED.

LET PEOPLE ELECT THEM OUT.

YOU BRING UP A VERY GOOD POINT OF PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION THAT YEAH, WE THE VOTERS OF ST. LOUIS PUT HIM IN THERE.

WE THE VOTERS OF ST. LOUIS NEED TO REMOVE HIM FROM THERE WHEN THE TIME COMES.

AND ALL THE POLITICIANS THAT BACKED INTO THE HILL, AND THERE WERE A FEW, ALSO NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.

I DON'T LIKE REMOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED BY NONELECTIVE MEANS, EXCEPT AS ALVIN AND I AGREED, KIM GARDNER, IT WAS A DANGER TO OUR SAFETY.

>> I'M NOT QUESTIONING THAT.

I'M SAYING I DON'T KNOW.

YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE A CASE IN A COURT.

>> I DON'T EVEN LIKE THE ANTINEPOTISM STUFF MYSELF.

IF YOU WANT TO HIRE YOUR STEPDAUGHTER LIKE MR. HANCOCK DID OR YOUR HALF BROTHER LIKE THE SHERIFF DID, YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO.

>> WE SAID I, I WANT TO ASK YOU, RYAN MCCLUER WHO HEADS UP THE GATEWAY ARCH FOUNDATION, THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT TRIES TO AUGUST MEANT THE GATEWAY AVERAGE, RAISING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PUT A LID OVER, HIGHWAY 44 NOW, AND EXPAND THE ARCH GROUNDS, ALL THAT AND MORE.

HE'S BETTER VIEWED BY THE BUSINESS JOURNAL ON THE PODCAST AND HE SAID IT MIGHT TAKE A COUPLE OF DECADES, BUT WE THINK WE SHOULD EXPAND INTO ILLINOIS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S EXCITING.

I COULD SEE TERRACES OF MAYBE DINING ROOMS, OUTDOOR DINING ROOMS.

I KNOW THAT THAT MIGHT SOUND SILLY.

BUT EVERYTHING IS CYCLICAL.

AND EAST ST. LOUIS USED TO BE A AFFLUENT PROSPEROUS AREA, COLLINSVILLE AND THE LIKE.

NORTH ST. LOUIS, MY ALMA MATER WAS LOCATED IN NORTH ST. LOUIS.

ABSOLUTELY, I THINK IT'S EXCITING, AND I THINK -- IF WE HAVE VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHICH HE WITH DO, AND I THINK THAT LID OBVIOUSLY STATISTICALLY HAS HELPED BRING VISITORS DOWN TO THE ARCH, IMAGINE WHAT IT COULD HAVE FOR THE INTEREST AND ALLURE OF ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL MONUMENTS THAT WE HAVE?

>> I WAS INTERNED IN CINCINNATI IN 1981.

AND DON'T GO TO KENTUCKY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT.

BUT I WAS BACK AGAIN THIS SPRING.

THEY CHANGED WHAT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER.

IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST, YOU KNOW, GET A BEACH HEAD, SO TO SPEAK, WE NEED TO MAKE GOOD ON IT.

>> CONDOS, RESTAURANTS.

>> NATIONAL PARK?

WOULDN'T YOU RATHER HAVE RESTAURANTS AND CONDOS AND BOAT SLIPS?

>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE NATIONAL PARK, GETTING THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION IN ON IT.

OKAY.

HAS THE EXPANDED ARCH REALLY IMPROVED OUR DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS?

>> BUT IF WE COULD DEVELOP THAT SIDE -- IT WON'T BE JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS OVERNIGHT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LET'S START MAKING SOME ENROADS AND MAYBE 20 YEARS FROM NOW IT WILL TRULY BE PART OF THE LITTLE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> PROBABLY NOT AN AERIAL TRAM.

BUT I CAME BACK FROM EUROPE WHEN I SAW AERIAL TRAMS, AND THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

>> SPREAD THE NATIONAL PARK ACROSS THE RIVER, AND YOU WILL THEN INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE DEVELOPING THESE RESTAURANTS AND THINGS YOU WANT.

IF THERE'S A NATIONAL PARK DOWN THERE, YOU PUT YOUR RESTAURANT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> WHY HASN'T IT WORKED IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS?

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> I USED TO WORK AT ONE MEMORIAL DRIVE WITH WENDY, THIRD FLOOR, AND THAT IS STILL EMPTY SPACE.

IT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ARCH GROUNDS.

>> CHARLIE, THAT WAS A THREE-YEAR GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE STILL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, KIND OF RECOVERING.

>> 2013, WENDY.

THE PANDEMIC STARTED IN 2020.

>> CHARLIE, IF THAT ARCH WASN'T DOWN THERE, ST. LOUIS WOULDN'T BE HERE.

>> THINK SO?

ALL RIGHT.

>> BILL MCCLELLAN, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT AN ARTICLE THAT WAS IN YOUR PUBLICATION THIS WEEK.

YOU TOOK A SHOT AT CHIP CARAY.

HE WAS READING A PROMO, AND THE WORD SAID FLAG, AND HE SAID A WORD THAT RHYMES WITH FLAG AND IT BECOMES A PEJORATIVE.

A SLIP OF THE TONGUE?

>> CHARLIE, CALM DOWN.

CARDINALS ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES IN ST. LOUIS YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND THE REPORTER WHO COVERS HIM RIGHT NOW IS DEREK GOLD WHO DOES A GREAT JOB, HAS TO COVER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS.

WHEN THERE'S A 30-SECOND DELAY -- 30 SECONDS OF SILENCE ON THE AIR, YOU HAVE TO REPORT -- PEOPLE WONDER WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED.

DEREK HAD IT HAPPENED.

IT WAS NOT A MEAN SPIRITED STORY.

I THOUGHT THAT THE CARDINALS AND FANDUAL, WHOEVER IS THE BOSS HANDLED IT WELL, SAYING IT WAS A SLIP OF THE TONGUE, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUNISH THEM, AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE ABOUT IT.

I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE WERE.

>> IT BECAME A NATIONAL STORY.

"SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" CONDEMNED THE POST-DISPATCH FOR IT.

>> THE FIRST STORY THAT CAME OUT -- I DON'T THINK WAS DEREK'S.

THE FIRST ONE, HE HAD SAID SOMETHING, BUT IT DIDN'T SAY, I IMMEDIATELY WHATEVER YOU CALL IT, SAID WHAT DID CHIP CARAY SAY?

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED".

ALL OF THESE PUBLICATIONS OF SIZE STATUS.

SOME OF THEM WERE GOSSIP CHIEFS, BUT THEY ALL HAD EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID.

THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH WOULD HAVE BEEN REMISS IF THEY DIDN'T REPORT WHAT HE SAID.

>> WHAT IF A LOCAL CASTER HERE USED A PEJORATIVE PHRASE.

HE LOST HIS JOB.

AND I REPORTED ABOUT IT, CHARLIE, AND THE REASON WAS YOU HAD EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT IT AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT.

THEN IT COMES DOWN TO A NEWS DECISION, WE HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING IN.

THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS IT, THE QUESTION COMES UP, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE, WHY ARE THEY COVERING UP FOR THE CARDINALS.

NEWS IS WHAT HAPPENS, AND SOMETIMES IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, AND IT'S EMBARRASSING.

THE ONLY REASON THIS WOULD BE A DEAD STORY RIGHT NOW, EXCEPT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

>> IT'S CLICK BAIT.

THE BOSTON GLOBE, WASHINGTON POST AND NEW YORK TIMES WOULD DO IT UNLESS IT RESULTED IN HARM.

>> I DISAGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY.

DO YOU THINK THAT IF ANYBODY ON A RADIO IN NEW YORK LET THAT WORD GO THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES WOULD -- TURN ON THE RADIO.

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

OR YANKEES.

>> BOSTON IS IN HAVEN FOR LGBTQ, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO I'M SURE IN BOSTON.

>> 30 SECONDS OF AIR TIME WHERE NOBODY IS SAYING ANYTHING, AND PEOPLE SAY WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THAT WAS NOT TO MENTION 40,000, 100,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING TO IT SAYING DID THAT PERSON SAY WHAT I THINK HE SAID?

IF THERE ARE PAPERS IN BOSTON AND NEW YORK THAT ARE NOT REPORTING ON THAT, THEN SHAME ON THEM.

>> BY THE WAY I THINK DEREK GHOUL IS A GREAT, GREAT WRITER.

HE JUST MADE A MISTAKE.

>> NO ONE IS SAYING THAT DEREK GHOUL IS.

>> NOBODY IS SAYING HE'S A TERRIBLE GUY.

>> BY PUTTING IT THERE, IT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING.

>> YOU CAN WRITE US IN CARE OF NINE PBS 63008.

AND YOOCIAL DONNYBROOK ST. LOUIS.

AND (314)512-9094.

LISTEN TO US ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE AND OF COURSE TUNE INTO THE NINE PBS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, BECAUSE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT CANADA GEESE AND ANIMAL SHELTERS.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY WENDY WIESE.

>> SO IT'S OFFICIAL.

>> IT IS.

>> YOU'RE 50?

>> 46.

>> THIS IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.

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