FOR THE HOMELESS IN SYRACUSE, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND IS HOT RHETORIC CAUSING POLITICAL VIOLENCE?

AND ARE IMMIGRANTS MAKING SPRINGFIELD GREAT AGAIN?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

HOMELESS PEOPLE -MAY -BE ABLE TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A SHELTER, BUT WHERE DO THEY GO DURING THE DAY?

LAST MONTH A RESCUE MISSION SHELTER IN SYRACUSE TOOK STEPS TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM CONGREGATING ON THE SIDEWALKS OUTSIDE.

AFTER THE HOMELESS MOVED TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT, THE CITY CLOSED THAT DOWN, TOO.

NINA, WAS THE RESCUE MISSION RIGHT TO HELP CLEAR THE HOMELESS OFF THE SIDEWALKS NEAR THE SHELTER?

>> YEAH, DAVE, CAN I SAY FIRST, SHOUT OUT TO THE POST STANDARD FOR THE AMAZING COVERAGE THAT IT HAS DONE ON THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE RESCUE MISSION DROPPED THE BALL, MY ANSWER IS YES BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF ANY HOMELESS SHELTER IS TO PROVIDE SHELTER TO THE HOMELESS.

SO IN THIS CASE, IT SEEMED THAT THEY WERE MORE INTERESTED RESCUING THE SIDEWALKS.

AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THEY ALSO CUT OFF FREE MEALS TO THE HUNDREDS OF FOLKS WHO WERE COMING TO THE RESCUE MISSION FOR FREE MEALS.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY CLOSED ITS DOORS TO EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO, SAY, FOUND THEMSELVES IN A CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NEEDED A PLACE TO GO.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS A CASE OF THE POLICE NEEDING TO POLICE THE DRUG PROBLEM.

THE DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS BEING CALLED UPON TO DEAL WITH DRUG ADDICTION, AND THE HOMELESS SHELTERS HOMING THOSE WHO NEED SHELTER.

AND THIS DID NOT HAPPEN HERE.

NOW I UNDERSTAND-- GO AHEAD... >> I JUST WAS GOING TO ASK, NINA, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND THEY SEE THEIR GOAL AS PROVIDING SHELTER AT NIGHT.

THEY HAVE RULES AGAINST PEOPLE STAYING IN THEIR ROOMS.

THEY WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THE SIDEWALK.

AND SO I REALLY AM SYMPATHETIC TO THE SITUATION THAT THE RESCUE MISSION FINDS ITSELF IN.

AND YOU RIGHTLY BRING UP THE POLICE AND CITY GOVERNMENT AND EVERYONE ELSE.

I THINK IT HAS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP IN HOW THEY DEAL WITH THIS.

>> THE CITY WAS A PART OF THIS, TOO, RIGHT?

THE CITY-- ONCE PEOPLE WERE MOVED FROM THE SIDEWALK TO A PARKING LOT, THE CITY CLOSED DOWN THE PARKING LOT.

>> YES, YES, ABSOLUTELY, AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

I DON'T MEAN TO NOT UNDERSTAND OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE RESCUE MISSION WAS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS THE SIDEWALK-- BY THE WAY, RICK, WHICH WAS NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY BUT JUST OFF THE SIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY-- NOT ONLY WAS IT, YOU KNOW, CONSISTING OF LOTS OF HOMELESS FOLKS JUST LYING ON THE STREET BECAUSE THE RESCUE MISSION DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO STAY THERE DURING THE DAY.

BUT ALSO DRUG USERS AND IT WAS SORT OF LIKE A POPUP SHOP FOR DRUG DEALERS WHO HAD A READY CLIENTELE STANDING IN LINE.

BUT AGAIN, THE JOB OF THE RESCUE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SHELTER.

THE POLICE SHOULD DO THE POLICING.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN DO AN EFFECTIVE JOB OF STOPPING DRUG DEALERS FROM SELLING DRUGS IN AN OPEN AIR MARKET.

AND THEN FOR THE DRUG TREATMENT CENTERS TO DEAL WITH DRUG ADDICTION.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT OPEN AIR MARKET ASPECT.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT SAFE ZONES FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY TAKE DRUGS, INJECT DRUGS BE TRIED AS A WAY TO SORT OF CONTROL IT, IN A CONTROLLED SITUATION.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS BUT I DID A LITTLE READING IN PREPARATION.

IT SEEMS IT HAS BEEN TRIED OUT IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES, I THINK OVER 100 CITIES NOW HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THESE SUPERVISED DRUG USE CENTERS.

THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN MOST STUDIED IS VANCOUVER, B.C., THEY'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

AND IT'S HARD TO STUDY THESE THINGS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE DATA SHOWS THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS TO HAVING THIS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FEWER OVERDOSE DEATHS.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

FEWER CALLS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.

LESS INVOLVEMENT WITH POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO YOU ARE NOT CRIMINALIZING IT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS TODAY.

AND THIS IS CALLED A HARM REDUCTION STRATEGY SO THE IDEA IS SORT OF ACCEPTING THAT PEOPLE ARE ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND DOING WHAT WE CAN, PUBLIC POLICY WISE, TO REDUCE THE HARM THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND I THINK THEY SAVE MONEY AS WELL.

I MEAN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RESCUE MISSION WAS SPENDING IS SOMETHING, I THINK THEY SAID HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO PAY FOR EXTRA POLICING OUTSIDE THE FACILITY.

SO THIS IS EXPENSIVE, RIGHT?

AND SO THAT, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE TRIED.

I MEAN WE HAVEN'T FOUND A GOOD SOLUTION SO FAR.

WHY NOT TRY THESE KINDS OF THINGS?

>> THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVED, THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE SIDEWALKS, GOING TO THE HOMELESS SHELTER, OFTEN THE PEOPLE ADDICTED TO DRUGS.

THEY'RE IN A PRETTY DIRE SITUATION.

WHAT ABOUT US AS A SOCIETY.

WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, OR IS THERE, TO HELP THOSE FOLKS IN THOSE SITUATIONS?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE THE TAXES, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE WHEREWITH ALL TO PROVIDE THE TAXES THAT PAY FOR THE POLICING, THE PROGRAMS, ET CETERA.

SO THERE IS SORT OF THAT GENERIC, THAT'S PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BEGIN TO SEE THAT THERE ARE LEVELS OF HOMELESSNESS.

THERE IS EVERYTHING FROM THE PARENT WITH THE CHILD WHO HAS FOUND THEMSELVES IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND THEY JUST NEED SOMEPLACE TO GO.

THERE IS THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME AND THEY NEED SOMEPLACE TO GO.

AND THAT GETS INTO THE WHOLE ISSUE OF THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF THIS HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM.

THEN THERE IS THE DRUG ADDICTED PERSON WHO, YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO DEAL WITH THAT ADDICTION, DOESN'T WANT OR CAN'T BE IN A STRUCTURED SITUATIONS.

AND THAT'S WHERE POSSIBLY THE DRUG USE CENTERS WILL COME IN.

ALTHOUGH THAT BRINGS UP OTHER ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE I'M IN A SENSE, SUPPORTING SOMEONE'S DRUG HABIT, WHICH IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THAT.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO BRING UP ONE OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THAT IS THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT I'M NAMING.

THE STREET ADDICTED PEOPLE.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO STARTED OUT IN ONE OF THOSE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AND HAVE NOW BECOME VERY USED TO LIFE ON THE STREET; DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY, AT LEAST INITIALLY, TO DO WELL IN A STRUCTURED SITUATION.

AND WE HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF THOSE PEOPLE AS WELL.

AND WHO DO NOT WANT TO GO INTO A SHEMENTER BECAUSE THERE ARE RULES, WHO DON'T WANT TO GO TO A DRUG USE CENTER BECAUSE THERE ARE RULES.

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE, IN ACCOUNT FA, AND LIKE YOU SAID SARAH, I HAD MY OWN REACTION AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE HOMELESS IN SYRACUSE FOR 13 YEARS AND VERY SUCCESSFULLY.

AND WHAT HE POINTED OUT IS THAT THERE ARE DEEPER STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS ALONG THE LINES THAT TARA TOUCHED UPON, THAT YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT BECOME ADDICTED TO DRUGS.

THEY THEN LOSE THEIR JOBS.

THEY THEN BECOME HOMELESS.

AND EVEN ONCE THEY GET CLEAN, THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME TO GO TO THAT LEAVES THEM FREE OF BEING PREYED UPON BY DRUG DEALERS.

SO I'M NOT ONE THAT NORMALLY LOOKS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

BUT IN THIS CASE, I CAN'T HELP BUT BELIEVE THAT THE CITY POLICE AND THE ONONDAGA COUNTY SHERIFFS CAN DEAL WITH THE DRUG DEALERS.

IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE DEMAND AND YOU PUNISH THOSE WHO ARE FUELING THIS PROBLEM, THAT HAS TO BE A STARTING POINT.

>> I DO WANT TO SAY, TARA, THAT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, THAT NUANCE THERE, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ALLIES ARE BLAMING DEMOCRATS INCLUDING KAMALA HARRIS FOR THE APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT LAST WEEKEND.

THEY SAY THERE'S A DIRECT LINE FROM RHETORIC LIKE "TRUMP IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY," AS BOTH HARRIS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAVE SAID, TO ATTEMPTS ON HIS LIFE.

TRUMP FOR HIS PART HAS CALLED DEMOCRATS "THE ENEMY WITHIN" AND USED OTHER INCENDIARY LANGUAGE.

BUT -SO FAR- IT'S TRUMP WHO HAS BEEN TARGETED.

HAVE WE SEEN THIS SORT OF SITUATION BEFORE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, INCENDIARY OR VIOLENT RHETORIC DURING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS HAS A LONG HISTORY IN AMERICA.

NOW SOME OF IT HAS BEEN JUST SIMPLY CRITICIZING ASPECTS OF A PERSON'S POTENTIAL POLICY, CRITICIZING AS SPECTS OF THEIR LIFE; FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A FORMER POLITICAL ALLY, ACTUALLY, WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SLAVE SALARY HEMMINGS.

WE HAVE HAD THAT SORT OF, YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE AND HERE IS HOW HE IS A HYPOCRITE KIND OF RHETORIC BUT YOU HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD RHETORIC MUCH MORE PERSONALIZED.

WHEN ANDREW JACKSON WAS RUNNING, THEY CALLED HIS LATE MOTHER A PROSTITUTE AND BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT HIS WIFE WAS LEGALLY A BIG BOGOMIST WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED AND AND THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE WAY IT WAS AT THAT TIME.

AND SO, YOU HAVE HAD THIS LONG HISTORY OF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS WHERE EACH SIDE CALLS THE OTHER SIDE SOMETHING INCENDIARY, SOMETHING THAT WILL BRING INTEREST.

BUT WHAT IS DIFFERENT TODAY IS THAT TODAY WE SEEM TO HAVE GONE TO A RHETORIC THAT HAS A MUCH MORE SORT OF VIOLENT INTENT, AND IS MUCH MORE INTENTIONAL IN REALLY REVVING UP THE POPULOUS AND GETTING THEM TO TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION; NOT JUST SIMPLY VOTE, TOUT ABOUT TAKE OTHER ACTIONS.

AND LET'S FACE IT.

JANUARY 6 IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> SO WHAT SHOULD THE RULE BE FOR THIS KIND OF RHETORIC?

I MEAN SHOULD A POLITICIAN REFRAIN FROM SAYING SOMETHING THAT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO IS UNSTABLE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE WRONG MESSAGE OR DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

I MEAN THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN BRANDON BERG IN A 1969 THAT GAVE WIDE, YOU KNOW, PERMISSION ESSENTIALLY FOR SPEECH FOR EVEN VIOLENT POTENTIALLY VIOLENT RHETORIC AS LONG AS IT'S NOT-- THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR IMMINENT ACTION, RIGHT?

SO IT'S REALLY-- WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE POLITICIANS THEMSELVES, IN OTHER WORDS, TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION THE LAST 10 YEARS, UNDERSTANDS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES NOT RESTRAIN HIMSELF.

IN FACT GOES THE OTHER DIRECTION.

AND I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH TARA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, POLITICAL RECEIPT FLICK THIS COUNTRY-- RHETORIC IN THIS COUNTRY BUT THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT SOMEONE WITH SUCH PROMINENCE AND POWER AS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP REALLY EGGING ON HIS SUPPORTERS, VALIDATING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS POLITICAL VIOLENCE, INSINUATING THAT HIS FOLLOWERS SHOULD BEAT UP PROTESTORS AND SUCH.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN RECENT HISTORY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT, THESE VERY LOW LEVEL POLITICAL OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, LOCAL ELECTION FOLKS AND PEOPLE THAT WORK THE POLLS, ARE WORKING IN A VERY THREATENING ENVIRONMENT NOW.

AND I THINK THAT SEEMS REALLY DIFFERENT TO ME.

LIKE THAT THE THREAT IS SORT OF FILTERING DOWN TO SUCH LOWER LEVELS.

AND IT'S SO WIDESPREAD.

>> YOU MENTIONED JANUARY 6.

AND OF COURSE THERE WAS CHARLOTTESVILLE AS WELL.

BUT ALSO THERE WAS THE FELLOW WHO FIRED ON-- WOUNDED VERY NEARLY KILLED STEVE AND OTHERS AT THE CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME A FEW YEARS AGO AND HE WAS COMING AT IT FROM A PARTISAN ANGLE.

>> GABBY GIFFORD SAID THE PROBLEM IS NOT RHETORIC.

IT'S ACCESS TO GUNS.

AND YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN GO BACK AND SAY YES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS TALKING LIKE THIS WAY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND ALL.

BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME MENTAL ILLNESS OR ARE SUSCEPTIBLE HAVE ACCESS TO HIGHLY DEADLY WEAPONS.

AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS AS WELL.

>> YEAH, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, DEEP DIVE INTO THIS, IN 2015, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

AND TO ECHO WHAT BOTH TARA AND SARAH TOUCHED UPON, THIS COUNTRY HAS A PROBLEM WITH VIOLENCE, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

AND I BELIEVE WE ARE THE COUNTRY THAT HAS EITHER ASSASSINATED OR ATTEMPTED TO ASSASSINATE MORE PRESIDENTS, LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY, THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

FULLY THREE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATIONS FROM 1835-1981 RONALD REAGAN, AND THEN FULLY FIVE ACTUAL ASSASSINATIONS FROM 1865-THE MOST RECENT OF TRUMP IN 2024.

NOW MY GUESS IS THAT BIDEN WAS OLDER BUT HE WASN'T AROUND DURING ALL OF THOSE AND CERTAINLY HARRIS WAS NOT EITHER SO WE CANNOT BLAME THEM FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT THE 2015 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT CAME UP WITH IN LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE, INCLUDING BOTH PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, IS THAT ALL INVOLVED FIREARMS.

ALL INVOLVED MEN.

AND 75% OF THEM INVOLVED PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ALL MEN.

BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THEY ALL INVOLVED FIREARMS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO MENTION HERE IS BIDEN ACTUALLY APOLOGIZED WHEN HE SAID , YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD PUT A BULL'S EYE ON DONALD TRUMP WHEN HE WAS TALKING FIGURATIVELY.

BUT TO QUOTE JOE WALSH, FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO POLITICIAN IN AMERICA TODAY WHO SPEWS AS MUCH HATE AND INCITES AS MUCH VIOLENCE WITH RECKLESS DANGEROUSNESS AS DONALD TRUMP SO AS THE REPUBLICANS POINTING TO THE DEMOCRATS AS THE CAUSE OF THIS, IT IS CLEAR THEIR LEVEL OF RHETORIC GOES WELL BEYOND ANYTHING THE DEMOCRATS... >> AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING THIS.

HE IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING THIS DIFFICULT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROLE OF POLITICAL RHETORIC, VIOLENT POLITICAL RHETORIC.

HE IS DOING IT FOR SHORT-TERM POLITICAL PURPOSES.

AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WISH HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM.

THERE IS JUST MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE THINKING THAT VIOLENCE IS JUSTIFIED SOMETIMES.

MORE SO IN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BUT ALSO AMONG DEMOCRATS.

>> IF HE CAN GET PEOPLE TO STOP SAYING HE IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, THAT ACTUALLY NEUTRALIZES ONE OF THE ISSUES AGAINST HIM.

>> HEAL MAKE UP ANOTHER.

>> EVER SINCE LAST WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT DOGS, CATS AND HAITIANS IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN CRITICISM OF J.D.

VANCE FOR SAYING HE "CREATED" THE STORY.

A CITY OF 60,000 PEOPLE HAS SEEN AN INFLUX OF ABOUT 15,000 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS IN JUST A FEW YEARS.

THERE ARE BOUND TO BE CULTURE CLASHES, WHETHER ANYONE IS EATING PETS OR NOT.

I DO WONDER IF DEMOCRATS AND MEDIA ARE MISSING MUCH OF THE POINT THAT HE IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO MAKE THERE, SARAH.

>> WELL, I MEAN I GUESS I WOULD SAY I WOULD SORT OF AGREE WITH YOU THAT A LOT OF INK HAS BEEN SPILLED ON THIS ISSUE AND THAT MEANS WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT OTHER ISSUES.

IT'S PUSHING OTHER ISSUES OFF THE AGENDA.

I THINK TO THE FAVORABILITY TO SOME EXTENT OF TRUMP AND VANCE BECAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION IS THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

AND IT POLLS WELL.

I THINK ONE THING THAT I HAVE NOTICED SOME JOURNALISTS DOING IN THE WAKE OF THIS IS TALKING ABOUT ALL THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS THE HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS HAVE MADE TO SPRINGFIELD AND I THINK THAT SAME STORY HAS BEEN REPEATED ACROSS A NUMBER OF SORT OF SMALL CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHOSE ECONOMIES HAVE REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT BEEN DOING WELL SINCE THE 1980S, THE INDUSTRIALIZATION, INCLUDING UTICA, NEW YORK.

AND SO THEY'RE RIGHTLY POINTING OUT ALL THE POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING THESE IMMIGRANTS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

AND I WISH WE DID THAT, YOU KNOW, MORE CONSISTENTLY, NOT JUST WHEN THESE THINGS COME UP.

BUT I THINK WHAT IS MISSING MAYBE IS THE IDEA THAT TRUMP AND VANCE AND A LOT OF THEIR SUPPORTERS REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THESE IMMIGRANTS ARE MAKING.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR CONCERN IS ABOUT THE SO CALLED REPLACEMENT OF WHITE AMERICANS WITH IMMIGRANTS WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND SO TO THEM, DHOANT CARE WHETHER THEY'RE LEGAL OR NOT.

THEY DON'T CARE WHETHER THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY OR NOT.

THEIR CONCERN, THEIR PROJECT IS TO TRY TO BRING THIS COUNTRY BACK TO SOME KIND OF WHITE CHRISTIAN NATION, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT IT'S NOT THAT ECONOMIC ARGUMENTS WHILE IMPORTANT ARE NOT GOING TO BE CONVINCING TO EVERYONE.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR OF OHIO, TARA, HE HAD AN EDITORIAL PIECE THIS MORNING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYING THEY ARE ACTUALLY HELPING TO REVITALIZE THAT CITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS WHY I LOVE THIS TOPIC THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IS IT HAS BROUGHT UP THE NUANCED ASPECT OF IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE WE'VE SORT OF LOST SIGHT-- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MASSIVE IMMIGRATION AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BORDER.

BUT WE HAVE LOST SIGHT THAT IMMIGRANTS COME TO AMERICA FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

AND WE'VE LOST SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS, THESE ARE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN CLEARLY SHOW, WITH NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THAT THEY'RE LEAVING, FLEEING FOR THEIR LIVES.

AND THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS FOR THEM OTHER THAN TO LITERALLY LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY.

SO THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF IT.

THE POLITICAL ASYLUM PART OF IT OFTEN GETS LOST WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

THE SECOND ASPECT OF THIS, THAT HAS BECOME VERY IMPORTANT, IS THAT WE HAVE ALSO LOST SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT ONCE THESE IMMIGRANTS COME HERE, THEY'RE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE, THEY WORK VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION VERY QUICKLY.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE POINT IS EXPLOITATION.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN A VERY UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT WITH THE BUS AND THE INDIVIDUAL GETTING KILLED AND TRYING TO MAKE THIS INTO, YOU KNOW, A POLITICAL ARGUMENT THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN WIN.

>> AND THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT THIS.

I MEAN REPUBLICANS HAVE BLAMED COLORED FOLKS EVER SINCE THE LATE 1960s.

IT'S A TRIED AND TRUE STRATEGY TO TRY TO TRICK THE WHITE WORKING CLASS INTO THINKING THAT THEIR ENEMY IS NOT THE WEALTHY AND THE POWERFUL, BUT THOSE COLORED FOLKS WHO ARE COMING IN AND HAITIANS ARE COMING IN IN RECORD NUMBERS, THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT'S OPENED THIS NEW PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

SO OF ALL OF THE FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT THEY'RE COMING OUT OF, HAITIANS ARE AT THE TOP.

AND PARTICULARLY IN THE CITY.

BUT AS DAVE SAID, THE GOVERNOR HAS WELCOMED THEM BECAUSE BUSINESSES HAVE WELCOMED THEIR WORK.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT RIGHT THERE TO GET TO OUR As AND FS.

I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO THIS MAYBE NEXT WEEK.

NINA YOUR F. >> TO THE MERRY GO ROUND THAT THE CURRENT IMMIGRATION POLICY HAS LEFT WOULD BE IMMIGRANTS ON.

THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THAT A MAJOR REASON FOR THE DROP IN APPREHENSIONS AT THE BORDER IS DUE TO MEXICO STOPPING MIGRANTS BEFORE THEY REACH THE BORDER.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT MEXICO IS HELPING THEM RETURN TO-- IS NOT HELPING THEM RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES, SO MIGRANTS TURN AROUND AND HEAD NORTH AND REPEAT THE CYCLE OVER AND OVER.

>> SARAH.

>> NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE U.S. IS CONTINUING TO ADMIT LARGE AMOUNTS OF METHANE GAS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE DESPITE OUR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

IT IS A POTENT GREENHOUSE GAS.

IN 2021 IT LOOKED LIKE WE MIGHT GET A HANDLE ON THE EMISSIONS.

AT THE TIME THE U.S. PROPOATED AND SIGNED THE GLOBAL METHANE PLEDGE WHICH SET A GOAL OF REDUCING MANMADE METHANE EMISSIONS BY A THIRD WITHIN A DECADE BUT OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES IS SURGING AND WITH IT ARE METHANE EMISSIONS.

>> TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS TO USE THE STATE POLICE TO QUESTION PETITIONER WHO SIGNED THE PETITION TO PUT AMENDMENT 4, ABORTION RIGHTS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT THERE.

WAS NO PROOF OF BALLOT TAMPERING OR PETITION TAMPERING, HE IS WEAKENING AND USING STATE RESOURCES BASICALLY TO HARASS PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE PETITION.

>> AND NOW RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO MARK JOHNSON CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA.

JOHNSON HAS A LONG HISTORY OF INCENTIVE INCENDIARY REMARKS.

BUT YESTERDAY CNN REPORTED HE CALLED HIMSELF A BLACK NAZI.

SAID HE ENJOYED WATCHING TRANSGENDER PORNOGRAPHY AND DEFENDED SLAVERY YEARS AGO ON A PORN WEBSITE.

>> NOW TO THE As.

>> AND YET TRUMP SAID THAT HE WAS BETTER THAN Dr. KING.

GO FIGURE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN SERVICING COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS.

NAVIE FL T ONCE CALLED SALLY MAE WAS FOUND TO HAVE PREYED ON STUDENT BORROWERS FOR DECADES.

NOW THEY MUST PAY $100 MILLION TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BORROWERS AND $20 MILLION IN FINES.

MAYBE THEY CAN FIND A COMPANY THAT WILL LOAN TO THEM.

>> SARAH.

>> MY A GOES TO A FRONT LINE DOCUMENTARY CALLED TWO AMERICAN FAMILIES.

THIS FILM TELLS THE STORY OF TWO FAMILIES LIVING IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN, WHO HAVE STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS TO MAKE ENDS MEET DURING BOTH GOOD AND BAD ECONOMIC TIMES.

I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT DESPITE ALL THEIR HARD WORK, THEY NEVER ACHIEVED ANY REAL ECONOMIC SECURITY, EVEN WHEN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY WAS BOOMING AND JOBS WERE PLENTIFUL.

IT IS A REALLY DEVASTATING CONDEMNATION OF THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM BUT IT IS ALSO A MOVING TESTAMENT TO THESE FAMILIES WHO SHARE OPENLY ABOUT THEIR JOYS AND SORROWS OVER THREE DECADES.

>> MY A GOES TO THE INCREASE IN ASIAN-AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER VOTER REGISTRATION.

IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWTH IN THE ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT AND GROWING NATIVE AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER ACTIVISM SINCE 2020, NEW VOTER REGISTRATION FROM THOSE GROUPS HAS INCREASED BY 43%, THE MOST AMONG ANY GROUP.

>> AND MY A GOES TO OUR CENTRAL NEW YORK WEATHER.

I OFTEN COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW QUICKLY SUMMER TURNS INTO WINTER AND HOW LITTLE SUN WE GET BUT THE WEATHER HAS BEEN FANTASTIC IN SEPTEMBER, SUNNY WARM DAYS, COOL CRISP NIGHTS.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO LAST UNTIL WEDNESDAY AT LEAST.

LET'S ENJOY IT WHILE WE CAN.

>> LET'S GET OUT THIS WEEKEND.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.