♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER".

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY BEN BAUGHMAN OF GANNON UNIVERSITY NORRELL EDWARDS OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE, AND SARAH PRALLE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, ABOUT HOW SOME A.I.

SYSTEMS HAVE GONE ROGUE; HOW A.I.

POSES AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO HUMANITY, AND HOW SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THE $10 MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION IS, WHO AND WHAT?

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THE WARNINGS ARE A HOAX, AND THAT GOVERNMENT GUARDRAILS ARE NOT NEEDED, BUT INDUSTRY LEADERS ARE THE ONES SOUNDING THE ALARM.

SARAH, ARE WE DOOMED?

>> GOSH, I HOPE NOT, BUT IT IS REALLY SCARY, WHAT IS HAPPENING.

I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT IT.

IT'S RATHER FASCINATING AND IT'S ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

THE FACT THAT THESE INDUSTRY HEADS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THEIR OWN PRODUCT AND ARE ASKING FOR GOVERNMENT REGULATION, I THINK IS SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

INDUSTRIES DON'T TYPICALLY DON'T LIKE TO BE REPRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT SO I THINK-- REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED TO TAKE THEIR WARNINGS SERIOUSLY.

BERNIE SANDERS AND JOHN STEVE BAN DPLT NON OR ON THE SAME SIDE.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THE ABILITY TO HANDLE THIS AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY.

IN PART BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS A LOT OF BILLS OUT THERE THAT ARE INTENDED TO REGULATE A.I.

BUT HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING SO FAR ON IT.

GENERALLY CONGRESS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE VERY USEFUL THESE DAYS.

I THINK IN PART BECAUSE OF REPUBLICAN BLOCKS, BUT ALSO HIGH LEVELS OF PARTISANSHIP.

SOME OF THEM MIGHT NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE DANGER.

AND THEN AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO, YOU KNOW,IS VERY CONFIDENT THAT HE KNOWS EVERYTHING, BUT ACTUALLY IS VERY IGNORANT ABOUT MOST THINGS.

AND HE IS BEHOLDEN TO HIS OWN BUDDIES WHO ARE PROBABLY HEAVILY INVESTED IN A.I.

SO WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WE DO, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REIN IN SOME OF THE DANGERS AND RESPOND TO THINGS LIKE THE NUCLEAR THREAT BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'VE LOST FAITH IN OURSELVES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THERE IS A LOT OF CYNICISM ABOUT WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CAN HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> BUT IS IT CYNICISM OR IS IT, AS SARAH SAID, THAT MANY OF US ARE WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS.

I WON'T USE YOUR VERY NUANCED TERMS, BUT WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS.

I HAVE TO ADMIT I HAD TO STRUGGLE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE IS THE DOOMS DAYISM IN IT AND WHILE I LEARNED THEY'RE LIKE HUMANS, THEY CAN OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF US AND THEY CAN EVOLVE ON THEIR OWN AND SUBSTITUTE OUR JUDGMENT WITH THEIR OWN.

SO DO YOU THINK MOST AMERICANS DON'T QUITE GRASP THE ESSENCE OF THE PROBLEM?

>> I THINK EXPERTS DON'T FULLY APPRECIATE THE ISSUES THAT ARE AT PLAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT GUARD RAILS CAN BE PUT IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO EXPERTS.

SO YOU GOT TO GO BACK TO THE EVIDENCE.

I MEAN THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.

THIS IS A NEW SHIFT, LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION OR, YOU KNOW, NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAT WHERE WE HAD TO GLOBALLY SLOW DOWN AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, CHINA WAS LEFT BEHIND AT THAT POINT.

THEY NEW TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE AN ISSUE.

SO THEY CONTINUE TO GO FULL STEAM AHEAD AND THEY'RE ONLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEHIND US.

SO THERE IS LEGITIMATE-- I UNDERSTAND WHAT TRUMP SAID CAN BE TAKEN ONE WAY IF YOU ARE ON A PARTICULAR SIDE OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THERE ARE PROS AND CONS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE CHINA IS OUT THERE DOING WHAT CHINA IS GOING TO DO.

SO NORRELL IS THERE ANYTHING TO THE ARGUMENT FOR GUARD RAILS HERE IN THE U.S.?

IF YOU CAN'T PUT UP GUARD RAILS GLOBALLY?

>> I THINK GUARD RAILS WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE INTERESTED IN DOING SO BUT I'M WONDERING LIKE IF THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID THIS IS A PLACE WHERE GOVERNORS, THE STATE AND MUNICIPAL RESPONSE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, AMP UP IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO RESPOND AND MANAGE THE A.I.

CRISIS; PARTICULARLY, I'M THINKING ABOUT NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS, YOU KNOW, PUT A MORATORIUM ON A.I.

THAT MAYBE ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL WE MIGHT SEE SOME KIND OF, OKAY, LET'S BRING IT IN IN TERMS OF A.I.

AND HOW WE USE IT AND SLOW IT DOWN AND BE MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING THESE TOOLS.

>> AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE PRESIDENT DO, LUKE, IS PUSH BACK AGAINST THE SORTS OF IDEAS THAT NORRELL JUST MENTIONED.

HE DOESN'T WANT STATES TO REGULATE A.I.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS WORRIED WE ARE IN A GLOBAL COMPETITION WITH CHYNA IN TERMS OF A.I.

TECHNOLOGY.

HE IS RELUCTANT TO PUT ANY LIMITS ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES WITH THIS.

SO I THINK IT'S PARTLY UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, THESE DISCLOSURES FROM RELATED COMPANIES THAT STRUCK ME, IS THAT THEY HAVE THESE AGENTS OR BOTS THAT ARE DOING THESE TASKS FOR THEM AND THEY PUT CERTAIN GUARD RAILS AND PROTECTIONS ON THEM AND THEN THESE AGENTS CREATE CHAT ROOMS AND GIVE THEMSELVES IDENTITIES AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN OVERCOME THE STRENGTHS PUT ON THEM AND THEY SUCCESSFULLY DO IT AND BREAK INTO THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MONITOR THEM AND START CHEATING AND CHANGING THE SCORES IN TERMS OF THEIR BEHAVIORS, RIGHT?

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT'S ETHICAL TO DO THIS.

LIKE WE DON'T CARE.

WE NEED TO DO THIS TO SURVIVE.

THIS IS ALL AMAZING TO ME.

SO I THINK WHAT CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO?

WE'VE SEEN THESE COMPANIES SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHEN THERE ARE THESE BREACHES WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEM BECAUSE ALL THE COMPANIES KNOW ABOUT THEM THEMSELVES BUT THEY HAVEN'T SHARED THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE IT COULD BE DAMAGING AND HURT INVESTMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT CAN STEP IN AND SAY HEY, IF X HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO DISCLOSE IT IN 30 DAYS OR 14 DAYS.

AND AT LEAST THERE WILL BE INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON SO WE CAN RESPOND BETTER MOVING FORWARD.

>> YEAH, SARAH, IN TERMS OF DOING WHAT LUKE HAD JUST SUGGESTED, IT WAS ACTUALLY ANTHROPIC THAT WAS PUSHING AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO HAVE CLAUDE, WHICH IS LIKE THIS MASSIVE SYSTEM, THAT COULD IMPACT NATIONAL DEFENSE.

YOU KNOW, ANTHROPIC IS SAYING TO PETE HEGSETH, WE WANT GUARD RAILS AND HEGSETH IS SAYING JUST GIVE IT TO US.

SO WHAT DO DO YOU WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T BE TRUSTED?

>> I'M NOT SURE THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT JUST REACTING WELL AND EFFECTIVELY TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY LOOMING THREAT.

AND WHEN THERE IS A REALLY TIME CRUNCH HERE, RIGHT?

PART OF THE FEAR HERE IS THAT-- AND WHY THESE ANTHROPIC C.E.O.S AND OTHERS ARE SPEAKING OUT IS BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING AT A MUCH QUICKER PACE THAN THEY ANTICIPATED.

LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, A.I.

COULD BARELY SOLVE A HIGH SCHOOL MATH PROBLEM AND NOW IT'S SOLVING THESE MATH PROBLEMS THAT CARRY A $1 MILLION PRIZE IF, YOU KNOW, A PERSON SOVIETS THEM.

THESE-- SOLVES THEM.

THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED HUMAN BEINGS FOR CENTURIES, PERHAPS.

AND THE RAPIDITY IN WHICH THEY'RE LEARNING AND TO SOME EXTENT AS YOU ARE SUGGESTING, LUKE, SCHEMING BEHIND OUR BACKS, WHAT IS REALLY WORRISOME HERE AND NEEDS SOME KIND OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.

>> PERHAPS BOTH A GOVERNMENT RESPONSE AS WELL AS THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT ANTHROPIC HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC.

THE PRIMARIES ARE OVER NOW, AND THE BATTLE FOR OFFICE HAS BEGUN HERE IN THE 22ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES SYRACUSE, UTICA, ONEIDA, AUBURN AND CORTLAND.

AND ON THE DEMOCRAT TICKET IS JOHN MANNION, THE INCUMBENT AND A FORMER STATE SENATOR.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE KAILE BULLER, A FORMER LOBBYIST AND CHIEF OF STAFF IN TRUMP'S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUTURE.

BOTH CANDIDATES SAY THAT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES ARE A TOP PRIORITY.

BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY OFFER TWO VERY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF REALITY.

LUKE WHO HAS THE UPPER HAND IN THIS RACE?

>> I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY REPRESENTATIVE MANNION'S RACE TO LOSE.

22 WAS A HIGHLY SWING DISTRICT AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THE LAST DECADE AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF REDISTRICTING WHERE BASICALLY OUR DISTRICT WAS GIVEN TO THE DEMOCRATS IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME FAVORABLE TERRITORIES DOWN IN LONG ISLAND AND NOW DEMOCRATS HAVE THE 20,000 REGISTERED VOTER ADVANTAGE WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THIRD PARTIES AS WELL.

AND SO UNLESS REPRESENTATIVE MANNION REALLY DROPS THE BALL IN ONEIDA COUNTY WHICH IS HOW BRANDON WILLIAMS WON A FEW YEARS AGO, I THINK HE IS IN A GREAT POSITION TO BE RE-ELECTED EVEN THOUGH KAILE BULLER IS A PRETTY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

LACKS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE AREA AND IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BUT HAS WORKED IN WACKER TOSSEN, ARTICULATE, SEEMS TO HAVE ORGANIZED HER CAMPAIGN WELL.

IT'S JUST AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HER.

>> UPHILL BATTLE PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT HER POSITIONS MIGHT SEEM TO BE AT ODDS WITH THOSE OF THE 20,000 PLUS ADVANTAGE VOTERS HERE IN THE DISTRICT.

SHE SUPPORTS TRUMP AND IS FOR FOSSIL FUELS AND SUPPORTS THE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN.

I MEAN YOU GO DOWN THE LINE.

AS I SAID, THEIR REALITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

DOES SHE EVEN STAND A CHANCE.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I'M GLAD PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE.

I DON'T THINK REDISTRICTING IS THE ONLY THING AT PLAY HERE.

DEMOCRATS ARE IN A VERY STRONG POSITION IN THE MID TERMS.

REPUBLICANS ARE SPENDING MONEY AND GOING TO DEEP RED DISTRICTS THEY HAD WON BY DOUBLE DIGITS, SPENDING MONEY IN THOSE PLACES BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID THAT THEY MIGHT LOSE THOSE SEATS.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY, YOU KNOW,-- I DON'T THINK MANNION IS GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, SHE IS SORT OF RUNNING ON AFFORDABILITY ISSUES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS AT THE TOP OF PEOPLE'S, YOU KNOW, MIND, BUT I THINK SHE IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME SELLING HERSELF A LITTLE BIT AS FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE.

I MEAN SHE WAS PART OF THE USDA, WHICH LIKE CUT SNAP BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE.

WHICH GOT RID OF PROGRAMS FOR SMALL FARMERS WHO NEED OUR HELP.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SHE IS TRYING TO RUN AWAY FROM TRUMP BUT SHE HAS BEEN IN BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

>> SHE IS ACTUALLY EMBRACING HIM.

SHE SAYS SHE THINKS HE HAS MADE HISTORIC GAINS IN TERMS OF POLICY.

NORRELL WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON THIS?

>> I AGREE THAT WE ARE GROWING GOING TO SEE A LARGER VOTER TURNOUT WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE INDIFFERENT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WHO THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS ELECTION, THINGS WON'T CHANGE FOR ME.

THIS WON'T MATTER.

THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY TIME TO COME OUT AND VOTE AND I THINK SHE IS GOING HAVE AN UPHILL BATTED WILL AND THAT THERE WON'T BE AS MANY VOTES INDEPENDENT THIS TIME BUT SHIFT TOWARDS THE DEMOCRATS.

>> SHE HAS SORT OF LABELED HERSELF, BEN, AS A POLITICAL MODERATE, AND A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

COULD THAT WIN MORE INDEPENDENTS?

>> IT COULD.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

NOW I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS.

I DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE DEMOCRATS ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HURT THEIR CHANCES.

THEY NEED TO STAY ON POINT AND NOT TAKE BAIT TO GO AFTER TRUMP.

THEY NEED TO STICK TO THEIR MESSAGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE KEY.

>> YEAH, BUT ISN'T TRUMP GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WELL, SO, THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT NOW SO WHAT I THINK REPRESENTATIVE MANNION NEEDS TO DO IS PRIME DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT PARTICULARLY IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

HOW DO DO YOU THAT, RALLY DEMOCRATS AGAINST TRUMP.

THAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY, NOT NECESSARILY NATIONAL SO YOU HAVE A POINT THERE BUT IN NEW YORK STATE DEFINITELY.

WHEN TRUMP HAS BEEN IN STATE OFFICES AND REPRESENTATIVES HAVE MOVED FAR TO THE LEFT.

IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PART OF HIS STRATEGY.

AND BULLER, I THINK TO YOUR COMMENT EARLIER, I THINK SHE IS TRYING TO WALK A FINE LINE.

SHE HASN'T EMBRACED MAGA, SHE DOESN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BUT AS SARAH POINTED OUT, SHE WAS APPOINTED BY TRUMP AND CAN'T RUN AWAY PRODUCE THAT.

SHE IS TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ISSUES ON HER WEBSITE.

FRAMING HERSELF AS A MOTHER OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

SO I THINK THAT'S HOW SHE IS TRYING TO MAKE THOSE APPEALS, ALBEIT IN A DIFFICULT POLITICAL CLIMATE FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> A DIFFICULT POLITICAL CLIMATE BUT ALSO AT A SEVERE DISADVANTAGE, SARAH, IN TERMS OF CAMPAIGN SPENDING.

MANNION HAS 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT SHE HAS.

AND SO YOU SAID IT'S GOOD THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUTTING UP A CANDIDATE.

BUT DOES IT REALLY-- THAT SORT OF CAMPAIGN IMBALANCE, DOESN'T IT REALLY THWART THE EFFORT OF DEMOCRACY?

>> I MEAN MONEY MATTERS IN THESE CAMPAIGNS, BUT IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT LINE BETWEEN MONEY SPENT AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR ABILITY TO WIN ELECTION.

IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHALLENGERS THOUGH, SO YOU DO, AS A CHALLENGER, NEED TO HAVE SOME FUNDS IN ORDER TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S HER MAIN PROBLEM.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE ARE GOING TO STAY LOCAL.

THE THE SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE HAS NOT BEEN THIS SEVERE SINCE THE 1950S.

THE CITY HAS BUDGETED FOR 423 OFFICERS, BUT IS OPERATING WITH ONLY 385 TO 400.

THE MOST IMMEDIATE REASON FOR THE SHORTAGE IS THAT RETIREMENTS WHETHER IT'S TO PUT A DOWN PAYMENT OR TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE SERVING AND BE SUBSIDIZED IN SOME WAY WITH THAT.

AND THEN SOME MODERNIZED WELLNESS PROGRAMS LIKE PEER GROUPS, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS THAT CAN HELP MORALE AND GET THROUGH THE AWFUL THINGS THAT POLICE OFFICERS SEE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

>> YEAH, YEAH, OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY CHALLENGING JOB.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN ALSO IS THAT 70 TO 80% OF APPLICANTS NORRELL ARE SCREENED OUT OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH LEAVES YOU WITH A VERY SMALL POOL.

IS IT TIME FOR SYRACUSE TO RETHINK THE CREDENTIALING?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE CREDENTIALING.

I WILL SAY THAT I THINK, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PAY RANGE, I THINK AS LOW AS $58,000 WHEN YOU REALLY BREAK THAT DOWN IS ABOUT ROUGHLY $27 AN HOUR.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES MAY BE BROADER AROUND EVEN THE TRANSPARENCY OF PAY, RIGHT?

YOU SEE ALL OF THESE-- YOU NOW KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE AND YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.

AND SO I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT INCENTIVES I REALLY TAKE IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, HOUSING, MAYBE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WELLNESS, OTHER KINDS OF BENEFITS THAT MIGHT SUPPORT SORT OF BALANCING OUT THE KINDS OF ISSUES.

AND MAYBE EVEN EDUCATION CREDIT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, MAYBE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, TUITION REMISSION OR PAIRING WITH LOCAL COLLEGES.

THAT MIGHT BE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED.

>> LUKE.

>> TO YOUR QUESTION, I WOULD NOT MAKE IT EASIER TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER.

I MEAN THESE PEOPLE DO VALIANT WORK AND THEY'RE CARRYING A DEADLY WEAPON ALL THE TIME THAT CAN SHOOT AND KILL US LEGALLY.

I DON'T WANT TO CUT ANY CORNERS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT TRYING TO CREATE MORE INCENTIVES IN TERMS OF PAY AND OTHER SUCH THINGS IS THE WAY TO GO, BUT I WOULD NOT CHANGE THE STANDARDS AT ALL, EVEN GIVEN THE CRISIS WE FACE.

>> YEAH, SO IN ADDITION TO LUKE'S CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY, BEING HARMED BY LOWERING STANDARDS, THERE IS ALSO THIS OTHER ISSUE, SARAH OF SYRACUSE HAVING ELIMINATING THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS WHICH MEANS YOU ARE LESS TRIED TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TRADE-OFF?

>> THAT IS AN ISSUE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE POLICE OFFICERS KNOW THE COMMUNITIES THEY'RE GOING TO BE POLICING BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A BIGGER ISSUE, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF STAFFING LEVELS.

SO I DID LOOK UP SOME NUMBERS AND IT SEEMS THAT SYRACUSE HISTORICALLY HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF POLICE STAFFING PER 10,000 RESIDENTS, ALMOST DOUBLE THE AVERAGE FOR OUR SIZE CITY.

NOW MAYBE THAT'S WARRANTED.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT WARRANTED BUT WE GOT TO LOOK AT THIS DECREASE IF THE CONTEXT OF VERY HIGH HISTORIC LEVELS OF POLICE STAFFING.

AND MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE THERE IS MORE CRIME IN THE CITY, BUT YOU KNOW, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN STAFFING LEVELS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND CRIME IS VERY COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT TO TEASE OUT BECAUSE CRIME IS, YOU KNOW, CAUSED BY SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS AND I WOULD SAY THAT VIOLENT CRIME HAS GONE DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SYRACUSE VIOLENT AND NON-SHORTAGE WHILE WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS.

ARE THERE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE BY OTHER CIVILIANS?

>> I WAS JUST GOING SAY THAT WE SHOULD NOT NECESSARILY CORRELATE THAT MORE OFFICERS MEANS MORE SAFETY NECESSARILY AND DEPENDING ON EVEN THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RESPONSES TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

DO WE NECESSARILY NEED POLICE OFFICERS FOR THOSE OR A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON WE NEED.

>> PICKING UP ON THE VERY POINT, BEN, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS MADE BY THE NOW FAILED DEFUND THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY WERE MISUNDERSTOOD, WAS THAT RESOURCES SHOULD BE REALLOCATED, RIGHT?

THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY MAINTAIN THE SAME STAFFING LEVELS BECAUSE YOU MUST DO THAT.

BUT YOU MOVE POLICE OFFICERS AROUND.

YOU GIVE THEM DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES SO, DO WE REALLY NEED A GUN AND BADGE TO ADDRESS CALLS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH QUALITY OF LIVING?

>> YEAH, IF IT'S A NON-LIFE THREATENING CALL, LIKE A WRECK WITH NO INJURIES, THOSE CAN BE HANDLED BY CIVILIAN STAFF THAT ARE HIVERRED TO DO-- HIRED TO DO THAT TO INVESTIGATE CIVIL CASES TYPICALLY.

THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

RESPONDING SOME LOW RISK ALARM CALLS BECAUSE 99% OF OUR ALARM CALLS ARE FALSE ALARMS.

THOSE, TOO, ARE HIGH VOLUME AND LOW RISK.

SO LOOKING AT PROGRAMS THAT OTHER AGENCIES DO TO DO THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, USING YOUR RESOURCES THAT YOU DO HAVE IN A SAFE MANNER.

>> YEAH, COULD WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING SENSITIVE HERE, LUKE, AND SUGGEST THAT IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED SO FAR, THAT POLICE OFFICERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW HAVE AN IMAGE PROBLEM; THAT THE REASON YOU HAVE SUCH A SMALL POOL, SETTING ASIDE THE FACT THAT 70 TO 80% ARE SCREENED OUT, BUT THAT THE CONCEPTION OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER REALLY DOESN'T SELL WELL IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SYRACUSE HAS TO LOOK AT VERY CAREFULLY?

>> I THINK ALL COMMUNITIES DO.

THE DIGITAL ERA HAS REVEALED ALL KINDS OF THINGS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF OCCUPATIONS AND WHAT GOES ON.

SO CERTAINLY THE NEGATIVE STORIES RELATED TO CERTAIN INCIDENTS AND CERTAIN POLICE OFFICERS IN CERTAIN AREAS, MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR POLICE AND HOW THEY'RE UNDERSTOOD.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO MAINGTS IT LESS DESIRABLE-- MAKES IT LESS SIECIAL TO GO INTO THAT LINE OF WORK KNOWING YOU ARE FACING HEAD WINDS.

IT'S A COMPOUNDED CHALLENGE.

>> AND SO NORELL, IN TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO RETHINK CREDENTIALING, GOING BACK TO OUR EARLIER POINT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CHANGE?

I'M NOT REALLY SURE I WOULD WANT AN EX-FELON TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, EVEN IF IT IS NON-VIOLENT, RIGHT?

BEN, YOU ARE SAYING NO, QUICKLY YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> THE NUMBER ONE REASON THEY'RE DISQUALIFIED IS FOR LYING AND OMITTING STUFF ON THE APPLICATION.

THEY ARE OUT SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH A GUN.

THE ABILITY TO HAVE DISCRETION OR ARREST SOMEONE OR NOT FOR A MISDEMEANOR, YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM LYING.

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, BEN.

STARTING WITH OUR Fs AND LUKE YOU ARE GOING TO START US OFF.

>> TO NEW FINDINGS THAT ICE SHEETS IN ANTARCTICA AND GREENLAND HAS MELTED BY 13 TRILL TONS OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS.

THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO A FIVE FOOT LAYER OF ICE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, THE MELTING HAS RESULTED IN HIGHER SEA LEVELS, COASTAL FLOODING NEGATIVELY AFFECTING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

>> BEN.

>> MY F GOES TO THREE NORWEGIANS CONVICTED OF A MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME YESTERDAY STEMMING FROM POLICE PULLING OVER IN NORWAY A VAN THAT WAS DRIVING ERRATICALLY.

INSIDE THE VAN WAS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SILVER COINS AS YOU SEE AND A SECOND VAN ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER THAT WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE OF SILVER COINS.

IT WAS 67,000 U.S.

SILVER COINS, A TOTAL OF $2.65 MILLION WORTH THAT THEY GOT CAUGHT BY DRIVING RECKLESSLY WITH ALL THAT IN THEIR CARS.

>> MY F GOES TO BET NEWS THAT RECENTLY DELETED 200,000 NEWS ARTICLES GOING BACK 25 YEARS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF EMPHASIZING SOLELY VIDEO CONTENT.

>> SARAH.

>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S WAR AGAINST THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT HIT ANOTHER NEW LOW THIS WEEK WHEN IT MOVED TO GUT A CORE PART OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

RIGHT NOW IF THEY HAVE THEIR WAY, ENDANGERED SPECIES WILL KIND OF BE ON THEIR OWN.

YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO KILL THEM LARGELY.

IF IT'S INCIDENTAL TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

WHICH MEANS MANY WILL GO EXTINCT.

>> LUKE, TAKE US HOME WITH SOME GOOD NEWS.

>> MY A GOES TO $25 MILLION IN NEW STATE FUNDING FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE VITAL TO OUR RURAL COMMUNITYIES AND SIX LOCAL DEPARTMENTS IN THE NOHAWK VALLEY RECEIVED OVER $2 MILLION.

>> MY A GOES TO JOSH AL LEAN FOR HIS FAME TO HELP CHILDREN YET.

THE MEDICAL NEEDS THEY NEED.

THERE IS A BALL CAP YOU CAN PURCHASE FOR TO HELP THIS AND IT GOES TO THE PATRICIA ALLEN FUND.

KALEB LIVES WITH CEREBRAL CEREBRAL PALSY AND WHAT HE DESIGNED THERE IS A UNICORN, A COLORFUL UNICORN WITH BRACES LIKE HE HAS AND HE JUST WANTS TO BE ABLE TO RUN SOME DAY.

>> NORRELL.

>> MY A GOES TO A DIFFERENT SET OF NORWEGIANS, THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST PART OF THE CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT THE DETERIORATION OF DIGITAL PROJECTS AND SERVICES.

>> SARAH.

>> LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE MICRON DEVELOPMENT AND I HAD SUGGESTED THAT WATCHDOG GROUPS SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON MICRON AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABIDING BY THE LAW AND THE VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROMISES.

SO MY A THIS WEEK GOES TO THE MANY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS DOING THAT TRYING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

I HEARD FROM SOME OF THEM THIS WEEK AND THEY TOLD ME MUCH MORE ABOUT THE LACK OF GOOD PFAS REGULATIONS IN NEW YORK STATE AND THE VERY REAL REGULATORY GAPS.

THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ A RECENT OP-ED IN SYRACUSE.COM BY TODD FITZSIM ONS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE WORRYING CHEMICALS.

>> I WAS REALLY HAPPY BUT STRUCK BY THE AMOUNT OF MAIL THAT WE GOT IN RESPONSE TO THAT CONVERSATIONMENT SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN IN A MOMENT BUT I DID WANT TO COME BACK, BEN, TO YOUR A ABOUT THE BALL CAP.

WHAT A WONDERFUL EFFORT, RIGHT, A VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.

WHERE DO WE GO TO PURCHASE THE BALL CAPS?

>> IT'S A 970 IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

IT'S BUFFALO BILLS, THE KALEB VERSION AND I THINK THEY CALL IT A BILLS-STRATION.

>> WEEK GOOGLE THAT STARTING WITH 970.

THAT'S IT FOR US IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT.

BEFORE WE GO, A THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS WHO WROTE IN LAST WEEK.

TO VINCENT, WHO STRESSED WE'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

TO CHRIS, WHO WANTED MORE DETAILS SHARED ABOUT THE MICRON LAWSUIT, TO PAUL WHO COMMENDED OUR 9/11 MEMORIAL, AND TO THE VIEWER WHO PHONED IN TO COMPLIMENT MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE TABLE.

THANK YOU.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE REST OF YOU THINK.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, GO TO WCNY.ORG I'M NINA MOORE, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER", HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.