>> WHAT TO DO ABOUT FOOD PRICES GOING UP --- SHOULD THE VOTING AGE COME DOWN --- AND HOW ONE LOCAL SHERIFF IS SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH ICE.

NEXT- ON "IVORY TOWER."

FLL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME FOR "IVORY TOWER."

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE PANELISTS JOINING ME TONIGHT ARE -- TARA ROSS, FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE LUKE PERRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY SARAH PRALLE, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, AND BEN BAUGHMAN, FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY.

TWO MONTHS AGO, PANEL, WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER ICE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SHOULD THEY HELP THE CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTEDCY.

AGENCY.

THE MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF JUST SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH ICE TO DO JUST THAT.

SHERIFF TODD HOOD SAYS DEPUTIES WILL BE TRAINED TO SERVE ICE'S CIVIL WARRANTS AND COURT ORDERS-- TO NON-CITIZENS WHO HAVE CRIMINAL OR PENDING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

BUT THE SHERIFF SAYS THOSE NOT INVOLVED IN CRIMES ARE LOW ON THE RADAR FOR BEING DETAINED.

FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS ARE CONCERNS BECAUSE IN MADISON COUNTY 41% OF PROPERTY IS FARMLAND --- AND SOME MIGRANT WORKERS MAY NOT HAVE LEGAL STATUS.

TARA, WHAT CONCERNS YOU ABOUT THIS NEW POLICY IN MADISON COUNTY.

>> WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT SHERIFF HOOD WAS FLIPPANT IN JUST SIMPLY SAYING IF YOU HAVEN'T COMMITTED A CRIME, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT ON THE RADAR, ET CETERA, WHEN WE KNOW THAT ICE HAS CERTAINLY GATHERED UP PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T COMMITTED CRIMES OR WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN JAIL FOR, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY PARKING TICKETS OR SUSPECTING LIKE THAT.

WE KNOW THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED.

SO THAT WAS MY FIRST CONCERN.

THE SECOND CONCERN IS THAT HERE YOU HAVE A SHERIFF AGREEING TO THIS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVING STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT NO LOCAL SHERIFF, NO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGREE TO THESE CONTRACTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT'S SORT OF LIKE THE CHIEF ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE STATE IS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH LOCAL SHERIFFS AND OTHER LEGAL ADVISERS.

SO THAT'S THE SECOND THING.

AND THE THIRD THING IS, IS THAT OKAY,-- AND THIS IS A LITTLE UNCLEAR.

IF YOU READ THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHERIFF HOOD HAS SAID, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PERSON WOULD BE ABOUT TO BE OUT OF CUSTODY WHEN THN THEN THIS WARRANT WOULD BE SERVED SO THAT THE PERSON CAN THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO ICE.

SO IF THE PERSON HASN'T DONE ANYTHING, SO THAT THEY SHOULD BE LET GO, YOU KNOW, FROM RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, THEN IN ESSENCE, YOU ARE THEN PUTTING THEM IN A DIFFERENT SORT OF DANGER WHEN THEY HAVEN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING.

SO IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING.

>> LETS TURN TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERT HER, BEN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS POLICY?

>> I LOVE IT.

I LOVE THAT IT IS-- THE WAY IT IS SET OUT, WARRANT SERVICE OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN DEPUTIZED, TRAINED AND IT IS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN CUSTODY FOR CRIMINAL PURPOSES.

WHAT IS-- THE DISADVANTAGE OF NOT DOING IT THERE IS IN THE PUBLIC.

WHAT SHERIFF HOOD HAS DECIDED AND WHAT HE HAS SIGNED ON JULY 2 IS GOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING OUT ON THE STREETS AND COLLECTING PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT DOING ICE' JOB.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF INTERACTIONS ON THE STREET, KICKING DOORS IN, SCOOPING PEOPLE UP OFF THE STREET OR, IN THE FIELDS WHILE THEY'RE WORKING AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.

IF YOU HAVE A WARRANT OUT FOR YOUR ARREST AND IT CAN BE SERVED WHILE YOU ARE IN JAIL VERSUS YOU ARE LET OUT AND THEN GOOD LUCK, TRY TO HIDE FROM ICE, I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

>> DEPENDS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THE CRIME THOUGH?

ISN'T IT A CRIME TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY?

DOES THAT APPLY TO ALL UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE?

THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR.

I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU WITH PEOPLE BEING CHARGED A FELONY IN THE COUNTY.

I THINK THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST TO NOTIFY ICE AND HAVE THE PEOPLE DETAINED BUT IS THIS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT?

ANY OF US CAN CALL ICE.

THEY HAVE A TIP LINE THAT YOU CAN REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, TOLL FREE NUMBER.

ANY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY CAN CONTACT ICE AND SAY I'VE GOT SOMEBODY THAT I THINK IS UNDOCUMENTED AND ICE CAN VERY QUICKLY ISSUE A DETAINER AND THAT ENABLES LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HOLD THEM FOR 48 HOURS.

WHY HAVE THE COUNTY PAID TO TRAIN THESE PEOPLE WITHOUT HAVING IT DONE WITHOUT THE COUNTY HAVING TO PAY FOR IT.

THAT'S WHAT I DON'T GET.

>> SARAH, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW?

>> PART OF MY CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE PROCESS IS NOT VERY DEMOCRATIC.

THE SHERIFFS CAN ENTER THESE AGREEMENTS, THESE 287 AGREEMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THERE IS ALMOST LIKE NO OVERSIGHT, RIGHT?

SO EVEN IN THE CASE OF MADISON COUNTY, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO AGREE THAT THEY SHOULD DO THIS.

AND SO IT'S NOT-- THE PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO NECESSARILY WANT IT.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT IT MIGHT SWEEP UP NEEDED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.

THEY MIGHT SWEEP UP INNOCENT PEOPLE, AS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST THERE BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE A FAULTY VISA BUT HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THESE COMMUNITIES FOR 20, 30 YEARS.

AND THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY DOESN'T REALLY LIKE THESE ACTIONS ON THE PART OF THESE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO THERE IS SO LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT'S SO TRUE OF SHERIFFS IN GENERAL.

THEY WIELD A LOT OF POWER AND THEY ARE ELECTED.

BUT THEY ARE REALLY-- THERE IS HARDLY ANY COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS IN TERMS OF SHERIFFS.

THEY TEND TO SKEW VERY CONSERVATIVE, MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.

AND THEY OFTEN ARE VERY UNACCOUNTABLE.

I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.

>> TARA, SARAH SAYS THE PEOPLE LIKE THIS.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT FELONY-- PERSONS WHO ARE BEING CHARGED WITH FELONIES SHOULD BE DETAINED BUT THEN AS LUKE SAYS, IT GOES ON FROM THERE BUT THIS IS A REPUBLICAN COUNTY WHO VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR TRUMP, SO MAD-- MADISON COUNTY PEOPLE I SUSPECT ARE SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO SEPARATE TWO THINGS.

THEY MAY BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME SHOULD, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY BE ARRESTED, GO THROUGH THE LEGAL, APPROPRIATE LEGAL PROCEDURES AND THEN BE DEPORTED IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

BUT THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT, AS I BELIEVE IT, THE ARREST MAY NOT-- THE INITIAL ARREST BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR BEING AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT.

YOU MAY BE THERE FOR OTHER REASONS.

AND THEN YOU CAN THEN BE, YOU KNOW, DETAINED BY ICE.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST PROBLEM.

THE SECOND PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT DID THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF IMMIGRATION REFORM VERSUS DID THEY SUPPORT THIS PLAN FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM.

>> RIGHT.

BEN, ICE JUST GOT SOMETHING LIKE, WHAT DO I HAVE HERE-- $19 BILLION A YEAR FOR IMMIGRATION.

SO DO THEY REALLY NEED SHERIFFS EXTRA HELP THERE?

>> THEY DON'T NEED IT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.

BUT IT IS, AGAIN, MAKING IT SAFER FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS INVOLVED.

BACK TO SEVERAL POINTS THAT WERE MADE, YES IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE HERE ILLEGALLY.

BUT I'VE ARRESTED PEOPLE FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST DRINKING AND DRIVING, WHICH IS BAD, BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET THEM TO THE JAIL, YOU FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE WARRANTS FOR RAPE, MURDER AND OTHER THINGS.

SO THERE IS SOMETIMES A DELAY THAT FIND OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE INITIAL ARREST MISDEMEANOR IS NOT ALL THAT THAT PERSON IS WANTED FOR.

AND YOU KNOW, LUKE IS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE FELONIES, THIS IS A CRIME AND YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH IT BEING A FELONY THAT THAT WE ARE CHECKING THIS.

WHY?

LIKE WHY DOES IT MATTER WHAT THEY'RE BEING ARRESTED FOR?

IN THEY'RE THERE AND THEY HAVE A WARRANT OUT FOR THEIR ARREST, ALTHOUGH FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND ... WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS RECKLESS DRIVING, DWI AND HIT AND RUN, SO NONE OF THAT IS A FELONY.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHECK.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> I WANT TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA, SOMETHING YOU SAID, IT MAKES THE COMMUNITY SAFER.

YOU SUGGESTED THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING AROUND POTENTIALLY ARRESTING YOU FOR SOME IMMIGRATION VIOLATION WHEN YOU HAVEN'T REALLY COMMITTED A CRIME EXCEPT FOR THOSE VIOLATIONS, THAT IT ACTUALLY MAKES PEOPLE LESS LIKELY TO CALL 911, TO INVOLVE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO REPORT CRIMES.

SO I THINK IT ACTUALLY HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT, IS THAT IT ACTUALLY HAS A CHILLING EFFECT ON PEOPLE HELPING OUT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO I'M NOT SURE IT MAKES COMMUNITIES SAFER.

>> SARAH'S POINT IS ABSOLUTESLY CORRECT.

AND I MUST HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD.

WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY IN JAIL, THAT'S THE SAFEST PLACE VERSUS SCOOPING UP PEEP, PULLING THEM OVER ONLY BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE WANTED BY ICE.

>> OKAY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE WILL BE WATCHING HOW THIS PANS OUT IN MADISON COUNTY.

THE GOVERNMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN IS PLANNING TO LOWER THE VOTING AGE FROM 18 TO 16.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN AGE 16 FOR LOCAL COUNCIL AND THE PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS IN SCOTLAND AND WALES.

LUKE, SHOULD THE U.S.

ALLOW 16 AND 17 YEAR-OLDS TO VOTE?

HERE IN THE U.S.?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE TO BOOST VOTER TURNOUT.

WE HAVE LOW VOTER TURNOUT COMPARED TO OTHER DEMOCRACIES, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OTHER WESTERN DEMOCRACIES.

BROADENING THE ELECTORATE IS ONE WAY TO HELP DO THAT.

STUDIES SHOW IF SOMEONE, WHO IS YOUNGER, BEGINS TO VOTE, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO VOTE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

WHY NOT DO THAT AT 16 AND 1 OPPOSED TO 18 AND OLDER.

I THINK WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW THE REGISTRATION PROCESS WORKS.

ANOTHER PART OF THE LAW WAS AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION N. BRITAIN, YOU ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LAW HERE.

I'M NOT EVEN SAYING WE SHOULD.

IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

WE HAVE 50 DIFFERENT ELECTORAL SYSTEMS BECAUSE THE STATES OPERATE THAT.

WE NEED TO THINK SERIOUSLY AND CREATIVELY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

>> DO YOU THINK IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE ELECTIONS IF 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS VOTED, SARAH?

>> I AGREE WITH WHAT LUKE SAID ABOUT FORMING A HABIT, VOTING AS A HABIT, YOU GET STARTED EARLIER, PERHAPS IN YOUR 20s YOU ARE MORE IN THE HABIT BECAUSE VOTER TURNOUT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IS HISTORICALLY REALLY LOW.

BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF LOW POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT.

THAT'S NOT ONLY HAVING TO DO WITH VOTERRING-- VOTING AND WHETHER YOU VOTE OR NOT AND WHETHER YOU PARTICIPATE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN POLITICS AND OTHER WAYS.

THAT'S A MUCH BROADER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO ADDRESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE CYNICAL ABOUT POLITICS, IF YOU FEEL LIKE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU, DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT, THAT YOUR VOTE DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN A DISTRICT THAT IS NON-COMPETITIVE AND YOU ARE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM WHERE ONLY A FEW STATES MATTER IN TERMS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT VOTING.

AND THAT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT I THINK WE NEED TO SOLVE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

LOWERING THE VOTING AGE ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THAT BIGGER PROBLEM OF VOTER DISENGAGEMENT WHICH HAPPENS AT EVERY AGE, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG.

>> WELL, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH SARAH.

ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IS THE LACK OF CIVIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

I RESEARCHED SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT DEAL WITH CIVIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND THAT 70% OF AMERICANS FAIL A BASIC CIVICS TEST.

THEY CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHAT EACH BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT DOES.

AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HAVING 1*6 YEAR OLDS VOTE, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS, HOW DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHATEVER THE ISSUES MAY BE IN AN ELECTION?

HOW DOES THAT THEN IMPACT THEIR CHOICE OF SOMEONE WHO IS RUNNING?

AND THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THIS IS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 16 YEAR OLDS AND HAVING THEM VOTE, LET'S ASSUME YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS POLITICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE, HAS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

THE FACT IS, THEY'RE STILL 16 YEARS OLD.

THEY'RE STILL LIVING WITH MOM AND DAD.

MORE THAN LIKELY MOM AND DAD IS GOING TO TAKE THEM TO VOTE.

AND SO I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT 16, 17-YEAR-OLD'S POLITICAL VIEWS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MOM AND DAD'S.

UNFORTUNATELY OUR POLITICS HAS BECOME PRETTY VOLATILE.

CONVERSATIONS GET PRETTY VOLATILE PRETTY QUICKLY.

DOES THAT THEN FEED INTO OTHER FAMILY DYNAMICS THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY HARMFUL TO THE TEENAGER AND/OR THE FAMILY DYNAMICS?

>> BEN, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS VOTING.

>> A LOT OF GREAT POINTS.

AND INITIALLY I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS.

BUT THEN LOOKING INTO IT, WE PUT 16-YEAR-OLD PEOPLE BEHIND A CAR-- BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR THAT IS VERY-- CAN BE VERY DEADLY FOR ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THEY DO HAVE, AND THEY SHOULD BE GIVING MORE ATTENTION TO UNDERSTANDING AMERICA, WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE LEGALLY GOING THROUGH THEIR CITIZENSHIP PROCESS THAT KNOW MORE ABOUT AMERICA THAN OUR KIDS DO.

AND I THINK THIS WOULD HELP PROMOTE THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'LL PROBABLY MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS THAN THE ADULTS.

>> LUKE, IN BRITAIN, THE LABOR PARTY PLEDGED BEFORE THEIR ELECTION THEY WOULD LOWER THIS AND GOT ELECTED.

COULD THIS BE A STRATEGY FOR EITHER OF THE PARTIES IN THE FUTURE ELECTIONS, TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE IN?

>> IN OUR DEEPLY POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW OF HYPERPARTISANSHIP, PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE YOUNG ADULT VOTERS IDENTIFY ALMOST TWO TO ONE AS DEMOCRATIC.

SO I DON'T SEE THERE BEING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

ECHOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID, CIVIC EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE IS A TENDENCY TO THINK IT IS NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.

ANECDOTALLY MY DAUGHTER TOOK A FRESHMAN CIVICS CLASS.

IT'S NOT THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT TREECHING IT.

I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND AS TEACHERS THE EXTENT TO WHICH BEAM LEARN AND RETAIN IT.

I'M ALL FOR MORE CIVIC EDUCATION BUT I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NECESSARILY FAILING ON THAT.

>> WHAT ARE EFFECTIVE CIVIC EDUCATION COURSES AND JUST LEARNING THE FACTS IS NOT THAT EFFECTIVE.

THINGS THAT INCREASE INVOLVEMENT, AND DELIBERATION ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.

>> TURNING TO OUR THIRD TOPIC.

IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR AT THE SYRACUSE REGIONAL MARKET - APRICOTS, PEACHES AND BLUEBERRIES ARE ALL IN SEASON.

IT'S BEEN GREAT.

BUT LAST SATURDAY I FOUND --- AS THE STATISTICS ARE SHOWING-- THAT FOOD PRICES ARE CREEPING UP AGAIN.

PROFESSOR ZEPHYR TEACHOUT FROM FORDHAM -- ALSO A FREQUENT POLITICAL CANDIDATE-- PUBLISHED AN OP-ED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES WITH IDEAS OF WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO HELP CONSUMERS.

AND KEEP FOOD PRICES DOWN.

SARAH, ONE OF THEM WAS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD SPONSOR GOVERNMENT-RUN GROCERY STORES.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> WELL, I MEAN I GUESS-- I THIS IS FRUSTRATING I'M SURE ON THE PART OF POLITICIANS, RIGHT?

TOED PRICES IS A POTENT POLITICAL ISSUE, YOU KNOW.

AND TRUMP GOT ELECTED SAYING HE WAS GOING TO LOWER THEM, FOUND OUT HE REALLY CAN'T.

AND SO NOW YOU SEE THE LOCAL LEVEL NEW YORK MAYORAL RACE ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

IT'S A HARD ISSUE TO ADDRESS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THE FOOD PRICES ARE SET BY, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS.

PRICES ARE AFFECTED BY SUPPLY, BY WEATHER, BY CLIMATE.

SUPPLY CHAINS AND THESE ARE OUT OF THE CRUEL OF LOCAL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES.

THERE IS A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO SOLVE IT AT THIS SCALE AT THE LOCAL SCALE, AND SO ONE OF THE IDEAS, AS YOU MENTIONED IS TO HAVE THE CITY OWN GROCERY STORES.

IS I'M SLIGHTLY SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT PROBLEM THEY'RE TRYING TO SOLVE, YOU KNOW.

IT SEEMS LIKE RAY GEOGRAPHIC-- IT SEEMS LIKE A GEOGRAPHIC PROBLEM.

WE'LL PLACE THEM WHERE THERE IS NOT A GROCERY STORE.

THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY WHICH IS MORE OF A FINANCIAL ISSUE, RIGHT?

THE MARGINS ON GROCERIES ARE VERY LOW.

1 TO 2%.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE THAT A PUBLIC GROCERY STORE WOULD BE ABLE TO LOWER THE PRICES SIGNIFICANTLY ENOUGH TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND ONE MORE LITTLE FACT.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT SHOP AT THEIR LOCAL GROCERY STORE.

THEY TEND TO GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT GEOGRAPHY IS THE MAIN PROBLEM HERE.

>> I THINK FOOD DESERTS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM, AND AS, YOU KNOW, LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRIES TO SEEK TO ADDRESS IT, I THINK TRYING TO BRING-- THEY FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRYING TO BRING BUSINESSES IN, BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, IF IT'S NOT FINANCIALLY LUCRATIVE, WHY WOULD A BUSINESS DO THAT?

THE GOVERNMENT RUNS MILITARY COMMISSARIES.

IT'S QUITE COSTLY BUT I WONDER, EVEN WITH THE SMALL MARGIN YOU REFERENCE, CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DO THAT WHERE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY RUN AS NON-PROFITS OR MINIMAL COST SO PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE REGULAR ACCESS TO A GROCERY STORE-- AND IT'S INNER CITIES AND GENERALLY RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WHEN I LIVED IN NEBRASKA AND ASKED IF I WANTED DRY ICE.

I WAS LIKE WHAT IS DRY ICE?

PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE HOURS TO GET TO THE GROCERY STORE AND HAVE TO KEEP THEIR GROCERIES FRESH TO BRING THEM HOME F. WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RUN GROCERY STORES WITH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTISANSHIP, YOU CAN ADDRESS FOOD DECEMBER ERST AND PRICES AS WELL.

>> YET IT HAS BEEN TRIED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SYRACUSE SEVERAL TIMES THE PARTNERSHIPS AND IT HASN'T SEEMED TO WORK.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ON THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW A GREAT DETAIL ABOUT WHY SPECIFIC EFFORTS HAVEN'T WORKED.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT OFTEN WITH LOCAL GROCERY STORES, THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH , YOU KNOW, ALL DEPENDING ON THE AREA, TURNOVER IN TERMS OF GETTING THEIR PRODUCTS IN, PEOPLE BUYING THEM, GETTING THEM OFF THE SHELVES AND INTO GROCERY STORES.

CERTAIN PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY GO VERY FAST.

OTHER THINGS DON'T GO VERY FAST.

THEY CAN'T RUN THE SAME TYPE OF SALES THAT YOUR BIG BOX STORES LIKE, LET'S SAY WAL-MART CAN RUN.

THEY CAN'T REDUCE THEIR PRICES AS MUCH BECAUSE THEY TEND TO HAVE A HIGHER OVERHEAD THAN, LET'S SAY WAL-MART DOES.

AND SO I THINK FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, LOCAL EFFORTS HAVE A TENDENCY NOT TO WORK.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER IS BETTER FOOD EDUCATION.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S A TWO FOLD THING.

ONE, WHAT FOODS ARE CHEAPER AT WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR, WHICH VEGGIES ETC.

MOST PEOPLE JUST WANT THE FRUITS AND VEGGIES THEY WANT.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT MAYBE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AVOCADOS ARE CHEAPER SO YOU DON'T-- SO YOU USE AVOCADOS THEN BUT LATER ON, YOU DON'T USE THEM AND YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT OF A SUBSTITUTE.

SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO PUT MORE EFFORT INTO, AND HAVE SOME GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR, ARE LOCAL GARDENS.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN THAT LOCAL GARDEN INITIATIVE AND YOU SEE SOME OF THESE AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING.

SO THAT WOULD HELP AS WELL.

>> LET ME PULL BEN IN HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IT OVER VERSUS BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUCH A SMALL PROFIT, YOU ARE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ON THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF OVERHEAD , ALL THE THINGS THAT, THE LOGISTICS THAT WERE MENTIONED.

SO AT THE MOST, I WOULD SAY THAT SOME SORT OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, THE GOVERNMENT WORKING WITH THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES WOULD BE MUCH BETTER AT ADDRESSING THE FOOD INSECURITY.

>> LUKE, ANY OTHER TIPS IN THE LAST 45 SECONDS?

>> SUCH A PATCHWORK SYSTEM IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BEN.

I DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IT OVER BUT WE ARE PROVIDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP FEED PEOPLE THROUGH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT GIVE THE FOOD AWAY.

IS THERE A MIDDLE GROUND BUT RATHER THAN GIVING THE FOOD AWAY, YOU CREATE A MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL MODEL WHERE THE GOVERNMENT OPERATES LIKE A BUSINESS BUT ISN'T TRYING TO MAKE A PROFIT AND STILL HELPING PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE CAN BE CREATIVE AND HOPEFULLY MAKE PROGRESS IN YEARS TO COME.

>> GOOD IDEAS, PARTICULARLY THE COMMUNITY GARDENS AS WELL.

IT IS TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

TARA, YOUR F. >> TO A GROWING TREND I JUST LEARNED ABOUT.

IN K-12 SCHOOLS AND THAT IS THE USE OF VIRTUAL TEACHERS.

NOW THIS IS NOT ONLINE LEARNING IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY CLASSES WITH THE TEACHER WHO IS ON A SCREEN AND IN THE ROOM THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE OR AN AIDE WHO MONITORS STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND HOPEFULLY MAKES SURE THE STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY DOING THEIR WORK.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE ARE NO CONSISTENT STANDARDS FOR THE AIDES AND PARENTS ARE OFTEN NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL THE SCHOOL YEAR BASICALLY BEGINS THAT THEIR CHILD IS GOING TO HAVE A VIRTUAL TEACHER.

THE FLIP SIDE OF THIS IS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE SAYING THIS IS TOM WAY TO ADDRESS-- THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING LOSS OF TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> LUKE, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO ONEIDA HIGH SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO SEVERE FLOODING.

500 STUDENTS WILL BE DISPLACED AFTER FIVE FEET OF WATER FLOODED THE BASEMENT, RUINING THE SCHOOL'S ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CREATED OVER $5 MILLION OF DAMAGE.

>> WHAT A PROBLEM.

YES.

SARAH.

>> MY F THIS WEEK IS MORE LIKE A C AND IT GOES TO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON ONE HAND THEY SHOULD GET HIGH MARKS FOR STRENGTHENING THEIR BUILDING CODES IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS TO PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY GET AN F FOR PROPOSING A SO CALLED HARDSHIP EXEMPTION FROM THE STRICT RULES.

THE GOVERNOR HAS CITED A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO HE IS TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE, HE SAYS, BETWEEN ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS.

THIS SOUNDS REASONABLE, BUT IT'S GOING TO PLACE SOME OF NEW JERSEY'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN HARM'S WAY.

WHEN THE FLOODS COME, AS WE KNOW THEY WILL, THEY WILL DAMAGE THESE PROPERTIES, MAY LEAVE THE RESIDENTS HOMELESS AND COULD EVEN THREATEN THEIR LIVES.

>> AND BEN.

>> MY F IS GOING TO AIR TRAVEL.

DELAYED, IT CANCEL FLIGHTS, COMPOUNDED BY EXTREMELY LIMITED STAFF, LONG LINES, WAITING FOR HELP, FORCED TO CHECK CARRY ON BAGS AND HAVE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND YOU ARE STUCK IN AN AIRPORT, ROOMING PHILADELPHIA'S FIVE TERMINALS OVERNIGHT.

>> ARE YOU SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE?

>> YES.

THAT HAPPENED JUST LAST MONTH, YES.

[LAUGHTER] UP ALL NIGHT.

I GOT TO SEE ALL OF THAT, ALL FIVE TERMINALS A-F.

BUT WHAT WAS REALLY COMPLETELY DISHEARTENING WAS TO HEAR ANNOUNCEMENTS MADE WHEN THE PLANE LANDED THAT YOU HAVE INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES ON THE PLANE THAT NEED TO CATCH THEIR FLIGHTS AND PEOPLE, NOBODY WOULD STAY IN THEIR SEAT AND ALLOW THOSE FAMILIES TO GET OFF.

>> OKAY, SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING WELL, TARA, AN A.

>> TO CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE LENA WHEN SHE REALIZED MANY OF HER CLASSMATES DID NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO SEW ON A BUTTON, SHE SET OUT TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

SHE CREATED A SCHOOL GROUP CALLED THE GOLDEN CONNECTIONS CLUB, AND THEN SHE PARTNERED WITH THE OLIVE COMMUNITY GROUP AND THEY SET UP A FOUR-WEEK SUMMER CAMP IN WHICH SHE AND A NUMBER OF HER CLASSMATES, MET TWICE A WEEK WITH GRANDMOTHERS WHO TAUGHT THEM HOW TO SEW AND COOK.

THIS IS A WIN-WIN.

THE STUDENTS OBVIOUSLY LEARN LIFE SKILLS AND THE GRANDMOTHERS FELT LESS ISOLATED AND MORE NEEDED.

>> LUKE.

>> LOCAL FOOD STORES, BARGAIN GROCERY, A NON-PROFIT SUPERMARKET IN UTICA THAT PROVIDES HEALTHY FOOD AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND FOOD WASTE THROUGH DONATIONS AND BUYING OLDER PRODUCED GOODS FROM NATIONAL AND LOCAL VENDORS.

>> AND QUICKLY,.

>> MY A GOES TO A NON-PROFIT IN NEW JERSEY THAT HAS CREATED FIVE MICRO FOREST AS ROUND ELIZABETH, THE CITY.

AND THESE ARE GRIOT WAYS TO CREATE SHADE AND COOLING, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND ABSORB STORMWATER.

I HOPE WE SEE OTHER COMMUNITIES ADOPTING THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS.

>> MY A GOES TO THE LATE SHOW WITH STEVEN COLBERT AND THE SUPPORT HE HAS RECEIVED FROM OTHER LATE NIGHT HOSTS AND IT'S BEEN DECADES OF LAUGHTER THAT THE LATE SHOW HAS GIVEN US.

>> WE HAVE ENJOYED IT.

AS WE CLOSE, LET ME UPDATE YOU ABOUT THE IMPACT OF CONGRESS' DECISION TO TAKE BACK MONEY THAT WAS APPROVED FOR PBS.

THIS MEANS WCNY IS LOSING $1.3 MILLION A YEAR.

WE KNOW YOU ENJOY AND LEARN FROM IVORY TOWER AND OTHER WCNY PROGRAMSING.

PLEASE CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG/PROTECT.

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO CLOSE.

REMEMBER WE NOW AIR THURSDAYS NIGHTS AT 8 IN ADDITION TO FRIDAY AT 8, AND SATURDAY AT 5:30.

AND WE'RE STREAMING ONLINE ALL THE TIME.

FROM ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, GOOD NIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

♪ ♪