♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

I'M KIM KELLING, LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE ALUM AND DIRECF CONTENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS HERE AT WFSU C MEDIA.

AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOT TO THE ANNUAL TALLAHASSEE N HALL.

TONIGHT'S PROGRAM IS BROUGT YOU AS A COLLABORATION BY E VILLAGE SQUARE, CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, LEON COUNTY, E TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, LEADP TALLAHASSEE AND WFSU.

WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO E GENEROUS SPONSORS OF TONIGS PROGRAM, AARP FLORIDA, URBN TALLAHASSEE AND NAI TALCOR.

THIS PROGRAM IS STREAMING E THROUGH ZOOM AS WELL AS WFG LIVE AND FACEBOOK LIVE AT U PUBLIC MEDIA.

YOU CAN FOLLOW AND PARTICIE IN THE DISCUSSION ON TWITTR USING THE HASHTAG@TDVSQ.

THE PROGRAM WILL BE BROADCT LATER ON ON WFSU-TV, APRIL, AT 8 A.M. AND ON 88.9 FM, .

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 16TH.

WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA IS FOOLIL CDC SAFETY -- FOLLOWING ALC SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR COVID.

OUR PANELISTS WILL SITTING6 FEET APART AND WILL KEEP TR MASKS ON WHILE THEY'RE NOT SPEAKING.

WE DO NOT HAVE A STUDIO AUE TONIGH AND WE HAVE REDUCEDR CREW SIZE IN ORDER TO STAY WITHIN SAFE I NUMBERS -- SY NUMBERS FOR AN INDOOR EVEN.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ET TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL D SAFE EVENT.

IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL FOR THE EVENING AS TY ARE SEATED FROM LEFT TO RI.

CITY COMMISSIONER JACK POR, CITY COMMISSIONER DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX, CITY COMMISSR CURTIS RICHARDSON, MAYOR PO TEMMY MATLOW, MAYOR JOHN D, CHAIRMAN OF THE LEON COUNTY COMMISSION, RICK MINER, COY COMMISSIONER RICK MADDOX AT LARGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONER CAROLYN CUMMINGS AT LARGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONER KRISTIE DOZE -- DOSIER, DISTRICT 5D COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIAN , DISTRIBUTE 4.

FOR -- DISTRICT 4.

FOR THOSE WATCHING ON ZOOMU CAN ASK QUESTIONS DURG THE PROGRAM BY CLICKING THE Q&A BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THM SCREEN.

IF YOU'RE ON FACEBOOK LIVEU CAN TYPE YOUR QUESTIONS INE COMMENT BOOKS.

WE WELCOME YOU COMMENTS.

VIBRANT DISCUSSION AND DISAGREEMENT IS THE LIFE BD OF A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.

HARD QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMET PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS RESPECTFULLY WITHOUT ASSUMG THE WORST ABOUT OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

AND NOW, I'M DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE OUR MODERATOR FOE EVENING, SKIP FOSTER, FORMR PUBLISHER OF THE TALLAHASSE DEMOCRAT.

THANKS, SKIP.

>> THANK YOU, KIM.

AND I HEAR YOU APPLAUDING T HOME.

HEY, A LITTLE CHUCKLE OUT R PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

KIM, YOU KNOW, TORE THROUGH THOSE SPONSORS, BUT THESE S DON'T JUST HAPPEN.

THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK.

IS SO I HOPE YOU REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE WORK, ESPECY OF WFSU AND ALL THE SPONSOS THAT WERE LISTED.

WFSU DOES AN AMAZING JOB, O WELCOME TO THIS TALLAHASSEN HALL WHICH IS PART OF THE VIAGE SQUARE'S "OUR TOWN" SERIES.

AS KIM SAID, I'M SKIP FOST.

I USED TO BE THE PUBLISHERF THE NEWSPAPER IN TOWN MANYS AGO.

NOW I'M DOING SOME MARKETI, PR, CRISIS MANAGEMENT, CONSULTING.

HOPEFULLY, ONE OF THESE FOS REQUIRE THOSE SERVICES IN N HOUR AND A HALF.

I'LL BE MODERATING TONIGHTS EVENT WITH THESE COMMISSIOS FROM LEON COUNTY AND TALLAHASSEE.

I'M GOING TO WALK AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

LAST TIME COVID WAS JUST KF RAMPING UP.

I DON'TNOW IF Y'ALL RECALLS BEING HERE FOR THAT.

I ASSUME THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT AMONGL OF YOU THAT WE NEED TO CONE TO FOLLOW MASKING AND DISTG UNTIL MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY OTHERWISE AND THAT YOU ALLL GREAT GRATITUDE FOR THOSE O HAVE SERVED IN HEALTH CARED OTHER CAPACITIES AND, OF C, HAVE SYMPATHY FOR THE PEOPE THAT WE HAVE LOST DURING TS TIME.

IF YOU CAN ALL JUST NOD AND AGREE ON THAT, I DON'T WANS TO SPEND TIME SAYING THINGT WE KNOW ALL OF YOU FEE BY THE WAY, THIS FRIDAY ATN THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL MEL SERVICE, COMMUNITY MEMORIAL SERVICE WITH SOME OF YOU FS PARTICIPATING, COMMEMORATIG THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LOST AD LOOKING TOWARD A HOPEFUL F. IT'S PART OF A LOCAL SAFE D HEALTHY BIG BEND INITIATIVO LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION G UP ON THAT, AND I HOPE YOUE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

SO, COVID, WE'RE ABOUT TO A $100 MILLION CHECK WRITTENO COUNTY AND THE CITY.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT 55-45, E OR TAKE.

ISISSO, CHAIR MINOR, WHAT A DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE G TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE TE FUNDS?

>> IT'S AN HONOR AND PLEASO BE HERE AND GLAD THAT YOU'E MODERATING AGAIN.

WITH REGARD TO THE COUNTY L RECEIVE $57 MILLION AS PARF THE NEXT WAVE OF COVID RELF FUNDING.

NOW, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WIE LEON CARES PROGRAM, FOR EX, WE HAD AN ALLOCATION THAT STRETCHED THOSE DOLLARS AST AS WE COULD FIGURE OUT, RI?

SO WE BASICALLY HAD SOME OE FUNDS WERE SET ASIDE FOR BUSINESS RELIEF.

SO IF PEOPLE COULD KEEP PEE ON THEIR PAYROLL, WE WOULD BASICALLY HELP THEM KEEP TR EMPLOYEES PAID.

FOR FOLKS THAT WERE DEALINH RENT AND UTILITY AND MORTGE PAYMENT ISSUES, IT WOULD KF HELP OUT WITH THAT TOO.

AND, OF COURSE, WE HAD ANOR BUCKET FOR NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING COVID.

WITH THE 57 MILLION THAT WE GOING TO BE GETTING, WE'REG TO BE LOOKING AT THAT TYPEF ALLOCATION SATEGY AGAIN.

WHERE CAN WE TAKE THOSE TAR DOLLARS AND FIGURE OUT HOWO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OR BUCK.

>> SO WHAT ABOUT, MAYOR DA, THERE WAS SOME REVENUE LOSR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

MY GUESS IS THAT AS' $10 MILLION, MAYBE MORE.

IS BACKFILLING AN APPROPRIE USE FOR THESE DOLLARS?

GIVE ME A LITTLE LIST OF TS THAT YOU WOULD AT LEAST OR CONSIDER USING THAT MONEY .

>> SURE.

AND, SKIP -- >> THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR THE CITY, I MEAS ROUGHLY -- I THINK THE POLE DEPARTMENT BUDGET'S $60 MI, YOU'RE GETTING 45, SO THATS SOME KIND OF CONTEXT.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

>> THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEEL RECEIVE $46 MILLION.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THK YOU FOR MODERATING THIS EV.

AND WFSU AND VILLAGE SQUARD ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERST CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I THINK, FIRST AND FOREMOSE NEED TO, OBVIOUSLY, FAMILIE OURSELVES WITH THE FEDERALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE $46 MIN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO ISE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS THAT AE SPENT APPROPRIATELY.

YES, YOU TOUCHED ON AN APPROPRIATE ISSUE.

BOTH GOVERNMENTS DID TAKE ECONOMIC HITS BECAUSE WE RY MADE SOME BOLD MOVES TO TAE CARE OF THE CITIZENS HERE O ABSORB THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT T WE ADDRESS THOSE ECONOMIC DOWNFALLS THAT WE DID TAKET THE CITY JUST LIKE THE COUY WILL BE AS WELL.

BUT WE ALSO SHOULD BE VERY DELIBERATE IN LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS ON HOW TO BE AO THIS COMMUNITY FORWARD WHEE APPROPRIATE.

I KNOW THAT WE'LL TAKE A LF TIME TO DO SO.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, I- WELL, I WAS CALLING ON YOU ANYWAY, AND YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.

HOW SHOULD THIS MONEY BE U?

IS THERE ANYBODY -- BEFORET TO YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TE NEXT -- THAT WOULD RULE OUT REPLENISHING ANY OF THE REE THAT HAD BEEN LOST?

ANYBODY THINK THAT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THIS , ASSUMING THE FEDS SAY IT'S?

THIS IS A LITTLE HARD TO D. [LAUGHTER] OKAY.

SO, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSO, WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR HOWS MONEY SHOULD BE USED?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT MY VISIO, IT'S A VISION THAT OUR COMMISSION SHARES AND OUR Y MANAGER AND STAFF AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY TOOK A $10 MILLIONT BECAUSE WE WERE THE FIRST Y IN THE STATE TO DISCONTINUE UTILITY DISCONNECTS RECOGNG THAT OUR NEIGHBORS HAD, MAF OUR NEIGHBORS HAD FALLEN OD TIMES DUE TO THIS PANDEMIC.

AND WE WERE ONE OF THE TWOT CITIES IN THE STATE TO REAY THE UTILITY DISCONNECT.

AND SO WE'VE GOT A NUMBER R UTILITY CUSTOMERS THAT ARE BEHIND IN THEIR PAYMENTS, O WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL BEE TO USE SOME OF THAT MONEY.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THS 15 MONTHS OF RELIEF FOR UTY PAYMENTS, 12 MONTHS IN ARRS AND 3 MONTHS GOING FORWARDE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE UTILITY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE.

AND ALSO WE WILL BE ABLE TE SOME OF THAT MONEY, OF COU, TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS THATE BEHIND IN THEIR RENT AND MORTGAGE PAYMES SO THAT THY CAN GET CAUGHT UP ON THAT S WELL.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER MADDOX.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, MY COLLEAGUES CN EITHER CONFIRM OR CORRECT N IT, BUT IN CONVERSATIONS IE HAD WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I DON'T THIE LAST ROUND OF RELIEF MONEYE WERE ABLE TO USE ON EXISTIG PROGRAMS, I BELIEVE THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAS WD TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS ON W PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND T THOSE MONIES INTO BUSINESSD ALSO OUR CITIZENS THAT WERN NEED.

SO IF YOU LOOK BACK AT LEON COUNTY'S PROGRAM, A LOT OF THEM -- I'M SORRY, ALL OF M WERE NEW PROGRAMS.

NONE OF THEM WERE EXISTING THINGS THAT WE WERE ALREADY DOING.

SO I WOULD IMAGINE IF WE AE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THESE DOLLARS TO BACKFILL AND REE US ON SOME OF THE SHORTFALS THAT WE HAD OVER THE PAST , THAT WE'LL DO AS MUCH AS W. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL GOY FROM THE RULES THEY HAD LAT TIME WHICH WAS THAT WE DONE THESE MONIES ON EXISTING PROGRAMS.

YOU USE THESE ON NEW PROGRS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN PLA.

>> OKAY.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOA LOT TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THIS GOING TO COME DOWN, AND ITS MAYBE A LITTLE EARLY FOR SPECIFICKINGS.

SO WE WILL MOVE ON -- SPEC.

SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO ANOTR BIG THING IN THE NEWS RECEY WHICH HAS BEEN HOMELESSNES.

HERE'S A HYPOTHESIS THAT IM GOING TO FLOAT OUT, AND THM GOING TO LET Y'ALL RESPONDO THAT AND EITHER CHALLENGE E PREMISE OF THE QUESTION OR RESPOND TO IT.

YOU HEAR SOME PEOPLE SAY TT THE UNSPOKEN CONUNDRUM OF L GOVERNMENT HOMELESS POLICYS THAT THE BETTER YOU GET AT TAKING CARE OF HOMELESS PE, THE MORE OF THEM YOU END UP NEEDING TO TAKE CARE OF.

AND SO THAT, IT LEADS TO SE SORT OF BALANCE BEING STRU, RIGHT?

THERE'S PLACES LIKE AUSTINI DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE FLOWNN THERE RECENTLY, BUT THEY'VT THESE TENT CITIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU'E DOING A REALLY BAD JOB ANDT HAVE ANY HOMELESS, THEN YOY NOT BE CARING FOR THEM.

HOW DO WE FIND, COMMISSIONR PORTER, HOW DO WE FIND THET BALANCE IN OUR HOMELESS POS SO THAT WE'RE BEING CARINGN ONE HAND AND THEN, ON THE R HAND, NOT, YOU KNOW, HAVINS PROBLEM CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK WE START WITH ADDRESSING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROY FUNDING THE PROGRAMS THAT E EXISTING.

I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOINO BE A CITY THAT IS COMPASSIE AND CARING AND TAKES CARE E MOST VULNERABLE, THEN WE TE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE, AND WE TAKE CARE OF E PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

AND I THINK THAT IS OUR MOL RESPONSIBILITY TO PEOPLE WE UNSHELTERED.

I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ISA PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE COMINGM OUT OF TOWN, AND I THINK TE TAKE CARE OF THEM TOO.

>> SO IS THERE A POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURN?

I MEAN, IS THERE -- IF WE E A HAVEN FOR HOMELESS PEOPLS THAT OKAY WITH YOU?

IS THAT A DESIRABLE RESULT?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE ANYWHERE NEAR TO BEING A HN FOR THE HOMELESS.

[LAUGHTER] AND, NO, I'M NOT WORRIED AT THAT BEING THE CASE FINISH.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S NOT A TRICK QUESTIO.

I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THS BALANCE IS DIFFICULT.

>> SURE.

>> SO DID YOU FINISH YOUR R THERE?

OKAY.

COMMISSIONER DOSIER AND THN COMMISSIONER MATLOW.

>> THANK YOU, SKIP.

I THINK THIS IS A BIG QUES, AND I REMEMBER STORIES GOIG BACK 10, 15 YEARS, PORTLAN, OREGON, YOU MENTIONED AUST, OTHERS.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN A LF CITIES WAS A FOCUS ON PROGS TO MEET THE EMERGENCY NEEDA SOUP KITCHEN, A MACE TO SL.

-- PLACE TO SLEEP.

IT DID NOT INCLUDE PROGRAMO HELP SYMPTOM STOP, EXCUSE , HELP PEOPLE GET BACK ON THR FEET.

IT'S ONE OF THE INNOVATIONT THE CARNEY CENTER.

THERE WERE THESE WRAP-AROUD SERVICES.

ALL OF OUR HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE REALLY COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON THAT AT PEOPLE INTO HOUSING FIRST.

THIS HAS BEEN A TREND PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST TN YEARS, YOU GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING FIRST, THEN THEY CN WORK ON JOB SKILLS, THEN TY CAN WORK ON SOME OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR OTHER I.

AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAS I'M NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT US BECOMING THAT HAVEN BECAUSS THE POPULATION HAS INCREASN RECENT YEARS -- AND IT'S NY BIGGER, TO MY UNDERSTANDIN, THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS LAST, WE'RE JUST SEEING IT IN A Y DIFFERENT WAY COVID.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF K WITH TMH, WITH THE DETENTIN CENTER, WITH THE SHERIFF TK AT THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY BE LEAVING THE DETENTION CENTD COMING INTO THE CARNEY CEN, FOR EXAMPLE, AND REALLY HOO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES BETTEO WE DON'T HAVE THIS REVOLVIG DOOR.

THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THIE SHOULD FOCUS ON IN ADDITIOO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT CAE IT SO PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY'E COMING HERE FOR SERVICES, S GOING TO BE A QUICK PIPELIT OF THOSE EMERGENCY SERVICED THAT'S HOW WE STABILIZE THS ISSUE.

>> OKAY.

BY THE WAY, THERE'LL BE A MASSIVE PRIZE FOR THE COMMISSIONER THAT GIVES THT SPECIFIC POLICY SUGGESTION.

THAT MASSIVE PRIZE, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT'S A FISP FROM ME, BUT I JUST WANTEDU TO KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] COMMISSIONER MATLOW, SPECIFICALLY WHAT SHOULD WE DOING DIFFERENTLY THAN WE'E DOING IT, AND DO YOU KIND F ACCEPT THAT THERE'S A BALAE HERE, OR IS THAT A FAULTY PREMISE?

>> IT'S A FAULTY PREMISE.

>> OKAY.

>> FIRST OFF, WE HAVE TO DA LOT MORE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DATA THT WE'RE DOING ANYTHING TO SHR PEOPLE THE WORSE THE SITUAN GETS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE IS IT ACCEE TO STAY CHRONICALLY HOMELEN EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY?

I THINK EACH OF US AS CITYD COUNTY LEADERS HAVE TO ANSR THAT QUESTION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT TALLAHASSEE WHERE WE'VE SEEN, ESSENTIA, THE SAME NUMBER OF CHRONICY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS OVER E PAST DECADE, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH, YOU KNOW, MENL HEALTH ISSUES, PEOPLE WITHR ISSUES THAT ARE BARRIERS FR THEM GETTING TO EMPLOYMENT.

SO THE QUESTION IS DO WE JT LET THEM LIVE ON THE STREES FOREVER, OR DO WE LOOK AT E OF THE POLICIES COMMISSIONR DOSIER WAS REFERRING TO AND ACTUALLY GETTING PEOPLE IN HOUSING FIRST SO WE CAN STO DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING I.

THE ISSUES WHEN WE SEE BUSINESSES COMPLAIN, THE SOLUTION'S THE SAME.

PUT THEM IN A HOME AND GETM SOME HELP.

>> OKAY.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?

WHAT DO WE -- HOW MUCH MONY DOES IT COST AND WHAT ARE E POLICIES THAT WILL MAKE TH, THAT WILL SOLVE THIS PROBL?

>> YEAH, SURE.

AND SPEAKING WITH THE PEOPO DEAL IN THIS EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, THEY SPEAK TO AN ONGG NEED OF ESSENTIALLY AROUND3 MILLION IN RECURRING REVENE THAT CAN GO TO PUT PEOPLE N HOUSING, MEET THE NEED.

WHEN WE SPEAK TO EACH INDIL PERSON EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IT'S ABOUT $0 TO GIVE THEM HOUSING AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES.

IT'S JUST FINDING THE RIGHT REVENUE SOURCE TO DO IT AND TAKING THE COMMITMENT, IF A PRIORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY R NOT.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER CUMMINGS.

WELCOME.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORY TO BE HERE.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT HAS BEN EXPRESSED ABOUT CONCERNS OE HOMELESS, MY OFFICE IS IN E HEART OF FRENCHTOWN, AND IE BEEN THERE FOR OVER 20 YEA.

AND ACROSS THE STREET FROMY OFFICE DIE Y'ALL NAGLY -- DIAGONALLY IS THE OFFICE STATION.

AND IT'S WHERE A LOT OF HOS INDIVIDUALS HANG OUT ON A Y BASIS.

THEY COME TO MY OFFICE ANDU KNOW, WE GIVE THEM A LITTLK TO DO.

AND WHAT I HAVE FOUND AND CONCLUDED IS THAT THE HOMES INDIVIDUAL, THE POPULATIONY DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS.

THEY DESIRE JOBS.

THEY DESIRE EMPLOYMENT.

I THINK GIVING THEM HSING, GIVING THEM SUSTENANCE ON A DAILY BASIS IS OKAY, BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO LOOK ATE LONG-RANGE PLANS TO ASSIST.

NOW, GRANTED, MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS DO HAVE EMOTIOL PROBLEMS, PSYCHIATRIC PROB.

BUT I BELIEVE IF WE GIVE TA HAND AND NOT A HANDOUT AND ASSIST THEM IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT, PUT THEM IN SOE TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND IT'N MY EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WH WITH THE HOMELESS ON AN ALT DAILY BASIS, THAT'S WHAT TE LOOKING FOR.

THERE'S AN OFFICE A HALF AK FROM MY OFFICE, AND ON ANYN DAY YOU WILL FIND THEM THE.

THEY WANT TO WORK.

THEY WANT EMPLOYMENT.

SO I BELIEVE WE NEED TO LOT LONG RANGE SOLUTIONS AS OPD TO BAND-AIDS ON THE PROBLE.

>> COMMISSIONER MADDOX, THN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

>> COMMISSIONER MATLOW HITT A SECOND AGO.

I THINK THE PIECE WE LEAVET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESS THAT MENTAL HEALTH PIECE TE REALLY NEED TO DIG INTO.

THERE'S A LOT OF THESE FOLS THAT MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE CARNEY CENTER, A LOT OF FOS THAT RECEIVE AND BENEFIT FM THOSE SERVICES.

BUT THERE IS A POPULATION F FOLKS WHO WILL NEVER MAKE R WAY TO THE CARNEY CENTER, O PREFER NOT TO BE MORE SO IA WOODED AREA, THAT KIND OF .

OR THAT HAVE THOSE MENTAL H ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE WORD THROUGH.

SOME OF THOSE FOLKS GO FROE DETENTION CENTER TO THE CAY CENTER AND BACK, BUT SOME F THOSE PEOPLE LEAVE THE DETN CENTER AND END UP LIVG IN E WOODS, QUITE FRANKLY.

AND I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD FRA FRIEND OF MINE WHO'S ACTUAY SAT DOWN AND HAD A CONVERSN WITH SOMEONE WHO'S HOMELES, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFT CULTURES THERE ARE WITHIN E HOMELESS POPULATION.

WHEREBY YOU DO HAVE THOSE T ARE IN CRISIS, AND YOU DO E THOSE WHO ARE PERPETUAL HOS WHO LIVE IN THE WOODS, ANDU DO HAVE COMMUNITIES WITHINE HOMELESS THAT CONGREGATE WH EACH OTHER AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.

TO IT'S A HOLISTIC THING TE TO LOOK OUT.

BUT WE CANNOT LEAVE OUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE, AND IK THAT'S THE PIECE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS MOST, IS THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE OF IT.

>> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COXED EVENING.

THE TALLAHASSEE CHAMBER'S W COMMUNITY SCORECARD SHOWS E COMMUNITY'S POVERTY RATE AR 20%.

IT'S BEEN OVER 20% FOR A CE YEARS NOW.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S SO H, AND WHAT IS ONE THING -- REMEMBERING THE AMAZING FIT BUMP PRIZE AT THE END OF TE RAINBOW HERE -- WHAT'S THEE KEY THING THAT COULD BE DOO IMPROVE THAT NUMBER?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGST I BELIEVE THAT COULD BE DOS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT N WHAT WE'VEEEN DOING.

THAT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THATI ASKED OUR MAYOR TO CHECK WH OTHER PLACES LIKE STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, AND OTHER CITIS WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AT MY INCOME FOR INDIVIDUALS, A L NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS.

AND I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH S IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ABT WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO PROVA MONTHLY INCOME FOR SOME FOO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THIS MY IS COMING, AND THEY'LL BE E TO DO SOME THINGS WITH IT.

AND WHAT THEY FOUND IS IF U DON'T TELL 'EM WHATO DO WIH IT, THEY FIND VERY POSITIVE THINGS TO DO WITH IT.

SOME HAVE OPENED BUSINESSE, SOME HAVE PAID BILLS.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE N DOING TO DEAL WITH POVERTY.

YOU KNOW, JESUS SAID THAT E POOR WILL ALWAYS BE WITH U.

HE DIDN'T SAY THAT ALL OF E FOLKS WHO ARE IN POVERTY RT NOW HAD TO BE ONE OF THEM.

SO WE'VE JUST GOT TO FIGURT HOW TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE ALG THE CONTINUUM FROM POVERTYO PROSPERITY.

AND BEING A YOUNG PERSON WO GREW UP IN POVERTY WITH A E HELP FROM THEVILLE VILLAGEE CAN MOVE PEOPLE ALONG THAT CONTINUUM.

>> COMMISSIONER WELCH, DO U WANT TO GET IN HERE?

WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO WE NEO DO ABOUT THIS, AND WHY DO U THINK IT'S BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM?

>> WELL, THANK YOU, SKIP.

I WOULD SAY I THINK WE ALL ACCEPT THE NOTION THAT THEY OUT OF POVERTY IS EDUCATIO, RIGHT?

AND I THINK IN LEON COUNTYR THE PAST 20, 25 YEARS, WE'E BECOME EXTREMELY EDUCATIONY SESSION REGATED, ECONOMICAY SEGREGATED.

AND I THINK THAT INVESTMENN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL INFRASTRE IS A PHENOMENAL WAY TO SORF TRY AND TARGET SOME OF THES OF TOWN THAT ARE A LITTLE E ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED WHE THE SCHOOLS DON'T PERFORM E AS WELL.

WE'VE SEEN INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, CHS HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE I TEACHA PHENOMENAL FACILITY.

AND I THINK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD'S CREDIT OVER THE PAT FIVE YEARS OR SO, YOU'VE SN TREMENDOUS RENOVATIONS AT RICKERS AND FAIRVIEW, AND I THINK OVER THE LONG HAUL TE THINGS WILL HAVE AN IMPACTN OUTCOMES ECONOMICALLY.

>> OKAY.

SO I WILL, I WANT TO GET TE MAYOR HERE.

I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO PROPOSE SPENDING E MONEY -- AND THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF WHAT YOU SAI, BRIAN, COMMISSIONER WELCH,S HAS COME UP A COUPLE TIMES ALREADY, I THINK THE VIEWES WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHERE YOU THINK THAT WOULDE FROM.

SO WHAT ARE WE NOT GOING TO SPEND, OR HOW ARE WE GOINGO RAISE REVENUES.

SO JUST INCLUDE THAT, IF YU WOULDN'T MIND, IN YOUR RES.

MAYOR DALEY.

>> SURE.

AND I COMPLETELY AGREE IN REGARDS TO EDUCATION.

I ALSO THINK THE OTHER COMT IS JOBS, IS CREATING MORE S HERE IN TALLAHASSEE AND BEG ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETR WITH THOSE AVAILABLE JOBS.

FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDP, BRIAN'S CORRECT.

I MEAN, LOOK, WE'VE GOT SOE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES, E GREAT MEN AND WOMEN AT LIV, TCC THAT HAVE SOME INCREDIE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THATE 100% JOB PLACEMENT WITH GRT LIVING WAGES RIGHT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

INDUSTRIES THAT REALLY NEED SKILLED TRAINING, AND WE HE THESE INCREDIBLE PROVIDERST CAN TRAIN.

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S BEEN TE CATALYST OF BRINGING EVERYY TOGETHER.

NOT NECESSARILY SPENDING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS BECAUSEE PROGRAMS EXIST, AND THERE'S SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AVAILABL.

THEN WE HAVE TO BREAK IT D. IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR GEDW CAN WE HELP YOU GET YOUR G?

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GEG INTO A TRADE, HOW DO WE HEU GET INTO THE TRADE.

HOW DO WE PUT THE JOBS TOGR WITH THOSE THAT WANT THE J.

SO IT'S EDUCATION AND CREAG NEW JOBS.

YOU KNOW, THE CITY, WE'VE N WORKING REALLY HARD IN OUR STRAGIC PLAN.

WE'VE GOT A BOLD GOAL TO CE 10,000 JOBS IN THE NEXT FOR YEARS.

WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY, ANI THINK WE'LL HIT THE GOAL.

BUT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIOR WELCH, I THINK EDUCATION IA KEY COMPONENT, AND I THINKS IS THE SECOND HALF AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

OUR QUEUE IS FILLING UP HE.

DOSIER, THEN RICHARDSON, TN MINOR.

SO -- AND THEN PORTER.

GO AHEAD.

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED EVERYS GETTING IN THE QUEUE.

EVERY CONVERSATION WE HAVE OVERLAPS WITH JOBS.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOMS KING ABOUT HOUSING, ACROSS THE BOARD A FOCUS ON JOBS.

SO, YES, WE HAVE SOME GREAT PROGRAMS, MR. MAYOR.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BEA LITTLE MORE THAN A CATALYST MEANING THERE ARE SOME ISSS WITH A APPRENTICESHIP AND H JOB PLACEMENT AND REALLY MG SURE PEOPLE FILL THOSE PRO, AND THEN OUR BUSINESSES ARE DRAWING PEOPLE FROM THOSE PROGRAMS.

AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP EITHER ENCOURAGE THE STATEO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES, I THINK THEY'RE DOING SOME RIGHT NOW, THEYD DO A LOT MORE.

BUT WE CAN LOOK TO OUR OWN OFFICE OF ECONOMIC VITALITD WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE 12% FUNDS THAT ARE IN THE BLUET 2020.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I T TO FOCUS, SKIP, IS THAT WEE GOT GOT A FUND THAT HARDLY ANYONE ELSE IN THE STATE HS THROUGH OUR INFRASTRUCTURES TAX FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPME.

THIS IS HOW WE WERE ABLE TE BUSINESSES GRANTS RIGHT OFE BAT WHEN COVID HIT.

WE WERE AHEAD OF THE FEDERL GOVERNMENT, AHEAD OF EVERY, AND WE HELPED SUSTAIN A LOF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

IT'S A GOLD STANDARD.

WHEN WE LOOK AT SPENDING TE DOLLARS, AM REALLY CONCERND THAT PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOD WITH WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THB MARKET, WE MAY COMMIT THOSE DOLLARS TOS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO RETURN THAT INVEST IN REALLY GOOD JOBS.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED E MINIMUM JOBS -- >> LIKE WHAT?

WHICH PROJECT?

>> LIKE WHAT.

SO FOR A LONG TIME, WE WERD OF EVERYTHING AND THE KITCN SINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE WEREN'T TARGETED FOR OUR RECRUITMENT.

>> OKAY, SO I NEED TO, I NO KEEP MOVING.

WHICH PROJECT DO YOU THINKS NOT FIT THE CRITERIA THAT E TALKING ABOUT?

[LAUGHTER] JUST PICK ONE.

>> BE BLUNT, A CONVENTION R MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT PROJET RIGHT NOW, AND THERE MAY BE OTHERS.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY COST -- >> OKAY.

>> -- BECAUSE WE CAN CREATE JOBS.

>> COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> SKIP, I WANTED TO REITEE WHAT COMMISSIONERS WELCH AD DALEY HAVE SAID ABOUT EDUC, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TOE SURE THAT MORE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE -- AND I THINKR CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL S GOING TO GO A LONG WAYS IN HELPING US TO ADDRESS THAT.

GIVING OUR CHILDREN A GOODT IN THE LIFE SO THAT BY THID GRADE THEY'RE READING, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION.

BUT I SPENT THE LAST YEAR A HALF OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAR AT LIVELY TECHNICAL COLLEG.

I AM CONVINCED THAT CAREERD TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS THEY TO GO FOR THOSE KIDS WHO MT NOT WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE O IMMEDIATELY INTO COLLEGE.

WE HAD STUDENTS COMING OUTF THAT PROGRAM AFTER AFTER OE YEAR OF TRAINING IN WELDING FINDING JOBS MAKING $100,0A YEAR OR MORE.

WITH AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGRD TWO MASTERS DEGREES, SKIP,I NEVER MADE $100,000 A YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO, IO CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE OUR KIO GET A GOOD EDUCATION.

AND SO MANY OF THEM DON'T N KNOW OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT THERE.

WHAT I FOUND WHEN I WAS GOG INTO SCHOOLS, THERE WERE KS THAT I TALKED TO A MONTH FM GRADUATION THAT HAD NO CLUS TO WHAT THEY WERE GOING TOO WHEN THEY TURNED THAT TASST GRADUATION.

SO I'M CONVINCED THAT'S THY TO GO, LIVELY, TCC AND OTHR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCAN PROGRAMS.

WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE MORE.

>> I KNOW AT LEAST ONE 55-YEAR-OLD THAT STILL DOET KNOW WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTE JOBS DISCUSSION COMING UP,, COMMISSIONER, CHAIR MINOR,T DO YOU HAVE?

>> THANK YOU, SKIP.

I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON SOMEG THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED.

FOOD INSECURITY, TACKLING D INSECURITY IS ONE OF THE MT COST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO INCE A FAMILY'S DISPOSABLE INCOE AND, THEREFORE, ELIMINATE POVERTY.

FEEDING FLORIDA, THE STATEE ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA FOOD BANKS, THEY'VE DONE AN ANAS ON LEON COUNTY LOOKING DOWT FOOD INSECURITY DOWN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK GROUP L. THAT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT THE SE AND POPULATION OF AN APARTT COMPLEX.

SO LEON COUNTY'S THE FOURTT FOOD INSECURE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THAT'S A TERRIBLE STATISTIT IT DOESN'T GIVE US ANYTHINE CAN WORK WITH.

GETTING DA DOWN TO THE BLOK GROUP LEVEL IS SOMETHING WN ANALYZE, MEET WITH THE9 NEIGHBORS IN THAT NEIGHBORD AND TALK ABOUT THE BARRIER.

SO WHAT WE CAN DO -- AND TS DATA'S AVAILABLE TO US.

WE CAN LOOK AT THIS DATA, T THE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK GRON THE COUNTY AND CITY THAT AE MOST FOOD INSECURE, WHERE E BIGGEST PROBLEMS ARE, MEETH THOSE NEIGHBORS, TALK WITHM ABOUT POSSIBLE ZONING CHAN, THINGS IN TERMS OF BLUEPRIT SUBSIDIES TO MAYBE ENCOURAA GROWINGSLY STORE TO -- GROY STORE TO COME IN TO ELIMINA FOOD DESERT OR MOVING A BUS ROUTE OVER A COUPLE BLOCKSO PROVIDE ACCESS.

FINALLY, WE HAVE THE CAY DO GET DOWN AND MAKE SOME REAL CHANGES.

>> COMMISSIONER PORTER, GES OUT.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK THIS CONVERSATION T POVERTY IS SIMILAR TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOMELES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT FALSE CHOIC.

IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES.

I THINK RESEARCH HAS SHOWNT TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS DOET WORK.

PEOPLE'S WAGES ARE REMAINIG STAGNANT.

THEIR LIVING EXPENSES ARE INCREASING.

I THINK THAT IF I WERE TO , YOU KNOW, FOUR THINGS, AS S THINKING, I THINK RESEARCHS THAT WALKABILITY IS ONE OFE BEST WAYS ACROSS ALL FACTOO INCREASE SOMEONE'S INCOME R TIME.

DEFINITELY INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INVESTN OUR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINES WHERE THE MONEY IS STAYING LOCAL.

MUNICIPAL BROADBAND WHICH S EVERYONE ACCESS TO JOBS AND EDUCATION.

AND WHERE DOES THE MONEY CE FROM IN I AGREE WITH MR. D, BIG MONEY, CONTROVERSIAL PROJECTS THAT DO NOT HAVE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT, INCENTE GIVEN TO DEVELOPERS TO INCE URBAN SPRAWL, THAT'S WHEREE MONEY CAN COME FROM.

>> I'M INTERESTED IN TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS WHIS A REAGAN ERA TAX POLICY.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION OFT LOCALLY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE NATIOL ECONOMY AND NATIONAL POLICT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL CERTAINLY HAVE AN IMPACT WR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU K, POVERTY IS A POLICY ISSUE.

I BELIEVE IT'S -- THERE'S O EXCUSE FOR PEOPLE TO BE LIG IN POVERTY IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

I THINK THERE ARE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY WHETHR IT'S AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS OR .

I THINK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT N DO TO TALK ABOUT A LIVABLEE AND OTHER ECONOMIC FACTORS.

BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE LIG IN A CERTAIN CONTEXT THAT'S SHAPED CERTAINLY BY OUR FEL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO MOVE TO CRIME, OR CRIME STATISTICS CONTINUE O SHOW THAT TALLAHASSEE, LEON COUNTY IS FAR TOO VIOLENT.

LAST YEAR THE CITY HAD A RD 28 MURDERS INCLUDING AN INT BYSTANDER WHO WAS CAUGHT IE CROSSFIRE AT A GAS STATION.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COXET DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO AE FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES?

AND I DON'T MEAN TO SUGGESS IS ONLY A CITY ISSUE.

IT'S A CITY-COUNTY ISSUE.

AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBEE CITY'S EXPECT COUNTY'S, OUR COMMUNITY'S CURRENT STRATER ADDRESSING THE CRIME PROBL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUEST, SKIP.

IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE.

IT'S NOT JUST A LOCAL ISSU.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE, S NOT ABNORMAL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNT.

BRING IT BACK IN TO TALLAH, THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TOS MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN, FE THING, UNDERSTAND THE LAW D RESPECT THE AUTHORITY OF A.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE, MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU SEA CRIME OCCUR OR YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT A CRIME, RT IT.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THOE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE E HOCK OUR CARS AT NIGHT.

AND IF YOU HAVE YOUR GUNS N YOUR CARS, YOU NEED TO BRIG YOUR GUNS INSIDE BECAUSE MY TIMES CARS ARE BEING BROKEO AND WEANS ARE TAKEN AND USED IN OTHER PLACES.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE T WE EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS BEING DONE.

BECAUSE MANY TIMES PEOPLE T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND O SOMEONE WILL COME FROM OUTF TOWN AND DO SOMETHING, ANDT CAUSES ALL OF US TO THINK,U KNOW, THAT SOMEBODY HERE D. BUT IT WASN'T A RESIDENT, S SOMEONE ELSE.

WE NEED TO MIC SURE PEOPLE- MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW.

JUST TONIGHT ON MY WAY IN,S LISTENING TO A PRESENTATION CRIMESTOPPERS.

THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT PROGM THAT THE STATE OF TALLAHASE SUPPORTS THE TIPSTERS FOR O PAY TIPSTERS FOR INFORMATIN CRIMES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE TALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMT DOES WELL, THEY SOLVE CRIM.

BUT WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO B, AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON USS RESIDENTS, IS WE'VE GOT TOP THE CRIME BEFORE IT STARTS.

AND IF IT HAPPENS, WE NEEDO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE ALL TE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN TOE THE CRIME QUICKLY AND GET E CRIMINALS OFF THE STREET.

>> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CUMMINGS.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COXET I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT AT OF THE CRIME IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE IS CONCENTRATED AMONG OUR YOUTH.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OURH AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WE E CONCERNED ABOUT GANG-RELATD ACTIVITY.

AND I BELIEVE THOSE ACTIVIS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TT A HANDLE ON, THAT'S ONE REN WHY I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUTE CHILDREN'S SERVICES COUNCI.

BECAUSE THROUGH THE COUNCIE CAN TAKE STEPS TO REACH OUR CHILDREN AT AN EARLY AGE.

COMMISSIONER MINOR WAS ON E TWO-YEAR COMMITTEE I AGREE THAT WE HAVE AN ISE WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SOLVG DISPUTES VIOLENTLY.

TO THE ORIGIN AAL QUESTIONI DON'T THINK IT STATES ANYTG REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP.

I KNOW THAT WE SUPPORT THET MEN AND WOMEN OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT THAT ARE TRYINGO -- [AUDIO DIFFICULTY] TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAD 30 OFFICERS INCG OVERTIME THAT MADE OVER $10 A YEAR.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO GET IN CRIME?

YES, COMMISSIONER WELCH.

>> THANKS, SKIP.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO -- I AE WITH COMMISSIONER CUMMINGSD I WAS GOING TO MAKE THIS STATEMENT EARLIER ABOUT YOG PEOPLE.

IT ALL TIES TOGETHER THE, ?

EDUCATIONAL SEGREGATION, YG PEOPLE FEEL A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUN, AND WE'VE GOT TO FILL THAT.

I THINK THE TEMPO PROGRAM T THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESA GREAT PROGRAM.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUH ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMEN, COMMUNITY POLICING, WHATEVU WANT TO CALL IT.

I THINK WITH THE POLICE OFS IN THE CITY AND, AGAIN WITM AT THE COUNTY, BUT I THINKE FRUSTRATION, I THINK THE BILLBOARD SPEAKS OF FRUSTR.

AND I THINK THAT EVEN THOUH THEY HAVE A $54,000 STARTIG SALARY, I DON'T KNOW EXACTW MUCH HAS TO GO TO THEIR PE, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED O KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE TAKEE PAY IS FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

IT'S A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT TA POLICE OFFICER IN THIS COUY RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S NOT A JOB I WOULD W, AND CERTAINLY AS A PUBLIC R EMPLOYEE SERVICE PROVIDER,A SCHOOLTEACHER, THAT'S A TOH JOB.

AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE FRUSTRATED, THEY DON'T FEEL APPRECIATED, AND I THINK TT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNF VACANCIES AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE'D LOVE TO FI.

I THINK SIGNING BONUSES ARA GREAT IDEA.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT MAYBE GO OUT TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLEO ARE COMMITTING CRIMES AND O GET THEM INTO THE PIPELINEF BEING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI.

JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION, AL THAT STUFF.

IS SO THERE COULD BE SOME SYNERGIES AMONGST ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT PLAGUE OUR WHOE COUNTY.

>> COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS CE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOO GROWTH.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS, IT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHTT ALL CRIMES -- AND DEFINE Y.

YOU KNOW, I'M YOUNG.

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNE, THERE IS AN AGE GROUP THATS TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOG ON, AND WE NEED TO GET TO E ROOT CAUSE OF THAT.

BUT WE CAN'T BLAME ALL THAS HAPPENING ON YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE'RE A COLLEGE TOWN.

WE HAVE FINE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, SO WE CAN'T BLAMET ALL ON THEM.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE D TO DO IS GET YOUTH JOBS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CONVERSS THAT I HAD WITH THE SHERIF.

WE'VE GOT TO FIND JOBS FORE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THE CITY OF TALLAHASSES DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF HG EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'VE BEEN EXTENDED END BEYOND THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE -- WEE GOT TO GET MONEY, HONEST MY IN THE POCKETS OF YOUNG PEE BECAUSE WHEN WE MET WITH TM TH LAST TIME WE HAD THE GRP TOGETHER THE, WEED ASKED TM WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOURT PAYCHECK.

OVERWHELMINGLY, THEY SAID Y WOULD BUY FIELD.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE GOINO DO -- FOOD.

SO THE STRUGGLE IS REAL OUT THERE FOR THEM.

THEY'RE NEEDING TO HELP THR FAMILIES.

SO THEY'RE MAYBE MAKING BAD CHOICES, BUT WE CAN'T BLAML OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, CRIMEN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> QUICKLY, COMMISSIONER P. >> TALKING ABOUT CRIME AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, I THIF YOU REDUCE CRIME -- OR REDE POVERTY, YOU REDUCE CRIME.

AND AS FAR AS THE RELATIONP BETWEEN THE CITY AND OUR PE UNION, I HAVE SERIOUS QUESS ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP THI WILL BE LOOKING INTO.

>> OKAY.

LET'S MOVE TO JOBS, WHICH W WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUTA LITTLE BIT.

I ASSUME THERE'S NOBODY HEE THAT THINKS GROWING GOOD PG JOBS IS A BAD THING, RIGHT?

WE ALL LIKE THE IDEA OF GRG JOBS, RIGHT?

SO THE STATS ON THAT AREN'T GREAT.

THE JOB GROWTH IN LEON COU, COUNTIES OF SIMILAR SIZE SE 2001, THERE IS A TOTAL OF B GROWTH.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, 22%.

SEMINOLE, 38.

ALACHUA, 15.

WHY IS THAT THE CASE?

AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO WD TO DO ABOUT IT?

AND I'M GOING TO START WITH COMMISSIONER MADDOX WHO IS WRITING FURIOUSLY, SO HE MT HAVE THINGS HE WANTS TO SA.

>> OH, MAN.

I WAS ACTUALLTHINKING ABOUT LEON WORKS.

YOU'RE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST- YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGET THINGS I'VE HEARD FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION FOLKS AND TRAE PEOPLE IS HOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE FILLING THOSE TRADES.

AND WHAT WE HAVE IS BACK II GUESS, THE '60s, '70s OR S, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PLUMBED ELECTRICIANS AND THE BRICK MASONS AND PEOPLE, THOSE TS ARE NOW AGING OUT, AND THEE RETIRING.

AND I GUESS AROUND MY GENERATION, ABOUT THE '80sE WERE ALL TOLD THAT THE WAYA BETTER LIFE WAS TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND WE'VE EXPRESSED THAT, E TAKEN THAT, DONE IT AND NOW EXPRESSED IT TO OUR CHILDR.

NOW WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIE GETTING THOSE YOUNG FOLKS INTERESTED IN THE TRADES.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK AB- AND I THINK COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON SAID IT, IF YOUT TO TALK ABOUT A HIGH WAGE .

BE A BEDDER, OWN YOUR OWN A WELDER, OWN A PLUMBING BUS, GO OUT AND BUILD SOME HOUS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE REASSERTING THEMSELVES AS T JOBS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO JP INTO.

I REMEMBER BEING A YOUNG MN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UPT HAD THE CRIME AND THE POVEY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IF YOU SAW A GENTLEMAN WITK BOOTS ON, HE WAS A ROLE MO.

NOT THE GUY WITH THE SUITSI NEVER SAW A GUY WITH A SUI.

BUT THE DUDE WITH THE OLD STEEL-TOED BOOTS ON THAT LD LIKE HE HAD JUST COME FROMA CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH A HD HAT WAS THE ROLE MODEL.

OR THE GUY WHO HAD A PICKUP TRUCK WITH A LAWN MOW OR OE BACK MADE DECENT MONEY.

THAT'S WHO YOUREW UP WANTIG TO BE IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TE THE GUY ON THE CORNER SLING EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T WANTO SLING.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> YES, SIR.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK WE NEED TO TRANSITN THAT THOUGHT PATTERN OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

EVEN SOME OF THOSE WHO ARET OF A JOB RIGHT NOW LOOKINGO GET BACK IN AND TO, OKAY, S THINK ABOUT GOING TO TCC, LEARNING A TRADE, GETTING O THAT TRADE AND THEN HAVING, BECOMING A ENTREPRENEUR ATR OWN BUSINESS OR SOMETHING E THAT.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE WAY O IF WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE JOBS.

>> COMMISSIONER RICHARDSONN MATLOW.

>> WE ARE THE SEAT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR JOBS AE STATE GOVERNMENT JOBS.

WHEN I CAME TO TALLAHASSEE PROBABLY 40 YEARS AGO, THAS A LUCRATIVE THING TO DO, WO GO INTO STATE GOVERNMENT.

YOU COULD BE THERE 30 YEAR, RETIRE WITH A NICE PENSIOND LIVE A GOOD LIFE.

BUT IN THE LAST 20, 25 YEA, WE'VE SEEN THOSE JOBS DISAPPEARING.

WE'VE SEEN THOSE JOBS WHERE STATE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT GIN ACROSS-THE-BOARD PAY RAISEO THAT THEIR SALARIES ARE KEG PACE WITH INFLATION.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO PUTE OF AN EMPHASIS ON IS CREATG THOSE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS T WILL PAY THE HIGH WAGES AND REQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSAO EARN THOSE HIGH WAGES -- >> AND SPECIFICALLY, WHAT E DO TO DO THAT?

>> WELL, WE PUT MONEY BOO R SMALL -- INTO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM GRD TO BE ABLE TO HIRE MORE PE.

WE RECRUIT I BUSINESSES TOE COMMUNITY.

DAN FOSS TURBOCORP.

IS ONE EXAMPLE LOCALLY.

WE RECRUITED THEM, AND THEE NOW THROUGH ASSISTANCE THAY GOT THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC VITALITY, ARE EXPG THEIR BUSINESS AND WILL BE CREATING MORE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S THEE WE GO.

AND WE ARE CERTAINLY COMMID TO DOING THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER MATLOW.

THEN THE MAYOR.

>> THANK Y, SKIP.

I THINK, FIRST OFF, WE NEEO RECOGNIZE THAT BUSINESS REE ISN'T GENERATED BY GIVING COMPANIES SUBSIDIES.

SO LOCALLY IN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC VITALITY WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE EFFECTIVELY E STAFF LEVEL A DECISION CANE MADE TO GIVE A COMPANY UP O $500,000 FOR RECRUITMENT.

THAT WOULD NEVER COME TO ED OFFICIALS TO MAKE THE DECI.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT COMPANIES ACTUALLY NEED, TY NEED IF A STRONG WORK FORC.

WE'RE WORKING BACKWARDS.

IF WE INVEST IN OUR WORK F, WE'LL HAVE THE TRAINED PEOE THAT THE COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND NEED.

BECAUSE A SUBSIDY IS A ONEE BENEFIT, BUT A GREAT EMPLOE THAT SHOWS UP EVERY DAY ISA TRUE BENEFIT.

SO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE TALKED ABOUT WE WERE APPROG FULL EMPLOYMENT.

THAT MEANT, YOU KNOW, MOREN 20% OF COMMUNITY WAS LIVING IN POVERTY.

BUT THERE WEREN'T JOBS.

THIS IS A DISCONNECT.

IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW MUCHE MINIMUM WAGE IS, HOW MUCH E ARE GETTING PAID FOR AN HOF WORK, AND THAT USED TO BE T STRONGER WHEN WE HAD A STRG LABOR MOVEMENT.

AND IF YOUOOK AT NOW WE HAE SO MANY COMPANIES STRUGGLIG JUST TO FIND EMPLOYEES AT L LEVELS, AND I THINK A LOT F PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IT'S BECE PEOPLE ARE GIVEN FREE MONEM THE GOVERNMENT.

AND A FREE $300 CHECK OF UNEMPLOYMENT'S KEEPING YOUT HOME, WAS THAT JOB REALLY BENEFICIAL ENOUGH FOR YOU O SHOW UP.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT LOCAL F, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOT IMPROVING WHAT THE WORK FOE NEEDS.

THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT'S TRANSIT, THAT'S WALKABILITY, AND IF WE AREG TO INVEST IN COMPANIES, WE SHOULD INVEST IN SMALL START-UPS, LOCAL COMPANIES, BLACK AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSIS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE STARTR COMPANY HERE, THEY BUILD TA COMPANY HERE, AND THEY KEET REVENUE IN TALLAHASSEE, ANY DON'T TAKE IT OUT OF OUR CS IT'S GENERATED.

>> SO, MR. MAYOR, WE WERE T TALKING ABOUT POVERTY AND , AND NOW WE HAVE RELATIVELY COMPARATIVELY LOW JOB GROW.

IS THERE ANY CONNECTION BEN THOSE THINGS?

AND WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT E IMPROVE OUR JOB GROWTH HERN THIS REGION.

>> YEAH, SKIP, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THS BEEN SAID, BASICALLY, BY WS BEING DISCUSSED HERE TONIG.

I ALSO AM VERY POSITIVE ABT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.

I THINK WE HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN OR COMMUNITY AND AGGRESSIVELY RECRUIT TO OUR COMMUNITY WE WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR BUSIS THAT ARE HERE.

WHILE WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR ENTREPRENEUR ECOSYSTEM WHIY THE WAY, IN THE PAST FIVE S WE'VE ADDED MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN-OWND BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THEE OF FLORIDA WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE PER CAPITA.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN INCREDE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM RIT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

WE HAVEHE NUMBER ONE HBCU, FAMU.

WE'VE GOT A TOP 20, UNIVERY OF FLORIDA STATE.

WE'VE GOT THE NUMBER ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT IS GRADUATING EXTREMELY TALEND INDIVIDUALS THAT I WOULD LO KEEP RIGHT HERE.

WE'VE GOT GREAT OPPORTUNIT.

WE'VE GOT AN AIRPORT THAT S THE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATN AND IN ABOUT TWO YEARS WE L FINISH THE CUSTOMS FACILIT.

THAT RIGHT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME.

WE HAVE RAW LAND AVAILABLET THE AIRPORT TOO.

IF SOMEBODY WANTS RUNWAY AS TO BUILD A FACILITY, WE CAO IT.

WE'VE GOT THE STRONGEST MAT OF THE WORLD RIGHT HERE INR BACKYARD.

WE PRODUCE MORE SOLAR ELECTRICITY AS A MUNICIPALY THAN ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITN THE NATION EXCEPT FOR HONOU RIGHT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

>> THAT'S NOT PLAYING FAIR, HONOLULU?

>> I'M TELLING YOU, WE PROE THE MOST IN THE CONTIGUOUS8 THOUGH.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEEE JUST AGREED TO A RESEARCH D DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH FLORA STATE UNIVERSITY SPECIFICAN BATTERY LIFE DEVELOPMENT.

HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD IN S INDUSTRY IN ALTERNATIVE EN.

THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE NEED TO ALLOW COMPANIESO TRULY COME FIGURE OUT WHAT TALLAHASSEE'S ALREADY ABOU, WHAT WE CAN DO TO AGGRESSIY RECRUIT COMPANIES IN TALLAE WHILE WE'RE SUPPORTING OURT BUSINESSES THAT ARE HEREND ENCOURAGING THE ECOSYSTEM - >> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER MINOR AND THEN COMMISSIONER DOSIER, RIGHT?

YEAH.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MO.

>> THANK YOU -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >> THANK YOU, SKIP.

THE MAYOR TOOK PART OF MY QUESTION, SO I'LL JUST SHON IT DOWN.

>> OKAY.

>> THE POINT I WANTED TO MS EVERY CITY AND EVERY TOWN E COUNTRY IS COMPETING FOR JS AND COMPETING FOR BUSINESSD ECONOMIC GROWTH.

WHAT WE CAN DO IS MAXIMIZER RESOURCES IN THE MOST STRAC WAY POSSIBLE.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO WHATE MAYOR WAS SAYING ABOUT THEG LAB, YOU KNOW?

THERE ARE BREATHTAKING DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE T NOW WITH MRIs.

IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY NARROW INDUSTRY, BUT THAT WHOLE INDUSTRY IS REJUVENATING IF RIGHT NOW.

CELL PHONES, EVERY CELL PHE HAS A MAG INNOCENT IN IT.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DOO CULTIVATE AN INDUSTRY CLUSF MAG INNOCENTIC TECHNOLOGY T HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

NO OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLS A MAG INNOCENT AS STRONG AS OURS.

ANOTHER THING, YOU KNOW, TE WORLD IS CHANGING.

WITH THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE E WORKING FROM HOME MORE OFF.

THE DYNAMIC OF PEOPLE IN TE LABOR FORCE WHEN THEY'RE 50 YEARS OLD OR OLDER IS CHAN.

THERE'S A NEW PROGRAM CALLD THIRD ACT WHICH IS A PROGRM THAT BASICALLY TAKES PEOPLT ARE 50 YEARS OR OLDER OR ME THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A THIRD ACT IN THEIR LIVES.

MAYBE THEY WORKED IN STATE GOVERNMENT FOR 40 YEARS, ME THEY WERE A PUBLISHER, ANDY WANTED TO FIND A NEW CAREE.

THEY CAN GO TO DOMY STATIO, GOOGLE IT, AND LOOK AT THE PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE ALL TYPES OF TRAG AND MODULES THAT YOU CAN TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW DREAM YOUT HAVE HAD IN THE BACK OF YOR HEAD FOR 30 YEARS.

SO THERE ARE GREAT WAYS FOS STRATEGICALLY TO TAKE ADVAE OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES WE AND EXPAND THOSE THAT WE ME THE MOST BENEFIT.

>> COMMISSIONER DOSIER, YOD I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE MAB MANUFACTURE BEFORE, SO -- BEFORE, SO CHAIR MINOR CRED AN UNFORTUNATE SEGWAY WHICH HEEDS ME TO ASK WHY HAVEN'E BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL IN PARLAYING THAT MAG LAB INTN ECONOMIC BOOM?

SO YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUEN AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU WEREG TO SAY AS LONG AS YOU KEEPT SHORT.

>> THANK YOU.

I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT VERY SHORT.

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR A GREAT DISCUSSION, PERSPECTIVES, T OUT TO WFSU, THIS LAST THUY WAS ON A NEW CORPORATION CD MAG CORPS.

MAG CORPSES.

CORPS.

SO THIS IS A SOLUTION THAT EXISTS NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

A RELATIONSHIP WITH A NATIL LAB, AND OURS IS THE NATIOL AGO MAG LAB.

THEY WILL BE THE INTERMEDIY BETWEEN COMPANIES THAT WANO DEVELOP PRODUCTS OR IMPROVE PRODUCTS AND FSU.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'E NEVER FIGURED THIS OUT, ANG CORPS CAN TELL YOU THIS STT UP, IS THAT THE COMPANY'S S WANTED TO KEEP ALL THE IP,E INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, ANDE UNIVERSITY WANTED TO KEEP T ALL.

THEY HAVE SETTLED THOSE AGREEMENTS UP FRONT.

THEY HAVE A MASTER AGREEME.

THAT'S GOING TO GET ALL OFT OUT OF THE WAY, AND SO COMS CAN GET DOWN TO BUSINESS WH THE RESEARCHERS AND REALLYT TO GENERATE THOSE PRODUCTS.

WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR JOB CREATION IN OUR COMMUNITY?

WE'VE ALSO JUST GOT A $17 MILLION INCUBATOR.

WET LABS, DRY LABS, ALL KIF DIFFERENT HIGH-TECH STUFF T WILL BE OUT HERE AT INNOVAN PARK.

IT WILL BE CREATED IN TWO .

THAT WILL GROW BUSINESSES.

AND THESE COMPONENTS, WORKG WITH THE COMMERCIALIZATIONM YOUR UNIVERSITIES, GETTINGE ENTREPRENEURS, IS ONE OF TE BIGGEST ATTRACTORS FOR BUSINESSES LIKE DAN FOSS.

THERE ARE SOME IN THIS COMY WHO WILL SAY, MY GOODNESS,Y ARE YOU MENTIONING DAN FOS.

THAT'S OUR ONE BIG WIN, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IR 15 YEARS.

WELL, THEY'VE ALSO REINVESN OUR COMMUNITY THREE TIMES W AND ARE CREATING HUNDREDS F JOBS.

BUT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVEM LOTS, WE NEED TO DO ALL OFE THINGS.

I LOVE THE PHRASE IT'S NOTA SILVER BULLET, IT'S SILVERK SHOT.

IT'S EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

I WILL LEAVE IT HERE.

IF YOUR POLICYMAKERS DON'TE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS IN A C MEETING, THESE TYPES OF PRS AND REALLY DIG IN, THERE AA LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN E COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE NOT GG TO BE ABLE TO MAKE T MOST STRATEGIC DECISION, AND WED TO CREATE TIME TO HAVE THEE DISCUSSIONS MORE OFTEN.

THANK YOU.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE SHORT ON TIME HERE, M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW SHORT.

HEY, WE GOT TWO MINUTES LE.

COMMISSIONER WELCH, I'M JU- GIVE ME A QUICK 60-SECOND ANSWER.

HOW DO YOU GROW JOBS AND NT GROW?

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF KINDF FOLKS THAT DON'T WANT TO G, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S E CONSENSUS THAT GROWING JOBA GOOD THING.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THOSEO THINGS IN ABOUT 60 SECONDS?

>> THANKS, SKIP.

I WOULD SAY YOUAVE TO HAVEA PARADIGM SHIFT.

SO TO COMMISSIONER MADDOX'S POINT, WHICH I WANTED TO CT ON EARLIER, CTE IS THE FUTF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCA.

WE'VE GOT KIDS COMING OUT F HIGH SCHOOL WHO WANT TO GOO OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT IF YOU EVEN HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, HEY, IU GO LEARN TO BE A PLUMBER, E GOING TO MAKE TWICE AS MUCH MONEY BY THE TIME YOU GET A $50,000 DEGREE, THAT CONVERSATION NOT WELCOMED E HOME ALL THE TIME.

IF YOUNG PEOPLEANT TO GROWP IN TALLAHASSEE, WORK IN TALLAHASSEE AND PROVIDE SKD TRADES TO OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AS WE GROW, WE COD HAVE OUR OWN PEOPLE, OR OUN COMMUNITY MEMBERS FILLING E JOBS, AND THEN YOU HAVE A FOUNDATION TO BRING IN OTHR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> OKAY, GREAT.

THANKS FOR TIMING THAT WEL.

SO, LOOK, THOSE OF YOU WAT, PLEASE DON'T FORGET THAT TE PEOPLE STICK THEIR NECK OUT JUST TO RUN FOR OFFICE, BU- AND TO HOLD OFFICE, TO ANSR QUESTIONS FROM KNUCKLEHEADE ME, AND IN THE NEXT SEGMEN, KNUCKLEHEADS LIKE ALL OF Y.

SO I WANT TO THANK A ALL OF THEM, AND THIS CONCLUDES OR BROADCAST OF THE TALLAHASSE TOWN HALL ON WFSU PUBLIC M. WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION WITH QUESTIONS M OUR DIGITAL AUDIENCE IN AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THIS CONVERSATION.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT T GROWTH ON THAT, I CAN TELL, AND FOR OUR ZOOM AND FACEBK LIVE AUDIENCES AND THE FULL PROGRAM WILL BE ARCHIVED OE AND AVAILABLE LATER THIS WN WFSU.ORG.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING TO OUR AUDIENCE, AND FOR OUR DIGIL FOLKS, WE'LL BE BACK IN JUA MOMENT.

♪ ♪