>> KETV NEWS 7, CHRONICLE,
STORIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU.
THIS IS KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S
"CHRONICLE".
>> WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP,
THE FUTURE OF OMAHA IS BRIGHT.
IT'S A FUTURE OF GROWTH,
PROGRESS, OPTIMISM, DIVERSE
IDEAS, AND A STRONG COMMUNITY
BOND.
THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING AGAIN.
ROB: AFTER FOUR YEARS AT THE
HELM, JEAN STOTHERT SAYS SHE'S
JUST GETTING STARTED.
AND SHE WANTS TO KEEP THE CITY
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M ROB MCCARTNEY.
TODAY IS OUR FINAL SHOW
DEDICATED TO THE MAYOR'S RACE.
WE'VE TALKED WITH EACH OF THE
CANDIDATES.
ALL OF THOSE CHRONICLES ARE
ONLINE AT WWWW.KETV.COM.
THIS MORNING WE'RE TALKING WITH
JEAN STOTHERT.
FIRST, A FEW FACTS ABOUT HER.
WHEN SHE WON ELECTION IN MAY OF
2013, SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN
TO LEAD THE CITY.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS SHE
REDUCED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE
TWICE, HIRED DOZENS OF NEW
POLICE OFFICERS AND GREW THE
CITY THROUGH ANNEXATION.
SHE GREW UP IN ST. LOUIS AND
GRADUATED FROM SEATTLE PACIFIC
UNIVERSITY WITH A BA IN
NURSING.
THEN SHE WORKED AS A CRITICAL
CARE NURSE, HEAD NURSE, AND
DEPARTMENT HEAD OF
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY AT
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY.
THAT'S WHERE SHE MET HER
HUSBAND.
THEY MOVED TO OMAHA IN 1993.
ONCE HERE, SHE VOLUNTEERED IN
HER CHILDREN'S SCHOOL.
SHE WAS APPOINTED AND ELECTED TO
THE MILLARD BOARD OF ELECTION.
IN 2009 SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE
OMAHA CITY COUNCIL, REPRESENTING
DISTRICT 5 IN SOUTHWEST OMAHA.
FOUR YEARS LATER, SHE RAN FOR
MAYOR AGAINST JIM SUTTLE.
AT THE TOP OF HER TO-DO LIST WAS
THE BUTTE AND UNION CONTRACTS.
WE TALKED WITH HER.
>> ISSMADE A LOT OF PROMISES AND
PLEDGES.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO TO
WORK AND DELIVER.
ROB: DURING HER LAST STATE OF
THE CITY SPEECH, SHE SAID THE
CITY IS STRONGER THAN IT WAS
FOUR YEARS AGO.
SHE ADMITTED THERE'S MORE WORK
TO BE DONE.
>> WE STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO
WITH A VISION, TO MAKE OMAHA
SAFER, TO MAKE CITY GOVERNMENT
WORK BUTTER FOR YOU AND TO GROW
OUR ECONOMY.
AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.
WITH HOMICIDES AT A 13-YEAR LOW,
THE FIRST TAX CUTS IN 14 YEARS,
AND 12,000 MORE JOBS IN OMAHA,
PEOPLE BELIEVE WE ARE ON THE
RIGHT TRACK.
ROB: SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
CREATING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES,
TREEATING A STREETCAR SYSTEM AND
SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO CAST
HER BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY.
LAST MONDAY, WE WERE AT THE
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE WATCHING
AS THE MAYOR VOTED EARLY.
AND JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT
THAT AND MORE IS MAYOR JEAN
STOTHERT.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US THIS
MORNING.
OKAY.
AS WE POINTED OUT A MOMENT AGO,
AFTER YOU WON THE MAYOR'S RACE,
YOU SAID I'VE MADE A LOT OF
PROMISES AND PLEDGES.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO TO
WORK AND DELIVER.
I'M READY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE WHAT
PROMISED?
>> I THINK SO.
THE MAIN PROMISES I MADE, I
WANTED TO -- I WANTED TO MAKE
THE CITY SAFER AND STRONGER.
I WANTED TO GET CONTROL OF THE
CITY BUDGET WHICH WAS A MESS
WHEN I BECAME MAYOR.
I WANTED TO NEGOTIATE THE LABOR
CONTRACTS, UNION LABOR
CONTRACTS, I WANTED TO CONTROL
SPENDING, REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES,
REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN.
GROW OUR ECONOMY, AND I WANTED
TO MAKE CITY GOVERNMENT RUN MORE
EFFICIENTLY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
DELIVERED ON THOSE.
NOW, DO WE HAVE MORE TO DO?
WE CERTAINLY DO.
BUT I BELIEVE ON THE THINGS THAT
WE REALLY PROMISED THAT WE HAVE
MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
I BELIEVE OUR FUTURE IS ONLY
BRIGHTER.
ROB: ONE OF THE THINGS WE
DISCUSSED AND WILL PROBABLY
CONTINUE TO DISCUSS IS THE
RESTAURANT TAX.
>> YES.
I MADE THE CHOICE WHEN I WAS
MAYOR TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX
BURDEN BEFORE THE RESTAURANT
TAX.
WHEN I BECAME MAYOR, I SAID I
WANT TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN
AND IF YOU RECALL, THE PREVIOUS
MAYOR, JIM SUTTLE RAISED
PROPERTY TAXES 14% AS WELL AS
HAD THE RESTAURANT TAX IMPOSED
AT 2.5%.
THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION TO
MAKE.
3% OF THE TAX IS PAID BY OUT OF
TOWN GUESTS.
BUT EVERY GUEST AND OWNER PAYS
PROPERTY TAXES AND THAT'S THE
NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON EVERYONE'S
MIND IN OMAHA AS PAR AS TAXES.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE TURK RULING
THAT RAISED ACROSS THE BOARD
EVALUATION, 7% AND RECENTLY WHAT
THE ASSESSOR DID BY RAISING
VALUATIONS, PEOPLE'S PROPERTY
TAXES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE OF
THE VALUATION.
SO THE CITY OF OMAHA SHOWED WE
DID OUR PART AND I'VE REDUCED
THE RATE, TWICE AS A TOTAL OF 4%
SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR.
THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.
ROB: LET ME ASK YOU THIS -- THE
RESTAURANT TAXES AND THERE WAS A
CAP CALLED FOR.
IF REVENUE EXCEEDS THAT GROWTH,
THE TAX WOULD BE REDUCED IS THAT
A GOOD PLAN?
>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE OF
THIS.
MY GOAL IS TO REDUCE AND
ELIMINATE THE RESTAURANT TAX.
HE'S SAYING HE WANTS TO KEEP IT
IN PLACE AND CAP IT.
MY GOAL WILL CONTINUE TO BE TO
REDUCE IT AND THEN TO EVENTUALLY
ELIMINATE IT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO AND
THAT'S WHAT MY GOAL WILL STILL
BE.
ROB: WHAT'S EVENTUALLY?
DO YOU HAVE A TIME FRAME, NUMBER
OF YEARS?
>> RIGHT.
OF COURSE, IT'S ALL A BALANCE
ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO FUND IN
EVERY SINGLE CITY DEPARTMENT.
WE ONLY HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF
REEV REVENUE.
MOST IS FUNDED WITH PROPERTY TAX
AND SALES TAX.
THAT RESTAURANT TAX IS A SMALL
PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND
BUDGET, ABOUT 8%.
SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT TO REDUCE THE PROPERTY
TAX FIRST, THEN THE RESTAURANT
TAX BECAUSE THE RESTAURANT TAX
IS DISCRETIONARY.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE OCCUPATION
TAXES.
IT JUST TARTS A CERTAIN
INDUSTRY.
OF IT HAS NOT HURT THE
INDUSTRY.
SO I FELT LIKE THE BEST DECISION
WAS PROPERTY TAX.
NOW, RESTAURANT TAX, IT IS A
GOAL AS I CONTINUE TO DO THE
BUDGETS AND I WILL.
I'M WORKING ON '18.
IT TAKES ME ABOUT A YEAR TO DO
THE BUDGET.
ALL FUND BUDGETS OVER -- IT'S
AROUND 900 MILLION.
GENERAL FUND, ABOUT
370 MILLION.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AND BALANCING
ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO FUND,
LIKE THE MORE POLICE OFFICERS,
WITH THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE I CAN
TAKE OUT OF THE BUDGET TO REDUCE
TAXES.
ROB: AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE
BUDGET, IS THERE FAT STILL IN
THE BUDGET AND HOW FAR CAN YOU
CUT?
WHAT WOULD YOU CUT BEFORE YOU
START CUTTING INTO THE MUSCLE?
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT
IT.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE REALLY SHOWN
THAT WE HAVE RUN THE CITY MUCH
MORE EFFICIENTLY.
I WILL TELL YOU IF PEOPLE SAY
THAT THERE'S NO FAT IN
GOVERNMENT, I WOULD BE THE FIRST
ONE TO TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE
WRONG.
BUT I'VE REALLY TRIED HARD TO
CONTROL SPENDING AS WELL AS RAE
DUES TAXES.
EVERY YEAR I'VE DONE THE BUDGET,
I'VE KEPT THE GENERAL FUND
GROWTH AT 3% OR LESS.
THAT'S CONTROLLING SPENDING AND
WITH THAT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS, MORE
PEOPLE IN PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE
WE'RE RUNNING VERY EFFICIENTLY.
WHEN I BECAME MAYOR, I LOOKED AT
EVERY DEPARTMENT, EVERY POSITION
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERY
POSITION WE HAD WAS NECESSARY.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO DO ALL
OF THESE THINGS WE'VE DONE AND
LOWER PROPERTY TAXES AND KEEP
THE SPENDING LOW.
THIS IS CAREFUL BUDGETS.
ROB: WHAT WOULD YOU CUT, THEN?
WOULD YOU PUT A WARNING OUT TO
SOMEBODY, HEY, YOU ARE ON MY
RADAR, IF THERE'S STILL FAT IN
THE BUDGET?
>> NO.
I DON'T LIKE THE WORD CUT.
I THINK WE'VE SHOWN IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS WE HAVEN'T DONE A LOT
OF WHAT NORMAL PEOPLE -- EVERY
PERSON WOULD CALL A CUT.
WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO IS RUN
MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY, MODERNIZE
CITY HALL.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S BENEFITED
THE CITY OF OMAHA IS THE
ANNEXATIONS WE'VE DONE.
AS WE CONTINUE TO AN AN
ANNEX, IT'S BEEN SO BUDGET
POSITIVE FOR THE CITY.
WE'RE BROADENING THE TAX BASE.
THAT'S THE WAY YOU CAN LOWER
TAXES AND SUSTAIN THE LOWERING
OF TAXES BECAUSE YOU ARE
BROADENING THE TAX BASE.
MORE PEOPLE ARE PAYING INTO IT.
THAT ANNEXATION THAT WE'VE DONE
HAS BEEN SO POSITIVE FOR THE
CITY, IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT WE ARE RECEIVING SUCH GOOD
BOND RATINGS NOW.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT MORE BONDING
CAPACITY THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE
PAST.
I HAVE PUT ABOUT $130 MILLION
MORE IN OUR CAPITALISM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
A LOT OF IT WENT TO ROADS.
THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GROWING OUR
CITY, BONDING OUR TAX RATE, ABLE
TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES.
ROB: AND THE ANNEXATION, SHERIFF
DUNNING TALKED HAD HAVING
CONCERNS WITH THE ANNEXATION,
THAT THERE WERE SLOWER RESPONSE
TIMES FROM THE POLICE.
A WEEK AFTER HE SAYS THAT, YOU
SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIFTH
POLICE PRECINCT.
I KNOW THE CHIEF HAD BEEN
LOOKING AT THAT SINCE THE
GET-IF. GET-GO.
>> WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR
YEARS.
ROB: THE TIMING SEEMS SUSPECT.
>> NO.
THE ANNEXATIONS ARE DONE
CAREFULLY.
WHEN WE DO ANNEX, WE ASSUME THE
DEBT AND ASSETS AND WE LOOK OVER
A TEN-YEAR PERIOD AND ACCOUNT
FOR THE COSTS OF CITY SERVICES
EVERY YEAR FOR TEN YEARS,
INCLUDING FIRE AND POLICE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ENOUGH FIRE AND POLICE AND CAN
PAY FOR THE SERVICES.
THAT'S VERY, VERY CAREFULLY
THOUGHT OUT.
WE ARE ALMOST AT THE GOLD
STANDARD FOR THE NUMBER OF
POLICE OFFICERS.
GOLD STANDARD IS TWO OFFICERS
PER EVERY 1,000 CITIZENS.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 1.92.
WHEN WE RAISE IT UP TO 9 -- UP
TO 900 IN 2019 WE'LL BE TO
2,000.
AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND ADD
MORE POLICE OFFICERS, THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS NOT
REDUCED THEIR NUMBERS OUT ON
PATROL.
THERE'S VERY GOOD COVERAGE OUT
THERE.
THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ALWAYS
HAD A MUTUAL AGREEMENT THAT WE
HELP EACH OTHER.
OTHER AGENCIES USE OMAHA POLICE
DEPARTMENT ALL OF THE TIME.
FOR OUR CALLS, RESPONSES, FOR
OUR DOGS, OUR K-9 CREW, FOR OUR
S.W.A.T. TEAM, FOR OUR
HELICOPTERS, WE HELP EACH
OTHER.
AND SO TO SAY THAT THE RESPONSE
TIMES ARE SLOWER OUT WEST
BECAUSE OF ANNEXATION, I WOULD
SAY THAT'S NOT TRUE.
NOW WITH THE FIFTH PRECINCT, THE
CHIEF AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THAT FOR THREE AND A HALF
YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE
BOUNDARY TIMES, GROWTH PATTERNS,
CRIME PATTERNS.
WE WERE READY TO ANNOUNCE IT
EXCEPT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SITE
CHOSEN.
WE WERE LOOKING AT THE GUN RANGE
BECAUSE WE OWN THE PROPERTY.
BUT WE FOUND PROPERTY RIGHT OFF
204TH STREET, VERY VISIBLE.
WE CHOSE THE SITE.
THE REASON WE DID THE PRESS
CONFERENCE WHEN WE DID, I JUST
SIGNED THE LETTER OF INTENT TO
BUY THAT PROPERTY THE NIGHT
BEFORE.
WE WERE ALL READY FOR A PRESS
CONFERENCE BUT I SIGNED IT THE
NIGHT BEFORE SO WE CAN ANNOUNCE
THE NEXT DAY.
THAT'S WHY WE DID IT THE NEXT
DAY.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY
POLITICAL MOVES BY ANY OPPONENT
OR BY THE SHERIFF.
ROB: LET ME ASK YOU THIS -- IS A
SLAP THAT SHERIFF DUNNING IS
SUPPORTING YOUR OPPONENT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS HAD
A GOOD FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM.
HE SUPPORTED ME THE LAST TIME.
WE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR, IN MY
OPINION, IN FACT, I REMEMBER IN
JANUARY OF 2016, WE DID A PRESS
CONFERENCE IN MY OFFICE ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AND SHERIFF DUNNING
TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT AND ASKED
IF WE COULD DO IT IN MY OFFICE
AND WE STOOD SIDE BY SIDE AT THE
PRESS CONFERENCE.
THINGS STARTED TO TURN WHEN WE
DISCUSSED MERGING THE CRIME
LAB.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS
AROUND THE TABLE DURING THE
CRIME LAB MEETINGS.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL TELL
YOU THEY WEREN'T HANDLED VERY
PROFESSIONALLY, MYSELF
INCLUDED.
EVERYONE WAS FOR THE MERGER
EXCEPT SHERIFF DUNNING AND A FEW
OF THE COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS.
SO I THINK IT WAS -- IT'S KIND
OF A MATTER OF A TURF WAR, I
UNFORTUNATELY.
I THINK THE SAME THING ABOUT THE
ANNEXATION.
THE CITY OF OMAHA CONTINUES TO
GROW AND WE CONTINUE TO GET
BIGGER AND DOUGLAS COUNTY
CONTINUES TO GET SMALLER.
WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT
THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
WHAT IS BEST FOR OMAHA, WHAT'S
BEST FOR THE WHOLE AREA AND
WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS.
ROB: LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION
ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.
WE HAVE NUMBERS DETAILING
DONATIONS EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
MELLO PROUT IN 264,000 COMPARED
TO YOUR 92,000.
BUT YOU AT THIS POINT, AT THIS
REPORTING TIME HAD 200,000, THAT
ADVANTAGE.
WHAT'S THAT SAY TO YOU?
>> WELL, IT SAYS WE'VE DONE OUR
JOBFO JOB FUNDRAISING.
AND SO WE FRANKLY HAD THE MONEY
THAT WE NEED TO GET US THROUGH
THE PRIMARY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP ASKING
DOPERS FOR MORE POINT BECAUSE WE
HAD PRETTY MUCH FUNDED OUR
CAMPAIGN.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FUNDRAISE,
AS WE GO INTO THE GENERAL.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP ASKING
THE DONORS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DONORS.
AND THEN WE HAVE MULTITUDES OF
PEOPLE THAT JUST GIVE SMALL
AMOUNTS.
MY DONOR LIST IS HUGE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
ASKING FOR MONEY WHEN WE NEEDED
THE MONEY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL
AMOUNT I RAISED AS COMPARED TO
THE TOTAL NUMBER MR. MELLO
RAISED, WE HAVE OUT FUNDRAISED
HIM.
ROB: IT'S SAFE TO SAY YOU ARE
CONFIDENT AND WILL MAKE IT PAST
THE PRIMARY.
>> I'M CERTAINLY HOPING THAT.
WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR
GRANTED.
WE DO POLLING A LOT.
WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND.
WE USE THOSE INTERNALLY.
WE TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED BUT
WE DO KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE IN OMAHA FEEL LIKE THE
CITY IS GOING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION AND THEY ARE HAPPY
WITH THE DIRECTION WE'VE GONE.
ROB: IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A
QUICK BREAK, WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION,
TALK ABOUT THE CITY AND WHERE
IT'S GOING AS FAR AS ECONOMIC
ROB: JOINING US THIS MORNING IS
MAYOR JEAN STOTHERT.
POTHOLE, SNOW REMOVAL, THERE IS
A ROAD THAT WAS GROUND DOWN TO
GRAVEL SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND
LEFT THAT WAY AS A COST-SAVING
MEASURE REPORTEDLY.
DOES THAT SPEAK WELL OF A SOLID
ROAD PLAN?
>> NO.
THAT WAS A PRACTICE STARTED BY
JIM SUTTLE.
HE CHOSE TO DO THAT WHEN THERE
WERE SOME VOTES THAT
DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT
HE FELT LIKE ITS NO LONGER
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP
FILLING THE POTHOLES.
HE STARTED THIS PROCESS OF
GRINDING THE ROADS DOWN TO
GRAVEL.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.
I'VE PUT A MORATORIUM ON THAT
PRACTICE.
I FEEL STRONGLY -- WE HAVE
APPROXIMATELY 5,000 ROADS IN THE
CITY OF OMAHA.
ABOUT 300 OF THOSE ARE CALLED
UNIMPROVED ROADS.
THEY ARE NOT UP TO CITY
STANDARDS.
THEY DON'T HAVE CONCRETE, DORM
DRAIN, SEWERS.
I HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT I FEEL
LIKE THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE MORE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE TO GET
THEM UP TO CITY STANDARD.
IN THE PAST, THE PRACTICE WAS IF
PEOPLE ON THESE ROADS THAT WERE
DETERIORATED WANT THEM UP TO
CITY STANDARDS, THEY WOULD PAY
FOR IT.
THE CITY WOULD COME OUT AND DO
THE WORK.
THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT.
I THINK IT'S PART OF THE CITY'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR IT.
SO THE COMMITTEE I GOT TOGETHER
ARE COMING UP WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR CONCRETE,
PAY FOR 50%, THE CITY, THEY HAVE
A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME TO PAY
US BACK.
IT USED TO BE BY STATE LAW TEN
YEARS.
I'M TRYING TO GET THAT CHANGED
TO 20 YEARS THIS YEAR.
IF IT'S AN ASPHALT STREET AT
LEAST SOME PARTNERSHIP WITH IT
BUT IN THE INTERIM, I WANTED TO
STOP THAT PRACTICE OF RECLAIMING
ROADS BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO
KNOW THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS IT, IF
SOMEBODY WANTS THEIR ROAD GROUND
DOWN TO GRAVEL AS LONG AS
EVERYBODY AGREE, I'M OKAY.
BYBUT I WANTED TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT THE OPTIONS.
ROB: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS,
SEVERAL PROJECTS ARE STALLED.
CIVIC AUDITORIUM, RIVERFRONT,
BOYS TOWN OUT WEST, STALLING A
LITTLE BIT.
>> THESE THINGS ARE NOT
STALLED.
CIVIC AUDITORIUM IS NOT
STALLED.
WE'RE AHEAD OF TIME.
WE HAVE JUST FINISHED THE
DEMOLITION --
ROB: BUT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN
PLANS, GOING FROM ALL COMMERCIAL
TO POSSIBLY SOMETHING ELSE.
>> IT WAS NEVER ALL COMMERCIAL.
ROB: A TON OF IT.
>> IT WAS MIXED USED
DEVELOPMENT.
HADIT HAD COMMERCIAL RETAIL
AND A CIVIC COMPONENT.
THAT WAS IN THE RFP.
ORIGINALLY THERE WAS AN OFFICE
TOWER THERE AND THERE STILL
COULD BE.
WE JUST MET WITH THE DEVELOPERS
OF THE PROJECT JUST YESTERDAY
AND WE'RE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING THEIR
APPLICATION SOMETIME SOON.
IT WILL BE A GREAT DOWNTOWN
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.
I WANT TO PUT A NEW LIBRARY
THERE.
CROSS ROADS, FOR EXAMPLE, I MET
WITH THE OWNER AROUND THE
DEVELOPER ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
REALIZE WITH THESE PROJECTS THE
CITY SAYS WHAT INCENTIVES WE
WILL DO, WHAT WE CAN DO AND THEN
IT'S IN THE HAND OF THE
DEVELOPER.
WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE
IT WORK BUT WE HAVE TO TREAT ALL
DEVELOPMENTS FAIRLY.
ROB: WHAT HAPPENS TO CROSS
ROADS?
>> WE'RE TOLD THAT PROJECT IS
GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT WILL STILL BE A MIXED USE
WITH A LOT OF RETAIL, WITH SOME
RESIDENTIAL, WITH SOME OFFICE.
THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR PLAN
SEVERAL TIMES.
THE CITY IS A GOOD PARTNER WITH
THEM.
WE OFFERED TO PAY FOR SOME OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S IN THE HANDS
OF THE DEVELOPER.
YOU GO DOWN TO CON-AGRA.
THAT'S NOT LOST.
THEY STILL OCCUPY BUILDINGS DOWN
THERE.
THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS MIXED-USE
DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE
CAMPUS.
THEY WILL PROBABLY ANNOUNCE IT
IN THE SUMMER.
I NEED TO LET THEM ANNOUNCE IT
BUT I WILL BE THERE WITH THEM.
ROB: WILL YOU EVER GET ANYTHING
DONE ON RIVERFRONT?
>> YES.
IN FACT, WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP
OF BUSINESS AND LEADERS, AND
WE'RICK WE ARE WE ARE ON
IT FROM THE BRIDGE DOWN AND
INCLUDING HEARTLAND OF AMERICA
PARK AND OVER TO THE MALL.
THAT'S PROPERTY WE OWN AND --
WITH PRIVATE MONEY, WE'VE -- OR
WE WILL HIRE A CONSULTANT TO
COME OUT AND GIVE US A DESIGN OF
WHAT BEST WORKS IN THE AREA THAT
WILL BRING PEOPLE DOWN THERE ALL
YEAR 0 ROUND.
THIS IS NOT PIE IN THE SKY.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING
ON RIGHT NOW AND WILL GET IT
DONE SOON.
WE HAVE DEVELOPERS VERY
INTERESTED IN THE MALL.
NOT TO TAKE THE MALL AWAY BUT TO
MAKE IT MORE USEABLE.
PERHAPS HAVE SOME RESTAURANTS
DOWN THERE.
A WALKWAY, A PATHWAY AROUND IT.
MAYBE SOME WATER TAXIS IN IT.
ROB: STREETCARS.
IS THAT FEASIBLE?
IS THAT DO-ABLE?
>> I THINK IT IS -- I LOOK AT IT
AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
JOBS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, NOT A TROLLEY
CAR, NOT A TOURIST ATTRACTION
BUT SOMETHING THAT MOVES PEOPLE
FROM THEIR HOMES TO THEIR JOBS
AND BACK TO THEIR HOMES AGAIN IN
THE EEVENING, IT WILL SPUR
DEVELOPMENT.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT
AS THE INITIAL ROUTE WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT NOW.
YOU HAVE TOIC WALK BEFORE
YOU CAN RUN.
WE HAVE PLANS FOR A CAR TO GO TO
NORTH OMAHA, SOUTH OMAHA, DOWN
TO THE ZOO, THOSE ARE ALL IN THE
FUTURE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO START
SOMEWHERE.
I WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT IF I DID
NOT TRULY BELIEVE -- AND I KNOW
WE CAN DO THIS -- WITHOUT A
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE
MOST THAT ARE ALONG THE ROUTE
WILL PAY THE MOST.
PERHAPS AN APRIL SESMENT
DISTRICT AROUND THE AREA WHERE
THE DEVELOPMENT IS GOING.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S VERY GOOD FOR
THE CITY AND IT WILL JUST BE A
PART OF A NEW MODERN
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
BUT I WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT IF IT
CAUSED A PROPERTY TAX RATE
INCREASE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK.
FIRST, YOUR COMMENTS ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THE SHOW.
IF YOU WANT TO BE HEARD E-MAIL
THEM TO US AT WWWW.KETV.COM.
ROB: FOR THE PAST 30 MINUTES
WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH JEAN
STOTHERT.
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO
MAKE A FINAL PLEA TO THE
VOTERS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE STARTED
OUT WITH A VERY CLEAR VISION.
PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE GOING TO
NEGOTIATE LABOR CONTRACTS, GROW
OUR ECONOMY AND MAKE OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER FOR YOU.
WE'VE DONE THAT.
WE'VE STRAIGHTENED OUT OUR CITY
BUDGET.
WE'VE LOWERED PROPERTY TAX RATES
TWICE.
NEGOTIATED ALL OF THE LABOR
CONTRACTS FIRST TIME IN TEN
YEARS AND OUR ECONOMY IS
GROWING.
THERE'S BEEN OVER 53,000
BUILDING PERMITS THAT ARE VALUED
AT 2.7 BILLION SINCE WE'VE BEEN
MAYOR.
THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE TRUST THE
LEADERSHIP.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING
MORE EFFICIENTLY.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AN PRIVE INC.
TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR AND I
WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR
VOTE TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER
FOUR YEARS.
THANK YOU.
ROB: ALL RIGHT.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND ALL OF
THE SHOWS WE'VE DONE WITH THE
MAYORAL CANDIDATES AT
WWWW.KETV.COM.
LOOK FOR THE "CHRONICLE" TAB.
IT'S ON THE MENU BAR AROUND THE
COD DEADLINE IS APRIL 3RD.
THE GENERAL ELECTION IS MAY
9TH.
I'M ROB MCCARTNEY.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT
For more infomation >> What To Do When She Wont Text Back? - Duration: 10:02. 
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