[0:09] [Music] [0:12] [Applause] [0:13] [Music] [0:15] Hello and welcome to another episode of [0:18] Conversations in South St. Paul. I am [0:20] Jimmy Francis, mayor of the Center of [0:22] the Universe, and with me today is my [0:24] guest, Gio. And it's actually short for [0:28] Giovani. Is that right? [0:30] Yeah. [0:30] Yeah. Nice. Well, welcome Gio. Before we [0:33] get started, before we get deep into it, [0:35] I have a couple of questions I like to [0:37] ask everybody just to see, you know, get [0:39] to know you a little bit more, just [0:41] spontaneous. So, uh, your favorite band [0:44] or music preference that you like, [0:46] your favorite sports team, [0:49] and then or or your favorite thing to [0:50] do. If it's not a sports team, it's [0:52] something else. And then if you had free [0:54] time to do anything you want, what would [0:56] you do? So, favorite band or music? [1:00] Uh, I'm gonna change it up a bit and say [1:03] my favorite song. [1:04] Favorite song. That's good. I like that. [1:06] My favorite song changes like so much. [1:10] Like I feel like I have like a fad every [1:12] couple weeks. Um, [1:16] I've been lately into your Vision. This [1:18] Euro Vision song contest. Oh, okay. [1:21] Which is they have a lot of good songs. [1:23] Um, I actually didn't listen to any of [1:25] the songs until after it ended. [1:27] Okay. [1:28] But there was one song that [1:29] is it a TV show? Is that what that [1:31] or what is it? A [1:32] Eurovision? It's like a song competition [1:35] that happens once a year in Europe. [1:37] Oh, okay. Yeah. Is that where um ABBA [1:40] won? [1:41] Yeah. Yeah. [1:41] Okay, cool. [1:42] Um, [1:42] so that's been going a long time. [1:44] Yeah. Like I think this year was the [1:46] 69th Field Vision. [1:48] Cool. [1:48] Um, there was one song that I loved. Um [1:52] cuz I ever since I was little I've loved [1:55] like space and stuff. [1:56] Yeah. [1:57] Um [1:58] Leica Party by Emmy I think Ireland. Um [2:03] I loved it. They didn't qualify but cuz [2:07] the song is about Emmy not Emmy. Emy's [2:10] the artist Leica which is a dog who got [2:13] sent in space but never returned by the [2:16] Soviet government. I just love it cuz it [2:19] was it made it happen. [2:20] A cool story. It made a happy ending to [2:22] Leica and it was just so cute. And then [2:25] it made me sad about what happened to [2:27] Leica. [2:29] Yeah. [2:29] But I love that song. It's so good. [2:31] That's pretty That's That's pretty [2:33] interesting to band. Uh we'll have to [2:35] look that up. How about favorite team [2:37] sport or [2:38] um I'm not really into [2:40] But I I know you're a theater kid. [2:42] Yeah, I'm in a theater. Um but I have [2:45] been looking into something from someone [2:47] you know. [2:48] Okay. Um, [2:50] wild hockey. [2:51] Okay. [2:52] I've been trying to learn a couple of [2:54] things. I'm still getting there, but [2:56] Okay. Somewhat. [2:58] Yeah. So, hockey. So, the Wild Minnesota [3:00] Wild would be the team you're saying for [3:01] this. That's cool. That's cool. [3:03] I was surprised that they were they've [3:05] that they've only been here since the [3:06] early 2000s. I feel like they would have [3:08] been here for longer. [3:09] Well, there was another team before [3:10] them. [3:11] Yeah, but like [3:11] North Stars, but Yeah, it seems longer. [3:13] Yeah. [3:13] Yeah, it should be. [3:15] Seems like it should be longer for sure. [3:16] Yeah. Uh, how about what do you like to [3:18] do in your free time? [3:20] If you could do anything you want, if [3:21] you could pick whatever it is, you're [3:22] going to spend four hours. [3:24] What's Gio doing? [3:26] Hanging out with my friends [3:28] and with my dogs. [3:30] Okay. [3:30] Dog. Dogs and friends. [3:32] And And what does hanging out consist [3:33] of? Are you watching TV? Are you [3:35] watching Netflix? Are you watching [3:37] Going somewhere? Going out. [3:39] Going to do something. Walk around [3:40] parks. [3:41] Yeah. [3:41] Play around with the dogs. [3:43] That's awesome. Gio, what grade are you [3:45] in? I'm in sixth grade right now. [3:47] Sixth grade. What's it like to be in [3:49] South St. Paul Middle School [3:52] in 2025? You're going to be moving on to [3:56] seventh grade next year, [3:58] right? [3:58] Yep. [3:59] So, I guess you're in elementary, right? [4:01] Isn't elementary. Sixth grade. What's [4:03] that? [4:03] Sixth grade is in the middle school. [4:04] Middle school. So, sixth, seventh, and [4:06] eighth. That's middle school. Good. [4:07] So, what's it like? [4:09] Um, I like it. Um, [4:13] I feel like [4:15] It's like you're well into the [4:18] community. South St. Paul just has such [4:21] a community that is not really that [4:26] out there in other cities. [4:27] Yeah. [4:29] South St. Paul is like in the middle of [4:31] everything. It's close to the metro, but [4:33] it's also not super far away, so you [4:35] feel peace and quiet while also being [4:37] close distance. [4:38] Yeah. [4:39] The community is tight-knit, and that's [4:41] what makes this city so cool. [4:44] Yeah. Um, and I just love being the city [4:47] in school. [4:48] Yeah, that's pretty cool. [4:49] I, um, I moved to South St. Paul schools [4:53] in fourth grade. [4:54] Okay. [4:55] But I had actually been here for two [4:57] more years in St. Paul schools. [4:59] Okay. [5:00] Cuz I was during the midst of COVID, so [5:01] we were doing everything online, so it [5:04] wasn't really that much of a hassle. [5:05] Yeah. And so you said you you've lived [5:07] in South St. Paul for how many years? [5:08] Uh, November would be my fifth year [5:11] living in South St. Paul. [5:12] November. fifth year living in South St. [5:14] Paul and you've you've made such great [5:17] friends here and you've made such great [5:19] big connections because the first time I [5:21] met you was giving the welcome to the [5:24] new Caposia Library. [5:26] So, let's talk about library and you [5:27] your love of libraries. You you seem to [5:30] I mean you really resonate with our not [5:33] only our old library but our new [5:34] library. [5:35] Yeah. Caposia and South St. Paul. [5:37] Yeah. Um [5:41] uh the first time I went into the old [5:43] South St. Paul building was February of [5:46] 2023. [5:48] 2023. So actually hasn't been that long [5:51] time ago. [5:52] Yeah. [5:52] Um [5:54] this is a story from when I was at St. [5:57] Paul cuz I was born in partially raised [6:01] in St. Paul. [6:02] Yeah. [6:02] West side. [6:03] Yeah. Um, [6:06] over there is a library. It's called the [6:08] Riverview Library. [6:09] Familiar with that one. It's a nice [6:10] little library. [6:11] It's nice. It's tiny, but it's nice. [6:14] Yeah. [6:14] Um, but [6:16] over there, I was like 7 years old at [6:19] this time. I had gotten an elephant and [6:22] piggy book. [6:23] It was like Elephant and Piggy [6:26] wants to play with his friend or [6:28] something like that. Um, I had checked [6:30] it out and we actually didn't go back [6:34] there for six months. So, this is when [6:38] they were still with the fines and [6:39] everything. So, [6:42] once 6 months came and this was actually [6:44] right before we moved. So, we had moved [6:46] to South St. Paul already. And then one [6:48] day when we got a piece of mail, it was [6:51] from St. Paul Library and it got [6:53] redirected to our house cuz we still [6:55] hadn't updated it online. [6:57] Sure. Um, it said, "The book is six [6:59] months over, dude. You have a $190 [7:02] fine." And then my dad is like, "Please [7:06] tell me you have this book." And then [7:08] little me is like, "Oh, yeah. It's right [7:10] here." I knew exactly where it was. It [7:13] was right in the bookshelf, right in the [7:15] middle, like third third row, like [7:19] somewhat little whiteish. [7:21] You knew right where it was. [7:22] You knew exactly where it was. and he's [7:24] like, "We're never going back to the [7:26] library." [7:28] And then a couple years later later, [7:31] Sarah from the adult services librarian [7:34] now at Composure, [7:35] she used to be the youth, so she came to [7:37] our school and stay in a weedathon [7:40] or something. [7:41] Yeah. [7:42] I'm like, "That's cool. So, why don't we [7:44] go?" Um, so me and my dad went uh and it [7:50] was just really cool. Yeah. [7:51] And I liked it. Um the first time there [7:53] was like [7:55] there was like a little like thing going [7:57] on where you could see like all the [7:58] different types of currency from [8:00] different places. [8:01] Oh, cool. Okay. [8:02] Which I stayed there for a good 45 [8:05] minutes while my dad is just like [8:07] looking at coins. [8:09] Nope. He was just like, "Please get me [8:10] out of here." [8:11] Oh, yeah. You were looking at the coins. [8:13] I was looking at the coins and the bills [8:15] and everything. He's just like, "I have [8:17] to follow you because you're 9 years [8:19] old." [8:19] Yeah. please take me out of here. Um, so [8:23] I was there for a good chunk. [8:25] Yeah. [8:25] And then after I went every Saturday. [8:28] Yeah. [8:28] And a couple weeks had gone by and he's [8:30] like, "Okay, what if I just drop you off [8:34] and you can do whatever you want and [8:37] I'll just pick you up because I do not [8:39] want to be here waiting for an hour and [8:41] a half just for you to look at some [8:43] books." [8:44] Yeah. [8:45] And he had the confidence and the [8:47] wherewithal. [8:48] So he's like, "Okay, fine. you can go. [8:50] So I did that and then [8:53] fast forward some time. Composure [8:56] library came. [8:57] Yeah. [8:58] Um then I got email from Hanoa the band [9:01] manager saying hey do you want to do [9:05] this little speech also we don't have a [9:09] speech prepared for you. You have to [9:10] write it all on your own. Here's a topic [9:14] but you have to deal with the rest. [9:16] threw me under the bus a little. But so [9:19] there's little me having a week to write [9:22] up a whole speech [9:24] in English and Spanish. [9:26] Yes. Very impressive. [9:27] Bilingual speech. I was And then I just [9:30] mailed it to her, emailed it to her and [9:32] she's like, "This is amazing." [9:35] Yeah. [9:35] And then boom, chucka right there just [9:39] saying a speech in front of 600 people. [9:41] Casual thing. [9:42] Boom chaka. And I think there was some [9:43] TV cameras there too. I think you were [9:45] Town Square. I was actually on the [9:48] report for the Caposia Library from Town [9:51] Square. [9:51] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty neat. [9:53] That's pretty It's pretty impressive, [9:55] Gio that you took that challenge on and [9:58] you know did it. And you did it not only [10:01] did you do it well, but you did it with [10:03] style. You were you were real a real [10:05] treat to be to watch and and see. And [10:08] I'm so I'm so glad you decided to come, [10:10] you know, to your parents decided to [10:12] move to South St. Paul and that you're [10:13] as active as you are. [10:15] Talked. [10:16] Go ahead. You something [10:18] I just said. Yeah. [10:18] Oh, I thought you maybe had something [10:20] else that you wanted to [10:21] add to how cool you are. [10:23] Joe Atkins, right after my speech, he [10:25] said, "Jo, do you have a blue suit?" [10:30] So, [10:30] yeah, you have a good memory, too. Is [10:32] that That's part of your That's That's [10:34] probably helps you in theater, huh? It [10:36] does. Helps you memorize. [10:37] It does. [10:37] Yeah. [10:38] Yep. [10:38] Now, when you memorize, do you do you [10:40] have to go through each page or do you [10:42] Do you have to read it out loud and then [10:46] record it and then listen to it back or [10:48] how do you how do you memorize [10:49] uh honest [10:50] scripts? Honestly, I just first I [10:53] remember the I feel like I remember the [10:56] Q's before the lines itself. [10:59] Sure. [11:00] So I want to queue. So like when this [11:01] person says that you go there. [11:03] Sure. [11:03] You move center stage. So once I get the [11:05] cues in my head, I'm like, "Oh, wait. So [11:08] that line goes with this cube. That [11:10] thing goes this." And it's like a [11:12] puzzle. It's like first it's it's always [11:14] hard to do the middle. You like you have [11:17] these pieces here and these pieces [11:18] there. But once you have the good rhythm [11:20] of it, it's easy. Oh, that puzzle goes [11:22] there. Oh, we're done. [11:23] Yeah. [11:23] Yeah. [11:24] It's a lot of fun. [11:25] Yeah. [11:25] Yeah. Do you do you are you good at like [11:28] cold reads or reads? [11:30] Cold reads. Yeah. So, if someone just [11:31] gave you a script and we just read a [11:33] script, [11:33] like read a script, like [11:35] um Yeah, I'd think so. [11:37] Yeah. Well, I happen to bring one here. [11:38] Oh, god. [11:39] I'm just kidding. I didn't. [11:41] But I would be fun to kind of to do some [11:44] some readings, right? [11:46] Yeah. [11:47] So, what do kids What do sixth graders [11:48] want to do in South St. Paul? I mean, I [11:50] know you like it seems like, Gio, that [11:53] you have the pulse of like the whole [11:55] class. [11:57] You You know, you know what everybody [11:59] wants to do. You're not just often just [12:01] a little little group. You're you're [12:04] kind of you have tentacles and friends [12:08] and touches in a lot of different [12:10] places. And so it seems like you know a [12:11] lot. So what is what are kids in South [12:14] St. Paul, especially sixth graders, [12:16] seventh graders, [12:17] what what are you looking for in town? [12:20] A lot of people are going to say a bunch [12:23] of like extra sports, which we already [12:28] have a lot of sports. We have we have [12:30] tennis. [12:31] Mhm. Yeah. [12:33] Who would have expected tennis from [12:34] South St. Paul? Not me. Um sports that [12:39] is a big thing in the city. The city is [12:42] great in supporting the Packers. [12:44] Yep. [12:45] Don't say Green Bay Packers. I'm [12:47] watching you. [12:50] The South St. Paul Packers. It is great [12:53] at supporting the local team. [12:56] Yeah. And well, it's always like in [12:59] every branch. Like there's people who do [13:01] sports, there's people who do fetal. [13:02] Yeah. [13:03] There's people who just do whatever. [13:05] Makes it both. [13:06] Yeah. Yeah. Gaming. Are you a gamer? Do [13:09] you like to game? [13:10] Uh, yeah. Game with my friends, I guess. [13:12] Yeah. [13:12] Yeah. Do you ever build stuff with the [13:14] or at the library, the 3D models or [13:16] anything? [13:16] Oh, yeah. I did. Um, [13:19] actually, I wish I had my backpack. I [13:21] would show you a little phone. 3D phone. [13:24] Okay. [13:25] Um, yeah. play 3D stuff sometimes. [13:28] The 3D printer was broken for like five [13:30] months. [13:31] Really? [13:31] Yeah. [13:32] Yeah. So, kind of a [13:33] So, the 3D printer was broken [13:36] which is sucked. So, then they got a [13:38] replacement one from the county. The [13:40] replacement board broke. [13:43] So, there was a 3D printer that was off [13:45] for months and months. [13:48] So, that makes it hard, huh? [13:50] Yeah. So, if uh um [13:54] if your kid, your friends are going to [13:55] get together today, [13:57] where do you where do you go? [14:00] Probably the park that's in front of the [14:03] library. Central Square. [14:05] Yeah, that's kind of the easy spot for [14:06] everybody to get to. [14:08] Either Central Square or library cuz [14:11] that's like right after school type of [14:13] territory. [14:14] Yeah. Yeah. And and you go to library [14:16] after school. You hang out. Theat's your [14:18] thing. You're just done in a in a show. [14:20] You just finished finished the show. [14:21] Tell me about that. [14:22] I was Harry in Ramona Quimby. Um there [14:26] was a big big big big jump from the [14:29] lines I had in every novel which was the [14:31] Winter One X. [14:32] Yeah. [14:33] Um I had 11 lines in my first play. I [14:38] had 30 lines in Ramona Quimby which was [14:43] a big jump. [14:44] Yeah. [14:46] Lot of responsibility. [14:47] Yeah. I got to smash bricks. There was a [14:49] little brick. I smashed it. Smashed. I [14:52] gotta keep the brick after the shows [14:54] because they were like, "You ruined this [14:57] so much. We have no other purpose for [14:58] it. You can just have it." [15:01] So that's your momento of that. [15:03] Yeah. Um [15:04] and and I the reviews from the show were [15:07] very good. [15:08] Mhm. [15:08] Parents alike and grandparents alike [15:10] loved watching you. [15:13] H I wonder why [15:15] this book is like from 1960s. [15:18] Yeah. Isn't it? [15:20] Yeah. [15:21] And and the the theater uh hasn't [15:23] changed much since I've been there. [15:25] The remodel was done my senior year and [15:30] um so I've been on back acting on that [15:32] stage since then. It's a great stage. [15:35] Yay. [15:35] It's fun fun place to be. [15:37] Yeah. [15:37] Your theater teacher, Mr. Holson, [15:39] he's a great teacher. Good good [15:41] director. [15:42] He's been there for like 15 years, I [15:45] think. [15:46] Yeah. Long time. Yeah. [15:49] And and your your fellow actors and your [15:52] your castmates. [15:54] Um tell me about tell me about those [15:56] kids and and how they uh perceive [15:59] South St. Paul. [16:00] Uh they all [16:01] I mean you love South St. Paul. You've [16:03] talked about it here just with us in a [16:05] little time. Are they as enthusiastic [16:07] about it as you are or do you have to [16:08] kind of pull them along? [16:10] I mix it both. Like they're cuz they're [16:14] feder people. We're all fed people and [16:17] um we do a lot of Fedo and like the Fedo [16:22] community like I don't know I just love [16:25] it cuz like in two plays like like [16:29] there's this community and I'm like over [16:32] here I'm like hi I'm in Fredo now [16:35] they're like okay come in and I just [16:37] became with the group like that. [16:39] That's cool. [16:40] So like the it is such a loving little [16:43] like group. Yeah, kind kids. [16:46] Yeah, they're amazing. [16:47] Yeah, they sure are. Fun. [16:49] Fun [16:49] and good parents that let you guys, you [16:52] know, [16:53] have fun and play and practice and [16:56] they have to drive us everywhere. [17:00] Someday they won't, but it's so nice [17:02] that they're doing it today so that [17:04] you're able to participate in this [17:05] stuff, right? [17:06] Yeah. Even being here with us. Thanks [17:08] for coming, walking over [17:09] to the studios, being on Conversations [17:11] in South St. Paul. We are talking with [17:14] Gio Rivera and Giovani who uh has we've [17:18] known each other since the opening of [17:19] the library. [17:20] I think that's the first time we met. [17:23] Yeah, [17:23] about that. [17:25] Yeah, I was going to say the composure [17:26] days, but that was [17:29] after. [17:29] Yeah. Yeah. So, you you have a desire to [17:34] be a leader. [17:36] Yay. [17:37] What what makes a good leader in your [17:38] mind? [17:40] A good leader? H [17:42] yeah, [17:42] I would say someone who listens [17:46] to the input and suggestions and [17:48] comments and hate and everything from [17:51] their constituents or groups cuz that if [17:56] when you listen to someone that just [17:58] like kind of makes it better like you [18:00] know, oh so most of these people over [18:02] here do this while some people here do [18:05] this and then surveys and stuff like [18:08] someone who just listens and is kind and [18:10] won't scream at you every single second [18:13] of the day. [18:14] Yeah. [18:16] Yeah. Yeah. That's good. No one likes to [18:18] be screamed at. [18:20] Well, being a little fun is something [18:23] now. Do you um do you anticipate [18:26] yourself being a a theater leader? Do [18:28] you think you you know is there board [18:30] work? Is there a theater? [18:32] There was um a Thespian troop. [18:35] Okay. [18:35] Um the elections were actually just a [18:38] couple weeks ago for next year. Um, so [18:41] there was a president, vice president, [18:43] secretary, and two junior [18:44] representatives who are middle school. [18:46] Um, so those do a lot of paperwork. [18:50] Okay. [18:51] And that's like the feat of leadership, [18:54] I guess, that we have. That's [18:55] that's So that's something you're [18:57] looking forward to doing eventually. [18:58] Yeah, I guess so. [18:59] Yeah. What's your ultimate job when you [19:03] grow up? [19:04] As you envision yourself? [19:05] What I want to be when I grow up? [19:07] Yeah. [19:10] I might steal your job, but I want to [19:12] become a politician. [19:13] You do? [19:14] Yeah. [19:14] Good for you. [19:16] Yeah. [19:16] If I steal his job, I'm the new leader. [19:19] He's retired. [19:22] Yes. I will happily retire. I will [19:24] happily let the next generation um take [19:27] over and participate in this and and [19:30] share what what you all see as the [19:32] future for our city. That would be [19:34] great. And having having smart, fun, [19:39] nice, kind people wanting to do that is [19:42] very impressive. And again, what we [19:45] need, we need people like young geos in [19:47] the world to [19:48] to step up and operate. But that's a [19:50] part-time part-time job. [19:52] So, you know, the mayor isn't a [19:53] full-time job. So, what what do you [19:55] But then you go up the ladder. [19:57] Okay. So, you want to go up the ladder. [19:59] Mayor, [19:59] yep. [20:00] Then possibly representative, [20:03] a state rep. State Rep, state senator, [20:06] actual rep, actual senator. Maybe if you [20:10] want to skip, you become governor. [20:11] Yeah. [20:12] Just go up and up and up. [20:14] Yeah. And so you're obviously aware of [20:17] how that works. And that is that's a [20:19] desire of yours to go up. Do you What do [20:21] you want to be the president [20:23] or is that too much? [20:25] That's a possibility. [20:26] Yeah. [20:27] Yep. [20:27] That's cool. [20:30] So what job would you want? Would you [20:33] want to work for in politics? Do you [20:36] want to work for the state government or [20:38] do you want to work? Do you want to do [20:39] something else? And [20:40] nationally, [20:41] you want to do national? [20:42] Yeah. [20:42] National stuff. [20:43] Yeah. [20:44] Yeah. [20:44] First, you have to start state, which [20:47] the state of Minnesota is awesome. [20:50] So, I would have no trouble staying [20:52] there. [20:53] Yeah. [20:54] If I had to stay there. But goal is [20:57] nationally cuz this country is [21:00] nationally. [21:01] Yeah. Yeah. They need some help [21:03] nationally. [21:04] Yes. [21:04] Yeah. We need some some positivity and [21:07] some unity. [21:08] Yeah. [21:09] Don't we? [21:10] Absolutely. [21:12] Maybe a little more fun. [21:14] Yay. [21:14] Right. So, what what's been your [21:18] favorite character? Do you do you like [21:19] to do you like to make up characters or [21:21] do you like to play characters? Uh, [21:25] I would have to say play characters [21:29] because when you get a script, [21:33] you get this book and you read your [21:36] lines and you're like, "Oh, that's me [21:39] now. How do I be me?" You have to [21:44] envision yourself as the character. You [21:46] have to do their emotions, their [21:49] responsibilities, [21:51] and then at the end when the play is all [21:53] finished, you love the person that you [21:56] had become because well, you checked all [22:01] those checks and you are now officially [22:04] your character. [22:06] Yeah. [22:06] Yeah. [22:07] Yeah. You kind of lose yourself in that. [22:09] Yeah. [22:09] Become them. [22:10] Mhm. [22:10] That's pretty fun. [22:11] Yeah. [22:12] It's obviously it's make believe. [22:14] Yeah. But it's organized make believe, [22:16] right? And puts people at the the best [22:18] shows, the best theater I've seen or [22:20] where you start, the music starts and [22:22] you're at the edge of your seat by the [22:24] end of it and you want more when the [22:25] credits and they start doing the [22:27] vows. The vows. Yeah. [22:30] Yeah. [22:31] Yeah. So, um, what do you want to talk [22:34] about? I've asked all the questions. [22:36] What What kind of questions do you have? [22:37] H [22:39] what's your favorite responsibility as [22:41] mayor? My favorite responsibility as [22:44] mayor. [22:44] Yeah, you have to have responsibilities. [22:46] Yes, I have a lot of not [22:51] good question. I would say my favorite [22:53] responsibility is running an organized [22:55] meeting. [22:56] So when our meetings [22:59] Yeah. [22:59] are on Mondays. [23:01] Mhm. Every [23:02] every Monday. [23:03] That's my the public ones are at once [23:06] every two weeks. [23:07] Well, yeah, they're they're all public, [23:09] but [23:09] Well, yeah, but the record ones. [23:11] Yep. Uh so even though like earlier you [23:15] said those that don't that disagree with [23:17] us or you know shout back at us, we [23:20] listen. [23:21] Yeah. And so that's part of my favorite [23:22] part of the job is that that meeting and [23:25] that everybody's able to do that and at [23:27] the end of those meetings that that [23:29] we're able to um whether we vote yes or [23:33] no against something that we're able to [23:35] finish it out and and be friends with [23:36] the the council members afterwards or [23:40] residents who may not agree with us. [23:43] Yeah. [23:43] But running the meeting is I think my [23:45] favorite part. [23:47] My second favorite part is the 50-cent [23:49] tours that I get to give. I give 50 cent [23:52] tours to just about anybody who will [23:54] take them. Sometimes I'll be in another [23:56] city and I'll see a really cool thing [23:58] like um recently I was was in another [24:01] town and they have this little ice cream [24:03] shop [24:04] that's also got like waffle cones and [24:06] stuff. It's there's it's like kind of a [24:09] small little boutique and I said, [24:11] "What's it take to get a something like [24:14] this to come over to South St. Paul?" [24:15] and they said, "Well, where's South St. [24:16] Paul?" And we talked for 5 minutes. And [24:18] so we're scheduled to have them come and [24:20] drive around South St. Paul and I'll [24:22] show them around. And I was thinking [24:23] somewhere up on the hill by the school [24:25] would be a really cool spot for a little [24:27] ice cream shop. [24:28] Yeah. [24:29] Don't you? [24:30] Yeah. [24:30] Yeah. [24:30] Be cool. [24:32] Something to go to after a show or [24:35] before a show or after school. I feel [24:37] like right now the closest things to the [24:41] library are Dairy Queen, which is like a [24:44] block and a half away. [24:45] Yeah. [24:46] But after Dairy Queen, it gets a couple [24:49] minutes walk. [24:50] Yep. [24:52] Do Do you think kids would use a a youth [24:56] Yes. center? [24:57] Yes. Yes. [24:59] There's one for old people. There could [25:00] be one for young people. [25:02] Where's the old one? Where's for old [25:03] people? [25:04] Central Square. [25:04] Central Square. That's only for old [25:05] people. [25:07] Well, it's programs are mostly old [25:10] people. [25:11] Everyone can use the park and stuff. [25:13] Yeah. [25:14] And the black top, but [25:17] it's kind of geared to old people. [25:19] That's kind of the goal of Central [25:21] Square. [25:22] Yeah. So, what would you like to see in [25:24] a in a youth center? Uh [25:27] or what do you think kids would like to [25:28] see in there? [25:29] I feel like the library is already doing [25:31] the make makeshift role of a youth [25:33] center. [25:34] Sure. um [25:35] with some activities and some [25:36] opportunities. [25:37] Activities. Lots of comfy comfy seating. [25:40] Okay, that's a must. [25:42] People love comfy seats. [25:43] Yeah. Snacks. [25:45] Snacks. [25:45] Snacks are always a good thing, right? [25:47] Yeah. [25:48] Yeah. [25:48] They fly out in seconds at that place. [25:50] Yeah. [25:51] Yeah. Even adults like snacks. I like [25:54] snacks. [25:55] Good job. [25:56] I'm a good I'm I should have brought [25:57] some here. I should have brought some [25:59] astronaut ice cream. I didn't realize [26:00] you liked astronauts and science and [26:04] space. [26:05] Space and politics. [26:07] And politics. Yeah, that's pretty cool, [26:09] too. You've been obviously you've been [26:10] to the capital. [26:11] I have. [26:12] You went on the tour. [26:13] Yeah. [26:13] What's your favorite play thing about or [26:15] favorite space or place at the state [26:17] cap? [26:18] Um, honestly, I really really really [26:23] love the House of Representatives [26:25] Chamber. It looked so cool. [26:28] Yeah. And also like that little place [26:31] where we met up in the basement. [26:33] Mhm. [26:33] That's cool. Just saying. If I ever get [26:37] married and they're willing, I might [26:38] want to get married there. A little [26:40] basement of the capital. [26:42] Is that like the Gaff Wrath Skeller? Is [26:44] that's the restaurant? It's down there [26:45] by that. It's like a little little [26:46] Yeah. Like cove area. [26:48] Yeah. Like you can rent it You can rent [26:50] it out, [26:50] can you? [26:51] Yeah. [26:51] Yeah. That's pretty neat. [26:53] Yeah. [26:54] Yeah. So, and you walked around, you [26:56] looked at stuff, you looked at the big [26:58] pictures. Did you happen to see all of [26:59] the governors that came out of South St. [27:01] Paul? Was those pointed out? [27:02] Uh, actually for alls that didn't. They [27:05] did not point it out, but I feel like [27:07] there was one I I know it name, but I [27:10] also don't. [27:11] Well, there's there's three that came [27:13] out of South St. Paul. [27:13] Well, there was one that was recent. [27:15] Oh, yeah. [27:16] Um, they ran to be ma they ran to be [27:20] president at one point. [27:21] Tim Penny. [27:22] Yes. Him. [27:23] Yep. And then then there was [27:26] um Governor Levander. And then there was [27:28] Governor Stasson. [27:29] I knew Leando. It was in the back of my [27:32] mind, but I did not know Stanson. [27:33] And Stasson also started, you know, was [27:36] from this area and lived in South St. [27:38] Paul. And he was intricral in part [27:41] starting the United Nations. [27:42] Oh. [27:43] So you come your political desires [27:45] coming from South St. Paul are [27:47] wellounded. There's been a whole lot of [27:49] history of political people coming out [27:51] of this city. So, [27:53] three governors of the state, multiple [27:55] senators of the state. [27:58] It's been uh it's really really good [28:01] place to be. So, I'm glad you're doing [28:02] it. I'm glad you have interest in it and [28:04] that you're, you know, talking to young [28:06] people. You're part, you know, part of [28:08] the movement to get youth organized and [28:12] and um your voice is heard, which I just [28:15] think is awesome. Both in English and [28:17] Spanish. [28:18] Yep. [28:18] So, you're you're a dual language. Do [28:20] you know other languages? Are you three [28:22] language or are you take do you take a [28:24] language in school? [28:25] Yeah, in school I'm taking French. [28:28] French. [28:29] So [28:29] I do speak three languages. [28:31] I guess technically [28:34] Spanish. [28:34] Spanish and French. [28:36] English good. Spanish good. French so [28:41] fr. [28:48] I don't know what I said either. That [28:49] was from my first year. I remember from [28:52] being ninth grade, you took a flight in [28:54] each of the [28:56] Spanish, French, Russian, and German. [29:01] They actually don't have those languages [29:03] anymore. [29:04] They only They only have Spanish and [29:06] French. [29:07] That's it. [29:07] That's it. [29:08] No Chinese. [29:09] No Chinese. No German. No Italian. No, I [29:13] already said German. [29:15] No [29:17] Russian. [29:17] Portuguese. [29:18] Portuguese. Yeah. [29:20] Wow. Well, that's pretty interesting [29:22] that you you speak another language. Do [29:24] you do you want to maybe travel someday? [29:26] Yeah, traveling would be nice. I have a [29:30] passport for the first time in two and a [29:32] half years now. So, [29:33] really? [29:35] I could technically go. [29:36] Why did you get it? Why did you get your [29:38] passport? To go on a trip somewhere? [29:40] No, just to have it in case anything [29:43] happens. [29:44] Yeah, that's great. And you're prepared [29:47] and ready. So, if somebody said, "Well, [29:49] we're going to France." And you can say, [29:51] "I can go. I've got my [29:53] and you can probably go through the [29:54] school, too." I'm sure they've got those [29:56] trips that are coming up. [29:57] Yeah. Um I'm not I'm there might be a [30:01] trip that I would love love love to go [30:05] next year for spring break. [30:08] Go to Washington DC. [30:11] What a cool thing that would be. [30:13] I would love to do that. [30:15] Yeah. I know all of the the kids that [30:17] I've talked to that have gone with the [30:19] South St. Paul schools have had a a [30:21] great and educational experience. And so [30:24] that's a pretty neat thing that you have [30:26] the chance to do. We've had the chance [30:28] to do that. We've gone there as a [30:29] family. [30:30] And uh my wife and I actually have our [30:33] our Library of Congress library card. Do [30:37] you have one? [30:38] No. [30:38] Proip. Here's how you do it. It's [30:41] two-step process. You have to go to the [30:43] Library of Congress annex. [30:46] You go to that first. That's way down [30:48] the block from the Library of Congress. [30:50] You go in there, you get your picture [30:52] taken, you get your your card, and then [30:54] you have to pick a topic to research. We [30:57] chose ice castles of America. And the [31:01] lady there said she's never helped [31:02] anybody research that. And it's very [31:04] good. And she went to research. the [31:05] first thing she came up with there was [31:07] like 15 15 things uh sources that in the [31:12] Library of Congress that we could go [31:13] look at. So we she printed that list out [31:15] and we went over there to the Library of [31:17] Congress where we can go inside the [31:20] Library of Congress and with some gloves [31:22] you can touch some manuscripts that are [31:24] 200 over 200 years old. [31:25] Wow. [31:26] It's a pretty it's a pretty neat [31:28] experience and I high I highly recommend [31:29] it. And that card's good for two years. [31:31] So, if you go with your class, you could [31:33] get your you could work to get your card [31:35] for that and then you could go back [31:36] another time to just be in the Library [31:38] of Congress since you're a library kid [31:40] and you love libraries. [31:42] Yay. [31:44] Are we missing anything? Do you want to [31:46] do you want to mention anything before [31:47] we go or there was there was any [31:48] questions that you had for me because we [31:51] are having conversations in South St. [31:52] Paul and Gio Rivera is our special guest [31:56] who is representing the youth of our [31:58] community and [32:00] the youth and the theater the theater [32:03] department of South St. Paul [32:04] we spaghetti [32:06] and the future political establishment [32:09] of our country because I could see you [32:13] going up the ranks there. [32:14] Yay. [32:15] And and having some fun and helping [32:18] people because I think you really have a [32:20] a a good heart. Thank you. [32:22] Do you think you have a good heart? [32:23] I think so. [32:24] Yeah. [32:25] Now, just because you put me on the spot [32:28] for this, I'll put it on the spot for [32:29] you. What is your favorite song? [32:32] What is my favorite song of all times? [32:35] That is tough. I do change as well [32:37] because I do I do appreciate modern [32:39] music. But if I'm going to have to go [32:42] back and pick one song, it's going to be [32:44] Neil Diamond's [32:47] Porcupine Pie. [32:48] Oh, [32:49] it's a good song. You ever heard it? [32:51] No. [32:52] Porcupine pie. Porcupine pie. Porcupine [32:55] pie. Vanilla soup. A double scoop, [32:58] please. Now, I won't sing anymore [33:00] because I think the the uh they'll shut [33:02] us off on YouTube if we we're playing [33:05] copyrighted music. [33:06] I think so, too. [33:07] Wink. No. So, that's mine. Uh my [33:10] favorite is uh Neil Diamond. So, I'm [33:12] like you. If you're going to ask me [33:14] about sports, I'm not really a sports [33:15] guy. I'll go to anything and I'll be [33:18] I'll go to and watch stuff, but I'm a [33:20] theater guy. I'd rather go watch a [33:22] Joseph in the Amazing Technicolor Dream [33:24] Coat. Rather go watch, you know, uh an [33:27] orchestra that's playing to Elf, you [33:30] know, or something like that. Some live [33:34] comedy, something in that in that realm. [33:36] Okay. Okay. Well, [33:38] and then if I'm doing my free time, [33:40] there's anything [33:43] and I'm by myself, [33:45] I'd like to be at the cabin and I'd like [33:48] to burn a bonfire. [33:50] Oh. [33:51] And I I'd like to just be in nature with [33:54] no [33:56] phones and no timeline and no schedule. [33:59] I could just [33:59] Oh, it' be cool. [34:00] chill out at the cabin and find [34:02] something to do. [34:02] That would be cool. Going up north. I've [34:04] actually never been up north before. [34:06] Really? Yeah. [34:07] Like what's the farthest north you've [34:08] been? Like North St. Paul? [34:10] 20 miles uphill. [34:11] 20 miles? [34:12] Yeah. [34:12] Really? [34:13] Not that far. [34:13] Never been camping. Never been Never in [34:15] a tent. [34:16] Mm-m. [34:17] Never. [34:17] Nope. [34:18] See, we used to in South St. Paul the [34:19] JC's with um the help of the parks and [34:24] wreck. We used to have all city camp [34:26] out. And for one day a year, you could [34:28] camp in Lraine Park. [34:30] That would be cool. [34:30] We want to try to bring that back. [34:32] You should bring that back. I would love [34:33] to go. [34:34] Yeah. get some people for the first time [34:36] campers, you know, to go and then for [34:38] families to do training wheel. That's [34:39] what we did with our kids. It's training [34:40] wheel camping. We didn't need all the [34:42] stuff and were able to just go in a tent [34:44] and have our little kids out there. [34:45] That also brings out the parks master [34:47] plan. [34:48] Yes, parks master plan. Tell me, talk to [34:50] me. [34:50] H the park's master plan. [34:54] So, I know that there was a big big big [34:56] overhaul with the pools and stuff. [34:58] Mhm. [34:59] I actually thought that North View Pool [35:00] had closed down, but just last week they [35:02] put water in it again. So apparently [35:04] it's open for another year. [35:06] Yes. Yeah. That's kind of how it's been [35:08] for the past 10 years. We we we hope and [35:12] pray when they flip it on that it works [35:14] because it's it's old infrastructure and [35:17] we've gotten a good life out of it. So [35:19] it's back. It's happening. We're talking [35:21] about a plan, a pool plan. We're going [35:23] to be making that decision of a pool [35:24] plan fairly soon. [35:26] Do you have Do you have input for that [35:27] or [35:28] uh my other stuff? [35:29] My personal um [35:31] Yeah. What's your personal [35:32] opinion is that to keep it at two [35:35] separate places, but I know that that [35:37] isn't really in the plan. [35:39] So, if we were to do one place, I feel [35:41] like it would have to be at North View. [35:44] Yeah. [35:44] Because I feel like that north end of [35:46] the city is very very very very [35:53] under. [35:55] It doesn't have a lot going on over [35:57] there. So like North View being a one [35:59] like big landmark of the north end of [36:02] South St. Paul, [36:03] if that were to go to Lain or Jefferson, [36:06] then what does the North End have? [36:08] Yeah. [36:08] As the community center, not the the CLC [36:13] or whatever. [36:14] Yeah. [36:14] But that isn't really that much in as [36:17] like parks and different stuff. [36:20] Yeah. [36:21] Yeah. [36:21] Yeah. That's [36:22] I feel like having a north view would [36:24] just bring it up a bit. The north end. [36:26] Yeah. So, what would you what else would [36:28] you like to do? So, we got the pool up [36:30] there in the in the perfect world. You [36:31] got a pool up at Northview. You got a [36:33] splash pad down at Lraine. [36:35] Yeah. [36:35] What else? You saw a bunch of those [36:37] things on there. They were talking about [36:38] I actually read the full manuscript when [36:41] it came out. [36:41] Yeah. [36:42] So, um [36:43] And I I don't doubt that for a second [36:45] that you read it all. Did you print it [36:46] or just read it online? [36:47] I read it online. The whole entire [36:49] thing. The full like [36:52] 50ish pages. [36:53] Yeah. I think there's more than that, [36:54] but sure. [36:54] 70ish. [36:55] Yeah. It was a lot. [36:56] It was a lot of pages. [36:58] Yeah. [36:58] 50 70ish pages. But um [37:02] I feel like [37:05] there was this one thing at that one [37:06] park, I don't know which one. I think it [37:08] was Grand View where they would have a [37:10] park themed over the history of the [37:13] city. [37:14] Mhm. I just love love that idea cuz that [37:18] idea just seems so cool of representing [37:20] the history of the city and just giving [37:24] it to youngsters being like they can [37:26] play on it and then learn about it in [37:28] little photos. [37:30] Yeah, [37:30] that just seems like a cool idea [37:32] representing history and a fun way that [37:35] little kids can learn about it. [37:37] Yeah. Yeah. cuz we need to we need to [37:39] keep this history cuz people are trying [37:41] to get rid of the history and we have to [37:44] keep it because it happened. You can't [37:47] go back in time and undo it, [37:49] right? [37:50] It could be good, it could be bad, but [37:52] it happened and we grew from that as a [37:55] community, as a city, as a state and [37:57] country. [37:57] Yeah, absolutely. Good call. [38:00] Yeah. [38:01] Well, we've been talking with Gio [38:06] Giovani [38:07] Governor, [38:10] president. Yes, I think you can do it. [38:13] You keep your mind to it and you [38:14] definitely can do it. Well, you keep [38:16] staying young and still have fun. I [38:18] mean, I just I love your energy. I [38:20] appreciate your your willingness and [38:22] desire to, you know, not only come and [38:24] be on this with me, but also participate [38:26] in the mayor's Youth Task Force wherever [38:28] possible with all the things that you do [38:30] in the theater. Mhm. [38:31] And hopefully you'll maybe march with us [38:33] in the parade for Capoa days for the [38:36] mayor's youth task force if you don't. [38:37] May's youth task force has a parade one. [38:39] Yeah, they're going to be with the with [38:41] the mayor and council this year up [38:42] front. Boom. Let's go. [38:45] Let's get you up there. You'll be in and [38:46] out quick. Maybe you can go in and then [38:47] you can run back and be in the theaters. [38:50] Oh yeah. I would have to do double [38:52] because you got the summer. So I assume [38:53] you're going to be in the summer [38:54] theater. [38:54] I want to do the summer one. [38:56] You're going to audition for that and [38:57] participate. And then you know there's [38:59] the summer playhouse, right? So in the [39:01] future [39:01] summer Playhouse um [39:02] in the future you can audition for that [39:04] too. [39:04] When I was little I watched Summer [39:05] Playhouse like in my first two years of [39:08] being in South Park probably watch [39:09] Summer Playhouse. [39:10] Yeah, [39:11] that would be hard doing two. You just [39:13] like I need to get healed. Okay, I need [39:16] to come back. [39:18] It's good stuff. Will you do me another [39:19] favor? Will you think about uh coming [39:21] back on and hosting a podcast with [39:25] I can do that. [39:26] Yeah. Well Well, let's do it. Let's get [39:27] you on. Let's get it. Let's find out [39:29] what you want to talk about and we'll [39:31] have it, you know, kid- le. You can help [39:33] the seats. We can switch seats. We're [39:35] going to move seats. [39:41] This is the conversations in South St. [39:44] Paul with Mayo Francis. [39:46] How you doing today, Mayor Francis? [39:49] I am really good, Gio. Thank you for [39:51] asking. [39:52] It's so good. Now we're done with [39:54] Conversations of South St. Paul. Would [39:55] you like to add Mayo Francis? Thanks for [39:58] watching and have a great day. [40:01] Bye. [40:03] [Applause] [40:04] [Music]