At the Friday, October 30th meeting of the Board of Aldermen, mine and Alderman Terry Kennedy’s (D-18th Ward) were the only NO votes on the massive 1,500-acre redevelopment deal known in the media as “NorthSide” and spearheaded by developer Paul McKee.
I took the opportunity Friday to explain why I could [...]
The statement below was delivered by SLPS representatives to the City of St. Louis TIF Commission for last night’s meeting regarding the developer Paul McKee’s $390M TIF request:
“The St. Louis Public School District, the Special Administrative Board and its appointees to the City of St. Louis Tax Increment Financing [...]
Chesterfield developer Paul McKee appeared on a radio show this morning promoting his 1,500-acre development plan which includes areas of downtown and the near north side of St. Louis City. During the show, host Demetrius Johnson, a McKee supporter, attacked Alderman Antonio French because of a quote that appeared in [...]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will be the beneficiaries of $14.25 million for historic preservation grants aimed at providing assistance in the repair of historic buildings on their campuses. The Department made these funds available under [...]
Backers of McKee’s project are attempting a TIF Commission shake up days before next week’s important meeting. SAB may replace David Jackson.
Here’s the story by Audrey Spalding of the Show-Me Institute…
David Jackson says he has been asked to resign from the city commission that will consider developer Paul McKee’s proposed [...]
This story aired on CNN today. A charter school in Baltimore is having incredible success. Thanks, in part, to its dedicated teachers. The teachers at the KIPP Ujima School have even refused pay increases and voluntarily work every other Saturday to help their students be the best they can me. [...]
“Health care reform is about family values,” Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed told over 1,500 union members, community leaders and activists at an Organizing for America (OFA) health care rally August, 30. “I can’t think of anything more critical than the health of our families,” he said.
OFA’s rally [...]
Last weekend, the International Institute presented its Festival of Nations multicultural celebration in Tower Grove Park. The event featured traditional dance and music, ethnic food, cultural and educational exhibits, and folk art demonstrations.
Click here to view the embedded video.
[...]State Senator Jeff Smith today resigned his post after pleading guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice. This is his statement to his constituents:
Today, with great sadness and regret, I am resigning from the Missouri Senate.
During my 2004 Congressional race, I became aware of an independent effort [...]
For the second week in a row, hundreds of people have filled O’Fallon Park on a Wednesday evening to listen to the sounds of live jazz music and enjoy one of the largest and most beautiful parks in St. Louis.
“This event is about families reclaiming this wonderful park,” said Alderman [...]
St. Louis American Editorial
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Urban preservation and politics
It says something about the City of St. Louis that some of its youngest leaders are showing, in the early days of their leadership, an interest in preserving what has been here for some time – or, at least, instituting [...]
Peter Glickert was at U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s town hall meeting on health care this week and had a very different perspective than the one replayed on local and national TV news:
[...]This week, the Senate and House will be preparing conference reports on the state budget. It is likely that legislators will spend a fair amount of time in conferences set for this week. However, there is the persistent possibility that legislation related to the historic preservation tax credit may be [...]
How Will the Stimulus Plan Benefit St. Louis City?
Town Hall Meeting
Emerson Auditorium, Harris-Stowe University
Thursday, April 30
4-6 pm: Networking Session
6-8 pm: Panel Discussion
Panelists
Kelvin Simmons, Commissioner, Office of Administration
Barbara Geisman, Executive Director for City Development
Ed Hassinger, MoDOT District Engineer, St. Louis Metro Area
Moderator: Kacie Starr [...]
A Who’s-Who of state legislators for and against Missouri’s Historic Tax Credit program:
The following state senators and representatives are in support of the Historic Tax Credit program:
State education officials, with help from educators in other Missouri school districts, will conduct a comprehensive review of the St. Louis Public Schools next week, continuing the state’s effort to help the St. Louis school system regain accreditation.
Over four days next week, April 27-30, teams organized by the Department of [...]
There is legislation being debated today in the Missouri State Legislature that would put a cap on a program, that more than any other state program, has contributed to the revitalization of the City of St. Louis over the past decade. The attacks on the state’s Historic Tax Credit program [...]
“Each year, the benefits of the Historic Tax Credit far exceed direct cost, boosting Missouri’s economy by more than one billion dollars per year (Rutgers 2001).”
HTCs create jobs and result in additional income for Missouri taxpayers. In fiscal year 2007, the historic preservation credit put over 4,900 Missourians to work [...]
Courthouse (Lexington, MO)
Missouri’s Historic Tax Credit program is under fire by a group of senators who have sought to frame this debate in terms of “urban” versus “rural.” They cite examples such as the plans for the Ballpark Village in St. Louis to argue [...]
What are Historic Tax Credits?
Missouri is recognized nationally for its Historic Tax Credit program, which, since its inception in 1998, has spurred $4 billion in private investment (Missouri Preservation) and created 40,000 jobs, according to a 2008 analysis by top economic, Donovan Rypkema. The Historic Tax Credit [...]
Statement from Sylvester Brown regarding termination from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as issued at press conference on April 13, 2009:
Thank you for coming today…
For reasons I think you’ll understand, I humbly ask that you allow me to deliver this prepared statement without follow up questions.
Last week, I learned through my [...]
JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate today approved a measure sponsored by Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, to provide DNA testing in paternity disputes. Senate Bill 141 requires that any presumed father must be notified of any civil proceedings used to determine paternity, informs him of his right to contest [...]
(AP) Albany, N.Y. — The two candidates in a New York congressional race that focused on President Obama’s economic policies are separated by only 65 votes with all the precincts reporting and more than 150,000 votes counted.
Democrat Scott Murphy, 38, holds the slim lead over Republican Jim Tedisco, 58. The [...]
The St. Louis Urban Debate League’s inaugural season is set to conclude with the City Debate Championship Tournament on March 27th and 28th at the Northwest Academy of Law. Students from as many as eleven St. Louis Public Schools’ high schools will be competing to represent St. Louis [...]
The League of Women Voters of St. Louis will be moderating a candidate forum for those who seek to be elected Mayor of the City of St. Louis in the April 7, 2009 election. And for the first time, all four candidates — Francis Slay, Robb [...]
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that it is providing the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and the Kansas City International Airport with $4.9 million and $7 million respectively in federal grant money funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is being provided through the Federal [...]
The St. Louis American and the Post-Dispatch reported this week on controversial comments by former state senator and now Independent candidate for mayor Maida Coleman in which she accuses Democratic leaders of “raping” African-Americans for their votes.
From The American:
“We have gone along with the program, thinking the Democrats [...]
Last night I was reminded of the final scene of one of my favorite movies, “The Candidate”. After Robert Redford’s character realizes he has won his election after a long and arduous campaign, he asks his campaign advisor, “What do we do now?”
For us in the 21st Ward the answer [...]
In a video released on YouTube, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced that she will indeed be running to replace retiring U.S. Senator Kit Bond.
[...]
Rick Sullivan, the CEO of St. Louis Public Schools, appointed by then-Gov. Matt Blunt
The Special Administrative Board of the St. Louis Public Schools will hear recommendations by MGT of America, Inc. on the [...]
Antonio French, Democratic Committeeman and candidate for 21st Ward Alderman, saw a report about trash along the highway and he decided to do something about it. With the help of volunteers from The St. Louis Dream Center in north St. Louis, the stretch was cleaned up in short time.
Special [...]
Senate Leader Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) yesterday named the chairmen of all 18 senate committees, including one Democratic chairman.
“I believe we – Republicans and Democrats – must work together to address the emerging issues that affect our everyday lives,” Shields said. “That is why I named a committee to be [...]
Dozens of people — white, black, young, and old — spend this Martin Luther King Day answering President-Elect Barack Obama’s call to service by picking up trash along the northside street that bears the slain civil rights leader’s name.
Click here to view the embedded video.The event was organized and [...]
OPEN THREAD: As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy, we ask what does King and his dream mean to you today?
[...]Brenda Berry Simpson withdrew her name today as a candidate for 5th Ward alderman, clearing the way for another term for Alderwoman April Ford-Griffin.
Last year, we interviewed Alderwoman Griffin on her unique fashion sense. Watch the video below.
[...]The St. Louis Post-Dispatch today announced it was laying off 39 employees:
The layoffs include 14 in the newsroom. The other departments affected are operations, advertising and finance.
“While print and online audience remains strong and stable, we continue to feel the financial challenges from a decline in advertising revenue caused by [...]
Sen. Kit Bond
It may be and end of an era in Missouri politics. Reports say the U.S. Senator and former governor Kit Bond may not be seeking re-election in 2010, leaving the door open for candidates from both sides in a campaign that starts… [...]
Missouri Commissioner of Education D. Kent King died today at the age of 65 at his home in Rolla. King served as the state’s top education official since September 22, 2000.
King was born at Preston (Hickory County) to the late Morris Samuel (Tuck) and Wilma McKenzie King on September 19, [...]
Here’s your chance to sound off about anything and everything. As the great Chuck D said, Bring the Noise!
[...]
The St. Louis Oracle
The mystery of Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman’s surprise mayoral candidacy still weighs on the minds of many political observers, including the St. Louis Oracle. In his latest blog post, the Oracle, a self-described political junkie for over 50 years, suspects another [...]
Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal will be among the speakers Thursday at a rally in support of Israel. Last week, local anti-war activists held events in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
According to reports, Israel said today that while an Egyptian-French proposal for a [...]
In 2005, Mayor Francis Slay was forced to defend his failures as a police board member. He was re-elected but his performance as the city’s only elected representative on the police board didn’t improve as scandal after scandal eventually got the attention of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney.
[...]Two weeks ago the St. Louis American broke an intriguing story about how a committee associated with Mayor Francis Slay has been paying two local African-American newspapers for positive front page coverage at a time when the black community’s dissatisfaction with the Slay Administration is at an all-time high.
The [...]
It’s a pretty straight forward affair, filing to run for office. Write your name, address, and phone number on a sheet of paper, sign it, hand over a check in the amount of 1% of the salary of the office you’re seeking (in the case of alderman, $333), raise your [...]
Well, St. Louis’ news media got the story wrong today. After the deadline to file for mayor ended at 5:00, with few reporters actually covering the event, the TV news stations reported falsely that State Senator Maida Coleman had filed for mayor. Channel 5 even claimed she did it an [...]
In this EXCLUSIVE VIDEO, St. Louis attorney Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman takes the oath attesting that no one put her in the race for mayor and that she is indeed a legitimate candidate.
State Senator Maida Coleman, who was rumored for weeks to file today to challenge Mayor Francis Slay in the [...]
Mrs. Marjorie Ellen Bosley, mother of former Mayor Freeman R. Bosley. Jr., has passed away. Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 5th, at the Samaritan United Methodist Church, 4234 Washington Avenue. There will be a 10:00 a.m. visitation, and the funeral will be officiated by the Reverend Ronald [...]
Not long ago, I was having lunch with a colleague of mine, a fellow Committeeperson from south St. Louis. I told the person that the job of a Committeeman or woman is different in north St. Louis than in her ward.
In southside wards the job is pretty straight forward. It’s [...]
Ending weeks of speculation, a press release was sent out Thursday evening announcing that State Senator Maida Coleman will officially file papers to run for mayor on Friday.
From the press release:
“Under the current administration, St. Louis has been named the most dangerous city in the US. St. Louis Public Schools [...]
The Instead of War anti-war organization will be a leading a protest this evening at the corner of Lindell and Grand in support of the people of Gaza.
When: Thursday, January 1st from 4-6pm
Where: Corner of Lindell and Grand, St. Louis, MO
According to organizers, members of the Instead of War Coalition [...]
The last day of 2008 was a scary one for the residents of an apartment building which was engulfed in flames Wednesday afternoon.
Flames rose through the top of the building with firefighters on the roof trying to prevent the fire from spreading. According to reports, only [...]
On Monday, I appeared on the radio show “Collateral Damage” on KDHX 88.1 FM. Host DJ Wilson and I discussed the upcoming mayoral election and the possible challengers to Francis Slay. Listen here…
Click here to view the embedded video. [...]Gov. Matt Blunt today appointed Theresa Counts Burke to the Office of Associate Circuit Judge of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit.
“I appreciate Judge Burke’s willingness to serve the constituents of the twenty-second circuit and wish her the best as she takes on this new role,” Gov. Blunt said.
Judge Burke, 43 of [...]
Filing has begun for the 2009 city elections. Several of the odd-numbered wards will surely be engulfed in battles to decide new aldermen and Comptroller Darlene Green will likely face opposition in her re-election bid, but no race in the March primary will draw as much attention as Mayor Francis [...]
Missouri was the last state to certify its Presidential election results, but yesterday it became official: John McCain won the state’s 11 electoral votes, defeating President-Elect Barack Obama by less than 4,000 votes.
The results snap Missouri’s long-standing streak in siding with the winner of the Presidential race. The last time [...]
After meeting for an hour and a half today in the Governor’s Office, Gov. Matt Blunt and Gov.-elect Jay Nixon issued the following statement:
“It is in the best interest of Missourians to have an effective transition and my office has been committed to ensuring that Gov.-elect Nixon has the information [...]
Say what you will about our current President (hell, most Americans — especially one of the millions of unemployed Americans — will probably have even worse to say), but calling our next President — our first black President — a “house negro” and invoking the name of Malcolm X to [...]
Governor Matt Blunt today announced the following appointments:
Advisory Committee for 911 Service Oversight
Russell K. Mason, 51 of St. Peters, is the fire chief of Central County Fire and Rescue. Mr. Mason holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from Western Illinois University. His appointment is subject to Senate [...]
Congress is debating a $25 billion loan proposal to give automakers part of the $700 billion originally allotted for the mortgage and banking sectors.
“We are seeing a potential meltdown in the auto industry, with consequences that could directly impact millions of American workers and cause further devastation to our economy,” [...]
Francis Slay has drawn his first challenger for re-election. Today Thursday at 11:00 AM in the Rotunda of City Hall, Green Party candidate Rev. Elston McCowan will announce his candidacy for Mayor of the City of St. Louis. Not quite the top-tier challenger people have been waiting for, but perhaps [...]
Gov.-elect Jay Nixon today announced his intention to appoint Mr. Kelvin L. Simmons, a Kansas City businessman, as the head of the Office of Administration beginning in January.
Mr. Simmons, who has managed multiple state agencies and private organizations, will bring extensive experience in the governmental, non-profit and business sectors to [...]
The Grinch from Dr. Seuss’s masterpiece, How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be on Grand South Grand for a “Whoville Breakfast with YOU! ” and invites the entire family to join him in the festivities. The Grinch will be available on December 6, 2008 from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at MoKaBe’s [...]
Roughly 60,000 pages of Blunt Administration emails have been released and as reporters continue to comb through them, a “smoking gun” has yet to be found, although there is evidence that support former Blunt legal counsel Scott Eckersley’s claim that he was fired shortly after cautioning his colleagues that their [...]
More than a thousand people gathered on the steps of the Old Courthouse Saturday to protest California’s passage of Proposition 8, outlawing gay marriage.
According to organizers and police officials, 1,400 people joined the protest in downtown St. Louis. The crowd waved signs, banners and cheered in support of marriage rights [...]
The underused retail and cultural hub Grand Center is about to get a new tenant. The University of Missouri-St. Louis has announced that it will move forward with a plan to build a new facility there for KWMU, St. Louis’ NPR affiliate.
A campaign to raise $12 million for a new [...]
The City of St. Louis once again delivered for the Democratic ticket. From President to Governor to Lt. Gov, city voters proved themselves once again as the most Democratic county in the state.
The 6th, 21st and 27th wards delivered the most votes for Democrat Barack Obama.
This is just a test posting.
[...]This is just a test.
[...]Lt. Governor Peter Kinder was the sole Republican survivor of Tuesday’s blue sweep of Missouri’s statewide offices. As he assumes the role of leader of his party, his success should be taken as a lesson for future Republican candidates: reaching out pays off.
Kinder defeated his Democratic challeger, State Rep. Sam [...]
So now they’re telling us Sarah Palin didn’t know the countries that make up North America or that Africa isn’t a country? WTF?! These people should be charged with treason for endangering our country like that.
[...]As Democrats around the state begin to come down from the high of Barack Obama’s election as the next President of the United States, many are beginning to ask questions about what happened here in Missouri.
At the top of the list is how Jay Nixon got almost a quarter million [...]
Gov. Matt Blunt today issued a fiery statement responding to remarks by a St. Louis University political scientist in a St. Louis Beacon article.
Professor Ken Warren told the Beacon that “unequivocally that the racist vote in rural Missouri cost [Obama] the state.”
“People don’t like to use that term, but what [...]
Senate Republicans today unanimously endorsed Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, to serve as President Pro Tem, the Missouri Senate’s top position, for the 95th General Assembly beginning Jan. 7, 2009. Shields must be elected to the post by the full Senate when they convene. He has served as the Senate [...]
