We've been down this road before, I will believe it when I see it. From July 2003, http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-07-24-wireless-stlouis_x.htm:

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The city of St. Louis is setting up what could be the nation’s largest, free, wireless Internet network in hopes of drawing techno-savvy businesses, tourists and residents to the downtown business district.
The city has teamed up with a local company, O2Connect, to offer the service in a 42-square-block area.
On Wednesday, a city crew mounted and activated the first of six antennae that will transmit an invisible, high-frequency radio signal that can be used to get online. The rest should be in place by month’s end.

“It’s symbolic that we’re really up-to-date downtown,” said Jim Cloar, president and chief executive of the Downtown St. Louis Partnership, a nonprofit group that promotes economic development and urban living.

“And it gives us one more sales tool. We’re just being more technologically proficient, being more customer-friendly and making downtown a better place to do business and a better place to visit, either as a conventioneer or just as a (tourist),” he said. “You won’t have to worry about having the capability to stay in touch, either by e-mail or using the Web.”

I sent a letter to Slay way back in Feb of last year. Maybe that had some impact?

http://stlua.blogspot.com/2006/02/wifi-for-chicago-st-louis-next.html

Nice to see we are actually ahead of many other cities in terms of wifi.

While I have major issues with the policies of the BOA and Room 200, it seems not all is bad.

Doug,

See? Some things change and some things stay the same.

You might not like Blairmont investing in north city, but you like the city setting up a wireless network.

Remember, you have to take the LONG VIEW.

"Remember, you have to take the LONG VIEW."

Oh, like when they announced a downtown wi-fi network with lots of fanfare and national press in 2003 and then let the ball drop? That sort of long term view?

How about downtown's Jim Cloar on wifi in August 2006;
"Some of my counterparts in other cities have suggested that growing concerns about security and increased availability at individual sites have lessened the “demand”. I’ll see if that had relevance here."

Clearly wifi was off his radar screen while other cities are moving forward. We must continue to push for the things we want because if we simply sit back and wait for the long term view it will indeed be a very long time.