Sour grapes?

It was probably the same alderman who sponsored the lease deal without public input, essentially killing the deal himself.

I think we need to look for a new aldermen.

This is unbelievable. Don't even want to know what kind of deals went down to make this happen.

Shrewsbury, you are not getting my vote for Ald. Prez, and it is 100% due to your position on this issue.

I agree with Nick. Shrewsbury and Green are out. I can't believe Darlene did this. She has a lot of answering to do.

lol... people voting fo Board President baised on the BJC deal... HA HA HA HA

I guess the board of BJC has been posting or Reed staffers.

I don't have any problem being a single-issue voter on this. Who really knows what the Aldermanic President does anyways?

Shrewsbury got bad advice on this one.

And I shouldn't even justify Middle's illiteracy with comment, but I have no connection to BJC or to Reed.

You might not want to comment on someone else's illiteracy - anyways isn't a word. In addition, if you read newspapers or blogs, visited city hall, or asked questions, you would know both the president of the board and most aldermen work quite arduously for the city.

Did I say they don't work hard? Most of them do. And I'm sure Shrewsbury does.

But, given that I see few discernable differences between Reed and Shrewsbury, Jim's position on this one swings me in the other direction.

Anywho...

Jim Shrewsbury works hard ... at his law office that he MOVED out of the city! He plays President 1 1/2 days a week, for which he steals over $80,000 of OUR tax dollars a year. Meanwhile, back at city hall, his staff makes nearly $300,000 to run his campaign on CITY time behind those LOCKED doors!

Baseless accusations.
Good campaign strategy.

I have always received return phone calls from Jim in less than 24-hours. He has made countless calls on my behalf to help resolve issues in my neighborhood. He has proposed and backed good legislation for the city. Reed hires staff to take his calls for him, but they don't return the calls or follow-through to see an issue is resolved. Most of his accomplishments include tax abatement for businesses, which is no longer necessary in most of the 6th ward.

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Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Wi-Fi, BPV, and the BJC Lease

Two important and high-profile projects — a new mixed-use development outside Busch Stadium and a citywide wireless internet network — moved forward today. One project, an extension of a lease between the City and BJC, remained stalled.

The Board of Estimate approved the Ballpark Village proposal. A short while later, a special session of the Board of Aldermen gave Ballpark Village and the municipal wi-fi proposal first round approval.

I am excited that BPV and wi-fi are this much closer to being elements of our City’s continuing renaissance, and I am not yet ready to pronounce the BJC lease dead.

Extending the BJC lease and altering its terms have drawn plenty of opposition — but also lots of support. A great many people have written me or told me that they support the extension of this lease.

I respect the arguments on both sides of the issue, but I find the supporters’ arguments more compelling.

If the lease is unchanged, most of the site will remain under BJC’s control for another 40 or so years. BJC will continue to pay only a token rent for the property.

If we eventually agree to do this, the City will have $3.8 million per year for the maintenance of Forest Park. We will also free up $1.2 million to fix up other City parks, and $400,000 for youth recreation programs. As part of the agreement, BJC would agree to spend $1 million moving the amenities from Hudlin Park — including a new playground, improved tennis courts and handball courts. The City would agree invest an additional $1.6 million to create new green space and new parks in nearby neighborhoods.

The Forest Park Advisory Committee, Forest Park Forever, and the Board of Aldermen are already supporters.

BJC and Washington University are the central elements of the City’s focus on life sciences and technology. BJC is the City’s largest employer. I do not believe — at the end of the day — that E&A will opt to take their scientific impact and City presence for granted.

I score today as two very good bounces and a temporary bump.

Gotta love the mayor's go-getter attitude.

You go Francis! In the end we will all be the better for it!

Sarah-

You forgot to mention that Shrewsbury returns those calls from his law office that he moved out of the city. And, that Reed pays his staff himself (not tax dollars) because the Aldermen are only given 1 secretary per 5 Aldermen by Shrewsbury who has a city hall staff of 4 who are paid over $250,000 of our tax dollars to sit behind closed doors and do who-knows-what.

"Joseph" aka "Fedup with part-time Jim" aka "Worried Citizen" aka "Watchdog"...

Sarah is right, you are wrong. Who cares where Jim calls you back from. You are just proving that he is accessible no matter where he is. Me? I work during the day but I take the time to attend my neighborhood and ward and activist group meetings at night. I appreciate that Jim attends these as well. I hardly call going to meetings at 7 and 8 oclock at night parttime.

Running a negative campaign is one thing. Making up something negative to say about your opponent is on a whole different level. Your 250,000 behind closed doors shpeel is worn out.

It shows how truly desperate you are.

But you digress...

The real question here is whether the decision not to take up the BJC lease issue at the meeting yesterday was the equivalent of dealing an "X Card," or what has been more recently termed, "The Nuclear Option," in this negotiation. If this is the case, and the Comptroller's claim that she wants to work out a deal acceptable to all parties is true, the decision to draw the "X Card" has put the City at a distinct disadvantage in the negotiation. The City will now have to make concessions to get BJC back to the table and convince them that the City will not repeat this action in the future. This is a poor negotiation strategy on the City's part. I would not blame BJC for walking away from the deal. It would not surprise me to hear that the next BJC expansion plan will take place in St. Charles County. E & A needs to fix this, and fast.