June 2004
June 30, 2004
Bad day in ACC-land
Email is down.
Please feel free to contact me at drebesd@yahoo.com.
Be back soon, I hope.
June 29, 2004
Barry Announcement
From the Barry Camp comes this enigmatic press release. Is it a campaign staff shuffle or just an honorary chair being announced?:
Contact: Julie Murphy
314-353-0000
314-482-4132
Press Conference
Wednesday June 30, 2004
2:15 PM
South County Health Center
4580 South Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63127
Chair of the Joan Barry In Congress Campaign will be announced.
Mark Smith fundraising going well
Word from within Mark Smith's campaign puts with June quarter (ending tomorrow) as his best yet. His previous high quarter was $53,800. As of his April filing, Smith had $102,000 on-hand. Therefore an rough guesstimate, assuming some increase in expenses, would put Smith at $140-160,000 on-hand at the end of this quarter.
Mark Smith's campaign says that they will be spending money on television ads. Carnahan and Stoll are also expected to be on the air. Whether Barry and Jeff Smith will do television is unclear at this time.
June 28, 2004
Pridefest
Public officials walking/riding in last weekend's Pridefest:
Jennifer Joyce, circuit attorney.
Jeanette Mott Oxford, candidate 59th district.
Terry Crow, candidate 64th district.
Nancy Farmer, candidate for Senate.
Russ Carnahan, candidate 3rd CD. Actually didn't see Russ, but he had a car and volunteers walking. I may just have missed him.
Mark Smith, candidate 3rd CD.
Mike Evans, candidate 3rd CD.
Jeff Smith, candidate 3rd CD.
Jennifer Florida, 15th ward alderman.
Steve Conway, 8th ward alderman.
Ken Ortmann, 9th ward alderman.
Kathleen Hanrahan, 23rd ward alderman.
Stephen Gregali, 14th ward alderman.
Where were the members of E&A? Slay, Shrewsbury, Green all MIA.
It's raining endorsements
From the Stoll Camp:
STOLL RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT OF MISSOURI BUSINESSES
Voice of 1,200 Small and Large Businesses throughout Missouri site Steve Stoll as the candidate with the experience and ability to change government.
St. Louis – Steve Stoll, candidate for the 3rd Congressional seat today proudly announces his endorsement from the Associated Industries of Missouri.
“We believe you (Steve Stoll) are the candidate who will best represent the views and philosophies of the business and employees in the 3rd Congressional District of Missouri, writes Executive Director Jim Kistler in a letter to the Senator.
“It is clear from your history of public service in the House of Representative, and in the Missouri Senate that you have the experience and ability to change government. The voters of the 3rd Congressional District will be well represented when you are elected,” Kistler finished.
“Throughout my years of public service I have fought for workers' compensation reform, health care cost containment, environmental regulation, unemployment compensation, and worked on labor-management issues,” said Stoll. “I am honored to have the support of the Associated Industries of Missouri, the 1200 businesses they represent and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that they work to protect and enrich every day.”
June 25, 2004
another endorsement
From the Jeff Smith Camp
**************FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******************
June 24, 2004 - Jeff Smith announced the endorsement of Citizens for Global
Solutions in his bid to succeed Dick Gephardt in Missouri's 3rd District.
The endorsement confirms Smith's status as the progressive choice for
Congress and adds to Smith's growing list of endorsements including that of
Gov. Howard Dean.
Citizens For Global Solutions is a non-partisan organization with 17,000
members nation wide that believes there is an urgent need for solutions that
transcend national borders. Global Solutions is committed to the
establishment and reform of democratic global institutions and advocating
for an American foreign policy that works in concert with other nations to
solve international problems.
Don Kraus, Executive Director of CGS, said that Jeff "has the compassion,
commitment, and candor to bring leadership to his constituents and to the
U.S. House of Representatives. We wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy for
Congress."
Kraus went on to say that the group supports Jeff Smith's goal of an engaged
America that plays a cooperative leadership role in the world. "From our
current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan to future threats and challenges,
Jeff has a vision of America working with concerned groups, other nations,
NATO, and the United Nations to find global and equitable solutions. He
pragmatically understands the contributions that international institutions
have and will continue to make in building a world safe for Americans.
Where many give lip service to these goals, we believe that Jeff will work
consistently to achieve them."
June 24, 2004
Barry adds another big endorsement
From Barry press release:
NEWS RELEASE
June 23, 2004
Contact: Lori Becker
(314) 353-0000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joan Barry Receives Endorsement from Largest Union in Missouri in Her Bid for 3rd Congressional District St. Louis, Mo. - At their membership meeting on Tuesday, June 22, 2004, the members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local #655 voted to endorse Joan Barry in the 3rd Congressional District race. UFCW Local #655, which has over 14,000
members, represents over 1500 registered nurses at St. John's Mercy Medical Center. Barry, a registered nurse and former State Representative, fought for union representation in the nursing profession at St. Anthony's Medical Center where she works in the area of obstetrics.
"Joan has truly earned the endorsement of Local 655," says Jim Dougherty, executive assistant to the president of Local #655. "Her work to expand and improve health care, especially for women and children, has made a difference in the lives of millions of Missouri citizens. Health care is the single most talked about issue this election season. Joan Barry is on the front lines of the health care battle, she has echoed the sentiment of the RNs at St. John's Mercy Medical Center and she is the candidate who has the knowledge and skills to get the job done in Washington
D.C."
June 23, 2004
Notes from lunch with Shoemyer
Had the pleasure of meeting with Wes Shoemyer last week.
Shoemyer with Rick Johnson is leading the House Democratic Campaign Committee.
Their goal is to take back the state House. They say they can do it, but factor out the cheerleading and it appears to be a very unlikely scenario.
Presently the Democrats are down 17 seats (90-73). To retake the majority, they need to win 9. The HDCC is monitoring 30 races and targeting 15. They are giving candidates a very specific plan heavily focused on voter identification and turn-out.
Shoemyer claims that technology has changed the way that these efforts are going. Candidates and their teams has palm pilots and are going door-to-door to identify voters. They have specific goals for how many ids they do each day, week etc. Candidates that aren't hitting the goals will be dropped and one of the other monitored races will be substituted.
Technology means that where you used to hit a precinct that voted 80% Democratic and try to turn as many folks out of that place as possible, and ignore the precinct that only voted 20% Democratic, now you hit them both because with your palm pilots, databases etc you can actually find that 20% and target them for get out the vote efforts.
The battleground is out-state. The themes they plan to run on are education. Many out-state districts saw tough cuts in education funding. And health care.
Republicans usually try guns and babies (read: abortion) as winning issues, but that this year they're trying gay marriage instead.
Shoemyer says that the gay marriage constitutional nonsense will actually help Democrats since it will occur in August and help them identify more voters. Perhaps CDL (fighting the amendment) will share their database with the HDCC?
I asked him what could go wrong that might keep the Democrats from winning the House. He said the only way they won't win back the House is if the candidates don't follow the plan. The worst answer he had all day.
June 22, 2004
Hiring Freeze?
Got an email saying that there wouldn't be a replacement for Moore because of a hiring freeze at the Post. But since Moore was shuffling to another assignment, couldn't they shuffle someone to City Hall? Any Post-ies have information about whether there is hiring freeze?
Holden ahead
From Combest, Poll for Holden's campaign shows him ahead in primary.
Moore covering Metro East
This morning's article appears to mark Doug Moore's departure from the City Hall beat, and he's now reporting from the Belleville bureau.
As far as I know, his replacement has not been named, leaving City Hall without a reporter for the time being. Jake Wagmen has been widely rumored to be the front-runner to replace Moore, however, other names surfacing are Trisha Howard, who covers the Metro East and Elisa Crouch, now covering goverment in St. Charles County.
Letter from Clay to School Board
June 21, 2004
President Darnetta Clinkscale
St. Louis Board of Education
801 N. 11th Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
Dear Ms. Clinkscale:
The School Board is entrusted with this community's most precious resource,
our children. I am extremely disappointed with the results of the completed
state audit of the St. Louis public schools system. The constant turmoil
this year has been in vain. The school district is in the same state of
disarray. Parents are very displeased with the Board's lack of openness and
the lack of community involvement in important decision-making.
The district faces a $38.6 million deficit in the next fiscal year and has
no permanent School Superintendent. The turnaround firm did not eliminate
the financial crisis and did not improve the operation of the St. Louis
Public Schools. The Board promised to use Alvarez & Marsal --the turnaround
firm-- to select a permanent Superintendent. After spending months courting
one individual instead of completing a search with several candidates, the
St. Louis Public School District is faced with another interim
Superintendent.
The St. Louis Board of Education shirked its responsibility to the children
and the St. Louis community against a backdrop of strong public dissension.
The Board closed 16 neighborhood schools, laid off hundreds of employees,
awarded million dollar contracts without competitive bids and offered high
salaries to executives with no school system experience.
I suggest the School Board stop wasting this community's time and money and
do a national search for a Superintendent, focusing on a field of qualified
candidates who have achieved some success in raising test scores, reading
levels and overall academic achievement.
Regrettably, throughout all of the disorder this school year, the children
have suffered the most. In April, the Council of Great City Schools' study
commissioned by Interim Superintendent Roberti reported that the school
district lacks a comprehensive plan for raising student achievement, has no
instructional focus and the instructional staff is poorly organized.
Instead of offering teachers early retirements, I recommend the Board borrow
from the Desegregation fund to address the deficit and leave experienced
teachers in the classrooms. Removing teachers from the schools will merely
create larger class sizes and further diminish the quality of education in
the St. Louis Public Schools.
The $5 million spent on the turnaround firm should have been spent improving
the educational system for St. Louis Public School students. Voters will
remember the events of this year when School Board elections come up in
2005. Neither the Board nor the turnaround firm has produced the results
they promised to the students and the St. Louis community.
The children were shortchanged, the St. Louis taxpayers did not get their
money's worth and the crisis in our public schools continues.
Sincerely,
Wm. Lacy Clay
Member of Congress
Stoll gets 9th ward nod
Press Release from the Stoll camp:
STOLL SOLIDIFIES ST. LOUIS CITY SUPPORT
City Endorsement Broadens Candidate’s Base
St. Louis – 3rd Congressional District Candidate Steve Stoll this week received the nod from the Democrats of the 9th Ward.
“Steve is the apparent leader in this race – and he is proving to be the candidate who appeals to the entire District, not just the City or the County,” said Pat Ortman, 9th Ward Committeewoman. “I am proud of the work he has done for St. Louis Schools, and dedication he has to his constituents. I look forward to having him as my congressman.”
“No other of the candidates seeking the 3rd CD have as much experience as Senator Stoll. He has lived in the St. Louis area his entire life, and he has been making solid decisions on tough issues for 12 years in the Missouri Legislature. No other candidate can say that, because no other candidate has done that,” Ron Auer, 9th Ward Committeeman, and House colleague of Stoll’s. “Steve has seen continued success in his bid for the 3rd Congressional seat. Long ago he locked up the southern third of the District, and now he is taking on steady support from St. Louis City.
June 21, 2004
Coordinated Health Program
East Side Health District improves parnters with a local elementary school to launch a Coordinated Health Program. From today's Belleville News-Democrat.
Confluence Fundraiser
The 2nd Annual Confluence All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast will feature a large variety of delicious all-natural organic pancakes including multigrain, whole grain, and vegan pancakes. Also included are a variety of scrumptious fruit toppings, many of which are made from local handpicked fruits including raspberry sauce and apricot sauce. Confluence volunteers and Black Bear bakers will serve up the yummy pancakes. Pure maple syrup too! This year we have double the pancake making capacity!!
Where: Black Bear Bakery,
2903 S. Jefferson at Pestalozzi
(1 mile south of I-44)
When: Saturday, June 26, 2004
Time: 9am to 1pm
Suggested Donation: $6-$10
(Kids are very welcome.)
Meet McCaskill
Cordially invite you to meet
Claire McCaskill
Candidate for Governor
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Carpenter's Union Hall
1401 Hampton Ave.
St. Louis
Food, Refreshments and Live Entertainment by Jack the Cat
June 19, 2004
Next issue preview
The next issue which goes to the printer on Monday looks to be a strong one. We pride ourselves on our writing at the ACC and I believe an article on Home Rule by Lucas Hudson, a new contributor, in this next issue may be the best written piece we've ever published. How's that for building up expectations?
Also, we'll be debuting a new column - Behind the Blue Wall - that will appear once a month and will give readers a look at the Police Department from within the Police Department. This first column will focus on the process of promotions within the SLPD. How political is it really?
Lots of other good stuff as well in the next issue.
June 18, 2004
Farrar endorses Mark Smith
If Diatriber has been waiting for a sign, this might be it. Mark Smith has received the endorsement of Jay Farrar.
Metropolis steering committee shuffle
Scott Goessling, formerly Metropolis' membership chair, was named president in the wake of Reid's resignation (see below). Jennifer Estes, the recently installed social chair, was "promoted" to membership chair.
June 17, 2004
8th ward endorsements
Governor - Holden
Lt Governor - Cook
59th - Jeanette Mott Oxford
3rd CD - Carnahan
Marston sums up
Over at the Commonspace blog.
Christina Reid's resignation letter
Mentioned at the end of Sylvester's article. She may have confused the ACC with Arch Pundit's tagline.
Hello Friends & Metropolites
I had hoped to fulfill my term as president of Metropolis St. Louis, however I must step down at this time as I am in the process of relocating to northern California with my boyfriend. This move is a return home for him, and a new adventure for me. It’s a very happy and exciting time, but a bit bittersweet all the same.
To say farewell, a friend suggested I share a top ten list of what I’ll miss most about St. Louis. It was tough limiting it to a mere ten, but here goes….
10. The hustle and bustle of Soulard Market on Saturday mornings.
9. The smell of hops from A-B’s brewery in the early morning hours.
8. Freeman Bosley Sr. on City TV 10 dishing out commonsense and keeping junior aldermen in line amidst the machinations of weekly Board of Aldermen meetings.
7. The painted ladies of Lafayette Square adorned with the evergreens, holly, lights and ribbons of the Christmas season.
6. Cardinals’ baseball day games at Busch Stadium complete with sweltering heat and humidity.
5. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard & Christmas Trees – as a customer and as a yellow-shirted window worker back in the day.
4. Late lunches with friends and colleagues at Crown Candy Kitchen.
3. Forest Park – the park I knew growing up as well as post its magnificent facelift.
2. The colorful commentary and selective storytelling of the Arch City Chronicle. This isn’t your father’s Jerry Berger, or is it?
1. Organizations that are part social action, part city booster, part fun. Metropolis St. Louis might be the granddaddy, but it is actually one of many doing good work while having a little fun in the process. Counterparts include: POW (Professional Organization of Women), the ULYP (Urban League Young Professionals), RCP (River City Professionals), as well as the emerging Young Professionals Group of the RCGA. All are working towards a common goal – to attract and retain young people while fostering the vibrancy and great potential that St. Louis holds.
It takes coalition building to achieve greatness. Inclusion and diversity is key. I hope to see the fruit of our efforts for some time to come.
The City is Back. And, while I may no longer be able to call myself a St. Louis City resident much longer, I will still be a St. Louisan at heart.
Best wishes. Feel free to email me at Christina@christina-reid.com should you wish to remain in touch.
Christina Reid
President, Metropolis St. Louis
Sylvester Brown on ACC
Sylvester wants me to say it aint so.
June 16, 2004
last issue up
over there on the left. enjoy.
June 15, 2004
StL in WSJ
D1 of today's Wall Street Journal has an article, "Lonely Town Seeks Hip Young Professionals." Joel Kotkin is quoted. The usual cities are mentioned. St. Louis is in the side-bar, but maybe they meant to write St. Paul since they reference this site.
Oxford claims endorsement
From the Oxford campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2004
The Missouri National Education Association supports Jeanette Mott Oxford in her bid for election to the Missouri House of Representatives. Oxford is running for the 59th district seat.
“Missouri’s future is at stake in this election more than any election in the last decade,” says MNEA President Greg Jung, a fifth-grade teacher. “Our recommendation process is rigorous, and Jeanette Mott Oxford clearly measures up on the issues that are important to Missouri’s children, their future and our state’s public education system. She deserves the support of every voter who believes the future of our state depends on the quality of our schools.”
The MNEA Political Action Committee evaluates candidates for office on the basis of their support for four issues: 1) preserving and strengthening public education, including increasing funding for schools; 2) ensuring children’s health and safety; 3) maximizing student learning, including smaller class sizes and early childhood education; and 4) respecting school employees, including improved salaries and professional development funding. The voting records of incumbents, questionnaires completed by candidates and lengthy interviews with candidates are all considered as the education association decides who will receive its support.
The 32,000-member MNEA represents teachers, education support professionals, retired teachers and students studying to be teachers in school districts and on college campuses throughout the state. It is the Missouri affiliate of the 2.7 million-member National Education Association.
June 14, 2004
KC Star article on STL schools
From Combest, a KC Star article on StL city schools.
June 12, 2004
15th ward town hall meeting
Please join us for our annual Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Francis Slay and Alderwoman Jennifer Florida!
Monday, June 14, 2004
begins at 6:30 pm (promptly)
Carpenter Library (Grand & Utah), basement meeting room - enter from Utah
The Town Hall Meeting will feature a question-and-answer format, where
audience members can ask the Mayor or the Alderwoman questions about
neighborhood issues, citywide issues, economic development, or whatever
else is on their minds.
Everyone is welcome - you do not have to live in the 15th Ward to attend.
It's always an interesting time and we hope to see you there!
Jan O'Leary
15th Ward Democrats
June 11, 2004
Dean coming to St. Louis
From the Jeff Smith campaign
*************************Media Alert****************************
GOV. HOWARD DEAN, Honorary Chair of Democracy for America
Will Be In St. Louis
TO RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY WITH LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE DEAN DOZEN
3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATE JEFF SMITH
AND
72nd STATE REP DISTRICT CANDIDATE MARIA CHAPPELLE-NADAL.
WHEN: SUNDAY, JUNE 20TH
12:15 Press Conference
1:00PM - Rally
WHERE: REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION
6128 Delmar - Right across the street from the Pageant
Jeff Smith Contact: Art Harris
Cell: 615-347-8022
E-mail: artie@jeffsmith2004.com
June 10, 2004
The ACC is a great place to advertise
You should know that the ACC is a great place to advertise.
Our readers are intelligent, engaged individuals . Your advertisement won't get lost or buried. It'll be right there next to the articles and information that makes the Arch City Chronicle a must-read publication.
Our ad rates are cheaper than other papers with our distribution.
For more information call or email Claralyn, 314-773-5748, claralyn@archcitychronicle.com
June 09, 2004
J Joyce's polling numbers
Sources close to Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce's campaign say that the campaign is riding high these days. The campaign is meeting all of its fund-raising goals, more than 75% of the city's ward politicians have endorsed Joyce's re-election, and they got back a poll that indicates Joyce has a huge lead over her opponent, Jerryl Christmas. Sources say the poll, conducted in May by the Chilenski Strategy Group, mimicked a mini-campaign in that respondents were asked to vote for either Joyce or Christmas following a series of arguments--positive and negative. Before arguments, Joyce had support from 55% of the voters and that number climbed to 65% after all arguments were made.
New issue in the mail
If you don't already, now is the time to subscribe!
In this issue:
Metropolis Flounders - five resignations in the organization's steering committee this term; no quorum at last four board meetings; membership as much as 75% off its peak; and no one to answer questions.
Changing Home Rules - academic heavy-weight Lana Stein weighs in on the charter reform proposals.
My Thoughts Exactly - Some blacks insist that Slay and the white power structure are systematically dismantling black leadership. Irrational fear or reasonable paranoia?
Schoemehl gets Pummeled, Goes Distance - A tough crowd at a candidate forum helps Tim Schoemehl step out of the shadow of his father.
Advertorial Content - Lizz Brown was paid $5,000 in 2003 for Hammonds to appear on her radio show. Should listeners know when a guest has paid the host money?
Downtown's Back - After all the years of hype, it's finally happening. A survey of downtown's residential, and retail projects.
Ends and Odds - Tidbits about the 5th ward, 3rd District and other corners of the region.
Plus much, much more...
June 08, 2004
Schoemehl memo on naming an interim and a permanent Superintendent at the same time
NOTE: This memo was forwarded to media from Bill Haas. There is no guarantee that this email has not been doctored or is even that's authorship is as claimed. That said, I wouldn't post it if I didn't consider it reliable.
Subject:In Defense of Action Date:Sat, 5 Jun 2004 14:51:21 -0500From:"Vince Schoemehl"
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
The rationale behind my suggestion of naming an interim and a permanent Superintendent at the same time are delineated below. I recognize we’ll be criticized for not looking at the universe through a search but this should be balanced with the following considerations:
Avoid the Drama; Focus on Progress: If we do a search the focus of the media will be on the “drama of the process” and we’ll lose public focus on our change initiatives. The media will begin their focus with the “process of selecting a search firm” – will the community be involved in the process of interviewing the firms, etc. It will then shift to the process for “who’s being considered” – are they candidates reflective of the community, etc.? Then to the “fairness of the selection process”, did the community have adequate input, etc. The media and our critics will be delighted if we engage in a prolonged process that keeps us from focusing on the improvement of student outcomes. The “search process” and all of its perceived flaws will be the story for the next six months or so; then the story will shift to the selected candidate; then it will wrap up with some lame coverage about what the Interim Superintendent didn’t get done in the past 12 months – “another
year wasted.” I’d rather “cut for the ball”, make a decision and get on with it. We can then force the focus to be on what we’re doing with instruction rather than process.
Demonstrate Stability: This past year has been filled with intense change and the coming year will be a year of the same. Radical change is still needed and if the Interim Superintendent does what we want this will be another year of intense change. It would help those currently associated with the district (parents, employees, etc.) as well as potential associates (potential new employees and potential new parents) to understand that we are developing a five year plan and we have the leadership in place to implement that plan.
Recruiting the Best: We need to recruit top notch talent on the academic side of the house; a CAO and others. Highly skilled employees (people who have multiple employment options) want to know who will be leading them; that the leadership scheme is stable; that promises made about programs and thematic directs are sustainable. A search will take at several months; that means we likely won’t have the opportunity to recruit the best people for these positions while a search for a Superintendent is underway. Again, the best employees seek situations in which they know what the leadership succession looks like.
Sustaining the Momentum for Change: We’re at a critical moment in time. We have to select an Interim Superintendent who can accelerate the pace of change and move it to the academic side of the house. The best chance for maintaining this momentum in a hand-off from the Interim Superintendent to the permanent Superintendent is to have them working together for the next year. That is unlikely to happen through a national search for someone employed in a different district, even a different city and certainly in a situation where we won’t be making a decision for several months.
The safe thing to do is undertake a search and I understand that people are a bit shell-shocked after this past year. I also recognize this suggestion carries some risk; the suggested person for the permanent Superintendent may not be the right one – there’s always that chance. But on balance I think the rewards of stability, predictability, and going with a known quantity, outweigh the risks of making a pre-emptive choice.
Vince Schoemehl
June 07, 2004
26th ward endorsement for 64th district
26th ward endorsement for 64th District representative has gone to Rachel Storch.
Just passing it on
"Bill Moyer's Now program is supposedly doing a story on the City schools and
the issues involving the school board hiring a consulting firm."
Doing Business with the City
Doing Business with the City
Presented by BSI Constructors, Gilmore & Bell, City of St. Louis and US Bank
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Missouri Botanical Gardens
4344 Shaw Blvd.-Shoenberg Auditorium
7:30am Breakfast & Networking
8:00am Program (concludes at 9:00am)
Come to this informative seminar and hear about a variety of issues affecting business dealings in St. Louis. Speakers will include:
Paul Shaughnessy-President, BSI Constructors
Mark Grimm-Partner, Gilmore & Bell
Barbara Geisman-Exec. Director Development, City of St. Louis
Zach Boyers-Sr. VP, USBancorp Community Development Corporation
Admission to this seminar is free of charge, but reservations are requested. To reserve a seat, fill in the necessary info online at http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/networking/events/. For questions, call the St. Louis Business Journal at 314-421-6200.
June 06, 2004
Berg goes to work for Dooley
Greg Berg formerly with UNICOM has joined County government as "Executive Assistant" to County Executive Charlie Dooley .
June 05, 2004
No Clay endorsement of Storch
In the last issue we erroneously printed that Congressman Clay had endorsed Rachel Storch for Representative in the 64th District. We immediately received calls saying that it wasn’t so. Storch received a $300 campaign contribution from Clay, but so did Tim Schoemehl and Sreenu Dandamudi. Going to the source, the ACC asked Clay staffer Ishmael-Lateef Ahmad if the congressman had, in fact, endorsed Storch or anyone. The reply: “No, sir. Congressman Clay has not endorsed anyone in the 64th-District race.”
June 04, 2004
Earnest Young Man (Roll Call on the Dean endorsements)
Dean's Dozens: Lighting a Fire, Or Just Blowing Smoke?
By Stuart Rothenberg
Roll Call Contributing Writer
June 3, 2004
Howard Dean's new organization, Democracy for America, has already released the names of two dozen state, local and federal candidates who, it says, "represent the spirit of grassroots democracy" and "will all spread the message that to change America, progressives must compete."
Six of the 24 hopefuls are running for Congress. Judging by those House hopefuls, it's clear that electability isn't one of the criteria that Dean has used in selecting his favored candidates.
One of the half-dozen candidates, Illinois Senate hopeful, Barack Obama (D), is better-than-even money to capture the U.S. Senate seat left open by the retirement of Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R).
Another of Dean's candidates, Oklahoma Congressional hopeful Kalyn Free (D), is an underdog in the Democratic primary but still a serious contender for the nomination. If she does win the Democratic primary for the seat left vacant by Rep. Brad Carson (D) - who's now running for Senate. Free could well win the seat.
The four other hopefuls, however, have little or no chance to win seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Jeff Smith, in Missouri's 3rd Congressional district, is an earnest young man. He's hard-working, he's doing a good job assembling a grass roots organization and he's utterly committed to a progressive agenda. He also faces two candidates who are far better positioned than he is: state Sen. Steve Stoll, a favorite of many who are close to retiring Rep. Richard Gephardt (D), and Russ Carnahan, son of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan (D) and former Sen. Jean Carnahan (D), who is a sentimental favorite of some Missouri Democrats.
Elsewhere...
I can't comment about the state and local candidates on Dean's list, but more than a couple of the U.S. House hopefuls on the list aren't even second-tier contenders for Congress. Their chances of being elected to Congress this year aren't much better than mine - and I'm not on the ballot anywhere.
So why does Dean's list include such long, long-shots as Cegelis and Smith rather than serious Democratic House candidates in places such as Georgia's 12th district, Arizona's 1st, Connecticut's 2nd, Washington's 8th and even Kentucky's 3rd, where the eventual Democratic nominee will have a credential or two and at least some chance of victory?
One factor is that some mainstream Democratic candidates would rather not be pinned with the Dean label. Morrison and Cegelis aren't in that category. They're running in bullet-proof Republican districts and thus have virtually no chance of winning. For them, the Dean endorsement at least brings notoriety and possibly some money. They have nothing to lose by being on the list.
In some cases, certainly including Obama and Free, the Democratic candidates are ideologically so left of center that they are comfortable with Dean's stamp of approval. Dean, who governed as a moderate but campaigned for president much farther to the left, seems to like candidates who are likely to speak for what has now become known as Howard Dean wing of the Democratic Party. And again, that's not where many Democrats need to be.
Dean, the doctor-turned-politician, may simply want to build a farm team - or even a "movement" - that might produce one or two potentially credible candidates down the road. But some Democrats undoubtedly would argue that their party is better off if Dean limits himself - and his fundraising ability - to identifying credible candidates who have a chance of winning in 2004.
Stuart Rothenberg is editor of the Rothenberg Political Report.
Jeff Smith opposes Gay Marriage Ban
Press release from the Jeff Smith for Congress campaign
**************FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******************
May 28th, 2004--- 3rd District Congressional candidate Jeff Smith announced his opposition to the state constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage that will be on the August 3rd ballot. Smith, running to succeed Dick Gephardt, believes that all attempts to codify discrimination in the law, particularly the state constitution, are wrong and must be vigorously opposed.
“I vehemently oppose the proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage that will go before the voters on August 3rd. Any attempt to codify discrimination is wrong and must be fought,” Smith said.” “In a state where it is still legal to fire someone based on sexual orientation, we need to use the state constitution to expand rights, not constrict them. I plan on voting against this state constitutional amendment and urge the rest of the voters of the 3rd District to do the same.”
Smith said that if the amendment passes it will reverse decades of progress in Missouri towards equality for gays and lesbians. Smith believes that if the state constitutional amendment passes it will open the door to all sorts of legalized discrimination based on the definition of marriage. “Already there are bills in the State House pending that would cut off state funding to institutions – like the University of Missouri- that include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policy. This wrongheaded and discriminatory state constitutional amendment opens to the door to regressive laws like this.”
June 03, 2004
It's the ecology of absence.
June 02, 2004
Latest from Rochelle Moore
Hello All, The fervent effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much. This is Rochell Moore, Litigating Board Member from St. Louis Public Schools. I covet your prayers. Have an interesting situation. The state of Missouri is charging me with Harassment. Question is who initiated it. Next, I was scheduled for court today June 2, 2004 on this same charge but upon arrival the clerk Ms. Cee Cee Pate stated the court date was yesterday and that I was being charged with "Heroine." Ms. Pate informed me that my next court date was June 10, 2004. She also had my street address spelled incorrectly. This is a wicked diabolical scheme. I need you to interceed on my behalf so that these slanderous remark will be removed from my record. Those charges are interfering with my livelyhood and personal life. Prayefully submitted, Rochell Moore
Barry Press Release about endorsements
PRESS RELEASE
Joan Barry Receives Critical City Endorsements in Race for
3rd Congressional District
St. Louis, Mo. – Joan Barry, Democratic Candidate for Missouri’s 3rd
Congressional District has received endorsements from two critical city
wards. At their regular meeting on Wednesday evening, St. Louis City
Sheriff and Committeeman Jim Murphy and Committeewoman Janet Sullivan of
the 12th Ward, announced their support of Barry’s candidacy.
Murphy addressed about 30 members that made it through a tornado warning
to attend the meeting, “Joan is pro-life and pro-labor. She did a
fantastic job for Missouri in the legislature and she’s exactly who we
need in Washington D.C.”
St. Louis Recorder of Deeds and Committeewoman Sharon Carpenter and
Committeeman Francis R. Slay, have also endorsed Barry’s candidacy. The
23rd Ward is known to be one of the most politically powerful and
influential of all city wards. Their endorsement of Joan Barry’s candidacy
solidifies her presence as a viable candidate in St. Louis City.
“Joan is one of the best legislators I have ever worked with in Jefferson
City. She knows how to get the work done and that’s who we need to send to
D.C.,” said Carpenter. On a more personal note Carpenter says, “Joan is a
dear friend, and I admire her as a woman and a legislator.”
Slay says his reason for endorsing Barry is “she has the commitment and
the values that we in the 23rd Ward want in our candidates. We are
committed to helping her win this race.”
The 12th and 23rd Wards are located in deep south St. Louis City. Combined
they have over 15,000 registered voters. This brings Barry’s total number
of endorsements to twenty-three.
Barry, a registered nurse and former State Representative, resides in
Oakville with her husband Phillip. Barry announced her candidacy for the
3rd Congressional District one year ago this week.
Security vs Privacy
Friday, June 4
Surveillance: Security vs. Privacy
A Panel Discussion and Community Forum @ The Commonspace, 615 N. Grand in Grand Center, one block north of the Fox Theater. Free, all ages, 7 p.m., brian@thecommonspace.org
Video surveillance equipment is so cheap and easy to install these days that it's popping up all over the place. It's becoming part of our everyday lives, yet not very many people have thought about the tradeoffs involved and whether these cameras should be everywhere ‹ and if so, what the rules for operating them should be. If you have an opinion about this issue, or if you're trying to figure out what your opinion is, come add your perspective to the mix as we examine all sides of the debate. The discussion will focus on the controversial webcam system the Soulard Security Association is planning to install as an extension to the neighborhood watch program. dhTV will tape the event and broadcast it on channel 21.
Panelists:
Matt LeMieux, executive director of ACLU-EM
Sabine Janssen, Soulard resident
Bill Shelton, Soulard resident
Bob Kraiberg, Soulard Security Association
Jeff Wiegand, Soulard Security Association
Tom Duerbusch, Soulard resident
Moderator: Brian Marston, president of The Commonspace
Taste of the CWE
The 10th Annual Central West End Art Fair and Taste
Saturday, June 5th from 10 AM to 11 PM (Artists Booths close at 6 PM)
Sunday, June 6th from 10 AM to 6 PM
Over 100 local, regional and local artists will display and sell their amazing creations including paintings, photography, jewelry and pottery.
St. Louis area restaurants will sell their amazing menus including from Duff's, Kirk's American Bistro, Moxy, The Drunken Fish, Graffiti Global Grill, Bar Italia, MP O'Reilly's, Juhari's, Liluma, Little Saigon, Wild Flower, Tom's Bar & Grill and so many more!
The Kids Zone will host street performers, balloons, free air brush face painting and much more for the kids!
Celebrities Al Hrabosky, Dave Phillips and Rob Rains will appear at a sport autograph signing on Saturday at Regency-Superior
The Central West End Farmer's Market will also operate on Maryland Avenue both days as an added treat! Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM.
Parking Available: Garage at Lindell & Euclid, Parking lot on Maryland - East of Taylor, Parking lot on Euclid at Laclede, Parking lot on McPherson West of Euclid. Do not park in areas where no parking is posted or in any alley.
Consider taking MetroLink to the Central West End station - then walk only five blocks North on Euclid.
FPSE House Tour
Forest Park Southeast Home Showcase, June 5th, 11-4.
The event is free to all and will feature the Park East Homes, for-sale
rehabbed homes in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood at affordable
prices.
The showcase will have a resource area for those interested in rehabbing
homes in an historic district and neighborhood restaurants, including
La Dolce Via, Manchester Market, Bellons, and Mangrove, will be on hand
with samples and for sale items.
Forest Park Southeast is one of the best neighborhoods for young urbanites, it is centrally located and still affordable!
June 01, 2004
Last week's issue up
The pdf is on the left side. However due to disk space constraints, we've had to take down the old ones.
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