December 2004
December 31, 2004
Rising Soulard Property Values Ahead?
Brian Wahby, chair of the city's Democratic Central Committee, and family have left Soulard and relocated in Compton Heights. They still reside in the 7th ward where Wahby is committeeman.
December 30, 2004
What They're Reading
Democrats looking for new playbook have latched onto Lakoff.
I've heard it from wanna-bes to office-holders to staffers to donors. This guy has better buzz than Rusk, Putnam, Gladwell or Florida ever had.
More Clay Book Signings
Former United States Congressman William “Bill” Clay, will sign copies of his latest book, “A Political Voice at the Grass Roots,” from 5-7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, at Harris-Stowe State College, 3026 Laclede, St. Louis, Mo. The book signing will take place in the front hall lobby of the college’s main building, prior to the annual public statewide kick-off celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
Other book signing events for the author include:
6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the Harambee Institute, 5233 Raymond Ave., St. Louis;
2-6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005, at Southside Wellness Center, 3017 Park
Avenue, St. Louis, Mo.
Argus Web-site
Via Greg Freeman's Porch, the St. Louis Argus is now online.
The Stressel Household
Collateral Damage co-host (KDHX 88.1, Mondays, 7pm) Fred Hessel and Missouri Foundation for Health staffer Amy Stringer have announced their engagement to marry.
Word came via email from Hessel in the form of a haiku:
News from Tower Grove
Stringer and Hessel to wed
Summer nuptials
Hanaway's new gig?
It's a rumor. So don't take it to the bank - yet.
"Catherine Hanaway as the new US Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri is a done deal - after January 21st."
December 29, 2004
Who has the Power?
Todd Swanstrom of SLU's Public Policy Studies program will be teaching a course on St. Louis power next semester.
Power, Coalitions, and Decision-making: Who rules St. Louis?
Have you ever wondered who rules St. Louis? PPS 630 will try to help you answer that question. The seminar will be divided into two sections. The first half of the course is designed to introduce students to the scholarly literature on community power. This literature addresses the deceptively simple question: Who governs? It turns out that there are many different methods for studying power and which method you choose dramatically alters your conclusions. The approaches we will study include elitist, pluralist, nondecision making, public choice, growth machine, and regime theory. The first half of the course will end with an exam.
In the second half of the semester, the seminar will conduct a community power study of St. Louis on a topic, chosen by the seminar participants, using one or more of the approaches to community power that we studied. Examples of topics we could study are the decision to build a new Cardinals stadium, the decision to build a new runway for Lambert Airport, the expansion of the Metrolink through Clayton and Richmond Heights, the desegregation of the schools, or the recent failure to pass charter reform in the city of St. Louis. The second part of the seminar will result in a group paper on the chosen topic.
Time: 4:20-6:50 pm on Tuesdays
Latest Issue of StL Research Exchange
Always interesting to see what the academics are working on.
Loft web-sites
Loft St. Louis
Urban St. Louis
Loftworks
Pyramid Lofts
Schnucks/Shoppers suck.
Former American journalist Tavia Evans does a number on urban grocery shoppers today in the Post.
We shop too heavily around payday. We go too often and buy too little. We steal shopping carts. In short, we're unprofitable.
It's time someone (maybe someone with a small independent paper?) did the story about how the Schnucks in my neighborhood sucks.
I used to think all the talk about "good" Schnucks and "bad" Schnucks was paranoia. But having lived the bad Schnucks and visited the good ones. It's true. If urban stores are unprofitable, there's more to blame than the customers. How about the moldy "fresh" basil? The crappy fruit? The wilted green beans? The fortressed liquor aisle? The chronic understaffing and everyday long lines?
School Board filings - so far
Of course filing hasn't closed yet.
But here are the candidates, so far.
A "Mayor's Slate II" is a natural expectation that hasn't materialized yet.
Article about EStL
From Maisonneuve, an English bimonthly.
December 28, 2004
DeClue seeks Seat
Former Stoll staffer, Ben DeClue, has filed to run for Crystal City City Council in Ward II. The same seat that marked the beginning of State Senator Steve Stoll's political career.
The current incumbent Hanley Cherry has held the seat since 1993 and recently decided not to run for reelection.
No one else has filed to run yet. The election is April 5th.
December 23, 2004
Filing Still Open
Disregard the post below where I say it isn't so.
Thanks for the emails; nice to know folks are checking in even during Christmas week.
Stl Blogger in Trouble
We mentioned this in our latest edition. Credit the RFT.
City Candidates
Oracle reminded me that filing closed on Monday. I had mistakenly marked my calendar for next week. Here's the list of candidates as of 12/17.
If no one new filed (I'm down in Florida right now) here's the field.
Haas, Smith and Slay for Mayor.
Darlene Green uncontested for Comptroller.
Ward 5 should be spirited between Cheryl Nelson and April Ford Griffin.
Ward 15 alderman Jennifer Florida uncontested.
Ward 17 alderman Joe Roddy uncontested, although we assume that Rodney Bruchfield filed, just after the 17th.
Ward 23 should be competitive between Woody Lange and Kathleen Hanrahan.
More later.
December 22, 2004
PPRC names Josse Community Fellow
December 21, 2004
Allman joins Catholic Church
Jamie Allman reportedly has left Channel 4 and will be the new spokesperson for the St. Louis Archdiocese.
December 20, 2004
A tale of two Churches
Catholic Consolidation hits the Tower Grove South neighborhood unexpectedly.
Some parishioners of Holy Family sent out a press release vowing to fight the move.
It begins: "Parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Parish in Tower Grove South were shocked to be told one week before Christmas that the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Commission (ASPC), in a complete reversal of its original proposal, will recommend to Archbishop Raymond Burke that this vibrant South City parish be shuttered after 107 years of serving the area. Holy Family’s pastor, Father Rickey Valleroy, broke the news after Sunday mass, leaving some parishioners in stunned silence and others in tears."
Meanwhile on the other side of Grand, St. Pius previously targeted for closure, has received a reprieve and will stay open.
December 17, 2004
More analysis on what went wrong
Charter Amendment analysis by a stakeholder.
December 16, 2004
Hellholes on the other side of the river
City Grocers, Wine Tasting
From Margie Newman:
WHAT: Holiday Lovin by City Grocers
WHERE: City Grocers, 920 Olive (Olive at 10th Street, Downtown)
WHEN: TODAY (Thursday, Dec. 16) 4:30 - 6:30 pm
HOW MUCH: FREE!
WHY: Who needs a reason for a free wine tasting?
Stop on by after work and say hey to Rance, the handsome grocery man. Be sure to tell him Margie sent you. And then head on down to cine16 (8 pm, Mad Art in Soulard) and continue the evening with spiked egg nog. But for heaven's sake, eat something!
SLACO lands big fish for conference
Former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros will keynote their neighborhoods' conference in march 2005.
Prefiled Bills
Farr says So Long
Leslie Farr, former candidate for 1st CD, sent an email to the GOP list and cc-ed members of the media:
Here's an excerpt:
"I was thinking about this long and hard yesterday as I sat I thought about how we give passes to our own party members and how we accept the things they do. I'm not that type of person and I've never been. For example, I sat in a Pachyderm meeting and heard John Hancock say that the MRP was not going to spend money in The St. Louis area, unless it was in an incumbent's race. The County Central Committee Chair was there as well as several committeemen and women. No one seemed to be outraged by this and I held my tongue, simply because I was tired from an election and I did not want to enter into it at that point... This policy that is being pushed by Mr. Hancock is wrong and we must not support it. Tonight, I will resign my position at the Organization that I helped to found because if Mr. Hancock's policy is going to be accepted by Mss. Wagner and the MRP and there is no indication that it isn't, I don't know if I want to be a Republican anymore. For those of you involved in the Missouri Black Republican Coalition, you're in good hands Yvonne is more than qualified to lead and has proven to be a great leader. It was fun and I love you all, in fact, I love all of the people that were friends and helped with the campaign but I cannot call myself a member of a party that will not treat all people the same."
December 15, 2004
Pro-Life MO Courts
On the death penalty at least.
New restaurant Downtown
10th Street Italian
504 North 10th Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
314-241-9988
Monday Through Friday
10:30am to 8:30pm
Saturday
10:30am to 3:30pm
Green Time
From Don Fritz:
While the US averages 2% of children under six years being lead poisoned, the
rate is at least 25% in St. Louis. In addition to learning difficulties and damage to many body systems, lead can increase violence by interfering with the brain's production of serotonin. Host Don Fitz and guest Barbara Chicherio of the Green Party of St. Louis discuss the need for a lead emergency.
This episode of Green Time includes the September 2004 Pesto Feast lecture by Dr. Lee Blount. Dr. Blount, with Health & Environmental Justice, explains problems lead causes children and the mismanagement of lead money in St. Louis.
The Green Time show on "LEAD POISONING: AN EPIDEMIC IN ST. LOUIS" will air on Double Helix Channel 21 in the City of St. Louis at the following times:
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 26, 2004,
12:30 p.m., Saturday, January 29, 2005,
2:30 p.m., Friday, February 4, 2005,
7:00 p.m., Sunday, February 6, 2005.
For viewers in St. Louis County, this Green Time episode will air on Regional
Access Channel 18 in the Charter Classic Area at the following time:
6:00 p.m., Saturday, January 29, 2005 and 6:00 p.m., Saturday, February 5, 2005.
For viewers in St. Charles County, Green Time can be seen on Channel 18 at 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, and 7:00 pm on Mondays.
Metro East (Illinois) viewers can catch Green Time on Channel 12 at 2:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays or 12:00 p.m. on Sundays.
December 13, 2004
Red Latina
Came across this paper last week.
Nice to see that our Hispanic community has a vibrant press.
December 10, 2004
The Haas Platform
From a recent Haas email:
My issues will be:
-Education, of course, with a goal of bringing the school district up to 90% graduation rates, with commensurate test scores, by the end of my first term, by asking the community to stand and deliver with me, parents, businesses, churches, other community members, to come into the schools and help the district be the best it can be.
-Day Care: widespread, affordable, safe and excellent: office buildings, companies, other.
-Freezing property taxes as long as you own your current home
-
Encouraging businesses to let their employees off work 1/2 day a week with pay if they go into the schools and visit their kids, or tutor other's children;
-Eliminating the burden of the payroll tax by working for a regional income tax;
-Establishing a City-County Commission to discuss merger; and, of course,
-Getting the bullies, thugs and punks at City Hall, and their friends, out!
Dandamudi joins Sierra Club Exec Board
Sreenu Dandamudi was voted onto the Sierra Club's Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) Executive Committee. It's a 2-year term starting in January.
December 09, 2004
WWID
What Will Irene Do?
American's Political Eye offers yet another alternative to the conventional wisdom/rumor-mill.
Notes from Last Night
NOTES from the mayor’s fundraiser last night hosted by John Steffen and Marty Abouisse:
If the mayor’s speech was a preview of his themes for the election in four month, it might best be described as “Morning in St. Louis.” Almost completely devoid of new ideas or initiatives, he is relying on that general impression that things are getting better – record number of building permits, trend-line reduction in crime, and hopefully as bottoming out of city's population along with mild progress on the education front. The second term of the mayor promises to simply stay the course – continue to work hard and make progress.
His opponents, at present it appears, will also not be running on any initiatives, but rather against the Mayor and his administration. My guess is that this is a losing proposition for them, because it has been a pretty good four years for the city, and the mayor can claim his share of the credit.
Senate 4th Rumors
Names, names, names for the 4th Senate District. Dougherty is termed-out in 2006. Folks are already circling. Ripple effect, state representatives who would run for the seat then vacant thier seat.
The latest rumor via email: "Both Yaphett El-Amin and Amber Boykins are planning on running for Patrick Dougherty's 4th Senate seat. This opens up Yaphett's 57th State Rep seat. So far, both Talibdin El-Amin (Yaphett's husband) and Joe Palm (26th Ward Committeeman) are mentioned as possibly running for this State Rep seat."
Cultural Leadership
Recently highlighted in Sylvester Brown's column, Cultural Leadership is a nonprofit organization that develops leadership, dispels stereotypes and promotes mutual respect, understanding, cooperation and dialogue between African American and Jewish youth. The program is open to African American and Jewish high-school Juniors. The application deadline is December 17.
Laudermill Leaves
From the St. Louis American.
Back in the Saddle
Beyond busy the last week.
But I'm around for the next couple of days, so there'll be multiple blog updates throughout these days. I have a small back-log of items. Also, feel free to call 314-865-4573 and drop me any tips you have.
New issue should arrive to subscribers today.
Open Fire on Open Court by the mayorally acclaimed Larry Handlin.
GIS in StL by Christine Stroer.
Democratic Dilemma by Dave Drebes.
City Charter Results by Will Winter.
Regional Charter Issues by Will Winter.
The Year in Review (according to the Arch City Chronicle)
Final Word: Child's Play by Lucas Hudson
Arch City Adventures by Lucas Hudson
Plus My Thoughts Exactly, 60 Second Interview, Ends and Odds, a record number (5!) letters to the editor and much more.
December 08, 2004
Mayor's fundraiser
Hosted by John Steffen
Tonight
5:30pm - 7:30pm
1619 Washington
December 07, 2004
J-Flo's fundraiser last night
Good turn-out.
"One vote shy of a quorum," quipped Central Committee head Brian Wahby. Equally noticable were the committeeman and woman of the ward with whom there had previously been a split. Has the rift been healed? Looked like it.
FX Daly was as dapper as usual. Bob Hilgemann mused about life after the legislature. Chink Washington engaged in the rumor of the hour, that Quincy Troupe had filed for Ward 1 alderman fueling speculation that Irene Smith is revving up for a mayoral run. (The alternative rumor from coffee this morning was that Smith is actually moving out of town. Rumors. Rumors. They make me giggle and make me sneeze, dizzy and light-headed I'll believe whatever I please.)
Vince Schoemehl held court at the bar. Lewis Reed gave an eloquent intorduction to Florida. Ward boss Jan Clinite worked the room. Also spotted: alderfolk Ken Ortmann, Peggy Ryan, Tom Bauer, Benice Jones King, Steve Gregali, pres. Jim Shrewsbury, dir. Bill Siedhoff, ED Susan Anderson, Politico Ann Auer, Feasting Foxsters Marty and Sue Luepker and of the proprietor of excitetor Mr. Tran.
Congressional Arts Report Card
From Meridith McKinley of Via Partnership, see how well your representative supports the arts.
T-Crone's Latest Book
"Gaslight Square, an oral history" Book Release Party.
Sunday December 12, 2-5pm
Riddles (in the Loop)
Thomas Crone will be signing books.
664-6369 for more information.
December 06, 2004
Get the checkbooks out
Birthday Reception for Jennifer Florida
Tonight 5:30 - 7:30pm
Upstairs Lounge
$20
&
Robin Carnahan Retire the Debt Event
Tonight 5:30 - 7:30pm
House of Howard Meyer
December 02, 2004
What we are.
Here at the ACC we like to think of ourselves as a popular attraction. Yes, that's it, a popular attraction.
Blunt Watch
Came across this new blog, Blunt Watch.
No web-cam, just diatriber-esque commentary.
The American Loves Handlin
Larry Handlin's recent ACC article about the SLPS gets great play in this week's American editorial.
Good job, Larry!
PDFs over on the left
Just added PDFs of the last two issues on the left. And as always, everyone should feel free to buy a subscription for yourselves and your loved ones. It's the perfect holiday gift for your civicly-engaged, politically-obsessed friends.
Talent Blog
Via Combest, Jim Talent is blogging about his trip to Iraq.
Right a Wrong. Submit any tips or story ideas by using our anonymous email form. Confidentiality is guaranteed.