May 2005
May 31, 2005
NSO Update from Rogers, Talve
Friends,
Here is an update on the NSO situation. The Aldermanic Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the NST office on June 7 at 9:00 at the Board of Aldermen Room 230 at City Hall. It is essential that we have a good turn out at this hearing. Please let us know if you can attend and if you are willing to testify. You should have an opportunity to sign up to testify at the hearing. Also, please spread the word to anyone else who you think can attend.
Jamala Rogers
Susan Talve
P.S. Please email a copy of your statement if you have not done so already. We would like to have the maximum number of statements. You can still send a statement even if you have written to or talked with your Alder(wo)man directly.
Embracing the new wave
Speaking of expanding websites, Mayor Slay, one of the newest additions to the blogging world, has jumped right ahead into the world of Podcasting. You can download the first edition of the podcasting here.
The podcast features Great Rivers Greenway District executive director David Fisher biking the St. Louis Riverfront trail.
May 28, 2005
Newspapers continute to grow their Webness
Hartford Coffee to expand
A second location will open in June in the Shaw neighborhood. It will be called "Thurman Community Cafe." and will offer the full line of coffee and foods that Hartford does.
May 27, 2005
Some blogs out there, you might want to take a look at
You know the usuals we refer to often: Syndicate members, Combest, Oracle.
Here are some others that might be new to you.
The Skirt, by a fundraiser at a local non-profit.
Mound City, by one of our favorites.
Friday trivia
Via StLux, drivers' scores by state. MO does pretty well.
May 26, 2005
Bond on BRAC
Press release from the Bond Office:
After receiving a classified briefing on the homeland security implications of moving the 131st Fighter Wing from St. Louis, Senator Kit Bond today called on the BRAC Commission to receive the same classified briefing and demanded that the Pentagon release installation-specific data used to make the recommendations.
Today, Bond circulated a letter among the Missouri congressional delegation to send to the BRAC Commission urging the commissioners to receive the security briefing before the June 7th hearing.
Stakeholder Reunion
Notes from an observer at last night's Advance St. Louis stakeholder reunion meeting:
A health number of stakeholders showed up, about forty. But the carefully orchestrated racial parity had melted away with only four or five members of the group being African American.
Bob Archibald introduced the discussion. Question: Should this group keep going or disband?
In attendance were aldermen Gregali, Florida, Krewson and Kirner. Gregali gave a "you'd better include us or else" speech. (Nevermind that the BOA has done jackshit on this issue).
Former mayors Bosley and Conway offer their support for any further efforts, but announced they were bowing out of any leadership role.
The consensus was that the original effort tried to do too much too fast and that they needed to look at smaller more manageable steps. Some folks indicated that after months and month of meeting they were burnt out.
But they agreed to meet again, with the idea of perhaps revisiting some of the proposals to see what could be an easy first step.
May 25, 2005
No longer fighting about If, but instead When
On Friday May 20th 2005 the Department of Social Services filed an emergency rule making request to the Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to allow Medicaid cuts to over 68,000 parents to be implemented July 1, 2005. Citizens for Missouri's Children believe this request should be denied and standard rule making procedure should be followed. This standard rule making would potentially allow these Medicaid recipients another 6-9 months of health insurance coverage.
They are asking people to call Secretary of State Robin Carnahan at 573/751-2379 and ask that she reject the emergency rule and direct the Department of Social Services to follow the standard rule making procedure for any Medicaid cuts that the state intends to make.
State of City - KC
Mayor Kay Barnes
State of the City Speech
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Good afternoon and welcome...Residents of Kansas City, honorable members of the City Council, City Manager Wayne Cauthen, department directors, city staff and friends. Thank you for being here today as we talk about the state of this great city we call home.
I want to begin today by acknowledging the tremendous commitment that the members of our City Council make to this city each and every day. Their hard work and dedication to Kansas City is commendable. I also want to thank City Manager Cauthen, the thousands of hardworking members of the City staff, and in particular, the members of my staff in the Mayor’s office. And, special thanks to the hundreds of Kansas Citians who serve as volunteers on our many boards and commissions. Council members, City staff, volunteers and other citizens are all people who keep this city moving forward. Give yourselves a round of applause.
A year ago in my State of the City Address, I talked about creating the “New Kansas City.”
We now see this New Kansas City coming to life throughout our community. We no longer have to “imagine” what it will look like, we are starting to see it. Today I’ll outline further what this new city can become in the future.
The biggest mistake we could make is to pat ourselves on the back for the progress we’ve already made – rather than expanding our vision for the years and decades ahead.
Therefore, our vision for the future should include:
1. Expanding our emphasis on basic services...
2. Escalating city-wide residential development.
3. Addressing the spike in violent crime in our community.
4. Increasing momentum on the revitalization of our greater Downtown.
5. Implementing an expanded connectivity strategy for the River-Crown-Plaza.
6. Moving forward a new concept for Truman Boulevard downtown.
7. Supporting and encouraging to a new level the life sciences initiatives underway at the Stowers Institute.
8. A major expansion of economic development at Kansas City International Airport which will be unrivaled in the nation.
9. Creating an intermodel port between Kansas City and Mexico that will be the envy of every city in this country.
This may sound like an ambitious set of initiatives to address – it is. But cities on the move don’t rest. Now is the time for us to be even more visionary…to be more creative, and more innovative.
And frankly, setting ambitious goals for this city is an activity about which we now have some experience.
Before we take a brief look at each of these priorities, I want to make a comment that may be as important as anything I say today… That is, economic development and the health of neighborhoods are inextricably bound together. It is through economic development that job opportunities for citizens are created and additional tax revenues are generated. These revenues enable City government to more successfully provide basic services and respond to neighborhood priorities.
Economic development, whether Downtown, north or south of the river, east or west, equals more jobs, more revenue and healthier neighborhoods.
May 24, 2005
Committepeople changes
1st ward - Committeewoman/State Rep Yaphett El-Amin appointed her husband Talibdin El-Amin comitteeman.
14th ward - Committeeman/State Senator Harry Kennedy appointed Carol Howard committeewoman.
Green Party endorses Tumlin in 4th
For immediate release: May 23, 2005
GREEN PARTY BACKS TUMLIN IN 4TH WARD RACE
May 23, 2005. St. Louis, MO. The Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of St. Louis endorsed Independent candidate Greg Tumlin for the June 7 special election for 4th ward alderperson. At a special Green Party meeting, Tumlin assured members that he supports their calls to declare a lead emergency in the City of St. Louis, establish a Civilian Oversight Board for the police, halt the use of eminent domain for private developers and prohibit the use of public money for private sports stadiums.
Green Party members first met Tumlin when he was arrested for "peace disturbance" during the October 7, 2003 School Board meeting. The Green Party and Tumlin both criticize the School Board for closing schools in predominantly black north St. Louis, ending many transportation routes, and firing teachers and support staff.
"We expect our endorsement to be very helpful to Greg because he's running in one of our strongholds," Marshall observed. "I got 34% of the vote in the 4th ward; but, if you leave out people who voted a straight party ticket, I got 45%. When we convince black people that they do not owe the Democratic Party
their vote, we will be just about even with them in the ward."
Tumlin will address Green Party members during its monthly forum at 7pm, June 1 at Genesis House, 6018 Delmar. The forum on "Human Genes in Our Food?" will look at recent efforts of Ventria Bioscience to plant rice with human genes in Missouri's bootheel. Tumlin will be making a statement and seeking pollworkers and other assistance for his campaign.
Contacts: Willie Marshall; 314-385-6906; Barbara Chicherio, 314-727-8554
Baby Bayoc
Congratulations to Reine and Cbabi Bayoc on the birth of their son Birago Soul Bayoc. Born last Thursday (9:20 am) at 8 lbs, 9 ounces.
Clay-Clinton Party Pic
May 23, 2005
Rabbi Talve, Jamala Rogers join NSO debate
This email has been circulating:
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Thank you for opening this Email. We want to make you aware of an important issue that could have a negative impact on neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis.
Some members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen are proposing chages in the City’s Neighborhood Stabilization Team (NST). We believe this will weaken the program. For those of you not familiar with NST, it is an innovative program that provides direct contact between the city and people in neighborhoods. The NST is made up of 24 Neighborhood Stabilization Officers (NSOs) who are each assigned to a cluster of neighborhoods in the city. All city neighborhoods are covered. NSOs insure access to city services, assist with organizing projects and utilize community oriented problem solving to address complex and chronic problems within our neighborhoods.
A number of Aldermen want to see the program moved under their control, in effect transferring the NSO duties to patronage workers. If these changes take place, the fundamental nature of the program would be altered in many ways. For example, NSOs would be assigned by Ward and not by neighborhood. This would be problematic because people in the city think of themselves as residents of a particular neighborhood and most community groups with which the NSOs work are organized by neighborhood.
The current rules prevent NSOs from engaging in any type of political activity. Under the changes proposed by some of the Aldermen, the NSOs would be subject to and respond to only the political process. The NST was originally structured to prevent such political influence. It has been and remains in the best interest of the city neighborhoods to keep NSOs protected from these political dicates. If NST comes under the control of the Aldermen, anyone who disagrees with the Alder(wo)man on a particular issue or supports a different candidate would likely not be able to utilize the service of the NSO.
The NST is a valuable asset because their highest priority is serving as a resource to the community and helping citizens improve the quality of life. NSOs are directly involved in the day to day life of the neighborhoods they work with and are accountable to the citizens they serve.
Additionally, under this proposal, a number of staff positions will be eliminated from Neighborhood Stabilization including that of the program’s director Anna Ginsburg. We have both worked closely with Anna. Her vision and leadership have shaped this program and kept it focused first and foremost on collaboration between city government and those who live and work in St. Louis neighborhoods.
Please help us maintain the integrity of this important program. Join us in speaking out in opposition to these changes:
1) Sign the attached statement and return it by June 1 to us by email or, if you prefer to send in a signed copy mail it to NST Friends, PO Box 4227, St. Louis MO, 63163.
2) Send a letter, or email or make a call to your Alder(wo)man, any Alder(wo)man with whom you wish to communicate and/or the entire Board of Aldermen. They can be reached at City Hall Room 230, 1200 Market St., St. Louis MO 63103. 314-622-3287. Email addresses are available at stlouis.missouri.org
3) Send a letter or email or make a call to Mayor, Comptroller and/or President of the Board of Aldermen, Mayor Francis Slay, City Hall Room 200, 1200 Market St. Louis, MO 63103; Comptroller Darlene Green, City Hall Room 212, St. Louis MO, 63103, President James Shrewsbury, City Hall Room ___ St. Louis MO. 63103.
4) Forward this email and the attached statement to anyone you think might be interested in taking action.
5) Distribute copies of the statement for signature
We will let you know about further development, including Aldermanic hearings as we learn about them.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Susan Talve
Ms. Jamala Rogers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Should be entertaining
Time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Place: 2300 Hampton Avenue.
National Review on Blunt
The conservative National Review took Governor Matt Blunt to task today for his positioning on the embryonic stem cell research.
In truth, there is a sincere disagreement between most pro-lifers and Gov. Blunt. ... Unfortunately, his position is an incoherent mess.The Review also chides Blunt's pro-life critics accusing him of betrayal since he stated his position in favor of therapeutic cloning research before they voted for him.Has Gov. Blunt thought this issue through? Does he care about the merits? Or does he just want Missouri’s biotech industry to thrive and to be grateful to him? These are not, in themselves, illegitimate goals. But Blunt’s political “game playing” — to borrow a phrase — is not a good reason to allow the destruction of human beings in the early stages of development, however they were created.
This is an expanding debate and it will continue to spark tensions among conservatives and Republicans as they try to balance out their their position between business and social conservative interests. There is little chance they will be able to satisfy both.
An extended note: there is no backing away from this issue, South Korean and British scientists are already moving ahead with their own programs. Whether the U.S. likes it or not, this research is progressing and the U.S. can either take a lead and set the standard that reflects a reasoned and ethical approach, or we can wait till the products of other countries efforts (new life-saving, reduced-rejection organ transfers, age-extending techniques, etc.) become available on the open market.
May 22, 2005
Net Employment Effect of BRAC
From East-West Gateway's Weekly E-letter
BRAC’s Impact on Jobs in the East-West Gateway Region: Net Loss of 3,713
The Secretary of Defense announced his recommended closures and realignments of military installations May 13, 2005, the first step towards reducing the number of armed forces sites in the United States.
Overall, the net effect would be a loss of 3,716 jobs in our region. The direct loss of military and civilian jobs would be 1,905. It is estimated that an additional loss of 1,811 indirect jobs (local non-government jobs supporting installation material, service, and infrastructure needs) and induced jobs (jobs that provide goods or services to the households of direct or indirect installation employees, such as local grocery stores, retail stores, and restaurants) would occur.
Army National Guard Reserve Center, Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis County, a loss of 121 jobs;
Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 4300 Goodfellow Blvd, City of St. Louis, a loss of 611 jobs;
National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Ave., Overland, a loss of 4,171 jobs;
Scott Air Force Base, St. Clair County, a gain of 1,697 jobs;
and the Air National Guard (131st Fighter Wing), Lambert Field, St. Louis County, a loss of 510 jobs.
May 21, 2005
Holy Family - on the block
May 19, 2005
Anti-Bauer Folks to hold press conference
A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2005
2:00 PM
FRANZ PARK
"Our Alderman, Tom Bauer, is suing us for over two million dollars because we are exercising our rights as citizens!
We will continue our fight to protect our neighborhood -
We will continue to obtain signatures -
We will continue to give the citizens of the 24th Ward a voice !
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR RECALL FIGHT!"
Press packets will be available at the Park. If you have any questions, please contact Judy McNamara at 314-307-2569
Cool idea
Playback has a contributor blogging from the Cannes Film Festival.
Save the Arches
From the critical mass email list, Save the Arches.
May 18, 2005
Young Democrats will meet tonight
Young Democrats will meet tonight
Wednesday, May 18th
7:00 p.m.
IBEW Local 1439 Hall
2121 59th Street (just east and south of Hampton and I-44)
(This is right down the street from IBEW Local 1)
Questions? Call Lori Becker at (314) 724-4310
May 17, 2005
Conference on Media Reform
There was a wealth of material to take away from the conference. It would be impossible to cover it all, and we wanted to stay with topics that would be of most interest to our readers.
This is the first of several stories about the conference and its potential impact.
While the attendees were swapping stories, honing tactics and discussing policies related to media reform actions across the country as well as the world, real world events were unfolding that highlight the reason the Free Press is holding these educational conferences.
"The quality of democracy and the quality of journalism are deeply intertwined," said Bill Moyers.
Click below to read the story.
Continue reading "Conference on Media Reform"City Rec Centers
Jake has a front page (above the fold) story in today's Post. Maybe a prelude to a bond issue (mentioned in the Mayor's State of the City speech) to fund better parks and recreation centers. Or maybe setting the stage for a city-county parks merger as mentioned in the Mayor's "mini-poll?"
Regardless there seems to be some momentum building around this issue, including a rumored CID in the 16th ward to fund a neighborhood community center.
NSOs to go?
There's a Board of Alderman Ways and Means Committee meeting tomorrow morning at 9 am at City Hall. During the meeting, they will be discussing the public safety budget, which means MAY discuss moving the Neighborhood Stabilzation Team from the public safety budget to another budget - like the aldermanic budget.
Should the Neighborhood Stabilization Team should stay civil servants and be assigned by neighborhood rather than by aldermen?
If folks want to speak at the meeting, they can either contact the chair, Steve Conway, ahead of time and request to speak. Or they can attend the meeting and sign up to speak.
It's a family affair
The Washington Post has an illuminating story about one of Missouri's own, Representative Roy Blunt. The story revolves around Rep. Blunt and his role as the Republican Whip and as the Republican point man when dealing with K Street, the home of Washington's most well-to-do an influential lobbyists.
While many Democrats in Missouri worry about the fact that Governor Matt Blunt's brother and sister are lobbyists and may exert undue influence, consider that his father is Republican Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay's (R-Tex) right hand man for working with lobbyists.
Here in Washington, Blunt has converted what had been an informal and ad hoc relationship between congressional leaders and the Washington corporate and trade community into a formal, institutionalized alliance. Lobbyists are now an integral part of the Republican whip operation on par with the network of lawmakers who serve as assistant whips.Roy Temple comments on the story at Fired Up Missouri.
May 16, 2005
Mike Jones on regionalism
Saturday, May 28 at 10 AM at the League of Women Voters' office in Brentwood located at 8706 Manchester Road, Mike Jones, the new St. Louis County Head of Communications and Policy will address plans for his contribution to county government. In view of his previous experience in St. Louis city government as chief of staff to former St. Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon and as executive director of the Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone, he will address issues that might best be served by a regional approach. The public is invited. For information, call (314) 961-6869.
Jeff Smith on "Ethical Dilemmas in Running for Congress"
Jeff Smith will speak about on June 5 11 am at the St. Louis Ethical Society.
This talk will explore the pressures on modern-day congressional candidates to mount a certain type of campaign, a campaign centered around money, image, and the imperative of avoiding controversial positions at all costs. It will describe ethical dilemmas I encountered in a variety of campaign activities: the money chase, formulating campaign advertising, and even unexpected dilemmas during quotidian one-on-one campaigning. The talk will raise hard questions both about specific decisions that our campaign made and also broader questions about the nature of high-priced, sound-bite-oriented campaigns in the modern age. Finally, it will suggest a road map for candidates to follow that facilitates a meaningful and substantive public conversation while respecting voters, the political process, and themselves.
Got that?
May 15, 2005
Lee - Pulitzer Purchase Agreement
Richard Byrd has Died
Shocking news.
Kirkwood State Representative Richard Byrd has died. He was a leader for the Republicans, champion for this session's tort reform.
I tangled with him last year, but I thought it was classy that despite our past disagreement, he emailed congratulations to me last month when my daughter was born.
Byrd was 46.
Media Reform Conference
The National Conference for Media Reform closed today with a speech by Bill Moyers that H.L. Menken would have been proud of. Moyers was a last minute addition to the conference following the increasing pressure on PBS from conservatives and Republican donors.
The program Moyers hosted until 6 months ago, NOW, has come in for particular criticism despite commendations from individuals on both sides of the political spectrum for its balance and willingness to take the time to discuss complex subjects.
Video of parts of the conference are available for downloading. The downloads include features sessions as well as the keynote event featuring Al Franken as the MC and the closing plenary including Moyers' speech.
In Addition, we here at the ACC will be digging through scribbled notes (some of us have been spoiled by the ever ubiquitous computer keyboard) to bring you information and stories from the conference including a caucus session for St. Louis locals moderated by frequent St. Louis media and ACC contributor, Thomas Crone.
May 13, 2005
Will the pro-life movement start to lose patience with the Republicans?
NARAL’s email blast crows that Republicans control the Governor’s mansion, the House and the Senate “and yet failed to grant a hearing or failed to vote on every piece of pro-choice, proactive legislation filed this session. These bills include:
HB 871: Woman's Right to Know Bill (no hearing);
SB 458: The Patient Protection Act (hearing in Senate, but no vote after the hearing);
SB 379: The Compassionate Assistance in Rape Emergencies (C.A.R.E.) Act (no hearing);
HB 621 and SB 40: The Birth Control Protection Act (neither bill received a hearing).”
NARAL’s Executive Director Carolyn Sullivan writes, "If the Missouri Legislature truly wants to reduce the number of abortions in Missouri, surely focusing efforts on preventing unintended pregnancies through education is the place to begin."
Old North St. Louis House Tour
Sorry to be running so late with this announcement. But go to this $10 house tour of an up and coming neighborhood and you'll get free ice cream from Crown Candy. Yum Yum.
May 11, 2005
Inside McCaskill's Mind
I'm not there, but this is what I hear.
In the front of her mind is the debt from her failed gubernatorial campaign. $1.6 million of family money. She transferred that debt to her auditor committee. If she ran for auditor in 06, she could use the race to raise more than she would need to win and whittle down the debt.
Running for senator is a little different puzzle. She can't transfer the debt to a federal (senate) campaign committee. If she beat Talent, of course problems melt. It's not hard for Senators to raise money. But if she lost, she still sitting on the debt and without an office or a race to raise money.
How important is the debt to her decision to run or not? I don't know. I hear it's on her mind though.
May 10, 2005
Will Talent move on Stem Cell research?
Will numbers like these put a little nuance into Talent's position?
Mannies starts new daily column
Or maybe it's a blog?
Warming up to Williams
The St. Louis Schools Watch (by subscription only) is reporting that new SLPS superintendent, Craig Williams, may be doing the impossible, winning over both parents and SLPS staff.
Leaders of the Parent Association expressed appreciation for his quick action to pull "pimp education" snacks from the schools after parent Curtis Royston brought a bag to his attention.
...
A principal, who has been critical of the leadership of the district for the last two years, said that Williams has brought new excitement to the district. Those assistant superintendents, who, following the lead of former interim superintendent William Roberti and some school board members, had routinely abused their underlings reportedly are reportedly acting as if they've had personality transplants: ... The rumor is that Williams leashed them in, and told them that if they can't get along with the staff in the schools, he does not need them.
Williams seems to be bringing good ideas and a willingness to listen to a school administration that has been lacking in both.
St. Louis Schools Watch is run by former School Board candidate, Peter Downs. Schools Watch is also on the radio, Wednesday morning's, 7 a.m., on the Lizz Brown Show WGNU 920 AM.
Mayor's Web Site
I find myself checking out the mayor's blog most everyday now. Usually something interesting.
National Conference on Media Reform
This weekend a real brain-trust will discuss media consolidation and the plight of independent media.
FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein; U.S. Reps. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Comedian Al Franken; musical legend Patti Smith; author and political commentator Jim Hightower; Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!; Television host Phil Donahue; Kim Gandy of the National Organization for Women (NOW); Naomi Klein, author of No Logo; Janine Jackson of Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR); David Brock of Media Matters for America; Seattle Times Publisher Frank Blethen; DJ and activist Davey D; Newspaper Guild President Linda Foley; Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez; Victor Navasky and John Nichols of The Nation; Outfoxed director Robert Greenwald; linguist George Lakoff; Medea Benjamin of Code Pink; Bill Fletcher of the TransAfrica Forum; radio host and author Laura Flanders; Malkia Cyril of the Youth Media Council; Free Press founder and president Robert W. McChesney.
A couple of ACCers will be there. I would go if there was one practical workshop on the schedule - like say how to sell more ads, how to attract venture capital, how to design eye-catching front-pages, how to...
More St. Louisans on the air soon?
StL natives Sarah Clarke and Jon Hamm have both shot pilots for the fall season. I am told that only about 1 in 10 pilots actually become series, but best of luck to them.
Clarke's pilot is called "E-Ring" referring to the outer ring of the Pentagon building. Clarke plays the wife of Benjamin Bratt's character, a lifelong soldier who tries to buck the bureaucracy at the Pentagon.
Hamm's pilot is called "Relations" an hour-long quirky drama that casts him as Laura San Giacomo's boyfriend.
Priests Down on East-side Bishop
From Belleville News Democrat.
World Welcomes Madeline McLin Baybeck
Born Thursday, 5/5/5, at 2:07 pm to Jennifer Olmstead and Brady Baybeck.
Been Gone Too Long
I'm be updating the blog today to catch up.
Also, the next issue will be in subscribers' mailboxes a week from tomorrow. We're putting it together right now, so feel free to send along your hot tip to dave@archcitychronicle.com or call me 314-865-4573.
More soon.
May 05, 2005
State Rep. Jane Cunningham is concerned
The former Ladue Education Board member sent a memo to House colleagues to share "something of great concern" to her - an ad in the Ladue School's principal's newsletter announcing that members of the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) are preparing for the 4th Annual GSA Convention to be held at Ladue Horton Watkins High School on Wednesday, March 16.
Jeanette Mott Oxford's reply
May 3, 2005
To: House Colleagues and Staff
From: Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford
RE: memo about Gay-Straight Alliance Convention
In response to Rep. Jane Cunningham's memo about the principle's newsletter which announced a Gay-Straight Alliance Convention, I would like to offer my own perspective. As Missouri's first out lesbian legislator, I had been asked to address the March 16 convention mentioned in that memo, but was unable to attend due to my duties here in the Missouri House. I hope to have another opportunity to visit with them, perhaps this fall.
I have met people who fear that young people will become gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB) if they receive any positive information about homosexuality. This is the stereotype that led Ellen DeGeneres' television show to include the joke about winning a toaster oven each time you "recruit" a new gay person.. Sexual orientation is a very complex human characteristic, and the positive or negative information that we receive certainly impacts on the ways we feel about ourselves and the behaviors we choose, but I have not yet found evidence that it determines one's affectional or sexual orientation.
Since we live in a heterosexist society, all of us receive many negative messages about GLB persons, including children who may later learn that one of these labels applies to them. (Transgender is not a sexual orientation, so I will not deal with that issue in this memo.) Unfortunately the abundance of messages of condemnation and hatred that GLB youth receive can lead to self-destructive behaviors like:
- smoking (almost 60% of GLB youth use tobacco products - I have theories about why if you're interested)
- unsafe sexual activities
- suicidal thoughts
At supportive organizations like Gay-Straight Alliance and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) GLB youth will encounter good role models from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and straight allies community. They will receive information about dangers that are caused by high risk behaviors and be encouraged to take good care of themselves. Some will also find a family of support to comfort and care for them after being rejected by blood relatives. This helps prevent homelessness and the many dangers that can befall GLB youth who are forced to live on the street - hunger, violent crime, sexual exploitation, etc. They also may find supportive congregations to surround them with care if they are rejected by the faith communities in which they were reared.
I wish that a Gay-Straight Alliance had existed at the high school that I attended 1968-72. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with any of you who may be interested.
May 04, 2005
Republicans rightly celebrate their victory in the tight race in Missouri's 22nd Senate District. Yet the situation that allowed Republican Bill Alter to slip into the seat may have been more good fortune than a sign of a future movement.
Commissioner Mark Martens of Jefferson County, which encompasses the entire 22nd District, tells the Post he may not run for reelection. He cites frustration over being ineffective because he is the lone Republican in a Democrat controlled county.
State Rep. Harold Selby, D-Cedar Hill, who also ran for the senate seat, and a former aide to Rep. Dick Gephardt, Chuck Banks are possibly angling for Martens' seat.
Free entertainment...
A few years ago I was reading Molly Ivins' tales of covering the Texas Legislature, "The finest form of free entertainment ever invented," she said. At the time I was writing for The University News, the student newspaper of Saint Louis University. I remember wanting to write about politics. I wanted to cover Jeff City and other legislative bodies and write the stories that people would leave people laughing, angry or just shaking their heads in amazement.
At the time, I was dismayed. In my youthful naivete I believed that the modern news establishment had driven all the color out of politics. Responsible people were paying attention now and politicians had hired consultants to ensure sobriety and decorum. I would never be witness to the truly jaw-dropping spectacle that was state politics.
I know now that I could never have been so wrong...
From today's Post-Dispatch a story about a bill to mandate teaching alternative theories to evolution.
One great excerpt:
[Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O’Fallon] is among several socially conservative Republicans who had hoped for a fruitful session this year, given the fact that Missouri has a Republican governor and a Republican-led Legislature for the first time in more than 80 years.
Instead, the Legislature has dedicated its time largely on economic issues, such as school funding and controlling Medicaid costs.
MoDoT's plans for "40"
Check out the plans for I-64. Submit your comments to MoDot.
Hill: McCaskill will huddle with DSCC
Small article in The Hill. With thanks to Combest.
Honest Policy...
While some dedicated legislators continue to work in Jeff City to try and salvage what they can of Missouri's medicaid there are a few points that voters should keep in mind for the next two years. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities published an excellent analysis of the Governor's sales pitch for medicaid cuts.
•...the Governor uses a misleading measure of where the state stands relative to other states. When more appropriate measures of Medicaid costs are used, Missouri is found to spend less on Medicaid than the majority of states. In terms of state general fund Medicaid expenditures per state resident, Missouri ranked 34th in the nation in 2003. In terms of state general fund Medicaid expenditures as a share of state personal income, Missouri ranked 38th in the nation in 2003.•...national studies demonstrate that Medicaid is less expensive than private health insurance and that Medicaid costs have been growing less rapidly in recent years than private health insurance. A study by Urban Institute ... found that the average amount Medicaid spends on medical costs for adults is 30 percent less than ... if the same people were instead covered by private health insurance.
•Missouri ranks 34th in the nation in Medicaid expenditures per enrollee.
•...for each dollar by which the state would lower Medicaid expenditures financed by state funds, it would lose $1.53 in federal matching funds that finance the provision of health care to low-income Missourians and go into the Missouri economy. A recent study, based on analyses by economists at St. Louis University, indicates that this loss of federal funds would have repercussions across the state and lead to the loss of about 10,000 jobs and more than $700 million in economic activity in Missouri. A Medicaid reduction of this magnitude thus would adversely affect Missouri’s economy.
The economic effects of the Medicaid cuts will likely end in a net negative for the state. The political fallout will likely end in a net negative for the Republican Party as well.
May 03, 2005
Winning in 06 and 08
Finally swung by the Board of Elections to see April ward-by-ward break down.
We previously wrote about the March primary turn-out in the 20th ward being horrible. It was 8%. The next lowest was 14%. The bestward turn-out was 29% and the mean ward turn-out was 18%. We believe that for Democrats to win state-wide, they need to maximize voter turn-out in the city. We suggested that committeepeople should be held accountable for poor turn-out.
In previous comments about this on the blog, others have suggested that the committeman Mark Rice is nice and very hard working and not the problem. The problem, more than one poster suggested, is the demographics of the ward.
Mark may be both nice and hard-working. The demographics of the ward may be challenging. And, something's not working. In the April general election, the 20th ward was again last in turn-out - 5.35%. (The next lowest was 8.47%; the highest was 18.55% and city-wide the turn-out was 12.1%) The 20th ward has the least number of registered voters of any city ward and nineteen out of twenty of those registered voters didn't vote last election. Something has to change. Democrats need those votes.
Champions are made in the off-season.
Mark Rice told me that he doesn't like the Arch City Chronicle "because of our pro-gay agenda," and because I personally haven't lived in the city long enough to have an opinion. (I've only lived in the city about seven years.)
This leads me to believe that he may be a "nice guy" and hard-working, but if he doesn't like and doesn't want to include gays, new residents and who knows whatever other group, that may be part of the reason he's ineffective.
Democrats will need every vote in 06 and 08.
May 02, 2005
Book recommendation...
Usually we restrict ourselves to St. Louis matters here at the Arch City Chronicle, but occasionally we want to make note of national matters. One such incident was Rev. Pat Robertson's statement on one of the Sunday talk shows. Robertson hosts the 700 Club which airs during the week on KPLR, Channel 11:
Federal judges are a more serious threat to America than Al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 terrorists, the Rev. Pat Robertson claimed yesterday.
"Over 100 years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings," Robertson said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
This incident, as well as recent barrages against the U.S. legal system by cable-news pundits inspired me to review a book I read recently by James Wolcott, Attack Poodles, and Other Media Mutants: The looting of the news in a time of terror. The book was published last summer, but given the continued prominence of the screaming-class punditry, as well as the upcoming National Conference for Media Reform which is being hosted here in St. Louis, I thought it might be something our readers may enjoy.
To read the review, follow the link below.
Continue reading "Book recommendation..."Symptoms but not the cause...
For the many Missourians following the continuing pruning of health care services you may be interested to know that yesterday, May 1st, kicked off "Cover the Uninsured Week."
While Missourians certainly don't need to be reminded that there are countless people living without health insurance, the effort is designed to help bring attention to the tenuous position in which many working people find themselves.
Many Missourians are facing difficult times ahead thanks to budget cuts, but the health insurance system at-large is riddled with problems and requires a serious national dialogue to diagnose its ailments. The only way these issues will be treated effectively is if the political leadership take serious steps toward addressing the state of health insurance, rather than passing politically favorable but generally ineffective lawsuit restrictions.
Businesses, individuals, advocacy groups and legislators need to sit down and examine reform efforts to help ensure access to efficient and affordable heath insurance. Access isn't simply an ethical issue but also an economic one. The specter of government intervention needs to be dismissed. The health care industry doesn't provide consumer goods but is a necessary partner in sustaining a healthy, productive economy.
May 01, 2005
Cutting People Off from Health Care is like Pruning a Tree?
I guess this supposed to be "folksy," but it just sounds cruel and out of touch to me.
From House Speaker Jetton's latest Weekly Update, "Looking at the Budget and Jump-Starting our Economy:"
"All in all, we are beginning to see the bright future Missouri has in store. A lot has been made on TV and in certain newspapers about our attempts to bring common sense and personal responsibility back to Jefferson City. They believe we should raise taxes in order to keep things the way they are.
What these critics do not understand is that these changes are being made so that our state can continue to grow and prosper. When you prune a tree, it isn't because you dislike those extra branches, but because changes must be made for the tree to grow the way it should, to reach its full potential. As you can see, by pruning the waste from our state budget, we have been able to invest in policies that provide for those in need while bringing new and better opportunities to our working families. Soon the fruits of these labors will be clear to all of us in the brighter future that lies ahead."
revolution or "revenge of the amateurs"
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Bellfontaine Habilitation Center saved?
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