June 2006

June 30, 2006

Identity Theft

Department of Veterans Affairs Officials announced Thursday that the laptop containing personal data on over 26 million individuals was returned this week and it appeared the database showed no signs of being either copied or tampered with.

While the head of the VA may breathe a little easier today, identity theft is still an enormous problem for many. Victims not only lose financially, but the time and stress of undoing the damage can drag on for years.

In an effort to combat a growing problem, several states have instituted a policy that would allow consumers to impose a credit freeze on their records. Any time a request to create some form of financial account (bank account, credit card, etc.) is made it is run through one of the three major credit bureaus; Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. A freeze would require the credit bureaus to request a pre-arranged personal id to ensure the applicant is who they claim to be before releasing the information. Without the o.k. of a major credit reporting company, any institution would deny the request.

Currently California, Louisiana, Texas, Vermont or Washington allow residents to apply a voluntary credit freeze and Missouri residents would undoubtedly benefit from similar rules. Yet, as the Kansas City Star reports, federal legislation might weaken such rules. It would supplant state laws allowing consumers to request a credit freeze by only allowing a request after becoming a victim of identity theft.

Identity theft is expensive, time-intensive and ulcer-inducing. Any step in the direction of providing consumers with greater control over who is able to access their credit will help reduce the pain.

Sam Page does have general election opposition

As Oracle noted a month ago, Republicans have a new nominee in the 82nd.

Cute Cupples

Last night, the Cupples Station Loft Apartments had a grand opening.

They had a band:

They had Cbabi:

They Had Jeff Rainford speaking for Mayor Slay

They had a new restaurant and outside/inside bar (Mercury)

They had nice lofts

Cupples Station has a lot of everything. Great fitness facilities, and a modern, spacious common area with a nice plasma TV. They even had a projector rigged up to what had to be a 75 foor wide screen (Unsure if permanent) As a matter of fact, this might be one of, if not the most impressive loft buildings to date, except I did not see a rooftop pool.

The only thing Cupples didn't have, at least at the podium, were African-Americans. Everybody speaking, or even congratulated at the microphone for participating or funding the loft experience was white, except for (of course) the maintenance guy. I find this same scenario at just about every loft opening or rededication/revitalization/ribbon cutting/ground-breaking ceremony I attend downtown, or anywhere particularly close to the downtown area.

Is this their fault? No. Is this unique to their lofts? No. Is this some racist plot? No. Do they have beautiful lofts I would love to move into? Yes.

This just speaks to the larger issue of African-American involvement in the revitalization of downtown St. Louis, and the ciy in general.

But, not to rain on the Cupples parade, here is some more info on the lofts themselves:

The seven-story Cupples Station Loft Apartments is a total rehab of one of the 4 remaining undeveloped buildings in the original complex. The project features 127 "work force" and 4 market rate loft apartments ranging in size from 623 to 1425 sq. ft. There are 84 - 1 bedroom units and 47 - 2 bedroom units.

1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom Lofts - $687.00

2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom Lofts - $826.00

Amongst the features of the new loft apartment complex are a fitness center, entertainment room with Plasma TV & wet bar, exposed brick beams and duct work, large arched windows and 31 gated parking spots adjacent to the 117,877 sq. ft. building, and access to the 760 space Cupples Garage via landscaped walkway. Other projects that HRI have been involved in include the Renaissance Grand and Suites Hotel and Merchandise Mart Apartments. The building also features Mercury, a sports oriented bar and casual restaurant on the lower level.

The Colonel Calls

Apparently, Col. Jack Jackson is robocalling today (6/30) in St. Louis County. He introduces himself as a Republican candidate for Auditor and directs traffic to his website.

Congressional votes

via KWMU.

Poll: Akin to Trounce Parker

Over at Combest, he has a poll that gives Akin a 77-3 lead.

UPDATE
The response from Parker's camp: Poll fails to mention Parker; Asks leading questions

St. Peters, Missouri - June 30, 2006 The Akin campaign released a poll today - that most experts would agree - uses suspect sampling methodology and asks leading questions, accounting for its unusually high 5.8% margin of error. For example, according to Akin's "poll":

" 85% are more likely to vote for Congressman Akin for his sponsorship of legislation to keep “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance, including 70% who are much more likely."

"82% are more likely to vote for Congressman Akin when told he introduced legislation to protect property owners from the misuse of eminent domain, including 62% who are much more likely."

" 69% are more likely to vote for Congressman Akin for his vote to build a fence across our border with Mexico, to send illegal aliens back to their country or origin and his vote against amnesty for illegal aliens, including 49% who are much more likely."

"This poll they've released is a joke," said Sherman Parker, "My extended family alone should put me over 3%! Most Americans support keeping "under God in the Pledge", reforming eminent domain laws, and halting illegal immigration into our country. It's a far stretch for the Akin campaign to equate strong support for these issues to strong support for Akin in general."

The Akin poll also claims 96% of second district Republican primary voters know who he is, with 75% approving of his job performance.

"Todd Akin votes over 90% of the time with President Bush, whose favorable ratings have declined significantly among Republican voters in Missouri. It's hard to believe Congressman Akin is polling that much higher than the President and Senator Talent."

Rep. Parker has been requesting for over 90 days now, the opportunity to debate Congressman Akin on the issues that are important to the second district and to our country. As of this date, still no response from Mr. Akin.

Contact: Rochelle Williams 314.348.1860

June 29, 2006

"Drive a Ford and Feel the Difference"

In all the fanfare accompanying the Interstate system's birthday I have heard plenty of stories on the effect interstates have had on our culture (city depopulation, the decline of smaller cities, the birth of "edge cities", and many more), but I have heard few mentions of the effects of punching major arteries through city centers.

St. Louis is diced up by three major interstates. The engineer's calipers and the surveyor's transit divided neighborhoods and split communities. Some even argue that their creation fueled the decline of the adjacent areas, some of which are only now seeing their fortunes change for the better. If you head East along I-44 from Hampton to I-55 then South through Soulard, 40 West from Vandeventer, or along 70 West from Grand you can see where the highways separated neighbor from neighbor.

Eisenhower's dream successfully linked up the nation's major cities providing faster transit for people, goods and tanks (fortunately the only major military deployments utilizing the interstate has been for disaster relief). Its legacy is written in our physical and cultural landscape.

The system has brought numerous benefits and, as others have documented in detail, its car-centric nature has also brought negatives. Yet as the nation stood in the 1950's the car was a symbol of a rebirth in American manifest destiny. There was little chance continental transit would take any other form. And, remember, Communists took the train.

Legal High

Stars and Stripes Air Tour(s) is providing helicopter tours of the St. Louis area, after a 12 year hiatus of helicopter tours.

Nothing, and I mean nothing says "random new york ad firm" like the part about St. Louis tours offering spectacular, unforgettbale vies of "THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUTH".

Also strange is the reference to "a time when patriotism is rare" Its rare now??

Ladies and gentleman, to the left is the St. Louis Arch,

A little further in is the Statue of St. Louis himself

And, ladies and gentleman, right next to the statue of St. Louis is this great city's other famous tribute to a man on horseback: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Klan emeritus.

From the Press Release:

Stars and Stripes Air Tours, bringing over 25 years of helicopter operating
experience, is proud to present its newest venture in helicopter flight
services and excursions. Based out of St. Louis, Missouri, Gateway Air
Tours offers spectacular, unforgettable views of the great American South.

In a time when patriotism and loyalty are simultaneously both rare and
essential, Gateway Air Tours seeks to reveal the spectacle of America from
the sky, because sometimes it is necessary to take a step back to see the
beauty of the big picture.

St. Louis is one of the most quintessentially American cities in the South,
and is brimming with historic places and monuments such as Forest Park, the
heart of St. Louis and home of the 1904 World's Fair.

Soar above a spectrum of the world's most captivating creatures as your
pilot takes you over the St. Louis Zoo, America's number one zoo according
to the Zagat Survey. Each gem witnessed on your flight will be strung
together by that inescapable silvery thread that is this country's most
vital vein: the Mississippi River.

These panoramic vistas are a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday or
anniversary, or even just to explore downtown St. Louis for the first time.
This Independence Day weekend, celebrate as the fireworks do, as you fly the
Stars and Stripes in the great Missouri sky.

Located at the foot of the St Louis Arch National Monument and on the banks
of the Mississippi River, Gateway Air Tours welcomes both reservations and
walk-in's.

For more information email GatewayAirTours@hotmail.com
(314) 393-2665 or (314) 393-2632
10 am - 7 pm / 7 days a week
50 North Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63102

Clearing up the references to St. Louis being in the South, some assistant at Nancy Hirsch Media Imaging and Public Relations from New York lets us know:

Leave it to silly New Yorkers who never leave their little island of
Manhattan to confuse St. Louis with the South.

Profuse apologies; we've changed our statement to clarify that St. Louis is
indeed in the Midwest.

We think St. Louis is great and all we wanted to do was draw attention to
your city. Sorry for the mistake.

Kelly McCormick
Assistant
kelly@nhirschgroup.com

Not only was that a sloppy mistake, but the release itself reads like hallmark on roids. How much are they getting paid again??

Bagles Bite (Update)!!!!!

This is a picture of abject frustration. Its a 2 oz. serving of St. Louis Bread Company's sun-dried tomato cream cheese. Its very good. But now, at a shade over 1.50 with tax, it is now fifty cents more expensive than the bagel itself. An asiago cheese bagel and sun-dried tomato cream cheese is now rapidly approaching the 3.00 threshold.

Has anybody tried to put the whole 2 ounces on two mortal halves of a bagel? Its like setting off a sun-dried WMD right in your mouth. I don't know what customers clamored for 2oz of pureed cholesterol, but whoever did it must be rich, and by now, fairly obese. 1.50 is way too much for cream cheese of any flavor. Why do I need to pay for the cream-cheese obsessed? Is 1 ounce at 60 cents too much to ask?

A bagel (yes they have Asiago) with cream cheese at the Coffee Cartel is 1.32 after tax. They dont have sun-dried tomato, but regardless, when can I say when? When can you say when? When a bagel and cream cheese finally hits 3.00, will we avoid the lure of convenience, the vcr-size pager buzzers, and the latest fusion-inspired gobbledygook on the menu? You know, the "Samhain molted lava cheese with Siberian tiger-claw ham and fresh Easter Island cracked head lettuce?"

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Arch City Chronicle went on a search for St. Louis' most expensive bagel.

The honor goes to The Clark Street Grill, inside the Westin Hotel on Spruce. No less than FIVE dollars for a bagel and cream cheese. Runner up was the Ritz-Carleton's 4 dollar bagel, and no, these aren't room serive prices.

However, St. Louisans shouldn't feel so bad. New York's priciest bagel is 22 bucks.

Making Political Movies

New Cervantes documentary. See a clip over at KWMU.

And, the Jeff Smith film played at Woodstock in the City last night. We hear the audience reaction was even more overwhelming than Silverdocs.

Yaphett polling

Heard from two folks that Yaphett El-Amin is polling in the 4th.

They believe that it's hers because during the candidate bios, hers is the only one without anything negative. Negatives mentioned: for Amber Boykins was the high % of votes she missed as a rep.; for Jeff Smith was his putting the wrong address down on his filing form.

Take this with a grain of salt, this is like a game of telephone after all.

Couple of things

24th ward endorsements (by email from Committeeman Chuck Miller): As the 24th Ward Democratic Committeeman and member of the 24th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, I wanted you to know that tonight the organization endorsed Derio Gambaro for State Senate (4th District), Russ Carnahan for Congress (2nd District), and Gregg Daly for St. Louis Collector of Revenue. The endorsements were made after members submitted secret ballots for each of the contests. By acclamation, the organization also endorsed Mike McMillan for St. Louis License Collector and also endorsed a position in
opposition to the sale of Forest Park land to BJC.

Via Combest, KC Buzz has video of McCaskill on Hardball last night.

June 28, 2006

Get Trashed

Ever felt like swillin beer AND picking up trash? Me too!!

Anheuser Busch and Operation Brightside are teaming up to clean up the Riverfront on July 8th, from 8:30 to 1:15 pm.

This is from the release:

Volunteers will be provided with a Budweiser Green Team or SeaWorld Busch Gardens T-shirt, a hat, gloves, and life jackets (if going in a boat). Burgers, brats, hotdogs and beverages after the clean up, including A-B products for those 21 and older. Wear old shoes and clothes. Attendance prizes will be awarded. Participation is limited to the first 250 people, so please register early to ensure a spot for this important and rewarding event. Call Operation Brightside at 772-4646 for advance registration.

No doubt, people will be picking up a lot of AB's own product off the street, so this essentially completes the marketing circle of life. Product drank, product on street, product picked up, product drank agin. After sleeping off a midday buzz, someone is guranteed to have a dream about AB after seeing one of their product logos approximately 2,785 times in one day.

But, picking up trash is important, and this is a good cause which I do support. Nothing says "Deblight" (Blight and Decay) like heaps of trash, so if the City is going to continue to come back, the trash has got to go as well.

MO Foundation for Health

is looking for new Board members.

And Mentor St. Louis need a new ED.

June 27, 2006

StL makes the Onion

Baggage mix-up.

McCaskill's Meatballs

As many of you know, President Bush will be here tomorrow to raise money for Jim Talent. Less well known is that that McCaskill is having her own fundraiser on Wednesday, June 28th from 5:30-8:30 PM.

Its a fundraiser (Spaghetti dinner) for the Missouri Military Relief Fund, an organization that supports National Guardsmen and their families. It will be held at Wild Acres Park (At the intersection of Midland & Ashby, entrance on Ashby)-- 10400 Midland Boulevard in Overland, MO.

McCaskill Spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh notes "While President Bush is in town raising money for Jim Talent at the Ritz-Carlton, we'll be raising money for Missouri troops, veterans and their families"

Daily Stew

Oracle offers PrideFest observations.

Via Combest, Dem state Reps fight KC ballpark tax breaks.

2nd issue of 52nd City coming. Its theme: Faith.

And over on the mayor's blog, Liberman and Danforth defend conflict of interest as "conflict of commitment."

June 26, 2006

PD Poll Shows Jackson in Front

in GOP Auditor's race. Lots of undecideds.

June 23, 2006

ACC at PrideFest this weekend

Come by and visit us.

Daily Stew

Couple of interesting things over at Combest:
Hancock compares bloggers to Trekkies.
WSJ poll give Talent 5 point lead.
DSCC giving Mo Dems $200,000.

And over at the Fix, Jake notes that Gambaro grabs Gregali's endorsement.

In other news, Bernie Hayes will be signing his book "The Death of Black Radio" at the Urban League tomorrow (Saturday 3- 5pm).

And sadly, the 19th ward Republican Committeewoman, Lillie Metcalfe, has passed away. A memorial mass will be held at St Wenceslaus Church on July 2 at 10AM.

June 22, 2006

Anniversary Eminent

Eminent domain, Thor's hammer of both revitalization and some would say gentrification, celebrates a milestone event on June 23rd: the one year anniversary of the Kelo decision, which allowed usage of the eminent domain law for private development.

A press release, sent by MEDAC, the Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition and its coordinator, the controversial Jim Roos, outlines the details of a rally in front of St. Louis city hall on Friday June 23rd, from 11:30-12:30.

--Missouri eminent domain legislation , HB 1944, is grossly inadequate for urban
areas. The bill allows all properties in an area to be taken if the municipality
classifies 51% or more of the property as blighted, unsanitary or substandard.
Safe, decent, property could be taken because a neighbor's property is blighted
and “blight” can be any thing the municipality wants it to be.

Property rights are not equally protected. Farm Land is explicitly protected from being declared blighted. Any urban property, "blighted" or near blighted
properties is subject to being taken. Compensation is not equal and not just. Some owners receive 150%, some 125%, and some 100% of “fair market value.” Besides that, “fair market value” is not just compensation. Just compensation should be the full cost to reestablish oneself in equally comfortable and desirable conditions.

Municipalities claim eminent domain is a necessary tool to remove blight and
redevelop an area. In fact, many communities that 20-40 years ago were severely distressed, such as Soulard, Lafayette Square, Shaw, and Old North St. Louis, have fully recovered without any eminent domain. Furthermore, eminent domain is only attempted in neighborhoods where development without it is already possible. In really bad areas, no one attempts to use eminent domain to solve the problem.

We request that Governor Blunt not sign this bill, and that he and the legislature
declare a moratorium on all eminent domain for private development, to take effect immediately, and that the senate and house ratify that moratorium, with it to bein effect until May 2007.

Who we are:

MEDAC seeks to ensure that the citizens of Missouri are safe from eminent domain abuse for private development and profit. MEDAC believes that eminent domain should only be employed for public use, where "public use" means owned and used by the public. Governments should never assign, transfer, or convey their eminent domain authority to any private entity.

MEDAC opposes the use of eminent domain to deal with "blight." Local governments have other tools available to deal with abandoned, neglected or hazardous properties.

MEDAC insists that "just compensation" must include the full costs of any seizure, which may be far greater than appraised value. It should include the cost to purchase comparable property, relocation expenses, legal fees, and compensation for the disruption of family life or business operations

For more infomation contact Jim Roos, 314-771-3509, Email:neinc@sbcglobal.net. or Joan Botwinick, 314-727-6237 Email:jj.bot@earthlink.net

June 21, 2006

Daily Stew

Mike McMillan fundraiser tonight at Lucas Park Grille, 5:30 - 7:30pm.

One 10th Ward Tilles Park resident reports receiving a robo-call Monday night from Police Board President Chris Goodson with invitation to attend the Police Board meeting this Wednesday at Word of Life Gymnasium, 6535 Eichelberger, 16th Ward St. Louis Hills Nabe. In the message, Goodson describes it as a meeting in "your neighborhood" regarding "civilian residency". Caller ID shows call came via St. Chuck's based GOP consultant Survey Saint Louis 783-9977. Is everyone in the City getting called about the meeting in their alleged nabe? Who is paying for this?

Roddy Recall.

Young Republicans monthly Happy Hour is this Friday, June 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at Tejas, 44 N. Brentwood Blvd (on the corner of Maryland Avenue) in Clayton. Get there before 6:30 to enjoy drink specials and a free taco bar. Their next meeting is Thursday, July 13 with Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons as the guest speaker.

Jeff Smith documentary

Won Audience Award at Silverdocs.

Here are some blog reviews:
Chutry Experiment.

Democratic Underground.

AgnesVarnum.

Photos from the showing at Silverdocs are in the photo gallery.

Finally, the movie will play here in St. Louis for eight days starting July 27. Tickets are available online and are expected to go quickly.

UPDATE: Chutry has updated its review. And Royale's Steve Smith tells of his DC trip over at stlstreets.

Back from visiting my parents

Couple of things:

City's Democratic Central Committee unanimously endorsed the two November ballot proposals involving increasing the minimum wage and protecting stem cell research.

Amber Boykins received the Teachers’ Union (Local 420) endorsement.

More coming.

June 19, 2006

New Smith endorsements

The press release:

Three progressive groups and a key ward organization announced today that they are backing Jeff Smith for the 4TH district state Senate seat. Personal Rights Of Missourians Political Action Committee (PROMO PAC), Missouri Votes Conservation (MVC), the Missouri Equal Rights Amendment Political Action Committee (ERA PAC), and the 28th Ward Democrats all endorsed Smith.

Daily Stew

Sherman Parker received the endorsement of the Carpenter's District Council of Greater St. Louis. Thouhg how many votes that will bring him in the Republican primary for the 2nd CD is unclear.

Derio's website is up.

StL Style celebrates its fifth year.

Oracle says that Jeff Smith made St. Louis Mag's "A-List."

And the Old North St. Louis Resoration Group has started a blog.

June 15, 2006

La Raza and L'chayim

The Hispanic Ledership Group (of St. Louis) had a meeting last night at A.G. Edwards, and featured a high-powered guest speaker: Dina Siegal Vann, first generation Mexican-American of Jewish decent, and head of the Latino and Latin-American Institute of the American Jewish Committee.

A delegation of U.S. Hispanic leaders traveled to Israel in April 2006, co-sponsored by Dina's organization and Project Interchange. The result was a statement pledging to support Israel and United States foreign policy concerning Israel.

Its always a positive thing to see minorities support each other, even if Latin-America and Judaism aren't exactly common word associations. What is odd is that the Hispanic Leadership Group chose to host this speaker at this time, considering we are in the midst of a proposal to send troops to the border, and especially considering a looming Missouri bill (SB 1250) that severely cracks down on illegal (undocumented) immigrants.

Strangely enough, only 10 or so minutes were dedicated solely to the topic of the bill, with Joan Suarez of Jobs with Justice Immigrant Rights Action Task Force filling in the details. In any case, the Arch City Chronicle plans to closely follow the result of the bill and its effect on St. Louis' Hispanic population.

On a side note, La Clinica recieved a federal grant to provide free pre-natal care to interested immigrants, though it was not clear whether or not the women had to be "documented".

June 14, 2006

Spence has lost it

Completely.

June 13, 2006

Daily Stew

On June 17, 2006 the Downtown St. Louis Partnership, downtown retailers and restaurants invite you to join them at "East Meets West" - a downtown block party! The center of the party will encompass blocks along Washington Avenue between 9th and 17th Streets but also include businesses along Pine, Locust, Olive and Lucas. The event will begin at 11 am until 8 pm.

City Hall now has ATMs - in Room 109 and Cafeteria.

GOP source tells ACC that Catherine Hanaway is looking at the 08 AG race.

The initial set of possible MetroLink routes and other transit improvements for portions of North St. Louis City, South St. Louis City and downtown will be open for veiwing this week. The information presented at each open house will be the same.

* Northside ­ Tuesday, June 13, 2006
5:00 p.m. ­ 7:30 p.m.
Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club
2901 N. Grand
St. Louis, MO 63107
Presentations at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

* Downtown ­ Wednesday, June 14, 2006
3:30 p.m. ­ 6:00 p.m
Downtown St. Louis Partnership
906 Olive St.
St. Louis, MO 63101
Presentations at 4:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

* Southside ­ Thursday, June 15, 2006
5:00 p.m. ­ 7:30 p.m.
Monsanto Center
Missouri Botanical Garden
4500 Shaw Blvd. (at Vandeventer)
St. Louis, MO 63110
Presentations at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

June 12, 2006

Poll: City Split on FP-BJC Deal

According to a new Arch City Chronicle poll to be published tomorrow in its June 13 edition, St. Louis City is evenly divided by the controversial plan to lease part of Forest Park to BJC Hospital. 39% support the plan, 39% oppose it, and 22% are undecided.

The poll also showed that support for the plan eroded as voters learned more about the plan. After hearing arguments in favor and opposed to the deal, 34% were supportive, 47% opposed and 19% undecided. This trend was evident across all demographic and geographic sub-groups.

Opposition to the plan is greatest among those living near the park. But not overwhelmingly so. 44% of surveyed residents in wards 17, 24, and 28 were against the plan, six points higher than the result from all the other wards.

The poll was conducted on June 7, 2006 by the Chilenski Strategy Group for Arch City Chronicle. The sample size was 1,750, and weighed to reflect the city’s overall voter population. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.3%.

Boykins gets Administrators

Amber Boykins has won the endorsement of the Missouri School Administrators PAC.

Metro a mess? Hugh Scott takes on Brennan

A link (if it works).

Stlouist saying So Long

It was once the most vibrant cyber-community in St. Louis. It started as the Metropolist and helped fuel that organization's growth during the late 90s. Later, because stinging and zippy email threads put some people off, it morphed into the Stlouist. It's ending in a couple of weeks.
Jeff Wiegand, who selflessly hosts the list, mailed this out:

It's over people.

It was a fun time, but my divorce is final and I am done here....
I am leaving for the Philippines at the end of the month.
Sorry for the short notice, but I've had a lot on my plate.
The list will go down and the sites will be for sale.

I'm going surfing now....

Be good,

JW

June 10, 2006

It's true

We did a poll.
Results in our new issue - out tuesday.

I was surprised, maybe you will be too.

June 09, 2006

On CSPAN tonight

Close Up on C-SPAN

This week's program:
SILVERDOCS Film Festival
Friday, June 9, 2006
7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on C-SPAN

Guests:
* Christopher Quinn, Documentary Film Director, "21 Up America"
* Frank Popper, Documentary Film Director, "Can Mr. Smith Get to
Washington Anymore?"
* Patricia Finneran, Festival Director, SILVERDOCS

June 08, 2006

Daily Stew

RightMO says, "So Long." from the Fix.

League of Pissed Off Voters will show DeLay movie.

Patterson contra Florida in the PD.

June 07, 2006

Fright Attendants

Its funny how the busiest cashier in any given grocery store is the brave one manning the self-scan booth. Let's hope the Technical Specialists sought by the Election board aren't as busy. The voting machines, ironically, are also equipped with touch screens and keypads just like their commercial comrades in the grocery store. Technology can scare people, especially the elderly and uninitiated, so I anticipate patience must be an important prerequisite for the job.

The Election Board is still accepting applications for the Technical Specialist position, and all the details are included below. This is a great paid opportunity to view the amalgamation of politics and technology up close and personal.

Please pass the word on to anybody who might be interested.

Following is a job description for the temporary position of Technical Specialist with the Board of Election Commissioners City of St Louis.

Tasks include the following:

•Perform all technical duties for opening and closing functions for the touch screen and optical scan voting system under the supervision of the Democrat and Republican Poll Supervisors
•Locate and solve technical problems and address voter questions at the polls
•Contact the Board of Election Commissioners help desk for assistance and close voting machine when warranted during the election
•Understand and complete the Specialists CVA form
•Know when to close out a voting system and set up a new voting system if needed during the election if a problem has occurred.
•Close down all voting systems after the election under the supervision of the Polling Supervisors
•Repack all technical equipment as directed

The Technical Specialist will attend an 8 hour training session and must pass a test at the end of the session in order to work at the polls on Election Day. The training will be at the Board of Election office at 300 N. Tucker from 8:00 - 5:00 with validated parking available at the Savvis Center Parking Garage. On Election Day, 8/8/06, the Technical Specialist would be required to arrive at their assigned polling site at 5:00 am to set up the machines and would remain at this site until approximately 7:00 - 8:00 pm when the Roving Deputies arrive to collect all Election Day results. Training sessions are scheduled for Saturday July 15, Friday July 21, Saturday July 22, Friday July 28 and Saturday July 29. Compensation for attending the training session and working Election Day will be $225.00, no withholding. We will also be utilizing the Technical Specialists for the November 2006 election. You will not have to attend another 8 hour training session if you can pass the test again. You will still be paid $225.00 for the 8 hour training session and working Election Day.

This is a great opportunity for paid community and civic minded service and the only requirement is they must be a registered voter in the state of Missouri! Technical Specialists will have the chance to demonstrate their commitment to democracy on the "front line" and learn the details of the election process. This would also be a great résumé builder!

Our deadline to fill 150 Technical Specialist positions is June 15, 2006. If you are interested and available to attend one of the training sessions and work on August 8, 2006, please contact Stephanie Doss 314-622-3546 or Summer Richardson at 314-622-4327.

Smith picks up Unions

Smith Receives Major Endorsements From Influential Unions * ****

ST. LOUIS -- Today, several St. Louis unions announced their endorsement of
Jeff Smith, Democratic candidate for the 4 th State Senate seat. The
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council #13, the United Auto
Workers Region #5, and the Communications Workers of America Local #6320 all
declared their support for Smith. These are three of the area's largest
unions, and together have thousands of members in the 4 th Senatorial
District.

June 06, 2006

On the August ballot

Constitutional Amendment 1, if ratified, will reauthorize for another 10 years an existing one-tenth-cent statewide sales tax earmarked for soil and water conservation programs and state parks and historical sites.

Daily Stew

Tower Grove Movie Night now has a website.

Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) presents Best Candidate Forum: 4th Senatorial District. Sunday, June 11 from 4 -6 pm at the Rowan Community Center located at 1401 Rowan Ave. (Ridge). All candidates have been invited. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 314-367-5959 or email obs_onthemove@yahoo.com.

Deborah Cooper was named Chief Executive Officer of Nonprofit Services Consortium (NSC) beginning in July, 2006. Cooper comes to NSC from Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) where she served as Vice President and Chief Program Officer since 2002.

June 05, 2006

Would have been in bad taste considering the context

Ah, Craig's List...

Daily Stew

Finally caught up on my NYTs over the weekend:
Chihuly is involved in creative lawsuits.
StL gets more Homeland Sec. $$$.
(BTW, Dooley is running internet ads on the NYT site).

Young Republicans meeting is this Thursday, June 8 at 7:30pm at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters. Former state legislator Franc Flotron will speak.

S&P ups City's credit rating to A.

PDF of May 23rd issue now up in Back Issues.

June 02, 2006

Saving Public Cleveland

Cleveland Naval cadets and the future of the building itself have been forced to walk the plank of uncertainty, but a new group, the Alliance to Save Cleveland High, are fighting to not only fix the building and bring ROTC students back, but will also come up with a plan to modernize its technological infrastructure, ensuring Cleveland's competitiveness well into the forseeable future. Their first planning session kicked off last night in Dutchtown.

Attending were Alderperson(s) Craig Schmid (20th) and Dorothy Kirner (25th), and Comitteewoman Maggie Lampe (25th Ward). The evening's facilitator was Travis Reems (in the fuschia shirt)

The group is planning a Press Conference 10 AM Monday in front of the school building (4352 Louisiana Ave, St. Louis, MO 63111) to announce a "Framework for Collaborative Actions". In addition, the group encourages all concerned citizens and organizations to sign up and join the Alliance to Save Cleveland High. The web site is www.saveclevelandhigh.org, and the hotline phone number is 314-442-4551.

The session was semi-orderly but very productive, and the group has a dedicated nucleus of believers who will work tirelessly to see the cadets back where they belong. Seeing how Cleveland serves and has served many African-Americans and immigrants, soliciting support from their respective communities and/or leaders should be a priority.

There are many hurdles to saving Cleveland, the most obvious being money. There are figures circulating that approximate what it would cost to fix the school, and they differ by at least ten million dollars, depending on how expensive air conditioning will be, and the issue of bonds. Solidifying a real dollar amount will go a long way towards understanding what kind of resources are necessary to not only keep Cleveland open, but enhance it as well.

South Side Tower

Thank God the Southside National Bank Building (Grand and Gravois) was saved. The thought of more Walgreens progeny assimilating that lamdmark like the Borg is enough to induce acid reflux. Besides Alderwoman Florida and Mayor Slay; Sue Geldmacher and Ruth Ehresman of the Grand and Gravois Coalition spoke, as well as Steve Smith of the Lawrence Group.

Here is the usually svelte Mayor Slay, a dedicatedly tan Alderwoman Florida and Steve Smith cutting the ribbon:

The total cost of redevelopment is 6.7 million dollars, and 13 condos are being constructed (12 standard and one penthouse). The first floor will house retail space, and a restaurant is likely to inhabit the second floor.

The standard condos are 1,119 square ft, and here is a glimpse of the main room

Here is a look at the kitchen:

Here is the unifinished 2,000 square foot penthouse:

View of downtown from the penthouse:

June 01, 2006

You think the business lobby is feeling a little like Jesus Christ?

For Immediate Release:

Big Business feels the Republican slight
JEFFERSON CITY – Business groups around Missouri are not feeling the love from the Republican-controlled Legislature this year after their primary pro-business legislation withered on the vine in the final days of the 2006 session. A motion to adopt the Conference Committee Report for SB 696 was offered three times on May 11-12 – the last two days of the session -- and three times that motion was withdrawn.

Continue reading "You think the business lobby is feeling a little like Jesus Christ?"

The Daily Stew

Brother Combest missed the Post's lead editorial on Harris' resignation.

Source says Ronnie White on way out. Looks right - a GOPer had told me last week White hadn't hired any new clerks yet.

Coro looking for Fellows manager.

Ingrid Owen (running in the 74th) promises to sing a selection at her fundraiser - June 9, 6-8pm, at the Formula.

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