July 2006
July 31, 2006
Election Day Forecast
High of 85, 60% chance of rain.
Hmmmm.... wonder what that means.
Mr. Smith Movie run extended
Due to high demand. It will now play at the Tivoli through August 10. Same show-times. Tickets here.
SLACO Conference
Wednesday Night, SLACO (The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations) had a St. Louis Neighborhood Leaders Roundtable Conference at Forest Park Community College.
The topic was crime prevention and the results were somewhat predictable, though the experience was hardly useless. There were five "experts" seated at different tables, and these tables came up with general crimes, crime prevention strategies, and implementation strategies for, of course, the crime prevention strategies.
Along with the experts, there were a good number of NSO's, an Alderman (Craig Schmidt-20th Ward), and a smattering of neighborhood association leaders and community activists. There was an even mix of black and white representation, even from the same neighborhoods, so any unintentional cultural bias was not a factor. (at least at the tables)
From left to right, we have Joe Thele, Program Manager of the Neighborhood Stabilization Office, Jennifer Joyce, Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis, Lt. Col. Roy J Joachimstaler of the SLMPD, and Robert (Bob) Kraiberg, Commissioner of Excise for the city. Also on the panel and not in the picture was Victoria Green of the Family Court.
The general crimes that the group focused on were: drug dealing, theft, auto tampering, prostitution, intimidation, loitering, and child abuse/neglect.
The crime prevention strateg(ies) centered around diligent crime reporting, landlord accountability, block phone trees, and information sharing.
The strateg(ies) for implementing the crime prevention initiatives revolved around patience, education, landlord pressure, putting "heat" on politicians and NSO's, involving more neighborhoods in the "weed and seed" program, and opening more police substations.
Interstingly enough, violent crimes like rape and homicide did not seem to be as much of a concern as the lesser crimes mentioned, what that means is up for interpretation.
Tidbits:
Lt. Col. Joachimstaler let it be known that the number of active police officers in the city was at its lowest point since the mid 60's, and pointed to the Graduated Business License Tax on the ballot as a way to fund more officers.
Jennifer Joyce also touted the proposed tax as a way to fund her "Career Criminals Unit". According to her, 10 percent of the worse offenders create 80 percent of the crime, so if the proposed tax passes, her new unit will dedicate themselves to locking up this untalented tenth to more lengthy prison terms.
Open Thread - 60th District
Consensus says that it's a two-way race between activist Jamilah Nasheed and former alderperson Sharon Tyus. ACC endorsed Nasheed. Predictions anyone?
Smith gets Post
July 30, 2006
Open Thread - 59th District
Jeanette Mott Oxford is the incumbent, challenged by Committeeman Mark Rice.
Consensus is for an Oxford victory. I haven't seen a single Rice yard sign. ACC endorsed Oxford. Any thoughts?
MCU Forum
Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) is hosting a public candidate forum for the 4th Missouri Senate District. The forum will be held today (Sunday, July 30) from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational UCC Church, at 826 N. Union Boulevard (one block north of Delmar). There is ample parking in the rear of the church.
July 28, 2006
Schlafly for Farr in GOP 1st CD
Leslie Farr has announced the endorsement of Phyllis Schlafly.
Open Thread - 58th District
Rodney Hubbard vs Bill Haas.
Hubbard's support for school vouchers has people upset. But most people assume that his ground organization and generally progressive positions will carry the day.
ACC endorsed Hubbard.
Any thoughts?
Open Thread - 57th District
Who will win the 57th? I haven't heard anyone say that they think Karla May can win. ACC endorsed Joe Palm, but my gut tells me that the El-Amin name recognition will carry the day.
Any guesses?
Smith movie preview
A review in the Post this morning calls Smith "elfin".
The most politically troubling aspects for Smith are the sequence concerning the American endorsement and the general demeaning of the Carnahan campaign including the devastating ending shot of Russ and Jean Carnahan. It's hard to imagine a reconciliation between the Smith and Carnahan partisans.
Senate Rankings
Survey USA recently ranked the 100 U.S. Senators based on net approval (positive minus negative approval). Missouri Senators Kit Bond (R) and Jim Talent (R) came in 56 and 86 respectively. Talent has struggled to keep above the 50% approval rate, while Bond has hovered around 55% most of the last year.
July 27, 2006
Blunt approves creation of SLPS review committee
Governor Blunt responds to news the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has established a committee to asses and assist the St. Louis School System (kudos to Antonio French over at Pub Def for trekking out to Jeff City to get the scoop).
The committee is co-chaired by attorney and legendary civil rights activist Frankie M. Freeman and Dr. William H. Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University. Also on the board: Dr. Donald Suggs, Publisher
St. Louis American; Michael Middleton, Deputy Chancellor University of Missouri-Columbia; attorney Ned Lemkemeier, an alderman in Ladue.
Commissioner of Education Kent King made sure to say the department is not looking to take over the school system. The commission's mission is to determine what it will take to bring full accreditation to the St. Louis school system. Followers of the takeover talk around St. Louis will be quick to point out that consistent failure to reach full accreditation is one of the criteria required for the state to step in.
Update: Mayor Slay, unsurprisingly, endorses the commitee. "It is my strong belief that these five citizens will be able to make some timely recommendations for children whose best interests have been misplaced and whose educations have been bungled."
McMillian's 35th Birthday Party
Past, Present and Future Mayors cut City Hall cake.
Open Thread - GOP Auditor's primary
We're starting a series of open threads looking at different Aug 8 races.
This morning is the Auditor's race. Let's hear predictions. My gut is saying Jack Jackson. He's spending the $500,000 he lent himself and I'm guessing that the Col. bit plays well with GOPers.
July 26, 2006
New issue of the Arch City Chronicle
is here.
Mr. Smith Movie
First two-a-half minutes are up as a preview clip.
We have a review of the movie in the current edition of the Arch City Chronicle which will be up online later today.
Tomorrow morning we'll blog the three scenes most likely to embarass the 4th SD candidate.
By the way, tomorrow night's 7:15 showing is sold out but there are seats still
available to the 9:30. Friday it runs at 5:15pm, 7:15pm, 9:30pm and over
the weekend it will be playing at 2:30pm, 5:15pm, 7:15pm, 9:30pm.
McKenna - Alter
Should be a Dem pick up in 22nd. Fix notes that McKenna is crushing Alter in fundraising.
July 25, 2006
Fraternal Order of Police Endorse McCaskill
The McCaskill campaign will hold a press conference at 2:15 tomorrow, Wednesday July 26th, to announce that she has picked up the support of the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police.
It will be held at the Eagelton Federal Court House, 111 S. 10th Street, downtown St. Louis.
The FOP shouldn't be too surprising, the FOP and Sen. Talent have not been very close. Yet Talent's efforts in enacting stricter laws on methamphetamine have won him praise for law enforcement.
The FOP endorsed Sen. Jean Carnahan over Sen. Jim Talent in the 2002 election. In that race, Talent received the endorsement of the National Association of Police Organizations and their local affiliate, the St. Louis Police Fraternal Organization (not affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Police), which is now known as the St. Louis Police Leadership Organization.
In the 2000 Governor's race, the Post's Jerry Berger reported that FOP's attorney ordered Talent to remove a claim from his website that said the St. Louis FOP had endorsed him when in fact the St. Louis lodge had not. In fact, the FOP endorsed Bob Holden's (successful) run for governor that year.
Show Your Face
Saying it was her "duty" as chief elections officer for the state, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan kicked off her office's "Show Your Face at the Poll" campaign at the Deer Creek license contract office. Carnahan acknowledged she had opposed the plan but not on the basis of the need for ID. The legislature's rush in implementing the program threatened voter's rights, she said.
The $2.5 campaign is designed to get the word out to voters that they need to have a state-issued photo ID when the come to the polls in November.
"The voting rights of a lot of people are at stake," said Carnahan.
An estimated 200,000 people do not have the proper ID to vote in Missouri.
Of those, however, some are people who can not vote because of mental disability, and some are felons who are prohibited from voting, said Trish Vincent, director of the Department of Revenue.
Carnahan estimated to implement the changes will cost around $22 million, three times what the legislature estimated. Carnahan said they had estimated the DOR and SOS costs, but not the costs to the cities and counties.
Vincent said the DOR is in the process of training employees to operate the mobile ID systems set to go to senior centers. Vincent said they DOR is focused on reaching seniors and others with mobility issues. When asked about providing assistance in low-income areas, Vincent said the legislation specified the help is directed towards seniors and those with mobility issues, not income. Income may be an issue, but most people, even in poorer areas, have access to transportation os some kind.
Carnahan introduced Pastor James Morris, saying his church has, with the help of her office, trained 35 to 40 people in assisting others in obtaining ID's. Morris' church, Lane Tabernacle is at 910 N. Newstead, just North of Delmar Blvd. Morris said they are polling their congregation to find out everyones status and working to get the word out.
State Senator Joan Bray (D-24) and State Rep. Margaret Donnely (D-73) were also in attendance. Bray expressed her displeasure with the ID program and worried that some voters were being steered towards provisional ballots. Carnahan said almost half the provisional ballots were declared invalid.
Donnely expressed her surprise at the number of 18 to 34 year-olds who don't have proper ID. Some of those in her district are students who are staying in St. Louis but hadn't gotten a state ID.
Carnahn said they will start off with direct mail which will begin going out to voters after the August primary, so as not to confuse voters.
That Uniter, Not Divider Bit
Election cycle always produce "unifier, not divider" rhetoric. Last week Talent started air TV and radio ads casting himself in that light, as a real bi-partisan politician. But before we name that bridge that crosses the aisle Talent Expressway, we should note that it's not exactly true. Last year Talent was a basically loyal Republican foot soldier voting as the White House wanted 91% of the time. Download Presidental Support file
Talent up 3.8%
According to Zogby/WSJ. (Link from Combest)
PROGRESSIVE PARTY FILES BALLOT ACCESS PETITIONS
Yesterday, the Progressive Party of Missouri filed petitions containing 14,932 signatures with the Missouri Secretary of State to get the party on the November ballot in Missouri, together with papers nominating six candidates for statewide and congressional offices. Registered voters from 95 Missouri counties plus the City of St. Louis signed the petition. The signatures amounted to 49% more than the 10,000 required by law.
Progressive Party leaders are confident that enough of the signatures are valid to place the party on the ballot, because all of the signatures were collected by party volunteers. Signatures obtained by volunteers historically have higher validity rates than those obtained by paid petitioners.
Missouri law requires Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to determine and announce no later than August 22 whether the party and its candidates have met legal requirements to appear on the ballot. The party will announce its candidates after Carnahan certifies them for the ballot.
The party failed in a similar attempt in 2004, when election authorities disallowed enough signatures to cause the party to fall 377 short. This year the party submitted over 2,000 more signatures than in 2004.
The Progressive Party of Missouri is affiliated with the Green Party of the United States.
July 24, 2006
Pro-Lies??
Federally funded, faith-based "Pregnancy Resource Centers" or "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" are spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) about abortion issues, says Planned Parenthood.
According to Paula Gianino, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region:
"Women who enter these facilities are walking into a trap. There is no excuse for taxpayer dollars going to ideologically-driven, religiously-based fake clinics that take advantage of vulnerable women."
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) submitted a report outlining the nature of the FUD, in which several female staffers feigned being 17 and pregnant, and called some of these centers. Apparently, the information they got was misleading, and flat out incorrect.
Here is the Planned Parenthood Release
Dueling Endorsement Lists
In the 4th SD, Yaphett El-Amin and Amber Boykins are listing some of the same individuals as endorsers. As the scanned fliers indicate, both name Alderman Mike McMillan, Rev. Alvin Smith, Rev. James Morris, Rev. Douglas Parham, and Rev. James DeClue as being in their camp.
O'Brien responds to protests
School Board President Veronica O'Brien told Fox 2 News this morning that the protests being staged in front of her house were orchestrated by "high ranking elected officials."
O'Brien said she was concerned and disappointed by the protests.
I think that is a dangerous game to play. I am concerned that someone is going to be harmed.The protests began soon after the firing of Superintendent Craig Williams and coach Floyd Irons. Irons has participated in the protests.
Mayor Slay, to whom O'Brien is likely referring, has expressed his disapproval at the firing of Williams. Word also came from City Hall on the day of Iron's removal that it was seen as a precursor to the eventual ouster of Williams.
Board member Bill Purdy is facing a lawsuit filed by Floyd Irons and two fellow board members, Flint Fowler and Ron Jackson. A number of other citizens have signed on with the suit as well.
The suit, filed partly on behalf of Williams, seeks to remove Purdy from his seat based on board rules that members can not have family members working for the district. A state law regarding school board election rules allows relatives of district employees to run.
[Update: Re: Joe's comment, CaseNet, the Missouri State Court database provides publicly available data on most current cases including the lawsuit against Purdy, case#: 0622-CC05220.]
QuikTrip Withdraws its Clifton Heights Development Plans
Letter to Waterhouse notes 250 signatures in favor of their plan, but also opposition from neighborhood association. QuikTrip in the "business to make friends, not engage in acrimonious debate." Says they're withdrawing plan so "neighborhood might pursue alternatives upon which they might ultimately reach consensus."
Upcoming Events
Jeff Smith is having a coffee type event tonight (Monday) from 6-8pm at Hartford
Coffee.
Bill Haas Happy Hour with Special Guest - McGraw Millhaven, KTRS 550 AM. This Thursday, July 27, 5 PM to 7 PM, SUB ZERO VODKA BAR, 308 North Euclid Avenue In The Central West End. $25 Minimum Contribution
The Young Republican monthly Happy Hour is this Friday, July 28 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Mike Duffy's, 6662 Clayton Road near Big Bend in the Schnucks plaza.
Forum on the Stem Cell Initiative in Missouri, Wednesday, August 2, 7pm at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. The moderator will be:Ziah Reddick, Green Party, Universal African Peoples Org. Panelists will include: B.T. Rice, Pastor, New Horizon 7th Day Christian Church and Stephanie Rubach, Missourians Against Human Cloning.
July 23, 2006
Gene McNary backs Pennell
In the 92nd against incumbent Portwood. Perhaps it shows that the StL County GOP establishment finds Portwood embarrassing and is pushing for the challenger.
Who is Mark Miles? (part II)
Also treasurer of:
2nd Senatorial District Legislative Committee
23rd Senatorial District Legislative Committee
St. Charles County Democratic Club Inc
St. Charles County Votes
and deputy treasurer of Citizens for Jim Rutherford - Democrat for St. Charles County Executive.
To be continued...
July 21, 2006
Who is Mark Miles? (Part I)
The treasurer of those committees is Mark Miles. Who is Mark Miles?
He's the treasurer of the:
12th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
13th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
14th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
15th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
16th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
17th District Legislative Committee (created 04/23/04)
18th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
19th District Legislative Committee (created 09/20/04)
Most of the reports show limited activity which is understandable since all but the 15th are represented by Republicans. But then out of the blue, in come three checks from Rex the Republican and out go three checks to Derio the Democrat. Kinda funny.
To be continued...
Friday Stew
Websites:
Bill Haas
Rob Pennell, Republican running against Portwood in the 92nd.
Umar Lee blogs about the storm.
Events:
Friday July 21 (tonight), 8:30pm, Bar Italia. Jeff Smith will speak and there will be food.
Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) will host a 4th SD candidate forum on
Sunday, July 30, 3:00 to 4:30 pm, Pilgrim Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 826 N. Union Boulevard 63108, (one block north of Delmar)
Friday, August 4 from 5pm-9pm for 9th Street Abbey "Party on the Patio" to benefit Family Support Network. FSN will receive 10% of proceeds and tips.
Pamoja Session will be held Sunday, August 13, from 4-6 pm at the Rowan Community Center located at 1401 Rowan (at Ridge). The topic will be "The War & Resistance in the Black Community".
ArchPundit on Derio-Rex connection
I'm back Online
Thanks to Hartford.
Updates coming...
July 19, 2006
Rex Hearts Derio
Gambaro had a good quarter - raised 58k; spent 18k; 73k on-hand.
It would have been another mediocre quarter without the help of Rex Sinquefield who sent $20,700 Gamarbo's direction.
$600 Rex Sinquefield
$600 Jeanne Sinquefield
$6,500 via 13th District Legislative Committee
$6,500 via 14th District Legislative Committee
$6,500 via 15th District Legislative Committee
Sinquefield gives lots of money to Republicans.
We wrote about him back in April as one of the major funders of the Show Me Institute. According to our research, he has contributed over $230,000 to the Republican National Committee since 2002.
Final 4th SD Filings
El-Amin, Gambaro are both in, just waiting for them to be scanned.
More Filings
58th - Rodney Hubbard - raised $15,300; spent $12,000; $4,400 on-hand.
Dooley - raised $178k; 165k spent; $757k on-hand.
Combest has all the Auditor results.
Botanicals leaves the Park
From StL a La Mode.
Parker's Quarter
Sherman Parker - raised 37k, spent $0, 103k on-hand.
July 18, 2006
Cotton: Majority members are reformers
From George Cotton, Sr. activist and executive director of REACH St. Louis.
To paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt.....
"when matters need addressing, DO SOMETHING, if that does not work, DO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT FOR GOD'S SAKE, DO SOMETHING!"
Continue reading "Cotton: Majority members are reformers"Venus Envies Yemanja
Venus Envy is having an ever popular "friendraiser" this Thursday at Yemanja Brasil, starting at 6 pm. I have personally attended one of Venus Envy's friendraisers, and it was a semi-eclectic mix of young and old, black and white, and 9 to 5ers with a few would-not-be-caught-dead-working-for-a-corporation types. Good, informative conversation.
St. Louis On the Air
The School Board is the topic for St. Louis on the Air at 11:00am on KWMU, 90.7 FM.
Last Call for Project Improv
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PROJECT IMPROV * ST LOUIS:
A Full-Length Play from a Single Audience Suggestion
Long-Form Improv Moves to St. Louis; Open Auditions July 17 & 18
Louisville's long-form improv troupe, Project Improv, moves to St. Louis and hosts opens auditions July 17 and 18, 7:30pm at Washington University’s Drama Studio, room 208 in the Mallinckrodt Center. Auditions are open to anyone aged 16 and older, and no previous improvisation experience is necessary. Headshots and resumes are optional.
Project Improv performs exclusively long-form improvisation, in which a full-length play is created from a single audience suggestion. Its weekly show, Improv at the Kentucky, has played at Louisville’s Kentucky Theatre for over four years-- St. Louis will begin performances in
late October.
CONTACT: Chris Hartman
Executive Producer
502.548.2430
ProjectImprov@aol.com
Project Improv * St. Louis Auditions
July 17 & 18, 7:30pm
Washington University Drama Studio
Room 208 Mallinckrodt Center
Forsyth Blvd., between Big Bend and Skinker.
Couple more
In 5th County Council - Barbara Fraser - raised 85k; spent 39k; 214k on-hand.
In 59th - Oxford - raised $1,600; spent $1,300; $5,500 on-hand.
More Quarters
In the 4th - Amber Boykins - raised 22k; spent 27k; 52k on-hand.
In the 60th - Jamilah Nasheed - raised $3,255; spent $11,400, 8k on-hand.
Bob Bartlett - raised $575; spent $702; $220 on-hand.
Sharon Tyus - raised $897; loaned self $10k; spent $7,600; 17k on-hand.
July 17, 2006
Smith on SLPS
Statement from Jeff Smith:
"I am very disappointed with the actions of the board majority. Instead of
focusing on the needs of the children, the board majority has forced out a
man who had a plan to revive our school system. In just over a year, Creg
Williams helped the system make great strides with the ninth grade
academies; the move towards smaller, more manageable high schools; and, a
push towards college preparation. The board should have given him a chance
to see his plans through. While some individuals raise legitimate concerns
about decisions made during his tenure, I am not convinced that he was
guilty of the gross negligence of which he has been accused. He brought
energy, intellect and dynamism to the system. Those of us who care about
St. Louis, its children, and the future of our neighborhoods can only hope
and pray that our new leadership exhibits the same passion and concern for
the children that Dr. Williams displayed. A district's chief clients are
the children, and their welfare should be the central concern of all
decisions going forward."
"Examine every alternative"
ACLU Sues over Voter ID Law
Filings
57th - Palm raised $2,300; spent $2,300; $3,300 on-hand.
County Exec - Joe Passanise raised $5k; spent $1,700; $3,700.
1st CD - Clay raised $46,700; spent $26,000; $194,000 on-hand.
3rd CD - Carnahan raised $187,000; spent $124,000; $412,000 on-hand.
Discussing School Board
I'll be discussing the school board situation tonight on KDHX, FM 88.1, 7pm.
Feel free to tell me what you think I should say...
Should be a busy day here on the blog, so check back.
July 15, 2006
4th Senate Quarters
Jeff Smith - 60k raised; 30k spent; 158k on-hand.
Kenny Jones - Raised 3k, spent nothing.
Waiting on Amber, Yaphett and Derio.
Made a round of calls today
about the School Board, what people are saying. Hope to put it down in some fashion tomorrow.
In the meanwhile, feel free to enjoy the most recent issue of the ACC.
Tyus Announces Endorsements
THE TYUS FOR STATE REP-60TH DISTRICT CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES: LIST OF WARD ENDORSEMENTS:
The 4th Ward Original Democratic Organization
4th Ward Committeewoman Norma Leggett
4th Ward Committeeman James Clayborne
The 21st Ward Original Democratic Organization
21st Ward Committeeman Arthur “Chink” Washington
The 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization
3rd Ward Committeewoman Lucinda Frazier
3rd Ward Committeeman Johnny Saddler
The 18 Ward Regular Democratic Organizations
18th Ward Committeewoman Ernestine Hill
18th Ward Committeeman Jessie Todd
Tyus has also has the endorsements of such varied groups as the Carpenter’s District Council of St. Louis and MO ERA PAC and WMC.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Campaign Manager Mr. Sterling Miller
(314) 367-2374
July 14, 2006
He's gone
Unclear at this time whether he was fired, forced out or resigned, but Craig Williams is outta here. Happening at an emergency board meeting this evening.
Horizon North Housing Incorporated
At 10:00 A.M, the Horizon North Building (5050 Page) had a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Alderman Kennedy could not attend the ceremony, but Representative Kratky was present, along with Mayor Slay.
Designed by Carl Grice of the Grice Group Architects, the building will house special needs (MRDD) single women with children. The building was built with a 1.3 million dollar grant from HUD, and 362,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
It features 4 four bedroom units, 2 two bedroom units, and 4 three bedroom units. All the units will be fully furnished, and will include a washer and dryer, large doors and hallways for wheelchairs, large easy to turn stove knobs, and emergency lanyards in the bathrooms and bedrooms that notify the office of any medical emergencies. Here is a shot of the central living area and emergency lanyards:
In addition, the building will house a full time social worker to ensure that the children receive emotional and academic support. According to Reverend John Watson Jr, who is also President of the Academy-Sherman Park Neighborhood Association, much of the plumbing and tuckpointing was done with African-American labor.
Tenants will start moving in by the end of next week after the furniture arrives.
July 13, 2006
Coffee Talk
Jeff Smith made education the focus at last night's "Meet Jeff Smith" event at Duffs in the West End. Just over twenty people attended the event including the docent of St. Louis politics, UMSL professor Lana Stein.
Smith expressed his concern that the explosion of growth and development in St. Louis city could be derailed thanks to a "private school tax." Smith refers, of course, to the common occurrence of families enrolling their children in private schools or looking across the county line once it's time to get them in school.
Smith referred to his experience in education, both as a teacher evaluator for the St. Louis City Schools and as co-founder of the Confluence academies. He told the audience that the legislature needs someone with an educators perspective.
Perhaps alluding to the strangely worded press release sent out by Rep. Yaphett El-Amin's campaign, Smith said he was tired of people who insist on seeing St. Louis politics “through the prism of race.” In an apt metaphor for the West End, he said he wanted to eliminate the racial divide that is Delmar Blvd.. He pointed to the work he has done to reach across that barrier since his college days when he worked to establish a black cultural center.
In his talk, the only opponent Smith mentioned by name was Derio Gambaro. He contrasted his positions with the more conservative Gambaro by stressing his pro-choice position and his support for stem-cell research. He highlighted Gambaro’s support for President Bush’s effort to privatize social security.
Continue reading "Coffee Talk"Farr outraising Clay?
Leslie Farr put up a great quarter - 73k. According to Farr, he has been raising money from hundreds of small donors via his website.
Meanwhile Clay's numbers aren't up yet, but last quarter he did 34k.
Opening of FIVE and Joe Boccardi's
The Grand Opening of Five at 4317 Manchester was an unqualified success. Mayor Slay, Amy and Amrit Gill (Restoration St. Louis), as well as Greg Daly, Alderman Roddy and Irving Blue (Executive Director of FPSE Development Corporation) were present, along with other business owners on the strip. The atmosphere was exciting the mood upbeat, and the party moved to the opening of Joe Boccardi's Catering and Italian Market on the corner of Taylor and Choteau.
Joe Boccardi's is not a restaurant or a bar, but is instead a market. A market with some damn fine sandwiches and pizza.
What was boarded up for years, is now open for business. The thought of putting a Joe Boccardi's on Choteau and Taylor would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
July 12, 2006
El-Amin: Smith is a "known Caucasian" and other news
[Update: I asked Jeff Smith about this poll at one of his "get to know Jeff Smith" events at Duff's last night. He hadn't seen the details of the poll, but said that anyone can make a poll say what they want. His staff and a couple supporters seemed quite amused at the "known Caucasian" line. They don't appear to be taking it seriously. - Matthew Murphy]
Firing Floyd
Jeff Smith documentary
Opening night of the Jeff Smith documentary (Thursday 27th) is sold out.
They've added a panel (Jeff and film-maker Frank Popper) for the next night though.
July 11, 2006
2nd CD
In the Arch City Chronicle edition hitting the street today, we endorse Sherman Parker in the GOP primary for the 2nd CD.
Meanwhile the Democrats have a spirited four-way race:
John Hogan
Charles Karam
Rich Lesh
George Weber
Where there's a Will(iams)
Mayor Slay again offers his support for SLPS Superintendent Craig Williams. The Mayor also renewed his criticism of the school board's leadership, chastising them for obstructionist tendencies.
The new school board majority — rather than helping the superintendent carry out his plan — has done everything it can to drive Dr. Williams out of St. Louis.Less than three weeks ago, Slay singled-out board vice-president William Purdy for criticism, asserting the Purdy and the board misunderstood the relationship between the board and the Superintendent.
It is no secret that I – and a lot of people in our community – trust Dr. Williams and hope that he perseveres here. And it is no secret that Purdy disagrees.As the divisions between the parties deepen, something to keep in mind are Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education figures that put 5 St. Louis public schools on their "highest-performance" list (only two districts had more schools on the list) [The list is ranked based on averaged MAP Math and Comm Arts results from 2001-2005]. St. Louis also had 11 schools on the "most-improved" list for 2005 (via The Commonspace).School boards are elected to provide direction. The superintentent is hired to run the district. Not the other way around.
X Marks the Spot
Its great what you find when just aimlessly walking the streets of St. Louis. Strolling down Morganford south of Gravois, I came across Mr. X''s Pizza. As far as I know, Pointer's Pizza had the largest pizza available for delivery, a 28 inch monster called the Pointersaurus.
Damir Islamovic, Owner of Mr X's has one-upped Pointer's with a 30" deliverable monster. Here is the pan for cooking it held by Jasmina on the right and Annetta on the left:
Here is the delivery box:
I actually called to find out what their prices are like--Pointer's Pizza 28 incher is 52.00 for four toppings, and Mr. X's 30 inch pie is 30.00, tax included, with unlimited toppings.
If any of you caught my blog entry about the price of bagels and cream cheese, you might understand I like a good deal and I hate feeling ripped off. This, my friends is a good deal.
Mr X's is on 5924 Morganford Rd, and the number is (314) 353-7060
I cannot vouch for how it tastes, however, so this endorsement is only contingent on a price+size+toppings perceived value matrix. Mini-blog review to come soon.
City Panel
Copia Urban Winery is hosting an interesting panel discussion tonight.
McGowan Walsh Historic Renovators has assmebled several panelists, apparently some of downtown’s "most influential opinion discussion leaders and trendsetters." to answer questions and discuss the present, past, and presumably future of Downtown St. Louis.
Wine tasting>Panel Discussion>Complimentary Drinks
Cover charge is not an unreasonable ten dollars.
ArtWorks Final Sale
Don't miss the ArtWorks FINAL SALE AND PERFORMANCES this Thursday, July
13th, from 11:00-1:30 p.m. at Adams Park Community Center, 1311 Tower Grove Ave. at Vista in Forest Park Southeast- 2 blocks south of Manchester Rd.
Please come and share the fun and the shopping-fantastic art is ready for sale: prints, photographs, sculpture, ceramics, graphic ceramic tiles, paintings, drawings and more! Bring your friends!
The ArtWorks apprentices (which includes ACC cartoonist Anna Fimmel) are eager to greet you and show off their wonderful work.
For more information call 289-4182
Missourians for Tax Justice candidate survey
Bosley Round-up
Beatle Bob Doc coming?
July 10, 2006
Bosley Safe from Recall
The effort failed. According to the Board of Elections, there were insufficent signatures. 1,466 were needed. Only 778 were good as of July 10.
The press release from the BOE:
For Immediate Release: Contact: Scott Leiendecker
July 10, 2006 Work 314.589.6211
CITY ELECTION BOARD CERTIFIES RESULTS OF PETITION
TO RECALL 3rd WARD ALDERMAN FREEMAN BOSLEY, SR.
(ST. LOUIS, MO) The Board of Election Commissioners for the City of St. Louis today certified the results of a petition filed on June 30, 2006 to recall Freeman Bosley, Sr. as the Alderman of the 3rd Ward. The petition contained 1,850 signatures, 1,117 of which were initially accepted as valid signatures of registered voters in the 3rd Ward. However, 339 of those signatures were subsequently withdrawn. As a result, only 778 of the original 1,850 signatures were accepted for purposes of the petition. The requirement for the petition to be sufficient was 1,466 signatures.
Pursuant to the City Charter, the proponents of the recall now have 20 calendar days to submit to the Board supplemental signature pages confirming to the requirements of the original petition filed with the Board on June 30. Within 10 days after the filing of any such supplemental signature pages, the Board will certify as to the sufficiency of the recall petition as supplemented.
SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO PASS PETITION: 1,466
TOTAL SIGNATURES SUBMITTED TO AND CHECKED BY BOARD: 1,850
Accepted Signatures: 1,117
Rejected Signatures: 733
Breakdown of rejected signatures:
Duplicates: 139 (Signed petition twice).
Not Registered: 343 (Some cases of registrations being received in office after the date the petition was signed).
Wrong Address: 200 (Signed the petition however resides in a different ward).
Wrong Signature: 51 (Determined by staff that the signatures did not match the signature we have on file).
TOTAL SIGNATURES WITHDRAWN AFTER SUBMISSION: 339
TOTAL VALID SIGNATURES REMAINING AS OF JULY 10, 2006: 778
Kos ranks MO Senate race 3rd
KC Buzz Blog
Becoming a fun place to visit:
Claire's husband finances and Sarah Steelman's looks.
Jackson gets pro-life Endorsement
Missouri Right to Life endorsed Jack Jackson in the Republican primary for Auditor.
UPDATE: No Slap. See Oracle's comments below.
July 09, 2006
Oracle: Gambaro's niche will net him 19-21%
Short, he says, of the 30% needed to win.
July 07, 2006
An interesting comparison
St. Louis Gas Prices is reporting that drivers are paying an average of $2.984 at the pump today.
While doing a bit of research, I came across a June 20th, 2000 story in the Post-Dispatch on the debate between ethanol and oil companies.
"Oil and ethanol industry executives blamed each other Monday for rising gas prices as a congressional hearing sought to examine why drivers were paying more than $ 2 a gallon in cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee"A little further down in the piece.
"The national average retail price for unleaded gasoline soared 5 cents from last week to $ 1.68 a gallon...The pump price is up 56 cents a gallon from last year and is the highest since the government began tracking weekly fuel prices a decade ago."The ethanol bill signed by Governor Blunt can't come soon enough for some.
Missouri farmers expect to meet the 10% requirements laid out in the bill. They also believe that, nationally, farmers will be able to generate enough ethanol to handle 10% of U.S. gasoline demand by 2012.
Yet to reach the 2012 goal, it may be necessary to push even higher.
Testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 7th Frank Verrastro, director of the Center For Strategic and International Studies energy program, had this to say (The whole piece is worth reading, if you don't mind wonkish policy minutia).
"The mandated [2005 energy bill] target of producing 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol (fuel) by 2012 translates into roughly 490,000 b/d, representing approximately 3 percent of projected domestic transportation fuel needs in 2012 and less than 5 percent of total gasoline demand."Local and regional output may vary and the integration of ethanol into the national gasoline markets is still in its infancy so the projections may be conservative.
Either way, increased ethanol has the potential to offset substantial amounts of oil use in domestic transportation.
There are still critics of ethanol from both the energy-conservation and inefficiency angles, but ethanol encompasses political, economic and environmental areas. Any gain in one is likely to pull from one or both the others. The debate will likely continue, but ethanol's place at the pump is, for now, assured.
Scoville no longer with Boykins campaign
Paul Scoville has stepped away from the Boykins campaign. He's taking some personal time and then will work full-time for Gen Frank after the primary.
Wyrsch to Receive Award
Tom Wyrsch will receive the Community Impact Award from the International Institute during the Festival of Nations celebration on July 23rd. He is being honored for his work with the Southside Bosnian Collaborative which he helped establish in February 2000.
Combest says
Rasmussen Poll to be released Monday will show Talent, McCaskill deadlocked at 42%-42%
July 06, 2006
Latex for Latino Justice
Show support for working immigrants by sending gloves to Capitol Hill--
To: IRATF (Immigrant Rights Action Task Force) Members and Allies
From: Joan Suarez
Senator Kennedy joined a group of us on a conference call last week. He said he expected a Conference Committee to be named very soon. In the meantime, however, he said that the anti-immigrant forces, led by the Minutemen, are mailing thousands of bricks to members of Congress. These bricks are symbols of division, of isolation, and of an enforcement-only approach to immigration reform.
It’s time to show the strength of the pro-immigrant community by doing our own mailing. Let’s answer the anti-immigrant bricks with a symbol of the positive contributions that immigrants make to the U.S. – a WORK GLOVE.
Now, more than ever, immigrants and their allies must act. We must show Congress that all the bricks in the world won’t hide the fact that what this country needs is comprehensive immigration reform that values immigrants’ hard work and their desire to be reunited with their families.
Here’s what you can do:
* Send a work glove to your Senators and Representatives from your garage, your local hardware store, or your place of employment along with a letter urging them to support fair and just immigration reform (sample letter below).
(To find the mailing address of your elected officials, go to http://www.cirnow.org/content/en/action_center.htm and enter your zip code on the right side of the page where it says, “Find Your Elected Officials.” Mail gloves to their DC offices.)
OR if you don’t have a glove:
*Visit http://www.send-a-workglove.com/ for a quick and easy way to buy the gloves and have them sent directly to your Senators and Representative. All you have to do is put in your information and the gloves will be sent to Capitol Hill along with the letter you see below.
Your name will be added to the bottom of the letter.
* There is another way to obtain work gloves in bulk if you want to plan an action with each member of your group sending a glove. I will provide the address for ordering these glove in a subsequent e-mail.
The more gloves we send in, the more we show that we will not sit quietly by as talk radio hosts and anti-immigrant activists bombard members of Congress with bricks and letters calling for harsher enforcement of broken laws. Instead, we will counter their symbol of division with a symbol of one of our nation’s most respected values: hard work.
Teething
Good news for children who can't afford dental care:
Family Care Health Centers (FCHC) recently received a $268,460 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) to provide dental health services to school-aged children who receive Medicaid or who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. The four-year grant will support FCHC’s "Chasing Away Decay" program, which will provide sealants for 1,400 students in 10 Catholic elementary schools in the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jefferson County. MFH awarded FCHC with the grant as part of the foundation’s new Smiles Across Greater MO program
“Besides brushing and flossing, sealant placements is the best way to prevent tooth decay and reduce the need for more extensive dental work in the future,” said Lisa Bush, D.M.D., M.P.H., Chief Dental Officer at Family Care Health Centers. “Our program will be instrumental in improving access to quality oral health services to children in underserved populations.”
From October 2006 to May 2007, FCHC’s mobile dental units will go on-site to the select schools and provide these children and their families with easy to understand information on prevention, identification and treatment of dental
disease. In addition, children will receive dental screenings and placement of sealants on first and second molars that are not already decayed, missing or filled. Through the program, FCHC also will provide re-examinations at the schools to determine long-term retention rates of the sealants and referral services when other oral health issues are identified.
As one of the leading community health care providers in St. Louis, Family Care Health Centers is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible comprehensive primary health care services to the residents of St. Louis. With two locations in the St. Louis metropolitan area, FCHC also works to improving the overall health of the communities it serves by reducing barriers to health care. For more information, please visit www.familycarehealthcenter.org. or contact Karen Berryman Harvey: (314) 481-1615, ext. 1306
ACC News
The next issue will be out Tuesday and will have the first round of our endorsements.
In the meantime, feel free to catch up on our back issues.
Also, we're looking for an Advertising Representative:Need a killer Advertising Representative for fast-growing St. Louis City paper. The sky's the limits. But to make it happen, you'll need to be a self-starter who likes newspapers and loves people. Gotta be an outgoing, go-getter who's willing to work harder than everybody else, and gets a thrill from closing a deal. We offer an existing book of business to get you going and an exhilarating place to work to keep you addicted. Email dave@archcitychronicle.com
July 05, 2006
This Weekend
Meet Jeff Smith
Friday, July 7th, 7-9:30pm, Urbans, 3216 S. Grand.
Saturday, July 8th, 9-11 am, Mokabees, 306 Arsenal.
Save Hudlin Park Rally
Saturday, July 8th, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m, at the park.
Russ Carnahan kick-off
Sunday, July 9th, 3:00 pm- 5:00pm
At the Maplewood Cafe, 7356 Manchester Rd.
Eminent Domain Protests
The tireless and controversial Jim Roos, head of MEDAC (Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition), is planning to rally today in Richmond Heights:
On July 5th, 6:45 to 8:00 p.m., at 8001 Dale, ( 2 blocks East of Hanley and two blocks south of I-64) at the Richmond Heights Community Center, MEDAC (Missouri Eminent Domain Abuse Coalition) will demonstrate against eminent domain abuse and TIF waste in Hadley Township of Richmond Heights.
Last week the Richmond Heights TIF commission voted 8 to 2 against the Hadley
Township project which would use about $40 million of tax subsidy to entice most residents to sell, plus use eminent domain to force out the others residents, businesses and a church. This "plan" would demolish 12 blocks of mostly good homes and businesses in an historically black community.
We need to persuade the city council not to waste $40,000,000 of TIF (future tax
income) and not to force people to move who want to stay. Joann Bailey and a few other home owners have done a marvelous job of fighting this cause. Please come and back them plus stop the waste of future tax income.
For more info call Jim Roos, 771-3509 or Joann Bailey, 781-4771
Hispanic Housing Help
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As many of you might know, a major housing scam targeting Hispanics (predatory lending) was uncovered in St. Louis by a couple of enterprising attorneys. The story was covered in the RFT.
As a result, Eileen Wolfington, chair of (PLAN) Professional Latino Action Network
sent this message detaling steps to prevent this type of thing from happening again:
Linda Ingram of Beyond Housing/NHS will be accepting requests to provide you with a one-hour group presentation (in English or Spanish) to those who are interested. (She has alimited number of bilingual volunteers that are trained to deliver thepresentation. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer to deliver the presentation or to interpret, please contact Linda directly.)
Beyond Housing / Neighborhood Housing Services began their Don't Borrow Trouble campaign in early 2004. They are the lead housing agency in St. Louis that uses T.V., radio, billboard advertising and grassroots consumer education programs towarn residents abut predatory lending throughout a five-county area. The campaign provides guidance to consumers on how to avoid predatory loans and legal assistance to those already in a bad situation. There is a loan rescue fund to provide interim financing to refinance predatory loans (to those who are eligible.) The campaign also provides a curriculum and instructors to churches,neighborhood groups and other civic organizations across the St. Louis region.
If you would like to host a bilingual presentation at your site, you may reach Linda at (314) 533-0600 Ext. 22 or lingram@beyondhousing.org.
For more information, you can visit Beyond Housing or The Don't Borrow Trouble website is available in Spanish.
Linda Eggleston in Community Reinvestment for National City Bank has also donated videos entitled "Prestamistas Depredatorios... No Se Deje Enganar" ("Predatory Lending... Don't Be Scammed) that can be viewed during the presentation.
July 04, 2006
The great Roger Fritz passes
Loudon on the campaign...
Via Combest, The Radical Republican blog interviews John Loudon, candidate for State Auditor.
"I think I make the best nominee for Republicans for two simple reasons. I believe your readers have the sophistication to get this. Number one, I am the only candidate who can raise money. Number two, my lengthy legislative experience, coupled with my experience running my own business, gives me the best skills when it comes to knowing where [emphasis in original] to look for waste. Ms. Thomas and the Democrats can argue that only a CPA can do it, but I can hire CPAs."
OBS Endorses El-Amin
in the 4th, on the 4th.
July 03, 2006
Roddy Recall
According to ACCer Brian Werner, there are about six people who form the core of the Roddy Recallers, and they have collected approximately 200 signatures so far. This is a fraction of the 1,485 needed, but they feel good considering they just started and are upbeat about the response they're getting. They're expecting the effort to take about six months or so.
NARAL (Pro-Choice) March Tomorrow
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Naral Pro-Choice Missouri is having a "March for Freedom" tomorrow. They have a float in the Webster Groves 4th of July Parade
From the press release:
Line up begins at 9am-please arrive no later than 9:30am.
The NARAL float will be near Bradford and Selma in Webster Groves. We will have a free t-shirt for everyone who marches!
Please RSVP to Angie at
or Shana at
Couple of links
to start the day:
Via Combest, Fix on the 5th County Council and Buzz counting Senate signs on 70.
New York Times on locally-owned newspapers.
And IndiePixNews on the NYC screening of the Jeff Smith documentary.
July 01, 2006
Bosley Recall
According to Scott Leiendecker, a petition to Recall Freeman Bosley, Sr. as 3rd Ward Alderman was filed Friday at 4:57 PM. The signature requirement is 1,466 valid signatures. The ten-day period for certification ends July 10, 2006.
204 Pages, 10 signature per page roughly 2040, were turned in by a Debra Gordon, President of the Third Ward Democrats for the people.
Signature to count must be current residence and registered voters in the 3rd ward for the name to be counted.
Bosley will have an opportunity to withdrawal names with an affidavit, and must turn in those affidavits no later than July 10th.
Pub Def's coverage.
KWMU's coverage.
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