Committeewoman Cara Jensen » St. Louis

Circuit Court Becomes Tweet-free Zone

Cara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:23:17 +0000

St. Louis Circuit Court has become one of the first courts in America to address the growing problem of tweeting jurors. Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace have been causing headaches for judges who routinely tell jurors not to discuss trials outside the jury room.

Consider this: a British juror was dismissed from a trial after posting details of the case on her Facebook page and then asking friends if they thought the defendants were guilty. And in Arkansas, a $12 million judgment is being appealed after it was discovered that one of the jurors tweeted about the case during the trial.
The increasing popularity of social media has caused St. Louis judges to seek a change to Missouri’s official jury instructions. The proposal calls for jurors to be given specific warnings about using Twitter and other Internet sites during a trial. “Twitter asks one simple question – what are you doing?” says court spokesman Matt Murphy. “But if what you’re doing is serving on a jury in our courthouse, then obviously we don’t want you discussing that.”

Since juror misconduct can lead to a mistrial, and the added expense of trying a case all over again, more courts across the country are taking the problem seriously. However, evolving technology makes it increasingly simple for people to communicate quickly and easily through a cell phone or BlackBerry, meaning judges have to be more vigilant about reminding jurors when to sign off.

New Market Tax Credits to Rebuild Neighborhoods and Create Jobs

Cara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:19:38 +0000

via stlfp.com

As part of a $5 billion national investment to grow jobs and revive depressed neighborhoods, Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner and Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, have announced that four St. Louis organizations are among the 90 recipients nation-wide who have been selected to receive New Market Tax Credit funding.

In St. Louis, the St. Louis Development Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, McCormack-Baron-Salazar and US Bank will receive $250 million.

“This is tremendous news for the City of St. Louis, Habitat for Humanity, McCormack-Baron-Salazar and US Bank,” said the Congressman. “The New Market Tax credits, which are partially funded by the Recovery Act, are a key tool to help cities, and those groups and entities who build up our cities, to encourage private sector investment that creates jobs, transforms distressed neighborhoods and makes financing available for difficult projects in urban areas. I want to personally thank President Obama and Secretary Geithner for being so responsive to my efforts to win this funding for the St. Louis region, and I want to congratulate all the recipients.”

Congressman Clay is proud to announce these awardees for the New Market Tax Credit program in the St. Louis region:

St. Louis Development Corporation (City of St. Louis) – $65 million

SLDC will offer a variety of financial products with flexible structuring alternatives to meet the unique needs of each project. For non-real estate businesses, SLDC will offer equity investments and below-market interest rate loans ranging from $500,000 to $15 million. For real estate businesses, SLDC will offer equity or equity equivalent investments ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, and loans ranging from $500,000 to $15 million, including below-market interest rate loans and leveraged loans.

Habitat for Humanity International – $50 million

Habitat for Humanity International will use its NMTC allocation to provide favorable loan rates and terms to Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. organizations (Habitats) nationwide, including St. Louis City and County, to develop for-sale housing for low-income homeowners, built by the homeowners with assistance from volunteers. These local Habitats will provide no-interest mortgages to the homeowners. The NMTC loan product is the most flexible and low-cost financing that HFHI can make available to the local Habitats. With NMTC funding, the Habitats will be able to significantly increase the number of homes they build — enabling the Habitats to create sustainable neighborhoods in areas suffering from disinvestment and blight.

US Bank Community Development Entity – $95 million

USBCDE will provide equity, equity-like debt and favorable loan rates and terms for real estate development and operating businesses. The target borrower will be a qualified business who will develop or rehabilitate commercial real estate as rental or owner occupied property. USBCDE offers complete financing packages from construction to permanent financing.

McCormack-Baron-Salazar Urban Initiatives – $40 Million

MBS Urban Initiatives CDE will use its NMTC allocation to invest in low-income communities across the country, with a focus on developments that can accelerate revitalization by bringing jobs and economic activity back to these neighborhoods. MBS-CDE will offer a combination of below-market debt and patient equity investments to developments which can demonstrate significant impact, both in their own right and as catalysts for others to follow. MBS-CDE will invest in commercial, mixed-use, community service and for-sale developments that enhance new housing efforts taking place in distressed communities.

The NMTC program, established by Congress in December 2000, permits individual and corporate taxpayers to receive a credit against federal income taxes for making equity investments in investment vehicles known as Community Development Entities (CDEs). The investor receives a credit totaling 39 percent of the cost of the investment. CDEs must apply to the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, which administers the NMTC program, to compete for this allocation authority.

Laclede Gas Files for 15% Rate Reduction for Customers

Cara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:16:11 +0000

via stlfp.com

Customers of Laclede Gas Company can expect to see appreciably lower monthly gas bills going into the 2009-10 heating season (defined as November through March).

Laclede Gas has filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to lower its rates by 15% compared to existing rates due to reduced gas supply costs which the Company is required to flow through to its customers. If approved, it would be the third consecutive rate decrease going into a heating season. The portion of Laclede’s rates related to the recovery of the costs it incurs for the delivery of gas to customers through its distribution system was not impacted by today’s filing.

As a result of this decrease, the amount paid by a typical residential customer during the 2009-10 heating season will be down roughly $118, or $24 per month, from the amount the customer would have paid based on last winter’s rates. Compared to when rates peaked during the 2005-06 heating season, the amount paid by a typical residential customer will be down about $258, or nearly $52 per month, for the upcoming heating season.

“We’re pleased to announce that our customers will receive some welcome relief on their gas bills this winter,” said Michael Cline, director of tariff and rate administration for Laclede Gas. “This latest decrease is largely the result of a reduction in the cost of gas the Company stored this past summer for use this winter as natural gas prices remained down from the record peak they reached in the middle of last year.”

Customers will pay an average price of $0.66 per therm for natural gas for the 2009-10 heating season, down from $0.83 per therm for the 2008-09 heating season and $1.05 per therm in the 2005-06 heating season.

Customers can learn more steps to reduce their natural gas usage through conservation techniques, purchasing high-efficiency appliances and other energy-efficiency ideas at Laclede’s new website: www.originalgreenenergy.com.

MoDOT Announces I-64 Reopens Monday, December 7

Cara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:07:46 +0000

via MoDOT:

Public Invited to Opening Celebration Sunday, December 6

ST. LOUIS- Despite a second year with unusually wet weather, the Missouri Department of Transportation and Gateway Constructors are proud to announce all lanes of I-64 will reopen Monday, December 7. This opening is nearly a month ahead of the contract deadline of December 31.

“Many people said this project couldn’t be done within the time and budget allotted. We are delivering I-64 a month ahead of schedule and $11 million under budget,” said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. “We are so proud of the work of the contractors, all of the workforce and the MoDOT staff who have worked hard to reopen I-64 ahead of schedule and under budget. We thank St. Louis citizens for their patience as we rebuilt this critical roadway.”

Before the road opens to traffic, the public is invited to participate in an opening celebration. On Sunday, December 6, the road will be open from noon to 4 p.m.for the public to walk and bike between Hanley and Kingshighway. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. near the Tamm Avenue overpass. The interstate was officially named the Jack Buck Memorial Highway, from McCausland to downtown, and this new sign will be unveiled with the Buck family during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

MoDOT will be hosting a food drive the day of the opening celebration. Operation Food Search will have collection bins for canned food at every interchange ramp along I-64 from Hanley to Kingshighway. The public will be asked to bring canned food when they come out to enjoy the opening festivities.

Early on the celebration Sunday there will be a 5K Run and a cycling time trial. These two events require pre-registration and links to the organizations are available at www.thenewi64.org.

Following the celebration on Sunday, December 6, crews will work overnight to get the complete I-64 roadway open to traffic before 5 a.m. Monday, December 7.

For more details on the ceremony and information on how to sign up for the 5K run and cycling time trial, visit www.thenewi64.org.

Click on the link below for details about the grand opening celebration:

I-64 Grand Opening Celebration Details

I-64 Grand Opening Celebration Details

DATE: Sunday, December 6, 2009

TIME: Public time from Noon to 4 p.m. Ceremony at 3 p.m.

LOCATION: On I-64 between Hanley Road and Kingshighway Boulevard

HIGHWAY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC — no motorized vehicles

Noon to 4 p.m.
Westbound lanes PEDESTRIANS ONLY
Eastbound lanes BICYCLES ONLY
Access at any interchange between Hanley and Kingshighway (No access at I-170)

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

3 p.m. East Half Celebration official ceremony on westbound lanes of I-64 between Hampton and Tamm with Jack Buck Memorial Highway sign unveiling ceremony

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

5K Run

St. Louis Track Club
8 a.m. -10 a.m.
Westbound lanes of I-64, west of Tamm overpass to west of Big Bend
Pre-registration required
www.stlouistrackclub.com or 314-781-3926

Cycling Time Trial

Big Shark Bicycle Company
7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Eastbound lanes of I-64 Kingshighway to Hanley
Pre-registration required
www.bigshark.com or 314-862-1188

PARKING

St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Open parking in Forest Park
Free Metro Shuttles from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park to Hampton

St. Louis Designated a Bicycle Friendly Community

Cara — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:57:59 +0000

The City of St. Louis has been designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. This award was based upon a rigorous application developed by a team of stakeholders involving the City of St. Louis, Great Rivers Greenway District, St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, Trailnet, and Grace Hill. The League recognizes the accomplishments the City has made to incorporate more bicycle-friendly programs and infrastructure which ultimately enhances the quality of life, sustainability, and transportation networks for our citizens.

Attached for your information is the 2009 Bicycle Community Application and an invitation to attend the Mayor’s Press Conference to celebrate this award on October 22, 2009.

We are very proud of this accomplishment and will continue to strive to make the City of St. Louis a GREAT PLACE to live! Thank you so much for your continued support!

John P. Kohler, P.E.
Planning and Programming Manager
City Hall, Room 301
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103

Rep. Tishaura Jones update

Cara — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:21:14 +0000

Greetings!

I know it always seems like I’m saying that time flies, but it truly does…especially when you’re as busy as I am. Summer’s over and we’re approching December 1st, the date when legislators can pre-file bills for the 2nd Session in January 2010.

Veto session was pretty uneventful, despite an attempt from Rep. Jason Smith to overturn the Governor’s Veto of his bill regarding oversight of Federal Stimulus Funds. Oversight was already a part of the Missouri Accountability Portal, and Rep. Smith‘s bill would have given every legislator a key to the Capitol Dome, which is unnecessary and a security risk.

This summer by far has been one of the busiest on record! I had two unique opportunities to meet with a small group of state legislators to develop policy around coronary heart disease and sexually transmitted diseases. Both conferences, sponsored by the National Council of State Legislatures and the Council of State Governments respectively, were extremely informative!

On a personal note, Aden just celebrated his 2nd birthday! He’s such a big boy and time sure flies! He spends lots of time with his “Paw Paw” and, as a result, his terrible twos aren’t as terrible as they could be.

Please join me in congratulating my assistant Dana on securing a new position! Although I will miss her terribly, this is a great opportunity for her. And, please welcome my new assistant, Nathan Gerth to the office. Nathan comes with a wealth of experience in research and advocacy. He’ll be an asset to the team!!

Have a safe and happy autumn and, as always, feel free to call me or my assistant Nathan if you need any district assistance at (573) 751-6800.

Thanks and God Bless,

Tishaura~

Rep. Jones attends the 39th Annual Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, DC

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation celebrated it’s 39th Annual Legislative Conference last month. This year’s conference was bigger and better than before. Conference attendees were treated to a plethora of workshops conducted by the members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Missouri’s own William ‘Lacy’ Clay (seen here with Rep. Jones), conducted a very informative workshop about the 2010 Census, of which he is also chair of the House Subcommittee on Information Policy, the Census and the National Archives. The charge of the subcommittee is two-fold, a) to develop a communication plan to decrease the undercount and b) to develop a census campaign message that will generate community support.

Also, during the Conference, President Obama addressed a sold-out crowd at the Annual Awards Dinner Saturday night. He reminded the attendees that America has been waiting for healthcare reform since the days of Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman. It was an honor to attend and I want to personally thank Congressman Clay and his dedicated staff for all of the hospitality extended to me during my stay.

The Congressional Black Caucus holds it’s Annual Legislative Conference in September of each year. They will celebrate the 40th Anniversary in 2010.

Rep. Mott-Oxford Autumn update

Cara — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:17:31 +0000

Friends, Constituents, and Allies, Now Is the Time for Healthcare Insurance Reform I spent the first twenty years of my work life without health insurance. Uninsured people in my family have died prematurely because of delaying care over worries about how to pay for healthcare. I have constituents who have been unable to obtain coverage for an adopted child due to a loophole in state law. I have constituents with children with a chronic condition who are worried that the child will no longer have Medicaid once he or she turns 19. The painful stories I have heard repeatedly for years leave me baffled about why some are trying to preserve the system we have now. The United States ranks 37th in the world, despite spending more than anyone else, a state of affairs skewered musically in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4 Personal stories – as individuals struggling under our current health care systems, health care providers, community leaders, or faith leaders – are one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate the need for comprehensive health care reform. Please share your story as part of the “Voices for Health Care Reform” campaign, and Missouri Health Care for All (of which I am a member) will share it with Missouri media and elected officials. Go to this link to share your story: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ATUl0gg2nX0WanqyWtYqbg_3d_3d Even if you have already called your member of the U.S. House and Senate, do it again. You can use this toll free number to call: 1-800-828-0498. Now is the time for healthcare that: – covers everyone, regardless of income – is affordable, including for small businesses – reduces outrageous out-of-pocket expenses – bans denying coverage for pre-existing conditions – reduces or significantly eliminates the “donut hole” for Medicare prescription drug coverage for seniors If you want to add your name to an e-mail list of folks who support healthcare insurance reform, here’s one of many places to do that: https://secure3.convio.net/ucc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=443&utm_source=4&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100k_healthcare&JServSessionIdr002=imi1ptexv5.app333a That’s a really long link, so if it breaks in transmission, you’ll have to cut and paste on the part that drops off. Surrounding Our Schools With Care Update The Roosevelt High School Community Counsel is looking for volunteers to tutor high school students in mathematics, specifically Algebra 150. Volunteer tutors will receive materials and lesson support. The tutoring program operates during school hours at the school at 3230 Hartford St. Volunteers will be screened through the St. Louis Public Schools volunteer screening process. For more information, please contact Sarah Chilenski at sarah.chilenski@gmail.com or Norah Ryan at norah.ryan@att.net or 314-727-3386 x 14 (daytime). The Roosevelt Community Council is looking for volunteers to serve breakfast to the Roosevelt High School football players at the Homecoming game on Oct. 31. The breakfasts really are a great way to interact with the students, and your presence and support is really appreciated by the teams, coaches, and staff at Roosevelt. If you’d like to volunteer for, please email Jenni George at georgejennifer@sbcglobal.net. Volunteers usually need to arrive around 9:00am. Here’s the schedule for the remaining games. Come out and cheer! Date Time Opponent Location

Friday. Oct. 16 7pm Webster G. Webster G.

Friday, Oct. 23 7pm Chaminade Chaminade

Saturday Oct. 31 1:30pm Vianney Roosevelt

Several after-school programs are starting at Roosevelt including: reading, gardening, cooking, Explore St. Louis, and possibly French, track, and/or ”rap, rhythm and rhyme.” If you are interested in helping with any of these after school groups, contact Sarah Chilenski, Sarah.Chilenski@mimh.edu. Supplies are needed for the cooking and gardening groups. If you are able to donate any of the following, contact Sarah Natwick, sarah.natwick@slps.org: measuring cups, spoons, aprons, fabric, thread, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks. Another exciting new program at Roosevelt High School is “Conscious Choice” which gives young women support in delaying motherhood and completing a college degree. Shirley Harvey and Karessa Morrow report that 198 Roosevelt students have joined! Mentors are needed for these young women, and activities that are currently planned include career shadowing, visiting college campuses together, and assisting with the college application process. Let’s throw a “college shower” for these 198 young women, instead of a baby shower! To volunteer, e-mail Gwendolyn Meyers, gwendolyn.meyers@slps.org. Principal Sonya Wayne says things are off to a great start at Shenandoah Elementary School. To volunteer at Shenandoah, call her at 314-772-7544. Several excellent principals retired from 59th district schools in 2009: Dr. Alice Roach from Carnahan High School of the Future, Dr. Gerald Arbini from Monroe Elementary, and Dr. Carol Hall-Whittier from Shepard E-Mints. Thanks for your many years of service, and happy retirement to all. Awards Recently Received I am thankful to have been recognized this year by the following groups:

Progressive Legislator of the Year, MO Progressive Vote Coalition
Human Rights Award, Church Women United, St. Louis Region
SAGE Visionary Award
Faith Aloud Award
Certificates of Appreciation, MO Immigrant and Refugee Advocates & Interfaith Legal Service for Immigrants

Serving in the minority party makes it very difficult for me to move legislation forward. It’s always appreciated when ally groups notice that I am trying hard to win progress on our shared agenda for justice. Note: To reserve tickets for the Nov. 14 Pro-Vote Annual Awards dinner, go to: http://www.missouriprovote.org/ProgressiveAwardsDinner.asp Opportunities to Do Good Things Repower America has asked me to share this announcement. Repower America is a campaign in support of transitioning to a clean energy economy to create millions of jobs, break our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, reduce the threat of harmful pollution and leave a healthy Earth for our families. Right now, landmark clean energy and climate legislation is moving through the U.S. Congress and our Senators may cast the deciding vote. If you support clean energy and comprehensive climate legislation, please call 877.9.Repower to leave a message for Senator McCaskill and Senator Bond and let them know. To learn more about Repower America and sign up to get involved, you can check out this website, www.repoweramerica.org. —– “Come Cruise Down the River” on the historic Becky Thatcher Riverboat and sing Happy Birthday to Ollie Stewart of Southside Senior Citizens Center, 3017 Park Avenue. Boarding starts at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at 50 N. Lenore K. Sullivan Blvd. on the Riverfront. Tickets are $60 for the two-and-one-half hour voyage which includes a brunch, Dixieland music, and a chance to mingle with a fun crowd including radio legend (and all-around-great-guy) Bernie Hayes. For more information, call Ollie Stewart or Ruth Rowan at 314-664-5024. —— “Are you smarter than a Youth?” – A Trivia Night event supporting the youth group (grades 6-12) at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church in missions, service, and fun activities. It’s at 2300 Lafayette on Oct. 17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; play starts at 7 p.m. Popcorn and refreshements will be provided as long as the supply lasts. Feel free to bring your own foods and beverages – No alcohol allowed. Mulligans, raffles, 50/50 will be available. Also, a silent auction will offer items for sale. —– Congratulations to the Chippewa-Broadway Business Association for receiving a substantial Neighbors Naturescaping grant from Operation Brightside! Get your Halloween groove on by attending their special networking membership social, Thursday, October 29, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Avenue Bistro. Holloween costumes are optional. Refreshments will be served. Door prizes. Guests are welcome. —–

Metro Transit Planning Workshops

Moving Transit Forward

Beginning October 13, Metro will launch a series of transit planning community workshops where the public will be asked to help create the long-range vision of transit in the St. Louis region, and share their ideas for improving transit service and expanding the system.

You are invited to participate in one of more of these important discussions throughout the region:

Thursday, October 15

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club

Sportsman’s Park Unit

2910 N. Grand Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63107

Metro Access: #70 Grand

Saturday, October 17

9:00 am – 11:00 am

Southwestern Illinois College

Main Complex, Room 1410

2500 Carlyle Ave.

Belleville, IL 62221

Metro Access: College

MetroLink Station

Monday, October 19

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

St. Louis Community College

Florissant Valley

Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room

3400 Pershall Ave.

Ferguson, MO 63135

Metro Access: #36 Spanish Lake

Tuesday, October 20

11:00am – 1:00pm

City of St. Louis City Hall

1200 Market Street, Rotunda

St. Louis, MO 63103

Metro Access: Civic Center MetroLink Station, #99 Downtown Circulator

Thursday, October 22

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Eric P. Newman Center

Washington University

Medical Center

320 S. Euclid Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63110

Metro Access: Central West End

MetroLink Station

Monday, October 26

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Carpenter Branch,

St. Louis Public Library

3309 S. Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63118

Metro Access: #70 Grand

Tuesday, October 27

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Mehlville High School Library

3200 Lemay Ferry Rd.

St. Louis, MO 63125

Metro Access: #73 Carondelet

If you cannot participate at the above public forum in your area, please considering attending one of our workshops in other districts. Up-to-date information on the transit planning community workshops can be found at the new Metro blog, Nextstopstl.org.

If you have questions, please email ajones@metrostlouis.org. Thank you for supporting public transit in St. Louis.

—–

Looking for a little Halloween fun? Then attend the Democratic Central Committee Party:

Friday, Oct. 23
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Glaizers Union Hall
5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis City

Costume Contest, Prizes, Games, Live Music, Food and Drinks!

$100 Tables (includes 10 tickets)
$15 tickets in advance
$20 at the door

Please make checks payable to: St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee, PO Box 1233, St. Louis, MO 63188. For more info, Jack Coatar, (314) 374-0691.

Correction to District Directory For those who received a district directory through the mail, please make this correction. On page 11, delete the American Red Cross Adult Day Care. This facility is no longer open. JMO Jeanette Mott Oxford
State Representative – 59th MO House District
314-771-8882 (home); 314-775-8940 (cell)
2910 Lemp, St. Louis, MO 63118
www.jmo4rep.com

McKee’s Northside plan goes to aldermen Friday

Cara — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:31:35 +0000

via St. Louis Business Journal:.

St. Louis aldermen will consider developer Paul McKee Jr.’s $8.1 billion Northside plan Friday.

McKee, chairman of O’Fallon, Mo.-based McEagle Properties, said Wednesday that he finalized the details of the redevelopment agreement with city officials within the past 24 hours.

The plan requires a separate bill by aldermen for the use of eminent domain and does not address McKee’s request that the city back half of the project’s $391 million in tax increment financing.

Last month, the city’s TIF commission unanimously approved $391 million in TIF for the project. It would be the largest TIF in the city’s history.

McKee’s plan calls for up to 4.5 million square feet of office space, 1 million square feet of retail space, 2,200 new single-family homes and 7,800 apartments over the next 20 years.

St. Louis City Launches “Hope Is Moving In” Initiative

Cara — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:12:23 +0000

Congrats to our very own Mullanphy ILC (4200 Shaw) which has been chosen to serve as one of the 4 hubs of this program! More details to come… — CJ

via SLFP.com

Mayor Francis G. Slay announced that the City of St. Louis will launch a new homeless initiative this month titled “Hope Is Moving In.”

The initiative was made possible through funding from HUD’s Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program resulting from the passage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The City of St. Louis received a total of $8.4 million to develop programs designed to prevent homelessness, rapidly re-house persons who are homeless, reduce barriers to securing housing and provide permanent housing.

While St. Louis has reduced homelessness by 30% in the last three years, this new funding will accelerate those efforts dramatically resulting in many more of the remaining homeless people to be housed.

In an announcement during a press conference in the City Hall Rotunda, Mayor Slay stated, “While St. Louis has achieved one of the lowest rates of homelessness in the entire country, we believe this new funding source will mean that many more homeless people will have a permanent place to live instead of being in emergency shelters, on the streets or in City parks.”

Central to “Hope Is Moving In,” is the establishment of five hubs which will be located throughout the city where people can receive assistance. One hub will be located downtown at the Housing Resource Center, 800 N. Tucker, and will provide rapid re-housing. The other four will be located within Community Education Schools of the St. Louis Public Schools. Each hub will have a team of providers including case managers, benefit coordinators, housing specialists, housing inspectors, legal professionals and financial counselors.

Bill Siedhoff, the city’s Human Services Director said, “This is the most massive undertaking to date in terms of addressing the housing needs of homeless people and represents a tremendous partnership within our Continuum of Care that is unprecedented.” The city’s Continuum of Care that was involved in the development of this program consists of homeless providers, city and state government, business, faith- based organizations and advocates.

For more information on the “Hope Is Moving In” initiative, contact the Homeless Services Division of the Department of Human Services at 657-1704. Information can also be obtained by calling the United Way at 211 or 1-800-427-4626.

Sebelius visits SLU to promote H1N1 vaccine

Cara — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:42:07 +0000

via St. Louis Business Journal:.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius visited Saint Louis University on Tuesday to promote the new H1N1 influenza vaccine.

SLU’s Center for Vaccine Development was among eight sites picked to help develop a vaccine for the swine flu.

Last year, SLU received a $23.7 million contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to serve as a Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit. SLU has been funded as a VTEU since 1989.

Meanwhile, the first shipments of the H1N1 shots arrived Monday in the St. Louis area. St. Louis County received 5,000 doses in nasal spray form, which will at first be given to health-care workers and emergency responders.

Energy Efficiency Act Snubs Missouri Historic Tax Credit

Cara — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:00:20 +0000

via Michael R. Allen, our newest EWIDA member, at his blog Ecology of Absence

Events Celebrate Rebuilding of Pond, Fountain at Compton Reservoir Park

Cara — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:01:16 +0000

Aldermanic President Lewis Reed and 6th Ward Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett will head a two-day celebration to mark the rebuilding of a 100-year-old pond and spray fountain at Compton Hill Reservoir Park, S. Grand and Russell boulevards.

The principal event will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, when City officials and neighborhood leaders will turn on the fountain, located in the center of the nearly one-acre pond just south of the historic Compton Hill Water Tower.

A companion event at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, will be a “Duck Race.” Small rubber ducks, purchased by friends and visitors as a fund-raising gesture, will be placed in the newly rebuilt pond. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of the “race,” as well as runners-up.

Rebuilding of the pond and restoration of the fountain, costing $159,000, is a joint project of City agencies and private parties that began more than five years ago. Barbara Absher, a resident of the Compton Hill Reservoir Square Neighborhood, is president of the Water Tower and Park Preservation Society (WTPPS). The organization was formed to supplement City Water Division and Parks Department’s efforts to maintain Compton Hill Reservoir Park and the landmark Water Tower, its most prominent feature.

Absher said that, using private funds, the organization developed a Master Plan for Restoration in 2004. A priority was to address the crumbling, weed-filled pond, but City agencies made clear that they couldn’t afford a major restoration. The WTPPS had little money, as well, but began searching, Absher noted.

About two years ago, $100,000 in federal grant money which had been allocated to the Compton Hill Reservoir Square Neighborhood by the then-6th Ward Alderman Lewis Reed was redirected by Ald. Triplett, and was earmarked for the pond restoration. The WTPPS raised the balance — some $59,000 — over the years by offering public tours to the top of the 179-foot-tall Water Tower on Saturdays, by recruiting dues-paying members and by seeking grants and donations from other groups.

Absher said the Water Division helped by demolishing the existing pond, removing the old fill and providing planting rings for water lilies. The City’s Board of Public Service helped design the pond and fountain, solicited construction bids and provided management of the entire project.

Among the City officials expected to attend the celebration are former Water Division Commissioner Dave Visintainer, current Water Commissioner Curtis Skouby, and Parks Commissioner Dan Skillman, plus other City and State elected officials.

Absher, of the WTPPS, said future projects for Reservoir Park include restoration of the comfort station, designing and installing new lighting, repaving park walkways, expanding garden and planting areas and installing decorative entryways at the corners of the park.

Construction work nears completion on the rebuilding of a reflecting pond and center spray fountain at Compton Hill Reservoir Park. The $159,000 project was jointly funded by the City and the Water Tower and Park Preservation Society, a group of neighbors and volunteers interested in the park and its most prominent feature, the Compton Hill Water Tower. A celebration marking the completion of the pond and fountain is schedule for Sat., Oct. 3 and Sun., Oct. 4.

via City of St. Louis Newsgram

County and city officials hope new measures will prevent abuse, save lives

Cara — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:22:02 +0000

via St. Louis Beacon

This hit home to me while talking to 8th ward resident Courtney Butler, who took care of Melissa Amerson’s children. Melissa was shot 3 times in the back by her ex-boyfriend while buckling her children in her van. He then killed himself in front of his children. She had obtained a temporary Order of Protection and hadn’t received the full writ yet. — Cara

If a piece of paper won’t prevent abusers from hurting and killing their partners, maybe the threat of jail will. That’s the goal of St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Michael Burton, who’s organized a special four-judge Domestic Violence Court. Later this fall, Burton will be one of two judges who will hear only motions of contempt involving orders of protection.

“This is something that will be pretty significant in addressing repeat offenders. I’m hoping it will make a big difference,” Burton said.

full story here

TIF Commission signs off on McKee’s north side redevelopment plan

Cara — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:47:36 +0000

via KWMU:

ST. LOUIS (KWMU) – Developer Paul McKee’s plan to redevelop more than two square miles of north St. Louis redevelopment project took a step forward Wednesday.

The St. Louis Tax Increment Financing Commission voted unanimously to send McKee’s application for more than $390 million in tax increment financing to the Board of Aldermen for further negotiation. click here for full story

Mo. Rep. El-Amin pleads guilty to bribery charge

Cara — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:44:26 +0000

via KWMU:

ST. LOUIS (KWMU) – Missouri Rep. Talibdin “TD” El-Amin has pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge for accepting a $2,100 payment from a St. Louis gas station owner.

El-Amin admitted Thursday in federal court that he solicited and accepted the payment in exchange for trying to help the gas station owner resolve problems with city government.

El-Amin is the third Democratic lawmaker from the St. Louis area to plead guilty to federal charges in the past month.

State Sen. Jeff Smith and Rep. Steve Brown pleaded guilty in August to a scheme to obstruct a federal investigation into finance violations by Smith’s unsuccessful 2004 congressional campaign.

Residents Warned of Scammers Impersonating US Census Workers

Cara — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:40:53 +0000

via SLFP.com

Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce’s Fraud Prevention Taskforce has issued a new warning of scammers posing as employees of the U.S. Census Bureau attempting to obtain citizens’ personal information.

Asking for a homeowner’s basic financial information, such as salary range, is normal. However, no genuine Census worker will ask for sensitive information like a Social Security number or bank or credit card numbers.

Legitimate U.S. Census workers are easily identified because they must carry:
- a badge and identification card
- a handheld device similar to those used by UPS or Fed-Ex personnel
- a Census Bureau canvas bag
- confidentiality notices

Homeowners are advised to request a worker’s identification and badge before responding to questions or allowing him or her to enter the home.

South Grand illustrated in Beacon series

Cara — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:37:04 +0000

By Sam Washburn, Special to the Beacon Posted 12:09 p.m. Mon. Aug. 31 – “Intersections,” from illustrator Sam Washburn, is a new series in the Beacon. Each month, Sam will present an image of a neighborhood or an activity that is special to St. Louis. In his drawings, Sam hopes to distill a community’s personality and character — and make us smile in recognition. This month, it’s the eclectic, energetic ethnic melting pot of South Grand.

via St. Louis Beacon – Intersections – South Grand. Click on link to view image.

Volunteers Needed for the Fifth Annual Wine Festival

Cara — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:27:02 +0000

The St. Louis Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Grand Basin in Forest Park.

As in past years, the success of the Wine Festival is in the hands of the volunteers who graciously donate their time and work with friends, family or co-workers pouring wine or selling tickets, beer and soda.

The scheduled shift times are as follows:

Saturday, October 3rd
11:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3 – 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 4th
11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2:45 – 6 p.m.

Volunteers receive a ticket to the Festival and a T-shirt. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Gus at stevensong@stlouiscity.com or 531-0080 (Jewel Box).

For more information about the Wine Festival, visit www.stlouiswinefestival.com.

A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to the Flora Conservancy of Forest Park, a not-for-profit volunteer organization that maintains the gardens at the Jewel Box and Pagoda Circle.

KWMU: Education chief visits St. Louis

Cara — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:22:27 +0000

Education chief visits St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO. (KWMU) – The nation’s education chief, Arne Duncan, says St. Louis is on the verge of an educational “sea change.”

Duncan was at Lexington Elementary in St. Louis as part of a union-sponsored “back to school” tour.

via KWMU: Education chief visits St. Louis (2009-08-27).

Senator Smith resigns – where do we go from here?

Cara — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:45:33 +0000

As you all may know by now, Senator Jeff Smith pled guilty to two counts of obstructing justice and has resigned his 4th District Senatorial seat. This leaves a representational vacancy in 5 precincts of the 8th ward (the other 4 are represented by Sen. Wright-Jones of the 5th Senatorial District). I’d like to outline the steps that will be taken to fill this void and provide an opportunity to answer any questions you may have about this process.

Gov. Jay Nixon has called a special election for this position on Nov. 3, 2009. There will be no primary, this will be a general election. According to the bylaws of the Missouri Democratic Party, the Democratic Committeepeople who reside in the 4th Senatorial district (the Senatorial District Committee members) have the responsibility of choosing the Democratic candidate for this election. Each Committeeperson of each ward in the district receives 1 vote per every 1000 votes cast for the Democratic candidate for Governor in the last general election. The Senatorial District Committee will meet and cast their votes for the Democratic nominee and that person will be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 4 general election.

Whew! So I will be receiving many phone calls and emails from prospective Senatorial candidates and their supporters over the next few weeks. I will do my best to represent your interests and weigh the qualifications of each candidate with that in mind. I would appreciate your input and advice over these next few weeks as well. Please do not hesitate to call or write me to to discuss this upcoming election.

Senator Jeff Smith’s resignation

Cara — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:43:34 +0000

Today, with great sadness and regret, I am resigning from the Missouri Senate.

During my 2004 Congressional race, I became aware of an independent effort to produce two mailers to benefit my campaign. Federal campaign finance law prohibits specific coordination between a campaign and anyone preparing an independent expenditure.

When the independent operator requested funding, I authorized a close friend to raise money for the effort, and my press secretary provided public information about my opponent’s voting record. I withheld my knowledge of these facts during the Federal Election Commission’s 2004 investigation, misleading investigators and filing a false affidavit.

The FEC cleared our campaign of wrongdoing. But in 2009, the government received new information and reopened its investigation. When questioned, I stood by our 2004 account and encouraged my close friend to do so, misleading the authorities. Today I am taking full responsibility for my mistakes, and have pled guilty to obstructing justice.

This event has humbled me. I have done some significant introspection and that has been the hardest part: coming to terms with my own poor judgments and mistakes.

I apologize to my constituents, my staff, my Senate colleagues, my supporters, and to Congressman Carnahan. I am sorry to be leaving an institution I dearly love and the chance to represent a City with so much potential. Most importantly, I apologize to my family for not living up to what you expect of me, or what I expect of myself.

But I’m proud of my work in the Senate. With the help of my legislative staff, colleagues, and issue advocates, I believe I positively impacted several policy areas. I worked to create the Missouri Teaching Fellows Program to bring top-notch teachers to struggling school districts, expanded early childhood education for impoverished City children, and helped add $5M in bonuses to the salaries of City teachers whose students make exceptional academic progress.

My office spent many hours working with advocates for eco-friendly policies. I led the drive to pass a Green Sales Tax Holiday for energy-efficient appliances, a tax deduction for home energy audits, and a mandate that Missouri increase its energy efficiency standard for state buildings.

Working with the Fathers Support Center of St. Louis, I sponsored and passed two bills that will transform our child-support system. One will help fathers struggling to pay child support avoid felony convictions and jail time by creating “fathering courts” to help non-violent offenders find jobs and resume support payments, saving the state millions in incarceration costs. The second will reduce erroneous paternity judgments and ensure that men with DNA tests showing non-paternity will no longer have to pay for children who are not theirs.

Finally, I helped successfully defend Missouri’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit, which has done more than any other program to revitalize formerly dilapidated urban neighborhoods, creating jobs and putting abandoned buildings back onto the tax rolls.

I hope that my Senate tenure, albeit brief, is remembered as productive and beneficial to those I served. I thank my colleagues with whom I worked on the above as well as my trusted and loyal aides: Stacy Morse, Christine Brauner, Johnny Little, and Kailey Burger.

I am saddened by the thought that some may give up on politics because I let them down. I was blessed to have so many amazing volunteers who worked to support me with no political experience and developed a passion for activism through their work. Today I fear that some of them – some of you – may feel as if your efforts were in vain. But they were not.

If you helped in my election to office, my 3-on-3 basketball tournament and community fair, my MLK Jr. Blvd. cleanup, or other programs I promoted, please don’t let my mistakes sour you on active civic involvement. There are no perfect people and no perfect candidates, but I hope you’ll find a candidate or a cause in which you believe and fight for it with the same zeal you fought for me. Because the real tragedy of my lapses would be if they discouraged people like you from civic engagement.

Mary Pickford once said that failure is not falling down but staying down. I won’t run for office again, but I’ll stay active in the causes that animate me – from urban education to preserving historic neighborhoods to providing health care for all – to try and help the City I love continue its return to the glory of its past.

Thank you for being a part of my life the last few years. I deeply regret the mistakes that have forced my resignation, but I hope you will balance them against the totality of my service, and that we can work together again in the future.

Best,

Jeff

Ecology of Absence: $5.3 Million in Block Grants Coming

Cara — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:32:53 +0000

Thanks to Michael R. Allen via Ecology of Absence: $5.3 Million in Block Grants Coming.

A blog entry on MayorSlay.com reports that the city of St. Louis expects to receive $5.3 million in additional Community Development Block Grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and that there is a May 22 deadline for applications. Apparently, the city received a notice from the Department of Housing and Urban Development on May 6. The funds are prioritized for “hard development costs” associated with infrastructure activities that provide basic services to residents or activities that promote energy efficiency through rehabilitation or retrofitting of existing buildings.

The link to the application forms is here.

These funds can do a lot of good for the city, especially because they are expressly available for existing buildings. Hopefully neighborhood organizations are ready to jump at this chance!

Next-Generation Jobs Program for Summer 2009

Cara — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:34:44 +0000

Thanks to Rep. Jeanette Mott-Oxford for alerting me to this opportunity:

This summer, hospitals have a great opportunity to put young people to
work and provide them with exposure to future health care careers.

The Next-Generation Jobs program announced by Gov. Jay Nixon last week,
matches motivated young people with interested employers. This program
offers you a great opportunity to help build your own pipeline of young
workers with an interest in health careers. Using federal economic
stimulus dollars, these summer employees will be paid wages through the
state of Missouri and can be matched to your hospital soon.

To participate, register for the Next-Generation Jobs Team on-line at
http://transform.mo.gov/summerjobs/employers.php and start building the
pipeline today! The program only runs to September 30, so register soon
to take advantage of this new program aimed to assist in filling 21st
Century jobs in health care.

This summer, you have a unique opportunity to benefit from talented,
motivated young workers and help build a 21st-century workforce for
Missouri. The Next-Generation Jobs Team is a new initiative to connect
youth and young adults, ages 16 to 24, to an exciting work experience or
internship at your medical facility this summer, using resources from the
federal Recovery Act.

The best part is, we pay the wages and make sure you get the right
candidate.

The Next-Generation Jobs Team was created with a specific focus on the
employers and fields that will move Missouri’s economy forward into the
21st Century. We’ve formed partnerships with employers in transformative
and growing fields, like health care, manufacturing, energy efficiency
and life sciences.

With Missouri’s Next-Generation Jobs Team, you can provide a summer work
experience to a youth or young adult with an interest in your business
while helping develop the next generation of highly trained workers for
your health care industry. Give an invaluable learning opportunity to a
youth or young adult while growing your future workforce.

This opportunity is only available between May 1 and September 30, 2009,
so register today! Use this simple on-line application or call us at
1-800-592-6020.

For more information or brochures to distribute to interested students,
contact Maura Browning, director of workforce development, at
573/893-3700, ext. 1333 or mbrowning@mail.mhanet.com.

$20 Million for Transit Funding in Jeopardy

Cara — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:32:55 +0000

Thanks to Keith Tubbs for posting this on facebook:

Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard and House Budget Chairman Allen Icet announced on Thursday, April 23 that they are redirecting their plan for the State of Missouri to spend Federal Stabilization/Stimulus Funds. A new bill filed by them does not currently include transit funding for Metro.

Previously on April 14, Budget Chairman Icet, with the support of Speaker Ron Richard, introduced HB 20 which allocated $20 million to Metro from the Federal Budget Stabilization Fund.

“We’re very concerned with the impact on jobs that the reduction in the transportation system would cause,” said Rep. Icet. “We’re trying to step up to reach out to Metro on a one-time basis to help them get to where they need to be next year they can become a self-sustaining system.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 04/15/09]

The service reductions Metro was forced to implement on March 30, 2009 affected thousands in the St. Louis region. With this unexpected turn of events, Metro will be unable to restore access to jobs, schools, businesses and transit services for the elderly and disabled.

Metro will continue to fight for our riders’ access to transit. If you are concerned about the state of public transit in the St. Louis region, the leadership of the State of Missouri needs to hear from you. Now is the time show your support for emergency state transit funding.

Missouri House Speaker, Ron Richard – ronald.richard@house.mo.gov
(573)751-2173

Missouri House Budget Chairman, Allen Icet – allen.icet@house.mo.gov
(573)751-1247

Missouri Senate Appropriations Chairman, Gary Nodler -
gary_nodler@senate.mo.gov
(573)751-2306

Please call these folks and let them know that Mass Transit is vital to the region.

Keith Tubbs
St. Louis Young Democrats Political Chair
Young Democrats of Missouri Committeeman

St. Louis is ‘Spotlight City’ for PBS NewsHour

Cara — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:56:06 +0000

How cool is this!?! Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, Judy Woodruff, Spencer Michels and Paul Solman all here in the Lou! But if they are “exploring the first 100 days of Obama’s administration” why are they starting with St. Charles – isn’t that Republican land?

via Stltoday:

PBS’ “NewsHour With Jim Lehrer” will turn a spotlight on St. Louis in exploring the impact of President Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office. More details follow in a release from KETC (Channel 9), but note that the first event in this two-week series is Friday night in St. Charles County. For more information or to attend the taping, follow THIS LINK.

SAB Votes To Remove Deed Restriction Clause

Cara — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:28:39 +0000

I wonder how Rex Sinquefield (right-wing billionaire) is celebrating today since he was pressuring the SAB with a lawsuit and influencing our state legislators with his money to get these deed restrictions lifted. I am highly disappointed that the SAB caved and will be following the transition of our beautiful, historic, community anchors with vigilant interest. I hope our communities will rally and find constructive and equitable ways to retain the value of our school buildings. Oh, and I like how charter schools have been renamed to “pilot independent schools”.

New Policy Goes Into Effect June 30th

ST. LOUIS, MO, April 17, 2009 – The Special Administrative Board of the St. Louis Public Schools voted unanimously (3-0) in closed session last evening to remove the deed restriction clause currently included in all property sales contracts. This policy goes into effect on June 30, 2009, to allow the district ample time to evaluate the facility needs for the upcoming school year in light of several new academic initiatives presented at the meeting by Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams.

Among those issues are:

· Assessing the required classrooms and schools needed for initiatives, such as pilot independent schools, before and after school programs, and alternative education programs which are included in Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams’ academic plan for the district.

· Providing alternate school sites for buildings undergoing lead paint abatement during the summer of 2009.

“We have worked with our elected leaders at the state capital in resolving this issue, and we appreciate their support in finding a resolution where we can enhance the education for all of our City students,” said Rick Sullivan, President & CEO of the Special Administrative Board.

The deed restriction has been a long standing issue from past school boards, and it was determined by the Special Administrative Board to be in the best interest of student education in St. Louis to revisit and revise the policy.

State Representative Tim Jones (R-89) said, “I appreciate the willingness of the St. Louis Public Schools to revisit this policy. I believe that by working together, we have reached a solution satisfactory to all parties for the betterment of education for the children in the City of St. Louis.”

State Representative Chris Carter (D-61) added, “I support the Special Administrative Board in this decision that will help make our neighborhoods stronger. This decision allows the St. Louis Public Schools to do what it believes is in the best interest of all the students in the City of St. Louis.”

House Votes To Eliminate Income Tax, Hike Sales Tax

Cara — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:21:52 +0000

Thanks to Rep. Colona who sent out this synopsis in his legislative update:

The House of Representatives on April16 approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate Missouri’s income tax and replace it with a higher sales tax. The measure went to the Senate on a 90-65 vote.

The individual and corporate income taxes currently account for the bulk of state general revenue collections. HJR 36 would eliminate those taxes but bump the state sales tax to 5.11 percent from the current 4.225 percent. Although it would be just a modest percentage-point increase, the scope of the tax would be greatly expanded to apply to services, which currently aren’t subject to the sales tax, in addition to goods. Supporters say the expansion of the sales tax base would generate revenue sufficient to replace the income tax.

Supporters also say the sales tax is a fairer method of taxation and harder to avoid paying than the income tax. Opponents say it would shift the tax burden to the poor. They also contend the replacement sales tax rate would be far too low to cover the lost income tax revenue, resulting in massive cuts to government services.

And thank you for our State Reps who voted NO on this bill: Rep. Colona, Rep. Kratky, Rep. Mott-Oxford. Let’s hope it gets lost in the Senate…

Sylvester Brown forced from Post-Dispatch

Cara — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:01:17 +0000

The St. Louis American has a good analysis of events surrounding Sylvester Brown’s departure from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Protest the Nazi Rally

Cara — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:56:49 +0000

There are a number of organizations which are rallying to protest the National Socialist Movement’s (Nazi) 35th year anniversary celebration this weekend. The Vital Voice tells of a rally at Art Hill Saturday, April 18 at 2:30pm. It is sponsored by The Anti-Defamation League, PROMO, the National Conference for Community and Justice Metropolitan St. Louis, the International Institute, the Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis, Holy Ground, among others. I appreciate their reasoning for holding their gathering away from the Nazi party at the Arch:

This event will intentionally occur while the National Socialist Movement (Nazis) are having a rally under the Arch in the same space that Barack Obama stood. Experience has taught us that face to face confrontation only generates more publicity for white supremists.

For more info, visit the Vital Voice link above.

Biden to visit Whiteman, St. Louis, Jeff City

Cara — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:46:18 +0000

clarification via Huffington Post:

“Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of presumptive Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden, is a veteran educator and a professor at Delaware Technical Community College. Jill Biden has a Ph.D. in Education.”

Thursday night Biden will be at a $2500/ticket DNC fundraiser at the ritzy St. Louis Club in Clayton. Sorry folks, I can’t offer any tickets! The event on Friday at UMSL is “Making College more affordable for our families”, and is the 3rd in a series of lectures that the V-P and the Middle Class Task Force is giving across the country.

via Biden to visit Whiteman, St. Louis, Jeff City | KansasCity.com Prime Buzz.

Here comes Joe.

Vice President Joe Biden will visit Whiteman Air Force Base Thursday where he is to have lunch with the troops and give a brief talk.

Then he’ll be off to Jeff City that afternoon to visit the ABB factory. There, he’ll highlight how the federal stimulus law has created a market for the company’s transformers for wind power plants.

On Friday, the vice president will host a task force meeting at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on ways to make college more affordable.

Also scheduled to attend that event is Biden’s wife, Jill, who is a college instructor.

Summer Internships for Students

Cara — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:12:12 +0000

Saint Louis Science Center – Geology, Ecology, Paleontology, Archaeology. .. EARTH SCIENCES SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND FIELD EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

June – mid-August 2009
Saint Louis Science Center
5050 Oakland Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110

OPEN to HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETING THEIR JUNIOR or SENIOR YEAR of HIGH SCHOOL by JUNE 2009 and with an interest in careers in the earth sciences. Must be 16 by June 1, 2009.

APPLICATION DEADLINE – TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2009, 5 p.m. Registration forms and science teacher letter of recommendation required.

For application, or more information, contact Tom Potter at tpotter@slsc. org.

Fifteen hours weekly, flexible. Training and learning opportunities related to Earth Sciences exhibit galleries, exhibit interpretation, activity and Prep Lab training, and participation in a week-long summer field experience at one of the following:

Mount Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks, July 11 – 17, 2009
Grand Canyon National Park, August 9 – 15, 2009
Denali National Park, August 29 – September 4, 2009

NATIONAL PARKS TRIPS ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. VISIT TRAVEL PROGRAMS AT WWW.SLSC.ORG.

Outsourcing of 8th Ward Jobs

Cara — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:19:02 +0000

My sentiments go out to my neighbors in the 8th who will be unemployed shortly. It saddens me to know that privatization and outsourcing are condoned, nay, lauded by our city to the detriment of our city residents.

via Saint Louis Beacon – City treasurer confirms 73 employees to be laid off.

By Jo Mannies, Beacon Political Reporter

Posted 2:30 p.m. Fri., April 3: St. Louis city Treasurer Larry Williams has just issued a statement confirming what the Beacon first reported Thursday: he is laying off 73 members of his staff on June 1.

Sinquefield, Schock sue St. Louis Public Schools – St. Louis Business Journal:

Cara — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:00:01 +0000

Sinquefield, Schock sue St. Louis Public Schools

St. Louis Business Journal

Philanthropist and millionaire Rex Sinquefield and lawyer W. Bevis Schock sued St. Louis Public Schools on Wednesday in an effort to remove deed restrictions that prohibit buyers of closed schools from reopening the building as a school for 100 years.

Charter school advocates have blasted the policy as a direct attempt to prevent charter school expansion in St. Louis.

“These deed restrictions do nothing to help the poor and underserved children of the City of Saint Louis,” Sinquefield said in a news release put out to publicize the lawsuit. “In addition to denying young people an important educational opportunity, they contribute to the economic instability of our neighborhoods and create a dangerous situation for families. Clearly, this decision by the (Special Administrative Board) is short-sighted, and they should completely rescind this egregious disregard for Saint Louis children and the taxpayers who paid for these structures.”

Josh Schindler, an attorney for Sinquefield and Schock, argued that the school district is missing an opportunity to sell schools and use the proceeds to help children as it grapples with a $35 million budget shortfall.

Patrick Wallace, a spokesman for St. Louis schools, said the district would not comment on the lawsuit until it had been officially served.

The SAB adopted the policy in December 2007 when the district began to close schools in response to the city’s declining population, which has shrunk from 45,000 students a decade ago to fewer than 27,000 today.

St. Louis native Rex Sinquefield did influential research on historical stock market returns and pioneered many of the nation’s first index funds. His Sinquefield Charitable Foundation in Osage County supports organizations that enhance music, children, art and education.

Schock has a private practice in St. Louis.

via Sinquefield, Schock sue St. Louis Public Schools – St. Louis Business Journal:.

KWMU: Candidates play blame game in mayoral debate (2009-03-31)

Cara — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:48:04 +0000

Candidates play blame game in mayoral debate Rachel Lippmann, KWMU

ST. LOUIS, MO (2009-03-31)

Mayor Francis Slay, Rev. Elston McCowan, and former state Senator Maida Coleman at the St. Louis Public Library (KWMU photo)

Two of the three challengers to Mayor Francis Slay in the general election used a debate at the St. Louis Public Library Monday night to lay the blame for city’s problems at his feet.

Both independent candidate Maida Coleman and Green Party candidate Elston McCowan targeted Slay on a wide range of issues, including the city’s struggling school system, its police department, the stalled Ballpark Village development, and the ongoing racial divide.

via KWMU: Candidates play blame game in mayoral debate (2009-03-31).

03/28/2009 – St. Louis Bosnian Chamber of Commerce moves into new home – STLtoday.com

Cara — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:13:17 +0000

This is encouraging and heartening – true community.

BY Phillip O’Connor

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

03/28/2009

St. Louis — Photographs on the walls of the new St. Louis Bosnian Chamber of Commerce offices serve as a reminder of how far the community has come.

The pictures document the nearly four-year-long siege of the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo and depict the miseries of the 1990s war that prompted many to flee their homeland for the United States.

On Friday, those days seemed a distant memory as dozens of civic leaders, business owners and others gathered to celebrate the opening of the chamber’s new headquarters and cultural center in a renovated building at 5039 Gravois Ave.

via 03/28/2009 – St. Louis Bosnian Chamber of Commerce moves into new home – STLtoday.com.

Mott-Oxford endorses Coleman

Cara — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:35:32 +0000

from State Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford:

I have endorsed Maida Coleman for St. Louis City mayor because she comes out as the best choice when I reflect on my own endorsement principles.
Those principles are:

What has been the political history of the candidate who is seeking my endorsement? What legislation has she/he sponsored if previously in office? Do he/she have a reputation for honesty, transparency, and keeping commitments made to others?
Does the candidate have a history of social justice activism or public policy advocacy for the common good? Has the candidate worked to get social justice advocates elected? Will the candidate’s presence in elected office enrich our diversity by adding a voice from an under-represented category of citizens (women, People of Color, LGBT citizens, religious minorities, etc.)?
Is the candidate working hard and making good use of low-cost grassroots campaign methods? Is the candidate’s opponent someone who has a particularly appalling track record?

I hope you will take steps to help Maida win. She would be the first woman mayor of the City of St. Louis. For more information about Maida Coleman’s campaign, to request a yard sign, volunteer, or donate, go to:
http://www.maida4ma yor.com/.

For those concerned about whether she can win given the huge advantages of the incumbent, here are some things to think about:

- The incumbent won his primary with 19,359 votes to 10,039 for Irene Smith, former 1st Ward Alderman, with less than 15% of registered voters showing up at the polls. As former holder of the Senate 5 seat, Maida Coleman has a broader beginning base of folks who know her and who have voted for her in the past than Ms. Smith had.

- The school board elections are apt to draw a certain number of folks out who are not prone to vote for the incumbent (that is, hardcore public schools activists).

- In recent memory, a woman with a small amount of money, but a vigorous grassroots presence, overcame an opponent who outspent her more than five to one. That candidate was Robin Wright Jones – also in Senate 5. Maida supported Robin in that campaign. Your help for Maida could produce the second grassroots miracle in less than a year.

A fundraiser is planned for March 25 (6-8 p.m.) at Rue 13, 1311 Washington in St. Louis City. Call Maida at 314-241-2009 for more
details.

JMO

Jeanette Mott Oxford
2910 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118
314-771-8882; isaiah-58@juno. com

League of Women Voters

Cara — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:41:05 +0000

Title: League of Women Voters
Location: Trinity Episcipal Church
Start Time: 10:30
Date: 2009-03-14

We will have a presentation on the situation in Pakistan by the International Relations Committee. It promises to be stimulating as well as timely!!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING SOME NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR THE CHURCH’S FOOD PANTRY.

Supporters march to save public schools

Cara — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:00:04 +0000

Michael Allen describes the Saturday march to save public schools at his blog Ecology of Absence

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – One hundred public school supporters held a Save Our Schools Rally at Shepard Elementary School at 3405 Wisconsin this morning to show support for keeping the school open. They then marched to Monroe Elementary, Carnahan High School, Meramec Elementary, three schools that have been recommended to stay open, with a concluding rally at Cleveland High School on S. Grand (which was closed three years ago).