Kickball team in Tower Grove Park Ousted
By Cara | April 20, 2010
from John Carel, Director of Tower Grove Park
It has come to our attention that there are certain athletic field permit holders at Tower Grove Park who are behaving in a manner which does not reflect positively on the Park or the surrounding neighborhoods. There has been one kickball league that has demonstrated a persistent pattern of raucous lewd language, public urination, disrespect for Park rangers, and nudity, all of which is apparently associated with alcohol consumption. A review of this group’s website makes very clear that they seek a form of recreation that we cannot provide.
Tower Grove Park has decided to cancel the field permits held by this kickball league for the remainder of the season.
We are very reluctant to take action of this type, but these circumstances leave us with no real choice. Please be aware that there are other kickball leagues which have not demonstrated this extreme behavior. Those leagues remain welcome to use the Park.
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Partnership for Downtown St. Louis: Earnings tax repeal ‘reckless’ – St. Louis Business Journal:
By Cara | April 13, 2010
Partnership for Downtown St. Louis: Earnings tax repeal ‘reckless’ – St. Louis Business Journal:.
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St. Louis Schools Watch – April 13, 2010
By Cara | April 13, 2010
SLPS Advisory Committee Will Meet Today
The Special Advisory Committee on the St. Louis Public Schools will meet Tuesday, April 13 in St. Louis from 2:00-4:00 p.m., in the SW Bell Library at Harris-Stowe State University , 3026 Laclede.
The tentative agenda for the meeting includes a presentation by Dr. Kelvin Adams, superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools , and a time for comments by members of the public.
The Special Advisory Committee was reconvened last November by Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro. The five-member committee is charged with making recommendations about future directions for the school district. The members of the committee are:
Dr. William H. Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University (co-chair)
Mrs. Frankie M. Freeman, Attorney (co-chair)
Mr. Ned Lemkemeier, Attorney
Mr. Michael Middleton, Deputy Chancellor, University of Missouri-Columbia
Dr. Donald Suggs, publisher of the St. Louis American
Why You Should Be Concerned
By Susan Turk Read the rest of this entry »
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Missouri gets $54M in stimulus to turn around worst schools
By Cara | April 13, 2010
Sigh – looks like this money will only go to charter schools or closing schools in St. Louis since the SLPS cannot afford to replace principals and half the teachers in the district. But I wonder if “individual” schools can apply, or only entire districts…
via St. Louis Business Journal:.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Monday that Missouri will receive $54 million in federal funding to turn around its lowest-achieving schools, particularly 50 struggling schools in St. Louis and Kansas City.
These funds are part of the $3.5 billion that will be made available to states this spring from money set aside in the 2009 budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Missouri’s application, which includes its list of persistently lowest-achieving schools, can be downloaded here.
When school districts apply to the state for the money this spring, they must indicate their plans to reopen schools as charter schools, close schools or replace principals and half the teachers, federal education officials said. Each school building is eligible to receive $50,000 to $2 million over three years.
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8th Ward Resident Appointed to Board of Police Commissioners
By Cara | April 8, 2010
My belated congrats to Michael Gerdine – Cara
Gov. Nixon appoints two to St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners.
Gov. Nixon appoints two to St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced two appointments to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. The board is responsible for oversight of the operation of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The appointments will be subject to approval by the Missouri Senate.
The Governor has appointed former Circuit Judge Michael B. Calvin, of St. Louis, for a term ending Jan. 31, 2014. Judge Calvin served as a circuit judge on the bench of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit from 1988 to 2008, and as an associate circuit judge from 1979 to 1988. A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, he is now of counsel with the law firm of Spencer Fane Britt & Browne.
While on the bench, Judge Calvin was designated to sit on the Missouri Supreme Court three times to hear cases. He served as a member of the Supreme Court advisory committee, the circuit court budget committee, and the legislative steering committee. He is a member of the Mound City Bar Association and was honored by the association with its “Legal Legend” award.
Judge Calvin has served as a competition judge for moot court and mock trial competitions for Saint Louis University and Washington University Schools of Law, as well as a truancy court judge at Beaumont High School. He is a former Boy Scoutmaster and is a senior warden at All Saints Episcopal Church.
The Governor also appointed Dr. Michael L. Gerdine (Ger-DEEN), of St. Louis, for a term ending Jan. 31, 2011. Dr. Gerdine is a doctor of chiropractic and the founder and CEO of West End Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center in St. Louis. He served on the State Board of Health from last August until the end of January.
Dr. Gerdine also owns another small business in St. Louis, Elite Detailing. A graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic, he provides yearly physical examinations as a philanthropic service for the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Louis. He also serves on the board of directors for his alma mater, Christian Brothers College High School.
“These are two people of the highest integrity who are well-respected and have a long record of giving back to the community,” Gov. Nixon said. “I have confidence in their ability to be part of a strong police board that will work hand in hand with Chief Isom to serve the citizens of St. Louis.”
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Voters approve Metro tax
By Cara | April 7, 2010
via St. Louis Business Journal:
St. Louis County voters approved a half-cent sales tax to restore and expand Metro mass transit service.
Proposition A passed with 94,294 votes, or 63 percent, according to the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners.
“I thank the voters of St. Louis County for doing the hard thing because it was the right thing,” St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley said. “The people who benefit from this vote are young and old, black and white, rich and poor. They are our family, our friends, and our neighbors. They are seniors. They are students. They are disabled. They will ride buses and trains to get to work and to look for work.”
The measure previously failed in November 2008, forcing the bus and light-rail agency to slash service and lay off hundreds of workers. But this time, John Nations, mayor of Chesterfield, chaired Advance St. Louis, a campaign committee that raised money to move the issue forward.
Others working on the campaign included Metro President and Chief Executive Bob Baer, Nancy Cross of the Service Employees and Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton.
The sales tax increase will generate about $80 million a year for Metro. The measure also triggers a previously passed 0.25 percent tax increase in the city of St. Louis.
“The road forward for the St. Louis County community just got a little easier to travel,” Dooley said.
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St Louis City Central Committee opposes the elimination of the Earnings Tax
By Cara | April 1, 2010
At our meeting on Tuesday, the central committee voted to make a statement opposing the current ballot initiative that would eliminate the earnings tax in the City of St. Louis.
St. Louis Democratic City Central Committee opposes any ballot proposition eliminating or curtailing the Earnings Tax in St. Louis City because there is no viable or reasonable way to replace the Earnings Tax at this time.
Click here for more information about the coalition opposing this initiative
Click here to read the proposed ballot language
Please contact me if you need more info or have any questions.
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