8th Ward Brightside Blitz on April 17
By Cara | March 30, 2010
Operation Brightside’s annual campaign, Project Blitz, to clean up city neighborhoods, will take place, April 10 – May 1. Trash collection will begin at 10:00 a.m. Residents are asked to have all items out by this time.
All “Yard Waste Only” (Green Waste) and trash receptacles will be emptied on your Blitz Saturday.
Large appliances, tires, car batteries, and motor oil will also be collected but separately from other bulk items. These items will be recycled.
All debris must be bagged and put into trash receptacles. Loose debris will NOT be picked up. Call (314)772-4646 for more information or visit www.operationbrightside.org to find trash instructions and dates of Project Blitz Saturdays.
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Rep. Tishaura Jones update
By Cara | March 30, 2010
“Greetings!”
“My first bill, HB 1826 was gutted in committee by the usual suspects and a handful of Democrats. The Chairman of the committee used parliamentary procedure to end the executive session once an amendment was added that would grant the authority to close casinos for financial reasons and give them 90-day notice to do so. Unfortunately, the rogue nature of the Missouri Gaming Commission forced Pinnacle to surrender their license earlier this month. If their license was revoked, the rippling effect would have had a horrible rippling effect. However, Pinnacle has assured me that they will do everything they can to help displaced employees. ”
“In other news, HB 1601, that would provide local control of the St. Louis Police Department made a giant step. The bill is currently on it’s way to the House floor!!. Senator Joe Keaveny (D-4), is filing companion legislation in the Senate and was granted a hearing on Tuesday, March 2nd. The local news reported that two bus loads of police were in Jefferson City to show support. Which begs the question, who was watching our streets while the police were up here playing politics? For more information about what Local Control is and what it is not, read the article below.”
In addition, the St. Louis Police Officers Association (POA) has stooped to an all time low in their attempt to mislead and mischaracterize by accusing me of trying to make you believe that Local Control is a racial issue. I have never mentioned race in my attempts to convince anyone to support Local Control. The only time race has been mentioned in the debate about local control was in a letter by sent to the Missouri House from Joe Steiger, Vice President of the POA. Local Control is not about pensions; it is not about the size of the Board of Aldermen; it’s not about the St. Louis Fire Department; and it is not about race. Local Control is about taxation without representation, it is about the sovereignty of the taxpayers of the City of St. Louis to have the same rights that all of the counties in the State of Missouri currently have. A lot Americans believe that the recently passed federal health care legislation is an intrusion on Missouri’s sovereignty, then state control of the St. Louis Police Department is a violation of St. Louis City’s sovereignty on STERIODS. The POA’s assertion that I inserted race in this issue is a blatant and outright lie.
Keeping up the good fight,
Tishaura
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Need Help Filing Taxes?
By Cara | March 30, 2010
Call 1-800-906-9887 to find the nearest tax assistance site.
The following is information about Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and AARP sites. Both VITA and TCE volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers provide free tax assistance to low income, disabled, homebound, and English as a second language taxpayers. Some VITA sites provide assistance only to those taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteers provide free tax assistance to individuals in your community who are age 60 and older. All TCE sites provide assistance with state tax credits. AARP volunteers provide assistance at many TCE sites to those age 60 and older and also serve other taxpayers with middle and low incomes.
Unfortunately, VITA sites do not exist in many rural areas. Many TCE sites will serve low-income tax payers. Call the nearest TCE site for information.
If you have questions about tax assistance sites in Missouri, you can e-mail motax@missouri.edu.
If you would like to become a VITA volunteer, or if you would like to start a site in your area, contact the IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC), 1222 Spruce Street, Stop 1022-STL, St. Louis, MO 63103.
Go to http://www.irs.gov/ to visit the Internal Revenue Service Web site. It contains tax information on a wide variety of topics.
For more information about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax topics, go to http://missourifamilies.org/features/financearticles/taxes.htm.
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Missouri Budget Project E-News
By Cara | March 30, 2010
Missouri Budget Project E-News
Federal and State Policy Update
March 26, 2010
In this issue:
Federal issues
1. Health care reaches the finish line. Final bill to be signed today!
State issues
2. The making of the budget – FY2011
3. Action on tax and revenue-related issues
4. “Rebooting Missouri Government” ideas are brought forward
5. New papers available on the Missouri Budget Project Web site
6. Need help in filing taxes? Help is available here!
7. Events
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St. Vincent de Paul Easter Egg Hunt
By Cara | March 30, 2010
Title: St. Vincent de Paul Easter Egg Hunt
Description: Just a reminder of our upcoming Easter Egg Hunt this coming Saturday morning, April 3rd beginning promptly at 10:00a.m. in the Old Playground Pavillion at Tower Grove Park. (Take the walking path that starts at Magnolia and 39th St. and head at a southeasterly angle). Bring your kids or grandkids. All are welcome. Suggested donation is $5/child or $10/family.
Date: 2010-04-03
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2010 Midwest Energy and Climate Conference – June 8-10, 2010
By Cara | March 30, 2010
for more info, visit Regform.org
2010 Midwest Energy and Climate Conference – June 8-10, 2010 – at the Missouri Botanical Gardens
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From Senator Keaveny
By Cara | March 30, 2010
“Proposition A” in St. Louis County Will Affect the City of St. Louis
Voters in St. Louis County will have the opportunity to vote for much-needed new funding for the region’s public transit agency on April 6. The one-half cent sales tax, on the ballot as Proposition A, will provide Metro with funds to restore recent reductions to bus and other modes of transportation and to expand transit services that are essential to the economic development of our region.
When new businesses consider locating to the St. Louis area, and when tourists and conventions consider visiting the area to spend their money, one of the very first things they ask about is the availability of public transit. Without comprehensive transit alternatives, the St. Louis area cannot be competitive with other regions seeking new jobs, economic development and tourism events.
Transit provides access to jobs, education, health care and independence for seniors and the disabled community. The commuters who ride transit in St. Louis earn $2.2 billion annually. That’s equivalent to 50,000 jobs at $40,000 per year.
If voters in St. Louis County approve the sales tax, it also will trigger a one-fourth cent sales tax in the City of St. Louis . Voters approved a similar sales tax in 1997. Metro can’t collect the funds in the City unless voters in the county also pass the sales tax.
Proposition A deserves your serious consideration. It will cost the average St. Louis County resident approximately $1 per week – dollars that will support expanded transit that already takes more than 45,000 cars off the roads every day. Those dollars will also help the St. Louis region attract and retain growing businesses. A healthy transit system is important for a healthy local economy.
Every vote in St. Louis County will affect the City, so I hope you encourage your friends and family to vote.
For more info please visit moremetrolink.com or advancestlouis.com.
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