Update On Participatory Budgeting St. Louis From 6th Ward Ald Christine Ingrassia

Guest post from 6th Ward Ald Christine Ingrassia

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. Participatory Budgeting Saint Louis (PB STL) seeks to empower residents via direct participation in the allocation of public monies in order to expand civic and political participation of citizens; and increase government transparency, with a focus on inclusion of historically disenfranchised or uninvolved populations. While PB is a fairly new concept in the United States, it is already being implemented in Chicago, New York City and Vallejo. ??During St. Louis City’s 2013 municipal primary, Michelle Witthaus and I, both candidates in the 6th Ward’s Aldermanic race, learned there was an interest on the part of residents to feel more connected to the political process and to see greater governmental transparency and accountability. After a training MORE’s (Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment) Zach Chasnoff received and reported on, Michelle thought PB could address this interest. After the election, we decided to form a Steering Committee, which first met in May 2013, to bring PB to St. Louis City. I set aside $50,000 this year and will do the same next year, so that $100,000 of 6th ward capital improvement funds for fiscal year 2015 will go towards a pilot project to introduce St. Louis to this new endeavor.

From May through September the PB STL Steering Committee worked on rules for implementation, created a fundraising plan and canvassed in low voter turnout areas of the 6th ward. We are now ready to host Neighborhood Assemblies in October. Residents will learn how PB STL will work in its inaugural year and will have the opportunity to volunteer to plan projects the rest of the 6th Ward will vote on.

Trainings for budget delegates (volunteers planning projects) will occur in November and over the winter they will work with the Steering Committee and me to create project proposals. In March 2014 Project Expos will held. At these expos presentations of proposals will be made to the 6th Ward and changes can be made to them, as needed. ??Voting will occur in several different forms over the course of 1 – 2 weeks in April and will hopefully include an online option. In May 2014 winning projects will be provided to the City’s Board of Public Service to be included in the fiscal year 2015 budget. In June 2014 we will undertake evaluation of our first year’s efforts and the projects we voted on will begin to be implemented in July.

I’m hoping this project will increase community participation, act as an agent of government accountability and will spark an interest on the part of residents regarding how the budget process works.

Here is a listing of our upcoming assemblies; PB STL would love to see you at one.

1. Monday, October 7th
   Jefferson Warehouse
   2501 S Jefferson Ave
   Koken Art Factory (location change as of 9/29)
   2500 Ohio Ave.
   6:30pm-8:30pm
2. Wednesday, October 9th
   Barr Branch Library
   1701 S Jefferson Ave
   12:00pm-2:00pm
3. Monday, October 14th
   Stray Dog Theater
   2348 Tennessee Ave
   6:30pm-8:30pm
4. Wednesday, October 16th
   Lafayette Park United Methodist Church
   2300 Lafayette Ave
   6:30pm-8:30pm
5. Saturday, October 19th
   Barr Branch Library
   1701 S Jefferson Ave
   10:00am-12:00pm

Partisan Candidates Selected For April 2nd General Election

On Tuesday each party selected their candidates to face  each other in the general election.  Apparently we have so many candidates seeking office in St. Louis we must first hold a partisan primary to narrow the field and then a general election where the candidate from each party faces the other and all the independents.

Let’s take a look at all 17 races to see how who was selected to represent each party in the April 2nd primary:

• Mayor: James Eldon McNeely (G) received 115 votes, defeating nobody in the primary, will face incumbent Francis Slay (D). In the 3-way primary Slay had a 10 point victory over President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed and Jimmie Mathews barely registered with 1.31% of the vote. No independent or Republican candidates filed. Unless something major happens, Slay will win an unprecedented fourth 4-year term. Reed’s current seat is up again in two years.
• Comptroller: Jerome Bauer (G)received 108 votes, defeating nobody in the primary, will face Darlene Green (D) who also defeated nobody in the primary. No independent or Republican candidates filed.
• 1st Ward: None of the three candidates in the Democratic primary received greater than 50% of the 1,676 votes. No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed. Former alderman Sharon Tyrus will be returning to city hall having received 800 votes. Incumbent Charles Troupe came in second with 570. Yolanda Brown got 306 votes.  Read how Tyus got redistricted out of office here.
• 3rd Ward: After the 4-way primary race  incumbent Freeman Bosley Sr. (D) will return to city hall, no independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed. Only 1,483 voted in this race with Bosley receiving 799, Anthony Bell (264), Jeffrey Hardin (261), and Maxine Johnson (159). Bosley has held this seat since April 1989.
• 5th Ward: By far the biggest disappointment of the primary was Tammika Hubbard (D) winning a full term in office, defeating Michelle Hutchings-Medina (713 to 573). No wonder given the family tactics. No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed.
• 7th Ward: David Brent Gordon (G) received 1 vote, defeating nobody in his primary, will face Phyllis Young (D) , who defeated nobody in the primary with 1,172 votes. Young is seeking her eighth term, yes eighth. Those 7th ward folks love the status quo! No independent  or Republican candidates filed.
• 9th Ward: Susie Mayberry Parker (G) received 8 votes, defeating nobody in the primary, faces Ken A. Ortmann (D), who also defeated nobody in his primary with 1,015 votes. No independent  or Republican candidates filed.
• 11th Ward: Thomas Albert Villa (D) received 1,182 votes, defeating nobody in the primary and faces nobody in the general. No independent or Republican candidates filed.
• 13th Ward: Fred Wessels (D) received 1,456 votes, defeating nobody in the primary and faces nobody in the general. Like Young, Wessels is seeking an eighth term. No independent or Republican candidates filed.
• 15th Ward: Incumbent Jennifer Florida (D) defeated Lisa Miller (996-607) in the primary. No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed.
• 17th Ward: Joseph (Joe) Roddy (D) received 1,008 votes, defeating nobody in the primary and faces nobody in the general. No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed.
• 19th Ward: Marlene E. Davis (D) received 955 votes, defeating nobody in the primary and faces nobody in the general. No independent candidates filed.
• 21st Ward: Antonio D. French (D) defeated primary challenger Kenneth D. Wilson (1,527-378), faces nobody in the general. No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed.
• 23rd Ward: Robert J. Crump (R) received 24 votes, defeating nobody in the primary, faces Joseph (Joe) Vaccaro Jr.(D), who also defeated nobody in the primary 2,418 votes. No independent or Green candidates filed.
• 25th Ward: Shane Cohn (D) received 830 votes, defeating nobody in his primary and faces nobody in the general. No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed.
• 27th Ward: Incumbent Chris Carter (D) defeated Pamela Boyd (1,278-446).  No independent, Green, or Republican candidates filed so Carter will get a full term.
• 6th Ward (special election): Eugene Frison, Jr. (G), who defeated nobody in the primary, will face Christine Ingrassia (D), who received just over half the votes in the primary (1,043 to Jones’ 541 and Witthaus’ 477).  No independent or Republican candidates filed.

It makes zero financial sense to hold a partisan primary and a general election a month later! Decades ago when we had more people, and more candidates, it made some sense. We need to go to nonpartisan elections and to instant-runoff voting, doing so will level the playing field and get more people involved. Of course the incumbents don’t want to do either.

Six candidates have filed for three seats on the school board and a tax issue will be on the April 2nd ballot, will post about these before the election.

— Steve Patterson

Where’s Tammika?

Last Wednesday evening ten candidates took time from their busy campaign schedules to appear at Trailnet’s Amazing Candidate Race:

Trailnet and the Livable St. Louis Network are proud to present the first St. Louis candidate forum focused on livability issues of land use and transportation. Come join candidates from the 5th, 6th, and 15th wards and the mayoral candidates for a lively discussion on the future of St. Louis.

How much do the candidates really know about multimodal transportation and sustainable development? Do they have special skills that distinguish them from other candidates? You’ll find out these answers and more at The Amazing Candidate Race! Civic participation has never been so fun.

When: Wednesday, February 20, 7:00-8:30pm

Where: Contemporary Art Museum

Invited Candidates in ballot order: Francis Slay, Jimmie Matthews, Lewis Reed (Mayoral); Michelle Hutchings-Medina, Tammika Hubbard (5th Ward); Christine Ingrassia, Damon Jones, Michelle Witthaus (6th Ward); Jennifer Florida, Lisa Miller (15th Ward)

So all candidates from most contested primary races were invited to attend. That’s great, a chance for voters to hear from the candidates so we can make an informed decision a week from today. Except those of us in the 5th ward haven’t had a chance to hear from both of the candidates seeking to represent us for the next four years.

Perhaps Ald Hubbard is confused, thinking she’s a ghost employee. Hubbard was a no-show for the 3-way candidate forum in December 2011 when we had to select someone to finish the term of April Ford-Griffin. The Board of Aldermen is no place for someone unwilling to face her challenger(s) in public and respond to questions from voters.  If you live in the 5th ward please vote for Michelle Hutchings-Medina March 5th.  If you have friends in the 5th ward please encourage them to vote for Hutchings-Medina.

I detailed Hubbard’s fictional accomplishments here but this race is too important to the entire city to ignore.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Municipal Primary Just Two Weeks Away

In two weeks voters will decide the winner in some hotly contested primary races, including mayoral. Haven’t seen any independent candidates or competitive third-party candidates so the Democratic primary will likely decide these races. Remember independent Scott Ogilvie won a seat on the Board of Aldermen in the April general election, defeating the winner of the Democratic primary.

Four years ago seven candidates ran in the 23rd Ward Democratic primary, it was an open seat then. Now with an incumbent running for reelection nobody is interested. This is how incumbents become entrenched, nobody challenges them.

At least the local Green Party has a number of candidates on the ballet but here the primary is costly. Since there are candidates for two citywide seats (mayor & comptroller) ballots must be printed for availability at all precincts.

Of the 17 races in the Democratic primary only 8 have a challenger. As I’ve said before, St. Louis should consider dropping partisan primary elections. Put all the candidates in one election with instant-runoff voting when you have more than two candidates seeking the seat.  Hopefully we can get this change passed in the next decade so it can become active at the time the reduction of the Board of Aldermen happens.

Tomorrow night is a chance to hear from some of these candidates.

The Amazing Candidate Race, Wed, February 20, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

How much do the candidates really know about multimodal transportation and sustainable development? Do they have special skills that distinguish them from other candidates? You’ll find these answers and more at The Amazing Candidate Race. Civic participation has never been so fun!

Trailnet and the Livable St. Louis Network are proud to present the first St. Louis candidate forum focused on livability issues of land use and transportation.

Contemporary Art Museum 3750 Washington Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108

Who: Mayoral candidates (in ballot order) Francis Slay, Jimmie Matthews, Lewis Reed and Aldermanic candidates Michelle Hutchings-Medina (5th Ward), Damon Jones, Christine Ingrassia, Michelle Witthaus (6th Ward), Jennifer Florida and Lisa Miller (15th Ward) (see flyer)

Glad to see Trailnet hosting such an event.

— Steve Patterson

Michelle Hutchings-Medina For 5th Ward Alderman

This post is about the 5th ward but first I want to mention that at 7pm tonight (1/29/2012) a mayoral candidate forum will be held at the Central Library (info). All four candidates were invited, three democrats and one green. Hope to see you there.

As a 5th ward resident I recently received a mailer, a “Good Neighbor Guide”,  listing phone numbers for various city departments. Inside was a message from  Ald. Tammika Hubbard, part caught my attention:

Sounds pretty good — but it’s a complete fabrication. Hubbard didn’t “spearhead” these at all, this taxpayer-funded mailer is meant to trick my fellow 5th ward voters into thinking she accomplished that which was done while predecessor April Ford-Griffin was in office.

Here are the facts, in chronological order:

• February 17, 2011: Application is made to rebuild McDonald’s at 1119 N. Tucker (permit info found here)
• July 12, 2011: Application for new National Sales Co. HQ made, permit issu
• July 14, 2011: Building permit issued for new McDonald’s
• August 16, 2011: Application made to demolish old McDonald’s
• August 24, 2011: Demolition permit for old McDonald’s issue
• September 1, 2011: Demolition of old McDonald’s completed, permit closed.
• September 16, 2011: Ald. April Ford-Griffin announces resignation from the Board of Aldermen, appointment to serve as director of the city’s Civil Rights agency (source)
• September 30, 2011: April Ford-Griffin’s last day on the Board of Aldermen (source)
• November 22, 2011: McDonald’s building permit completed
• December 1, 2011: McDonald’s on Tucker reopens (source)
• December 13, 2011: 5th ward candidate forum held at Vashon High School, Hubbard is the only one of the three candidates on the ballot to NOT show (source)
• December 20, 2011: Special election held to replace April Ford-Griffin, turnout was 10.4% (results)
• January 6, 2012: Tammika Hubbard sworn into office
• January 26, 2012:  National Sales Co. announces it’ll start moving employees into new headquarters next month, February 2012 (source).

The McDonald’s reopened nearly three weeks before the special election was held! National Sales Co.’s headquarters was nearly finished by the time Hubbard was sworn into office. This kind of politics really annoys me. Sorry Tammika, we’re smart enough to know better.

Hubbard’s major accomplishment in her year in office was a bill adding The Bottle District to Paul McKee’s NorthSide Regeneration, not surprising considering:

Hubbard is the daughter of Rodney Hubbard Sr., a longtime north St. Louis politico and executive director of the Carr Square Tenant Corp., the nonprofit that runs the Carr Square housing development.

And the tenant group owns a 2.5 percent stake of NorthSide Regeneration LLC, the McKee-led holding company that is proposing the project — much of which is in Hubbard’s 5th Ward — and has sought nearly $400 million in city incentives to help do it. (stltoday.com)

Unlike in the special election, we have an exciting & qualified candidate on the March 5th ballot for the 5th ward: Michelle Hutchings-Medina. I first met Michelle last year at 5th ward event, I was immediately impressed. I’ve since gotten to know her better and can say I’m not casting my vote against Hubbard, I’m voting FOR Michelle. She has presence.  She has ideas. She listens to various viewpoints. She is trustworthy. Michelle Hutchings-Medina is a leader.

The entire city should work to elect Michelle Hutchings-Medina to the Board of Aldermen, it needs more people like her working for a better city, not in the interest of just her family. Voter registration deadline is February 6th and absentee voting is open now.

— Steve Patterson