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Sunday Poll: Should Red-Light Cameras Return To St. Louis?

November 24, 2019 Crime, Featured, Politics/Policy, Sunday Poll, Transportation Comments Off on Sunday Poll: Should Red-Light Cameras Return To St. Louis?
Please vote below

Last week we heard the city is interested in bringing back red-light cameras:

We haven’t seen red-light cameras in St. Louis for a few years, but now the city is considering bringing them back — and the tickets that come with them.

“We’re looking for a tool that can help us save lives,” Director of Operations Todd Waelterman said.

He said police are short-staffed and have too much on their plate, so they’re exploring other options to make the streets safer. (KSDK)

This is the subject of today’s poll.

This poll will close at 8pm tonight. More information, my thoughts, and results Wednesday morning.

— Steve Patterson

 

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 24 of 2019-2020 Session

November 22, 2019 Board of Aldermen, Featured Comments Off on St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 24 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen meet at 10am today, their 15th meeting of the 2019-2020 session. As previously noted, they have the first two meetings labeled as Week #1, so they list this as week/meeting 23.

Today’s agenda includes three (12) new bills.

  • B.B.#171 – Ingrassia – An ordinance prohibiting the City of St. Louis, the offices of the City’s Collector of Revenue, Treasurer, Recorder of Deeds, License Collector, Circuit Attorney, and Sheriff, and the City’s Board of Election Commissioners from asking applicants for employment about their salary history, including wages, benefits, and any other compensation, unless otherwise provided therein; and containing a severability clause.
  • B.B.#172 – J. Boyd – An Ordinance relating to the unlawful possession of a handgun by a minor; to be added to the Revised Code of the City of St. Louis as Chapter 15.130.
  • B.B.#173 – P. Boyd – An ordinance approving a blighting study and redevelopment plan for the Goodfellow/West Florissant Scattered Sites Redevelopment Area.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2019-2020 session — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

 

Readers: Keep Cut From 28 To 14 Aldermen

November 20, 2019 Board of Aldermen, Featured, Politics/Policy Comments Off on Readers: Keep Cut From 28 To 14 Aldermen
Sausage getting made in the Board of Aldermen’s chambers

Unsurprisingly, the majority of those who voted in the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll prefer to keep the planned cut from 28 to 14 Aldermen.

Q: Agree or disagree: St. Louis voters should vote to keep the Board of Aldermen at 28, rather than be reduced to 14 by 2022.

  • Strongly agree: 1 [2.94%]
  • Agree: 0 [0%]
  • Somewhat agree: 1 [2.94%]
  • Neither agree or disagree: 1 [2.94%]
  • Somewhat disagree: 1 [2.94%]
  • Disagree: 5 [14.71%]
  • Strongly disagree:25 [73.53%]
  • Unsure/No Answer: 0 [0%]

While I agree with the majority, I also think we need safeguards to make sure the establishment doesn’t end up controlling all 14 seats. We need to do something to make sure the members represent all of St. Louis — not just whites, or blacks. St. Louis is more ethnically diverse than just black & white. Do what?

Look at the process for drawing ward boundaries. Will it be fair or will the lines be drawn in such a way as to make it harder for racial minorities to get elected?

Before the 1914 charter was adopted St. Louis had two legislative bodies — a Council and a House of Delegates. The Council had 12 members, plus a president. The House of Delegates had 28.

The 1880 & 1910 census had St. Louis’ population at 350,518 & 687,029, respectively. So population was increasing rapidly, but they cut back on the total number of legislators from 40 to 28.

The freeholders at the time were looking ahead 10-50 years, not more than 100 years. Given our population, reducing to 14 makes sense — as long as we make sure the new 14-member Board of Aldermen looks as diverse as our population.

— Steve Patterson

 

Sunday Poll: Should the Size of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Stay at 28 or be cut to 14?

November 17, 2019 Board of Aldermen, Featured, Politics/Policy, Sunday Poll Comments Off on Sunday Poll: Should the Size of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Stay at 28 or be cut to 14?
Please vote below

St. Louis voters have made some  notoriously bad decisions at the polls — the 1876 “divorce” from St. Louis County topping the list, the 1916 pro-segregation vote a close second.

Back in 2012, city voters passed a measure cutting the Wards and Aldermen in half to 14. The measure takes effect in 2022. Mayor Lyda Krewson opposes a re-vote; she already threatened to veto a similar bill last year. (Fox2)

Some think the 2012 measure was another bad decision, while others think having a new vote to reverse that outcome would be a bad decision.

This is the subject of today’s poll:

This poll will close at 8pm tonight, my thoughts and results on Wednesday.

— Steve Patterson

 

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 23 of 2019-2020 Session

November 15, 2019 Board of Aldermen, Featured Comments Off on St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 23 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen meet at 10am today, their 15th meeting of the 2019-2020 session. As previously noted, they have the first two meetings labeled as Week #1, so they list this as week/meeting 22.

Today’s agenda includes thirteen (13) new bills.

  • B.B.#155 – Guenther – An Ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing The City of St. Louis, Missouri to issue its Taxable Industrial Development Revenue Bonds in one or more series in a total principal amount of not to exceed $100,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of acquiring, constructing, improving and equipping an industrial development project in the City; approving a plan for such project; authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Comptroller to execute certain documents related thereto; and authorizing and directing the taking of other actions and approval and execution of other documents as are necessary or desirable to carry out and comply with the intent hereof.
  • B.B.#156 – Hubbard – An Ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing The City of St. Louis, Missouri to issue its Taxable Industrial Development Revenue Bonds in one or more series in a total principal amount of not to exceed $50,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of acquiring, constructing, improving and equipping an industrial development project in the City; approving a plan for such project; authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Comptroller to execute certain documents related thereto; and authorizing and directing the taking of other actions and approval and execution of other documents as are necessary or desirable to carry out and comply with the intent hereof.
  • B.B.#157 – Hubbard – An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a redevelopment agreement between The City of St. Louis, Missouri and 900 N. Tucker Building, LLC; prescribing the form and details of said agreement; authorizing other related actions in connection with such agreement; and containing a severability clause.
  • B.B#158 – Hubbard – An Ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the issuance and delivery of not to exceed $11,850,000 plus issuance costs principal amount of tax increment revenue notes (900 N. Tucker Blvd. Redevelopment Project) Series 20__-A/B, of The City of St. Louis, Missouri; prescribing the form and details of such notes and the covenants and agreements made by the City to facilitate and protect the payment thereof; prescribing other matters relating thereto, and containing a severability clause.
  • B.B.#159 – Hubbard – An Ordinance designating a portion of The City of St. Louis, Missouri as a redevelopment area known as the 900 N. Tucker Blvd Redevelopment Area pursuant to the Real Property Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act; adopting and approving a redevelopment plan, adopting and approving a redevelopment project with respect thereto; adopting tax increment financing within the redevelopment area; making findings with respect thereto; establishing the 900 N. Tucker Blvd Special Allocation Fund; authorizing certain actions by City officials; and containing a severability clause.
  • B.B.#160 – Roddy – An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 70599; approving and authorizing the execution of a redevelopment agreement between The City of St. Louis, Missouri and Vertical Realty Advisors, LLC; authorizing other related actions in connection with such agreement; and containing a severability clause.
  • B.B.#161 – Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan dated October 22, 2019 for the 4915-4925 West Pine Blvd. Area
  • B.B#162 Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan dated November 6, 2019 for the 4565-4591 Mcree Ave. Area
  • B.B.#163 – Hubbard – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 2127 N. 11th St. Area.
  • B.B.#164 – Roddy – An ordinance dissolving the Special Allocation Funds for Lafayette Square Historic District and 5700 Arsenal and terminating the designation of a portion of the City of St. Louis, Missouri as redevelopment areas and authorizing certain actions relating thereto.
  • B.B.#165 – Roddy – An ordinance dissolving the Special Allocation Funds for the Hadley Dean Building Redevelopment Area and terminating the designation of certain respective portions of the City of St. Louis, Missouri relating to that redevelopment area and authorizing certain actions relating thereto.
  • B.B.#166 – Spencer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 3400 Chippewa and 3809 Louisiana Ave Area.
  • B.B.#167 – Spencer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 3426 South Compton Ave Area.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2019-2020 session — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

 

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