St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 16 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen meet at 10am today, their 16th 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 15.

Today’s agenda includes three (3) new bills.

• B.B. #113 – Davis – An Ordinance approving the petition to establish The 2019 Grand Center Community Improvement District; finding a public purpose therefor, and containing a severability clause and emergency Clause.
• B.B. #114 – NUMBER NOT USED THIS SESSION
• B.B. #115 – Moore – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate above surface, surface and sub-surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedestrian travel in the northern 120 feet of the 15 foot wide north-south alley in City Block 1880 as bounded by Cote Brilliante, Grand, Aldine and Spring in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, as hereinafter described, in accordance with Charter authority, and in conformity with Section l4 of Article XXI of the Charter and imposing certain conditions on such vacation.
• B.B. #116 – Vaccaro – An ordinance adopted and approved pursuant to § 70.815 RSMo, authorizing the Police Commissioner to make a contract on behalf of the City of St. Louis with St. Louis County allowing St. Louis County to provide police services on MetroLink Property within the city limits of the City of St. Louis, including exercising powers of arrest for criminal offenses and violations of the ordinances of the City of St. Louis the same as possessed by the police officers of the City of St. Louis, and with the same immunity as if acting within St. Louis County, and containing an Emergency Clause

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

We’ve Got To Be Smart On Crime, Not Hard Or Soft

The phrase “soft on crime” has a long history of being used to encourage the public to support the “lock them up and throw away the key” view of criminal justice…more accurately injustice.

The 1990s panic over youth and gang violence had us characterizing juvenile offenders as “superpredators” who were beyond redemption. The popular slogan “adult time for adult crime” echoed a “get-tough” approach for punishing kids. Recently, however, the U.S. Supreme Court abolished mandatory life sentences for minors. And policy makers have recommitted to the original philosophy of juvenile justice, prioritizing the needs of young offenders rather than what punishment is deserved.

The 1990s also saw the rapid spread of a penal policy patterned after a well-known baseball refrain — “three strikes and you’re out.” This metaphorical approach to sentencing felons helped nearly bankrupt many states, especially California where “three strikes” was most enthusiastically adopted.

Thousands upon thousands of Americans were taken prisoner in the “War on Drugs” declared in the early 1970s when crime rates soared. Having surrendered this misguided campaign, the nation is now looking more toward treatment for addicts than punishment, and releasing nonviolent drug offenders from prison. (USA Today)

Fearing being labeled as “soft on crime” conservative Democrats, aka neoliberals, fully embraced tough on crime policies. This allowed them to work with Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation.

This led to innocent men, mostly African-Americans, being incarcerated. Mass incarceration is now a major problem. Families were torn apart. Persons who served their time returned home to find they couldn’t get a job or housing. Recidivism was inevitable.

We screwed up…for decades.

St. Louis is a Democratic city, but mostly of old school neoliberal conservative Democrats. So the fact a majority of respondents to the non-scientific Sunday Poll think think our first black prosecutors has led to a sudden spike in violent crime shouldn’t surprise me.

Q: Agree or disagree: Violent crime is increasing in St. Louis City & County because our new prosecutors are soft on crime.

• Strongly agree: 14 [48.28%]
• Agree: 4 [13.79%]
• Somewhat agree: 2 [6.9%]
• Neither agree or disagree: 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree: 0 [0%]
• Disagree: 5 [17.24%]
• Strongly disagree: 4 [13.79%]
• Unsure/No Answer: 0 [0%]

Long-standing policies, not new prosecutors, are responsible for our violence. Smart solutions don’t look like the old, but now problematic, one. St. Louisans must learn to embrace change if we’re ever going to make progress in addressing our problems.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 15 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 14.

Today’s agenda includes five (5) new bills.

• B.B. #108 – Middlebrook – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to vacate public surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedestrian travel in Fordey St. from Antelope St. to Thatcher Ave. and the easternmost 150 feet of the 20 foot wide east/west alley in City Block 4233 as bounded by Antelope, Fordey, Thatcher and East Railroad in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, as hereinafter described, in accordance with Charter authority, and in conformity with Section l4 of Article XXI of the Charter and imposing certain conditions on such vacation.
• B.B. #109 – Martin – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate above surface, surface and sub-surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedestrian travel in Van Buren St. from Primm St. to Tesson St. in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, as hereinafter described, in accordance with Charter authority, and in conformity with Section l4 of Article XXI of the Charter and imposing certain conditions on such vacation.
• B.B. #110 – Middlebrook – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate above surface, surface and sub-surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedes- trian travel in the westernmost 170.44′ ± 0.80′ of the 20 foot wide east/west alley in City Block 4233 as bounded by Fordey, Thatcher, East Railroad and Antelope in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, as hereinafter described, in accordance with Charter authority, and in conformity with Section l4 of Article XXI of the Charter and imposing certain conditions on such vacation.
• B.B. #111 – Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 4545-4559 Laclede Ave. Area
• B.B. #112 – Vollmer – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment making a supplemental appropriation to the Annual Budget Ordinance 70963 for Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, amounting to the sum of Nine Million Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand and Four Hundred Sixty Dollars ($9,360,460.00), and containing an Emergency Clause.

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

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 14 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen return from their Summer break with a full meeting at 10am today, their 14th 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 13.

Today’s agenda includes twelve (12) new bills. I want to highlight a few; one creates yet another community district (98), another requiring future traffic calming measures to go through the Board of Aldermen rather than the Board of Public Service (102), an agreement regarding Northside Regeneration’s proposed urgent care (103), and an ordinance regarding reporting failed background checks for firearms (106).

• B.B.#95 – Davis – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis (the “City”), owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport® (the “Airport”) to enter into and execute on behalf of the City the First Amendment to Banking Concession Agreement, AL-278 (“First Amendment”) between the City and U.S. Bank National Association (“Concessionaire”), containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B. #96 – Davis – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis (the “City”), owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport® (the “Airport”) to enter into and execute on behalf of the City the Seventh Amended and Restated Food and Beverage Concession Agreement AL-110 (“Agreement”) with Host International, Inc. between the City and Host International, Inc., (“Concessionaire); containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B. #97 – Pres. Reed – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, making a supplemental appropriation to the Annual Budget Ordinance 70963 for Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020 amounting to the sum of Three Million and Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000) for the purpose of purchasing body-worn cameras for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and containing an Emergency Clause.
• B.B. #98 – Davis – An ordinance approving the petition to establish the Olive West Community Improvement District, establishing the Olive West Community Improvement District, reaffirming certain findings of blight and finding a public purpose for the establishment of the Olive West Community Improvement District.
• B.B. #99 – Davis – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis (the “City”), owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport® (the “Airport”) to enter into and execute on behalf of the City the Second Amendment to Operating Agreement for Management and Operation of Parking Facility Services AL-267 (“Second Amendment”) between the City and ABM Aviation, Inc., (“Concessionaire”), containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B. #100 – Davis – An ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Comptroller, on behalf of the City of St. Louis (the “City”), the owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport® (the “Airport”), to accept and execute on behalf of the City a certain Airport Aid Agreement offered by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (the “Grant Agreement”) for the marketing and promotion of air service at the Airport for a maximum obligation of Five Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($515,000) for the reimbursement of direct costs associated with the projects funded under the Grant Agreement; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B. #101 – Muhammad An ordinance submitting to the voters of the City of St. Louis a proposed revision to Article XVI, Section 3 of the Charter to require the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to, at least ninety-days prior to the start of each Fiscal Year, submit to the Board of Aldermen a proposed annual budget ordinance; and to permit the Board of Aldermen to reduce or increase the amount of any budget item except those fixed by statute for payment of principal or interest of City debt or to meet ordinance obligations, and to add new items so long as the budget balances; and, if the Board of Estimate and Apportionment fails to submit a budget
  ordinance to the Board of Aldermen as required the Budget Director shall submit to the Board at least ninety-days prior to the Fiscal Year an estimate of revenues for the Fiscal Year, a
  statement of a Table of Organization and all expected City budget requirements from which the Board shall approve a budget.
• B.B. #102 – Muhammad – An ordinance revising Section Three of Ordinance No. 70333, requiring the Director Traffic to have the approval of the Board of Public Service with regard to the development and promulgation of the City of St. Louis Traffic Calming Policy, to instead require the approval of the Board of Aldermen.
• B.B. #103 – Hubbard – An ordinance authorizing the execution of an Amended and Restated Parcel Development Agreement by and among The City of St. Louis, Missouri, Northside Regeneration, LLC, and Northside Urgent Care Property, LLC, NS QALICB, LLC and HGP Hospital Corp.; prescribing the form and details of said Amended and Restated Parcel Development Agreement; authorizing certain actions by City officials; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B. #104 – Howard – An ordinance amending the Redevelopment Plan for the Gravois / Morgan Ford Redevelopment Area
• B.B. #105 – Pres. Reed/Davis/Vaccaro/Hubbard/ Middlebrook/Clark-Hubbard/P. Boyd – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, making a supplemental appropriation to the Annual Budget Ordinance 70963 for Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020 amounting to the sum of Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) for the purpose of providing funding for the violence prevention alternative program, “Cure Violence,” and containing an Emergency Clause.
• B.B. #106 – Pres. Reed/Vaccaro/Davis/Coatar/Middlebrook/ Clark-Hubbard/Muhammad/Murphy/P. Boyd- An ordinance establishing reporting requirements for licensees selling firearms to report failures of a background check system when a firearm purchase is denied within the limits of the City of St. Louis and containing a severability and an emergency clause.

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

9/11 18th Anniversary

9/11/2001 is one of those days I’ll remember the rest of my life. I was driving to meet with clients about a remodeling project, we watched the second tower fall on their television.

Now I know how my parent’s generation felt about days like when JFK or MLK were assassinated.

For the families of those who were killed that day the pain must be unimaginable.

A victims group has a lawsuit against Saudi Arabia.

The alleged Saudi role in the September 11 attacks gained new attention after two former U.S. senators, co-chairmen of the Congressional Inquiry into the attacks, told CBS in April 2016 that the redacted 28 pages of the Congressional Inquiry’s report refer to evidence of Saudi Arabia’s substantial involvement in the execution of the attacks, and calls renewed to have the redacted pages released. 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens. (Wikipedia)

Their lawsuit has sought to release a redacted name. The plaintiffs believe that person has a connection to Saudi Arabia.

The recent non-scientific Sunday Poll didn’t get many responses — common with a wonky topic:

Q: Agree or disagree: The U.S. Department of Justice should not release the name that was redacted in a 2012 FBI report.

• Strongly agree: 2 [14.29%]
• Agree: 1 [7.14%]
• Somewhat agree: 2 [14.29%]
• Neither agree or disagree: 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree: 0 [0%]
• Disagree: 5 [35.71%]
• Strongly disagree: 3 [21.43%]
• Unsure/No Answer: 1 [7.14%]

As you can see above, most who responded think the name should be released. I agree, but don’t think it will be.

— Steve Patterson