Poll: Thoughts On Ald Young’s Bill To Reduce The Board of Aldermen From 28 To 12 Members In 2022

An interesting bill was introduced to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Friday:

BOARD BILL NO. 31 INTRODUCED BY ALDERWOMAN PHYLLIS YOUNG, ALDERMAN STEPHEN CONWAY, ALDERMAN ALFRED WESSELS, ALDERWOMAN CAROL HOWARD, ALDERWOMAN JENNIFER FLORIDA, ALDERWOMAN DONNA BARINGER, ALDERMAN JOSEPH RODDY, ALDERWOMAN MARLENE DAVIS, ALDERMAN SCOTT OGILVIE, ALDERMAN SHANE COHN, ALDERWOMAN LYDA KREWSON An ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of the city of St. Louis a proposed amendment to the charter of the city of St. Louis restructuring the board of aldermen as a body of twelve (12) aldermen representing twelve (12) wards, providing a transition schedule for such changes, and other related matters; providing for an election to be held for voting on the proposed amendment and for the manner of voting; and for the publication, certification, deposit, and recording of this ordinance; and containing an emergency clause. (BB31 page)

The bill details how over the next ten years the change would take place. The new 12 wards would be based on the 2020 census figures released in 2021. On December 31, 2021 we’d have 28 wards and on January 1, 2022 we’d have 12.  The bill language contains typos such as 1915 instead of 2015, those will get corrected in committee presumably.

The bill’s primary sponsor, Phyllis Young, and one co-sponsor, Fred Wessels, were both first sworn into office on April 16, 1985 — over 27 years ago. They are the most senior members in the Board of Aldermen. Wessels is a candidate for the citywide Treasurer’s seat. Is Young making one big push as before retirement at the end of her current term next year?

Of the eleven sponsors of the bill only one is black, Ald. Marlene Davis. Other black aldermen likely see the reduction as a way to reduce black influence at city hall. One of the newest members, Scott Ogilvie, is a co-sponsor. Otherwise nobody elected after 2003 is a co-sponsor, they want their chance to be in office for nearly three decades.

If the bill gets through the Board of Aldermen it will appear on the November 6, 2012 ballot where it needs approval of 60% of voters since it’s a change to the city’s charter.

The poll this week seeks to get your thoughts on this bill and the change it’s trying to accomplish, vote in the right sidebar.

– Steve Patterson

Three Downtown Aldermen Seek Place for Stakeholders on Discussion of Homeless Encampments

Last week the three aldermen representing downtown sent the following letter to Mayor Slay:

Dear Mayor Slay:

As the Alderwomen who represent our city’s downtown area, we write you today regarding news reports that local government is developing plans to relocate the homeless men and women living along the downtown banks of the Mississippi River. Recent events have drawn increased attention to these encampments, however their presence is an ongoing regional issue that predates even the beginning of your administration ten years ago. We commend your office for showing leadership on this important issue and taking the first steps toward implementing solutions that work for St. Louis’ most vulnerable and impoverished residents.

We look forward to being included in the process that develops the best approaches and solutions for this population. A lasting solution requires input from community leaders and residents. As you know, local partnerships, like the St. Louis City Continuum of Care, work with the homeless population day in and day out. They know the needs and problems that face this community and ought to be part of the solution for its future. Other stakeholders, such as nearby residents and business owners, should also be heard.

In short, this is a longstanding issue that requires an enduring solution. The proper approach must be delicate and allow the voices of those who directly serve and represent this population to be present at the planning table. Throughout the process, elected officials, social service agencies and community leaders should be able to offer their input, thoughts and guidance to ensure that this is a permanent approach to a decades-long issue. A process that neglects their advice or excludes their participation is simply a recipe for failure.

We urge you to reject any approach that does not include the numerous stakeholders involved in this issue. A “take it or leave it” plan developed without proper input and participation is inappropriate here and will only exacerbate existing problems surrounding this situation.

Thank you for your consideration of our position. We look forward to collaborating with you and your office on this issue, and the many others that face our great city.

Sincerely,

 

Hon. April Ford-Griffin, Alderwoman Ward 5

Hon. Kacie Starr Triplett, Alderwoman Ward 6

Hon. Phyllis Young, Alderwoman Ward 7

Last week I was nominated to the board of The Bridge:

The Bridge provides sanctuary for homeless and at-risk persons in St. Louis. Meals and support services for basic human needs are offered by a staff intent on eradicating homelessness by guiding guests on a path to self-sufficiency.

If elected to the board, the three-year term will begin in July. I look forward to learning more about this complex issue and exploring possible actions. I first typed solutions but I’m realistic enough to know homeless will always exist in our city & region. Our policies, however, can vary greatly.

– Steve Patterson

Sine Die at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Today, New Session Starts Tomorrow

Today is “Sine Die” at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.  This Latin term is used, in this case, to mean the last day of session. Today is the last day in office for two aldermen not reelected: 32-year member Republican Fred Heitert (12th ward) and Democrat Bill Waterhouse (24th ward).

Not enough change for my taste.  Hopefully in 2013 we can replace 3-4 long time incumbents, Phyllis Young and Fred Wessels come to mind. At the end of their current terms they will have served 28 years. They were both sworn into office in April 1985, the year I graduated high school. Give it up guys, let someone else have a chance to lead!

Tomorrow 15 aldermen elected, and reelected, this Spring will be sworn into office.  This includes all 14 even numbered wards and one odd numbered ward. Carol Howard, elected to the 14th ward seat last fall after Stephen Gregali resigned, was elected to a full four-year term.  Freshmen aldermen are Larry Arnowitz (D-12), Scott Ogilvie (I-24) and Thomas Villa (D-11). Villa replaces Matt Villa who resigned earlier in the year to spend more time in the family business, Villa Lighting.

The following is the swearing in of odd numbered aldermen two years ago:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Pm1Lqx0NQ

Lewis Reed, President of the Board of Aldermen, will be sworn into his second term tomorrow.  Thank you to Matt Villa, Bill Waterhouse and Fred Heitert for your service to the city.

– Steve Patterson

Board of Aldermen Has Lots of Dead Weight

I know from my reader survey that nearly 10% of you are 18-24 years old.  I also know from the Board of Aldermen Seniority List (PDF) that Phyllis Young and Fred Wessels have been Aldermen your entire lives.  All through your period in diapers, kindergarten, grade school, those awkward teen years, and college.  Both are up for re-election next Spring.  The filing deadline for candidates is 5pm Friday.

Others are not far behind.  In my view the majority of them need to step aside at this or the 2011 election cycle (depending upon if they are from odd or even numbered ward).  They are dead weight holding the city back, keeping an entire generation from participating.  It really is very selfish of them.

In 2009/10 I’ll be working on a ballot initiative to get term limits for city offices.  I know many of you say “just vote them out.”  That is fine assuming they have a challenger.  I’ve also heard people say without institutional memory the lobbyists take over.  I hate to tell you this, but these aldermen have been buddies with the same lobbyists for decades now.  Decades!  If these selfish folks won’t step aside on their own we need a mechanism to do it for them.

The other high priority is reducing the number of Aldermen from the current 28.  Some say half – 14.  I’m thinking even less, like 9 or 10.

Will She Or Won’t She?

Yesterday I updated my St Louis Municipal Elections Spring 2009 page with all the candidates that have filed for office as of the last date published by the St Louis Board of Election Commissioners, 11/25/08. I’ve added a few additional names to the list for those that I’ve read are running but did not file as of the date of the last list.

In 2009 we will elect Mayor, Comptroller and Aldermen for the 14 odd-numbered wards for a total of 16 races. Based on filed and announced candidates, only four of those are contested at this point. The remaining 12 face no opposition.Talk about apathy of voters all you want but it is the apathy of citizens to seek office that gets me. Anytime I talk about term limits someone always says to just elect someone else. Sure that sounds good, but when your ballot only has a single candidate for a race that is rather hard to do.

No candidate, even if I like them, should be elected to office due to the lack of an opponent. People tell me they’ve thought about running but the incumbents bank account intimidates them – keeping them out of the race. Term limits are an effective way to open races up periodically. I think we need term limits for all city offices set at three 4-year terms. This will give a person plenty of time to accomplish their agenda, retains institutional memory but open up races so that voters will have a choice of candidates. I had previously said the limit should be 8 years but 12 may be a better compromise.

A 3-term limit in effect today would prevent seven incumbents from running for the same office in 2009: Darlene Green, Greg Carter, April Ford Griffin, Joe Roddy, Phyllis Young, Matt Villa and Fred Wessels. For Young & Wessels, 2009 marks 24 years in office – they are both going for their 7th terms! Some of you reading this site were not event born when they were first elected to office. When was the last time they had an opponent? Asked another way, when was the last time voters in their wards had an option to elect someone else?

In the 23rd Ward we have a 4-way race so far. If Francis Slay had not stepped up the political ladder he’d be the only person in that race. If the incumbent, Kathleen Hanrahan, was running again we most likely would not see any of the current four that are running in the race.

In the 25th, my previous ward, everyone is wondering if Dorothy Kirner will run for a second full term. Kirner defeated me 55.9%-44.1% in 2005 after she won a 2004 special election to fill a vacancy when her husband, Ald Daniel Kirner, passed away. Filing remains open until January 2, 2009. Angie Singler, whom I’ve endorsed, was the second person to file for any race when the filing opened on 11/24/08. As such her name will be first on the ballot in the 25th Ward race. Shane Cohn, who I also know, has declared himself a candidate. If Kirner signals to others before filing closes that she is not going to run again I think we will see more candidates in this race – others may just be sitting on the sidelines patiently waiting their turn.

The next few months are going to be interesting.