Public Hearings on Proposed Transit Rate Hikes Start Today

Metro’s Board of Commissioners approved a plan on May 20, 2005 to hold public hearings regarding proposed fare increases for FY06 and FY07. The proposed FY06 fare increase could possibly go into effect by August 23, 2005, while the second increase would not occur until sometime after July 1, 2006 which begins Metro’s FY07 fiscal year. The first hearing begins today: June 8, 2005.

Proposed Changes to Cash Fares are that a one-way MetroLink (rail) ticket would go from the current $1.50 to $1.75 in FYO6 and to $2.00 in FY07. The MetroBus rates would go from the current $1.50 to $1.60 in FYO6 to $1.75 in FY07.

Upcoming Public Hearings are as follows:

• June 8, 2005, 11am – 1pm
  
  
  
  • Met Center, 6347 Plymouth Ave., St. Louis, MO 63133
    
  
  

• June 9, 2005, 5pm – 7pm
  
  
  
  • East St. Louis City Hall, 301 EAst Riverpark Drive, E. St. Louis, IL 62201
    
  
  

• June 13, 2005, 4pm – 6pm
  
  
  
  • Urban League, 8960 Jennings Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63136
    
  
  

• June 14, 2005, 6pm – 8pm
  
  
  
  • East St. Louis Public Library, 5300 State Street, E. St. Louis, IL 62203
    
  
  

• June 15, 2005, 4pm – 6pm
  
  
  
  • St. Louis County Government, 41 S. Central, St. Louis, MO 63105
    
  
  

• June 16, 2005, 6pm – 8pm
  
  
  
  • Metro Board Room (Summary Hearing), 707 N. First, St. Louis, MO 63102
    
  
  

Great, just as I get used to riding the bus they are going to go and raise the fares on me. Sure the 4-6 times per month I ride the bus I can manage an extra quarter — it is not going to break me. But what about those that ride more often but not often enough to justify a monthly pass? They are going to be hit pretty hard. I need to determine if they are proposing increases in the monthly passes as well. I understand the agency has to stay solvent but the monetary imbalance between transit and private cars is too great.

We subsidize cars so much with low fuel taxes that don’t even begin to pay for the roads much less the destruction to the environment. Heaven forbid we put less money toward building out sprawl and providing urban mass transit.

– Steve

New Urban Review STL Podcast Available

It has taken me a while to get around to it but I’ve put together another podcast. This one runs just slightly over 7 minutes.

Click here to stream the podcast.

– Steve

St. Louis Citizens Form the ‘Downtown Defense Fund’ to Fend Off Slap Suit

Dear Fellow Citizens:

As you know, the National Register-listed Century Building in downtown St. Louis was recently demolished to make way for a parking garage. We thought this tragic demolition was the end of an ugly chapter in St. Louis’ history. Now, it’s gotten uglier.

Before the demolition, two Downtown residents, Marcia Behrendt and Roger Plackemeier, took principled action to try to save the Century Building. They were plaintiffs in two legal cases that sought to keep this historic building as part of our architectural heritage. But the buildings came down anyway.

Now, the City of St. Louis, the State of Missouri and the project developers have filed a lawsuit against them, alleging malicious prosecution — and seeking actual damages exceeding $1.5 million, plus punitive damages “in an amount sufficient to deter said defendants and others from like conduct.”

Should the City, State and developers prevail, Marcia and Roger could lose all of their assets. Just to defend themselves will cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs, even if lawyers donate some services.

Marcia and Roger stood up for us and for our community. Now, it’s up to us to stand with them.

You can help in one of three ways:

Write a check for any amount to help with legal costs. Make it payable to Downtown Defense Fund, and mail it to:

Downtown Defense Fund
c/o Scott Kluesner, Treasurer
7480 Cornell Avenue
St. Louis MO 63130

Funds received by the end of June are most important.

Attend a free fundraiser on Saturday, June 25, 7:30 p.m. at Gallery Urbis Orbis, 419 N. Tenth Street.
Bring cash or check in any amount to add to the pot, and enjoy music and good food and the company of people who care about our architectural heritage. No need to purchase tickets — but please do RSVP to mmnewman@earthlink.net so we can plan refreshments.

[UPDATE 6/8/05 – 2:45PM – You can also donate via PayPal at downtowndefensefund.com.]

Let’s show our support for preservation and for citizen action. Let’s show it big.

Best regards,

Margie Newman
Amanda Doyle
Fundraising Co-Chairs, Downtown Defense Fund

PS Note that donations are NOT tax-deductible. Should the lawsuit be resolved before the money raised is spent, remaining funds will be donated to a group or groups dedicated to architectural preservation.

From Steve @ Urban Review – St. Louis:
On a personal note I know both Roger and Marcia. They are very good people that I consider to be trusted friends. They did a good thing in trying to stop the razing of this great building for an unnecessary parking garage. The developers prevailed and the current and future citizens of St. Louis lost that battle. We are getting yet another parking garage. But the powers that be are trying to make an example out of Roger and Marcia by filing slap suits against them. This is supposed to send a message to all the rest of us not to get involved.

To everyone behind these suits – FU!!!!!!

This whole thing just pisses me off big time. I’ve got a long list of people and explicatives to describe them but I fear if I did I’d get sued as well. You all know who you are and you know what you are. You also know where you can go!

For everyone else when you stop into the “friendliest” grocery stores in town just remember that you are helping to fund the destruction of downtown St. Louis as well as suing two good people trying to protect the city and their personal investments. This is a black and white issue. You either stand for saving downtown, our urbanity and helping people like Roger and Marcia. Those doing these evil deeds are at the very least making their views known.

All of you, elected or in a position to help, that remain silent are wimps. Grow a spine and take a position. I cannot respect someone that refuses to take on important issues such as this. For once think of the city over yourself. The old idea that you keep quite now so you can get more power so you can do things later doesn’t fly with me — the later never comes because you are always worried about the next thing. This city needs people willing to stand up and be counted. The Downtown Defense Fund is a good start. Many of us are about to stand up and be counted and all of you back room people had better keep a look out because we are going to out number you. Your days of keeping quiet are over!

F@ck this makes me so angry!!!! Taking blood pressure pills now…

– Steve

AIA St. Louis Sets Dates For Upcoming Charrette

AIA St. Louis members have been working for the last couple of months on planning a design charrette (good definition) to exam the area along Market Street from the Arch to 20th — aka “the Gateway Mall.”

Monday night the planning group tentatively set the weekend of Friday, September 16th through Sunday September 18th as the charrette weekend. The registration deadline will be Friday August 19th. Invitations to participate will be mailed and posted online sometime next month. Community participation in the process will be encouraged.

Most of the remaining details are still in the draft stage and are not yet ready to be announced. I’m excited about the possibilities for examining these public green spaces and their environs. It has been a pleasure sitting in with the AIA members on the planning meetings for this charrette.

I’ve got my own views on these many blocks and I’ve shared a few on some previous posts. I’m going to hold my recommendations until the actual charrette (well, maybe…)

– Steve

Carondelet Hillside With River Views Being Excaved

Many parts of Carondelet offer spectacular views of rooftops and of the Mississippi river. Unfortunately, we will soon have one less place with views. An entire hillside, nearly virgin land, is being hauled away.

The photo at right is from Minnesota Avenue looking toward the river down Mott Street (map). At left in the picture is the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet – a beautiful hillside collection of buildings. At right in the picture is the site being irrevocably altered.

Since Mott Street has been cut through the hillside both sides have had great views of the river and have towered over Pennsylvania Avenue below. For decades old stone walls have graced the hillsides in this area.

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