Sunday Poll: How Confident Are You The St. Louis Region Will Be Among The Finalists For Amazon’s HQ2?

Last week cities/regions submitted their proposal to win Amazon’s 2nd North American headquarters, dubbed HQ2. The highly-fragnented St. Louis region came together to submit one unified proposal:

Today, leaders submitted a unified regional bid for Amazon’s second headquarters — known as HQ2. The proposed site spans both sides of the Mississippi River and delivers on Amazon’s specifications — urban, vibrant, connected to light rail and in a region ready to deliver the tech workforce they will need.

The proposed site is the St. Louis Riverfront on both sides of the Mississippi and the Central Business District in downtown. The bid was delivered to Amazon corporate headquarters this morning.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, Express Scripts Chairman George Paz, World Wide Technology Chairman & Founder David Steward and Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton submitted the bid on behalf of the entire region, which included cover letters by both Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois and Governor Eric Greitens of Missouri.  (St. Louis Economic Development Partnership)

Missouri also submitted a proposal to support either St. Louis or Kansas City:

Opting against picking a favorite between St. Louis and Kansas City, Gov. Eric Greitens is telling Amazon it could have both cities — plus a sprinkling of Columbia — if the company chooses a Missouri location for its second headquarters.

Although the Show-Me state’s largest metropolitan areas are 250 miles apart, the Greitens administration says connecting the two via a futuristic and largely unproven people-mover called the Hyperloop could serve as the catalyst for the online retailer to put a Missouri location on its short list. (Post-Dispatch)

Economic officials from every region are confident their proposal is the best — but how confident are you in our proposal?

This poll will close at 8pm tonight. Results on some thoughts on Wednesday.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Week 20 of 2017-2018 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 20th week of the 2017-2018 session.

TWO NEW BOARD BILLS ON THE AGENDA* FOR INTRODUCTION TODAY 10//20/17:

*Note that just because a bill is on the agenda doesn’t mean it’ll be introduced, similarly, bills not on the agenda might be introduced if they suspend the rules to do so. This information is based on the published agenda as of yesterday @ 8am:

• B.B.#174 – Pres. Reed ? An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, making a supplemental appropriation to the Annual Budget Ordinance 70540 for Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018 amounting to the sum of Thirteen Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirteen Dollars ($13,713), and containing an Emergency Clause.
• B.B.#175 – Coatar ? An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing that The City, Missouri Taxable Tax Increment Revenue Note (706 Market Redevelopment Project) Series 2016?A dated April 19, 2016 in a principal amount not to exceed $7,000,000 plus issuance costs be refunded and reissued as a Tax?Exempt TIF Note (as defined in Ordinance No. 69647) with a reduced interest rate; authorizing and directing the City to enter into a Placement Agreement with Stern Brothers & Co, pursuant to which the parties provide for the purchase of the Reissued Series 2016?A Note by the initial purchaser thereof; authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Comptroller to execute and deliver the Reissued Series 2016?A Note; authorizing and directing the Mayor and the Comptroller to execute and deliver a Tax Compliance Certificate in connection with the issuance of the Reissued Series 2016?A Note; and containing a severability 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 2017-2018 session.

— Steve Patterson

Opinion: Professional Lobbyists Shouldn’t Be Aldermen

The 28 members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen are paid by taxpayers to pass legislation that hopefully is beneficial to the city. Lobbyists, on the other hand, are paid by clients to push for legislation that benefits their interests. Lobbyists don’t belong in a legislative body, even if they don’t lobby that body.

Ald Martin (11th) was elected in the Spring by overwhelming numbers, but most city voters go for the “D” without knowing candidates and issues. They elected a professional lobbyist. A lobbyist whose clients include police body camera maker Axon. The same company that wants to give body cams to St. Louis Police free for a year. No conflict, she says — she’d abstain from any votes. Wink.

We did talk with a legal ethics lawyer. He told us even if what she’s doing is legal, it’s ethically questionable.

“What government ethics really get into is, how does it look and how does it smell? And where there is a possibility someone is making money, there’s a bad smell that maybe a sign something shouldn’t be going on,” said lawyer Michael Downey. (KMOV)

This is hardly the first time we’ve had “ethically questionable” people in city hall, but now it’s so blatant. It’s repulsive. Is this what the voters in the 11th Ward wanted? Doubtful, they knew she was the backed Democrat in the primary and then the only Democrat in the general. Ugh…

The results of the non-scientific Sunday Poll show most of you agree the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is no place for a professional lobbyist.

Q:  Agree or disagree: I’m okay with an alderman who’s also a professional lobbyist.

• Strongly agree 3 [6.82%]
• Agree 1 [2.27%]
• Somewhat agree 0 [0%]
• Neither agree or disagree 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree 1 [2.27%]
• Disagree 5 [11.36%]
• Strongly disagree 34 [77.27%]
• Unsure/No Answer 0 [0%]

I’d like to see one of three things happen:

1. Ald. Martin cease being a lobbyist.
2. Ald. Martin resign from the Board of Aldermen
3. 11th Ward voters recall Ald. Martin

I doubt any of these will happen.

— Steve Patterson

Missouri Side of St. Louis Region Voting on November 7th

Three weeks from tomorrow (11/7/17) voters on the Missouri side of the St. Louis region will go to the polls to vote on various issues and, in one case, fill a vacant seat. Missouri voters will need to Show It 2 Vote.

City of St. Louis: 2nd Ward

Voters in the 2nd Ward will elect someone to finish the term left vacant when Dionne Flowers was appointed Registrar.  There are 3 candidates running in the special election:

City of St. Louis: Citywide

Voters in every ward will decide if Proposition P passes or fails. The ballot language reads:

Shall the City of St. Louis impose a sales tax at a rate of one half of one percent , solely for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the department of public safety, including hiring more police officers police and firefighter compensation, and enhanced law enforcement services? 

Last week Mayor Krewson picked Judge Jimmie Edwards to head Public Safety.

St. Louis County

Voters in the follow part of the county will vote on propositions.

• Beverly Hills
• Brentwood
• Pagedale
• Pine Lawn
• St. John
• Rittenhour School District
• Eureka Fire Protection District
• Metro West Fire Protection District
• Riverview Fire Protection District
• Glasgow Light District
• Chesterfield Valley Transportation Development District

See the ballot issues here.

St. Charles County

Voters in parts of St. Charles County will decide on annexation by Dardenne Prairie. Dardenne Prairie voters will also vote on the annexation issues as well as a sales tax for parks. See issues here.

Jefferson County

The Jefferson County Election Authority website doesn’t list any upcoming elections, though that seems unlikely.

Illinois

No November 7th election in Madison County IL or St. Clair County IL

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Is It OK For An Alderman To Also Be A Lobbyist?

The elected office of St. Louis Aldermen is considered a part0time position, most have jobs. The jobs they hold vary greatly. The job of one new alderman has been in the news recently:

Last month, a company offered to outfit every St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer with a camera for one year for free. Now, News 4 has learned one elected official is getting paid by that same company.

Sarah Wood Martin is the Alderwoman for the 11th Ward, elected earlier this year.

According to documents News 4 obtained, just last week, she filed forms to be a lobbyist on behalf of the company Axon. (KMOV)

This is the subject of today’s poll.

This poll will close at 8pm tonight.

— Steve Patterson