PARK PROTECTION PETITION? PERHAPS. – The group seeking to protect a part of Forest Park from the latest attempt to take it for commercial use might be turning in their petition this afternoon.
The petition, which needs more than 20,000 valid signatures, seeks to put to city voters any question of giving park land to BJC Hospital for future use. Mayor Francis Slay supports extending BJC’s current lease, while Comptroller Darlene Green, Pres. Jim Shrewsbury, and several aldermen have voiced concerns about the deal.
NOW THERE ARE THREE OF THEM — Ed Martin, chief of staff for Gov. Matt Blunt, and his wife Carol today are celebrating the birth of young Mr. Edward Robert Martin, III.
The third Mr. Martin entered the world at 5:16 am this morning at St. John’s Hospital. Look at that, not even a day old and his name is already in bold.
HULL OF A GUY — Ald. Phyllis Young has introduced a bill to rename a portion of Clark Street downtown in honor of former Blues hockey star Brett Hull. The new “Brett Hull Way” will stretch between 14th and 16th streets in front of the arena in which his old team now plays (very badly).
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December 8th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I vote we rename Market to Mike Keenan Boulevard.
We must honor the wonderful former Coach!
December 8th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
I have a problem with the whole concept of encouraging people to believe professional athletes are heroes.
Why not name streets and highways after teachers, firemen, nobel prize winners–people who really do something to benefit mankind?
Professional athletes generally get enough compensation financially. Baseball players are making $10 million a year, but fans can’t afford a night at the ballpark. What’s heroic about that?
We have enough problems with streets in the City–blocked, one-way, pot holes, streets change names. Cut down on the confusion, encourage people to respect people who earn respect, and let Brett Hull be happy with his money. Sports fans will remember him, the rest of us can live without cost of paying for new street signs.
December 8th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Wah, wah, wah,
Get over it anon.
December 8th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Really, we need a Mike Keenan Boulevard! Lets honor a St. Louis great!
December 8th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Had the Blues won a Stanley Cup with some of those Hull goals, I’d be more in favor of naming a street after him…
Maybe Phyllis is trying to repay a debt for years of complimentary hockey tickets?
December 8th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
What’s wrong with this picture…
BJC lease ~ $2.5 million per year
Additional city earnings taxes ~ $3-4 million per year, plus multiplier effect of all those new people spending, dining in the city.
Mitigation plan for loss of “Forest Park” land ~ build new playgrounds and tennis courts in a nearby location
Cost to the city? ~ give up area about 1/100 the size of Forest Park.
Upside to the city? ~ see above.
What’s not to like?
How does a politician justify opposing this?
Because the Mayor opposes it? Uh, yeah!
December 9th, 2006 at 4:17 am
This is just silly. First, not every blade of grass in forest park is worth saving. But most important, you cannot tie the hands of elected officials (the Mayor) like this. The Mayor was elected to plan for the redevelopment of the city and has done a great job. This deal is a good one for the city and should move forward. Mayor, please do not feel like you have to consult with me every time you want to do a deal involving park ground! I get to vote on your deals every four years, and if I don’t like them I will vote to fire you.
December 9th, 2006 at 9:06 am
That’s great; while scores of people in the area search for affordable housing and jobs that pay a living wage, we have legislators like Phyllis Young and Talibdin El-Amin spending time renaming streets and highways.
December 11th, 2006 at 11:47 am
Shrewsbury could easily turn this longtime Southwest Citian and other fiscal conservatives into Lewis Reed fans, if he doesn’t think rationally about amending BJC’s lease.
December 11th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Shrewsbury is torn on this issue between his growing liberal base and his dying-off southwest city base.
December 11th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Jim should also be torn over his Animal House project in Ellendale Park, which too would be subject to this far-reaching charter amendment.
December 11th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
Doug, now I know you’re nuts! Mike Keenan Blvd? You’ve GOT to be kidding. You’ve said some pretty crazy stuff before, but this takes it!