President Barack Obama visited St. Louis yesterday to push his plan to reform health care in America, expanding the number of insured Americans and reducing costs.
His first stop was at St. Charles High School:
The President then made his way downtown to a high-dollar fundraiser dinner at the Renaissance Hotel for his close ally, Senator Claire McCaskill. Tickets for that event were as much as $25,000 a table. The two then made their way downstairs for a “grassroots” rally with supporters. Tickets for that event were only $25.
Outside, a crowd of “teabaggers” opposing the President’s health care plan protested.
At the Friday, October 30th meeting of the Board of Aldermen, mine and Alderman Terry Kennedy’s (D-18th Ward) were the only NO votes on the massive 1,500-acre redevelopment deal known in the media as “NorthSide” and spearheaded by developer Paul McKee.
I took the opportunity Friday to explain why I could not support Mr. McKee’s proposal. Watch that video here:
In addition, I submitted the following statement for the official record of the Board of Aldermen:
Under Rule 47 of the Board of Aldermen Rules, Mr. French explains his vote with the following:
Alderman French voted NAY on Board Bills 218CS and 219CS because of the particular developer’s treatment of the community in the five years he has been assembling land in poor neighborhoods. With much respect to the co-sponsors of these bills, Alderwomen Griffin, Triplett, Young, and Davis, and Alderman Bosley, who have crafted a very good redevelopment deal with many new safeguards to protect the community moving forward and makes requirements of the developer to finally force him to be a responsible partner, Alderman French stated in his remarks on the floor that the unanimous passage of these bills would send the wrong message to future developers also planning projects on a similar scale. It is Alderman French’s position that the manner in which this developer has acquired and not maintained his hundreds of parcels actually does more to damage communities in the short run.
Chesterfield developer Paul McKee appeared on a radio show this morning promoting his 1,500-acre development plan which includes areas of downtown and the near north side of St. Louis City. During the show, host Demetrius Johnson, a McKee supporter, attacked Alderman Antonio French because of a quote that appeared in today’s Post-Dispatch.
McKee is asking for the largest TIF in the history of the City of St. Louis for his project. But that in itself is not the most alarming thing about McKee’s request. McKee is pushing for city taxpayers to guarantee — effectively co-sign — his risky bank loans. To the tune of $200 million dollars.
From the Post-Dispatch:
They’ve only backed three other TIFs in recent years, and wound up on the hook each time. And with a tight budget and pension obligations looming, there isn’t much room to pay down bonds if new tax revenue from NorthSide can’t.
Even if Mayor Francis Slay’s office agrees, it’s not clear that there are enough votes on the Board of Aldermen.
“I’m not more of a financial expert than the banks that are looking at this,” said Alderman Antonio French. “If they’re still passing on it, who are we to say it’s a good deal?”
Listen as McKee’s pitbulls attack French for pointing out the risk to city taxpayers.
In these times when civility in public debate seems to be eroding by the hour, and the investment of every tax dollar should be thoroughly examined, make a donation today to show your support for Alderman French.
