Your $7.00 monthly contribution will go a long way to helping us expand the coverage and services you enjoy.
GET THE LATEST PUBDEF NEWS 24/7:
ABOUT PUB DEF
PUB
DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
City of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to cast a critical eye
on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon
them, and to educate our readers about legislation and the political
processes that affect our daily lives.
CONTACT US
Do you have
a press release, news tip or rumor to share?
Andrew Wimmer, a parent of two students at McKinley Middle and Metro High magnet schools, spoke during the public comments section of Tuesday's meeting of the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools. As he's done at previous meetings, Wimmer challenged District CEO Rick Sullivan on the legality of his appointment by Governor Matt Blunt.
Everyone knows the way to an alderman's heart is through their stomach. So when the city's legislative body meets this morning, breakfast will be provided by none other than Attorney General candidate Jeff Harris.
If he follows the usual menu, Harris, a Democratic state representative from Columbia, will be wining and dining aldermen, reporters and visitors on a spread of coffee (caff and decaf) and donuts. Or if he really splurges, bagels and pastries from the St. Louis Bread Company.
UPDATE: He splurged. Bagels, coffee — and orange juice! — from Bread Co.
The Department of Economic Development (DED) has approved the establishment of an Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) in St. Louis.
The city's EEZ covers the entire riverfront as well as large sections of the Northside and areas along highways 44, 64 and 70. According to the EEZ law, new and expanding businesses in the zone that are not gambling, retail trade or food and drink establishments are eligible for yearly tax credits for up to five years. The DED and the City will determine eligibility for the credits, and businesses may apply for an additional five year credit period if they plan further expansion.
The law also states that all businesses receiving credits must meet job and investment criteria. For businesses that are expanding or building new facilities this means creating at least two new jobs and making a $100,000 investment. Businesses that are building replacement facilities must meet the same job requirement, but also make a $1 million investment.
But not every business that builds in the EEZ necessarily gets credits. The DED awards credits on a case-by-case basis after the business goes through an application process. Businesses moving to an EEZ from elsewhere in Missouri must present the DED with approval for job relocation from the local government where the jobs are held.
Finally, any organizations taking advantage of existing tax credit programs, including the Brownfield Redevelopment Program, cannot receive EEZ credits.
After the House failed to override President Bush's veto of SCHIP today, Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay issued this statement.
President Bush and Republican extremists have abandoned 10 million American children and the hard-working parents who love them. The overwhelming majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents support SCHIP because it is pro-family, pro-work, and pays for itself. Just like my two children, I want every child in this country to have healthcare coverage. I am certain that the American people will remember who stood with our children today, and who did not.
Special Administrative Board CEO Rick Sullivan will be the speaker at the SLPS Parent Assembly Meeting on Tuesday, October 23 at Metro High School at 4015 McPherson Avenue. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM and is open to the public.
According to Parent Assembly President Dorris Walker-McGahee,Sullivan was supposed to be at the last two meetings but he couldn't attend because of a packed schedule.
The group Citizens To Support Fire Chief George is doing just that. The group is asking people to 'Come by the thousands' to City Hall this Sunday at 3:00 PM to show support for demoted Fire Chief Sherman George.
From the press release:
Chief Sherman George, the City’s first and only African-American Fire Chief, has been unjustly removed from his position and publicly disrespected by Mayor Francis Slay. This is an insult and disregard to the entire St. Louis Community. These, and other actions by the Mayor, have created deep division.
Featured guests at the rally include: State Representative Jamilah Nasheed, Bishop Willie Ellis, Bishop Alphonso Scott, Reverend Tommie Pierson, Bishop B.T. Rice, Reverend Douglas Parham, Don Fitz, Bill Ramsey and Zaki Baruti.
UPDATE: The St. Louis American is reporting that this is also a Francis Slay recall rally.
VIDEO: Bill Monroe Faces Hurdles with New High School Proposal
By Gabe Bullard
Filed
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 9:59 PM
At yesterday's meeting of the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools, community educator Bill Monroe grew frustrated after he was cut off by District CEO Rick Sullivan after Monroe used his alloted speaking time attempting to explain his proposal for a new vocational high school.
The Board had canceled a scheduled meeting with Monroe last week, saying existing city schools currently offer, or will eventually offer, equivalent training. But Monroe, the founder of the defunct Thurgood Marshall Academy, says this is not the case and he thinks the board has not thoroughly read his proposal.
On October 10, pollster Rasmussen Reports asked 500 Missourians the following questions. The results suggest Missouri is still very red.
How do you rate the way that George W. Bush is performing his role as President? Excellent, good, fair, or poor?
19% Excellent 17% Good 17% Fair 45% Poor 1% Not Sure
How do you rate the way that Matt Blunt is performing his role as Governor? Excellent, good, fair, or poor?
16% Excellent 25% Good 30% Fair 28% Poor 1% Not Sure
If the election for Governor were held today, would you vote for Republican Matt Blunt or Democrat Jay Nixon?
44% Blunt 43% Nixon 6% Other 7% Not Sure
Would you favor or oppose an increase in the Missouri State Sales Tax to fund bridge repairs?
28% Favor 51% Oppose 21% Not sure
Would you favor or oppose an increase in the Missouri State Sales Tax to fund public education?
40% Favor 49% Oppose 11% Not sure
Would you favor or oppose an increase in the Missouri State Sales Tax to fund health care for lower income residents?
40% Favor 46% Oppose 14% Not sure
Would you favor or oppose an increase in the Missouri State Sales Tax to fund expanding Interstate 70 to six lanes?
18% Favor 67% Oppose 15% Not sure
Should money for highway and bridge improvements come from tolls or higher state sales taxes?
53% Tolls 15% Higher taxes 25% Neither 6% Not sure
Should money from union dues be used to support political candidates or political parties?
12% Yes 74% No 14% Not sure
If a Missouri State Highway Patrol Officer pulls someone over for a traffic violation, should the officer automatically check to see if that person is in the country legally?
79% Yes 13% No 9% Not sure
If an officer finds that a person pulled over for a traffic violation is an illegal alien, should that person be deported?
73% Yes 11% No 16% Not sure
If police officers are required to check the immigration status of every person they pull over, does that create the temptation to discriminate against people based on their name, their accent and the color of their skin?
23% Yes 62% No 15% Not sure
Should the Catholic Church deny communion to pro-choice politicians?
18% Yes 48% No 34% Not sure
Click here to view the full Rasmussen poll results, including Presidential match-ups.
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence
Yesterday, members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) rallied outside of the Children's Hospital in the Central West End. SEIU members were joined by hospital staffers, community and religious leaders in their effort to convince Missouri's Congressional delegation to overturn President Bush's veto of the SCHIP program.
Democrat Sam Coleman officially kicked off his campaign for state representative last night. By the campaign's estimate, several hundred people packed the Kappa House in midtown in support of Coleman's campaign to replace State Rep. Rodney Hubbard (D-58th), who is running for state senate.
Among those elected officials in attendance last night were President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed, Comptroller Darlene Green, License Collector Michael McMillan, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, State Reps Rodney Hubbard, Jamilah Nasheed, and Sam Page (who's also running for Lt. Gov.), Aldermen Freeman Bosley, Sr., April Ford-Griffin, Charles "Quincy" Troupe, Marlene E. Davis, and Sam Moore, Committeepeople Ernestine Hill, Lucinda Frazier, Columbus Edwards, Arthur "Chink" Washington, and Curtis Royston (who's also running for State Rep. in the 61st District), and former State Representatives Louis Ford and Stan Piekarski.
The I-70 Northwest Development Corporation of St. Louis will receive $95,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits to build a senior care center. The center will take up just over half of a 4,308-square foot mixed-use building.
Dubbed the Kingsway Adult Day Care Center, the facility will provide health monitoring, social and personal care services, meals, transportation and educational and therapeutic workshops and activities to 24 senior citizens.
The $95,000 is part of $499,700 in NAP tax credits awarded by the Department of Economic Development to Missouri not-for-profits. Other organizations receiving funding include the Center for the Visually Impaired in Kansas City, Sylvan School, Inc. in Poplar Bluff and the Pregnancy Care Center in Springfield.
Governor Matt Blunt has announced that Parkside Towers, LLC will receive $5.1 million in redemption tax credits. The credits come as part of the Department of Economic Development's (DED) Brownfield Redevelopment Program, which gives incentives for the redevelopment of contaminated and underutilized commercial and industrial sites. According to Blunt's office, the property is currently contaminated with asbestos and lead-based paint.
Parkside is receiving the incentives for their plan to redevelop the Park Pacific property at 210 N. 13th Street. Missouri Pacific Railroad abandoned the property in 2003 and Parkside plans to turn the property into commercial, retail and residential space, including restaurants, offices and condos.
We're a little late posting this video, shot Saturday outside the America's Convention Center in downtown St. Louis.
Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Brotherhood of Union Support Staff (BUSS) picketed outside the convention center, where the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (Pro-Vote) was holding its 12th Annual Progressive Awards Dinner.
SEIU has filed a formal complaint against Pro-Vote with the National Labor Relations Board charging the organization with "union-busting" and "constructively firing" workers who tried to organize.
According to union members, the United Auto Workers, which was scheduled to receive an award from Pro-Vote for "Outstanding Labor Union" refused to cross the SEIU/BUSS picket line and boycotted the awards dinner.
Metropolitan Congregation United will host a public forum featuring developer Paul McKee on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 PM at the Holy Trinity Church at 3518 North 14th Street. McKee will speak about his plans for the near north side.
McKee owns the Blairmont properties that were at the core of the Land Assemblage Tax Credit Debate.
This week is the School Nutrition Association's National School Lunch Week. To celebrate, Aramark - who provides lunches to St. Louis Public Schools - is encouraging students to participate in the week's theme, "Vote for School Lunch."
By visiting the website voteforschoollunch.org students can vote for cartoon representations of their favorite school lunches. The website is also intended to educate students about healthy lunches.
In an article on health information blog groupvita.com, President of Aramark Education David Maple says the week is a time for Aramark to celebrate its commitment to healthy lunches.
The article also says that Aramark has developed new, healthier recipes. For St. Louis, this includes grilled chicken salad; baked chips; yogurt parfaits; 100 calorie snacks; chicken
quesadilla; teriyaki chicken with steamed rice; taco salad with rice and black beans.
