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.

Last night Channel 5 reporter Mike Owens did a story on a shady real estate man who sold a couple a home that he apparently no longer owned. The real owner is evicting the “buyers” and the shady salesman is ducking the law and TV cameras.

It was a pretty good story. But more interesting than the story itself was the teaser at the end.

“Tomorrow night, more on Furqan and we’ll hear a tape of him saying he makes regular payments of cash to the local alderman, a charge the alderman denies.”

Hmmmmmm. Who could it be?

Considering the reporter is married to 28th Ward Alderman Lyda Krewson, we can pretty much rule her out.

According to clues from Owen’s report, the property Wali Furqan sold the couple is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of the 3rd Ward, represented by longtime alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr.

Whoever it is (and we really can’t wait to find out who), as the KSDK report stated, he (or she) completely denies the charge.

Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett is heading east. Far East.

Starr has been invited to represent the United States on an international exchange program to Vietnam. The American Council of Young Political Leaders selected Triplett after receiving her nomination from Congressman Russ Carnahan, her former boss.

“I am excited and humbled to be part of this valuable program,” Triplett said. “I look forward to forging lasting relationships with other young leaders from the United States and Vietnam.”

Triplett will be part of a seven-member delegation that will travel throughout Vietnam from October 12-26. The delegates will meet with national, regional and local political officials, business and civic leaders.

It has not been a good week for 1st Ward Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe.

Channel 4 reports that Troupe, who owns numerous residential properties, is being sued by a family who rents from him after a one-year-old girl fell out of a second story window which reportedly did not have a screen installed.

Here’s video of the swearing-in before the swearing-in.

Little did you know that the swearing-in you see on television is really just ceremonial. The real swearing-in of city officials happens minutes (and sometimes days) before in a smaller, far less crowded place. Today that place was Room 208 (The Kennedy Room) in City Hall.

Immediately following the real swearing-in, performed by City Register Parrie May, the new officials sign the city’s official record, making them honest to God elected officials of the City of St. Louis.

Check back later for video of the much more elaborate swearing-in ceremony that took place on the floor of the Board of Aldermen.

Tom Weber of KWMU reports that 8th Ward Alderman Steve Conway has introduced a bill (Board Bill #372) that would raise taxes to pay for a city band.

From the bill: “Under and by the authority of Section 71.640 RSMo., there is hereby imposed a City band levy at the rate of 2 mil per One Dollar of assessed valuation for the purpose of supporting a municipal band.”

Word is that Conway, who is currently running unopposed, will not be seeking another term after this one.

Word is that 18th Ward Alderman Terry Kennedy will be opening his campaign headquarters next week at 4618 Delmar.

Kennedy is being challenged by Bill Haas, who at the same time is running for a seat on the school board.

The vote today on the perfection of the Barnes-Forest Park Lease deal was 22-2.

President Shrewsbury and 22nd Ward Alderman Jeffrey Boyd were the only votes against.

We haven’t gotten the official vote yet, but according the President’s office, Aldermen Florida, Kennedy, McMillan (who’s vacated his seat for higher office), Troupe, and Williamson were not present at the time of the vote.

Board Bill 376, the controversial BJC/Park deal, moved closer to passage by the Board of Aldermen today. Earlier this week, opponents of the deal had a chance to voice their concerns to the aldermanic Parks Committee.

Carla Scissors-Cohen spoke on behalf of the group Citizens to Protect Forest Park. She asked the aldermen to delay acting on this bill until after the voters get a chance to vote on the City Park Protection Initiative, which would amend the charter to require voter approval for any sale or lease of city park land.

Click here to view video of the bill’s supporters.

Board Bill 376, the controversial BJC/Park deal, moved closer to passage by the Board of Aldermen today. But a veto by the three-member Board of Estimate and Apportionment still looms.

Where E&A’s members stand:
Mayor Francis Slay is in support of he deal, Board President Jim Shrewsbury says he’ll vote against it, and Comptroller Darlene Green, who’s consistently been critical of the deal, keeps her cards close to the vest.

Click here to view video of the bill’s opponents.