SECOND ONLY TO DETROIT — According to the latest government statistics, the St. Louis metropolitan area lost 3,300 jobs over a recent yearlong period — the worst in the nation, save Detroit. (What is it about St. Louis and Detroit? First crime, now job loss. Talk about a race to the bottom.)

The report, which examined 367 metropolitan areas, showed Detroit and the St. Louis area (which includes suburbs in Missouri and Illinois) as the worst of 60 metro areas that saw decreases. Detroit was by far the worst with over 26,000 people losing their jobs.

According to the AP, Mayor Francis Slay’s office had a positive spin.

“We don’t have the city numbers yet but our earnings tax withholdings went up by 4 percent last year, which was an increase over the previous few years,” Slay spokesman Ed Rhode told the AP. “Based on that we think the city’s economy is improving.”

REED GETS THE 15th — Both candidates for President of the Board of Aldermen appeared last night at a forum hosted by the 15th Ward Democrats (check back later for exclusive video). Afterwards, the ward members voted by secret ballot to endorse challenger Lewis Reed over incumbent Jim Shrewsbury.

15th Ward Ald. Jennifer Florida, a Reed supporter, was unable to attend the meeting because of a family emergency (Our thoughts go out to her and her family).

“CASH”-CHIONE — Patrick Cacchione, candidate for 6th Ward Alderman, has given some cash to help with the cost of a study aimed at getting a new grocery store in his ward.

According to his press release, Cachione donated “10 percent of the cost” of the population density and demographic study to the Gate
District East Neighborhood Association in an effort to bring in a major grocer to the vacant Foodland Grocery site on 1605 S. Jefferson Ave.

That 10% works out to about 100 bucks.

The two candidates (so far; filing closes Friday) for President of the Board of Aldermen, incumbent Jim Shrewsbury and challenger Lewis Reed**, both appeared at a forum last night hosted by the Gate District Neighborhood Association in Reed’s 6th Ward.

All three candidates for 6th Ward alderman — Kacie Starr Triplett**, Patrick Cacchione and Christian Saller — also spoke at the forum.

**Clients of A.D. French & Associates

Alderman Craig Schmid surprised many of his colleagues yesterday with his little known musical ability.

In one of his last acts as an alderman, License Collector-elect Mike McMillan announced Wednesday over $600,000 in grants for local organizations and businesses.

“The wide variety of projects funded by these grants will benefit many programs and many people, improving nearly every aspect of our community,” said the 19th Ward alderman.

“We’ve seen clear evidence of how these types of funds have helped create new opportunities for success in St. Louis. Through a lot of hard work by many people, we are making significant progress in revitalizing St. Louis and these grants will help to further advance that effort.”

Not all of the organizations which received fund were from the 19th Ward. McMillan said that through an agreement between members of the Legislative Black Caucus, grant money is sometimes pooled together to support organizations which service populations that cross ward boundaries.

Programs receiving grants from the City of St. Louis include: Human Development Corporation, Black World History Wax Museum, Better Family Life, Monsanto YMCA, Hopewell Mental Health Center, Food Outreach, JVL Childcare Center, Kim’s Kids, Tuxedo Room Restaurant, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Human Development Corporation, Vashon/Jeff-Vander-Lou Initiative, Community Health-in-Partnership Services (C.H.I.P.S), Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, Harambee, Red Door Restaurant, Portfolio Art and Education Gallery, 100 Black Men of St. Louis, Reach St. Louis, Francois’ Restaurant, and Ted Foster & Son’s Funeral Home.

In the wake of the city’s recent tagging as the “most dangerous” in the country, and numerous attempts by City and police officials to downplay crime in the city as affecting only “some neighborhoods,” one alderman is telling police brass that they aren’t doing enough to keep those neighborhoods safe.

In a letter sent last week to a St. Louis City police captain and copied to Chief Joe Mokwa, 27th Ward Alderman Greg Carter recounts a Nov. 11 incident that occured at a northside gas station. Carter said while purchasing gas at the Shell station on Goodfellow and Highway 70, a man approached him and attempted to sell him drugs.

“Here I am, the alderman for the community and I can only imagine how other individuals are approached when they visit our community and our city,” wrote Carter.

The alderman said this kind of problem has been going on for too long. He said he has been in contact with police and city officials as well as the corporate owners of the gas station, but nothing has changed.

“I am becoming very frustrated and I am sure that if this was in any one of your neighborhoods, it would have ended a long time ago,” wrote Carter.

“I guess this is no longer a myth there is no aggressive approach regarding the drug selling in the communities that are predominantly African-American.”

Carter sent copies of the letter, dated Nov. 14, 2006, to Police Chief Joe Mokwa, Mayor Francis Slay, State Senator Pat Dougherty, State Senator-elect Jeff Smith, State Rep. Connie Johnson, Missouri Attorney Gen. Jay Nixon, and the Council of Black Elected Officials.

Click here to download Carter’s letter.

Related Stories:

Only a ‘few neighborhoods’ are unsafe (wink-wink)
“Most Dangerous” Again
She Said What???

St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Diana Bourisaw wants a daytime curfew for children in the City of St. Louis. And the President of the Board of Aldermen appears ready to help.

“In the past two months, I have approached many elected officials, including Board of Alderman President Jim Shrewsbury and Police Chief Joe Mokwa,” said Bourisaw in a press release today. She said a daytime curfew has been a successful tool that has been used in many other cities across the country to reduce the truancy rate. Such curfews typically prohibit children from being in public places other than schools during school hours on weekdays.

According to SLPS, Shrewsbury has already drafted an ordinance to establish a daytime ordinance which is currently being reviewed by Ald. Terry Kennedy, chairman of the Public Safety Committee.

“Truancy is a very serious issue and I am willing to help the Superintendent deal with it. I expect to have a daytime curfew ordinance ready to be introduced in the near future,” said Shrewsbury.

At a meeting of the Tilles Park Neighborhood Association last night, Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury tried to explain several of the propositions and charter amendments voters will be asked to vote on November 7.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen return to duty today after an eight-week summer vacation. One of the things scheduled for today’s meeting is a brief recognition of the 28-year legislative career of State Sen. Pat Dougherty.

Dougherty, who was prevented from seeking re-election this year due to term limits (and whose first senate campaign in 2001 this reporter managed), is the subject of Resolution #96, introduced by Ald. Jennifer Florida (15th Ward).

“During his exemplary career in the Missouri General Assembly, Senator Dougherty has been an outspoken champion for the rights of children, senior citizens and families in this State and has been instrumental in the passage of legislation designed to guarantee those rights,” the resolution states.

Click here to see the other resolutions to be introduced today to honor and commemorate St. Louis people and events.

READ IT HERE FIRST

A Circuit Court judge today ruled against the group seeking to recall 3rd Ward Alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr. The judge ruled that the St. Louis City Board of Elections does have the right to allow signers of the petition to have their names removed from the petition by way of a signed affidavit.

Bosley and his supporters succeeded in getting hundreds of signers to opt to have their names removed — enough, in fact, to leave the petition well short of the required number of valid signatures.

This is how they celebrate Labor Day in St. Charles: take aim at the laborers.

Following a similar move in Valley Park, St. Charles County Councilman Joe Brazil is preparing to introduce a bill tonight that would fine employers up to $500 per day for each illegal immigrant they employ.

Valley Park’s recently passed ordinance punished business owners who hire illegal immigrants by revoking their licenses and landlords that rent to illegals by fining them up to $500. Jim Shrewsbury, President of the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen, recently commented on the Valley Park legislation on his website.

“While reasonable people will agree that breaking the law is wrong, by passing its illegal immigrant ordinance Valley Park has carved out a dual reputation for itself. Some will forever see the town as a place of bigotry and intolerance. Others will see Valley Park as a model American city,” said Shrewsbury.

Many Mexican-Americans, who are legal residents, believe that these new laws could lead to an increase in hiring discrimination. Brazil and supporters of his bill say local governments have to do something if the federal government won’t.

It’ll be interesting to see how long St. Charles’ housing boom lasts after this.