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Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," was the featured speaker at last night's annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Here is video from Colbert's roast of the Bush Administration and the press corps. The third video is a "What If" of Colbert as the new White House press secretary.
'Legal money laundering' helps fund Missouri political campaigns
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Saturday, April 29, 2006 at 9:52 AM
State law places limits on how much an individual can give to a candidate's committee. It is also a crime to attempt to hide the source of a contribution by funneling it through a middle man. But a story published yesterday in the Southeast Missourian highlights the creative ways political campaigns use to raise cash -- expecially when it comes to local party committees like the ward organizations which exist in every St. Louis City ward.
Prior to 1994, local party committees were a backwater of Missouri politics, established by law but with few duties except to pick new candidates when a ballot vacancy occurred as a result of death or withdrawal. But when a law limiting campaign donations took effect, the importance of local party committees was magnified by a provision allowing them to become a source of large contributions.
In fact, ward organizations and party committees can donate up to 20 times the amount that any other kind of entity can.
Rudi Keller, who wrote the Missourian story, pointed out how this loophole in the law was exploited in the 2004 Governor's race.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Claire McCaskill received more than 130 donations from local party committees in the days after her primary victory over incumbent Gov. Bob Holden. The money, most of which was donated in $12,000 amounts, replenished her depleted treasury for the fall campaign.
And Republican Matt Blunt, who won the 2004 race, received 65 large local party committee donations -- many for approximately $12,000 -- during the last week of the campaign, a rush of money that helped pay for the crucial final push.
In St. Louis, we've also seen this stategy play out in the pages of candidate's campaign finance reports.
The 58th Democratic Legislative Distric Committee, a committee associated with State Rep. Rodney Hubbard (D-58th District), raised $11,000 last quarter. The committee then donated $6,000 to the state senate campaign of Yaphett El-Amin (five times the limit on contributions from individuals), $650 to the state rep campaign of Jamilah Nasheed (twice the limit for individuals), and $1,500 to the candidate committee of Hubbard himself (nearly five times the limit for individuals).
According to campaign finance reports for Mike McMillan's license collector committee, the 58th DLDC also contributed $1,275 to his campaign. But that contribution is not noted on the PAC's expenditures report.
Also on McMillan's report is a series of $1,275 contributions from entities known as "PIC I," "PIC II," "PIC V,""PIC VI," "PIC VII," and "PIC VIII." All share the same physical address: 906 Olive Street, Suite 600. That matches the address two other McMillan contributors, Steller Properties and Pyramid Contruction. The eight entities contributed almost $9,000 to McMillan's campaign on the final day of the last reporting period.
Developer John Steffen's Pyramid Construction, Pyramid Commercial Contracting LLC, and PIC, Inc. also donated a total of $3,825 to the campaign of Mayor Francis Slay on March 9, according to campaign finance reports.
Urbanist and blogger Steve Pattersonrecently wrote an article examining Steffen and Pyramid's influence on decisions made by Ald. Jennifer Florida (15th Ward) relating to a controversial McDonald's development on South Grand Ave. Patterson noted that contributions from Pyramid's companies and employees totaled nearly seven times the limit for individuals.
Click here to read Keller's insightful story in the Southeast Missourian.
First radio host DJ Wilson mentioned seeing one on his way to host "Collateral Damage" on KDHX 88.1 FM last week. Then we received these images in our email inbox.
Has Post-Dispatch columnist Bill McClellan become the Che Guevara of south St. Louis liberalism?
St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Creg Williams recently announced, as part of his greater plan to turn around the struggling district, plans to require some 8th graders to attend classes through the summer. But weeks after the announcement, parents are still struggling to understand if their kids are part of that requirement.
Williams has said that the summer school plan is meant to help 8th graders who are struggling academically. He and district representatives have said that only those students who are performing poorly will be required to attend summer school. But at other times, the district has said summer classes are mandatory for all 8th graders.
An undated press release on the district's website says, "ALL EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO ATTEND SUMMER SCHOOL." But a call to the district's headquarters has a receptionist telling callers this is not the case.
"We couldn't put 'all poor performing students required to attend summer school,'" she said. "Someone might sue us."
The district is hoping to clear up some of the confusion at a meeting on Saturday, May 6. Parents of current 8th graders are being asked to attend a 5-hour "orientation" that day from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Vashon High School, 3035 Cass Ave.
One of the things parents will be wanting to hear is what the consequences are for those that do not send their children to summer school. That part has still not been announced.
Johnnie Little, the district's Public Information director, did not return PUB DEF's phone call on this matter.
For some parents, the lack of public information has already led to confusion and anger.
In a letter being circulated around the district, one parent is calling the requirement "a complete contradiction to the most recent information."
The letter says that parents were told that only kids whose grades fell below a certain point would be required to attend summer school. "Now it's everyone, with the 'summer science academy' the only option for the competent students. How nice to give families so much notice so they can make summer plans. But then families haven't even been given the courtesy yet of being told the fall starting date."
Mayor Francis Slay will be delivering his annual State of the City address to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen today.
Expect to hear mentions of the continued growth of downtown businesses and residences, the increased number of rehabs going on across the city, and a slight increase in the city's population.
Do not expect to hear about the stark rise in crime over the past year, the mayor's loss of control of St. Louis Public Schools, or his veto (and redesign) of the civilian review board, which has fostered rumors of a Black Caucus backlash.
The Board of Aldermen meeting begins at 10:00 a.m. The mayor's speech is early on the agenda.
UPDATE: We stand corrected. Jake Wagman is reporting that the mayor did address crime in his speech today. Wagman says the mayor announced plans to seek voter approval for a sales tax that would pay to hire 50 new officers and fund a "Career Criminal Unit" in the city prosecutor’s office.
Rumor has it that State Senate candidate Jeff Smith got the endorsement of the 16th Ward Democrats yesterday. The 16th Ward is not only the highest voting ward in the city but also the political base of Jim Shrewsbury, President of the Board of Aldermen.
Developing...
UPDATE:The St. Louis Oracle is reporting that, as expected, the 16th Ward also endorsed Claire McCaskill for U.S. Senate, License Collector Gregg Daly for Collector of Revenue, and Ald. Mike McMillan for License Collector.
Bill to be introduced to investigate decades-old Civil Rights murders
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 3:15 PM
A group of legislators joined today to announce the reintroduction of a bill to create two new Federal offices to investigate and prosecute unsolved murders from the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and '60s.
Among the supporters of the "Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act" are Missouri Congressmen Lacy Clay (D-1) and Kenny Hulshof (R-9), and Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), who co-sponsored the bill last year.
State Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat who is running against Talent for the U.S. Senate, said today that she also supports the bill.
"As a former prosecutor who has made a career of fighting to protect rights and enforce laws, I feel that providing the tools and resources to prosecute Civil Rights-era murders is long overdue," McCaskill said in a statement.
Clay took the opportunity to take a jab at the record of McCaskill's opponent. "The rest of the Missouri delegation needs to improve their NAACP scores, in particular our two Senators who both received an F," he said.
A group of Washington University graduate social work students surveyed students from Vashon High School and the ninth grade center at Williams to establish whether or not they felt safe walking to and from school. The responses were alarming,
According to Tina Rutherford, Sarah Hyduke, Paige Kuske, and Heather Roll, writing for the St. Louis Schools Watch, 48 percent of 164 respondents said they did not feel safe walking to school. Thirty-seven percent said they did not feel safe in their school's neighborhood.
The six main reasons those students did not feel safe were: stray dogs; "crackheads" and drug dealers; gangs; fighting, shootings, or violence; kidnappers and rapists; and that it was still dark out.
"The neighborhood I have to walk through doesn't like my neighborhood, so I sometimes don't even come to school," one student said. "The walk from my school is long [and] I don't have many people to walk home with," said another.
Those who said they felt safe walking to school either said it was because they lived close to the school or they just didn't fear trouble. Other comments included: "I have a lot of protection;" "I fear no one;" "I don't have any static with anyone;" and "I got a gun called a 45."
Chris King, editor of The St. Louis American, will be performing with his rock band, "Three Fried Men," at The Schlafly Tap Room this weekend.
King describes his 7-member band's music as "eccentric folk rock." They are scheduled to take the stage Friday at 10:00 p.m. in the Elliott Room on the first floor. The Tap Room is located at 2100 Locust Street downtown.
St. Louis natives and Hollywood players Cedric the Entertainer and Eric Rhone will be speaking tonight at the Webster University School of Business and Technology. As part of the University's "Success to Significance" speaker series, Cedric and Rhone will discuss the business of the entertainment industry.
Cedric is one of the most successful comedians/actors ever to come out of St. Louis. He has starred in numerous films and even performed before the President at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.
Rhone is the "man behind the man," serving as Cedric’s manager, producer and business partner. He is also a board member of the St. Louis RCGA. The duo have worked together on movie and TV projects including: "The Original Kings of Comedy", "Barbershop", "Intolerable Cruelty", animated features like "Madagascar" and "Ice Age", and a series of Bud Light commercials.
The event starts at 7:00 p.m. and is free, but reservations are requested. Click here to RSVP or view future speakers.
A press release from Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, today announced that the paper's publisher was resigning.
"Even in a job you love, sometimes 10 years is enough," Terrance C.Z. Egger is quoted as saying. "This is a great newspaper with great people in a great city, and I know I would continue to be well satisfied staying many more years as publisher. I'm proud of our accomplishments, and I think the Post-Dispatch has an even more exciting future with our terrific new owner, Lee Enterprises. Still, I have found myself yearning for another good, new chapter of my life."
Two of the five candidates running for an open 4th District state senate seat, and representatives of two others, addressed a meeting of 15th Ward residents last night.
Former State Rep. Derio Gambaro and former 22nd Ward Ald. Kenny Jones told the audience about their past accomplishments as elected officials. Jones also spoke of his experience as executive director of the City's Civil Rights Enforcement Agency -- a position he was fired from after he "had an altercation" with his boss, Mayor Francis Slay.
State Rep. Amber Boykins was represented by her mother, former License Collector Billie Boykins. "She called me at the very last minute and said 'Mommy, I need you,'" said the elder Boykins. Jeff Smith was represented by 15th Ward resident Susie Anderson Bower.
State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin did not attend and did not send a representative. Both El-Amin and Boykins were presumably stuck in Jefferson City on business.
Also in attendence were two candidates for another hotly contested race, but one which does not include any parts of the 15th Ward. Jamilah Nasheed and Shaun Simms (husband of Amber Boykins) were both in the audience.
Court: Law forbiding ex-cons from running for office is Unconstitutional
By Antonio D. French
In a unanimous decision issued today, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision striking down a law prohibiting people convicted of federal crimes from running for elective office.
The trial court had found that the section violated equal protection. The Supreme Court found that the section violated the state constitution's single-subject requirement pertaining to bills.
From the summary: In 2005, the general assembly passed and the governor signed into law House Bill No. 58. As introduced, HB 58 repealed seven sections and enacted seven sections "relating to political subdivisions." The particular subdivisions originally covered were county finances, budget and retirement systems as well as city or district sewerage systems and waterworks.
As passed, HB 58 repealed 130 sections and added 165 new sections to the state statutes. One of the sections added to HB 58 was a section that provided that no one convicted of a federal misdemeanor or felony qualifies as a candidate for elected office in Missouri.
Henry Rizzo, a member of the Jackson County legislature, filed a declaration of candidacy to seek re-election to his office. In 1991, Rizzo pleaded guilty to the federal misdemeanor of providing a false statement to a financial institution. The state sought to disqualify Rizzo for running for re-election pursuant to section 115.348. Rizzo and two Jackson County voters sued, challenging the statute's constitutional validity.
Several candidates running for various offices in the August Democratic Primary showed up or sent representatives to speak before the 15th Ward Democratic Organization last night.
Candidates speaking before the group included Derio Gambaro and Kenny Jones, candidates for state senate, and License Collector Gregg Daly who is now running for Collector of Revenue.
Last chance to register early for College Dems convention at SLU
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Monday, April 24, 2006 at 2:31 PM
Early Registration for the 2006 College Democrats of America National Convention ends today. College Dems from across the country will converge on the campus of St. Louis University from July 20-23 for this annual event.
CDA Conventioners will hear from DNC Chairman Howard Dean and will receive trainings and participate in networking events. Interested parties can register early at http://convention.collegedems.com. Early registration is $40. Housing for Thursday through Saturday nights is $105 to $125.
15th Ward Democrats will be hosting a forum tonight for all the candidates in running in the August Primary election. The event is open to the public and will be at the Carpenter Branch Library (corner of S. Grand and Utah) at 7:30 p.m.
And via the Ecology of Absence blog: The Preservation Board will consider the demolition application for 30 homes in Forest Park Southeast at its meeting at 4:00 p.m. The location is 1015 Locust Street, 12th floor.
Mayor's committee raising (and spending) big dollars
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 9:01 PM
Mayor Francis Slay's campaign committee raised $163,300 in the first three months of 2006. After doling out $115,000, he closed the quarter with nearly $270,000 in the bank.
As of March 31, Slay for Mayor had paid nearly $18,000 to Cardinals Ballpark LLC for season tickets, $22,000 to Richard Callow's Public Eye, Inc. for "communication advice," and nearly $24,000 to Neil Swanson, of Kansas City, for expenses related to the mayor's website.
As we reported earlier, the Mayor also made a $40,000 loan to a political action committee backing Darnetta Clinkscale and James Buford for school board.
CLICK HERE to download the April 19 issue of PUB DEF Weekly. Check out the clickable ads.
As always, feel free to print out as many as you like and share them with friends, neighbors and co-workers. And for all you activist types, make dozens -- or even hundreds -- of copies and drop stacks at local coffee shops, watering holes, in City Hall, or on campus (We look best on 11x17 sheets of paper, folded once).
"After careful review of House Bill No. 1944, we have concluded that our coalition of Missouri citizens is opposed to the passage of this bill by your assembly," MEDAC said. "It is MEDAC’s stance that passage of this bill legitimizes the current abuses perpetuated by our local municipalities, allowing them to continue 'business as usual'."
MEDAC pointed to several provisions of the bill which seem to reaffirm local municipalities' right to take private property.
One section reads: "An urban redevelopment corporation operating pursuant to a redevelopment agreement with a municipality for a particular redevelopment area, which agreement was executed prior to August 31, 2006, shall have the right to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property…"
"These practices are precisely the manner in which properties are obtained today and account for one of the primary abuses of the use of eminent domain," said MEDAC.
Steve Patterson, of Urban Review St. Louis, is reporting that the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) amended the Gravois/South Grand/Meramec redevelopment area at their April 4 meeting.
The move helps clear the way for a controversial plan supported by Ald. Jennifer Florida (D-15th Ward) to move a McDonalds drive-thru restaurant across the street from its current location on South Grand Ave.
"I spoke with Chairwoman Judith Doss," said Patterson. "I asked her if she was aware of the opposition to the McDonald's. She was not."
Patterson said Doss indicated the LCRA had a letter of support from Florida and therefore assumed there was no opposition from anyone.
"When I mentioned that none of us were aware of the April 4th meeting she said our Alderman should have told us," he said.
CLICK HERE to see an Exclusive PUB DEF Video from a recent protest of this project.
And speaking of Florida, several people have asked why PUB DEF was not at last night's school board meeting. Well, we were in Orlando. Tomorrow we'll be in Miami. We'll be back from Florida this weekend.
But don't worry, we'll be blogging like always. And we've still got eyes everywhere.
The candidates seeking to replace term-limited State Sen. Pat Dougherty are Yaphett El-Amin, Jeff Smith, Derio Gambaro, Amber Boykins, and Kenny Jones. Their campaign finance reports for this quarter were due April 15. Over the course of the day, the reports will be made available by the state Ethics Commission.
Jeff Smith, who has led the race for dollars from the start of this contest, raised another $42,000 in the last three months. His campaign now has nearly $130,000 in the bank.
UPDATE: Amber Boykins reported raising more than $21,000 in the first quarter of 2006, including: a $3,000 in-kind donation from the Missouri Democratic Party, $650 each from political action committees called Women About Reform Movement and Loft PAC, $650 from developer Mary "One" Johnson, $650 from state rep candidate Joe Palm, $300 from consultant Tim Person, $300 from 21st Ward Ald. Bennice Jones King, $100 from Board Pres. Jim Shrewsbury, and $100 from a company called "Brown Ass."
After spending $6,763.78, Boykins' campaign had almost $59,000 in the bank as of March 31.
UPDATE 2: Looks like "Brown Ass" is short for a firm called Brown and Associates. The company's office is located in the Chase Park Plaza. The Boykins campaign has amended its report.
UPDATE 3: Yaphett El-Amin now has more than $84,500 in the bank after raising $50,000 since January.
UPDATE 4: Derio Gambaro raised more than $32,500 last quarter (including $3,100 in in-kind donations). After spending more than $37,000, his campaign had $32,243 in the bank on March 31.
Kenny Jones formed his campaign committee after the reporting period for the April 15th reports and therefore will not be filing a report for the period.
So the ranking of the candidates' war chests shapes up like this:
1. Jeff Smith ($130,000) 2. Yaphett El-Amin* ($84,500) 3. Amber Boykins ($59,000) 4. Derio Gambaro ($32,000) 5. Kenny Jones (N/A)
*State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin had the best fundraising quarter of the five candidates, raising over $50,000 since January.
Senator Jim Talent increased his fundraising lead over State Auditor Claire McCaskill last quarter. The Kansas City Star is reporting that Talent raised $270,000 more than his expected Democratic challenger.
Talent, the incumbent and former congressman, reported nearly $5.7 million in the bank at quarter’s end to McCaskill’s just more than $2 million.
"We’re never going to be able to raise as much as Jim Talent," McCaskill spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh conceded.
One of the most closely watched races in the country, the Missouri showdown should also be one of the costliest, with some projecting total spending could again approach – or top – $20 million. In 2002, Talent won the seat despite being outspent by Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan. Talent spent $8 million to Carnahan’s $12.3 million.
Comedian and radio talk-show host Al Franken will be doing a live broadcast of his Air America radio show from the campus of Washington University next week.
Franken, an outspoken liberal and a favorite target of conservative pundits, will be broadcasting from Graham Chapel (just north of the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd) on Tuesday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The first regular meeting of the St. Louis City Board of Education since the election of parents Peter Downs and Donna Jones will be tonight in the auditorium of Carr Lane Middle School, 1004 N. Jefferson Ave.
During their campaigns, Downs and Jones promised to bring transparency and meaningful public input to board meeting. According to the latest email update from Downs' St. Louis School Watch newsletter, that will be the case tonight.
Downs said he sent Superintendent Creg Williams a list of questions on 31 of the 48 items on the superintendent's consent agenda. He said that Williams offered to meet with him in private to discuss the consent agenda, but Downs said the answers are not for him alone.
"I'm not asking questions for my own personal edification," he said, "I'm asking questions that I think the public wants answered. I know from experience sitting in the audience at school board meetings that whatever questions I think of, other people think of, too, and they have a right to know the answers. It seems to me that the most efficient way to answer people's questions is to do so in public at the regular school board meeting."
The candidates seeking to replace State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, who is running for state senate, are Joe Palm, Karla May and Talibdin El-Amin (husband). Their campaign finance reports for this quarter were due April 15. Over the course of the day, the reports will be made available by the state Ethics Commission.
Joe Palm loaned his campaign $5,000. He raised just $750 over the last three months (including $325 from a committee formed by State Rep. Rachel Storch when she was mulling a run for state senate). At the end of March, Palm's committee had $3,400 in the bank.
UPDATE: Talibdin El-Amin has $8500 in the bank after raising $10,625 since January. Contributors included State Rep. Rodney Hubbard's campaign committee, AT&T's political action committee, and Ald. Jeffrey Boyd.
Ald. Mike McMillan raised $176,710 over the last three months, according to campaign finance reports filed yesterday. Add another $13,000 in in-kind donations and the total amount raised climbs to over $190,000.
After spending $56,000, McMillan had $236,106.14 cash on hand in his campaign to become License Collector.
McMillan's Democratic opponent in the August primary election is Ken Griffey. The winner of that match-up will face Republican Pat Herod in November. Neither Griffey or Herod have yet filed campaign reports.
State Rep. Maria Chappelle Nadal raised $1,475 during the first quarter of 2006. After spending over $1,800, her campaign had nearly $4,800 in the bank.
University City Councilwoman Sandi Colquitt, who is challenging Nadal after losing to her by less than 200 votes in 2004, has not yet filed her campaign report.
State Auditor and candidate for U.S. Senate Claire McCaskill will be speaking to the Washington University Young Democrats this evening at Friedman Lounge on Wash U's campus. The event is open to the public and starts at 8:00 p.m.
Cecilia Velazquez, the publisher of Red Latina, a local Spanish-language newspaper, has been deported. The AP is reporting that after a five-year legal battle over her immigration status, Velazquez was escorted into Mexico on Friday and will be barred from re-entering the United States for 10 years.
Velazquez said by cell phone Saturday from Mexico City that Red Latina will carry on and she will continue as publisher, possibly from Cancun.
"We are the voice of my population. They need to know what's going on," she told The Associated Press. "I know we can do it. I have the Internet and my cell phone. I can make all the meetings. We need to tell the people 'Don't be afraid. Don't be scared. I'll be back.'"
She lost a series of appeals but had hoped letters of support written by politicians including U.S. Sen. Jim Talent and U.S. Reps. William Lacy Clay Jr. and Russ Carnahan would stave off her deportation.
The Kansas City Star is reporting that federal authorities are investigating Missouri’s network of license fee offices and how they were awarded to political supporters of Gov. Matt Blunt.
One Republican appointment that attracted attention last year was a busy south St. Louis office going to Garrett Lott, who had been fined two years earlier for violating campaign finance laws.
According to the Star, FBI agents also have begun interviews involving lobbying practices in the state Capitol.
It was a busy weekend for citizen activists. Central West End residents gathered to voice their concerns and learn more information about a new high-rise development. Southside residents protested a plan to move a McDonalds across the street from its present location. And this morning, Maxine Johnson, a homeowner in the 3rd Ward, picketed in front of Bethlehem Lutheran Church to call attention to a plan by Better Living Communities (which was founded by the church) and Ald. Freeman Bosley, Sr. to use eminent domain as part of a planned redevelopment.
Click here to see more photos from Johnson's protest.
"We're not loving it!" they shouted. The protesters that gathered today on the corner of S. Grand & Winnebago said they want a McDonalds drive-thru restaurant to stay put and not move across the street behind several homes.
They say the move, which is supported by the ward's alderman, Jennifer Florida, would lower property values and change the character of the neighborhood.
In a joint report with UrbanReviewSTL.com, we present the following exclusive video from today's event. Click here to see more exclusive PUB DEF photos from the protest. Click here to read Steve Patterson's complete story.
Click here to see more exclusive PUB DEF photos from the protest.
Approximately 100 Central West End residents gathered in the Schlafly Branch library this morning to listen to Ald. Lyda Krewson (D-28th Ward) and representatives from developer Opus Northwest present a revised plan for a new high-rise condominium to be built on the corner of Lindell and Euclid.
In a joint report, Steve Patterson, of UrbanReviewSTL.com, has the story and PUB DEF has the photos. Click here to read the full story. Click here to see 45 exclusive PUB DEF photos.
It was nearly 25 years ago that Vince Schoemehl, the young alderman from the 28th Ward, was sworn-in as mayor of the City of St. Louis. On April 21, he and his supporters will be remembering the moment.
They promise "No Speeches," "Just Fun," when they gather at the Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park at 5:00 next Friday to remember the legacy of the Schoemehl Administration.
That legacy means many things to many different people.
Some recall Schoemehl's time in Room 200 as the birth of a stronger Office of Mayor in the City of St. Louis. "Schoemehl worked to transform the office of mayor from a 'weak mayor' system into a political powerhouse," remembers an exhibit at the St. Louis Public Library.
His term coincided with a awful rise in crime marked by the introduction of crack cocaine and gang wars that left thousands of young men dead in the City's streets.
Schoemehl will always be known in many communities for reneging on his promise to reopen the vital Homer G. Phillips Hospital located in north St. Louis' Ville neighborhood.
In 1992, Schoemehl was defeated by then-Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan in the Democratic primary for Governor. He was succeeded as mayor by the City's first African-American to hold the office, Freeman Bosley, Jr.
RightMissouri.com, a Republican blog, has praised the former chair and vice-chair of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus for their support of a bill that would trade tax credits for the funding private education.
"Huge kudos go out to State Reps. Ted 'Kick Their Butts' Hoskins and Rodney Hubbard -- both St. Louis Dems and the only Dems in Missouri with an ounce of principle and conviction," said the blog.
PUB DEF was the first to report yesterday that the Black Caucus, by a vote of 11-3, voted Hoskins out of its chairmanship. Hoskins, who sources say chose not to attend the meeting where the vote took place, was replaced by State Rep. John Bowman. Hubbard resigned his vice-chairmanship before a vote could be taken to remove him. He was replaced by State Rep. Connie Johnson.
The blog also quotes an article in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Hoskins commented only briefly Thursday, saying that he has decided to leave the caucus entirely. 'They don't do nothing, so I won't be missing anything,' he said."
Several members of the Black Caucus have told PUB DEF that the change in leadership is the best thing that could have happened for the group. They said that Hoskins' leadership style and questionable fundraising tactics had tarnished the group's reputation and steered them in a direction away from their primary mission.
On the website of the Columbia Missourian, the newspaper's staff has created a mock-up of Pres. George W. Bush's Facebook profile.
Facebook is a popular online directory that allows people to touch base, interact, create social networks and make friends. "As far as we have searched our President, George W. Bush, does not have a Facebook profile," says the Missourian's page. "But if he were to have a Facebook profile, we think it would look something like this."
Listed under "personal info," the President lists among his interests: fighting terrorism, compassionate conservatism, Jesus Christ, and Mexican food.
His favorite TV show is Fox News. His favorite music artists are Toby Keith and Britney Spears. His favorite books are "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)," "Curious George," and "My Pet Goat." And he belongs to the Diebold Voting Machine Fan Club.
The President says he is looking for friendship and "more people to like me and then go to the polls and tell the world that they like me. In political speech, we call that 'approval rating.'" Click here to see the page.
A few weeks ago, we published a commentary on why Metro is its own worst enemy when it comes to getting more people to use public transportation. We suggested 3 easy things Metro could do to improve pubic transportation in the City.
To date, Metro hasn't implemented any of our suggestions. But they have started to invest in helicopters. Go figure.
Well, apparently we are not alone in thinking that something is very wrong at the region's public transportation system operator.
Yesterday, the Belleville News-Democrat published an editorial explaining how Metro has made it very easy for people deciding whether to drive their cars or take the bus or train.
You guessed it -- the car wins again.
Metro's bus and MetroLink services take some resourcefulness, determination and patience. That's in large part because maps, schedules and prices seem to treat passengers as an afterthought...
Frustrated with the Web site? Call the customer service line at 271-2345. Four minutes of Muzak, but the representative seemed pretty knowledgeable and was helpful. Too bad the phones are off after 7 p.m. and on weekends...
Heading to the ballgame? Two gallons of gas plus $5 parking is still cheaper than $14 round trip on the train for four...
The point is, Metro has priced itself out of competition for a large segment of potential riders. Then they narrow the field of folks who need to go where they go when they go, and the mass transit option takes a back seat to the convenience of our cars. It's just not user friendly.
State Rep. Juanita Head Walton (D-81) will be hosting a free Credit Scoring Seminar next weekend at the University of Missouri St. Louis.
A poor credit score can cost people thousands of dollars in higher interest rates. "For African-Americans, the burden of these higher costs only serves to further fuel the wealth divide," said Walton.
Walton, who represents a section of north St. Louis County, is also the chair of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators' Business and Finance committee. That committee recently expressed support for the new unified credit scoring system announced by the three major credit reporting agencies.
The seminar will take place Saturday, April 22, on UMSL's campus, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CLICK HERE to download the latest issue of the print(able) version of PUB DEF Weekly. It features our ward-by-ward breakdown of last week's school board election.
As always, feel free to print out as many as you like and share them with friends, neighbors and co-workers. And for all you activist types, make dozens -- or even hundreds -- of copies and drop stacks at local coffee shops, watering holes, in City Hall, or on campus (We look best on 11x17 sheets of paper, folded once).
By a vote of 11-3 last night, the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus has replaced State Rep. Ted Hoskins (D-80) as its chairperson.
Hoskins, who has drawn criticism from some fellow Democrats for his leadership style and his strong support of a "school choice" bill (labeled by many as a "school vouchers" bill), was replaced by State Rep. John Bowman (D-70). Bowman will serve out the rest of Hoskins' chairman term.
According to sources, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard (D-58), also a co-sponsor of the controversial school funding measure, "saw the handwriting on the wall" and resigned as Vice-Chairman before to the vote to remove Hoskins. State Rep. Connie Johnson (D-61) was elected Vice-Chairman.
Two headlines on the Post-Dispatch's website today raise serious questions about the perspective of the paper's newsroom.
The first headline, "St. Louis Police Board approves plan for civilian review," leads readers to believe that "after about five years of community debate," the City's state-controlled police board finally caved in and created an independent board to investigate reports of police abuse. This is absolutely not the case.
Not only are the supporters of a CRB not satisfied with the police board's actions, but some have openly called for voters to punish Mayor Francis Slay for his veto of the compromise bill that took five years to finally be passed by the Board of Aldermen.
What's more, the Aldermanic Black Caucus has written a letter to Slay expressing their "deep disappointment" in his subsequent attempt to bypass the Board by submitting his own watered-down version of a CRB. It is that version that was approved today by the police commissioners.
Two other members, Ron Jackson and Robert Archibald, voiced opposition on each of Downs' motions. Three other members (Board Pres. Veronica O'Brien, Bill Purdy and Donna Jones) supported Downs. The other member, Flint Fowler, was silent during the debate and voted with the descenters.
The Post would have its readers believe that two members constitute the entire Board and that that board "clashed" with the one of its members. The fact is that each of Downs' motions passed by a vote of 4-3, with a clear majority supporting him.
UPDATE: The Post has published a new story on the civilian review board. The new one, written by Bill Bryan, begins with: "The St. Louis Police Board voted Wednesday to create a civilian review panel under terms that disappointed activists who wanted it to have more independence."
Bryan's story does quote people on both sides of the issue, including activists Jamala Rogers and John Chasnoff; Redditt Hudson, of the ACLU; Mayor Francis Slay; Police Chief Joe Mokwa; and Police Board President Chris Goodson.
The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners is meeting this morning for the first time since Mayor Francis Slay vetoed the Aldermanic bill that sought to create a civilian review board to investigate reports of police abuse.
The board is expected to take up Slay's alternative proposal for a CRB. Members of the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression and supporters of the bill are expected to attend the meeting and voice their concerns about the mayor's veto.
UPDATE: The Police Board approved the Mayor's plan to establish his own version of a "civilian review board."
UPDATE 2: Members of the St. Louis Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression (CAPCR) responded to the Police Board's approval of Slay's version of a civilian review board by saying the Mayor and the Commissioners were "out of touch with the community."
Mayor Slay vetoed a CRB bill (BB69FS) passed by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen last month saying it had "legal flaws" and was open to court challenges because he said it violated state law.
In a statement released after the unanimous vote by the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners, CAPCR called the vote "a backward step" and said the Police Board’s CRB "is structurally weak and cannot be effective."
Jamala Rogers, co-chair of the coalition, said it is time for St. Louis City to fight for local control of its police department.
"Today’s actions by the mayor and the police board are the stuff that campaigns are made of," said Rogers. "First, we need a mayor who respects the entire city, who will fight for justice, and who will be responsive to the community decision-making process. We plan to help the city find such a mayor."
The Missouri House of Representatives is expected to take up House Bill 1944 today. The bill makes changes to the use of eminent domain in the state. Some supporters of reform say the bill doesn't go far enough. While opponents, including the City of St. Louis and several utility companies, say it goes too far.
Several amendments to the bill are expected to be offered today.
UPDATE: The House has perfected the bill with several amendments. Click here to read the summary of the perfected bill. Click here to read the full bill.
State Auditor Claire McCaskill met with members of the Missouri Legislatve Black Caucus Tuesday to discuss her campaign for U.S. Senate. But sources say McCaskill's real challenge was to mend fences from her 2004 run for governor.
Some black elected officials felt that McCaskill was not a good friend to those that supported her when she was an underdog in that contentious primary race. State Rep. Amber Boykins was one of those that supported McCaskill against then-Gov. Bob Holden. But McCaskill has refused to support Boykins in her race for State Senate.
Others felt that the state auditor, along with the Missouri Democratic Party, undermined the influence of black elected officials by looking to black preachers and certain non-profit organizations to get out the vote in their home districts.
Sources tell PUB DEF that McCaskill expressed her wish that the elected officials would put all of their differences aside for the sake of the party and getting one more Democrat in the Senate.
UPDATE: Part of McCaskill's effort to mend fences apparently includes hiring staffers who worked for her 2004 opponent.
Present at Tuesday's meeting with the Black Caucus was Brandon Davis, the former political director for Gov. Holden's failed re-election campaign. In a press release sent out today, McCaskill formally announced that Davis would now be her political director.
In the same release, McCaskill announced that Richard Martin would be her campaign manager. Martin served as Holden's campaign manager in 2000. He was also the Executive Director for the Missouri Democratic Party from 1993-96 and State Director for the Clinton-Gore Campaign in 1996. His last job was as Director of Tax Policy for Sprint.
Anti-abortion group makes graphic statement at State Capitol
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 11:51 PM
Anti-abortion activists parked two large trucks in front of the State Capitol on Tuesday displaying graphic photos of aborted fetuses. They were meant to send a loud message to President George W. Bush and others during the President's visit to Missouri.
Operation Rescue, a controversial and vocal anti-abortion activist group, was responsible for the display. The organization released a statement Tuesday calling on Bush to change his position on abortion in cases of rape.
"Babies conceived in rape are no less human or deserving of life than those conceived through consensual relationships," said the group's statement.
They said that Bush's statements on opposing abortion except in the case of incest or rape sends "mixed signals about the sanctity of life, the humanity of the pre-born, and your overall concern for the well-being of women."
Click on the photo to see a close-up of the truck's image. Warning: It is very graphic.
The chairman of the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners sent a letter to the St. Louis Public Schools this week informing them that, as far as they are concerned, Peter Downs and Donna Jones are not yet elected officials.
As PUB DEF exclusively reported last week, officials at the election board have not yet certified the April 4 election and have said that it was premature to swear-in the two newest school board members until they do so. State law allows the Board of Elections 14 days to certify the election. Before that occurs, the Board must conduct accuracy tests on the voting machines and perform internal audits.
Scott Leiendecker, the Board's Republican director of elections, told PUB DEF last week that they were shooting to get all of that done by Wednesday, April 12, but that they may take until the April 18 deadline.
PUB DEF caught up with Ed Martin, the chairman of the election board, Tuesday in the State Capitol building in Jefferson City. He said that he expects the election to be certified on or about the 18th, in time for that evening's regular school board meeting.
But at Tuesday night's administative and executive meetings of the school board, Downs and Jones assumed their seats despite the election board's claims. They have been advised by attorneys for the district that it is proper for new board members to begin their duties almost immediately.
Ex-board members Darnetta Clinkscale and James Buford did not attend Tuesday's board meeting and no other board members objected to Downs and Jones taking their seats.
NEW SCHOOL BOARD MAJORITY TAKES REINS, O'BRIEN MADE NEW BOARD PRESIDENT
By Antonio D. French
The new majority of the St. Louis City School Board wasted no time taking the reins of the troubled district tonight.
At the first administrative meeting since parents Peter Downs and Donna Jones defeated Board President Darnetta Clinkscale and mayoral appointee James Buford one week ago, the new majority of Downs, Jones, Bill Purdy, and Veronica O'Brien made it clear that they are now steering the ship.
One of the board's early actions was to elect O'Brien the new board president.
Downs then offered a series of additions to the agenda of next week's regular board meeting. The three suggestions were each met with opposition from board members Bob Archibald and Ron Jackson.
Downs recommended that the board discuss at the April 18 meeting a resolution reaffirming teachers' authority to judge how best to impliment the district's standardized curriculum.
He also recommended that the superintendent discuss with parent and teacher representatives the findings of the so-called "Kirner Report" commissioned several years ago to address the problem of discipline in the schools.
Superintendent Creg Williams said that he didn't see the need for such an action. This was echoed by Archibald and Jackson who, along with Flint Fowler, voted against Downs' motions.
Jackson said that he worried that any resolution on teacher authority relating to the standardized curriculum might undermine the district's attempt to compensate for a highly transient student population.
"Are we going to say that teachers can just teach whatever they want?" asked Jackson.
Downs' last request was for the superintendent's office to make available to the public a line item report of all of the district's expenditures for this budget year. Williams and Jackson again said that they did not see the need for such a request.
Jackson said the majority of the public would never read such a long document.
All of Downs measures were approved for discussion at the next meeting by a vote of 4-3. After each vote, applause came from the audience. Click here to see exclusive photos from tonight's meeting.
Click here to see more exclusive photos from today's event.
President George W. Bush stepped out of Air Force One this morning at Columbia Regional Airport on his way to was in Jefferson City. Bush was in the state to discuss the Medicare prescription drug benefit (also known as Part D).
Greeting Bush this morning were Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent, several state Republican leaders, and a small group of anti-war protestors.
Click here to see more exclusive photos from today's event.
