By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 10:30 AM
People behind a controversial plan to recall Ald. Jennifer Florida met yesterday to strategize, inform the public, and gather some signatures on their petition.
What makes this effort any more controversial than any other recall attempt? Primarily the fact that the push to drive Florida out appears to be coming from forces outside of her ward.
Douglas Duckworth, one of the organizers of the recall attempt, said that the reasons why Florida should be ousted transcend the boundaries of her ward.
"If we do not unite citywide and help neighborhoods in need, especially ones where the voters are working-class with little time for activism, then the political machine will never be stopped, and reform will not take place," said Duckworth, who does not live in Florida's ward.
The central rallying point for the recall effort is a controversial McDonald's drive-thru restaurant development on South Grand Ave.
Fifteenth Ward residents and their supporters from other parts of the city have protested the plan, calling it a poor use of land and tax credits. Even a neighboring alderman, Craig Schmid (20th Ward), has broken with the practice of "aldermanic courtesy" and spoken against the project. But Florida has stood by the project saying it is vital to the revitalization of that area.
In City Hall last week, Florida told PUB DEF that the plans for the McDonald's are sensitive to the neighboring homeowners. She also said that the McDonald's plan was the best that had been offered for that area. "(Those opposing the development) haven't offered an alternative," she said.
But Duckworth says that Florida isn't listening to the people that are opposing the plan, which was proposed by Pyramid Development. "Florida is in the pocket of Pyramid, which explains why she is not listening to her citizens," he said. He points to campaign contributions made in 2004 as proof.
He and others met yesterday at St. Matthew's Church (which is not located in the 15th Ward) to address a meeting of the Gravois Park Neighborhood Association. They announced the recall effort and said that they had a list of 15th Ward registered voters.
Duckworth estimated that approximately 1,400 signatures would be needed to get the recall question on the ballot. He said they collected about five signatures at yesterday's meeting.
In a phone interview today, Florida told PUB DEF that she was "hurt" and "upset" by the news of the recall effort. She said she believes she has worked hard for the residents of her ward. She is shocked that people would attempt a recall over this one issue.
"I wish they would just look at my total record and the good that I've done for my area," she said. "I haven't done everything right, but I've tried my best."
Florida said that when she sponsored a bill last year asking voters to amend the City Charter to change how recalls were done, she never thought it would apply to her.
"I thought I could get away with it because it's something that happens primarily on the north side," she said. "I didn't think it was something that would affect me."
She said that there are many areas of town that would fight to have a new McDonald's built in their neighborhood, not fight against the person bringing it to them. She said the real benefit to the corner of S. Grand and Gravois is the new senior living center that moving the McDonald's across the street will make way for.
Florida said the real issue in that neighborhood is crime and bringing new residents and development will help ease that.
Related Stories:
VIDEO: Protest on South Grand
PHOTOS: Protest on South Grand
You can read more about the McDonald's controversy at www.NoDriveThru.com, which leads to a thread of postings on the issue by blogger Steve Patterson.
What makes this effort any more controversial than any other recall attempt? Primarily the fact that the push to drive Florida out appears to be coming from forces outside of her ward.
Douglas Duckworth, one of the organizers of the recall attempt, said that the reasons why Florida should be ousted transcend the boundaries of her ward."If we do not unite citywide and help neighborhoods in need, especially ones where the voters are working-class with little time for activism, then the political machine will never be stopped, and reform will not take place," said Duckworth, who does not live in Florida's ward.
The central rallying point for the recall effort is a controversial McDonald's drive-thru restaurant development on South Grand Ave.
Fifteenth Ward residents and their supporters from other parts of the city have protested the plan, calling it a poor use of land and tax credits. Even a neighboring alderman, Craig Schmid (20th Ward), has broken with the practice of "aldermanic courtesy" and spoken against the project. But Florida has stood by the project saying it is vital to the revitalization of that area.
In City Hall last week, Florida told PUB DEF that the plans for the McDonald's are sensitive to the neighboring homeowners. She also said that the McDonald's plan was the best that had been offered for that area. "(Those opposing the development) haven't offered an alternative," she said.
But Duckworth says that Florida isn't listening to the people that are opposing the plan, which was proposed by Pyramid Development. "Florida is in the pocket of Pyramid, which explains why she is not listening to her citizens," he said. He points to campaign contributions made in 2004 as proof.He and others met yesterday at St. Matthew's Church (which is not located in the 15th Ward) to address a meeting of the Gravois Park Neighborhood Association. They announced the recall effort and said that they had a list of 15th Ward registered voters.
Duckworth estimated that approximately 1,400 signatures would be needed to get the recall question on the ballot. He said they collected about five signatures at yesterday's meeting.
In a phone interview today, Florida told PUB DEF that she was "hurt" and "upset" by the news of the recall effort. She said she believes she has worked hard for the residents of her ward. She is shocked that people would attempt a recall over this one issue.
"I wish they would just look at my total record and the good that I've done for my area," she said. "I haven't done everything right, but I've tried my best."
Florida said that when she sponsored a bill last year asking voters to amend the City Charter to change how recalls were done, she never thought it would apply to her."I thought I could get away with it because it's something that happens primarily on the north side," she said. "I didn't think it was something that would affect me."
She said that there are many areas of town that would fight to have a new McDonald's built in their neighborhood, not fight against the person bringing it to them. She said the real benefit to the corner of S. Grand and Gravois is the new senior living center that moving the McDonald's across the street will make way for.
Florida said the real issue in that neighborhood is crime and bringing new residents and development will help ease that.
Related Stories:
VIDEO: Protest on South Grand
PHOTOS: Protest on South Grand
You can read more about the McDonald's controversy at www.NoDriveThru.com, which leads to a thread of postings on the issue by blogger Steve Patterson.
Labels: Aldermen, Development
28 Comments:
What is she doing for the 15th Ward?
Why is recalling Jennifer Florida controversial? She's spent all her time being tutored by Alderman Gregali and speeding through stop signs during Mardi Gra, and then sponsored the board bill to place the Charter change on the ballot to make it more difficult to recall aldermen.
Looks like she had ESP!
5/09/2006 6:55 PM
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5/09/2006 8:44 PM
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5/09/2006 10:50 PM
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5/09/2006 10:57 PM
Hey, at least her hair looks good!
Besides her dismal attitude about the McDonalds, are there any other issues? I'm not from her ward, but I'm beginning to think recalls may be the wake up call our city needs, on a WIDE scale, to get some folks to remember that citizens vote them into office. So if they want to be puppets for the people who fund their campaigns, they better be ready to answer to the voters.
5/10/2006 10:35 AM
There are other issues such as the cobblestone issue.
Most likely, more citizens will come out with other complaints.
5/10/2006 11:13 AM
Only 5 signatures collected at a neighborhood meeting with easily more than 20 people? Either the Gravois Park audience mostly lives in the 20th ward, or these opponents are just a vocal minority.
5/10/2006 1:51 PM
I think there is something really wrong with people outside of a ward trying to recall and alderman.
I don't dislike recalls I just think that an alderman is there to represent their constituents not some other alderman's constituents.
If her ward didn't like her that would be one thing, but she doesn't represent most of the people mad at her. Why should she care what they think. She was elected to do what she thinks is best for her ward and the people living in her ward.
I am sure an alderman thinks that if they do what is best for their ward then it will end up being what is best for the city. But her obligation is to the people that vote for her.
If People outside of her ward don't like it then they should be trying to convince their alderman to work against a project.
5/10/2006 2:21 PM
St. Matthew's UCC is located at Jefferson and Potomac, way over on the other side of the Gravois Park neighborhood.
Only a handful of Gravois Park residents live in the 15th ward: the six square blocks west of Tennessee and east of Grand, south of Potomac and north of Chippewa. And probably almost 1/2 of that area is Grand Avenue commercial property or the largely vacant Keystone Place site!
And the alderman from the 20th IS opposed to this project. He USED TO REPRESENT the area in question when it was in the 10th ward prior to redistricting.
5/10/2006 2:39 PM
"If People outside of her ward don't like it then they should be trying to convince their alderman to work against a project."
Aldermanic courtsey is the buzz word.
Why rely on politicians when you can make a difference yourself.
I am sure that other residents will come out.
A small part of Gravois Park is in the 15th ward.
5/10/2006 2:40 PM
The odd numberd wards are up for election next year. Putting a recall election on, most likly, the november ballot only to have a primary in february is realy wasted energy. Why don't theas people just find some one to run for the office?
5/10/2006 2:59 PM
And a waste of money if they get it onto the ballot. I still don't get the idea of recalling an alderman that isn't yours. The concept of a recall is to get rid of YOUR corrupt or inept alderman. If it was meant for just any citizen to recall any alderman then they would allow people who don't live in the ward to sign the petition.
5/10/2006 3:12 PM
http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/electionbd
Refer to the 2005 results. She received 612 votes in 15th Ward.
She is up for reelection in 2009.
Florida is driving away citizens. Keystone Homeowners are considering leaving, some already have. St. Louis needs citizens. Alienation is not good public policy.
Any politician that prefers corporate interests, instead of their electorate, does not deserve office in the City.
This is a citywide concern. We have been trying to attract residents since we lost 300,000. Florida is unilaterally going ahead with this plan, with disregard for the people she represents. It is irresponsible to allow this precedent to continue.
5/10/2006 3:21 PM
And 15th ward residents are the names of the sponsors of the recall attempt. One of the sponsors actually lives just south of Tower Grove Park very near Florida. There are many people in the 15th that are unhappy with Florida for one reason or another. There is no other method to hold your alderman accountable if they are unwilling to listen. This was a decision of last resort.
5/10/2006 4:19 PM
OK, I just read the 2nd update. I think she is up in the clouds somewhere or just lying to cover herself when she says that neighborhoods would fight for a McDonalds. For a nice sit down restaurant, even something as basic as TGI Fridays, maybe, but not McDonalds. I don't personally have anything against McDonalds as a whole, but I do in this situation. And McDonalds is not going to solve crime or increase home ownership like she has repeatedly claimed.
Alderwoman Florida, what is so hard to understand here? We are fighting you because we care more about our city than you obviously do. This will not be an asset for the neighborhood no matter how much you claim it will be. I know Pyramid has paid you off, but you were elected to represent the citizens, not the people who contributed most to your campaign.
5/10/2006 4:26 PM
Gravois Park is mostly outside the 15th ward, so I'm guessing the signature collectors will go for the heart of the 15th via upcoming Grand-Oak Hill and Tower Grove Heights meetings.
5/10/2006 6:03 PM
Florida says, "(Those opposing the development) haven't offered an alternative"?!! Excuse me?
I've heard many alternatives to Mickey D's current plans, including:
Rebuild the current location;
Move to the vacant BK only blocks south;
Build a more urban design; or
Become a ground-floor tenant of Pyramid's alleged senior-housing project.
5/10/2006 6:08 PM
Yeah, no alternatives? Sorry Jennifer but you know very well that is not factual. As the above poster listed, many other options have been vocalized. Florida, Pyramid and McDonald's are moving forward with their original plans despite viable alternatives.
The fact remains, Pyramid could build a mixed-use project on the old Sears site rather than the current McDonald's site. And conversely, McDonald's could rebuild on their current location. Will it require them to redo their plans? Yes. Should we subject a new group of citizens to being drive-thru adjacent simply because a wealthy McDonald's owner is unwilling to construct a retaining wall to create a flatter site? Is this a rational development policy?
5/10/2006 6:44 PM
Well maybe this recall will make Ms. Flordia a nicer person as I have found her to be less than pleasant.
5/11/2006 12:20 AM
Is there anyone with any money who has an alternative? I realize that Pyramid has probably scared everyone off by now, but the situation has been as it is now for quite some time. I would hope that if the alternatives listed were so great, they would have been done by now.
As an aside, I do believe that this kind of one issue agenda is one for recalls. The issue is not able to be stalled before the next election, and the effects are near irreversible.
I wish there were a mechanism to put this one issue on a ballot, but I don't know of one.
5/11/2006 9:09 AM
Is there any type of ordinance that has been required for this development to go forward? The folks who are opposed could try to collect signatures for a referendum on that ordinance instead of recalling the alderman. That would require a citywide signature collection and a citywide vote. That would be a more intensive effort, but it would also help reinforce their point that development decisions have an impact beyond the ward where they occur.
5/11/2006 10:00 AM
A referendum on legislation is a good idea but not likely to work. Timing is simply a factor in that by the time that was accomplished, if at all, the permits would be issued and the construction started. This is why these types of projects are kept in the dark until the very last minute.
5/11/2006 12:16 PM
I would like to say that I don't know that anyone could recall Alderman Florida before this McDonald's was to far a long to stop.
Also as stated before the best way for people outside of the 15th Ward to stop this development is to complain to their alderman. Next option would be the Mayor. Enough Alderman, or a Mayoral veto could stop this project faster than a recall.
On a side note I read resently that McDonald's was changing the layout of all of its McDonalds to make it more modern and trendy. Does anyone know if the inside of this development fits that deal or will they have to renovate it later.
5/11/2006 1:34 PM
"Also as stated before the best way for people outside of the 15th Ward to stop this development is to complain to their alderman. Next option would be the Mayor."
Aldermanic courtsey.
5/11/2006 2:31 PM
To suggest those outside a ward complain to their own alderman or the mayor simply doesn't understand how aldermanic courtesy works. Aldermen routinely "defer" to the alderman's wishes. When called on it they say it is not their ward and none of their business.
Craig Schmid who represents the bulk of the residents affected by this proposal has spoken against it at public hearings and has gotten dressed down by his fellow "legislators" for doing so.
I suggest that anyone who is "worried" needs to wake up and get angry and help stop these practices.
5/11/2006 3:11 PM
I think the reason they "defer" to the alderman whose ward it affects is because it doesn't affect their ward.(Like it doesn't affect me, or the ward I live in) Since it doesn't affect them or their ward they assume that the alderman knows best for their ward. If you complain to your alderman it starts to affect them. (You are a voter in your ward, I assume) So your alderman is more likely to step in. Please stop hiding behind "Aldermanic Courtesy" if enough people complain to their alderman the alderman should listen. Since most of the complaints I have seen are from outside the 15th Ward it would seem easier to convince 15 instead of 1,500.
5/12/2006 11:48 AM
How is it possible that a development project in ward A would not affect properties in ward B just two blocks away? Furthermore, what happens in the entire city affects the entire city. Sure, a new stop sign here or there is no big deal but development patterns most certainly do.
Also, the area in question was in the old 10th Ward and my likely be in another ward in 5 years when the boundaries change again. However, it will always be part of Gravois Park.
5/12/2006 1:52 PM
Urban Review, that is why I say talk to your alderman.
5/12/2006 6:47 PM
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