By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, June 30, 2006 at 1:20 AM
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
Alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr. tonight engaged in a vicious and personal attack on the character of one of the people at the center of an effort to recall him from office.
Bosley called a town hall meeting at Clay Elementary School to discuss the benefits to the City of St. Louis of eminent domain. He invited the city's deputy mayor of development, Barb Geisman, to present the same PowerPoint presentation that she delivered to state legislators when they were deliberating on the issue earlier this year.
Nearly an hour into the meeting, Bosley told the audience that the real reason he called everyone there was to refute claims that he was "taking somebody's house and throwing them and their kids out."
Around the school's gymnasium, where the meeting took place, Bosley hung enlarged documents baring the name and signature of Mrs. Maxine Johnson. Johnson began gathering signatures to recall Bosley after the City assumed ownership of her home using eminent domain.
The bill authorizing the action was introduced by Bosley, who has maintained that taking Johnson and her neighbors' property was in the best interest of the ward. A non-profit organization started by Bethlehem Lutheran Church is soon scheduled to begin building a new housing development where Johnson, her husband, and her six children now live.
Bosley accused Johnson of gaining knowledge about the development years ago and buying the land with the hopes of reselling it at an inflated price. He pointed to a blown-up copy of a letter signed by Johnson and addressed to the church. In it, she says she may consider selling her home for $200,000.
"What in this ward at this time is worth $200,000?" asked Bosley, who has represented the ward for 28 years.
Johnson said she wrote that particular letter because she was told that she had to respond to the developer's original cash offer within 14 days. She said she doesn't want to sell her home at any price. In an earlier interview with PUB DEF, Johnson said she owns her home now and she couldn't afford to buy another house big enough for her large family for the price the church was offering.
Several speakers objected to the personal nature of Bosley's attack. They said that the issues of eminent domain usage in the City of St. Louis are larger than one woman and that more 3rd Ward residents than just Maxine Johnson want new representation at City Hall.
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VIDEO: 3rd Ward recall battle spills into hearing
4 Comments:
"Please be quiet...go outside"
"What is this Ward is worth 200,000 Dollars?"
This is not really the type of wording I would have taken with my voters.
This guy has been in office for 28 years. Would it be reasonable to assume that he possibly has something to do with the lower property values, whether through action, or inaction?
"Stealing from the Church"
What a great way to round up the troops. Assert that a resident is attacking one of the most important African American community institutions.
"Johnson said she owns her home now and she couldn't afford to buy another house big enough for her large family for the price the church was offering."
If the woman's home is going to be taken, she should be compensated for the price of another home. 200,000 dollars is a pretty fair price, assuming she moves to another neighborhood, which will be likely.
A large family would probably require a home for 200,000. If this woman does not receive a price that would be enough to purchase another home, then she is basically being thrown onto the street.
Furthermore, the Bosley Estates in the 3rd Ward, is some of the ugliest development I have seen in St. Louis. Mailboxes, vinyl siding, and generously spaced homes, remind me of New Town. This type of development is not urban, and destroys the character of St. Louis. Good Urban development is occurring in Dogtown, and I do not see why North St. Louis should be the exception. As long as North St. Louis is treated as second rate, or lower income, it will always be such. We need to build quality development in North St. Louis, with true urban qualities, at all income levels.
I respect Bosley for his earlier actions of activism, especially the closing of the Homer G. Phillips, during the Conway Administration, however his firebrand speech, and negatively slanted rhetoric, is not very constructive. Maybe some new representation for the 3rd Ward would be a good idea.
6/30/2006 9:49 AM
Term Limits.
6/30/2006 2:42 PM
I don't live in the man's ward, but I think Doug has a point about it's property values. I've agreed with most of Bosley's public policies, but it's clear that he feels personally threatened by this recall effort.
I understand it's for public housing, that's great, but I'm pretty sure this woman and her family need housing too. She's not trying to steal the church's money, the Bosley is trying to steal her home.
6/30/2006 2:55 PM
I don't understand why a church is involved in private development. Can anyone explain this?
6/30/2006 11:48 PM
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