By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, June 23, 2006 at 10:08 AM
A group of seven to ten residents of the 17th Ward have organized an effort to recall their longtime alderman, Joe Roddy. Labels: Aldermen, Video_Reports
Kim Jayne, a longtime ward resident and one of the organizers of the recall effort, sat down with PUB DEF yesterday afternoon to explain why she and other are ready to see Roddy go.
Sitting at her living room table, with a large map of the ward hanging on the wall behind her, Jayne said Roddy is unresponsive to the needs and wishes of the ward's residents and instead focuses on its corporate citizens, like BJC Hospital and Washington University, which owns lots of property in the ward.
Click here to download this video.
25 Comments:
What a NIMBY! She admits those on her wave-length were against McCormack Baron's assisted living center. Is there any development that she'd support?
It's becoming clear that recent recalls (Bauer, Florida, Roddy) are fueled by by anti-development forces. Well, I'm sorry, but development is good for the City, especially the denser type of development Roddy supports.
Projects like the McCormack House, Adams School, the rehab in The Grove, and the relocation of Hudlin Park amentities for BJC expansion, all help revitalize our neighborhoods and boost tax base to provide for City services.
These recall-backers are so elitist that they were against senior living?!. Now they don't want to touch a blade of grass about a highway and parking garage. So then, build nothing, but the money for our needs, including our parks, will just magically grow on those trees that these elitists love to hug?!
6/23/2006 8:19 AM
anony is right but you know when the little guy is getting pushed around by "the big bad wolf" maybe then its time to smack the wolf with reality. I support development, thats progress but we cant wipe everybody out in the process. You know the more things get built the higher taxes we pay so at some point people are forced out if they cant pay. thats not right. Maybe Nia knows how to fix this problem? :D
6/23/2006 8:29 AM
Please, St. Louis hardly has a gentrification problem. This isn't Boston, SF or even Chi-Town.
Maybe you can't find a cheap place within each of the City's 70-plus nabes, but you can certainly find an affordable place in every ZIP code within the City. For example, pockets of the 17th ward are expensive, including much of the CWE, but there are still many cheap buys within the 17th ward, listed under 63108 and 63110.
And guess what happens when your taxes go up, your equity increases too. Personally, I bought a home before my nabe greatly appreciated, such that my mortgage is less than $400. Yet, since I could now sell my home for more than what the City assesses for taxes, I'm not complaining about my higher tax bill.
6/23/2006 8:50 AM
There is a big difference between anti-development and any-development. I personally think our aldermen are pro ANY development regardless of the long term consequences.
Unfortunately we as citizens have to spend our time fighting off bad development. I'd much rather be working with aldermen and citizens to work on good urban development but that is now how they want it to be. They are the kings of their little 1/28th of the city and like to do "deals" where they feel they are the developer. The public is seen as a problem so they are kept in the dark. Not a good way to go about rebuilding our city.
6/23/2006 9:03 AM
"especially the denser type of development Roddy supports"
Large-scale demolition of the homes in FPSE is wrong. Many of these homes can be rehabbed. We must not destroy our history for the sake of simplicity or the quick fix.
Furthermore, density through the destruction of a section of Forest Park is wrong. As stated before, "Forest Park Forever."
Finally, anon number one; please tell me how these are good?
Bauer: saturating streets with gas stations, and threatening the usage of eminent domain to take homes for such gas stations? Filing a lawsuit against those who were using the democratic process to keep their officials accountable?
Florida: building a McDonald's in the backyard of new homeowners, thus lowering property values, and causing tax payers to move. Spending 70,000 on bricks that do not reduce traffic, and many citizens are against. Removing dumpsters from the Gravois Park Neighborhood, instead of simply emptying them. Refusing to remove derelict cars, even though they have no license plates, wheels, windows, or doors? Using intimidation to silence dissent?
Florida commented that Gravois Park is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the City, however her lack of services to her part of that neighborhood is doing nothing to help.
Many offenses have been committed against the City of St. Louis. Some of these aldermen who have been in office for so long are jaded. They talk about the huge population reductions, and seek to build ANYTHING to compensate for this loss. Any sort of development that brings money, or citizens must be good for the City. Except, some of these developments anger existing residents! Alienation is not the way to build stronger neighborhoods, and a stronger, better St. Louis. We need smart, innovative development, not gas stations and fast food joints. Furthermore, we need responsible officials who work with citizens to clean up their neighborhoods. Alliances and inclusionary coalitions are needed, not divisive leaders who represent corporate interests over the interests of their citizens. Benevolent antagonism is not good public policy.
6/23/2006 9:12 AM
Hey anony....LOOK HERE, I was refer to people who cant afford the bill. Im happy you bought in and your home value has increased but im also sad to tell you the city development was not based off demand for city living but investors selling property to each other hoping this big wave of people would move in, its not going to happen! Im a real estate investor, I know, I helped generate the hype, Almost all the building you see happening is because of city tax credits and federal funds, not personal of business funds, except on the small scale, like rehab jobs, But just wait, your home price should come back down soon, Dont blow your house away by borrowing against it for that new car. LOL
6/23/2006 9:20 AM
Lewis Reed in the 6th Ward should take notice. We loft dwellers are certainly pro development, but it'd be nice to be able to talk to our alderman every once in a while. More and more people are getting annoyed, irritated, and downright pissed that Reed never returns phone calls and never responds to either written or email communication....yet, if a developer has a reception or cocktail party, he's there!
6/23/2006 10:07 AM
This recall mania has gotten out of hand. Who wants to now run for office, when any wacko group of citizens can start collecting signatures on any issue with the slightest controversy? Besides, when you recall an alderman, his or her ward committee end up picking the successor, so what's the point?
6/23/2006 11:57 AM
Next thing you know and the anti-development forces of the 28th ward will be recalling Krewson over the new CWE high-rise at Lindell and Euclid. Where will it end?
6/23/2006 11:58 AM
I've been a 17th ward resident since 1999. I first lived in Forest Park Southeast, in a rental property owned by Alderman Roddy. If the constituents think he doesn't listen to them, try renting from him. He fits the "slum lord" to the letter. As a politician, he seems more interested in what certain people want (He's stood by and allowed good property along with slum-lord property (Neighborhood Enterprises, etc). to be mowed down at the discretion of the Botanical Gardens. I now live in the McRee Town (now "Botanical Heights") neighborhood, and what the neighborhood is being replaced with is crap compared to what it's replacing. Roddy sees no problem.
That said, I pro development. However, I'm pro development that involves in-fill, not slash & burn.
Where can I sign up on the Roddy recall?
6/23/2006 1:17 PM
you think the old mc town area was better off the way it was before the new development down there?
6/23/2006 1:33 PM
I wish everything was fair, and people wouldnt mess each other over.
6/23/2006 2:06 PM
I need a name, phone number and/or address to pass along to my friends in the 17th who want Roddy out.
Can I get some recall love?
6/23/2006 2:36 PM
This recall BS is getting out of hand.
Every time someonone doesn't like something their ELECTED official does they want to recall them. Contrary to what some would have you believe people who spearhead recalls are not necessarily reflective of the majority. If they were they could easily defeat their targets in the ELECTION.
I am tired of recallitis. Doug says he's angry so apparently he needs to launch a recall. Well, Doug my neighbor doesn't mow his lawn can I recall him. He is doing more to drag down my property value and quality of life than the alderman who wants a new McDonald's or multi-million dollar development.
What's your solution to that hoosier, especailly if he is toting one of your recall signs? Do you have the testicles to challenge him on being a drain on society? And there are some of them amongst your group.
I moved to the city over 12 years ago before it was so chic to do so. And I am proud to be here and intend to live out my life here. I also know that the status quo is unacceptable and some of the recall folk like the staus quo or at least just like to bitch.
Doing the right thing is sometimes unpopular an rarely easy. That doesn't mean that every development is right, but it doesn't maen that everyone is wrong either.
As for this gal she didn't want a medical waste incinerator (I don't balme her), but now she doesn't want an office building. Regardless of where she wants what does she want?
Last time I checked we were stil a capitalistic country, so if she wants development may be she should fund it.
And before the anti-Republican rants start, you should know I am card carrying Democrat and proud of it.
6/23/2006 3:00 PM
Thanks to all for commenting on the Ward 17 Recall issue.
For further information contact Don De Vivo - Green Party Committeeman Ward 17. My phone is 531-0388, please leave a message.
I am on duty to collect signitures and answer comments.
Special thanks to amonymous for bringing up issues that will allows us to look back over the devlopment process and explain our actions to Ward 17 residents and the larger St. Louis Community.
Respectfully, Don De Vivo
6/23/2006 3:19 PM
Hey Anonymous folks, I would like for you to at least use your nick name or something, check the other button instead so I can address the correct anonymous person
6/23/2006 3:21 PM
No, Brian I don't think that old neighborhood is better than the "new" McRee Town. The problem I have with this "progress" is that conviently the good and bad get swept away, and we're left with another gentrified neighborhood. It's not a better neighborhood, it's a different one.
When a city begins a redevelopment of a particular area, studies must be done; a case by case survey needs to be done to ensure that good property and good residents aren't displaced, just so a mayor or an alderman can look good. Neighborhoods are social constructs, and need to be approached as such.
6/23/2006 3:40 PM
you know, KJ, your right on. Man, I have some friends that were displaced over some crap like that, it was very very hard on them because the house was a family house passed down from their grandparents, lots of memories. The house wasnt in that great of shape and the people were not trouble makers but just didnt have enough cash to fix up the place. this happen in the ville area on the north side, mary 1 came through and is movin folks out! I know how ruff that move can be, its like loosing someone close.
6/23/2006 3:46 PM
"Doug says he's angry so apparently he needs to launch a recall"
1. I did not launch the recall; I am supporting the recall through signature collection, and suggesting strategies.
2. Every citizen should be angry when elected officials make back room deals, and do not represent those who vote. St. Louis citizens need to change their nihilistic or apathetic worldview and take action. Again, you will always be complaining unless you take action.
"Well, Doug my neighbor doesn't mow his lawn can I recall him"
Well yes, you can report this person to problem properties, or whatever agency handles this type of issue.
He is not an elected official, so of course you cannot recall him.
" than the alderman who wants a new McDonald's or multi-million dollar development."
Comparing a McDonald's fast food restaurant to another generic multi-million dollar project is problematic. A multi-million dollar mixed use office building would definitely raise your property values, and your quality of life. Furthermore, a multi-million dollar mixed use office building would create pedestrian traffic, which would support local businessess/restaraunts as well.
"What's your solution to that Hoosier, especailly if he is toting one of your recall signs? Do you have the testicles to challenge him on being a drain on society? And there are some of them amongst your group."
There are Hoosiers everywhere, especially in Indiana.
I would suggest you report him if he is not maintaining his property, however if you live in Florida's Ward, you may not see any results.
"Doing the right thing is sometimes unpopular an rarely easy. That doesn't mean that every development is right, but it doesn't mean that everyone is wrong either."
You are contradicting yourself. You say the recall is ridiculous and wrong, yet you are pointing out that the right thing is often unpopular. The recall could be considered unpopular to some, so are you now saying that the recall is the right thing?
As I pointed out above, some development is good, however McDonald's is not included on the list of good development.
" Regardless of where she wants what does she want?"
You mean what does she want. Who knows what Florida wants. She probably thinks she is doing the right thing, however its time for a "come to Jesus party," because what she wants, and what the neighborhood needs is contradictory.
"Last time I checked we were stil a capitalistic country, so if she wants development may be she should fund it."
On a philosophical level, upon which you are arguing, capitalism is contradictory to government subsidy, which this project has received. The Free Market guides itself, not through government tax incentives. In a market system, private funds are used, with minimal government intervention. These projects received subsidy, therefore your capitalism argument is inane.
On a practical level, government subsidy can be good if it is not excessive, or irresponsible. McDonald's, which is one of the largest multinational corporations, does not need subsidies, therefore this subsidy is irresponsible.
Finally, she is not putting up her private capital for this project. State, Federal, and City tax dollars were used for this project.
Remember that when you visit Indiana. Be sure to tell them they funded the McDonald's.
"And before the anti-Republican rants start, you should know I am card carrying Democrat and proud of it."
That’s good to hear. Maybe you should run for office. I am sure you could replace Florida, and crack down on the Hoosier lawns across St. Louis. Better yet, why don’t you start a law service? Once you are in office, you could have this service subsidized, since this is a capitalistic society.
6/23/2006 3:58 PM
Doug-
Happy I struck a nerve.
For what it's worth you remind me a lot of when I was 21. The trick is as you grow and mature not to lose the idealism of your youth but balance it with the wisdom of your life.
I still lean left for all of the right reasons, I just want to affect real change.
Tim
6/23/2006 4:08 PM
Burgle, Burgle...
I'm coming to your neighborhood too!!!!
6/24/2006 10:02 AM
All the problems from the old McRee Town just relocated... to Gravois Park
6/24/2006 10:07 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
6/26/2006 12:15 AM
Please do not take my following remarks as support for any particular incumbant.
What has me most worried about these recall efforts is their proliferation and the possibly destabilizing effect they could have on the city. If the majority of the Board of Aldermen was recalled, or even a significant portion, as some have called for, there would be a void in our government. Better than recalling the Board of Aldermen would to put up a slate of candidates that support your positions. The process of recall, which is a great tool to replace out-of-control members of government, is reaching the level of abuse we've seen in eminent domain use. Two wrongs don't make a right.
6/27/2006 9:58 PM
Passing a petition to recall an alderman is far different from a recall election. Can we please make that distinction?
For the love of god, can we people stop saying that the recall procedure is out of control.
In that 90+ years there has been 4 successful recalls.
Tom Bauer – 2005
Peggy Ryan – 2004
Melinda Long – 2003
Jimmy Matthews – 1988
An alderman has a 4% chance of getting recalled and like a 90% chance of being re-elected.
Perspective people…Perspective
6/29/2006 11:16 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home