By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, November 09, 2006 at 1:03 PM
EXCLUSIVE | READ IT HERE FIRST Labels: Black_Caucus, Exclusive
Some legislators left today's meeting of the Legislative Black Causus angry and frustrated. After delaying and rescheduling the meeting at least once today, St. Louis County State Rep. John Bowman was able to retain his chairmanship by means that some members found objectionable.
"The Black Caucus is split now," one legislator told PUB DEF. The elected official said Bowman ran today's meeting with an iron fist, refusing to allow others to make motions or even to vote if their dues were not current.
We're also told that newly elected legislators were not allowed to vote or even given by-laws to read. Already there is talk of a break-off group forming.
Though the caucus' rules have stated that the chairmanship should alternate between City, County and Kansas City legislators, Bowman lobbied back in September to have that rule changed so he could retain the chairmanship.
UPDATE: At today's meeting, Bowman said that September's rule change was also a vote to extend his chairmanship.
Even though Bowman was asking for the support of fellow caucus members as late as yesterday in anticipation of a challenge from St. Louis City representative Rodney Hubbard for the chairmanship, at today's meeting Bowman said the only positions that would be voted on were vice-chair, treasurer and secretary.
We're told Hubbard had the votes to beat Bowman.
In another twist, some members were told they could not vote in today's elections because their dues were not current. But one legislator tells PUB DEF that at least three members had their dues checks returned by caucus treasurer State Sen. Rita Days.
Already a letter is circulating announcing the formation of a new caucus. Members of the new Urban Progessive Caucus would include not only African-American legislators, but legislators representing areas with large minority populations.
More later...
26 Comments:
Sounds like some kind of kangaroo court over there.
Fellow is making the rules up as he goes.
11/09/2006 3:16 PM
Bowman would be left with 6 members in the House, while the new Caucus would have 9 members in the House of African decent. How powerful is that. Better yet, what does that say about his leadership skills. Has anyone looked at all that pornagraphic language on Bowmans website lately? Go to Guest Book at johnlbowman.com. It ia advertising porn websites. What kind of leader is that? Wonder if Foley has a site like that too?
11/09/2006 5:27 PM
Antonio, who is aligning with who?
Give us the details.
11/09/2006 6:28 PM
Sounds like being on Claire's payroll isn't paying the dividend John thought it would. Is he seeking higher office sometime in the future? This sure ain't the way to get there.
11/09/2006 6:30 PM
Sounds like all of these anonymous postings are Ted and Rodney angry that their half-baked plan didn't go as planned.
11/09/2006 6:56 PM
It is interesting that the subject of leadership would come up as a factor between Rep Bowman and Rodney Hubbard. Everybody knows that Rodney and Ted are bought and sold with Republican money while talking about being so pro-black. They desperately needed to try to have control over the black caucus in order to push vouchers down the other black legislators throats.
11/09/2006 7:07 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
11/09/2006 7:27 PM
I heard that Maria Chappelle Nadal was on the side of Rodney Hubbard. Is she now shaky on the voucher issue? As badly as Rodney cursed her out during the last term I find that to be a surprising twist of alliance.
This is better than watching survivor.
11/09/2006 7:30 PM
Maria is 150% for PUBLIC EDUCATION...and just think you're getting that straight from the source.
11/09/2006 7:49 PM
“Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.” Marcus Garvey
Some people are just afraid of a Black man standing up. Please realize there are no more plantations; chattle slavery has been abolished and soon we will bring an end tothis mental slavery some are stuck in. Depending on who aligns with whom, could be that Rodney has more support than he's being credited for.
By the way, why is supporting alternative education for children a bad thing. Is there something you don't want them to learn????
Goodness knows they are tired of being taught that George Washington told no lies, that Christopher Columbus discovered amerikkka, that Abraham Lincoln was the Second coming of Christ(for Black People), that world history began with the Greeks and that there are no cities in Africa, just jungles.
Speaking as someone who has taught in public, private and charter schools (with over 25 years of experience) I repect that a parent should have the right to send their child to the school of their choice. Just like a person should be able to live where they want to live. Just like a woman should have a right to choice on terminating a pregnancy.
"Look at yourselves. Some of you teenagers, students. How do you think I feel and I belong to a generation ahead of you - how do you think I feel to have to tell you, 'We, my generation, sat around like a knot on a wall while the whole world was fighting for its hum an rights - and you've got to be born into a society where you still have that same fight.' What did we do, who preceded you ? I'll tell you what we did. Nothing. And don't you make the same mistake we made...." Malcolm X
11/09/2006 8:39 PM
I removed the comment above because it crossed the line. No need to take potshots at people's families. Keep it on the issues, people.
11/09/2006 9:14 PM
It seems a little biased that one post was removed, but the tacky reference to spam left on Bowman's site was not removed.
11/09/2006 10:22 PM
It seems to me that the Black Caucus is already in the vast minority. Why would they fight over the small power they have when they could direct their energy to coalition building, which would benefit St. Louis City and County? Maybe they need to focus less on internal power struggles and look at the important issues which affect minorities as well as all residents of the Metro Area.
11/09/2006 11:36 PM
The blacks legislators from St. Louis in Jefferson City need to get it together before the 5th Senatorial election, but it doesn't really matter because Tom Villa will win the Senate seat in the 5th District anyway.
It really doesn't matter what black runs for that Senate seat in the 5th District, look at the Ward turnout percentages on the Arch City Chronicle website (archcitychronicle.com)and compare North St. Louis vs. South St. Louis. After looking at those numbers it is obvious that Tom Villa will win handily.
The blacks or black that runs from North St. Louis will simply be running to prepare for another open seat to get wider name recognition.
Unless a miraculous epiphany occurs to make voters believe that the people elected by them will change the North St. Louis neighborhoods filled with despair and negativity, blacks will never win a important race citywide after Mike McMillan's recent victory.
Hell, North St. Louis officials couldn't even decide on a definite location for a State of the Art recreation facility.
North St. Louis needs some new brilliant, visionary, creative, and energized leadership to spark higher voter turnout among blacks.
The definition of insanity is to keep doing things the same way and expect a different result!
If you keep voting in the same ole elected officials, you will keep getting the same type of stagnant neighborhoods in North St. Louis!
11/10/2006 1:47 AM
First off, the "Guest Book" on Rep. Bowman's website is no longer accessible as of this early am. If it was indeed advertising porn websites that is simply ludicrous in addition to being unprofessional. If this was a false accusation then the ever plaguing problem within the North St. Louis African American political community persists.
As a native of St. Louis who has seen this constant factionalism holding back progress in the community.
From my observation and analysis, Malcolm Garvey hits the education dilemma in the St. Louis schools squarely on the head. It seems as if the "non-voucher" crowd of which Maria constantly promulgates false and misleading information to the detriment of the community, wants to continue on the same old education course where a bad cyclical trend continues as young people are not learning and gaining the skills they need to hold down jobs and not end up down the dark path. What is so wrong with thinking outside the box and attempting to find another method, alternative, new progressive effective education policy that actually changes this course of malcontent? That is what our elected officials like Reps. Hubbard and Hoskins should be doing to help better our community and state and give the next generation of young leaders a chance to make it. Simple logical deduction shows us that if the same equation or theory keeps producing negative effects, THAT THEORETICAL TREND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. Rep. Bowman seemingly is altering the leadership rules as a power grab to keep the same old same old chugging along down the wrong path. FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO FIND CONSENSUS ON EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP IF ANYTHING IS TO POSITIVELY OCCUR FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO BREAK THIS EDUCATION MALAISE. New leadership is required and open ideas and debate about if the problem has persisted for over 3 generations. IT IS NOT WORKING, A CHANGE IN POLICY IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. To be continued...
11/10/2006 9:04 AM
Editor's note: I am still recovering from that awesome Democratic election night so some of my sentences are grammatically incorrect. DEMOCRATS UNITE, STOP THIS FACTIONALIZATION. WE ARE NEGLECTING THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY--THE CHILDREN!
11/10/2006 9:08 AM
Where was the leadership of the senior members (Sen. Coleman, Sen. Days and Sen. Wilson) in the midst of these sheninagans, how can they let this happen. If these elected officials can't find the leadership to build bridges amongst the less than 20 caucus members, and help orchestrate a constructive, proper and legitimate body proceeding, there leadership ability should be called to question. I'm hearing Rodney Hubbard, Ted Hoskin, but there are nine people who've committed to forge a new direction under a new leadership body, so the question and responsibility of division lays on the current leadership of the "Black" Caucus for it's failure to set aside its rush to secure positions, and disregard for process, and exclusion of members. Come on, adults...Get it together...Change isn't always easy, but oft times necessary!
11/10/2006 2:13 PM
It seems like Bowman and supporters took a page out George Bush and his Republican White House lackeys "go at it alone" attitude, with disregard for the democratic principles of true caucus. And we see what is the end result of those who make law/rules arbitrarily and to the benefit of the few. Rep. Bowman, and for anyone who supports this buffoonism and mockery know that people, and not just your colleagues will hold you all accountable. Dammit,people are suffering, and if all of this is some self-serving personal pet political project...then damn the day you were elected.
11/10/2006 2:25 PM
To explain the voucher issue, Vouchers take accountability away from the schools and that is why they are a bad thing. Private schools tend to be union free, which means the very people educating the children have no voice. They tend to lack meaningful PTA's which means the children's parents are missing their voice. What do they have? Lots of money poured in by corporations (such as WalMart) and that is who they are accountable to, and subsequently, who they advertise for in the classrooms. Sure WalMart will give us some money, but only under the condition that they control our schools. Is that really worth it?
11/10/2006 9:36 PM
People should know that while there is a lot of blame going on to blame corporations for the failure of the public schools, they have had nothing to do with it. It is the system itself. It is also important to mention that the people who are most against tax scholarships for children are the TEACHERS, not the parents. The Teachers union is the main organization fighting parents trying to get options for their children. The teachers union gives thousands of dollars to some of our legislators to oppose ANY school option for parents. They scream that it is anti public education...don't support it. They don't like it because it means, that with competition, they might have to be more accountable in the classroom as well. The worst thing about it is that over HALF of the teachers in the union don't live in the city and nearly none of them send their children to St. Louis Public Schools. If they were so confident in the schools they teach at, why don't they be required to live in the city and send their children to SLPS. Maria has Wellston in her district and they are failing miserably. Yet she will fight to the end to keep the children who are stuck there right there. Her and other legislators loyalty is not to their parent constituents. It is to the teachers unions who put money in their pockets. Don't be fooled. Their tactic is to make you believe that the issue is public vs private schools. The issue is about the teacher's union not wanting anything to intefere with the status quo. Don't get me wrong, I am not against the teachers themselves. They work hard under difficult circumstances. They need smaller classes and options to deal with children with more difficult challenges. Their unions however, fight against those options that might bring smaller classrooms and alternatives for difficult children. Why?
11/11/2006 9:02 AM
People should also know that the main people fighting against the bills for options are people who have no children in the public schools. Bowman's children attend private schools. Maria have no children. Lizz Brown have NO children. In essence, they have nothing at stake if they take money for one side over another. Many of the very legislators that oppose school options of private schools attended private schools themselves. Chris King (the America) has no children in St. Louis public schools. Peter Downs was given funds to run for the school board by the Teachers union. Heck, even the school board president sends her children to Clayton schools.
11/11/2006 9:10 AM
Last anonymous and africa's daughter: I praise you and your comments. Bingo, those who are the most outspoken critics can't really understand the issue because they aren't personally affected by it. If Bowman's power grab is for his own self gloss and ego glorification then I say SHAME, SHAME, SHAME because that is directly to the detriment of the children. There are good and bad schools of all delineation. The problem is clearly identified, as always the solution is what becomes muddied up in the political process. If those who claim to be more pious than the rest of us...MARIA, LIZZ BROWN, etc...would put there hot air and pontification into actual positive public policy remedial suggestions we would all be much better off. PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS, PUT YOUR OWN SELF, EGOTISTICAL INTERESTS BY THE WAYSIDE. The Democratic Party is supposedly the party of inclusion and helping all of God's children. Let's start acting that way and formulating public policy to that end. As the good book says: Treat thoust as you would like to be treated!
11/11/2006 9:58 AM
Thanks for the name recognition of all those reps who are supposedly bad. Your conversation seems to help them and you are still left with no answers and S.O.L. Maybe you should run for office so you won't be anonymous anymore...work on getting a little street cred for a change.
You can talk about failing schools, but there is nothing more failing than people who have the need to remain anonymous and in disguise. Keep looking behind yourself!
11/12/2006 4:00 PM
Says someone who ,themselves, posted as anonymous. My ego is not involved, my children are. I am an involved Parent, a concerned citizen, and a constituent who takes the time to get involved and educate myself on the issues. That makes me a success. When you run for office, you are putting yourself out there because you are saying that you want to represent a group of people in your area and you are going to try to do right by them by working to improve the quality of their lives. That means you are accountable to them...not other special intrest groups who you do not represent. Further, I did not say that those people are "bad". Unfortunately it is the status quo of most politicians of playing the " who is going to line my pockets game." They go in with one agenda and end up with someone elses. I think it is important for people to know that when someone takes a stand, especially a representative, the public needs to look behind the face and popularity (which is all ego) and ask yourself hummmm, why is this person taking this stand and what do they stand to gain by doing so. That goes for ANY "public servant" from Bush to Bowman.
11/13/2006 5:14 AM
Has anyone asked Representative John Bowman or the legislators who supported him what really happened? All we have here is the Hubbard, Nadal, Hoskins side.
It's interesting that the more level-headed legislators haven't chimed in. Must be because they're level headed and know the rules. Is it just me or does 9 pro-Hubbard votes outnumber 6 pro-Bowman votes. That alone tells me there's more to the story that's being posted here.
Please folks, don't assume that just because it was reported doesn't mean it's always accurate.
11/13/2006 11:51 AM
Last anonymous, your comment is simply a cop out. You make a good point, what does Rep. Bowman have to say about these shenanigans? Read his comments in PUB DEF's update of this story. The vote on this blog is not the benchmark that clearly illustrates this blatant power grab. The fact that both types of headed politicans (level and unlevel as you put it) have left the black caucus. Can't we all just get along? Next time, think before you type...
11/13/2006 9:39 PM
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