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In a press release sent out today, St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Diana Bourisaw says CEO Rick Sullivan is still running the district.
"Rick Sullivan’s appointment to the Special Administrative Board remains in effect," said Bourisaw. "Reports indicating that Governor Blunt withdrew Mr. Sullivan’s appointment are unfounded. The district will continue with business as usual."
Unfounded? Not really.
Below is a copy of the letter, signed by Governor Matt Blunt, withdrawing Sullivan's nomination.
Click images to enlarge
The question that now remains is whether the Special Administrative Board will have to re-elect Sullivan as President of the Board following Blunt's expected re-appointment of the Chesterfield real estate developer in the coming days.
Both Rick Sullivan and Derio Gambaro have indeed been withdrawn. This is a fact. Read the letter for yourself above.
Before the next meeting of the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools (and after the Missouri Senate has adjourned again till January), Sullivan will most likely be re-appointed by Blunt through a letter sent to the Senate. This is the process.
In the meantime, Sullivan cannot legally vote, hire, fire, sign contracts, or anything else. No matter what PR people or the "Daily-Disappointment" says.
Within the next seven days, all City of St. Louis registered voters will receive a very important mailing from the City of St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners. The postcard-style mailing will include a permanent voter notification card, information about the respective voter’s registration, and important election information for 2008.
This "voter canvass" is mandatory, according to State law, and it provides each voter with an opportunity to ensure that he or she is properly registered under the correct name and at the correct address. In addition, under current State law, the voter notification card can be cut out and used as identification at the polling places when the voter requests a ballot.
With the McKee development, the aldermen are gatekeepers of redevelopment. They don't need to see McKee's plans to articulate a vision for their wards, and ask that the developer act accordingly. They can expedite nuisance complaints. They will be on the front lines of the fight in the Board of Aldermen on McKee's plans. No matter what version of Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit Act passes the General Assembly this week, it will require a tax credit applicant to get a redevelopment agreement with a municipal government -- and that has to come from the Board of Aldermen in St. Louis.
Nothing can happen for McKee without the support of these alderwomen. That's mighty power. Furthermore, nothing can happen for these alderwomen without the support of their constituents. That may be the biggest power in play here, if people use it well...
In the following two-page letter from Governor Matt Blunt to the Missouri Senate, the names of 10 different appointees were pulled from consideration. According to sources, only two (SLPS CEO Rick Sullivan and State Board of Education appointee Derio Gambaro) were pulled because of controversy. The others, including Harris-Stowe University regent Wayman Smith, were pulled because they were unable to make the Senate hearing or some other minor reason.
Click image to enlarge
Blunt will likely re-appoint most, if not all, of the people on this list following the end of this special session of the Missouri Legislature. The Senate would then take up these appointments again during their regular session next year.
However, it is still not known whether Sullivan or Gambaro's senators (Jeff Smith and Joan Bray, respectively) will be willing to support their appointments next session either.
The Missouri Legislature has passed GovernorBlunt’s Economic Development Package, including the Distressed Area Land Assemblage Tax Credit. By a vote of 125 to 19, the House today passed the Senate version of House Bill 1.
Among those voting in favor of the bill were St. Louis State Representatives T.D. El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard, Rachel Storch, Tom Villa and Robin Wright-Jones.
Those voting against included Mike Daus, Jamilah Nasheed and Jeanette Mott Oxford.
Governor Matt Blunt’s office officially withdrew his nomination of Rick Sullivan as CEO of St. Louis Public Schools yesterday after Sullivan’s State Senator, Joan Bray, refused to sponsor his appointment.
Blunt also withdrew the name of his latest appointment to the Missouri Board of Education, former State Representative Derio Gambaro, after State Senator Jeff Smith also refused to support his appointment at this time.
Both Sullivan and Gambarro were recess appointments. After the governor’s withdrawal this week, he will likely reappoint them after the conclusion of this week’s special legislative session. The senate would then take up their nominations again next year.
In other St. Louis Public Schools news... Superintendent Diana Bourisaw was in Jefferson City yesterday meeting with lawmakers and touting the good things going on in the district. Earlier Story:
Late last night, the Missouri State Senate voted to pass House Bill 1, the economic development bill containing, among other things, the Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit and the Quality Jobs Tax Credit.
The vote was 25-7 with one absence.
Among those voting in favor of the bill were Senators Maida Coleman and Rita H. Days. The two announced last week they will be hosting a forum on "land assemblage and the potential impact on the community" on Monday, September 10, from 6:00-7:30 pm at Harris-Stowe State University.
They will be joined by State Representatives Esther Haywood, Juanita Head-Walton, and Robin Wright-Jones; and former State Rep Amber Boykins.
St. Louis City's other two senators, Harry Kennedy and Jeff Smith, also voted in favor of the bill, which now heads back to the House today and a conference committee possibly this afternoon.
As the Missouri State Senate continues to debate House Bill 1, the economic development package, PubDef is hitting the road.
Hopefully, we'll catch tonight's senate vote. But we'll definitely be in Jefferson City tomorrow when the bill comes back to the House and heads to conference.
Last week, Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe (D-St. Louis) appeared on Lizz Brown's radio show and was quoted in the St. Louis Argus screaming to high heaven about how horrible the proposed Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit was for north St. Louis.
He even attacked St. Louis' black delegation to the state legislature for supporting the tax credit earlier this year.
But when he testified in Jefferson City before the special House committee examining the bill, Troupe had nothing but praise for the bill.
"Mr. Chairman, I think the bill is a great bill," said Troupe. "I think it brings a lot of economic development to the area and I support everything in this bill," said the former state representative.
Attorney General candidate Jeff Harris today picked up the support of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.
From the press release:
David Zimmerman, President and Business Manager for Local 36, said today that, “Jeff Harris is our choice for Attorney General because he has always been there on the issues important to the working people of this state. Jeff has stood up and fought for what’s important and we have no doubt he’ll do the same as our next Attorney General. Working families should rally around Harris. We are proud to endorse him." "It has been my privilege to stand with organized labor on behalf of the working men and women of this state,” Harris said. “Today, I am proud to have the members of Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 36 standing with me and supporting my candidacy for Attorney General.” As Attorney General, Harris has vowed to aggressively enforce minimum wage and prevailing wage laws to ensure that hard-working Missourians are fairly compensated for the work they do. Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 36 has over 3,000 members in eastern Missouri, including the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield.
By a unanimous vote yesterday, a State Senate committee approved House Bill 1, the economic development package which includes the controversial Distressed Area Land Assemblage Tax Credit. The committee also passed two amendments to address some outstanding concerns with the credit. From the Post-Dispatch:
The revision stipulates that the tax credit cannot assist developers with outstanding fines, bills or taxes to a municipality. As of last month, public records indicate that McKee owed more than $35,000 in fees to the city for providing upkeep at the abandoned tracts, though city officials say they are satisfied the money will be paid.
The panel also approved an amendment ensuring that public hearings are held before the approval of any project qualifying for the tax credit. Last week, the House approved an amendment requiring local elected officials to sign off on qualifying projects.
Senator Claire McCaskill wants to make drug companies' contributions to doctors public. McCaskill said today that she will introduce a bill next month requiring drug companies to list all gifts, promotional items, money and drug samples given to doctors online.
The information would be listed on a national drug registry website. Patients could use this website to find out if their doctor has received gifts from drug manufacturers.
McCaskill says gifts can lead to preferential prescriptions from doctors, and she hopes the drug registry website will cut down on this practice.
McCaskill made the announcement today at a meeting with St. Louis members of the American Medical Student Association at Washington University.
In an opinion handed down today, the Missouri Supreme Court declined to order candidates and elected officials to return money raised during the brief time the state was without contribution limits.
In a 4-2 per curiam opinion that cannot be attributed to any particular judge, the Court held that its July 19, 2007, decision is fully retroactive as to James Trout and is fully prospective to all candidates and campaigns whose campaigns were concluded by July 19. The Court further held that, as to all other nonparty candidates whose campaigns were not concluded by July 19, the Court cannot make any bright-line rule of prospective or retrospective application on the record before the Court and, therefore, leaves such matters to the Missouri Ethics Commission, which is responsible for any enforcement action to require disgorgement of campaign contributions.
McCaskill Happy to See Gonzales Go [Updated with Video]
By Gabe Bullard
Not long after the news of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ resignation broke, Senator Claire McCaskill released a statement praising Gonzales' decision to leave.
"It was clear to me from the start that Attorney General Gonzales had been part of a political scheme and consequently should have been quickly removed from his position," says McCaskill.
"The delay is another failure of leadership and display of incompetence by the Bush Administration."
Today in Sherman Park, Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay dedicated a grove of trees to slain police officer Norvelle Brown, who was killed a few blocks away from the park.
In Missouri, the governor selects a judge to serve on the Supreme Court from a panel of three candidates submitted by the Appellate Judicial Commission. The Appellate Judicial Commission is made up of the presiding chief justice, three lawyers chosen by the Missouri Bar and three people appointed by governors.
Before they make the cut, the Supreme Court candidates are asked to complete a questionnaire. Governor Matt Blunt's office has posted their responses on the Governor's website. Click here to read them.
The Land Assemblage Tax Credit passed the House today, but not in the form everyone wanted it. Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford proposed to amend the bill to lower the required acreage to qualify for the tax credit from 75 to 30. Speaker Rod Jetton ruled the amendment out of order, saying it was not within the boundaries set by Governor Matt Blunt for the special session.
“He told us what to legislate and that was improper,” says Oxford. “I have just been appalled by the defeat and the anti-democratic way of pushing things through the House under the current leadership.”
Oxford voted against the tax credit, saying it’s current language allows too many opportunities for exploitation.
The LATC is now in the Senate for debate. If the Senate makes any changes to the bill, it must be re-approved by the House.
“I voted for it knowing that the battle is not over,” says Representative Connie Johnson. “I voted for it knowing there’s a memo on my desk saying ‘Please be prepared to be in session next Thursday and possibly Friday.’ I voted for it knowing that it’s going to the Senate and the Senate’s going to change it. We’re going to take this up again. It’s not over.”
Johnson says she thinks the bill has room for improvement and she supports lowering the required acreage.
As she said, Representatives have been asked to be in Jefferson City next Thursday and Friday.
After a move by State Representative Jamilah Nasheed to force a vote on the Land Assemblage Tax Credit separately from the larger economic development package, the credit still passed by a large margin of 106 to 45, with six members absent.
Voting in favor of the tax credit were Representatives T.D. El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard*, Connie Johnson and Tom Villa.
Voting against were Representatives Mike Daus, Jamilah Nasheed, Jeanette Mott Oxford and Robyn Wright-Jones.
Speaking on the floor in favor of the bill, Representative Hubbard said, "With the addition of local control, any concerns that people have with any proposed development can now be addressed at the local level."
Hubbard also read from an editorial in today's St. Louis American which said, "What is certain is that North City needs major development, and economic development in distressed areas in particular is driven by tax credits. It is also certain that a move from blight of its current scale (and not only on properties owned by McKee) to a project worth major investment is almost certain to involve compromises by North City residents and officials who represent them..." *Hubbard is a client of A D French & Assoc.
State Representative Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) offered an amendment to strip the land assemblage tax credit from the economic development bill.
The amendment failed by a vote of 86-62
Voting in favor were State Representatives Mike Daus, TD El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard, Connie Johnson, Jeanette Mott Oxford, Rachel Storch, Tom Villa and Robyn Wright-Jones.
Following Nasheed's amendment, Oxford offered an amendment to lower the acreage required to qualify as a developer from 75 to 30. Speaker of the House Rod Jetton ruled that amendment out of order, saying it went beyond the scope of Governor Matt Blunt's call of the special session.
On Saturday, August 18, St. Louis Public Schools Special Administrative Board member Richard Gaines spoke to a group of 1st Ward residents about the challenges which lay ahead for the city school district.
VIDEO: Michael Allen Outlines Possible Improvements to Tax Credit Bill
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 7:34 AM
Michael Allen, the blogger whose research into the once-mysterious Blairmont land acquisitions led to all the attention the Land Assemblage Tax Credit is getting today, testified yesterday in Jefferson City on ways to make the legislation better.
State Rep. Jamilah Nasheed told the committee yesterday that her area didn't want the $95 million Land Assemblage Tax Credit.
"Until we understand it and until we know better what's going to take place in the areas we represent, we don't want it," said Nasheed.
She said developer Paul McKee has been "disrespectful to the local elected officials" and she thinks it is "pathetic" for anyone to support the tax credit without first seeing his plan for the area.
At yesterday's committee hearing on Governor Matt Blunt's economic development package, which includes the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard* offered an amendment to require any redevelopment plan to be approved by the the Board of Aldermen. The committee passed the amendment 11-0.
Hubbard also offered an amendment to shrink the amount of land a developer needed to qualify for the credit from the current 50 acres down to just two. Committee Chair Ron Richard (R-Joplin) said he felt that amounted to "gutting the bill" and recommended the committee members vote against it, which they did.
Hubbard also attempted to add language that would require three public meetings be held before any redevelopment plan is approved. Committee members said they felt the local control amendment put in the hands of the Board of Aldermen the power to conduct as many meetings as they choose before they approve the redevelopment plan.
St. Louis Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe, a longtime critic of the city's Land Reutilization Authority's land-banking policy, testified today in Jefferson City that the proposed Land Assemblage Tax Credit would be good for north St. Louis — but only if it was amended to require any redevelopment plan eligible for the credit to first be approved by the Board of Aldermen.
Troupe said St. Louis has suffered over the years from "corrupt and backwards and sometimes outright stupid" policies. He pointed to the twenty-year-old LRA policy of acquiring thousands of properties, mostly in north St. Louis, and routinely denying independent rehabbers a chance to purchase one or two properties at a time.
With the protection of local control, Troupe said he supports this tax credit bill and sees it as promising for much needed investment.
Following Troupe's testimony, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard* offered an amendment, which was approved by the committee, to require any redevelopment plan to be approved by the the Board of Aldermen. *Hubbard is a client of A.D. French & Associates
Supporters of the proposed Land Assemblage Tax Credit bill testified today before the House Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development in support of the legislation.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay's chief of staff Jeff Rainford; Rev. James Morris; John Cross of SEIU Local 2000; and Robert Tillman, a 19th Ward homeowner, were among those who said the proposal will allow for much needed and much delayed development to begin in north St. Louis.
Education reporter Steve Giegerich might have a future in public relations when his days at the Post-Dispatch are over.
Giegerich's stories about the state of St. Louis Public Schools helped shape public opinion in suburban St. Louis and across Missouri against the elected board and for the need for a state takeover.
He has even written stories that blatantly disregard the facts as they relate to critics of the takeover. To the Post's credit, after watching PubDef's video of the meeting in question, the editors did issue a correction following Giegerich's last completely false story against Special Administrative Board member Richard Gaines.
But now, thanks to the wonders of the Internet, the paper's editors can correct Giegerich's stories as soon as the facts are made clear to them and before they waste any ink.
Yesterday afternoon, Giegerich wrote a story for STLToday.com with the headline, "City Schools Open Without Glitches".
Even the most optimistic school administrator knows that there's not a school district in the world that has a glitch-free first day. As a matter of fact, as the press release below from the elected school board, illustrates, there were quite a few glitches.
By evening, Giegerich's story had changed. "City Schools Open With Glitches, Optimism," read the new headline and story.
From the school board:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2007
Media Contact: Donna Jones Phone: 314-568-0149
Unacceptable Problems Plague First Day of School in St. Louis
Transportation and classes without teachers top the list of reported problems
St. Louis - Thousands of St. Louis children starting school today encountered more than the usual number of problems.
"While many schools had an excellent start, there were problems with student transportation all across the district," said Donna Jones, chairwoman of the School Climate Committee of the St. Louis Board of Education. "Many, many schools, elementary, middle, and high, reported that there were buses that were very late in bringing students to school," she said. "Transportation problems were made worse because the district was very late in sending out route assignments to parents, and families did not get their notices until after the deadline for correcting any mistakes. That kind of performance is unacceptable," she added.
"Many schools also reported that they had oversized classes and teaching positions still unfilled," Jones said, including magnet schools, regular elementary schools, and high schools. "Beaumont reportedly did not have a foreign language teacher, even though foreign language is a state requirement, and Central was offering only Spanish," she added.
The schools opened under the direction of a state-appointed board that began operating on June 15, 2007.
William Purdy, former vice president of the elected board of education said, "There should be no reasons why our schools did not open smoothly on Monday, August 20. Superintendent Bourisaw and her staff came to the elected board for support back in May and June – and the board responded by approving all of the requests made in order to assure that our schools would open on time. The board approved 143 items in May and June to ensure that schools would open on time and that students would be provided for."
Board of education member Katherine Wessling expressed frustration that problems were so widespread on the first day of school in spite of all the planning into starting the school year that occurred last Spring before the arrival of the state-appointed board. "Every school I visited or contacted had transportation problems," she said. "I don't want to hear any more about special programs when we can't get the basics right," she added.
The St. Louis Board of Education has undisputed authority and responsibility to monitor the activities of the St. Louis Public School district. This statement is issued in performance of those monitoring duties.
The Missouri House and Senate both came back into session today to revisit the economic development package (HB 327) previously vetoed by Governor Matt Blunt. Of course, included in that package is the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit.
There was not much action today. In fact, the House was only in session long enough to first and second read the bill and refer it to committee for a hearing.
That hearing is scheduled for noon tomorrow. Check PubDef.net tomorrow afternoon for video from the hearing.
“A Fresh Start” was the theme for the day. Today was the first day of classes for St. Louis Public Schools. It was also the beginning of the first academic year under the Special Administrative Board.
The district will be releasing attendance and enrollment figures later in the semester, but both Superintendent Diana Bourisaw and SAB CEO Rick Sullivan reported higher enrollment than previously estimated, especially at magnet schools.
Despite administrators’ concerns over the heat, no schools were closed or released early due to the weather.
Lunch menus remained the same as planned, but the SAB is searching for an independent dietician to help revamp school lunches. St. Louis Public Schools’ lunches were recently named the worst nutritionally in the nation.
Poisoning the well of good faith negotiations in trying to reach a compromise on the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit is the amount of anger and raw emotion people have towards its chief architect, Paul McKee, and the amount of damage he has done to a community already devastated by decades of neglect.
"Paul McKee creates blight," said 5th Ward Alderman April Ford Griffin last week as she showed legislators and her aldermanic colleagues long-standing brick buildings which now sit with entire walls spilled out onto its once green yard.
She told the other lawmakers about reports from neighbors of mysterious men ramming Bobcats into the sides of buildings, which only months before housed families, causing the walls to fall onto themselves and leaving the building open to the elements, looters and drug dealers.
Some scenes in the video you are about to watch look like they were filmed in the most devastated areas of New Orleans. Mr. McKee and others will point to these images and say this is why he needs this tax credit. What is important for Missouri's state legislators to understand, say city aldermen, is that just 18-24 months ago, many of these buildings were homes with families living in them. Then Blairmont came.
This is where the anger comes from.
But after all the anger surrounding this one man, what St. Louis' Legislative delegation must remember is that this problem is larger than one man, even this man who in the short-term has made the situation worse.
There are 100 million dollars in much needed tax credits on the table. The challenge over the next few days is how to make them available to people who do care about these communities, organizations and developers who are respectful of the people of these areas and sensitive to their desires about the future of their community, and not to reward a man who has for so long, so blatantly disregarded the men, women and children forced to live next to his piles of bricks and self-made blight.
When it comes to the proposed Land Assemblage Tax Credit, the devil is in the details.
A story in today's Post-Dispatch says leaders in the Republican-controlled legislature are confident that a scaled-back version of Governor Matt Blunt's economic development package will pass during the special session which begins tomorrow. Included in that package is the controversial tax credit which as originally passed seemed to include parameters that only one known developer could qualify for.
Developer Paul J. McKee Jr. has purchased more than 500 tracts of land in and around Old North St. Louis, land that could be used in part to qualify for such tax credits.
Blunt says the new bill would broaden the program so that more developers could participate. Under the latest draft, the subsidy could go to those who buy at least 50 acres for projects covering at least 75 acres in low-income areas. Up to $10 million in credits could be issued each year until the total hit $95 million.
The sponsor, Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, Mo., said he believed the new proposal satisfies concerns that the program was designed for one man. Griesheimer added that McKee "ought to be nominated for sainthood" for investing in decaying areas of St. Louis.
Senator Griesheimer may feel differently about McKee's qualifications for sainthood after he watches PubDef's latest video on the St. Charles developer's northside activities. Check back Monday for that special report.
Lowering the requirement of the acreage needed in order for a developer to qualify for the tax credit is a step in the right direction, said the original Blairmont watchdog, Michael Allen. But at 50 acres, the bill would still make McKee the only likely applicant in Old North St. Louis.
"What we need is a threshold much lower than that, closer to half that number," said Allen. "At 20 to 25 acres, other developers and even established neighborhood organizations could apply and receive these tax credits."
PubDef will be reporting this week from the special session in Jefferson City, following the negotiations as legislators, lobbyists and residents try to reach a compromise.
According to the Post, the Legislature's schedule calls for a House committee to hold a hearing on the bill on Tuesday. The full House will vote Thursday. A Senate hearing will take place Aug. 27 and the full Senate could vote Aug. 29.
Will Blunt Withdraw Sullivan? [Updated: Gambaro Too?]
By Antonio D. French
The term of St. Louis Public Schools' chief executive officer may be even shorter than many predicted.
Governor Matt Blunt's appointment to the Special Administrative Board of the city schools, Rick Sullivan, has yet to be confirmed by the State Senate, and is unlikely to be unless his senator, Joan Bray, sponsors him.
Blunt appointed Sullivan after the legislature ended its last session. As a recess appointment, Sullivan would normally not have to be confirmed until the senate came back in January.
But as the state legislature reconvenes this week, there is growing speculation that Blunt will withdraw Sullivan from the CEO post to avoid his senate rejection and reappoint him again after the special session.
UPDATE: According to Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman, unlike a veto session, during a special session of the Legislature, the senate carries on with all its normal business, including confirmation of appointments.
The senate is scheduled to take up the confirmation of roughly 45 gubernatorial appointments during this short session. Unless they are withdrawn, that would include Sullivan and Board of Education appointee, Derio Gambaro — both of whom, at this point, do not have the support of their home senators.
The Governor's office has until the last 24 hours of session to withdraw their nominations. He then can renominate them 24 hours after the Legislature adjourns.
At a 1st Ward neighborhood meeting this morning, Mayor Francis Slay broke the news of the arrest of three youths in the shooting death of police officer Norvelle Brown.
Fire officials are blaming an act of God for damage suffered last night by the historic St. Alphonsus "Rock" Catholic Church in midtown.
PubDef's camera was there as firefighters put out the blaze apparently caused by a lightning strike on the roof of the 135-year-old church. The fire reportedly gutted "The Rock," which is Missouri's largest African-American Catholic church.
Legislators: "Blairmont" Credit Should Be Amended, Opened to More Than McKee
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 8:54 PM
A group of St. Louis legislators, including State Reps Jamilah Nasheed, Jeanette Mott Oxford and Rodney Hubbard*, State Senator Harry Kennedy, Aldermen April Ford Griffin, Dionne Flowers, Freeman Bosley, Sr., Jeffrey Boyd, Marlene Davis, Terry Kennedy, Frank Williamson, Bill Waterhouse, and Aldermanic President Lewis Reed*, today called for the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit to be amended during next week's special session.
At a press conference this morning at the corner of Montgomery Street and N. Garrison Avenue in north St. Louis, 5th Ward Alderman April Ford-Griffin voiced her concerns about the proposed Land Assemblage Tax Credit that is once again being discussed by state legislators.
Griffin echoed concerns that the bill needs to be amended to allow others beside controversial St. Charles developer Paul McKee to benefit. According to Griffin, McKee has intentionally allowed his 500-plus properties in north St. Louis to deteriorate — and in some cases, workers have intentionally knocked down walls and destroyed foundations — in order to drop the property values and buy more land.
Griffin said the state legislature should not reward McKee for his poor stewardship of these properties.
Griffin also accused Mayor Francis Slay's office someone in city government of sending city workers to McKee's sites yesterday to clean up his lots ahead of today's press event.
Several other aldermen, including Charles Troupe, Dionne Flowers, Freeman Bosley, Sr., Marlene Davis, Jeffrey Boyd, Terry Kennedy, Frank Williamson, Bill Waterhouse, and Board President Lewis Reed attended the event. State Reps Jeanette Mott Oxford and Jamilah Nasheed, who both helped organize the event, were joined by colleagues Rodney Hubbard, Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon) and Ron Casey (D-Crystal City). License Collector and former 19th Ward alderman Mike McMillan also attended.
Governor Matt Blunt today officially called a special session of the Missouri General Assembly beginning August 20, 2007.
From the press release:
"I want to thank the leaders of the General Assembly for their great spirit of cooperation that I believe will ultimately lead to the passage of these important priorities for Missouri’s transportation infrastructure and Missouri jobs," Blunt said.
Blunt is asking state lawmakers to fast track the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program to repair or replace more than 800 Missouri bridges and enact an economic development package which includes an expansion of the governor’s successful Quality Jobs Act.
Blunt announced his intention to call the legislature into special session after vetoing House Bill 327 and reaching a consensus to pass a more restrained bill that would expand the Quality Jobs programs.
One of the most controversial parts of HB 327 was a $100 million Land Assemblage Tax Credit which, as far as anyone could tell, only one man, "Blairmont" developer Paul McKee, qualified for.
Meanwhile, Democrats are calling Blunt's special session a gift to special interests and his lobbyist brother.
From the Missouri Democratic Party:
Gov. Matt Blunt today called the Missouri Legislature into a special session to work on $70 million worth of special interest giveaways, including a law allowing ticket scalping that will directly benefit his lobbyist brother, Andy Blunt, whose client Ticketmaster wants to resell tickets on the Internet.
While Blunt’s call for a special session won't include tax relief for average Missouri families, it does include a controversial tax break for a wealthy St. Louis developer to buy private land in St. Louis.
"Matt Blunt has made a mockery of this special session by insisting that the needs of his brother’s lobbying clients get put ahead of the economic interests of our state," said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. "Instead of wasting taxpayer money on a special session for special interests, Matt Blunt should put Missouri’s working families first for a change."
This will be the second time in three years that Gov. Blunt has had to call legislators into a special session to fix mistakes made just months before by him and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
According compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Missouri’s economy is lagging behind the rest of the country. BLS reports that:
Missouri’s unemployment rate, 4.8%, is above the national average.
From May to June (the latest BLS report) Missouri lost 6,600 jobs, the most of any state except Maryland.
Over the past year, Missouri’s job growth is the 16th worst in the country. (June 2006-June 2007, 0.94%)
Since Gov. Blunt took office, Missouri has the 22nd worst job growth rate. If Missouri’s economy had grown at the country’s mean growth rate under the Blunt administration, 26,750 more Missourians would have jobs today.
According to estimates from 2005, the special session will cost approximately $100,000 per week.
Governor Matt Blunt was in north St. Louis yesterday — not to tour the so-called Blairmont properties (although he did witness firsthand the blight and crumbling buildings of the third ward), but for a press event recognizing the efforts of Cool Down St. Louis, an organization that gives air conditioners to those in need.
With temperatures above 105 degrees and surrounded by the stark signs of urban decay — boarded up buildings, piles of bricks, homes with fallen porches — the Governor's people and representatives of Cool Down arrived to the 4300 block of Linton Avenue in the comfort of air conditioned cars. A Mercedes and Lexus stood out in their the impoverished surroundings.
Cool Down President Kevin McGowan (who arrived in the passenger seat of a Porsche) joined Blunt, Police Chief Joe Mokwa, Fire Chief Sherman George, and Alderman Marlene Davis for the photo opp on the city's hottest day of the year. The group knocked on three pre-screened doors and offered residents free air conditioners before taking the podium to congratulate each other for a job well done.
Learn more about Cool Down St. Louis by visiting their website.
St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch has joined the Chris Koster bandwagon. The County's top law enforcer joins a long (and growing) list of endorsers of the Republican-turned-Democrat's bid for Attorney General.
From the press release:
"Chris Koster has been a true member of Missouri's law enforcement community," McCulloch said. "He has walked the crime scenes, examined the witnesses, and made closing arguments in big cases time after time. When it comes to street-level law enforcement, Koster has truly walked the walk."
McCulloch continued, "Koster was vice-president of the Missouri Association of Prosecutors when he joined the senate. Prosecutors throughout Missouri trust his leadership. It is critical that we have someone with his law enforcement background as Attorney General. I look forward to communicating with the citizens of the greater St. Louis area and telling them why Chris Koster will be a great Attorney General."
"I am honored to have the support of Bob McCulloch," Koster said. "Bob has been a leader in the law enforcement community both in Missouri and the nation for many years. Because of that, his endorsement today is especially close to my heart."
The Supreme Court of Missouri today issued an order directing attorney and former State Representative Nathan Cooper, who last week pleaded guilty to two federal felonies for immigration fraud, to show cause before 5:00 p.m. tomorrow why his law license should not be suspended.
When a group of local lawmakers lead a tour of some of north St. Louis' most blighted areas Thursday, they'll do so to call attention to the need for development and state investment in those areas.
They'll also be illustrating why they believe the proposed $100 million Land Assemblage Tax Credit should be amended to allow other developers besides Paul McKee to qualify for it.
State Reps Jeanette Mott Oxford, Jamilah Nasheed and Rodney Hubbard*; and Aldermen April Ford-Griffin and Marlene Davis will lead a group of invited guests, including other state legislators, around parts of the 5th and 19th Wards where McKee has quietly aquired more than 500 properties.
Many of McKee's buildings have become eye sores and nuisance properties in neighborhoods occupied by longtime residents holding out for the city's "renaissance" to come their way and new residents pioneering to rehabilitate a once great area.
Oxford and Davis each told PubDef that they welcome the state's attempt to spur development, but that they would like to see the legislation, which will be voted on next week, amended to allow more developers to participate.
The legislators' press conference is set for Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at 2950 Montgomery, with a bus tour to follow at 10:30 a.m.
PubDef will be reporting next week from the special session in Jefferson City, following the negotiations as legislators, lobbyists and residents try to reach a compromise that allows north St. Louis to benefit from needed investment, while not cutting all but just one or two would-be developers out of the project. *Rodney Hubbard is a client of A D French & Associates
State Representative Rodney Hubbard has hired Antonio French to manage his campaign for state senate.
This is the third senate campaign for French. Previous campaigns for Senators Wayne Goode and Patrick Dougherty were both successful. French most recently worked on Lewis Reed's successful campaign for President of the Board of Aldermen earlier this year.
Hubbard is seeking to replace term-limited State Senator Maida Coleman. Other possible candidates include State Reps Tom Villa and Robin Wright Jones.
The Democratic primary election is August 5, 2008.
A study released today by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine names St. Louis Public Schools' lunches the worst in nutritional value out of America's 22 largest school districts.
The SLPS middle school and high school summer lunch menus feature nutritional sinkholes such as nachos and cheese pizza as entrées Monday through Friday. The elementary school menu has far less cheese, but offers two packages of graham crackers with every lunch this summer.
Several studies have shown a strong relationship between nutrition and learning in children.
Iodine deficiency during early years is associated with reduced cognition and achievement in school-age children. Poorly nourished children have more problems fighting infections. Therefore, they may be sick more often, miss more school, and fail to keep up with classmates.
Undernutrition results in:
decreased activity levels,
decreased social interactions,
decreased curiosity, and
decreased cognitive functioning
In these studies, school-age children who ate breakfast did better on performance tests than children with no breakfast.
In St. Louis schools, 81% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
KWMU reports that President George W. Bush signed legislation last week that re-names the University City post office after Harriett Woods, the former Missouri Lieutenant Governor who passed away in February.
Earlier this year we reported that Congressman Russ Carnahan had introduced H.R. 1617 which recommended naming the post office located at 561 Kingsland Avenue "The Harriett F. Woods Post Office Building." According to a release from Carnahan's office, the location was chosen due to the fact that Woods began her political career in University City and it was the post office that served Woods for nearly 50 years.
Woods suffered from leukemia and died at the age of 79. She was the first woman to serve as Lt. Governor in Missouri.
Freshman alderman Kacie Starr Triplett will tackle one of the city's most persistent issues tonight as she hosts a forum on homelessness in the downtown portion of her ward.
Triplett has invited representatives from the Department of Health & Human Services; The Horizon Club, St. Louis' first 24-7 safe haven for the homeless; the St. Louis Downtown Partnership; and the mayor's office to discuss with residents of the 6th ward strategies for addressing downtown's large homeless population.
"There has been a lot of time, effort and energy in improving downtown," said Triplett. "However, problems with homelessness and crime still exist. This event will provide an opportunity for me to update the citizens of downtown on recent proactive developments as well as a forum for my constituents to share their concerns."
The event is at the St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive, from 7:00 to 8:30 tonight.
When state legislators convene in Jefferson City for a special session next Monday, August 20, they will have a new version of the controversial Economic Development Bill, House Bill 327, to review. HB 327 was vetoed last month by Governor Matt Blunt because of the overall size and cost of the final bill.
According to House Speaker Rod Jetton, the "Son of 327" will be sent to committee on Tuesday, August 21. Numerous programs, including the Neighborhood Assistance Program, the Small Business Tax Credit and the Youth Opportunity Program, have been removed from the bill to lower its overall cost. But the bill's most controversial part, the Land Assemblage Tax Credit, remains — although it has been reduced from $12 million allowed annually and $100 million cumulatively to $10 million annually and $95 million cumulatively.
The cut is estimated at $70 million, bringing the total cost of the bill to $51 million, not counting the "New Markets" program that begins in two years.
On Thursday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m., State Representatives Jamilah Nasheed and Jeanette Mott Oxford will host a bus tour of the properties owned by developer Paul McKee. McKee, whose companies own more than 500 properties in northern St. Louis, is seen by many as the developer who would most benefit from the passage of HB 327 as it is written.
PubDef will be reporting from the special session in Jefferson City next week and following the negotiations as legislators, lobbyists and residents try to reach a compromise that allows north St. Louis to benefit from needed investment, while not cutting all but just one or two would-be developers out of the project.
Click here to view a spreadsheet of all of the changes to HB 327.
Click here for more information on McKee's Blairmont properties.
Click here to watch PubDef's special report on Blairmont.
The White House has announced that controversial Presidential aide Karl Rove has resigned.
Rove said his resignation, which he submitted to President George W. Bush on Friday, was not forced. He said when he leaves the White House at the end of August he plans to spend his time writing a book and teaching.
As long as he gives up rapping...
CNN reports that Rove and Bush are expected to speak before boarding Marine One at the White House at 10:35 a.m. Bush will head to his Crawford, Texas, ranch where he will remain for the rest of the week.
UPDATE: Maybe he was forced out...
This is obviously a fake photo. But a damn funny one!
The Post-Dispatch'sPaul Hampel reports on the dilemma being faced by thousands of families in St. Louis City and the Riverview Gardens School District. The state says their districts are not providing a quality education, but then offers them no options and no other place to go.
An attorney might ask, just what are these parents paying taxes for? And why can their tax dollars only pay for an inferior public education, while their neighbors in nearby counties receive an at-least-"adequate" (as defined by the state) public education for the same, or even less, tax dollars?
From the Post:
Under Missouri law, students in unaccredited school districts such as Riverview Gardens and St. Louis can transfer to a better district in an adjoining county. And the districts they leave have to pay tuition at their new school.
The problem: Other districts don't have to admit them.
The McCoys, a family on a tight budget, can't afford private tuition. A transfer out of the district seemed like the only option for their daughters, Fernetta, 14, who wants to be an architect, and Remeika, 17, who aims to be a pediatrician.
Show Me Progress was founded in summer 2007 by a coalition including members of Democracy for America, Progressive Democrats, bloggers, and other Missouri activists. Our goal is to provide a resource and gathering place for the Missouri progressive community. Show Me Progress is a member of the 50 State Blog Network.
In this report, iconic journalist Dan Rather reports on the controversy and illusion that surround the same kind of electronic voting machines used in St. Louis County.
On Thursday, Missourians for Honest Elections will host a screening of the film "Stealing America Vote by Vote" and a conversation with Brad Friedman of www.BradBlog.com.
Friedman is an online journalist who has persistently covered the story of computerized voting machines since the Help America Vote Act was passed in 2002. He is a champion of the cause of a paper ballot for every voter. He is also a former resident of St. Louis, and his father, who currently resides in West County, has written on St. Louis elections on BradBlog.
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Eliot Chapel, 216 East Argonne. Admission is free.
This 5-part video report comes from the UK's Sky One television network. Ross Kemp on Gangs is an award-winning documentary series that looks at gangs and gang members all across the world — including London, New Zealand, and Rio de Janeiro. For its second season, Ross Kemp came to "one of the most violent US cities," the City of St. Louis, Missouri.
Those people who still don't think that St. Louis is a violent place to live for tens of thousands of its law-abiding, peaceful, and productive residents... well, you don't know St. Louis. You don't know what terrorism really is. And you don't know why so many people are angry — at government, the police, and their seemingly blind neighbors.
"They don't care," says a crying mother in the second video. "It wasn't their kid that was killed."
Please watch these videos.
Look for a cameo from Alderman Sam Moore in video #1, a "Jamilah Nasheed for State Rep" yard sign in video #3, lots of mentions of my O'Fallon Park neighborhood and its "Associated Crips," an anti-gang program at Carnahan School ran by Kabir Mohammed, and a very disturbing interview with two Blood gang members in video #5. Thanks to Doug Duckworth for calling our attention to this video.
The Post-Dispatch pointed out that Esquire Magazine recently named Mayor Francis Slay one of the best-dressed mayors in the country. Slay appears in the September issue of Esquire.
But St. Louisans may have a different idea about their best-dressed politican. According to a poll on Mayor Slay’s Website, License Collector Mike McMillan is the best-dressed local politician. McMillan beat out April Ford-Griffin, Gregor Francis Xavier Daly, Charlie Dooley, Lyda Krewson, Kacie S. Triplett and Joe Mokwa.
Update: This month's issue of Alive Magazine named McMillan one 2007's "Men of Style." Other Men of Style for this year include KTVI anchor Kevin Steincross and St. Louis Ram Orlando Pace.
The Post-Dispatch reports today that Representative Nathan Cooper (R-Cape Girardeau) will resign from the legislature within weeks. The resignation comes after Cooper pleaded guilty to visa fraud and making a false statement to the Department of Labor.
Cooper used his power as an immigration lawyer to obtain and falsely extend visas for foreign truck drivers, most of whom came from New Zealand.
The Post-Dispatch further reports that Cooper committed the crimes “With no connection to his elected duties or his close association with Governor Matt Blunt.”
Cooper is now facing 30 to 37 months in jail.
Governor Blunt said he will set a special election for Cooper’s seat.
VIDEO: State Rep on Violent Crime: Send in the National Guard?
By Antonio D. French
State Representative Talibdin El-Amin held a press conference Thursday in his north St. Louis district to address a wave of violent crime that has affected many parts of the city.
El-Amin, who also serves as the Democratic Committeeman of the 1st Ward, called on Police Chief Joe Mokwa to increase patrols in his ward and others facing high instances of violence, which often accompany the hot summer months.
The first-term State Rep also suggested that if things don't improve soon, he would not oppose the state committing resources in the form of the National Guard to help patrol the roughest parts of town.
...into a new office in the Delmar Loop. Moving will have us a little busy today and tomorrow, but we should be back up to speed shortly.
The new office will provide us with great space (that's quality, not quantity) to do even more interviews with Missouri elected officials and candidates.
Campaigns interested in getting their candidates a little face time on the soon-to-be-launched PubDef.TV should email us at editor@pubdef.net or call (314) 779-9958.
The region's political players came together last night for what has become one of the largest annual events in St. Louis politics. License Collector Mike McMillan played the role of "cash collector" once again as the region's elite literally lined up to drop off their $500 and $1,000 contributions to McMillan's future endeavors.
Among those spotted: County Executive Charlie Dooley, East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks, Democratic State Senators Maida Coleman and Chris Koster, announced Attorney General candidates Jeff Harris and Margaret Donnelly, Lt. Gov. candidate Sam Page, Comptroller Darlene Green, President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed and most of the city's aldermen, nearly all of St. Louis' state legislative delegation, committeepeople, citywide elected officials, and many, many others.
Still fuming over Senator Chris Koster's defection to the blue team, the Missouri Republican Party today issued a statement calling on the former GOP senate leader to return the hundreds of thousands of dollars he raised as a Republican.
"The Missouri Republican Party’s telephone lines in Jefferson City have been ringing off-the hook since Koster turned his back on Republicans who not only gave their money to Koster but also sacrificed their time and energy on his behalf over the years," read the statement.
"The hard working people of Cass County have been betrayed by Chris Koster and we are demanding that he return our hard-earned money so that it can used to support real Republicans instead of being used by a charlatan and turncoat like this disgrace of a senator," said Ronald Johnson, the Cass County Republican Committee chairman who's committee has donated over $4,000 to Koster over the years.
"Koster smashed a solemn trust and if he has one shred of decency or moral character left, then he should return every penny he took from us," he continued.
The MRP also continues to call on Koster to resign his Senate seat. GOP Communications Director Paul Sloca said Koster should run as a Democrat in a special election.
"The voters of the 31st Senatorial District have a right to expect him to resign his seat," said Sloca.
"While Koster resumes accepting donations from his liberal friends in Big Labor and among his fellow trial attorneys, his once loyal and hard-working Republican supporters are being left out in the cold both financially and politically."
Cleaning out the old digital closet, we ran across this nugget of irony.
In July 2006, when he was running for state senate, Derio Gambaro sent this mailer to St. Louis voters saying he was the "best person to stop Governor [Matt] Blunt's agenda."
As we all know, in June 2007 Governor Blunt appointed Gambaro to the State Board of Education...
According to a Gaming Commission official responding to our request, the requested video tape was "seized as evidence by the Missouri Highway Patrol pursuant to a criminal investigation and is part of an investigative report. Therefore, pursuant to Section 610.100.1(5)RSMo, these records are presently closed records and not open for inspection or duplication."
We have amended our request to include a copy of the report from the Commission's own investigation.
Meanwhile, the Turner Reports reveals that Smith, a member of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, has received quite a bit of cash from the gaming industry.
An examination of Missouri Ethics Commission records shows Smith received $2,600 which can be directly traced to casinos during 2006, as well as $5,400 from casino lobbyists or their clients.
Another $4,800 appears to have come from Ameristar Casinos after being legally laundered through a Democratic party committee. On Aug. 12, 2006, the 94th House District Democratic Committee received a $5,000 contribution from Ameristar Casinos. Three days later, the committee gave $4,800 to Smith. Oddly, Smith's own committee disclosure form says the 94th Committee contribution came Aug. 11...the day before the committee received the Ameristar Casinos contribution.
Other casino or casino-related contributions for Smith include:
30 days after general election 2006- Harrah's Operating $650, Isle of Capri Casinos $650
Eight days before the election 2006- $500 contributions from Missouri Dental PAC, Missouri Pharmacy PAC, and Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists, all clients of Ameristar Casinos' lobbying firm Gamble & Schlemeier
October 2006- John Bardgett and Associates, lobbying firm for Pinnacle Entertainment and numerous other clients, $650; Penn National Gaming $650
30 days after primary- Two $650 contributions from Missouri Pharmacy PAC and $650 from MORESPAC, clients of Gamble and Schlemeier, $650 from Bardgett, $650 from Bardgett's lobbying firm
94th House District, $4,800
Jake Wagman, of the Post-Dispatch, also reports that Lynne M. Schlosser, the lobbyist for the Isle of Capri casino who supposedly gave Smith another legislator's players card to keep him in the game, may not have been fired as previously reported. But no comment from her or the casino makes it hard to find out for sure.
www.blognetnews.com/Missouri — Jumping ahead of other news aggregators that just reprint posts, the editors of BlogNetNews say they take and organize feeds of top Missouri-centric news and political bloggers to create new content and information that will organize our respective slices of the Internet to make it work better for you, our readers. Features include:
The day's top news - based solely on what news stories Missouri bloggers are linking to - no matter what mainstream news source they're in.
A Missouri political blogs search engine.
A quick guide to the hottest blog comment sections in the Missouri-centric blogosphere (still being fine-tuned a bit).
A quick index of the day's most active Missouri state news and politics blogs.
A guide to the Missuori blogs most linked to by other Missouri bloggers.
www.newletters.org — A couple of quick clicks can provide a peek into Kansas City’s literary venue. New Letters, the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s international literary magazine, offers through its website the most comprehensive listing of literary events in the Kansas City region.
This community service includes details and contact information for events sponsored by a range of organizations throughout the area, including those in Lawrence, Kan., Columbia, Mo., and everything Kansas City.
And coming soon...www.showmeprogress.com (see the preview here). Think DailyKos, but from Missouri (so slower and not quite as progressive as it thinks). ShowMeProgress.com is an effort to bring together progressive bloggers from across the state, to offer a political site with insights from all corners of Missouri.
Flying back from New York yesterday, I picked up the latest issue of Fast Company magazine. I was searching for the beginning of the cover story on "Al Gore's $100 Million Makeover" (good read, by the way) when I stumbled upon the magazine's listing of the 30 Fastest Cities in the World.
Near the center of the list is another, less flattering list: the 5 Slowest Cities.
You guessed it! Placed above (or below, depending on your perspective) New Orleans, Detroit and Havana, and just below Budapest, is our own St. Louis.
From Fast Company:
St. Louis, Missouri — Too normal for its own good. It ranks dead last on CityVitals' "Weirdness Index," a measure of passion and engagement.
On Friday, a judge ruled that the elected school board could not settle legal cases on its own. The judge also ruled that the elected board cannot keep its attorneys, Lashly and Baer, from sharing information with the new appointed school board.
The following is a letter sent from elected board president Peter Downs regarding the decision.
Dear Friends,
This afternoon (Friday, August 3), Judge Callahan applied the brakes to the appointed board.
Rick Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of the appointed board had sought to remove the attorneys of the elected St. Louis Board of Education, Lashly & Baer, from all open cases involving the St. Louis Board of Education, which would also have severed the elected board from any involvement in defending those cases, and he had ordered Lashly & Baer to turnover all the confidential legal files on those cases.
The elected board responded to Sullivan that he was exceeding his authority. We pointed out that we had an obligation to the employees and former employees we were defending in those cases, and to ourselves. We said we would consider releasing case files if the appointed board committed to defending and indemnifying the defendants in those cases.
Sullivan's response was to go to Judge Callahan to get an order giving him what he wanted. He did not get it.
Judge Callahan ordered only that the Board of Education not settle any case without also getting the approval of the appointed board, and, consistent with that, he ordered that the Board of Education could not prevent Lashly & Baer from communicating about those cases with the appointed board.
In other words, Judge Callahan rejected Sullivan's claim to be the sole authority in all matters pertaining to St. Louis Public Schools. Callahan left the elected Board of Education in charge of defending the lawsuits against the St. Louis Board of Education, and left Lashly & Baer as the attorney representing the Board. He did give the appointed board veto power over any agreements the elected Board makes to settle any of the cases. In short, he seems to be saying that both boards have a role and they need to work together.
Meanwhile, the elected Board of Education is continuing to work on the long-term improvement of schools. Donna Jones held the first meeting of the School Climate Committee.
The School Climate Committee is concerned with the relationships between facilities and students, teachers, and administrators and how they affect learning. Put another way, the committee's charge is to see if we have created a climate in each school that gives students the opportunity and encouragement to learn.
The committee is concerned with both the physical environment of the building, grounds, and equipment, and the emotional relationships between students, teachers, and administrators. The totality of those constitutes the school climate.
We want to know if buildings are maintained, if they are inviting or depressing, and if they have the proper facilities to teach what is supposed to be taught.
We want to know if the schools have the right equipment and supplies.
We want to know if students can concentrate on learning or if they feel too anxious or fearful to concentrate because of bullying or weapons in the school.
We want to know if teachers respect students and encourage the effort of learning, or whether they dismiss them as unteachable and set low expectations.
We want to know if building administrators do the same thing, and if they encourage teachers to experiment with and supplement the approved curriculum and teaching materials to find ways to enliven teaching and spark the interests of their students.
We want to know of building administrators work respectfully and cooperatively with teachers, or whether they disrespect and bully them.
The charge of the committee is to find out some of our shortcomings and recommend way of assessing school climate (there actually are a bunch of tools for that on the market that they can evaluate) that highlights the weaknesses for each school in a way that will help staff devise strategies for improvement. The assessment could be repeated every couple of years to find out if the school climate is improving.
Anyone wanting to volunteer on the School Climate Committee should contact Donna Jones via the Board office at 345-2304.
Sincerely,
Peter Downs President St. Louis Board of Education
Stacey Newman, executive director of the Missouri Women’s Coalition, is officially announcing today that she is seeking the office of State Representative for the 73rd District. She has filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission formally creating her finance committee with Ray Hartmann, St. Louis, as treasurer.
“The late Harriett Woods, former Lt. Governor and a long time mentor, often told me women run for office because they become upset enough to take action. I am extremely upset with the direction of our state government and will fight for change and true progressive policies,” said Newman.
In 2005 the state legislature cut Medicaid health insurance coverage for more than 100,000 Missourians, including over 40,000 children. Missouri schools are in crisis mode with private school voucher proposals threatening public school funding. In July 2007 Governor Blunt signed restrictions into law forcing many women’s health clinics to close and allowing public schools to teach fact-less abstinence-only sex education. The number of Missouri children living in poverty is on the rise due to numerous social services cuts by the current administration.
“This is not the direction I envision for Missouri,” Newman said. “I advocate providing health care for all Missourians, increasing our public school funding, protecting women’s personal health decisions, and supporting stem cell research and cures.
Stacey Newman’s dedication, passion and diverse background have prepared her to effectively represent the 73rd District:
Democratic National Committee - managed specialized Missouri vote program
2004 John Kerry for President campaign - directed the Missouri Women’s Vote Program
Missouri Democratic Party - coordinated statewide and legislative women’s campaigns
“Coalition Against Blunt’s War on Women – spokeswoman for 22 progressive organizations fighting Gov. Blunt’s attacks on birth control
Co-president of Brady Campaign/Million Mom March – St. Louis - worked closely with Governor Holden’s office against concealed weapons legislation
Missouri registered lobbyist - lobbied for bi-partisan domestic violence and child safety legislation
Stacey resides in Richmond Heights, Missouri and is a retired flight attendant. Her husband, Burt, is an attorney in Clayton who successfully challenged the voter ID law in the Missouri Supreme Court in 2006. Their daughter, Sophie, is a freshman at Clayton High School.
“I am prepared to run, ready to win and pledge to continue the progressive work of Rep. Margaret Donnelly and Sen. Joan Bray who have held this seat for more than 15 years,” said Newman.
