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VIDEO: Slay's Clinton Appearance is Off, So is Scheduled Protest (Maybe)
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Friday, November 30, 2007 at 6:02 PM
The coalition seeking to remove Mayor Francis Slay from office appears to have won a battle in a much larger war. The group's threat to protest a public fundraiser for Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has forced the campaign to find someone other than Slay to introduce Clinton at the high-profile event.
The Post-Dispatch reports that former Congressman Dick Gephardt will now be introducing Clinton at her event at The Pageant on Sunday. And Traci Blunt, a Clinton staffer in charge of African-American media, tells PubDef.net that African-American clergyman B.T. Rice will join an otherwise color-free host party.
Today the recall coalition held a press conference outside The Pageant to warn that if Slay makes a surprise appearance at the rally, they'll be ready.
"We have purchased a block of tickets [to the Clinton event]," said spokesman Eric Vickers. And if the mayor should appear on Sunday, "those people that we will have on the inside will protest the fact that this mayor has discriminated, divided this city, and disrespected this community."
Attorney General candidate Chris Koster announced that the campaign has hired Democratic strategist Nick Baldick to serve as general consultant.
From the press release:
Baldick, the President and founder of the consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions, previously served as John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign manager, State Director for Vice President Al Gore's winning New Hampshire primary effort, and State Director of Clinton-Gore 96's successful effort to win Florida for the first time in 20 years. He also served for 5 years as a principal at Dewey Square, where he enacted grassroots and public affairs strategies. Baldick will advise the campaign as it staffs up for the August 2008 primary.
"Nick's experience as one of the national Democratic Party's top strategists will be a great asset to our campaign," Koster said. "With his guidance, Missourians for Koster will build a statewide organization and continue to build momentum in the race for Attorney General."
Along with the hiring of Baldick, the campaign announced the departure of Elisabeth Smith, who is leaving to serve as the communications director on a top-tier Midwestern congressional race.
If endorsements were as good as votes, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, armed with the largest host committee of current and former elected officials that anyone can remember, would have already won her 2008 election by a landslide.
Most of those hosts were on hand Wednesday night (we doubt all of them could've fit in one room) at Sqwire's restaurant in Lafayette Square as Joyce kicked off her campaign for a third term as the city's top elected law enforcer.
Hillary Clinton might have picked up more than she bargained for when she accepted the support of beleaguered mayor Francis Slay. A coalition seeking to remove him from office is moving forward with plans to protest Clinton's St. Louis appearance this weekend because he is scheduled to introduce her.
Yesterday, Sean Thompson, with the Clinton campaign, told State Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, who is active with the recall effort, that there was no need for the protest because Slay was no longer going to introduce Clinton because of a "scheduling conflict."
"Upon hearing that news and confirming it myself with his office," said Thompson on a voicemail message, "I called Mr. [Eric] Vickers and talked to him and told him that the mayor would not be in attendance at the Pageant."
"It is my sincere hope that it changes the dynamic of the demonstration that you all had planned," said Thompson.
But when the Clinton campaign was unwilling to confirm in writing that Slay would not be introducing the presidential candidate, organizers moved on with their plans.
Tomorrow the Citizens to Recall Francis G. Slay, the Citizens to Support Fire Chief George, and other organizations and community leaders will hold a press conference to announce their protest plans.
"Mayor Slay, Senator Clinton's top supporter in the City, is scheduled to give the opening remarks at the Clinton Rally. Because of this, Senator Clinton is being placed on notice that protest demonstrations will take place at the rally — both inside and outside the Pageant," said the group in a press release today.
Tomorrow's press conference is scheduled for 10:00 AM in front of The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd.
Best Intentions: Bad Things Happen When Pols Try to Play Psychologists
By Antonio D. French
Watch out, all you anonymous blog posters who are so mean to Veronica O'Brien, Francis Slay, and Steve Gregali. Pretty soon, you might be prosecuted for your cyber insults.
A proposed new law would make it illegal in the City of St. Louis to harass someone over the Internet or other electronic communications, like texting. "Harassment" is defined in the bill as:
"To engage in a course of conduct that serves no legitimate purpose and would cause substantial emotional distress, and shall actually cause substantial emotional distress..."
In other words, hurt someone's feelings.
The St. Louis legislation follows legislation passed recently in the cities of Florissant and Dardenne Prairie. The spark for all of this new Internet regulation by local municipalities is the suicide last week of 13-year-old Megan Meier of Dardenne Prairie.
The girl's parents said she hanged herself after receiving mean Internet messages from an adult neighbor posing as a boy.
With Megan in mind, the St. Louis law, co-sponsored by Aldermanic President Lewis Reed and Alderman April Ford-Griffin, further defines harassment as "contact by a person over age eighteen with a person under the age of eighteen that would cause a reasonable parent to fear for the well-being of their minor child."
A suicide by a child is always a tragic thing. They are also often done for reasons that we as adults see as tragically minor — boyfriends or girlfriends... bullies... zits.
As adults, we know what our mothers told us was indeed true: "This too shall pass."
As educated adults we also know that the "reasons" for teen suicide is rarely the real reason at all. The real cause — and I'm not a psychologist here, but I used to date one and armed with that knowledge it seems to me — the real cause is mental illness — namely, clinical depression.
Again, I'm not a psychologist. But neither are aldermen. I do however spend a lot of time on the Internet. More than most, I would bet. I'd also bet I get more annoying, unsolicited e-mail than almost anyone you know. Today, including the mail snagged in my junk filter, I received 304. It was a slow day.
Most of that email was sent to me by someone trying to get me to do something: write a story about them, come to some event, help a foreigner transfer his millions of dollars, enlarge my penis.
Not once has an email caused me to do anything that I didn't choose to do myself — except maybe LOL.
These reactionary lawmakers are putting the freedom of the Internet at risk in the name of preventing a tragedy that no law could have prevented.
The new crime of "cyber-harassment" consists of two basic parts (the bolded language is the most ridiculous):
An individual intends to harass, alarm, annoy, abuse, threaten, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person by means of the transmission of electronic communication or knowingly permits an electronic communication to be transmitted from an electronic communication device under the person’s control using lewd, lascivious, etc… words, images or language; anonymously or repeatedly whether or not the conversation occurs; or threatening to inflict injury on the person or property of the person communicated with or any member of his or her household.
So if someone annoys a person with a text message or an anonymous blog posting using "lewd" language, even if the "victim" engages in the conversation, a crime has been committed.
Consider me both victim and offender.
Part Two:
An individual uses or allows the use of an electronic communications device under the person’s control to harass, alarm, annoy, abuse, threaten, intimidate, torment or embarrass any other person through the direct action of the individual or through the actions of a third party, which third party actions are instigated, initiated, prompted or brought about by the person’s communication.
So now if someone is inspired by my blog postings to go and annoy someone else (say a certain unpopular elected official) I can be charged for instigating the annoyance by my email or blog posting?! WFT?!
Bad things happen when legislators try to play psychologists.
When presidential candidate Hillary Clinton comes to St. Louis on Sunday she was scheduled to be introduced by one of her best known supporters, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. But a threat to picket the event by the coalition seeking the mayor's removal from office may have put an end to that.
It was former U.S. House Speaker Tip O'Neal who was best known for saying "All politics is local." Well, the prospect of stepping into a big steaming pile of Slay's local political woes seems to have forced the Clinton campaign to distance themselves from the beleaguered mayor.
State Representative Jamilah Nasheed and others supporting the recall effort contacted the Clinton campaign this week to inform them that they planned to picket Clinton's event at the Pageant theater if Slay would be introducing the New York senator.
According to Nasheed, a representative from the campaign notified her Wednesday evening that Slay suddenly had a "scheduling conflict" which will prevent him from introducing Senator Clinton.
In the past, Clinton has offered praise for Slay.
"Francis Slay is one of a new breed of mayors who are revitalizing their cities and setting an example for the rest of the country," Clinton said back in April. "I'm honored to have his support."
Still concerned by Slay's role in the Clinton campaign, the recallers have not yet decided whether to call off their protest entirely.
Clinton will be speaking at the Pageant, 6161 Delmar, this Sunday at 5:00 PM. This is Clinton's last trip here before the important Iowa primaries.
FIRE: Slay Ignoring Our Issues, Demand Independent Investigation of Cheating
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 9:57 PM
The group representing African-Americans in the St. Louis Fire Department today called on Mayor Francis Slay to address the issues of their members — which account for 44% of the department — and no longer deal exclusively with the so-called "white firefighters union," Local 73.
Addington Stewart, the chairman of the Firefighters Institute on Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), also said that only this week was he informed by St. Louis police that they were about to begin an investigation into allegations of cheating by white firefighters on the 2004 promotions exam — three years after the alleged cheating occurred and after promotions have been made off a possibly tainted list.
Stewart said F.I.R.E. wants to see an independent investigation performed by a federal agency, not local police.
F.I.R.E. Rejects Creation of Asst. Chief Position, Demands 50/50 Hiring
By Antonio D. French
The association of black city firefighters is holding a press conference today to once again demand Mayor Francis Slay address the group's concerns.
The Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), which almost all of the city's African-American fire fighters belong to — representing 44% of the fire department — is upset with Slay for removing Fire Chief Sherman George from his position and for dealing exclusively with the so-called white firefighters union, Local 73.
UPDATE: The group is also calling on a return the 50/50 hiring (one white for every black) policy which the fire department operated under for many years under a federal consent decree.
From F.I.R.E.:
Members of F.I.R.E. will uphold our oath to the citizens of the city of St. Louis to protect property and save lives. We will fight fires aggressively; respond to emergency medical and special calls with integrity and professionalism. Yet we will not stand for our issues to be ignored by the mayor; members of F.I.R.E. is comprised of 98% of the Black firefighters in the department and represent 44% of the members in the St. Louis Fire Department. Our issues with testing are still pending in the federal court of appeals. Racial tensions are present in firehouses and must be addressed. We have witnessed the mayor addressing all of the issues (transfers, civil service hearings, non-establishment of an Advanced Life Support Pumper Program, etc.) of local 73 during Chief George’s tenure. He has affirmed actions for the local in reference to promotions and the demotion of Fire Chief George. His most recent affirmed action was to promote Battalion Chief Dennis Jenkerson to Fire chief over the most qualified officer in the department Deputy Chief Charles Coyle. Yet he has not addressed our chief complaint cheating during the 2004 exam administered by EBJacobs. To add insult to injury they want to create a position and give it to a Black officer to appease Black firefighters we reject that offer. REINSTATE THE FIRE CHIEF SHERMAN GEORGE! The Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.) will not be able to move forward if our issues are not addressed.
Conduct an INDEPENDENT investigation into the allegations of cheating on the 2004 test.
No testing processes should be administered until an agreement on what the system should be and how it should be administered.
An affirmed action in the form of an executive order from the mayor to institute a 50/50 hiring and promotions diversity plan.
F.I.R.E. is against the creation of an Assistant Chief’s position.
Expedite the Civil Service Hearing of Fire Chief Sherman George.
Fire Chief Sherman George earned his pension as fire chief because of his demotion to deputy chief they deliberately cost him 10’s of thousands of dollars in retirement benefits. Reinstate Sherman George back to Fire Chief.
Today's press conference is at 3:30 PM at F.I.R.E.'s headquarters, 1020N. Taylor Ave.
Here's State Rep. Robin Wright-Jones' full 30-minute speech from her campaign announcement Tuesday.
Among her supporters in attendance: state rep candidate Rev. James Morris, Slay recall leader Rev. Douglas Parham, radio personality Hank Thompson, and political operative Harold Brown.
*Wright-Jones' opponent, Rodney Hubbard, is a client of A D French & Associates
The Appellate Judicial Commission has submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt its panel of nominees to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. The vacancy exists due to the Sept. 11, 2007, retirement of Judge Phillip R. Garrison, who had served on the Southern District since 1992.
There were 20 applicants for the vacancy. Of these, there was 1 women and 19 men; they were all non-minorities; and there were 9 who work in the private sector and 11 who work in the public sector. The applicants' median age was 51.
In alphabetical order, the panel consists of M. Susan Appelquist; the Honorable Don Burrell, Jr.; and W. Edward Reeves.
Appelquist is a sole practitioner with the Appelquist Law Offices in Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Springfield, Mo. She was born July 28, 1954, in Springfield. She received a bachelor of science degree in education, magna cum laude, with a major in English, in 1976, and her law degree in 1979, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Burrell is the presiding judge on the 31st Judicial Circuit. He was born Dec. 4, 1960, in Springfield, Mo. He received his bachelor of science in finance, magna cum laude, in 1982, from Missouri State University, formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University. He received his law degree in 1991, from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Burrell lives in Strafford.
Reeves is a partner in the Caruthersville, Mo., law firm of Ward & Reeves. He was born August 1, 1960, in St. Louis. He received a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1983, and his law degree, cum laude, in 1986, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During law school he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He lives in Caruthersville.
Blunt has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. If the governor should fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.
Carpenters Endorse Steelman, Black Businessmen Throwing Fundraiser
By Antonio D. French
State Treasurer Sarah Steelman announced today that the Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis had endorsed her re-election bid.
"We don't normally endorse candidates before the filing date closes, but we decided to make an exception in this race because Sarah Steelman has demonstrated the qualities we expect from our elected officials," said Terry Nelson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Council.
Steelman is also receiving the support of a group of St. Louis African-American businessmen.
David Stewart, of Worldwide Technology; Charles Kirkwood, of Midwestern Construction; entrepreneur and political operative Tim Person; and former state representative Sherman Parker are hosting a fundraiser for Steelman on December 12.
The event will be at the offices of Midwestern, 1415 Mullanphy, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.
Attorney General Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate for governor, has notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that he plans to return over-limit contributions to his campaign.
Attorney General candidate Chris Koster also notified the Commission that his campaign will also begin the process.
From the Nixon campaign:
"The campaign will return contributions received in excess of the newly reinstated limits in accordance with the Court’s ruling," wrote campaign manager Ken Morley in a letter to the MEC. "We believe that if a candidate has sufficient cash on hand, then returning excess contributions in order to be compliant with the law is not a hardship. We therefore believe that circumstances do not exist under which a candidate for Governor could in good faith request, or that the Ethics Commission could conceivably grant, a hardship in this instance."
From the Koster campaign:
"Today, Missourians for Koster notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that they intend to begin the process of returning contributions from individuals in excess of current contribution limits."
Targeting Illegals: Blunt Proposes "New" Law to Deny Drivers Licenses
By Antonio D. French
Governor Matt Blunt stopped by St. Louis police headquarters Monday to announce his latest step to pull up the welcome mat for illegal immigrants in Missouri.
Blunt proposed making it illegal for "illegals" to get a drivers license. Blunt's Democratic challenger, Attorney General Jay Nixon, wasted no time in pointing out that such a law already exists.
In fact, when questioned about the need for this "new" law, Blunt admitted that of the 110 people arrested since he ordered state Highway Patrol officers to check the immigration status of everyone they pull over, only one was found to have a drivers license.
Donnelly Threatens Action Against Ethics Commission Over Closed Hearings
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Monday, November 26, 2007 at 3:48 PM
State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, a candidate for Attorney General, is threatening legal action against the Missouri Ethics Commission over its plans to hold closed hearings to determine which campaigns would face "hardships" by being forced to return large campaign contributions.
"The people of Missouri are fed up with government behind closed doors," said Donnelly. "If the Missouri Ethics Commission goes forward with its plans for closed hardship hearings, I will file suit and ask the courts to force them into compliance."
The Missouri Ethics Commission notified candidates that they must respond to the commission by November 26 if they have returned or are planning to return over-the-limit contributions. Candidates wanting to keep over-the-limit contributions must respond by December 3. Donnelly returned over-the-limit contributions last quarter, leaving her campaign with considerably less cash on-hand than her Democratic opponents.
A new Zogby Interactive poll confirms what many Democrats already believe: If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, Democrats will lose.
The polls suggests Clinton would lose to every one of the top five Republican presidential contenders. Meanwhile, fellow Democrats Barack Obama of Illinois and John Edwards of North Carolina would defeat every one of the Republicans, this latest survey shows.
CLINTON vs. REPUBLICANS
OBAMA vs. REPUBLICANS
EDWARDS vs. REPUBLICANS
Clinton will be in St. Louis this Sunday, Dec. 2. She will be speaking at the Pageant, 6161 Delmar, at 5:00 PM. This is Sen. Clinton's last trip here before the Iowa primaries. Student tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.hillaryclinton.com/stlouis.
I'm hoping it was overlooked because of the busy news week and not because you people only like controversy, but the least-watched video this week was Gabe's great piece on a group of local kids that spent their Saturday morning learning about hip-hop journalism.
Young Jacqueline Mack dreams of starting her own magazine (Good luck, sister. It's a tough racket.). M.K. Stallings is a young man who volunteers his time to teach young(er) people the beauty and power of words.
This is a story about young people doing good. So watch it, you cynical bastards!
VIDEO: SLCC Professor Suspended for Sexual Abuse At Previous School
By Gabe Bullard
Filed
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Earlier this week, St. Louis Community College (SLCC) suspended music professor Lawrence Stukenholtz for sexual misconduct. Stukenholtz was not suspended for any misdeeds at SLCC, but for incidents at Matter Dei High School in California, a Catholic institution.
Court records show that after reports of sexual relationships and abuse with female minors, Stukenholtz was offered the chance to resign or else face a full investigation. He resigned and eventually wound up teaching music at SLCC.
When one of Stukenholtz's victims, Sarah Gray, found out about his position in St. Louis she contacted the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Local SNAP officials say they told SLCC administrators about Stukenholtz's past, but after no action was taken, they met with Gray and hand-delivered a letter to the school's main office.
Following the delivery, Stukenholtz was suspended.
Gray's legal options against Stukenholtz are limited since she already settled a case, along with other victims.
"The settlement was basically a way for myself and the other girls to move forward," says Gray.
Gray is currently pushing to get Stukenhotlz indicted on charges of sexual abuse of a child in Orange County, California.
PubDef talked with Gray before she and SNAP representatives delivered their letter to the SLCC.
UPDATE: The Missouri Republican Party's response to the Dems new video game:
"While Democrats prefer to spend their time and donor resources on frivolous pursuits in a make-believe world, Governor Blunt and Republicans are focused on real world concerns like improving the quality of life for all Missourians, which is certainly no game.
"Missourians want grownups running the state, not children, which is why Republicans continue to be so successful and Democrats continue to play political games instead of offering solutions."
After the resignation of Ed Martin, Governor Matt Blunt today announced that he has selected Patricia "Trish" Vincent to serve as his new Chief of Staff.
The press release:
“Trish is a competent administrator and a dedicated public servant,” Blunt said. “She has tremendous experience and she knows how to lead and manage people. In her new role as Chief of Staff, Trish will be charged with managing my office, staff and cabinet and helping me move Missouri forward. Specifically, I am directing Trish to continue moving us forward on my priorities for education, job creation, implementing my plan to cover Missouri’s uninsured, fighting illegal immigration to make up for Washington’s failure to act and making state government even more efficient and accountable to taxpayers.”
Vincent, 53 of Jefferson City, currently serves in Gov. Blunt’s Cabinet as the Director of the Department of Revenue where she has served since the beginning of the governor’s administration. As director, Vincent answered the governor’s call to make state government do more with less, to produce savings for taxpayers, all while improving customer service for Missourians.
As director, Vincent managed and oversaw the department’s budget and employees. Vincent also worked closely with the General Assembly in representation of the department’s budget and to advocate for legislative changes.
Under her leadership the Department of Revenue collected over $30 million in unpaid taxes to the state with the department’s new tax compliance data warehouse. Vincent helped improve customer service by extending regular business hours at the agency for Missouri customers. The new Internet site she worked to implement, www.whoisnotpaying.mo.gov, is holding accountable businesses that are behind in sales and withholding taxes. And Missourians are saving over $1 million annually in postage and printing for driver’s license renewals and motor vehicle registrations.
Prior to her service in the governor’s Cabinet, Vincent served as Deputy Secretary of State for business services when the governor served as Secretary of State. As deputy secretary of state Vincent managed the Business Services Department, which includes three Divisions: Corporations, Uniform Commercial Code and Commissions, and Branch Offices for Corporations located in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.
In the Secretary of State’s office, she implemented several new technological improvements, including allowing Missouri’s entrepreneurs and employers to conduct business with the office online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Vincent also served as the In-State Director and District Office Director for former United States Senator John Ashcroft.
“It has been an honor serving in Governor Blunt’s Cabinet and I am excited about taking on this new challenge as his Chief of Staff,” Vincent said. “Governor Blunt has turned the state’s economy around with pro-growth, pro-jobs initiatives that have helped turn the $1.1 billion deficit he inherited into two surpluses in a row. He has kept his promise to increase funding for education every year he has served as governor. He rescued the state’s health care system for the poor. And he cut taxes for Missourians. Governor Blunt has the right vision for our state and I am looking forward to this opportunity to serve and help him make Missouri an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Vincent commended the work of outgoing Chief of Staff Ed Martin who helped the governor achieve his priorities for education, health care and tax cuts during the last legislative session, helped enact an important job-creation bill and transportation infrastructure legislation during the special session and helped implement the governor’s directives to fight illegal immigration in Missouri. Martin will assist Vincent during the transition.
Vincent will begin her new duties immediately. Trish and her husband Larry live in Jefferson City and have two daughters.
Ed Martin, who served as Gov. Matt Blunt's chief of staff, has resigned.
The governor announced this afternoon that Martin, a St. Louis resident, had stepped down from the position to "spend more time with his family." He was a key player in the controversy over the administration's retention of e-mails.
On the "Collateral Damage" radio show Monday night, the hot topic was Mayor Francis Slay's handling of the fire department controversy.
Hosts DJ Wilson and Fred Hessel and guest Antonio French of PubDef.net discussed the appointment of the new fire chief, Dennis Jenkerson; the qualifications of public safety director Charles Bryson; and what "disrespect" has to do with this whole thing.
The mayor's education liaison's PR event with a group of St. Louis Public Schools students Friday got a little too real when a parent asked why recently air conditioned schools were closed and sold off by the past school board supported by Mayor Francis Slay.
Robyn Wahby told parent Yolanda Nelson that the mayor's office had nothing to do with that decision, that it was entirely the decision of the school district, a separate government entity.
Despite Wahby's assertion to a parent, the mayor's office — through Wahby — was indeed very much involved in decisions made by the school boards of 2003 through 2006, including big ones like:
the decision to hire a $425 per hour New York-based corporate "turn-around" firm to run the district for a year;
the decision to close 16 schools (mostly in north St. Louis); and
the decision to outsource the district's food service and maintenance.
"Appointing a fire chief, police chief, or economic development director, or public works director, or streets department director because of his of her race is wrong," said Mayor Francis Slay today standing next to Public Safety Director Charles Bryson.
Slay and Bryson announced Dennis Jenkerson as the new fire chief.
Some important things about today's promotion of Jenkerson as the head of the city's fire department:
Jenkerson is a personal friend of Francis Slay;
Francis Slay changed the rules to by-pass the leading deputy chief candidate, who was black (Historically, only deputy chiefs are considered for chief);
Jenkerson was a battalion chief, a lower rank than deputy chief;
Jenkerson is currently being investigated by St. Louis police for authorizing firefighters under his command to do personal work for lobbyist Lou Hamilton while on duty;
Last week at a press conference in city hall, parents angry at the results of Mayor Francis Slay's years of involvement with the city's public schools joined with organizers of the effort to remove him from office.
The group is angry about Slay's new plan to rapidly expand the number of charter schools in the city. Charter schools are funded by St. Louis Public Schools, which is mandated to pay the schools based on their number of students.
"There has been approximately $60 million diverted from the St. Louis Public Schools," said State Rep. Jamilah Nasheed. "If we want to fix the St. Louis Public Schools we can not continue to take from the St. Louis Public Schools."
Comptroller Darlene Green and License Collector Mike McMillan were among the estimated 350 people who attended a "Unity Rally" yesterday organized by Citizens to Recall Francis G. Slay.
State Representative Jamilah Nasheed, who has been the most visible elected official in the recall effort, served as emcee for the event which was also sponsored by the St. Louis Clergy Coalition and the Gateway Green Alliance. The event took place at the Gateway Classic Foundation building downtown.
According to the event's flyer: "The mayor has a history of playing racial politics, and a history of ignoring the wishes of the people. The Unity Rally is to show the power of the people – of all races – to stand against this racial and social injustice."
I'm scheduled to be a guest on "Collateral Damage" tonight with hosts D.J. Wilson and Fred Hessel. The show is from 7:00 to 7:30 PM and can be heard on KDHX 88.1 FM or online at www.kdhx.org.
On Friday, KMOV Channel 4 interviewed Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, who is the new official local spokesperson for the Barack Obama presidential campaign, and PubDef.net editor Antonio French on the results of a new KMOV/Post-Dispatch poll showing Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani leading their primary races.
Former state rep Joan Barry kicked off her campaign for the State Senate Friday at the IBEW Local 1439 union hall in south St. Louis. Joining her were Dems from across the state, including State Sen. Harry Kennedy, the term-limited Democrat she's seeking to replace.
The host committee of the event included: former Congressman Dick Gephardt, Congressman Russ Carnahan, County Executive Charlie Dooley, County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, State Senators Harry Kennedy and Jeff Smith, State Reps. Sue Schoemehl, Mike Vogt and Pat Yaeger; Democratic Party chairman John Temporiti, and Committeepeople Earl Blasé and Ann Pluemer.
About a dozen teenagers attended a free hip-hop journalism seminar today at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Instructor MK Stallings taught the students composition, reporting and interviewing techniques. The seminar was sponsored by the Urban Artist Alliance for Child Development.
Board member Richard Gaines assured parents and the public that top dollar will be sought for these buildings and that the properties would not be given away or sold for fractions of their value as previous school boards have done.
On Monday, Pine Lawn became the first town in Missouri to ban sagging pants.
According to the ordinance, pants are illegally sagging if they show underwear or skin below the waist. This law applies to males and females.
Those who violate the law face a $100 fine and the parents of violating minors can be charged $500 or sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Mayor Sylvester Caldwell says he received complaints about the fashion from elderly members of the community. Also, he thinks the law will make Pine Lawn more appealing to developers, although no developers specifically said they had a problem with excessively loose pants.
The law has come under fire as a way for police to target young people. Pine Lawn Police Chief Rickey Collins says this is not the case. He points to specific language in the ordinance that says sagging pants are not grounds for search and arrest, and he said he will only issue fines to people who repeatedly sag their pants in public.
Despite criticism, Caldwell believes he has made the right decision by sponsoring the law. He also said other municipalities are interested in similar bans.
VIDEO: City Schools to Examine Bringing Food Services Back In-House
By Antonio D. French
At its regular meeting last night, the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools voted to contract with the Council of Great City Schools to determine the exact cost of bring the district's food services back in-house.
Board member Richard Gaines, who has long questioned the wisdom of the 2003-2004 school board and former superintendent Bill Roberti's decision to outsource food services, said that traditionally food service has always been a source of profit for the district. The other, more important issue, he said, is nutrition.
"The other issue for us must always be nutrition," said Gaines.
At its regular meeting last night, the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools announced the creation of a new Comprehensive Planning Committee, which will begin to look at long-term planning options for the troubled school district. The committee will be headed by board member Richard Gaines.
Caving to mounting public criticism and still-possible legal ramifications, Gov. Matt Blunt today directed his administration to create a permanent e-mail retention system. Blunt says by doing so he is "setting a higher standard in state government and going well beyond present legal requirements."
The governor said he will act to ensure that anyone using a .gov ("dot gov") e-mail address complies with the higher standard, including all statewide officials.
“I take great pride in my administration’s commitment to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars and commitment to accountable and transparent government. Our state has an open records law and we have followed it. But there is confusion in state government about e-mail retention. For example, some state officials who claim to retain all emails in fact do not. That confusion is not acceptable to me. I am directing the Office of Administration to develop a system allowing for the permanent retention of every e-mail throughout all of state government. I expect all elected officials to cooperate with the Office of Administration in establishing this new and higher standard of openness.
“Because retention will be automatic and permanent, state employees will be released from making case-by-case decisions on what to save. All state e-mails will be retained and be open to the public for its inspection, subject only to the limited and well-defined exceptions where legal and privacy concerns apply.
“This standard will prevent what has happened in Attorney General Nixon’s office, where the spokesperson said that e-mails are routinely deleted, and e-mail record requests to the Attorney General’s Chief of Staff are returned with very significant gaps in time.
“I expect every statewide official, members of the legislature, independent agencies, the judicial branch and anyone using a state government e-mail account to retain every e-mail they send and receive. Transparency and accountability should be bipartisan values.”
Governor Blunt has directed the Office of Administration to develop the computer and technical systems required for permanent maintenance of every state government e-mail. He says he expects their plan as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the year.
UPDATE @ 10:36 AM: As expected, Missouri Democrats are unimpressed by Blunt's new appreciation for the importance of government e-mails.
"Missouri law already states clearly that e-mails are public records and must be retained. Matt Blunt is in this mess not because the law isn’t clear, but because he clearly isn’t following the law," said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. "It’s a sad day when the only person in state government that refuses to acknowledge this law exists is Gov. Blunt."
"The other troubling part of the governor’s announcement is that it only regulates government email addresses," said Cardetti. "The governor's office has admitted that Gov. Blunt and his senior staff use political email addresses to discuss state business, thereby, evading the sunshine and record retention law. It would appear that the governor’s new retention system applies to everyone in state government except for his office."
Of the more than 32,000 students that attend St. Louis Public Schools, only slightly more than 4,000 of them are white. Despite whites making up only 14% of the district population, two out of every five seats in some of the city's best schools — top-performing magnet schools — are reserved for white children. And because so few of their parents are choosing to send their kids to SLPS, many of those seats go unfilled, despite the fact that waiting lists of black students wanting to attend these good schools grow longer every year.
Yesterday, at a public meeting of parties in the Liddell v. The Board of Education case (the historic desegregation case which led to 15 years of court-ordered busing between city and suburban districts), teachers union president Mary Armstrong asked the parties if they would consider releasing those empty seats to black students whose families are desperate for better educational opportunities.
Armstrong said many of those families choose charter schools because they are turned away from SLPS magnets, costing the district millions of dollars every year.
In this exclusive video Armstrong mentions Mayor Francis Slay's plan to aggressively expand the number of charter schools in the city, which will put further economic strain on the district. And attorney William L. Taylor, the lead lawyer in the desegregation case, asks Armstrong her position on pay-for-performance plans for teachers.
St. Louis Congressman Lacy Clay was all smiles Friday night as he and visiting House majority whip Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC) helped raised over $100,000 for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The fundraiser was held at the home of Bob and Ellen Clark. Bob Clark is the founder, chairman and CEO of Clayco Construction Company.
Pictured are Lewis McKinney, an executive with Anheuser-Busch, James Clyburn and Clay.
Calloway Jumps Into Mayoral Recall Fight -- Against the Recallers
By Antonio D. French
Last week St. Louis County state representative candidate Don Calloway, Jr. penned a letter to the St. Louis American questioning the strategy of those involved in the effort to recall St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay. Calloway, an attorney at the firm Thompson Coburn (as of July, Calloway is now with the firm Lathrop & Gage) and a political newbie, is running in the district currently represented by Ester Haywood, who is term-limited.
Whatever justification there may be for the criticism [against Slay], the current recall effort is possibly the most horrendous thing the anti-Slay contingent could have come up with ...
... A recall, similar to any other election, is a battle of campaign finance. The pro-Slay contingent will be raising lots of cash to combat the recall. The pro-recall committee doesn’t have the support of an established political base to give enough money to make the recall effort viable. Furthermore, political donations are public record. This will force otherwise-closeted supporters who could give big money to support a recall into the open, which many are not willing to risk.
The Slay for Mayor October 2007 quarterly report shows $318,000 on hand, every penny of which can be lawfully used to battle a recall. Strategically, the pro-recall committee has helped Slay, by giving him a golden opportunity to raise money that will eventually go to his 2009 reelection effort...
Most importantly, the pro-recall effort will weaken the moral authority and political viability of our most important advocacy group: the St. Louis Clergy Coalition.
Contrary to mainstream media reports, the recall is NOT a Clergy Coalition thing, it is a Rev. Douglas Parham thing. As president of the coalition, Parham had to have known that taking a stand as the face of the recall would paint the entire coalition as being in support. This is not the case. At the Oct. 21 recall rally, coalition members in support included Parham and the Rev. James T. Morris, who as a candidate for the state House can take political stances. Where were the Revs. Sammy Jones, Earl Nance Jr. or E.G. Shields? The recall is not a Clergy Coalition endeavor.
Calloway's letter fails to mention that Rev. Shields is his campaign treasurer.
In response, local activist Eric Vickers, who is one of the organizers of the recall effort, wrote an open letter to Calloway defending the strategy and attacking the young candidate for his old thinking.
[Calloway's] claim that the recall is infeasible because it "doesn’t have the support of an established political base," is indicative of the racial paradox that has stymied the collective progress by blacks in this city. That paradox, simply put, is the difference between talk and action, the difference between black leaders being captive or being free.
Too many of this city’s black leaders (and blacks in positions like Calloway) live in a benign state of captivity in which they dare not confront the powers that crush beloved black men like Sherman George. They are as afraid today to face and fight a mayor as Frederick Douglas was initially with his slave master. They say it is a difference of means and methods and approaches, but in the end it is fear.
In the end, they are leaders who, as Douglas poetically put it, "profess to favor freedom and deprecate agitation," but "want crops without plowing up the ground…rain without thunder and lightning."
In the end, they will realize that Douglas is right about Mayor Slay: "power concedes nothing without a demand."
Click here to read Calloway's full letter. Click here to read Vickers' full response.
State Rep. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) will be holding a press conference Wednesday to announce a schedule of investigative hearings and legislation to address the AP findings and Missouri's disproportionately high ranking.
A victim will be sharing her personal story of sexual abuse by a teacher who is still teaching in Missouri. PTA representatives will be on hand to alert parents and teachers of the importance of parent involvement and learning the "red flags" for spotting sexual abuse.
The press conference is tomorrow, Nov. 14, at 10:30 AM in the House Lounge of the state capitol.
When Mayor Francis Slay informed St. Louis Public Schools CEO Rick Sullivan of his plan to push for a rapid expansion of charter schools in the city in a meeting last week, according to a source close to the situation, Sullivan voiced his strong objection — to the surprise of the mayor.
Sullivan, the governor-appointed leader of the district who is still in need of senate confirmation, testified just two weeks ago before the Joint Committee on Education that charter schools hurt St. Louis Public Schools financially.
"At some point you introduce so many alternatives that you reduce the revenue that it takes to run a successful school district," Sullivan was quoted as saying by the Post-Dispatch. Sullivan stopped short of asking legislators to address the issue.
But Slay is asking legislators to do something: give him the power to grant charters.
State Senator Jeff Smithsponsored legislation last session that would have given the mayor exactly that. It is very likely similar legislation will again be introduced next year.
In the meantime, Slay is wasting no time. His office is sending invitations to organizations across the country to come to St. Louis.
This is just the latest step the mayor has taken to reform public education in St. Louis. His earlier efforts have proven disastrous for the district:
In 2003, Slay backed four candidates to run for school board. With his support, the new majority outsourced the management of the district to a New York-based corporate turn-around firm. For $425-an-hour and an expenses-paid $2,400-a-month suite at the Chase Park Plaza, Bill Roberti, a man with no educational experience at all and an often palpable disdain for poor people, was made superintendent of SLPS. Roberti and his firm left town after a tumultuous 13 months with more than $5 million in their pockets and the district still in financial crisis.
In 2004, Slay appointed Veronica O'Brien to the school board. Enough said.
In 2005, the district slipped further away from accreditation due to decreasing test scores and graduation rate. Slay's school board also blew through five superintendents between 2003 and 2005, leaving state officials concerned about stability in the district.
After seeing all four of his school board candidates elected in 2003, the mayor was only able to see one (Flint Fowler) of his three candidates elected in the next election. And in 2006, Slay saw voters reject his board majority in a huge upset election.
Within days of the April election, the mayor's office began secret communications with state education officials about doing away with the school board entirely.
SLPS Student Accuses Teacher of "Inappropriate Behavior"
By Gabe Bullard
Filed
Thursday, November 08, 2007 at 4:39 PM
A Gateway Elementary student has accused a teacher of misconduct. Details have not yet been released, but the teacher has been suspended.
From Superintendent Diana Bourisaw:
A student in the St. Louis Public Schools has accused a district employee of inappropriate behavior. Because this is a sensitive matter involving a student and teacher at an elementary school, there are few details that I can share at this time.
The student attends Gateway Elementary, where the employee works. Based on information we currently have, no one witnessed the alleged incident. Still, in accordance with district policy, the teacher was suspended with pay, pending completion of a state investigation. The district was informed of the allegations at the end of the school day on Tuesday, November 6. The employee’s suspension went into effect immediately. That individual has not been present at the school since the allegations were made.
The school district has no indication that the employee was involved in inappropriate behavior. Based on information we have at this time, no one witnessed the alleged behavior. The veteran teacher, up to now, had a spotless record.
Letters have been sent home with students, informing parents of this situation. Counselors will be made available to students, should they need them.
As a school district, we are troubled by any report that an employee engaged in inappropriate behavior. For this reason, the district will fully cooperate with authorities.
Protecting the welfare of all students and proving a safe, secure learning environment is our first priority.
The following letter was sent to parents:
Dear Parents:
In an effort to provide accurate information to the school community, I want to inform you of a sensitive situation. Within a few hours, you may see news reports involving a staff member at Gateway Elementary. As a principal, I value my responsibility to share information with our parents. For this reason, I am providing the following details – hopefully before you learn about them elsewhere.
One of our students has accused a teacher of inappropriate behavior. Because this is a sensitive matter involving an employee of the district, there are few details that I can share with you at this time. I can say that based on information that I have at this point, no one witnessed the alleged behavior.
In accordance with district policy, the teacher has been suspended with pay, pending the outcome of a state investigation. The individual has not been present at the school since the allegations were made.
The school district had no indication that the employee was involved in inappropriate behavior. The employee is a veteran teacher, who, up until now, has had a spotless record.
We understand the concerns and questions you or your child may have about this report and subsequent developments, should they surface. As a school district, we are deeply troubled by any report that a teacher may have engaged in inappropriate behavior. Therefore, the school district will cooperate with authorities. Counselors will be available for the students, should they need them. Parents with concerns are invited to contact me.
In the meantime, please be assured that protecting the welfare of all students and providing a safe, secure learning environment is our first priority.
In a crowded union hall Wednesday, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced his group's support of Attorney General Jay Nixon for governor.
Nixon accepted the endorsement and gave a speech outlining his plan to improve workers' rights and his willingness to fight current governor, Matt Blunt, for control of the state.
"They're going to spend $25 million saying bad things about me in the next 363 days," said Nixon. "And I'm ready to rumble."
French, Rosenbaum, & Martin to Address Mizzou Journalism Students Tonight
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Wednesday, November 07, 2007 at 7:21 AM
As more media publications become converged, what challenges do professional reporters face? That's the subject of tonight's panel discussion "Clashes in Convergence?: Challenges of working in Dual Mediums" on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO.
Speakers include: Jason Rosenbaum, reporter and blog writer for the Columbia Daily Tribune; Brent Martin, managing editor of MissouriNet; and yours truly, Antonio French, editor of PubDef.net.
The program starts at 7:00 PM in 110 Lee Hills Hall.
Congressman Lacy Clay will be endorsing the campaign of Rev. James Morris, who is running for the state House seat currently occupied by Rep. Rodney Hubbard*, who's running for the state senate. Clay earlier announced his endorsement of Hubbard's senate bid.
Rev. James T. Morris, pastor of Lane Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, will officially kick off his canvassing activities on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The event will be held on the parking lot of SEIU, Local 2000 offices, 5585 Pershing Ave. Clay will be on hand to publicly announce his endorsement of Morris.
From the press release:
In addition to Lacy Clay, the following elected officials have endorsed Morris: Alderman Terry Kennedy (18th Ward), Alderman Frank Williamson, State Reps. Robin Wright-Jones (63 rd District), Esther Haywood (71st District), Rachel Storch (64th District), and Juanita Head Walton (69th District), and 2nd Ward Committeewoman Mattie Moore.
Below is a partial list of many clergy and community leaders who have endorsed Morris: Rev. Sammie Jones, Rev. Douglas Parham, Bishop Willie J. Ellis, Rev. Anthony Witherspoon, Rev. Charles Brown, Rabbi Susan Talve, Sherman George, James Buford, Mary J. Armstrong, Zaki Baruti, Gary Boyd, Bernie Hayes, Ollie May Stewart, and Atty. Donnell Smith.
Morris is running against Sam Coleman. Coleman is being backed by License Collector Mike McMillan, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard, and Alderman April Ford-Griffin. *Hubbard is a client of A D French & Assoc.
Mayor Francis Slay has declared today Board of Election Commissioners Day. According to the Board, the Mayor cited the group's accuracy, staff and public outreach efforts as reasons for the declaration.
The official proclamation says the Board has "Systematically implemented policies and procedures to ensure the responsible execution of the requirements established by the Help America Vote Act and applicable state statutes."
But this isn't the first honor the city has given the BOEC. Last month, the Board of Aldermen passed a resolution praising the group's efficiency.
Still no word on a BOEC Day feast or gift-opening ceremony.
Recallers Call Out Buford, Brown, Motten, Smith: "Ought to Be Ashamed!"
By Gabe Bullard
The Citizens to Support Fire Chief George have harsh words for some elected officials and public figures.
"You have betrayed us," group chairman Rev. Douglas Parham said of State Senator Jeff Smith.
The attack came on reports that Smith and several other officials – including Urban League CEO Jim Buford, Committeeman Claude Brown, and John Motten of the Black Leadership Roundtable – were working with Mayor Francis Slay on a task force to address racial diversity.
In a press conference at City Hall today, Parham called the idea a "farce," saying the group would be made up of Slay's cronies and it would not make progress.
"He is trying to use black leaders to camouflage his racism and utter disregard for the black community" said Parham.
The task force has not yet been formed, and when asked about rumors that it was never planned, Parham said that means his group has already crushed the idea.
Parnham was joined by State Representative Jamilah Nasheed, who called for Mayor Slay's recall. The Citizens to Support Fire Chief George support recall efforts.
The St. Louis stop of a national tour to raise awareness of the genocide in Darfur has been booked to capacity. Voices From Darfur, a speaking tour of Darfuri refugees is scheduled at SLU's Busch Center tonight, but every one of the 310 open seats has been reserved.
"We had so much interest that we had to take reservations," says Cecilia Nadal of Gitana Productions, the event's local sponsor. "We booked every seat...it's a good problem it have."
The event will feature stories of genocide told by those who lived them. While the purpose is to raise awareness, groups will be on hand to take donations.
Gitana Productions are sponsoring Voices From Darfur in preparation of an original play they will present next year. Written by St. Louis Lee Patton Chiles, the play will be based entirely on true stories from Darfur.
Former St. Louis Fire Chief Sherman George will receive an award from the St. Louis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU).
George is receiving the Ernest and De Verne Calloway award for continuing – according to CBTU – "In the legacy of the husband and wife team of Ernest and De Verne Calloway of St. Louis and to the causes they championed."
Ernest Calloway was the Director of Education for Teamster's Local 688 and De Verne was the first African-American female State Representative elected to the Missouri Legislature. The team championed causes such as civil and labor rights.
Roosevelt Broadnax will also receive a Calloway award. The ceremony will be held Saturday at 6:00 PM in the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown. Tickets are $60.
Democrat Mike Garman made his bid for the 2nd District Congressional seat official today. The office is currently held by Republican Todd Akin. Garman is the Vice Chairman of the St. Charles County Ambulance District, and he says his campaign will focus heavily on health care issues.
From the press release:
Mike currently holds elected office as Vice Chairman of the Saint Charles County Ambulance District and is the 6th District Director. The 6th District covers parts of Saint Peters and O’Fallon, as well as Lake Saint Louis, Wentzville and Foristell.
Healthcare will be a major issue for Garman’s campaign. With 19 years of experience in the field, Mike is acutely aware of the medical needs facing residents of his district and is an impressive advocate for patients. He noted recent changes in medical insurance that have placed an ever-increasing burden on the elderly and their families.
“Access to the prevention, treatment, and management of disease must be a right, not a privilege,” Garman said. “When I’m elected, I’ll make sure affordable healthcare is available to the good people of the 2nd Congressional District and everyone living in our nation.”
Mike is currently a Radiologic Technologist for Saint John’s Mercy and specializes in Urgent Care Diagnostic Imaging.
At a panel discussion yesterday on race and politics, Shamed Dogan, a Republican candidate for state representative in west St. Louis County, slammed Congressman Lacy Clay for his stance against a white member of Congress attempting to join the Congressional Black Caucus.
VIDEO: Dogan and Nadal Spar Over Race and a "Color-Blind" Society
By Antonio D. French
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
At a panel discussion on race and politics yesterday, Democratic State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Republican State Rep. candidate Shamed Dogan sparred over Dogan's assertion that intermarriage is one of the best ways to reach a "color-blind" society.
