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The brother of Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton, who allegedly walked into the Kirkwood city hall today and shot seven people, including the mayor, two city council people, and two police officers, told Channel 4 News tonight that he is "okay" with what his brother did.
"Let me put it in a context that you might understand," Gerald Thornton told the reporter. "My brother went to war tonight with the people that were of the government that was putting torment and strife into his life."
The following statement comes from the Organization for Black Struggle:
"All We Want is Justice!"
That was the last statement made by Charles "Cookie" Thorton before he opened fire in Kirkwood City Hall. The tragedy in Kirkwood, MO where six people lost their lives is a result of the continuation of racial tensions that bubble and erupt.
The Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) is saddened by the preventable loss of life and the impending sorrow that will grip the affected families and community. We hope that the City will seriously begin to address the racism and deep feelings of disenfranchisement by African-Americans who reside in Meacham Park.
OBS Chair Jamala Rogers talked with Thornton last year as the trial of Kevin Johnson was underway. Johnson was on trial for the 2005 murder of Kirkwood police officer William McEntee.
"Cookie Thornton was adamant that he was not going to be intimidated, disrespected or dismissed by the City," stated Rogers, "and as a black man in America, that has consequences." Rogers encouraged Thornton to stand up to the injustices but also cautioned him to be careful. Most of Thornton's protest actions were solo including his interaction with the courts where he served as his own legal counsel.
OBS urges the Mayor and Police Chief to take some leadership and immediately bring the community together to resolve divisive and deadly issues which keep getting glossed over. Beefing up security in City Hall is merely a bandaid for a festering cancer in the City of Kirkwood.
According to a story published just today on FirstAmendmentCenter.org, Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton, who allegedly walked into the Kirkwood City Hall and shot seven people, including Mayor Mike Swoboda, had just lost a federal court case in which he claimed his First Amendment rights were violated after he was removed from Kirkwood City Council meetings for "repetitive, personal, virulent attacks" against council members.
A federal judge in Missouri has rejected the First Amendment claims of a man removed from Kirkwood City Council meetings for “repetitive, personal, virulent attacks” against council members.
Charles Lee Thornton had sued the city of Kirkwood after he was arrested twice (and later convicted) for disorderly conduct at two council meetings in 2006.
In May 2006, Thornton had the opportunity to speak during the public-comment portion of a council meeting that addressed the expansion of two businesses — a funeral home and a senior living facility. During the time reserved to discuss the funeral home, Thornton rose to speak about what he alleged was personal harassment of him by city officials, not the expansion of the business. He displayed a large poster with a picture of a donkey and made intemperate remarks about the mayor. Thornton then warned the funeral home owner that the city had a “plantation-mentality” and “jackass-like qualities.”
Thornton engaged in similar conduct after the presentation about the senior living center. He said the mayor was “sitting there looking stupid.” The mayor eventually ordered Thornton to leave the podium and called the police. When the police came to the podium, Thornton sat on the floor and refused to leave. He was arrested and later convicted of disorderly conduct. He has appealed his conviction to a state appeals court.
Similar events occurred at a June 2006 City Council meeting. During the public-comment portion, Thornton was allowed to speak, at which point he began: “Jackass, jackass, jackass … .” Eventually the mayor asked the police to remove Thornton, who again sat on the floor. Once again he was arrested and convicted of disorderly conduct.
Thornton later filed a federal lawsuit, contending that his First Amendment rights had been violated. U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry disagreed in her Jan. 28, 2008, opinion in Thornton v. City of Kirkwood. She applied a forum analysis, determining that the public comment portion of the meetings constituted a limited designated public forum that the city could reserve for certain groups and topics of discussion. She did not find the public-comment period to be a traditional public forum in which government restrictions on speech must pass strict scrutiny — the highest form of judicial review.
She noted that there was substantial confusion in the lower courts over the terms “limited public forum” and “designated public forum.” Perry ruled that a limited designated public forum is a subclass of a designated public forum in which restrictions on speech must be reasonable and viewpoint-neutral.
“As the meeting was a limited designated public forum, Kirkwood had the right to restrict the topic of discussion to the expansion of two businesses,” Perry wrote. Rather than addressing germane subject matter, “Thornton engaged in personal attacks against the mayor, Kirkwood, and the city council.
“Any restrictions on Thornton’s speech were reasonable, viewpoint neutral, and served important governmental interests,” Perry wrote. “Because Thornton does not have a First Amendment right to engage in irrelevant debate and to voice repetitive, personal, virulent attacks against Kirkwood and its city officials during the comment portion of a city council public hearing, his claim fails as a matter of law.”
Gov. Matt Blunt has issued the following statement:
“Tonight our fellow Missourians in the city of Kirkwood were terrorized by a senseless and horrific crime at an open government meeting. We know at this hour that this crime has resulted in the loss of life and an investigation is under way.
“The men and women of Highway Patrol Troop C responded to the reports of the shooting and were on the scene to assist the Kirkwood Police Department and St. Louis County law enforcement. I have directed the Highway Patrol to provide whatever resources are needed to assist local law enforcement in response to this horrific crime.
“I join Missourians tonight in praying for the victims, their families and friends, and everyone in the community of Kirkwood.”
State Rep. Brad Robinson (D-Bonne Terre) and his wife were reportedly caught on camera driving away after hitting a man with their pickup truck. Robinson has been charged with a felony hit-and-run while his wife is accused of lying to police by saying she was the driver.
Police say Robinson's wife, Tara, first told them they saw a man in the ditch and tried to help. She later told them she was driving a pick-up truck when she struck something and went back and saw a man laying on the side of the road. At the time, the other passengers as well as Brad and Tara Robinson said Tara was the driver.
Later, police found surveillance video of the Robinson vehicle pulling into the parking lot of the North County High School. Police say the video shows Brad Robinson leaving the driver's side of the trucka nd switching positions in the vehicle with his wife.
After another interview, all the people in the Robinson truck said Tara Robinson was in fact the driver of the vehicle when the man was struck.
St. Louis County state rep. John Bowman, the former chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of paying a Bank of America vice president $1,000 to influence the approval of a false credit application.
Bowman faces up to one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. According to the Post-Dispatch, officials said he will likely get probation as part of the deal. The Post also reports Bowman has agreed to resign his office at the end of the month and not run for office while on probation.
The political blog "The Turner Report" says State Rep. John Bowman may change his plea today from not guilty to guilty.
Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis, the final defendant in a bank and credit card fraud scheme, is scheduled to change his plea, which is currently not guilty, today in U. S. District Court in St. Louis.
According to court records, the session is set for 10:30 a.m. before Judge Henry Edward Autrey. Bowman's trial was scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 4.
The other defendants in the case have either pleaded guilty, or in the case of the ringleader of the scheme in which Bowman was allegedly involved, former Bank of America Vice President Robert Conner, been found guilty by a federal jury in December.
Conner is free on $65,000 bond while awaiting his sentencing, which is scheduled for Feb. 20.
Conner and Bowman were indicted in January 2007 by a federal grand jury, which said Bowman and his co-defendants agreed to a scheme in which Conner took a bank lending program which provided money to small businesses by offering a $25,000 credit limit, then arranged with the other defendants to apply for the loans, often with fictitious companies, then give Conner kickbacks ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 on each loan.
According to the indictment, Conner approved $1,213,970 in fraudulent loans.
The Missouri Republican Party today slammed the Democrats for three elected officials' hig-profile run-ins with the law.
From the GOP press release:
In a stunning miscarriage of justice, Democrat Sen. Chuck Graham will not face the same mandatory revocation of his driver’s license that other Missourians would face after being convicted of drunken driving. Meanwhile, Democrat Rep. John Bowman is set to plead guilty in St. Louis on federal fraud charges while Democrat Jeff Smith is in court in Cooper County over his illegal entry to a Missouri casino.
“Missouri Democrats are a disgrace for violating the very laws they are sworn to uphold on behalf of hard-working Missourians. It is disturbing to most Missourians that an ever-increasing number of Democrat lawmakers are being exposed as lawbreakers,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “With their ongoing pattern of malfeasance, Missouri Democrats are the last people Missourians want to hear a lecture from regarding the behavior of elected officials. Even more disturbing is that the head of the Democrat Party, Jay Nixon, is the attorney general of the state.”
The Columbia Daily-Tribune reports that after a two-minute hearing, Boone County Associate Circuit Judge Carol England reinstated Graham’s license even though a mandatory suspension of his license is required because he refused a Breathalyzer test. Ironically, Graham serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee that hears bills proposing new Missouri laws.
“Obviously, there is one justice system for Democrats like Chuck Graham and another justice system for average, hard-working Missourians,” Sloca said.
Smith, who was charged last year for using a fellow Democrat lawmaker’s identification to enter the Isle of Capri casino in Boonville, is facing a hearing in Cooper County today on those charges. Democrat Joe Aull, who provided the identification to Smith, is scheduled for his hearing in February. Smith also serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Jeff Smith violated the law and now he must face the consequences, although Smith has spent months hiding behind his attorney’s legal maneuvering,” Sloca said.
The Turner Report today says that Bowman is going to change his plea from not guilty to guilty for his role in a bank and credit card fraud scheme in U.S. District Court. Bowman was indicted for agreeing to a scheme in which a bank executive took a lending program which provided money to small businesses by offering a $25,000 credit limit, then arranged with Bowman and others to apply for the loans, often with fictitious companies, in which the executive received kickbacks ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 on each loan. Incredibly, Bowman serves on the House Budget Committee which handles taxpayer dollars.
“John Bowman broke the public trust and must be punished as any other Missourian would be punished. Democrats must realize that they are not above the law,” Sloca said.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is the largest police department in the state. Even though one third of the City of St. Louis' budget ($140 million annually) goes toward funding the department, it is controlled by the State of Missouri through appointments made by the governor and confirmed by the senate.
The current police chief, Joe Mokwa, was appointed on May 11, 2001.
Internal police department auditors discovered as much as $40,000 in cash was stolen from the evidence room in the basement of St. Louis Police Headquarters. Though Chief Joe Mokwa was informed about the theft this summer, it was not made public until mid-September.
Despite police officers stealing everything from World Series baseball tickets to cash without any serious consequences, the governor-appointed police board and Mayor Francis Slay continued to voice their complete confidence in Mokwa (even if his own officers felt otherwise).
On August 15, rookie cop Norvelle Brown was killed while patrolling alone on the city's north side. His death and the department's regular practice of sending inexperienced officers fresh out of the academy to patrol the toughest neighborhoods in the city all alone are two of several reasons mentioned for why the Police Officers' Association later voted "no confidence" in the leadership of Police Chief Joe Mokwa.
Gov. Matt Blunt gave the kind of Christmas gift Sunday that only a governor can give.
Blunt announced his decision to pardon Alicia Allison-Brown, Jesse Barnes, James Birdwell, Sr., Craig Johnson, Robert Jordan and Carl Smart, who all were convicted of non-violent offenses years ago and have since, according to Blunt, become and remained law-abiding citizens.
None of the people pardoned were currently in prison and several of them committed their crimes decades ago and were only sentenced to probation, which they have long ago completed.
More from the governor's office on the people who were pardoned:
In 1990, at the age of 23, Alicia Allison-Brown was convicted of stealing. She was sentenced to four years probation and 120-day shock incarceration. Ms. Brown applied for pardon in 2005. Ms. Allison-Brown is married with one child. She is a member of FEMA Missouri Task Force I, serving as a Canine Search Specialist and trained in Tech Rescue
In 1961, at the age of 24, Jesse Barnes was convicted of 2nd degree arson. He was sentenced to three years in prison and paroled after serving five months. He successfully completed his parole. Mr. Barnes applied for pardon in 2006. Mr. Barnes is a self-employed and professional painter. He has been married for 40 years and has three children as well as grandchildren.
In 1963, at the age of 20, James Birdwell, Sr., was convicted of malicious destruction of property. He received a one year suspended sentence and two years of probation. Mr. Birdwell applied for pardon in 2003. Mr. Birdwell has owned a small construction business for nine years and previously worked for the Kansas City Star for more than 10 years. He has been married for 45 years and has five children and 17 grandchildren
In 1985, at the age of 19, Craig Johnson was convicted of the crime of stealing. He was sentenced to three years probation. Mr. Johnson applied for pardon in 2004. Mr. Johnson is a minister and chaplain in the U.S. Army where he has achieved the rank of Captain. He served in the first Gulf War where he received numerous decorations and awards.
In 1990, at the age of 21, Robert Jordan was convicted of the crime of stealing. He was sentenced to two years probation. Mr. Jordan applied for pardon in 2003. Mr. Jordan and his wife have three children and serve their community as Emergency Medical Technicians.
In 1980, at the age of 28, Carl Smart was convicted of 2nd degree arson and deceitful stealing. He was sentenced to five years probation, which he completed successfully. Mr. Smart applied for a pardon in 2004. Mr. Smart is a Navy veteran and has worked for the United States Postal Service for 30 years. He is married with three children and one grandchild.
"Ms. Allison-Brown, Mr. Barnes, Mr. Birdwell, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Smart have paid for their mistakes," said Gov. Blunt. "It is my hope and belief that they will continue to be productive citizens."
Missouri’s Probation and Parole Board unanimously recommended that a pardon be issued in all cases. Local law enforcement were not opposed to the four receiving a pardon. In addition each person receiving a pardon has support from their local community, including elected officials, religious leaders, community leaders or neighbors.
The following press release is from the St. Louis City Election Board in response to today's indictment of eight former ACORN workers on charges of voter registration fraud:
Earlier today, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of the State of Missouri, Catherine L. Hanaway, announced that eight former employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, were indicted in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on federal election violations. The indictments come approximately thirteen months after the City of St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners turned over to federal investigators, thousands of voter registration cards that had been submitted for processing to the Board by ACORN.
These voter registration cards contained fraudulent signatures, improper and inaccurate voter information, and duplicative and incorrect names. Included in the voter registration cards that were patently fraudulent was a voter registration card and signature attributed to a fifteen year old girl whose mother alerted the Board that no such card and signature had been completed.
"These voter registration cards were brazenly fraudulent, and we are pleased that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is taking steps to properly prosecute those who commit voter registration fraud," stated Republican Director Scott Leiendecker.
"The Board will continue to vigorously investigate any and all allegations of election fraud and refer any incidents to the appropriate law enforcement authorities."
Eight voter registration workers, employed by The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), have been indicted on election fraud charges in connection with the November 2006 general election, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) is a not-for-profit organization and during 2006 maintained and operated an office at 4304 Manchester Avenue in the City of St. Louis, in part to conduct a voter registration drive for the November 7, 2006 general election.
Project Vote is a not-for-profit organization that works with ACORN to register voters for federal and local elections. Project Vote funded ACORN in the 2006 voter registration drive.
“The allegations of Election Fraud announced today represent criminal activities which undermine the public’s confidence in government. This type of criminal activity should not be tolerated by citizens of the community,” said Hanaway. “We intend to investigate vigorously, and prosecute fully, any allegations of fraud in our election system.”
ACORN and Project Vote recruited and employed workers to obtain voter registrations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County during 2006. The workers were trained and instructed by ACORN and Project Vote on how to obtain voter registrations and how to prepare voter registration applications, which included training and instruction that the actual voter must sign the voter application and that a forged signature is a violation of the law.
The indictment alleges that from July through October 2006, the eight defendants indicted today were employed by ACORN as voter registration workers to obtain voter registrations in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. They are charged with multiple counts of election fraud for submitting false voter registration applications to the St. Louis City and St. Louis County Board of Election Commissions falsely stating addresses, names and other information of the voters being registered, and which contained forged signatures of the purported applicants, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1973i(c) and 1973 gg-10, election fraud.
The indicted individuals are:
BRIAN BLAND, St. Louis, Missouri
BOBBIE JEAN CHEEKS, a/k/a Dorothy Jones and Bobbie Tobert, St. Louis, Missouri
CORTEZ COWAN, St. Louis, Missouri
GOLDEN GIBSON, St. Louis, Missouri
RADONNA MARIE SMITH, St. Louis, Missouri
ANTHONY M. RELIFORD, St. Louis, Missouri
KENNETH DEMOND WILLIAMS, St. Louis, Missouri
TYAIRA L. WILLIAMS, a/k/a Tootsie Roll, St. Louis, Missouri
If convicted, each count of 42 U.S.C. Section 1973i(c) carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and/or fines up to $ 10,000. Each count of 42 U.S.C. Section 1973gg-10 carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
In discussions with the United States Attorney’s Office, ACORN has agreed to implement a plan to improve voter registration and quality control procedures. ACORN is planning to strengthen the system it has to monitor and address performance problems, and has agreed to meet with prosecutors to discuss how best to report possible illegal activity. ACORN has agreed that comprehensive training will be required of all quality control and management staff. ACORN has agreed to the creation of a General Counsel position to monitor ACORN programs, and who will communicate with local election officials to address problems. Further, ACORN has agreed to assign a 13-year ACORN veteran and Missouri Head Organizer to St. Louis full time to personally oversee any future voter registration drive.
“The FBI is committed to investigating all instances of election fraud to ensure the integrity of our democratic system,” said John Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, St. Louis.
Hanaway acknowledged the assistance of the St. Louis and St. Louis County Election Boards and commended the work performed on the case by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service and Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Former state rep. Nathan Cooper was sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has approved for circulation a petition drive to get on the 2008 ballot a measure to ban most abortions in the state.
Attorney General candidate Chris Koster* picked up the endorsement of the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police.
Democrat Mike Evans dropped out of the race for lieutenant governor, leaving the nomination open for State Rep. Sam Page.
While the parents, media and lawmakers look for someone to punish for the suicide of Megan Meier, others wonder how Internet postings could possibly drive someone to suicide.
"What if the boyfriend was real?" asked a friend of mine. "What if he dumped her, called her a [vulgar name] and she ran home and killed herself? Would they try to prosecute him?"
Good question. While the link to the popular social networking website MySpace has made this St. Charles tragedy a worldwide story, the media's thirst for sensationalism mixed with politicians' opportunism has really left common sense and any idea of personal responsibility at the roadside.
Shouldn't a 13-year-old be able to handle "meanness" better than this? Or is this newly-coined "cyber-bullying" really a new, more menacing threat to young people, as an editorial in the Post-Dispatch claimed today:
"The pervasiveness of technology, including cell phones, e-mail and instant messaging, coupled with the anonymity it bestows, makes electronic harassment less escapable and more effective. Bullies no longer lurk only in school hallways and playgrounds; now, they slip right into a child's bedroom, wreaking havoc even when school is out."
Really? Are emails really more scary than three bigger kids beating the hell out of you everyday at lunch? Because sticks and stones can indeed break your bones. Words — well, they can be hurtful too, but at 13 years-old aren't kids at least responsible enough for their own actions as to rule out the words of a faceless boy or girl as the reason for them killing themselves?
Ironically, at the same time newspapers, TV news, and the girl's parents are arguing that 13-year-old Megan was not responsible for her own actions, a St. Louis County judge sentenced young Sherman Burnett Jr. to 60 years in prison for a crime he committed when he was — you guessed it — 13 years-old.
So which is it, Missouri? Are 13 year-olds responsible for themselves or not?
Because if they are, young Sherman should go to jail for a very long time for kidnapping, beating and sexually assaulting his 6 year-old neighbor. And young Megan was old enough to know what the hell she was doing when she decided to take her own life. No words from someone she never met caused her suicide.
Or is someone else really responsible for causing Megan to hang herself in her room, because as a child, Megan was manipulated and harassed to the point of her own suicide and, like young Sherman, had no concept yet how precious life — theirs or others — actually is.
So which one is it, Missouri? What are 13 year-old kids responsible for — your kids and mine?
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.
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."
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.
Coming Soon: New Gang Documentary features Local Pols, Young People
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Monday, November 05, 2007 at 8:37 AM
The final touches are being put on a new documentary, co-produced by local filmmaker Larry Bastain (brother of State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin), which takes a closer look at the often violent lives of many of our city's young men and boys.
"Off the Record" features interviews with gang members, local community leaders, and elected officials, including El-Amin, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard and State Senator Jeff Smith.
The membership of the St. Louis Police Officers Association has voted "no confidence" in the leadership of Chief Joe Mokwa. But despite the lack of support among his officers and numerous scandals — including $40,000 stolen from a police station vault — the mayor and Mokwa's state-appointed bosses say they're staying with their man.
"The fact that only 17 percent of the Police Department’s 1,859 employees said they do not have confidence in Chief Joe Mokwa is hardly an indicator of any widespread discontent with his tenure," said the Mayor Francis Slay's blog.
Of course, the mayor neglected to mention that the 48% turnout in the no-confidence poll was much higher than the 15% turnout in Slay's own 2005 primary victory.
Chris Goodson, president of the Board of Police Commissioners, which is appointed by the governor, told KWMU that despite frustration over staffing and pay, Mokwa is doing a good job.
"Leadership is going to have popular and unpopular decisions that comes with the job, but what we want to know is are you making the right decisions to provide the best public safety for the workers and the citizens of St. Louis," Goodson told KWMU.
But the citizens of the City of St. Louis, which once again has earned the title of "most dangerous" in America, have little say in the running of their police department. Unlike most cities, the mayor does not hire or fire the chief of police. In fact, the chief is only accountable to the the police board, which is appointed by the governor and approved by the senate, both located in Jefferson City.
The politics suggests the People have little control over the police. The crime statistics suggest the police have little control over the streets. And the mayor's statement shows the opinion of rank-and-file cops can (and will) be disregarded as easily as the opinion of the people they protect and serve.
