Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Good Earth - Good People

Starting next month, all Missouri executions will be at the state prison in Bonne Terre.

The prison, off Route K just east of Bonne Terre, completed in 2001 but not opened until later because of budget problems, is officially known as the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (ERDCC).

Friday, March 25, 2005

Latest News From WashU

Some headlines from today's issue Student Life, the thrice-weekly Washington University student newspaper:

"Student defecates in RA's dorm room" (RA = resident assistant)

"Student Life stolen from newsstands" (hundreds of copies thrown into the trash by unknown thieves)

"City Museum to Alpha Phi: Thanks but no thanks" (regarding a sorority whose members were drunk in front of City Museum customers, including a group of Girl Scouts, at the sorority formal.)

Friday, March 18, 2005

Slay Poll

Last night I was called by a pollster for the Slay campaign.

Among the questions were:
(I'm paraphrasing the best I can remember, so the wording may be a little off)

Who did you vote for in the March 8th primary?

Do you expect that you will vote in the April general election?

What is your opinion of the following community leaders?

- Charlie Dooley
- Darlene Green
- Joe Mokwa
- Jim Shrewsbury
- Mike McMillan
- Raymond Burke
- Francis Slay
- Sherman George

How important are the following to you in choosing to live in the City of St. Louis? / Which are most important?
(something like that)

- strong Catholic parishes
- access to good jobs
- convenient retail shopping opportunties
- riverfront development
- good public schools
- diverse neighborhoods
- access to public transportation
- perception of safety and crime

Do you think the St. Louis School Board is part of the problem, or part of the solution?

What do you think the main problems are with the St. Louis Public Schools? (choices included things like funding, out-of-touch administrators, teacher salaries, discipline, security, etc.)

Would you support a proposal to change state law so that St. Louis University and Washington University could sponsor charter schools?

Would you support or oppose removing the St. Louis Police residency rule?

Would you support or oppose a compromise where officers with 10 years or more of service could choose to live outside the City limits?

Do you think race relations in the City of St. Louis are better or worse in the past ten years?

Do you think race relations in the City of St. Louis are better or worse than the St. Louis region as a whole?

A recent University of Indiana study called St. Louis one of the most integrated cities in the nation. Do you think this is true?

(and a number of other questions related to education and race relations, since I identified those as my "top two" issues among their choices)

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Gov's Reform Panel

Governor Boy Blunt has named the members of his "Government Reform Commission". Corporate St. Louis is pretty well represented:

John Fox Arnold of Lashly & Baer
Cindy Brinkley of SBC
Jerry Hunter of Bryan Cave (and historic tax credit advocate)
Kathy Osborn of the Regional Biz Council (and formerly of UMSL)
Sharon Rohrbach of Nurses for Newborns (the token non-profit rep)
Ray Wagner of Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Conference Change-up

The 10th annual SLACO St. Louis Neighborhood Conference is coming up on Saturday, March 12th - as always, at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Ave.

The keynote speaker is Bart Harvey, head of the Enterprise Foundation.
Apparently former HUD secretary Henry Cisneros backed out.

Although SLACO has a printable registration form on their web site, it is possible to register and pay the $15 fee online through the College's web site.

The conference is listed in the course catalog as "SLACO CONFERENCE - 11071 - PERD 765 - H50".

The online form allows for payment directly to the College via credit or debit card.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

See You There
(to borrow a tagline from Arch City Chronicle)

MARCH Forth on MARCH 4th!

March forth for Access to Healthcare, Good Jobs and our Freedoms First!

Friday, March 4, 2005

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Jefferson City, Missouri

Kirkpatrick State Information Center parking lot

600 W. Main Street

(first Jeff City exit after crossing the Missouri River bridge or last Jeff City Exit if you are coming from the South/West on Hwy. 54)

DEPARTS PROMPTLY AT 11:30 AM

We will march approximately (7) blocks. For folks who cannot walk we will have a few decorated vans to ride the route with us! Rally and news conference will follow!


Governor Blunt's Agenda and Priorities are
Unfair, Unjust and Un-American!!!!

So please join us! Let us know that you are coming and how many folks you will bring!

For More Information or For Ride Arrangements Please Contact

GRO - Grass Roots Organizing

Email: daniel@gromo.org or robin@gromo.org

Mexico HQ: (573) 581-9595 or 581-9596

Columbia Outreach: (573) 443-4476

Jefferson City (cell): (573) 462-0506