Poll: Current Thoughts on the Environment

St. Louis is celebrating Earth Day in Forest Park today:

25 Years of Earth Day in 2014

Join us in Forest Park on Sunday, April 27 for the St. Louis Earth Day Festival from 11am to 6pm, rain or shine.

Don’t miss the Recycling Extravaganza at STLCC on the same day as the Festival (10am-4pm).

I was wondering how readers felt about the environment, and efforts such as Earth Day. The poll this week has six answers representing a wide range plus an unsure answer. The poll is in the right sidebar.

— Steve Patterson

A Roadside Stand on Gravois

A little roadside stand occupies the NE corner of Gravois Rd & Mackenzie Rd (map). St. Louis County property records indicate the building only occupies 702 sq ft.

These buildings all date from the early age of the automobile, when a family might have one car. Parking was just off the roadway, not the gigantic parking lots of today. By today’s standards these buildings are urban, too close to the street. Yet the relationship is poor in terms of road/sidewalk/building. The idea of how to retrofit this intersection to be more walkable is an appealing challenge.

— Steve Patterson

Dining Out For Life Today

If you’re like us, dining out is a rare treat. If so, make it count and go out for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner today:

Raise your fork on Thursday, April 24th and take part in the 21st annual Dining Out For Life©!

Dining Out for Life© is an international event that has raised over $4.27 million nationally in 2013 to provide vital services to people living with HIV/AIDS. In 2013, the St. Louis community raised over $260,000 to help Saint Louis Effort for AIDS provide education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and comprehensive support services for those affected by the disease.

Grab your family and friends and make plans to dine out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, cocktails and more at any of our participating Dining Out For Life© restaurants where at least 25% of your check will be donated to support the work of Saint Louis Effort for AIDS.

This incredibly important event that not only helps nourish our community…but also the soul. If you are not able to join us but would like to contribute, click to donate now! (Dining Out For Life St. Louis)

You can view the list of participating restaurants here, all are donating at least 25%. Reservations are recommend because this event is so popular, we have dinner reservations at a place donating 50%. So please make plans with friends, order appetizers & dessert so lots of money can be raised today.

— Steve Patterson

Readers Split on Kacie Starr Triplett’s Personal Use of Campaign Funds

In the unscientific poll last week the answer with the most votes ended up with just 26.5%, too small to say readers favored Triplett serving some jail time . Here are the results:

Q: Thoughts on former alderman Kacie Starr Triplett’s use of campaign funds for personal expenses (pick 2)

1. Should’ve had some jail time 31 [26.5%]
2. Public humiliation and paying $22,000 over three years is justice 24 [20.51%]
3. Gotta watch the ones always taking about Jesus 20 [17.09%]
4. They all do it to some degree 12 [10.26%]
5. The $22,000 settlement should go to 6th Ward projects, not the school system 12 [10.26%]
6. Other: 9 [7.69%]
   1. ban on political office
   2. Would be more irate if it was public funds, not campaign $.
   3. To much corruption in government it seems to draw crooks and swindlers.
   4. Should have been barred from future public office or city positions
   5. not all but too many. it makes me sad
   6. hang her high -Sarge
   7. Prison time+ 22K settlement + all prosecution costs!
   8. who cares?
   9. foolishly trying to project the image that the elected position is great
7. She could’ve gotten away with it, but she foolishly resigned and admitted guilt 3 [2.56%]
8. Rookie political mistake 3 [2.56%]
9. No big deal, small potatoes 2 [1.71%]
10. Youthful indiscretion 1 [0.85%]
11. Unsure 0 [0%]

Not everyone picked two answers.  The number of participants was less than usual and one response (“who cares?”) sums up the apathy that allows corruption to exist.

I personally felt at least some of the money should go to projects in the 6th ward because it was these voters that Triplett deceived. I was a 6th ward voter in 2011, but I voted for her opponent in the primary (ok, against her). I was turned off by her constant “praise Jesus” demeanor.

— Steve Patterson

Rain Gardens Are Great, Except When Blocked By Excessive Mulch

Rain gardens are an environmentally-friendly way to handle water runoff, rain water runs into an area where it gets absorbed into the soil. Well, assuming the water doesn’t get blocked.

The newly rebuilt North Tucker Boulevard has numerous rain gardens, but unfortunately many are like the one shown above — not able to function as designed because too much mulch blocks the water.

— Steve Patterson