Larry Williams Should Not Seek Another Term as Treasurer

St. Louis has had one treasurer for over 30 years. Larry Williams first became treasurer when then mayor Schoemehl appointed him to the position in 1981. Williams has since been reelected over sand over, seldom facing a credible challenger at the polls.

What does the treasurer’s office do? The following is from the city webpage:

The Treasurer’s Office controls and monitors all the bank accounts of the City. There are currently over 30 accounts under this office’s control. Through daily contact with the Comptroller’s Office and detailed reconciliations of these accounts, this office provides a check and balance for the Comptroller’s Office. In addition, this office is by ordinance the depository for all receipts of the City and provides a means for departments to make daily deposits.

The Treasurer’s Office issues all payroll checks, deposits funds for federal and state taxes, funds for savings bonds and other payroll deductions.

The Treasurer is also responsible for making all investments for the City. This includes purchasing, selling and auditing the earnings on these investments as well as ensuring that City funds are safe and secure.

Treasurer Operations

Larry C. Williams has been Treasurer of the City of St. Louis since 1981. His responsibilities include that of being the head of the City’s banking systems and parking services operation.

As head of banking operations, he is responsible for the establishment of over fifty different City banking accounts, receiving deposits and reinvesting the intake of cash from a variety of City sources.

Treasurer Williams is the Custodian for the Police and Fire Department’s Retirement System, Chairman of the Fund Committee and Parking Commission, and a Co-Chair and board member of Downtown Now.

As supervisor of parking, he is responsible for the installation and operation of approximately 10,000 meters on the street, twenty-nine parking enforcement officers, and the daily operation of the Kiel Parking Garage (home of the St. Louis Blues). Other off-street facilities run by the Treasurer include the City Hall Parking Lot and the Justice Center Garage downtown, and the Argyle Parking Facility at Lindell and Euclid.

Revenues under the supervision and control of the Treasurer exceed $1.5 billion. The Treasurer is now currently focused on the efficient and effective distribution of parking in the City, especially the Central Business District. He believes our downtown should house a larger-living, urban environment. Mr. Williams’ way of achieving maximum revitalization of our urban center is through the cooperation and intercommunication of the public and private sector.

Wow, $1.5 billion? The treasurer’s office is not overseen by anyone on city government other than the treasurer. The treasurer has no duty report to the mayor or board of aldermen. It’s past time for change but that should come this year. Three political figures have announced they will run for treasurer: alderman Fred Wessels, head of city Democrats Brian Wahby and state rep Tishaura Jones.

The partisan primary is in August and the general election is in November. Unless one of the three above runs as an independent or Republican the race will likely be decided in August. Williams, now in his 80s, can do everyone a favor and not seek yet another term in office.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Should Missouri Require Seatbelt Use For Back-seat Passengers?

Each new year brings new laws and 2012 was no exception. Residents on the east side of the region now face a stricter seatbelt law:

Illinois is the latest state to require back-seat passengers to buckle up. Twenty-five other states and the District of Columbia require all rear-seat occupants to wear seat belts, according to IIHS. All states except New Hampshire mandate belt use by front-seat occupants. (USA Today)

I’ve long been a seatbelt advocate, always requiring my passengers to buckle up. In the backseat of other’s cars I wear the seatbelt. But not everyone does and now Illinois is the latest state to require backseat passengers to buckle up, the goal to save lives. But some may see this as government going too far.

It was hard to find a good summary of Missouri’s existing seatbelt law, the following pertains to kids:

Missouri car seat safety laws require children under age four and under 40 pounds to ride in a federally approved child car seat that is appropriate for the child’s age and size. Children ages 4 through 7 who weigh more than 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds or are not at least 4’9″ tall must ride in an appropriate child car seat or booster seat. Children ages 8 to 18 must wear a seat belt. Missouri law also prohibits children under age 18 from riding in an unenclosed truck bed. (About.com)

According to Wikipedia Missouri requires people in front seats to wear seat belts. The poll question this week asks if Missouri should require seatbelt use for back-seat passengers.

– Steve Patterson

Hartford Now Two-Way…Briefly

The other day I was driving westbound on Hartford heading to Grand (map) and I noticed the street changed from being one-way westbound to two-way for a short distance east of Grand.

This probably changed months ago but I drive so rarely I hadn’t noticed. But why change such a short distance and not the entire street? Most likely the city didn’t want motorists to be able to avoid the light on Grand at Arsenal to go eastbound on Arsenal. You know, use the street grid as designed.   All over the city we’ve destroyed the grid, forcing drivers to use the main roads, not allowing  the use of the grid. Cars sit and idle at long traffic lights that all traffic must flow through. Hopefully someday we will allow the grid to be opened so traffic isn’t concentrated.

 – Steve Patterson

St. Louis Central Library Opened 100 Years Ago Today

Saturday January 6, 1912 a new library opened for the citizens of St. Louis. The St. Louis Library was started in 1865 and was located in various buildings until this structure opened a century ago.

The site contained a building, less than 30 years old, that was razed for the library:

The Central Library building at 13th and Olive was built in 1912 on a location formerly occupied by the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall and was designed by Cass Gilbert. The main library for the city’s public library system has an oval central pavilion surrounded by four light courts. The outer facades of the free-standing building are of lightly rusticated Maine granite. The Olive Street front is disposed like a colossal arcade, with contrasting marble bas-relief panels. A projecting three-bay central block, like a pared-down triumphal arch, provides a monumental entrance. At the rear, the Central Library faces a sunken garden. The interiors feature some light-transmitting glass floors. The ceiling of the Periodicals Room is modified from Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Laurentian Library. Renovation and expansion of the building began in 2010 and is scheduled to finish in 2012 (Wikipedia)

The library is a complex building as described above and as seen below.

The library closed in mid-2010 to undergo an extensive top to bottom renovation (see Beacon story w/video). The library will reopen later this year, most likely in the fall.They’ve put together a great website on the history of the building and the renovation plans, click here to view (highly recommended).

Prior to the closure the administrative offices moved to a newer building across 14th Street, freeing up more space for public use.

I live two blocks west of the library, I can’t wait for it to reopen.

– Steve Patterson

GOOD IdeasForCities in St. Louis — Creative Teams Deadline Tomorrow

GOOD Magazine is bringing their IdeasForCities event to St. Louis on Thursday March 8th but the team registration deadline is tomorrow:

GOOD Ideas for Cities is coming to St. Louis! Apply here to be chosen as a creative team for the event. Selected teams will be paired with a challenge issued by a local urban leader, and work with that leader to create a potential solution. The teams will present their solution at the event in front of a live audience, engage in a discussion with their urban leader and GOOD Ideas for Cities editor Alissa Walker, and have their work showcased on GOOD.is

Answers to questions you may have:

•  A team can consist of as many people as you want, but only one or two people can present at the event
• All team members must live and work in the St. Louis metropolitan area
• Team members can work at different firms, or all at the same firm
• You must be able to be at the event Thursday, March 8 in order to participate
• We will contact selected teams shortly after the deadline
• Deadline is January 6, more details here http://www.good.is/post/good-ideas-for-cities-is-coming-to-portland-and-st-louis/

One reason St. Louis was selected this year, along with Portland OR, is editor Alissa Walker grew up in St. Louis.

St. Louisans groan when local, creative 20-somethings take their talents elsewhere. But the fact that 1995 Parkway West grad Alissa Walker moved to Los Angeles may be a boost for our town. (St. Louis Beacon — article highly recommended!) 

I look forward to seeing teams tackle their assigned challenge. UrbanReviewSTL, along with numerous other media outlets in St. Louis, is serving as a media partner for this event.

– Steve Patterson