St. Louis Civil Rights: Jefferson Bank Protest

Fifty years ago today, just days after the 1963 March on Washington ended, protestors were staging a sit-in at Jefferson Bank, then located on the SW corner of Jefferson & Washington, 2600 Washington Ave. The dispute, however, wasn’t new, it had been ongoing for seven years by this point.

As I detailed a few years ago, Jefferson Bank moved into their new building in 1956. After the move, all their cashiers were suddenly white. Black customers were no longer represented behind the teller windows. To learn more about the struggle, protest, and change consider attending an event tonight at the Missouri History Museum:

Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Jefferson Bank protests, one of the most important chapters in St. Louis civil rights history, with those who lived the experience and those who continue the work today. 

Jefferson Bank Protests: Looking Back, Looking Forward Friday, August 30 • 7pm • Lee Auditorium • Free

I still find it weird that I was born just three and a half years after the March on Washington. I know society has progressed immensely since then, but work remains.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: Issue RFP on Cupples 7 Site

The top answer in the poll last week indicates readers would like Treasurer Tishaura Jones issue a RFP (Request For Proposals) regarding the soon to be vacant site occupied for decades by the Cupples 7 warehouse.

Here are the poll results:

Q: What should St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones do with the site of the former Cupples 7 warehouse? (pick up to 3)

1. Issue a RFP (request for proposals) from developers 73 [32.74%]
2. Don’t raze the western half! 48 [21.52%]
3. Solicit public to get ideas 34 [15.25%]
4. Set up a design charrette 32 [14.35%]
5. Plant it for a public park 18 [8.07%]
6. Pave it for surface parking 8 [3.59%]
7. Unsure/no opinion 5 [2.25%]
8. Construct a parking garage 3 [1.35%]
9. Other: 2 [0.9%]

Here are the two “other” answers submitted by readers.

1. Sell the site for a $1 to the first worthy development w/ funding.
2. set up a public speaking dais for a press conference on it and resign.

Ouch! I agree a RFP should be issued, but only after getting ideas from the public. The RFP shouldn’t be open-ended, it should have parameters based on public input.

In the interest of transparency & change, Jones will [hopefully] seek input and put together an open process to address the disposition the site.

The south wall of the west section was nearly gone when I visited yesterday. I think the north & west walls are the most critical, even saving just the first 3 floors of these walls makes sense until we have a handle on the next steps.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Thoughts on Government (EPA/MO-DNR) Regulation/Oversight at the Bridgeton & Westlake Landfills

Two landfills in St. Louis County ceased accepting trash after 12/31/2004.

Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill, from here forward referred to as Bridgeton, is currently owned by Bridgeton Landfill LLC, and is a subsidiary of Republic Services Inc., from here forward referred to as Republic. The landfill waste mass encompasses approximately 52 acres with approximately 240 feet below the ground’s surface and a total waste thickness of 320 feet. The waste is located in two distinct areas known as the North and South Quarries. Bridgeton was initially permitted on Nov. 18, 1985 and ceased accepting waste on Dec. 31, 2004. (DNR)

The West Lake Landfill site is on a parcel of approximately 200 acres in Bridgeton, Missouri. The site consists of the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill, which stopped receiving waste on Dec. 31, 2004, and several old inactive areas with municipal solid waste and demolition debris. The site is divided into two Operable Units, or OUs. OU-1 consists of radiological areas and OU-2 consists of the other landfill areas, which did not receive any radiologically contaminated soil. In 1990, West Lake Landfill was listed on the National Priorities List making it a Superfund site. In May 2008 a Record of Decision was signed for OU-1, which describes the Selected Remedy to contain the radiological contamination using a modified solid waste landfill cover. EPA is the lead agency for this site. (DNR)

Both now have issues, including a smoldering underground fire at one that some fear will reach radioactive material buried in the other. How did this happen? Could government (federal, state, or local) have done more? Were the companies over regulated? Maybe you think the government response was just right? The poll in the right sidebar is where you vote, the answers are presented in random order.

— Steve Patterson

Gateway Mall Still Unloved, Conservancy Resigned, Advisory Board Kept In Dark

Just a few years ago I was optimistic about the future of the Gateway Mall, the linear park north of Market Street, stretching from Broadway to just past 20th Street. The Gateway Mall Master Plan had been adopted by the city. The Gateway Mall Advisory Board was established to ensure proposed projects met the master plan. A separate, non-profit, group, the Gateway Mall Conservancy, was formed to raise private money to implement the plan.

Peter Fischer, the man behind Citygarden via the Gateway Foundation, headed the Gateway Mall Conservancy and had a seat on the Gateway Mall Advisory Board.  Another member of the Conservancy was Emily Pulitzer. Between Fischer & Pulitzer I thought they’d be able to raise the money needed to continue work on more blocks of the park.

From a press release from Mayor Slay:

March 12, 2010 – Mayor Francis Slay convened the first meeting of the newly formed Gateway Mall Conservancy Board yesterday. The purpose of the Board is to facilitate the planning, design, funding and execution efforts for the entire Gateway Mall, which runs from the Old Courthouse west to past Union Station.

The Gateway Mall Master Plan, formally adopted by the City of St. Louis in July of last year, provides the City with a comprehensive vision for transforming downtown’s central park into an outstanding open space. Building on this long-range vision, the Plan creates an overall framework to guide future individual proposals within the Mall.

“This is an important step in building on the momentum created by the opening of Citygarden last summer,” Slay said. “This Board is made up of individuals who can provide executive, civic, and fundraising energy and leadership. They each have already contributed to our community in so many ways.”

Named to the Gateway Mall Conservancy Board were Peter Fischer, Gateway Foundation; Robert Archibald, Missouri Historical Society; Steve Cousins, Armstrong Teasdale LLP; John Ferring, Plaze, Inc.; David Mesker, retired, A.G. Edwards; Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts; Kitty Ratcliffe, St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission; Henry S. Webber, Washington University; Josephine Weil, Community Volunteer; and Patricia Roland-Hamilton as Executive Director.

Also announced today was the formation of the Gateway Mall Advisory Board, a group of stakeholders responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Gateway Mall Master Plan and providing ongoing community input about the Gateway Mall. Its composition and responsibilities are outlined by City ordinance.

Its role is to oversee and review compliance with the Plan and provide review of proposed modifications to the Plan. Members of the Board constitute a part of the public review process and have the authority to conduct a public review of any proposed expansion, modification, replacement, relocation, adaptive re-use, or removal of existing roads, paths, parking lots, recreation areas or natural areas.

“It’s critical to ensure we adhere to the vision set forth in the Master Plan,” said Gary Bess, the City’s Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry. “We will look to this group to assist us in doing so.”  (Press Release PDF)

I was among those appointed to the Gateway Mall Advisory Board, rather than just be a critic on the outside I had an appointed seat at the table.

But there were early signs it wouldn’t last. Peter Fischer wouldn’t authorize the funds to renew the domain GatewayMall.org, so the initial website disappeared. Executive Director Tricia Roland-Hamilton’s email address, peroland@gatewaymall.org, ceased working when the domain shut down. She then had to use her personal email account. So much for having a place to let citizens understand what this appointed body was doing.

We rejected one proposal in 2012 and in 2011 gave preliminary approval to changes to Kiener Plaza:

Andy [Trivers] then introduced guests Donald Stastny and Nate Trevethan. Nate, representing Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, presented the vision for Kiener Plaza, as prepared as part of the entire Arch grounds project. Donald and Nate also used models to present the preliminary vision to the Board.

The initial vision calls for removal of the amphitheater, the addition of a Beer Garden and Café, a Pavilion, Playground and Carousel. The schematic design also calls for the continuance of the “Hallway” along the northern edge of Market Street, special lighting, and an event lawn.

This presentation is the initial step in the Project Approval Process for privately funded projects within the Gateway Mall. On a motion by Byron Marshall and seconded by Jack Reis, the Board approved the preliminary prospectus. (Gateway Mall Advisory Board minutes from January 26, 2011)

Because Kiener Plaza was part of the master plan we had to look at proposals for change.  At the time we expected to see more detailed drawings in the future, but we never did. Apparently, as I just recently learned, the ordinance authorizing the tax vote also removed Kiener Plaza from the master plan.

Here’s an email message I received from Parks director Gary Bess after I began asking questions:

As most media outlets have reported, Kiener has been included in the City Arch River Project   This point has also been included in public meetings regarding the project   When the ordinance was passed authorizing the CAR project/tax, Kiener was dropped from the Gateway Mall Plan and included in CAR  We were informed in February that in light of the above change the Conservancy was transferring all previous design work to CityArchRiver further indicating that the Conservancy  believed it has done all it could do to move the Kiener project forward and felt others could help in moving the the implementation of the master plan West of Tucker forward and resigned

Assumed you knew about Kiener’s inclusion in the CAR project based upon media and public meeting  The Conservancy is a private not for profit and chose not to publicly announce their resignations  i respect this decision    The City will look for new options on private funding for the Mall project West of Tucker.  The good news of course is projects East of Tucker are complete and/or funded.

I’m disappointed and angry — mostly at myself for thinking somehow this would be different than previous plans. I’m angry at Peter Fisher for turning down a skate park west of Tucker because it wasn’t dignified enough for his sensibilities. We could’ve had a great skate park in operation by now, but we don’t!!  I kept my mouth shut because I had a seat at the table, I was trying hard to be a good player, working within the system.

I informed the other members of the Gateway Mall Advisory Board (expired & current) of this news via email Sunday evening.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: No Clear Favorite For License Collector

Governor Nixon must now appoint someone to fill the county-level position of License Collector, vacated by Michael McMillan who has started a new position as president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, see Poll: Who Should Gov Nixon Appoint St. Louis License Collector? for the introduction of last week’s poll. Here are the results:

Q: Who should Missouri Gov Nixon appoint as St. Louis License Collector to finish Michael McMillan’s current term?

1. Brian Wahby 16 [17.2%]
2. Terry Kennedy 16 [17.2%]
3. Phyllis Young 15 [16.13%]
4. Fred Wessles 9 [9.68%]
5. Nobody listed here 8 [8.6%]
6. Other: 7 [7.53%]
7. Martin Casas 6 [6.45%]
8. Jeffrey Boyd 5 [5.38%]
9. Unsure/No Answer 5 [5.38%]
10. Donna Baringer 4 [4.3%]
11. Marlene Davis 2 [2.15%]

Nobody jumped to the front of the class, Wahby & Kennedy tied with Young just one vote behind. Readers provided 7 other answers:

1. Steve Patterson
2. no-one combine with collect of rev
3. State Representative Josh Peters
4. May
5. Darius Chapman
6. Dave Drebes
7. Steve Patterson

Let’s go through the above list:

1. I’m not sure if the two that put my name in were serious, or not. I’m flattered but I’d be a horrible license collector.
2. In the comments on the original piece there were suggestions on doing away with the position, more on that below.
3. I haven’t met Josh Peters but he was elected in April to finish the unexpired term of the 76th Missouri house district.
4. May is in reference to Karla May, daughter of St. Louis Registrar Parrie May. More below.
5. Darius Chapman works in the License Collector office as manager of Field Operations & Manufacturing Departments, see award
6. Dave Drebes describes himself on his Twitter profile (@MissouriScout) as a “political observer.”

The separate elected positions of license collector and collector of revenue could be combined. One person interested in the job wants to eliminate the position:

“I would like to eliminate the elected position,” Sixteenth ward Alderwoman Donna Baringer

Baringer wants to be the new city license collector and then immediately put herself out of a job. (KMOV)

I think we need to reconsider every elected office, city department, etc in city government.

The St. Louis American had a different look at who Nixon might select:

Karla May – the new African-American consensus pick to succeed Michael McMillan as St. Louis license collector – comes highly recommended by her colleagues, past and present, in the Missouri House of Representatives. (Source – recommended)

I don’t have a favorite, but I do favor reducing the number of elected offices.

— Steve Patterson