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

One Year Smoke-Free

The predictions of a few were dire a year ago as St. Louis City & County went mostly smoke-free. What happened? Like every year, some places closed and others opened.

Some places started off claiming they were exempt, posting the required sign to warn potential customers before entering.

I used the above photograph in a post on January 10, 2011 titled Smoking Allowed Here where I questioned the exemption for this establishment. Milo’s is owned by 10th ward alderman Joe Vollmer. Ald Vollmer told me that day, barely a week into the new law, that he and his business partner were considering making Milo’s smoke-free.

I stopped in for lunch last month and confirmed they didn’t close because they went smoke-free nor did they go back to being a smoking establishment.

I received the following message from owner Ald Joe Vollmer:

Overall business is up maybe 3 to 5 percent. We are seeing new faces and we are missing some of the old ones. The majority response is highly positive. We have embraced the change, and will always do whatever we can to make Milos a great experience.

I’m told other establishments weren’t so fortunate, non-smokers didn’t replace the lost smokers. Others said smokers wouldn’t buy much but sit for hours…smoking.

The Royale on Kingshighway went smoke-free in 2008, I asked owner Steve Smith if he noticed a drop in business once more bars were smoke-free:

Honestly I saw no real difference. We have had our strongest sales year to date, but we have gained consistently every year since we opened nearly seven years ago. We saw a bit of a bump when we went smoke free. We were smoking from the spring of 05 to the spring of 08. People certainly still smoke here, but they now just step outside. It has been seamless if even unremarkable. There is no more noise.

People’s mindsets for the most part have changed. It has been two years since I even posted a sign that we are smoke free anywhere in the place. It is expected now to be smoke free, and most ask the doorman before entering if they can smoke out back. We have had only a handful of instances when we started the policy in which someone unwittingly lit up indoors. Now people are just expecting to step outside to smoke.

I talked to MokaBe’s owner Mo Costello last week, she was glad they were forced to go smoke-free a year ago. To Costello the construction on Grand, the closed Grand viaduct and the economy have been bigger issues for her

Many places built nice outdoor patios in 2011 to accommodate smokers. The very smokey Riley’s Pub on Arsenal is in the middle of improving the space in front of their business.

I have no idea what their plans are once this work is completed. I talked to friends that live within walking distance and they no longer patronize Riley’s because they now have so many smoke-free options. Hopefully they will opt to go smoke-free before the exemption expires. I found no mention of a patio on Riley’s Facebook page.

The last day of the exemption is New Year’s Day 2016, four more years to adjust and become smoke-free on 1/2/2016. I’m sure a few will cry fowl and say they didn’t  have time to prepare, to build patio space for their smoking customers. By then hopefully some places have smoke-free outdoor spaces as well, nothing ruins a meal like cigarette smoke.

– Steve Patterson

Few Readers Interested In Poll on Gambling

Participation in the poll last week was about half a typical week.

Q: Missouri regulators now allow addicted gamblers to ban themselves for 5 years rather than life, good change?

1. Yes 18 [36.73%]
2. No 14 [28.57%]
3. Unsure/no opinion 8 [16.33%]
4. Maybe 8 [16.33%]
5. Other: 1 [2.04%] Not familiar with the debate. Can you elaborate on each position?

The results provide no consensus on the issue.

Gambling is on a roll. Faced with mounting budget deficits, more states are expanding gambling options and loosening restrictions in a grab for revenue. Critics warn that the winnings are fool’s gold, not worth the potential social and financial ills. But that’s not stopping many states from getting a piece of the action. (Huffington Post)

Some would say state finances are driving the change, not necessarily what is best public policy.

– Steve Patterson

5th Ward Special Election Today

Today voters in the 5th ward will go to the polls to select one of three candidates to finish the term of former alderman April Ford-Griffin who resigned to take a city position.

Independent candidates Tonya Finley and Rose M. Green participated in the candidate forum last week. The Democratic nominee Tammika Hubbard confirmed two days prior but she didn’t participate. I expected to meet and hear from all three candidates. The volunteers from the League of Women Voters of St. Louis did an outstanding job with the two candidates  that took the time to show up.

I voted absentee last week, access to my new polling place via public transit would require me to cross 14th Street without a signalized crosswalk — too dangerous.

Turnout will be low for this election, very few people deciding who completes the term that ends in April 2013. This may cause me problems down the road for disclosing this but I voted for Tonya Finley in this election.

– Steve Patterson

Readers Supportive of Park Bond Debt

Last week more than half the readers that voted in the poll support the city taking on debt to fix our many parks:

Q: Do you support St. Louis selling bonds to fund park improvements?

1. Yes, investing in our park infrastructure will help the city prosper! 52 [54.17%]
2. No, the debt will be a burden on city revenues 21 [21.88%]
3. Possibly 12 [12.5%]
4. unsure/no opinion 6 [6.25%]
5. Other: 5 [5.21%]

The other answers were:

1. If we need bonds, then do a bond issue. Tax revenues are for ongoing revenue.
2. like better parks. don’t like debt. hm?
3. why not sell bonds to improve failed school district?
4. No. there are at least a half dozen more pressing needs than park maintenance
5. I support the bonds but agree with JZ71 – funding needs to be more distributed.

Time will tell if this was a good decision. Improved parks may make city neighborhoods more appealing, attracting residents, businesses and jobs. Increased revenues cover the debt. On the other hand service cuts might be needed in the future to deal with the debt payments. The original post had some spirited comments.

– Steve Patterson