St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 22 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen meet at 10am today, their 15th meeting of the 2019-2020 session. As previously noted, they have the first two meetings labeled as Week #1, so they list this as week/meeting 21.

Board Bill 11 is on the perfection calendar — final approval.  If signed by Mayor Krewson this would set up a vote to keep the size of the Board of Aldermen at 28, rather than reduced to 14 in December 2021. Voters narrowly approved Prop R in November 2012 with 61.5% — 60% was required.

Today’s agenda includes eight (8) new bills.

• B.B.#146 – Navarro – An Ordinance to amend the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code; and containing a severability clause, savings clause, and an effective date.
• B.B.#147 – Vaccaro – An Ordinance adopting the 2018 International Plumbing Code with amendments; repealing Ordinance 69255; and containing a penalty clause, severability clause, saving clause and emergency clause.
• B.B.#148 – Spencer – An Ordinance recognizing the increasing public health threat of viral hepatitis, HIV, AIDS and other blood borne diseases as a result of the use of unsterile syringes and needles, accepting the evidence of harm reduction offered by Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) as well as their treatment benefits and, other laws to the contrary notwithstanding, authorizing the Director of the City of St. Louis Department of Health to establish a pilot Syringe Services Program in collaboration with a private sector organization and for the Director to issue standards, policies and procedures for health, safety and welfare as a part of this pilot Syringe Services Program; and containing emergency and severability clauses.
• B.B.#149 – Davis – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis (the “City”), owner and operator of St. LouisLambert International Airport® (the “Airport”) to enter into andexecute on behalf of the City the First Amendment to Automated Teller Machine Concession Agreement, AL-361(“First Amendment”) between the City and Bank of America, N.A. (“Concessionaire”), amending the Automated Teller Machine Concession Agreement (“Agreement”); the FirstAmendment was approved by the Airport Commission and is attached hereto as ATTACHMENT “1” and made a part hereof,and its terms are more fully described in Section One of this Ordinance; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#150 – Ingrassia – An Ordinance approving the petition of an owner of certain real property to establish a Community Improvement District, establishing the Chouteau Avenue Corridor Community Improvement District, finding a public purpose for the establishment of the Chouteau Avenue Corridor Community Improvement District, and containing an emergency clause and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#151 – Moore – An Ordinance authorizing Amendment No. [4] to the Amended and Restated Lease (“Amendment No. 4”) between the City of St. Louis and EPV2 Dignity House, LLC, originally authorized by Ordinance 64565, which was adopted by the Board of Alderman of the City of St. Louis and approved September 28, 1998, and subsequently amended pursuant to Ordinances 64913, 64913, and 68941, for property and improvements commonly known as the Homer G. Phillips Dignity House located at Whittier and Kennerly Streets; and Containing an Emergency Clause and Containing a Severability Clause.
• B.B.#152 – Ingrassia/Guenther/Coatar/Cohn – An ordinance prohibiting medical and mental healthcare providers from providing conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, ex-gay therapy, or sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts to a minor, regardless of whether the provider receives compensation in exchange for such services, and providing penalties for the violation of said prohibition; and authorizing the Director of the Health Department to receive, investigate, and refer to the City 6 BB Counselor for prosecution in municipal court complaints of alleged violations of the provisions of this ordinance, and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#153 – Clark-Hubbard – Pursuant to Ordinance 68937, an ordinance authorizing the honorary street name Malik and DeBorah Ahmed Way, which shall begin at the intersection of Semple Avenue and Page Boulevard and northeast on Page Boulevard to the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Page Boulevard

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2019-2020 session — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis’ Newly Bill Requiring Reporting of Those Who Fail a Gun Background Check

I thought the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll would at least get the usual number of responses, but it got way less.

Q: Agree or disagree: St. Louis’ new background check bill (#106) is a waste of time & money.

Strongly agree: 2 [15.38%]

• Agree: 2 [15.38%]
• Somewhat agree: 1 [7.69%]
• Neither agree or disagree: 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree: 2 [15.38%]
• Disagree: 4 [30.77%]
• Strongly disagree: 1 [7.69%]
• Unsure/No Answer: 1 [7.69%]

The few gun retailers in the city will need to report to the St. Louis Police when an applicant has failed a firearm background check.

”A waste of time & money” was the most frequent criticism I read last week. Given how few gun stores exist in the city and only about 1% fail a gun background check, I don’t see this is a big issue.

”Criminals don’t buy guns” is another I heard. For this I turned to Politifact:

[U.S. Rep] Faso said “The vast majority of crime that is gun related is committed by people who illegally are possessing that firearm.”

People can differ on what constitutes a “vast majority.” What’s more, illegal gun crime is not well researched in the U.S. The latest data is more than a decade old. One analysis of the data showed Faso’s claim is not true in some states while true in others. But experts say most gun crime is likely committed by those who illegally possess guns.

His statement is accurate but needed additional information. We rate it Mostly True.

So this likely won’t reduce crime in St. Louis. However, since 1982, 74% Of mass shooters obtained their guns legally. So there’s potential the St. Louis Police may get the name of someone who failed a background check — if they could’ve bought a legal gun they might’ve committed a mass shooting.

The fact is we’re not going to ever know the effectiveness of this new bill. However, we do know that few who lie on their application are prosecuted — even though that’s a crime.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 21 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen meet at 10am today, their 21st meeting of the 2019-2020 session. As previously noted, they have the first two meetings labeled as Week #1, so they list this as week/meeting 20.

Today’s agenda includes five (5) new bills.

• B.B.#141 – J. Boyd – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment making a supplemental appropriation to the Annual Budget Ordinance 70963 for Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020, amounting to the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), and containing an Emergency Clause.
• B.B. #142 – Ingrassia – An ordinance approving a blighting study and Redevelopment Plan for the 2633-35 Allen Ave. Redevelopment Area (“Area”) after finding that the Area is blighted as defined in Section 99.320 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, 2016, as amended (“RSMo”), (the “Statute” being Sections 99.300 to 99.715 inclusive), finding that there shall be available five (5) year tax abatement based on 50% of the assessed value of the incremental improvements; and pledging cooperation of the Board of Aldermen.
• B.B. #143 – Todd – An ordinance amending the Redevelopment Plan for the Washington/Vandeventer/Enright/Pendleton Redevelopment Area (“Area”) approved by Ordinance # 69519 dated July 24, 2013 (Exhibit 1 attached) by extending the implementation schedule now calling for projects to be completed by May 1, 2029.
• B.B. #144 – Todd – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for the 3765 Lindell Blvd. Area.
• B.B. #145 – Todd – An ordinance amending the Redevelopment Plan for the Vandeventer/Finney/Washington/Taylor Redevelopment Area (“Area”) approved by Ordinance #69410 dated February 21, 2013 (Exhibit 1 attached) by extending the implementation schedule now calling for projects to be completed by May 1, 2029.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2019-2020 session — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

Fifty Years Since the St. Louis Rent Strike of 1969 Ended

Yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of the end of the 1969 St. Louis Rent Strike. Upset by poorly built & maintained public housing, tenants refused to pay their rent.

Much was written about the rent strike, here’s the abstract from a 2013 academic paper titled The St. Louis Rent Strike of 1969: Transforming Black Activism and American Low-Income Housing:

In 1969, public housing tenants launched a rent strike that shaped federal legislation and helped make housing a central concern of the Black Freedom Struggle. In addition to providing a detailed narrative of the rent strike, this article follows the lives of the rent strike’s three primary leaders—Ivory Perry, the Rev. Buck Jones, and Jean King. Following the rent strike, Ivory Perry worked to curb lead poisoning while Buck Jones sought to reform welfare in Missouri. Later, Jones labored to improve living conditions in East St. Louis, Illinois. Jean King worked with private developers following the rent strike, helping remake the architecture and management of low-income housing. By focusing on how these individuals aided the rent strike, and by following their subsequent life careers, this article demonstrates that the St. Louis rent strike influenced developments central to American low-income housing and black activism in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Strikes are an effective way to force change. Still, some would like to end unions and strikes. In the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll there was more responses than usual, but the pattern didn’t change.

Q: Agree or disagree: To reduce economic disruption strikes should be limited by law

• Strongly agree: 2 [2.7%]
• Agree: 0 [0%]
• Somewhat agree: 0 [0%]
• Neither agree or disagree: 1 [1.35%]
• Somewhat disagree: 0 [0%]
• Disagree: 5 [6.76%]
• Strongly disagree: 65 [87.84%]
• Unsure/No Answer: 1  [1.35%]

We must be diligent to protect the right to strike.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: New Board Bills Week 20 of 2019-2020 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen meet at 10am today, their 20th meeting of the 2019-2020 session. As previously noted, they have the first two meetings labeled as Week #1, so they list this as week/meeting 19.

Today’s agenda includes five (5) new bills.

• B.B. #135 – Ingrassia – An ordinance allowing persons, business enterprises, and other entities, organizations, and groups who reserve any of the City of St. Louis’ park amenities by permit issued by the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry to exclude from the permitted area persons carrying firearms in accordance with 571.107(15) of the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri, regardless of whether carried concealed on or about their person and whether they hold a concealed carry permit or endorsement; and containing an emergency
• B.B. #136 – J. Boyd – An Ordinance, recommended by the Board of Public Service of the City of St. Louis (the “Board of Public Service”), establishing multiple public works and improvement projects within the City of St. Louis (the “Projects”).
• B.B. #137 – Middlebrook – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to vacate public surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedestrian travel on Frederick Street and in conformity with Section l4 of Article XXI of the Charter and imposing certain conditions on such vacation.
• B.B. #138 – P. Boyd – An ordinance regulating the storage, transportation and disposal of waste tires, and the permitting of waste tire haulers and tire dealers, and providing penalties for violations of the provisions thereof.
• B.B. #139 – Guenther – An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate above surface, surface and sub-surface rights for vehicle, equestrian and pedestrian travel in westernmost 5 foot of Missouri Ave. from Cherokee St. south approximately 115 feet to a point, abutting City Block 1558 as bounded by Cherokee, Missouri, Potomac and Jefferson in the City of St. Louis, Missouri, as hereinafter de- scribed, in accordance with Charter authority, and in conformity with Section l4 of Article XXI of the Charter and imposing certain conditions on such vacation.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2019-2020 session — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson