Metropolitan Taxicab Commission Not Forced to Provide Taxi Stand on Sidewalk at Convention Center

For nearly a year now I have been trying to get the taxi stand, located literally in the pedestrian sidewalk area of Washington Ave, removed (see July post). To me a taxi stand directly in the path of pedestrians is careless and opens the city up to a major liability should someone be injured or killed by an exiting taxi.

The official line from the taxi commission is that they don’t control municipal rights of way. True enough, placing a taxi stand on private property is likely much easier than in the public right of way —- be it the street or sidewalk. Within the public right of way, the city must agree to the location. The Metropolitan St. Louis Taxicab Commission includes both the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.

The relevant section of the Missouri statues relative to the taxicab commission is:

The provisions of this section notwithstanding, existing municipal regulations relating to taxicab curb locations and curb fees as well as local business licenses which do not seek to regulate taxicab use shall not be preempted by the taxicab code except by agreement between the commission and applicable municipality.

So while the taxicab commission is correct that they do not have the authority to place a stand on a municipal right of way without that city giving it’s approval, it is also correct that a municipality cannot force the Metropolitan Taxi Commission to place a taxi stand in a dangerous location — such as an active sidewalk location used by pedestrians. In fact, a municipality cannot force the taxicab commission to place a stand where they do not wish to. This, in my estimation, would make the members of the Taxicab Commission equally liable for such decision to put a taxi stand within a sidewalk location. The commissioners cannot simply pass the buck to the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau (that operates the convention center) and the City of St. Louis.

The next public meeting of the Metropolitan St. Louis Taxicab Commission is Wednesday October 31, 2007 at 9am in the auditorium at 100 North Tucker. If you think the commissioners should consider removing this stand please email them at complaint@stl-taxi.com. You can call them at (314) 241-7600 [or toll free at (877) 785-8294]. And finally you can contact them via fax at (314) 241-7603.  Correspondence should be firm but polite and directed to either Chairman Lou Hamilton or director D. Michael Tully.
Others to contact include:

• Jim Cloar of the Downtown St. Louis Partnership:  jcloar@downtownstl.org; (314) 436-6500 x224; or fax (314) 436-1646
• Kathleen Ratcliffe of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission: kratcliffe@explorestlouis.com; (314) 992-0604; or Toll-Free: (800) 325-7962; or via fax (314) 421-0039.
• Kathy Hale of the Mayor’s office: halek@stlouiscity.com
• Ald. Phyllis Young; via email; (314) 622-3287; or fax (314) 622-4273
• Director of Streets, Todd Waelterman; via email waeltermannt@stlouiscity.com; (314) 647-3111; or fax (314) 768-2888

Visitors to St. Louis should not be forced to walk around taxi cabs or have them driving toward them on the sidewalk as they exit their sidewalk-based location.  Pedestrians should not be subject to this danger simply because the city refuses to give up a lane of the street for the convention center refuses to give up a portion of the circle drive in front of the convention center out of the path of pedestrians. While the taxicab commission cannot legally place a stand elsewhere they are not forced to provide the existing stand — they can legally remove it.

Political Insider Blocks Path of Sidewalk with SUV, Defense Caught on Video

Arriving at City Hall this morning I spotted an SUV parked smack dab in the middle of the sidewalk along Tucker Blvd — in such a way that someone in a wheelchair or mobility scooter could not pass by:

That is my scooter (aka motorized bicycle per state law) in the very far left. As you can see, it is parked way out of the line of travel along the sidewalk. The black Acura MDX, however, is directly in the path of pedestrians and anyone that might be using a mobility device to get around. Who would be so insensitive as to park in the pedestrian path?

Getting in closer we can see that it really would be a challenge for some to get around this vehicle.

From another angle we can see the challenge someone might face.

From the rear we can see how close the planers are on the right, forcing pedestrians to alter their direct course. So again, who would do this?

The placard on the dash indicates a member of the Metropolitan St. Louis Taxi Commission — on official business! I had my thoughts but I couldn’t confirm it because I have no way to track vehicles.

Once at the Board of Alderman meeting my suspicion was nearly confirmed. Taxi commissioner, political insider, political consultant, and lobbyist Lou Hamilton was coming in and out of the BoA chambers. Still, this was not proof that this vehicle was his.
However, I was downstairs on the phone in the rotunda of city hall when Hamilton was heading to the exit. I quickly ended my call and headed out the door. Hamilton stopped just outside, to light up a cig, and I continued to my scooter. I had my camera out and was ready. I think he spotted me but I wasn’t about to leave. I figured I could wait him out.

The video explains the rest pretty well:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9MwhV4ZLU[/youtube]

Not blocking the sidewalk? The pictures and video seem to show otherwise!

Basically the aldermen were afraid to be seen getting into his SUV to head to lunch — can’t say that I blame them. Let’s see, it was back in 2006 that Ald. Florida, Gregali and Kirner were part of a motorcade that included Hamilton, this was first described by Dave Drebes on March 3, 2006 and later by the RFT on April 5, 2006:

The aldermanic trio weren’t the only local VIPs who received special treatment on February 24. Public relations executive and mayoral lobbyist Lou Hamilton and his wife, Mayor’s Ball chair Tricia Roland-Hamilton, departed city hall that evening in a dark SUV with a blue light flashing atop its dashboard.

Lou Hamilton could not be reached for comment.

I didn’t see any emergency lights on Hamilton’s Acura, maybe it is his wife’s vehicle?

Hamilton is chairman of the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission — the very commission that continues to have a taxi stand set up in front of our convention center. Despite repeated private requests & public blog posts to remove the taxi stand, it has not happened. It seems clear that chairman Hamilton doesn’t place much value on pedestrians but and is willing to use his ‘official business’ placard to justify parking directly in the path of pedestrians. This personal philosophy must be why the taxi commission, under his leadership, has refused to yank the taxi’s off the sidewalk.

For the purposes of disclosure, Hamilton’s former company, Vigilant Communications, was hired by Ald Dorothy Kirner when I challenged her for the 25th Ward seat in the Spring of 2005.

24th Ward Committee Unanimously Approves Opposing Recall of Slay

The ward that recalled it’s former alderman doesn’t want a recall of Mayor Slay:

To: St. Louis Media Organizations

From: John M. Corbett: President of the 24th Ward Regular Democratic Organization

Date: October 25th, 2007

Press Release On Wednesday, October 24th, at the regular monthly meeting of the 24th Ward Regular Democratic Organization , a motion to work against the proposed recall attempt of Mayor Francis Slay was unanimously passed by floor action. It was decided, after much discussion, that our ward organization would not sit silent while recall proponents pass the petition around the 24th Ward without the benefit of information from the ward association. We feel our collective voice must be heard in this matter, as it should always be the task of any ward organization to speak out in regards to issues of interest to ward voters.

Will this be the widening of a racial divide within the St. Louis Democrats, only a day before their Halloween party?

I Scootered To A Working Farm Yesterday

Few people on small 49cc scooters make it out to rural farm country. While I did visit a farm yesterday, it wasn’t a long trip through the ring of sprawl to reach my destination . My Environmental Planning class at Saint Louis University visited the New Roots Urban Farm on St. Louis’ near north side.

New Roots is located on Hogan Street adjacent to the vacant but stunning St. Liborius church.

You can almost just pass right by — the quarter acre urban farm is very unassuming with the exception of the lively sign.

Rows of basil yet to be picked. Mmmmmm, pesto! Newer homes, set a suburban distance back from the street, complete the block and much of the street to the east.

Above, wire fencing guards the hen house.

Today was a day for members to pick up their weekly veggies. Above, a father and daughter make their way to the pickup area.

Co-founder/Farm & Program Manager Trish Grim was our instructor and guide. In the span of four years this cooperative group has gone from four vacant city lots to a working farm that feeds themselves and 25 shareholders per season. Their annual budget is now up to $50,000. Yes, a mere $50K annually. They have roughly 4 people that work full time as well as numerous volunteers and interns. Clearly they are not in this for the money.

Payments from members of the CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) make up roughly 25% of the budget, the balance coming from various grants. These members get “10-15 pounds of produce” each week during the growing season. There is a waiting list to be a member. New Roots has teamed with the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group on the North City Farmers’ Market which opened this season on 14th Street across from Crown Candy Kitchen. Saturday is the final day for that market this season — they are ending with a big “Hoe Down” with BBQ, games and music (9am-1pm).

New Roots also teamed up with St. Patrick’s Center and Gateway Greening on the City Seeds project at 22st & Pine. Where you say? The leftover/wasted land at the old 22nd Street interchange. Here the homeless are hired at minimum wage to work 3 days per week on this 2-1/2 acre farm. New Roots provides the expert knowledge on the project and another grant funds the wages for the workers. A couple of years ago I argued with developer Kevin McGowen about this project — I wanted the land to be reused in the future when the excess roadway was removed. I am correct in that in the future it will be hard to take back the land for development but I think Kevin was right — this is really a good project. Produce grown on this urban farm is sold at the North City market and the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market.

One of their goals is to be sustainable — environmentally and fiscally. So far, they are quite environmentally sustainable given their practices which includes transporting goods to the North Side Market via bicycle carts. Fiscally, however, they are not so sustainable yet. Trish referenced groups in other parts of the country —- one getting as much as 70% of their funding from sales of product.

Lest you think this is all some hippie festival, I happen to know at least one self proclaimed Republican that is a member.  In fact, the supporters tend to be more affluent types which allows New Roots to sell their produce at very fair prices to lower income folks at the local market (all are welcomed regardless of income).  To me there is something really neat about seeing our food being grown on a real working farm so close to downtown.

Be sure to check out their website at www.newrootsurbanfarm.org and especially their unique newsletter.

Petition Calls for 100% Smoke-Free Indoor Public Places and Workspaces in St. Louis City

A new online petition targeted at St. Louis’ decision makers (aldermen?) calls for smoke-free places:

Yes, I support having 100% smoke-free indoor public places and workplaces in St. Louis City, including bars and restaurants! I support protecting the citizens and workers in St. Louis City from the dangers of secondhand smoke, a Group A carcinogen known to cause cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.

The goal is 1,000 signatures — I was #571. If you agree, you can sign here.

Update 10/23/07 @ 11:15pm — the group’s main website is smokefreestl.org.