Poll: Thoughts on Former Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett’s Personal Use of Campaign Funds

Kacie Starr Triplett was elected 6th ward alderman in March 2007, after getting just over 50% of the votes in a 3-way primary for the Democratic nomination, there was no challenger in the April 3, 2007 general election.  Triplett, reelected in 2011, was the youngest elected official in city hall until her resignation in November 2012.  Many, myself included, thought she had a long future at city hall. Resigning to take a non-profit job so soon after being reelected seemed puzzling, but plausible. A month prior to her resignation news broke about the FBI looking into the finances of Jesse Jackson Jr.

Then in February 2014 her sudden resignation began to make sense:

A former St. Louis alderwoman has sent out a letter of apology, admitting to using campaign money for personal use.

Kacie Starr Triplett says her illegal use of campaign funds was done on a small-scale, but did not disclose the amount of money she used. NewsChannel 5 obtained a copy of the Missouri Ethics Commission court filing, which states she misused as much as $18,900. (KSDK)

See her February 27, 2014 email here. On Friday we learned some of the consequences she’ll face as a result of her actions and admissions:

A once-rising star in city politics avoids possible jail time but agrees to a stiff fine in a deal with the circuit attorney’s office.

The deal between Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce and Kacie Starr Triplett was signed on March 6th, but announced Friday only after Triplett made good on several payments.

In total Triplett has agreed to pay $22,000 in restitution, which that money will go to the St. Louis city public schools. (Fox2)

Jennifer Joyce, in an email reply, indicated the agreement is for 3 years, saying: “March of 2017 is when it will conclude.” Apparently she could also face a $100,000 fine from the Missouri Ethics Commission.

For the poll this week I want to know your reaction to her illegal use of campaign funds and the consequences, I’ve provided numerous answers but you can also add your own. Pick up to two.

— Steve Patterson

Notice of Change of Date of a Monthly Public Meeting

Yesterday I went to city hall to attend the monthly Parking Commission meeting, held every 2nd Thursday, but was told it took place the day before. Really?  I’d checked the Treasurer’s Twitter account before leaving home, no mention at all. I tweeted about the change from the hallway, mentioning @stltreasurer.  The response was “@urbanreviewstl It was on our website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/events/eventdetails.cfm?Event_ID=8145 …”   I guess I should’ve checked the website every day since April 1st on the off chance the meeting date will be moved a day early? If only there was a way for me to subscribe to get notices of interest, like RSS.

The city only offers four (4) RSS feeds on its subscriptions page:

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds allow you to get the latest news from your favorite sources, all in one place. The City of St. Louis offers the following feeds:

City of St. Louis – All News [feeds.feedburner.com]

Latest news and press releases posted by the City of St. Louis.

City of St. Louis – Board Bills [feeds.feedburner.com]

City of St. Louis – Board Bills

City of St. Louis – Calendar [feeds.feedburner.com]

Upcoming events and meetings in the City of St. Louis

City of St. Louis – Jobs [feeds.feedburner.com]

Latest City of St. Louis job postings.

RSS allows subscribers to be notified of new content. But with only four feeds another way is needed to let people know, enter Twitter & Facebook. The subscription page  the Twitter profiles and Facebook pages of numerous city departments/officials, including the Treasurer’s office, below the four RSS feeds are. No RSS, follow on Twitter &/or Facebook. The Treasurer’s twitter account currently has 782 followers, the Facebook page has 125 likes. The Facebook page is updated via Twitter.

The city relies on Twitter & Facebook instead of having hundreds of RSS feed, but the departments need to use these tools for them to effectively keep the public informed. It’s one thing to not tweet about a meeting being held a day later than usual, but it’s very important when moving up the meeting a day. Not using social media in this instance makes me suspicious of the goings on. The agenda listed only two items, but potentially controversial ones:

• ICM/Summer Rocks Parking Agreement
• Review and Approval of FY 2015 Budget

I usually attend meetings, tweeting discussions during. It appears the meeting was moved up a day so I wouldn’t be present. There may well be another reason for the change, but the appearance remains the same in my eyes.  Since the prepared minutes aren’t shared online I’ll only know what took place if I make it to the next meeting on May 8th when I can get a copy. I’ll have to make a note to start checking the website starting on May 1st in case it’s decided to move the date again.  So much for transparency….

— Steve Patterson

Missouri’s August Primary

Two days ago many voters in the region went to the polls to vote on local measures, such as bond issues. Those of us in the City of St. Louis didn’t have an election, our next time voting will be the Missouri primary on Tuesday August 5, 2014. However, voters in the 13th ward will vote at a special election on April 29th.  Fred Wessels resigned as alderman on December 31st to become the head of the Community Development Administration (CDA):

The CDA, among other things, administers federal funds for housing, community and economic development programs. It’s also responsible for administering the city’s share of federal community development block grants.

Wessels will replace Jill Claybour, who is retiring. (Beacon)

The 13th ward candidates are Beth Murphy (D) and Conan Predergast (R), see official list here.  Phyllis Young of the 7th ward is now the most senior alderman, her and Wessels were both sworn into office in April 1985.

IMPORTANT PRIMARY DATES:

• Absentee balloting begins: Tuesday June 24, 2014
• Last Day to Register to Vote: Wednesday July 9, 2014
• Primary Election Day:  Tuesday August 5, 2014

In the city the primary will include three county-level offices: Collector of Revenue, License Collector, and Recorder of Deeds. Let’s take a look at the candidates seeking the nomination of their party:

Collector of Revenue

• Democratic
  • Gregory F.X. Daly (Incumbent)
  • John P. Parhomski
• Republican
  • Dylan M. Farrell
• Green
  • None

License Collector

• Democratic
  • Mavis “Tesssa” Thompson (Incumbent)
  • Jeffrey L. Boyd
  • Francis Horton
• Republican
  • None
• Green
  • Don DeVivo

Recorder of Deeds

• Democratic
  • Jimmie Matthews
  • Sharon Quigley Carpenter (Incumbent)
  • Edward McFowland
• Republican
  • Erik Shequist
• Green
  • None

What do we know from this list? All three incumbents are Democrats, no surprise. What’s surprising and refreshing is all three are being challenged in the primary.  We also know the two Republicans, and the one Green, will represent their respective parties in the November general election.

The most interesting of the races is the Democratic primary for License Collector. Thompson was appointed by Gov. Nixon last year to replace Michael McMillan, who became President of the Urban League of St. Louis.  Alderman Jeffrey Boyd ran unsuccessfully for Treasurer in 2012, coming in 3rd in the 4-way Democratic primary, just after Fred Wessels.

— Steve Patterson

East-West Gateway Survey & Where We Stand Update

Our Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, is seeking feedback on how we engage in the community:

How Do You Engage in Improving Our Region?

East-West Gateway’s Public Involvement Plan helps EWG to ensure quality engagement and interaction with all of the citizens in the St. Louis metropolitan area. We need to know how we can design our outreach efforts in a way that makes your involvement easier, fuller and more likely. This survey will begin to form our public involvement plan. Please take a few minutes to respond. We appreciate your participation…Take Survey

Please take a few minutes to take the survey, then come back and share your thoughts on the questions being asked. They also just released the 7th update to most recent Where We Stand report (2011).

This update introduces new data on three measures of social mobility and discusses some of the community characteristics that are correlated with upward mobility.

The term “social mobility” refers to the idea that individuals can achieve a high standard of living, regardless of the circumstances into which they were born. The notion that even a poor child can work hard and get rich (or at least reach the middle class) has long had a hold on the American imagination, although numerous studies have documented that the United States has a far lower level of social mobility than most of the other wealthy nations around the world.

I’ve not had a chance to do more than scan the update, but I wanted to pass along the link.

— Steve Patterson

6th Ward Participatory Budgeting Project List (UPDATED)

A year’s worth of hard work by numerous volunteers paid off Saturday afternoon as 6th ward residents checked out 13 projects submitted by fellow 6th ward residents, and refined into legitimate projects by volunteers, also from the 6th ward.

This reminded me of competing in science fairs in middle & high school, standing next to our project board as each judge stopped by, asking tough questions. Zach Chasnoff  & Michelle Whithaus have logged hundreds of hours bringing Participatory Budgeting to St. Louis, big thanks to both of them. Also to 6th ward alderman Christine Ingrassia for being open minded enough to begin her first term in office with this project.

Of the 27 other aldermen, only Scott Ogilvie representing the 24th ward came out to see the projects and process, he remains on the fence. If you think your alderman should adopt Participatory budgeting I urge you to contact them by phone or email (list or find your alderman). Don’t live in the city but like the idea of voting on projects in your community? Contact the elected officials where you live!

$100,000 of 6th ward funds have been set aside to build the winning projects, residents will select their top three. Votes will be tabulated and winning projects announced. Here is a list of the projects:

• Neighborhood signs, $28,000
• New landscaping & planters, $90,000
• Trash cans, $15,000
• Eads Park Improvements, $20,000
• Fox Park Restroom Renovation, $30,000
• Perk Up Buder Park, $15,000
• Decorative Bike Racks, $17,000
• Crosswalk Light Jefferson and Park, $25,000
• Bike Lanes, $30,000
• Median at Jefferson and Park, $80,000
• Traffic Calming on Compton, $50,000
• Street Lighting, $50,000
• Security Cameras, $30,000

I don’t have the final descriptions of the above, I’ll update this post once I receive the text that’ll appear on the ballots.  UPDATE 3/31 @ 9:50AM: SEE SAMPLE BALLOT HERE!

Voting starts tomorrow and continues everyday for over a week:

Tuesday, April 1st

• 8-11 a.m. @ Diner’s Delight, 1504 Compton Ave.
• 5-8 p.m. @ Van Gohz’s, 3200 Shenandoah Ave.

Wednesday, April 2nd

• 8-11 a.m. @ Save A Lot, 3427 S. Jefferson Ave.
• 5-8 p.m. @ Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust

Thursday, April 3rd

• 4:30-7:30 p.m. @ Field’s Foods, 1500 Lafayette Ave.

Friday, April 4th

• 5-8 p.m. @ The Purple Martin, 2800 Shenandoah Ave.

Saturday, April 5th

• 9 a.m-noon @ Blast Fitness, 1601 S. Jefferson Ave.
• 5-7 p.m. @ Clinton Peabody, 1401 LaSalle Ave.

Sunday, April 6th

• noon-3 p.m. @ Washeteria, 2901 Shenandoah Ave.

Monday, April 7th

• Lafayette Town Apartments, 1410 Ohio Ave.

Tuesday, April 8th

• 6 a.m.-7 p.m. @ Heritage House Apartments, 2800 Olive Blvd.
• 7 p.m. Lafayette Square Neighborhood Meeting
• 7:30 p.m. Compton Hill Neighborhood Meeting

If you live in the 6th Ward, or knows someone who does, please make sure they vote!

— Steve Patterson