Talking 2011 Tonight on KDHX

I’ll be DJ Wilson’s guest on Collateral Damage (KDHX 88.1FM) tonight from 8:30pm-9pm (CST), talking about stories from 2011. If you are outside KDHX listening  area you can tune in online.

– Steve Patterson

Two Polls This Week: Best & Worst Thing to Happen to St. Louis in 2011

It’s the last week of the year and I’ve got two polls, the best & worst thing to happen to St. Louis in 2011.
You are allowed to pick up to three answers in each poll. A few answers appear on both polls because some may see them differently. Of course you can write in an answer as well.

The polls are in the right sidebar.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: How Prepared Are You For a Catastrophe?

Friday was the two-hundred year anniversary of the New Madrid earthquake and many think another is due. Missouri experienced devastating tornados and flooding in 2011. Writing the post for last friday (New Madrid Earthquake Two Centuries Ago) I realized I’m not prepared for a catastrophe.

Did you know only 2 in every 10 Americans feel prepared for a major disaster? Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning. The best way to make your families, employees and homes safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes. The Red Cross is here to help your group get prepared.

The St. Louis Area Chapter offers emergency preparedness education programs for people of all ages. Each year, tens of thousands of St. Louis area residents take part in these presentations at schools, businesses and community events.

It is the Red Cross’ mission to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters. A disaster can strike at any moment, the Red Cross wants to show you and your family how to be ready. (St. Louis Red Cross)

The poll question this week asks how prepared you are for a catastrophe.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Changes To Voluntary Ban Policy Good or Bad?

Recent changes regarding gambling in Missouri:

Regulators voted unanimously to relax the state’s voluntary exclusion program, allowing people who have chosen to bar themselves for life from Missouri casinos to have the prohibition lifted after at least five years. People could opt to rejoin the banned list later, but it would mean a lifetime prohibition. (KMOV)

Is this a good thing? The argument in support is more might be willing to ban themselves if they know it would be lifted in five years.

I know casinos are no place for me but this seemed like a good poll topic.

– Steve Patterson

Poll: Thoughts on On-Street Parking Downtown

The expectation of drivers to get free parking amuses me. You think the you don’t end up paying for the massive parking garages at malls like The Galleria & West County Center?

Parking downtown is very cheap but still some advocate completely free parking on the street.  The argument is downtown must compete with the malls and big box centers. Really? They are different animals. Downtown isn’t going to win big box shoppers and  the mall isn’t going to win the person seeking character & history. We could pay someone to park but the Bed, Bath & Beyond shopper still wouldn’t come downtown.

Now that we are into the holiday shopping season I figured downtown on-street parking is a good poll topic. The poll is in the right sidebar.

– Steve Patterson