Urban Planning In An Era Of Terrorism

For the past few years I’ve been thinking about urban design/planning as it resounds to terrorism. On Halloween the truck attack we’d seen in London and other cities worldwide came to America, NYC.

I have no insights, no solutions. Each time a terrorist drives a truck down a bike path, shots into a crowd from his hotel window, or explodes fertilizer in a rental truck — my mind wonders if something could’ve been designed differently? Who could’ve anticipated these events? Should planners, designers, architects, etc think darker? They’ll have to now.

I wish I was able to work so I could tackle this problem, but, at the same time I find it very depressing.

The NYC Department of Transportation said it’s putting the blockers in 57 different spots along the path, which runs along the western side of Manhattan near the Hudson River. They’ll start at 59th Street and go all of the way down to the end of the path near the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. (ABC7)

Safe pedestrian space has long been very important to me, but I’m not sure if it can exist anywhere.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Should The LRA Bank Properties In Low-Density Neighborhoods?

Today’d poll relates to the LRA:

The Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) receives title to all tax delinquent properties not sold at the Sheriff’s sale. It also receives title to properties through donations. The SLDC Real Estate Department maintains, markets, and sells these properties and performs land assemblage for future development.

A new board bill (#187) introduced Friday seeks to force the sale of excess properties:

BOARD BILL NO. 187 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN JOHN COLLINS-MUHAMMAD An ordinance requiring Land Reutilization Authority (the “LRA”) to sell LRA Land Bank properties which have been owned by the City of St. Louis for a period of more than ten (10) years and located within a Ward containing five-hundred (500) or more LRA Land Bank properties to purchasers for the sum of one dollar ($1.00), such sale to be conditioned upon the written approval of the Alderman of the Ward in which said property is located.

Would requiring the sale of these properties reduce the city’s ability to land a big project like the NGA?

This poll will close at 8pm — assuming the time change settings are correct.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Week 22 of 2017-2018 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 22nd week of the 2017-2018 session.

SEVEN NEW BOARD BILLS ON THE AGENDA* FOR INTRODUCTION TODAY 11/3/17:

*Note that just because a bill is on the agenda doesn’t mean it’ll be introduced, similarly, bills not on the agenda might be introduced if they suspend the rules to do so. This information is based on the published agenda as of yesterday @ 8am:

• B.B.#181 – Coatar –An ordinance amending Ordinance #63535 approved August 1, 1995, by modifying the terms of real estate tax abatement for the Eleventh/Clark/Eighth/Poplar Redevelopment Area authorized by Ordinance #63535.
• B.B.#182 – Davis –An ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Comptroller and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, making certain findings with respect to the transfer of up to Six Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($630,000) of excess moneys that The City, the owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, intends to transfer from the Debt Service Stabilization Fund to the Airport Development Fund in accordance with Section 516.B of the Lambert?St. Louis International Airport Indenture of Trust between the City, as Grantor, and UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee, dated as of October 15, 1984, as amended and restated as of July 1, 2009, as amended and supplemented; authorizing a transfer in an amount not to exceed Six Hundred Thirty Thousand ($630,000) from the DSSF into the Airport Development Fund during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, for the purpose of making funds available to address the emergency replacement of the 5,000 gallon Airfield Maintenance Diesel Fuel Storage Tank; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause. \
• B.B.#183 – Davis –An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Board of Public Service, and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing a First Amendment to Section One of the Airfield, Building & Environs Projects Ordinance 70410 approved December 19, 2016, which authorized a multi?year public work and improvement program (“Airfield, Building & Environs Projects”) at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, increasing the total estimated cost of the Airport, Building & Environs Projects by Six Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($630,000) to Seventeen Million Six Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($17,630,000) and amending EXHIBIT A entitled “FISCAL YEAR 2017 PROJECT/EQUIPMENT LIST” by adding a new project to the list entitled “Replacement of 5,000 Gallon Airfield Maintenance Diesel Fuel Storage Tank”; authorizing a First Supplemental Appropriation in the total amount of Six Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($630,000) from the Airport Development Fund into the Airport, Building & Environs Projects Ordinance 70410 approved December 19, 2016, for the payment of costs for work and services authorized therein; containing a severability clause; and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#184 – Davis –An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller, owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport to enter into and execute, the Host International Local Concept Restaurant Concession Agreement AL?073 between the City and Host International, granting to the Concessionaire, subject to and in accordance with the terms, covenants, and conditions of the Agreement, certain rights and privileges in connection with the occupancy and use of the Premises, which is defined and more fully described in Section 201 of the Concession Agreement that was approved by the Airport Commission; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#185 – Spencer –An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 3420 California.
• B.B.#186 – Davis – An ordinance amending Ord. No. 65857 pertaining To the Redevelopment Agreement between the City and Grand Center Inc., as amended, amending same to authorize an Application for abatement for the 3637 Washington Fox Garage Project and further amending Ord. No. 68874 by authorizing a Fifth Supplemental Trust Indenture; and containing a severability Clause.
• B.B.#187 – Muhammad –An ordinance requiring Land Reutilization Authority to sell LRA Land Bank properties which have been owned by the City for a period of more than ten (10) years and located within a Ward containing five?hundred (500) or more LRA Land Bank properties to purchasers for the sum of one dollar ($1.00), such sale to be conditioned upon the written approval of the Alderman of the Ward in which said property is located.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2017-2018 session.

— Steve Patterson

Opinion: St. Louis Should Legalize Marijuana

Marijuana never should have been classified as am illegal drug to begin with. So why was it? A top bureaucrat didn’t want to be out of a job!

In 1929, a man called Harry Anslinger was put in charge of the Department of Prohibition in Washington, D.C. But alcohol prohibition had been a disaster. Gangsters had taken over whole neighborhoods. Alcohol — controlled by criminals — had become even more poisonous.

So alcohol prohibition finally ended — and Harry Anslinger was afraid. He found himself in charge of a huge government department, with nothing for it to do. Up until then, he had said that cannabis was not a problem. It doesn’t harm people, he explained, and “there is no more absurd fallacy” than the idea it makes people violent.

But then — suddenly, when his department needed a new purpose — he announced he had changed his mind. (Huffington Post)

He sold the public on the idea smoking weed caused “reefer madness.”

See the full propaganda film here. The madness has been decades of prohibition on a plant with remarkable medicinal qualities.

From Board Bill 180 introduced last week:

WHEREAS, in 2013, Board of Aldermen addressed marijuana possession in the City of St. Louis by passing Ordinance 69429, as codified in Part IV, Chapter 11.60, Title 11 of the Revised Code of the City of St. Louis;

WHEREAS, at least five cities, including Breckenridge, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Maine; South Portland, Maine; Washington, D.C., and eight states, including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada have legalized and regulated marijuana under state and local laws;

WHEREAS, cities and states have not seen significant increases in crime since legalization and regulation of marijuana, and many have seen slight decreases in crime;

WHEREAS, the Drug Enforcement Agency found that, overall, research does not support a direct causal relationship between regular marijuana use and other illicit drug use;

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Police Department has contended that it is understaffed by over 110 officers;

WHEREAS, federal law prohibition makes enforcement of state laws on marijuana by the City of St. Louis, including by the Metropolitan Police Department, redundant and wasteful of city resources;

WHEREAS, arresting, citing, and prosecuting marijuana offenders diverts police time away from crimes with victims. Nationally, 87% of all motor vehicle thefts and over 70% of robberies go unsolved, while law enforcement pursues over half a million arrests for marijuana possession. Regulating marijuana would free up law enforcement time and resources to focus on real crime;

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City of Saint Louis that City resources only be devoted to issues of priority in ensuring public safety and protecting the quality of life for its residents;

WHEREAS, eliminating marijuana enforcement by local police may separate the market for marijuana from the market for more harmful substances, reducing the likelihood that marijuana consumers will be exposed to opiates or other dangerous drugs when they purchase marijuana;

WHEREAS, studies have found that a 48% reduction in patients’ opioid use after three months of medical marijuana treatment, 39% reduction in their opioid dosage, and 39% stopped using opioids altogether;

WHEREAS, researchers at Columbia University’s School of Public Health found that, in states that passed medical marijuana laws, fewer drivers killed in car crashes tested positive for opioids after the laws went into effect

Yes, this should be addressed at state & federal levels, but it’s not. We can’t afford to just sit around waiting for the pushes of old myths to admit they were wrong.

This bill is sponsored by Megan E. Green (15) and co-spomsored by the following:

• Brandon Bosley (3)
• Christine Ingrassia (6)
• Dan Guenther (9)
• Shane Cohn (25)
• Frank Williamson (26)

I urge you to thank each of these six aldermen and for you to contact the other 22 to get BB180 passed.

In the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll I used the word “pot” because it’s an old term generally used only by those who oppose legalization.

Q: Agree or disagree: Pot is a dangerous drug, St. Louis Police should continue enforcing state & federal pot laws!

• Strongly agree 8 [17.02%]
• Agree 4 [8.51%]
• Somewhat agree 1 [2.13%]
• Neither agree or disagree 1 [2.13%]
• Somewhat disagree 1 [2.13%]
• Disagree 7 [14.89%]
• Strongly disagree 23 [48.94%]
• Unsure/No Answer 2 [4.26%]

Clearly, many of those who responded still believe the propaganda.

— Steve Patterson

13th Anniversary Of UrbanReviewSTL

Today is Halloween…which means it’s also the anniversary of this blog. The 13th anniversary!

Last year I ended comments on blog posts…best decision ever. You can still comment via Facebook & Twitter.

No major changes this time as the 14th year starts, posting 4 days per week will continue:

• Sundays 8am: poll
• Mondays 5:45am: topic varies
• Wednesdays 5:45am: poll topic, results
• Fridays 5:45am: Board of Aldermen in session, varies out of session

I’d originally planned to post about the anniversary yesterday, but my fall Thursday, Friday surgery, and Saturday afternoon postponed my writing schedule. It also gave me insight into a post I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now.

Happy Halloween!

— Steve Patterson