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

Readers OK With Ballpark Village Dress Code

Slightly more than half the readers who voted in the poll last week selected answers supportive on the dress codes at Ballpark Village venues, conversely just under half selected answers unsupportive.

Here are the results:

Q: The Dress Code at Ballpark Village Is…

1. a good thing 45 [28.85%]
2. no big deal 37 [23.72%]
3. a way to say “whites only” 27 [17.31%]
4. par for the Cordish course 15 [9.62%]
5. pointless 8 [5.13%]
6. offensive 7 [4.49%]
7. confusing 7 [4.49%]
8. Other: 7 [4.49%]
   1. lame
   2. A dress code is needed, but this one goes too far, after all it is called ballpa
   3. a way to filter who is allowed in
   4. The same as most clubs on Wash Ave.
   5. The dress code at Ballpark village is a clear example sexism.
   6. necessary evil
   7. all the dress codes seem to apply to men.
9. Unsure/no opinion 3 [1.92%]

The various dress codes are outlined in the original post. In short, TV’s Daisy Duke would be admitted, but St. Louis native Nelly, dressed as he was in the Hot in Herre video, would be turned away.  On Washington Ave I’ve seen young women wearing skirts so short any shorter they’d be flashing everyone. Presumably, that’s ok. We’ll probably check out a few of the venues but I don’t see any becoming a regular hangout.

— Steve Patterson

Two Buildings Being Razed in Clayton for St. Louis County Court Project

Work has started on an addition to the existing St. Louis County Courthouse:

On October 15, 2013, the St. Louis County Council awarded a $122 million Design-Build contract to St. Louis-based KCI Construction Company, Inc. (KCI) to design and construct improvements related to the County Courts Project. KCI’s work will include construction of a new addition and substantial renovations to the existing Courts Building and the parking garage beneath it. Once work is complete, all family/juvenile court and detention operations currently conducted at the Family Courts Center (501 S. Brentwood) will be permanently relocated to the new, unified Courts Complex. (St. Louis County)

The new addition will be built on top of the existing parking garage. Two buildings to the west, across South Meramec Ave, will be razed to make room for staging the constriction project.

The two are connected via a walkway over the alley.  The building at 111 S. Meramec Ave has nearly 72,000 square feet and was built in 1957. The taller of the two, 121 S. Meramec Ave, was built in 1964 and contains nearly 210,000 square feet of space. Both buildings have a negative impact on the Meramec sidewalk, neither will be missed from an urbanist viewpoint. I don’t know the architect of either, a preservationist might object to their planned demolition.

I need to find out if St. Louis County has a long-term plan for the land. Selling to a developer or keeping for surface/structured parking are the two obvious future uses.

— Steve Patterson

Culinaria Responds To Competition From Fields Foods, Improves Produce Department

When Fields Foods opened in January on the near south side, just south of downtown, those of us who’ve regularly shopped at Culinaria at 9th & Olive were envious of the produce selection. Culinaria also noticed, prompting changes in their produce department.

The selection is still lacking compared to Fields Foods, but greatly improved over what it has been.  Glad to see management is willing to change when a tiny upstart opens not far away. It’ll be interesting to see how both respond when Whole Foods opens in the CWE late next year.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Paul McKee’s “Northside Regeneration” Project is Slowly Moving Foreword, Pick Your Top 5 Priorities

Paul McKee’s “Northside Regeneration”  has been controversial since before it became public, it has faced court challenges and has experienced delays. Now, however, it seems to be ready to move forward.

The question for the poll this week is what qualities should be priorities of the project?  Please select your top from from the list provided in the poll in the right sidebar.

— Steve Patterson