Poll: Should Casinos Be Exempt From Smoke-Free Laws?

Casinos are not for me, even if they are smoke-free.  Since the first of 2008 casinos in Illinois have been smoke-free.  In July 2009 the St. Louis Federal Reserve released a study, No Ifs, Ands or Butts: Illinois Casinos Lost Revenue after Smoking Banned,  showing Illinois lost $200 million in 2008 and the local economies lost $12 million:

“One of the reasons that the smoking ban has been more contentious for casinos than for other types of businesses is the contribution that gambling taxes make to state and local tax revenue. In Illinois, casinos are subject to a per-capita admissions tax, as well as a progressive tax on gambling revenue. Revenue from these taxes is divided between the state government and the governments of the communities in which the casinos are located.”

When the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County passed smoke-free laws in 2009 both exempted casinos.

Now the Illinois legislature is considering exempting their casinos.

“Smoking could soon be allowed again in Illinois casinos. State legislators are considering changing the two-year-old law because casino profits and local revenues are being hit hard.” (KMOV)

For the poll this week I’m asking if casinos should be exempt from smoke-free laws.  I’ve included a range of answers but if one doesn’t fit you can fill in your own.  The poll is in the upper right corner of the blog.

– Steve Patterson

The Challenges Of Going Electric

Hybrid vehicles are now mainstream:

“The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced worldwide in 2001. The Prius is sold in more than 70 countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan and North America. In May 2008, global cumulative Prius sales reached the milestone 1 million vehicle mark, and in September 2010, the Prius reached worldwide cumulative sales of 2.0 million units. The U.S. is the largest market, with 814,173 units registered by December 2009.” (Wikipedia)

Gas-electric hybrids are are now available from many manufacturers, Hyundai, Lexus, Lincoln, etc…  The beauty of the hybrid is a conventional engine kicks in to supply power.  You can drive cross country in a hybrid without worry.

The next frontier is the electric car.  GM was out front in 1996 with the EV1 but it famously killed the project in 2002, sparking the 2006 documentary, “Who Killed The Electric Car?”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsJAlrYjGz8

GM had purchased the Hummer brand name in 1999 — the opposite vehicle of the EV1.  The Hummer brand is gone and next week GM is introducing a mass market electric car — the Chevy Volt.  Next month Nissan is introducing the all-electric Leaf.  Unlike a hybrid, the Volt & Leaf require charging.

“Your Volt will be fully charged in about 10 hours, depending on climate, with standard 120-volt line, or as little as 4 hours using a dedicated 240-volt line”

So I can just run a long extension cord? Sorta, maybe, depends:

The batteries that power electric cars can be charged by plugging them into a standard wall socket or nearly twice as fast with a charging station. Yet a station could cost at least $2,000, including installation, and possibly $4,000 higher if you need a new electrical panel, according to the Associated Press.

“The main thing to consider is how you are going to use your electric car,” the story says. “If your commute is short, or there’s a charging station near your office, you might not need much of a charge at home. You can get away with topping off your battery overnight.” (USA Today)

I’m thinking in ten years or so I will be able to buy an electric car.  Many of my neighbors already have hybrids, they might get an electric sooner.

Our condo association has 78 units, in two buildings joined by underground parking containing 88 assigned spaces.

In most of the garage the only electric is the lighting.  One of the three sections has power for car lifts.

The car lifts are hard wired on a common electrical service for the building.  These owners pay a tiny bit more in monthly condo fees to offset their electric use.  With the lifts I’d say we have a capacity for about 100 vehicles.  I could see 2-5 electric vehicles with 10 years.  But how would we charge them? Can the electrical service for our two buildings handle the demand?  Could one 30-minute quick charge station make more sense for those owners to share?

Assuming we figured out how to charge a handful of electric cars without causing our buildings to go dark, could downtown’s electrical grid handle the concentration of electric cars? Here is a short news report from AP explaining the issue.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkfteMpRgWQ

Please Shop Local Small Businesses On Saturday

If you are like many people you are going out to a mall and/or big box store today, Black Friday.  I’m not going to try to talk you out of it, but I am going to suggest you patronize locally owned small businesses in your area tomorrow,  November 27, 2010 – aka Small Business Saturday.

From the FAQ page:

What is Small Business Saturday?
More than a dozen advocacy, public, and private organizations are joining American Express OPEN, the company’s small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. This year, Small Business Saturday is November 27, 2010.

Is Small Business Saturday designed to get people to stop shopping at larger businesses or online?
Absolutely not. Small Business Saturday recognizes the importance of small businesses to the overall economy and local communities. It’s a day to support the small, independently owned businesses we can’t live without.Who can get involved in Small Business Saturday?
Anybody. Anywhere. Now through Small Business Saturday, November 27.

How can I get involved in Small Business Saturday?
There are a number of ways for you to get involved. First and foremost, it’s about helping raise awareness about the importance of small business to our communities. For example, you can visit www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday where you ca”like” Small Business Saturday and syndicate news feeds about the day to your personal, virtual networks. There, you can also spread the word about the day and your favorite businesses by giving a shout-out to your favorite local shops and restaurants via Facebook and Twitter.

You can also support Small Business Saturday by patronizing the local, independently owned small businesses in your neighborhood. That could mean anything from having dinner on your way home from the mall during the holiday shopping season or reserving a part of your holiday gift budget to spend at a local small business.

The event is sponsored by American Express which isn’t a small business.  But I think they realize the importance of small businesses.

A good places to start are local advertisers helping to support this blog and BUILD St. Louis’ members.

-Steve Patterson

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy this cute video I found on YouTube:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CndP1fYC0M

Also, please think about those less fortunate in our city, those having their Thanksgiving  meal at one of various organizations this year.

– Steve Patterson

Readers Think Slay Will Be Elected To Fourth Term As Mayor in 2013

Last week readers indicated, in the weekly poll, that current 3-term mayor Francis Slay would be elected to a fourth term in office:

Q: Who do you think will be elected St. Louis Mayor in 2013?

1. Francis Slay 86 [46.74%]
2. Lewis Reed 42 [22.83%]
3. Other answer… 16 [8.7%]
4. Unsure/no opinion 12 [6.52%]
5. Michael McMillan 10 [5.43%]
6. One of the 28 aldermen 6 [3.26%]
7. Darlene Green 4 [2.17%]
8. Bill Haas 3 [1.63%]
9. Greg Daly 3 [1.63%]
10. Sharon Carpenter 1 [0.54%]
11. Maida Coleman 1 [0.54%]

No St. Louis mayor has ever been elected to four 4-year terms.  The last to run for a fourth term, Raymond Tucker, lost in March 1965 to Alfonso J. Cervantes.

The other answers provided by readers were:

1. Rex Sinquefeld
2. Jeanette Mott-Oxford
3. whoever wins the dem mayoral primary
4. Rex Sinquefield
5. steve patterson 🙂
6. You?
7. Nelly
8. Rainford
9. TERM LIMITS: We desperately need them in the city; city is doomed if no change
10. I think Lewis Reed should be elected mayor, but how should i know if he will?
11. Douglas Duckworth
12. Shane Cohn
13. Anyone but Bill Haas!
14. I HOPING anyone but FS. Time is up.
15. Who are these people? None are a Daley or Giuliani. or even John Nations
16. Antonio French

Prior to my February 2008 stroke I was plotting a run for mayor  — around 2019 at the age of 52.  I don’t see it happening now, physically or mentally.  I could see both Shane Cohn & Antonio French running for mayor at some point — but not 2013.

My prediction is Francis Slay will not seek a fourth term.  Given the budget issues facing the city he may want to escape before it gets too ugly.  Aldermanic President Lewis Reed’s leadership will be tested next year during redistricting.  When I asked Reed if he was running in 2013 he said he is focusing on 2011.  He didn’t say he wasn’t going to run.  I think Slay won’t but Reed will.  I don’t see McMillan running either, he is not a fan of contested races.

I think Lewis Reed will be elected the 46th mayor of St. Louis.  I’m not saying that is what I necessarily want to have happen, just how I see it going at this point.  But a lot can happen in two plus years.

– Steve Patterson