Vote Yes on Cigarette Tax Increase!

Constitutional Amendment No. 3 (Initiative Petition)

This amendment will increase the tax on cigarette’s. While opponents are saying it is a 370% tax increase they are not telling you the connection between our low cig taxes and our rate of teenage smoking. All surrounding states have higher taxes on cigarettes. Those opposing this change are convenience store owners and tobacco companies — that should tell you something about their motivation.

Read for yourself:

Newspaper articles:

Kansas City Star
Kansas City Star — Study
Jeff City Tribune

Site’s against increase:

NOMO3
Americans for Prosperity

Site’s in favor of increase:

Healthy Missouri
RCGA – Regional Commerce & Growth Association

Missouri’s cigarette tax, at 17 cents a pack, is 80 percent below the national average and was last increased in 1993. In Illinois, the tax is 98 cents per pack; it’s 70 cents in Kansas. For additional perspective, consider Rhode Island, where the tax increased 39 cents in 2003 and an additional 75 cents in 2004—the state today assesses a whopping $2.46 in tax per pack.

Missouri Academy of Family Physicians

To those that say this is a regressive tax, that it punishes the poor: smoking addiction is a far worse punishment. It is in the interest of society to look at costs we must all pay for providing smoking-related health care. Look at the organizations behind the Healthy Missouri campaign — they are at the front lines of providing healthcare and related services. They see the reality of smoking and know other states have successfully worked to reduce smoking, especially among youth. We need to pass this measure.

Urban Review’s Voter Guide

I’ve already voted, via absentee ballot. Why? I’m in Chicago attending a rail transit conference which continues through Wednesday. Below are all the items on the City of St. Louis ballot with the exception of the cigarette tax — that post will follow. Below I’ve indicated how I have voted or in a few cases left it open how I might vote (I started this a few weeks ago).

You may well vote differently than me or the same but for different reasons. All is good as long as you vote!

U.S. Senator

Jim Talent – Rep
Claire McCaskill – Dem
Frank Gilmour – Lib
Lydia Lewis – Prg

I can’t let Jim Talent return to office so while I’d like to cast a vote for the Libertarian or Progressive candidate I must go with Claire McCaskill by default. Not that I like Claire or what the Democrats are doing on the National level (or local for that matter) they are my only alternative to the bible-pushing, constitution trashing right wingers that have overtaken the Republican party.

State Auditor

Sandra Thomas – Rep
Susan Montee – Dem
Charles W. Baum – Lib
Terry Bunker – Prg

I loved to for Montee because a Democrat will do a better job auditing things when a Republican is in the Governor’s Mansion. As a side note, is it true that Blunt lives in Springfield and has an expensive motorcade drive him to Jefferson City while someone relative lives in the Governor’s Mansion?

U.S. Representative District 3

David Bertelsen – Rep
Russ Carnahan – Dem
R. Christophel – Lib
David Sladky – Prg

Everyone says this is a “safe” democratic seat so I’m inclined to vote Libertarian or Progressive on this one.

State Representative District 59

Jeanette Mott Oxford – Dem
Kevin C. Babcock – Lib

JMO has been an outstanding rep. She is both responsive to inquiries I’ve made she also goes a great job sending out email communications to let us know what she is working on and to solicit input. We need more elected officials like JMO.

Collector of Revenue

Gregory F.X. Daly – Dem
Audrey (Hasmine) M. Ruiz-Smith – Grn

Audrey Ruiz-Smith gets the award for the longest name on the ballot. I’ve met her as well as Mr. Daly. She isn’t really campaigning at all and frankly she said flyers were too expensive. Sorry, if you can’t I can’t bring myself to vote for her even out of rebellion to the establishment favorite. I likely will not cast a vote in this race.

License Collector

Pat Herod – Rep
Mike McMillan – Dem

No secret here, I’m voting for Pat Herod. His experience in both the military and in civilian life demonstrates an ability to lead groups. Furthermore, he has pledge to not accept the city vehicle as well as work for charter reform to consolidate the office. And just in case someone forgot or you are just finding this site, I have been a very minor consultant to Pat Herod so my view here is a bit biased.

Recorder of Deeds

Sharon Quigley Carpenter – Dem
Jerry (J’asa) S. McCaleb – Grn

I voted for the Green knowing Carpenter is going to win.

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Mariano V. Favazza – Dem

Sorry Mariano, without a challenger you don’t get my vote. Not that you need it…

Missouri Supreme Court Judges (retain each yes or no?)

William Ray Price
Mary Rhodes Russell
Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.

Typically we know nothing about Judges up for reappointment to the courts. In this case one name stands out — Limbaugh. This one is cousin to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. Do I say no to him simply by association to Rush? Probably not. Still, I don’t want to blindly say yes.

Missouri Court of Appeals Judges – Eastern District (retain each yes or no?)

Kenneth M. Romines
Nannette A. Baker

More judges I don’t know.

Circuit Judges – 22nd Judicial Circuit (retain each yes or no?)

Jimmie M. Edwards
Robert H. Dierker, Jr.
Michael P. David (Div. 6)
Margaret M. Neill (Div. 9)
Edward Sweeney Div. 16)
Donald L. McCullin (Div. 20)
Jack Garvey (Div. 30)
Joan L. Moriarty (Div. 31)

Still more?

Associate Circuit Judges – 22nd Judicial Circuit (retain each yes or no?)

Michael F. Stelzer
Paula Perkins Bryant (Div. 24)
Michael K. Mullen (Div. 25)
Elizabeth Hogan (Div. 28)
Barbara T. Peebles (Div. 29)

I ended up voting against all of the judges, most people will vote yes or leave blank.

Constitutional Amendment No. 2 (Initiative Petition)

Stem Cell Research?

Passage of this amendment will royally piss off the religious right so this is a big yes for me! One has to wonder, if the amendment passes, what the backlash will be? Will social conservatives continue to battle this they way have have reproductive rights? Will they turn their attention back to gay right issues?

Constitutional Amendment No. 6 (Legislature)

Veteran’s organization tax exemption?

Sure, they fought for my freedom so I can let them have some tax exemption.

Constitutional Amendment No. 7 (Legislature)

Forfeit state pensions up felony conviction, impeachment?

Oh hell yes!

State Proposition B (Initiative Petition)

Increase minimum wage to $6.50 or to federal (higher), and adjust to CPI?

Some say increasing the minimum wage will actually hurt workers as some jobs may get scaled back. I’m not convinced of this argument. I voted for this measure and would gladly support a “living wage” measure which would work to lift those working about a poverty level.

City Proposition P

1/8% sales tax for recreation centers?

I voted against this measure. I don’t think we need fancy rec centers, especially not two taking away park space. What our youth need is a reason to be optimistic about the future and an indoor water slide just doesn’t cut it.

City Preferential Proposition R

Police Residency – non binding

Yes, but will they listen?

City Charter Amendment – Proposition I

Increase maximum fine to $1,000

Fines are not always a deterrent to crime but it may well increase revenues.

City Charter Amendment – Proposition II

Remove mayor’s office staff from civil service.

Yeah, why not?

City Charter Amendment – Proposition III

Consider 6 top candidates for jobs, not just 3.

I voted for it.

City Charter Amendment – Proposition IV

Preference to existing city employees

A hiring within policy can boost moral, an incentive to work hard and move up the ladder.

Additional Resources:

League of Women Voters Guide

State Ballot

Pyramid’s South Grand Land Swap Fiasco is Dead

John Steffen’s Pyramid Companies has thankfully been thwarted in their pursuit of mediocrity in areas outside of downtown. The plan, hatched long ago with the full support of Ald. Jennifer Florida, was to allow McDonald’s to construct a suburban-ish drive-thru restaurant on the site of the former Sears store on South Grand. In turn, Pyramid would get to build some senior housing on the current McDonald’s site.

A long battle ensued with a strong and effective grassroots campaign to halt the drive-thru from encroaching into the Gravois Park Neighborhood. On June 21, 2006, however, it looked as though the campaign had lost — the city’s Board of Adjustment denied the neighbors appeal on the variance for the drive-thru. Steffen’s lackeys from Pyramid had a smug look on their face as the ruling went in their favor. Ald. Florida, wisely, wasn’t present. But it seems the whole deal unraveled after that.

The blame is on the deed restriction on the property which reads:

Grantee, by the acceptance of this Deed, agrees, as a covenant running with the land, that the Property shall not be used for retail sales purposes, except that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a portion of the Property may be used for retail sales purposes provided that in no event shall more than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of floor area in the aggregate on the Property be used for retail sales purposes and in no event shall any single store, business or other commercial occupant on the Property use more than two thousand (2,000) square feet of floor area on the Property for retail sales purposes. This foregoing use restriction shall be binding on the Grantee and the successors and assigns of Grantee forever.

This restriction on the property has been in place since Pyramid acquired it as part of the Keystone Place project. Such restrictions are typical for stores such as Sears to place on property so a competitor could not take over the building. When the area was in Craig Schmid’s ward, the decision was made to raze the store. This, in hindsight, was a major mistake. But back to the restriction, this was fully known to Pyramid and likely Florida and McDonald’s as they worked on this plan at least since late 2004. Pyramid and McDonald’s are far to experienced in development to have not known and considered the restriction. Most likely, they assumed they’d be able to get away with building it and Sears likely would not have pressed any issue or even known about it. But, it was the adjacent residents that are part of the Keystone Place development, also on former Sears land, that may have had a leg to stand on in court to enforce the restriction. They — Pyramid, Florida and McDonald’s — knew a legal challenge was possible.

So today we have a closed McDonald’s down the street from a closed Burger King. Over on Kingshighway we’ve got a closed Wendy’s and over at Gravois & Jefferson another closed Burger King. Doesn’t look like the city should bank on these high-debt franchises for our future. It is unfortunate the individuals working in these establishments are likely unemployed now. Tax wise things will go on. The city residents that ate at all of these establishments will not stop eating all of a sudden. They will visit other restaurants like Arby’s, Subway or Taco Bell. Or perhaps one of our fine locally owned restaurants. We will still collect the sales tax — it will just come from different places. And hopefully those that worked at the closed places can find work at the others that will handle the additional customers.

Lucas Hudson writes for the ACC about the owner of the McDonald’s franchise that just closed:

He was demonstrative in pointing out what kind of businesses are taking over the area– across the street there are a couple of no-name markets, a non-descript car detaling place that used to be a licensed Firestone branch, and the omnipresent legalized theivery of Rent a Center.

Interesting. Perhaps he is unaware of the condos going into the former Southside National Bank? And while the street has some “no-name” markets what is wrong with that? If you are not a chain place your name is worthless? Conversely, the German-chain Aldi’s next door to McDonald’s isn’t exactly small potatoes. And did the McDonald’s franchise owner (or Lucas for that matter) stop to think that just maybe the McDonald’s chain itself has contributed to the decline of the area since it opened in 1974? For over 30 years a highly auto oriented fast food chain has dominated the corner and now the owner is being critical of other businesses that follow! One of my arguments all along was that we are not going to attract good urban design if we build a new suburban drive-thru.

The Lawrence Group’s renovation of the SSNB is great but it is still needs our help. They need retailers for the base and future urban buildings along Grand & Gravois. They are also taking on the smaller building across Grand with a need for street level retailers. Ald. Florida does deserve kudos for her continued efforts to save and renovate the SSNB but it is not in isolation. Retailers need to see more than simply the footprint of the property in which their store might be located. We must revitalize the street and return it to being a pedestrian-friendly and urban corridor that it once was before the McDonald’s entered the picture in the early 70’s and changed all that. Now that it is closed we have a fighting chance of actually turning this street around.

Back to the ACC:

The ACC just talked to Jennifer Florida about the closing, and she does not currently have plans for the site, but mantains that she wants to go through a “community based planning process”, and used Lafayette Square as a model of successful design.

Now she wants to plan. Great. Let’s see, how long did it take? Ald. Florida was sworn into office on April 17, 2001, nearly six years ago. Where was the “community based planning process” in all the years prior to this controversy? Non-existant! Before this she was in her “you can’t get everything you want” mode of thinking, no doubt instilled in her by old timers like Ald. Fred Wessels. But maybe she has now seen the light, or at least the power of a small & determined group with internet access, so I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Not you Fred, just her…

My friend Steve Wilke-Shapiro has been taking the lead of late on looking at this section of Grand on his excellent 15thWardSTL blog. Click here to read his initial take on the new plan by Pyramid to build senior housing on the old Sears site (as well as the section past the alley to Arkansas St.). You can check out Ald. Florida’s comment-limited blog here. To get an appreciation for Pyramid’s experience at senior housing in a St. Louis neighborhood see my post on Sullivan Place.

Here is what we need to do on South Grand from Utah to a point somewhere south of Chippewa, quite possibly it should match the blighted area which continues to Meramec. First, a community based planning process not driven by the current needs of a particular developer or single property owner. This needs to be followed up with a “zoning overlay” for the district. This overlay would replace the current zoning for that district and would allow us to have greater control over what could be proposed and built within the area. Requirements, such as any surface parking being located behind the building, could be enacted (think Kinkos/Bread Co at Grand & Arsenal). By having quality zoning, something from the 21st century, it will be less important for citizens to scrutinize each and every new project. With new urban-focused zoning for the street this will actually free up Ald. Florida and the developers to plan accordingly and be relatively assured that what they propose will not meet with strong resistance from the community. Citizens, rather than having to waste countless hours tracking down details of every project on every parcel, can hopefully move on to doing comprehensive planning in other parts of their neighborhoods and even work with the developers along Grand on finding tenants.

After all this we do have the potential to make something great happen on South Grand. Actions speak louder than words and right now the ball is in Ald. Florida’s court.

“Mr. Smith” Among Five Finalists for International Documentary Award

Locally produced film “Can Mr. Smith Get To Washington Anymore?” is a finalist for the 2006 IDA Feature Film award. The other four films up for the award are Deliver Us From Evil, Iraq in Fragments, SHOWBUSINESS: A Season to Remember, and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars.

The International Documentary Association will announce the winner on December 8th at the Directors Guild of America. If you missed the film during its held over run in St. Louis you can catch it on November 8th as part of the Webster University Film Series.

Here is the trailer:

Tower Grove Farmers’ Market Continues, New Market Coming Next Year to The Ville

For those that enjoyed the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market this year don’t despair about the season ending. TGFM Co-founder (and fellow SLU grad student) Jenny Ryan says the market will continue in this Fall and Winter in a different venue:

The Tower Grove Farmers’ Market will continue during the fall and winter starting this weekend!

Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3664 Arsenal

When: The first Saturday of each month, 9 AM – Noon

Who will be vending on November 4:

* Norris Farms – Naturally raised pork
* Our Garden – Squash, pumpkins, salsas, preserves
* Blue Heron Orchard – Organic apples, apple cider
* Hinkebein Hills Farm – Naturally raised beef and pork
* Femme Osage – Honey, eggs, beeswax products
* Seven Thunder Bison – Grass-fed buffalo
* Gen Obata – Crochet hats and scarves, notecards and books, paper ornaments, cd’s.
* Soy Candles by Patricia – Soy candles!

In addition to the great choices at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, Soulard Market is also open year round. And look for yet another market to open next year in The Ville neighborhood on the city’s northside!

At a public meeting in The Ville two weeks ago the St. Louis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects announced they will be contributing $15,000 from local and national funds to help build a market area along MLK. The AIA will be working with architecture students from Washington University to help construct the project. Also in The Ville, SLU will be helping construct a building to serve as incubator space for new locally-owned businesses in the community.