20th Ward Candidate Debate Thursday March 26th

One thing is certain, no matter which of the three candidates in the 20th Ward General Election wins the race on April 7th: the 20th Ward will have new representation at the Board of Aldermen.   Ald. Craig Schmid, first elected in 1995, had his ward # changed on him once, and frequently faced primary & general challengers. He always came out on top — until the recent primary.  Thank you Craig for your service & loyalty, but I’m glad you lost the election. It has been time to move on but you kept running anyway.

Voters in the 20th Ward should plan to attend Thursday night’s debate among to hear the three candidates, via Facebook:

Please join your South City neighbors for a 20th Ward Aldermanic Debate. A non-partisan question and answer forum will be moderated by The League of Women Voters. Attendees may ask questions submitted in writing the day of the forum.

All candidates have been invited to participate:
Cara Spencer (Dem)
Stephen Jehle (Ind)
Vicky Ingram (Grn)

The debate begins promptly at 6:45 and will end by 8:15, please feel free to arrive early at 6 for Cherokee Neighborhoods Happy Hour and to be seated. Guests are also welcome to stay for after hours.

This event is hosted by The Chippewa Broadway Business District in partnership with The South City Business Collaborative (Dt2, Carondelet, CSBA, CBBA)

Please share this event with your friends and neighbors, and don’t forget to VOTE on April 7th.

Thursday’s debate will be held at 2720 Cherokee.

— Steve Patterson

20th Ward Endorsement: Shannon J. McGinn

This year I’m only making one primary endorsement: Shannon J. McGinn.  I’ve known Shannon, who is running in the 20th ward democratic primary against 4-term incumbent Craig Schmid and candidate Rod Yeager, for many years. I first met Shannon at the popular coffeehouse she started, Hartford Coffee.

I’ve known incumbent Craig Schmid nearly twice as long.  Schmid is a nice guy with the best of intentions.  Much has changed in the city since 1995, but Schmid hasn’t.  Schmid remains locked in nuisance problem removal mode rather than transitioning to attract residents & business mode.

From a recent article in the RFT:

“Her implication is that the current alderman, Craig Schmid, who’s held his post for 16 years, isn’t tapping into the needs of all his constituents in the 20th ward, one of most ethnically diverse, with a thriving Mexican community. It’s anchored by Cherokee and Chippewa streets, and bounded by Dutchtown, Marine Villa, Gravois Park and Benton Park West.” (RFT:  Shannon McGinn: Fresh-Faced Alderman Candidate, Discusses Her Campaign With RFT)

Shannon would bring a variety of real-world experience to the Board of Aldermen, including community involvement and as a former small business owner.If you are a registered voter in the city’s 20th ward please vote for Shannon J. McGinn on Tuesday March 8th.  Not a resident of the 20th ward? Consider volunteering and/or donating.

Find Shannon  online, on Facebook and  Twitter  @ShannonJMcGinn.

– Steve Patters0n

Stimulus funds helped with renovation of building in Marine Villa neighborhood

Yesterday afternoon the ribbon was cut on a newly renovated property in south St. Louis. The handsome 4,932sf building at 3500 Illinois Ave was renovated with the help of federal stimulus funds.

I couldn’t check out the 2nd & 3rd floors but the first floor was nice.  The building was in very poor condition when the project started.  This was the 8th renovation project on this block where the city helped out to get the project done.

I saw a number of the contractors and suppliers who were present.  The stimulus was about jobs and getting money flowing.  Using the money to continue to target a once run down block is a good strategy.  The house has already sold — it closed last week. This is a key difference from what we might see in other areas.  Alderman Ortmann (D-9th Ward) and Alderman Craig Schmid  of the adjacent 20th Ward both focus on owner-occupied single-family homes. So what had contained 2-3 units is now a massive single family property.

Their bias against multiple units and rentals means buildings wait for renovation until a pile of money is available to make a project work as a single house.  I question the wisdom of creating such massive single-family homes.  How will such homes do when resold? Wouldn’t more units help support local businesses?

I did like that the rear entry to the home was level — no steps at all from the new sidewalk to inside.  The bathroom on the first floor featured a small shower without a step — another good touch for the accessibility. The many residents from the Marine Villa neighborhood were pleased to see the building finally renovated.

– Steve Patterson