Poll: Concealed Weapons Allowed On Public Transit

The National Riffle Association is in St. Louis and outstate Missouri legislators are trying to change Missouri law to force concealed guns onto public transit. House Bill 1483 was introduced in January but it had it’s first hearing last week in the “General Laws” House committee.  The bill summary:

This bill specifies that a political subdivision in the state cannot prohibit a person with a valid concealed carry endorsement from carrying a concealed firearm onto a train or public bus.

This isn’t about preventing the City of St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Louis County, Richmond Heights or any over “political subdivision” from prohibiting concealed weapons on public transit vehicles. No, this is about preventing the Bi-State Development Corporation, the political subdivision that operates as Metro St. Louis, from prohibiting concealed guns.

ABOVE: Sign on MetroLink train, no such sign exists inside MetroBus vehicles

Metro St. Louis is the Bi-State Development Corporation is joint political subdivision of Missouri & Illinois. I personally don’t have fear using public transit but some seem so struck with fear they feel the need to carry deadly force on their person. The only guns I think should be on public  transit would be those of law enforcement:

Law enforcement officers (including reserve officers, police cadets and turnkeys) may ride whether in or out of uniform. These individuals must present an appropriate badge and identification card to the bus operator or fare inspector when boarding out of uniform. Firefighters may ride free of charge when in uniform and wearing appropriate insignia. These individuals are permitted to ride free of charge because of their ability to assist an operator with dealing with emergency situations that might occur while on the bus. Any of these individuals identified “above”, who accept free transportation are in fact, expected to assist in emergencies in return for their free transportation. (Metro FAQ)

What do you think about concealed guns on public transit? The weekly poll is in the right sidebar. Vote there and share your thoughts below.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: Are Posted Handbills Urban Art Or Another Form of Graffiti?

Posted handbills, those posters often tacked up in urban cores, were the subject of a debate on a friend’s picture on Facebook. The photo was of handbills for the St. Louis Symphony’s new campaign called Save Powell Hall.

ABOVE: Handbills posted on the Pine side of the Arcade-Wright building

The debate went something like this:

• Friend A: Destruction of property, resulting in blight.
• Friend B: Not destructive but more colorful.
• Friend A: It’s illegal and will cost money to remove.
• Friend B: I like it, makes it look like something is happening
• Friend A: It’s ok to deface someone else’s property for your own interests?
• Friend C: Handbills are different than graffiti, removed by weather
• Friend B: Better than blank plywood
• Friend A: Project a negative image
• Friend D: Plywood isn’t a positive image

The debate continued but you get the point.

ABOVE: Handbills were posted on the Pine St side only (left), the 10th St side wasn't touched

Gangs did “tag” numerous buildings downtown recently with graffiti.

ABOVE: One example of graffiti from late last February

Are handbills and spray paint equal? The poll is in the upper right sidebar, mobile  users need to switch to the desktop layout to vote.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: The St. Louis Question: “Where did you go to school?” is?

“Where did you go to school?” is a very common question around here. Last week the Post-Dispatch had a couple of interesting stories on the topic:

ABOVE: My elementary school

It was while attending a party as newcomers to St. Louis that, for the first time, someone asked Kim Wolterman and her husband where they went to school.

Their answer, “Iowa State,” received blank stares and silence.

“He said, ‘No, I meant high school.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Why do you care where I went to high school?’” Wolterman said.

She didn’t know it then, but Wolterman was bumping into one of St. Louis’ most peculiar quirks — asking complete strangers to name their high school alma mater. (STLtoday.com)

I also used to answer with the college I attended, now I say “not here” or something like that.  The other article  ”So, how did ‘the St. Louis question’ start?” has a few theories. What I want to know in the poll this week is 1) how you feel about the question and 2) did you go to high school here or not. The poll is located in the right sidebar.

For the record, I’m a 1985 graduate of Southeast High School in Oklahoma City (aerial). The northwest part of the city was, and is, considered the better part of town. My parents lived in NW OKC before I was born but my dad felt it was too snobbish so when they built a new house they did so in SW OKC  – just two blocks from the east-west dividing line (Santa Fe St. Ave.). My high school (and middle school) both bordered Santa Fe but on the east side, not west side.

- Steve Patterson

Readers Not Fully Prepared For A Catastrophe

ABOVE: Earthquake reinforcement under I-64/Hwy 40

No surprise that readers aren’t fully prepared for a catastrophe, I know I’m not prepared at all — unless you count a rechargeable LED flashlight. Here are the results from the poll last week:

Q: How prepared are you for a major catastrophe?

1. Not prepared at all 19 [41.3%]
2. Mildly prepared 13 [28.26%]
3. Somewhat prepared 12 [26.09%]
4. Very prepared 1 [2.17%]
5. Other: 1 [2.17%] (yes, I do have a zombie survival plan)

Our federal government has an informative site you might find helpful:

Ready.gov has a variety of publications for download covering various topics about planning and preparation for disasters and emergencies.

Check it out.

- Steve Patterson

Two Polls This Week: Best & Worst Thing to Happen to St. Louis in 2011

It’s the last week of the year and I’ve got two polls, the best & worst thing to happen to St. Louis in 2011.
You are allowed to pick up to three answers in each poll. A few answers appear on both polls because some may see them differently. Of course you can write in an answer as well.

The polls are in the right sidebar.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: Does Retailing Have a Future at St. Louis Union Station?

When St. Louis Union Station reopened in 1985 the festival marketplace retail concept was all the rage.

ABOVE: An empty retail space in the former midway at Union Station

But early optimism about retail at St. Louis Union Station faded as national chains gave way to smaller and smaller retailers, now many of those have left as well:

Visitors to St. Louis Union Station can still get a caricature drawn of their likeness, buy various Arch-themed tchotchkes and get a free sample of fudge and a song to go along with it.

But two longtime fixtures in the historic landmark — Houlihan’s and Key West Cafe — recently left the station. And the Bud Shop, which peddles an assortment of Budweiser-related mugs and memorabilia, is on its way out, too.

[snip]

The departures add to the uncertainty about the future of the venue — most notably the question of who will own it. The current owner, Union Station Holdings LLC, is seeking to sell the property. Bids are due Nov. 10.

“There’s no question it has fallen on harder times,” said St. Louis-based consultant Richard Ward with Zimmer Real Estate Services. “I think it’s in for some serious change, but I don’t know what the change might be.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Union Station’s retail has been continuously falling on “hard times” the entire twenty-one years I’ve been in St. Louis! I missed the first five years, likely the best years.

ABOVE: The food court and retail spaces under the train shed have a decidedly mall feel, but Union Station representatives say it's not a mall.

I have to wonder the future of such retail venues. The Marriott Hotel is doing well though — expanding into the midway space. The Grand Hall is a stunning space.

ABOVE: Window detail inside the Grand Hall at Union Station

I’ve made Union Station the poll topic this week, see right sidebar.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: St. Louis’ “Open Streets” Events a Good Idea?

Yesterday I did the Open Streets event in Old North. I saw people I knew, enjoyed the beautiful weather, etc. But as I wrote yesterday, these just highlight the fact that many of our streets aren’t good for walking or cycling.

In terms of cycling, most city streets are more than fine though. If anything, they are too wide which encourages motorists to drive too fast. But events like Open Streets does encourage people to get out where they might not otherwise do so.

ABOVE: SUV blocked my path to & from the Open Streets route

The sidewalks in Old North can be iffy but I know those along North Market are good — I only had to go two blocks east from the bus stop at N. Florissant Ave. However, I barely had enough room to get around the SUV shown above.

ABOVE: Connecting structure over alley between Hebert & Palm at 14th

I did manage to take quite a few pictures on my hour round trip. That’s not sufficient reason to close streets for four and a half hours. The poll question this week wants to see what you think of Open Streets — a good idea? The poll is in the right sidebar.

- Steve Patterson

Half of Readers OK With Part-Time State Legislators

ABOVE: The floor of the Missouri House of Representatives

Readers weren’t interested in the poll last week, the total number of votes was less the usual:

Q: Missouri legislators are “part-time” public servants, should we have full-time legislators to manage the state?

1. No 31 [50%]
2. Yes 20 [32.26%]
3. Maybe 6 [9.68%]
4. Unsure/no opinion 4 [6.45%]
5. Other: 1 [1.61%]

The one other answer was:

We should go to every other year

That’s a bit confusing since house members are elected every other year. State senators are elected every six.

- Steve Patterson

Readers Don’t Think Civil Liberties Should Be Violated To Protect Us

The poll last week began on September 11th so the topic was related:

The government should do whatever it takes to protect its citizens against terrorism —even if it means violating civil liberties

1. Disagree 80 [76.92%]
2. Agree 15 [14.42%]
3. unsure/no opinion 9 [8.65%]

I didn’t have any expectations on the results ahead of time. I know that a decade ago many more would have agreed.

- Steve Patterson

Poll: Thoughts on St. Louis’ Smoke-free Law [UPDATED]

ABOVE: Bars that qualify for an exemption must post a warning sign

As of January 2, 2011 most businesses in St. Louis are now smoke-free. Now that we are past the halfway point in the year I’m curious on your thoughts. When the law was debated in 2009 many opposed the law on principal. Some are still fighting the law.

Do you feel differently about the law now? Should we repeal or expand? The poll is in the upper right corner of the blog.

- Steve Patterson

Update @ 7pm on Monday August 15, 2011:

This week’s poll has been closed after only a day & a half, the pro-smoking forces had caused more votes than a typical week.