An Open Letter To The St. Louis Board of Aldermen

Dear Board of Aldermen:

I appreciate your many years of pubic service, but after about 12 years that service changes to public disservice.  In my view, more than half of you have stayed around too long.

Let me explain my thinking.

To run for the Board of Aldermen you need to be 25 years old — born by 1985.  Alfred Wessels & Phyllis Young were both sworn into office in the Spring of 1985 (source). They’ve now been in office so long that a person born on the day they were sworn in is now qualified to run for their seats!

Young & Wessels were once the new folks coming in to change City Hall:

“Phyllis Young, the Democratic incumbent, was first elected in 1985 as a reform candidate against the old Webbe-Leisure organization that for decades controlled the ward, which now takes in downtown and neighborhoods just to the south. Her immediate predecessor, former Alderman Sorkis J. Webbe Jr., is serving a prison term on charges of vote fraud and obstruction of justice.”  (St. Louis Post-Dispatch March 23, 1989)

Each of you are all nice and have the best of intentions.  That said, by running for reelection ever four years you are not allowing a new group of leadership to emerge & grow in this city.

The following of you are up for reelection in March, and frankly, I’d like each and every one on this list to return to the Board of Election Commissioners and withdraw from the race:

1. Terry Kennedy (D-18, 1989)
2. Stephen Conway (D-8. 1990)
3. Craig Schmid (D-20, 1995)
4. Lyda Krewson (D-28, 1997)

And one more — Fred Heitert (R-12, 1979)  Yes the sole Republican on the Board of Aldermen will have served 32 years at the end of his current term.  32 years!  All the above need to step aside to let others be able to participate.

In 2013 the following shouldn’t seek another term:

1. Phyllis Young (D-7, 1985)
2. Alfred Wessels (D-13, 1985)
3. Joseph Roddy (D-17, 1988)
4. Freeman Bosley Sr (D-3, 1989)
5. Gregory Carter (D-27, 1993)
6. April Ford Griffin (D-5, 1997)
7. Matt Villa (D-11, 1997)
8. Dionne Flowers (D-2, 1999)
9. Ken Ortmann (D-9, 1999)
10. Jennifer Florida (D-15, 2001)

This is not personal, I believe we’d have less voter apathy and more citizen involvement in the community if people saw a chance for change, an opening to get involved.  Have you done good things for the city? Yes.  Would you continue doing good things for the city.  Probably so.  But each of you replaced someone just they replaced the person before them.  Is there risk we’d get someone we don’t like as well? Certainly, but we need to take that chance.  We must take that risk! So please, let three terms be your limit.  Don’t be a house guest that stays too long.

– Steve Patterson

Experiencing Bus Rapid Transit

Long-time readers know I love streetcars — rail vehicles on fixed rail in the street.  I love other forms of rail transit: light rail and heavy rail.  Bus I’ve also come to appreciate the rubber tire bus that replaced streetcars in St. Louis.  When I visited Kansas City earlier this month I used their local public transit, which included a newish BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) line.

Kansas City Area Transportation Authority implemented its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, called the Metro Area Express, or MAX, in July 2005. MAX was an instant success, with ridership in this corridor increasing more than 50%. While Kansas City’s MAX line was not the first BRT line in the United States, its immediate success and affordable execution have garnered recognition across the country. In fact, the Federal Transit Administration holds it up as a model BRT line.

MAX is a six-mile linear route linking the vibrant River Market, downtown, Union Station, Crown Center and Plaza. As the region’s most significant new public transportation project in decades, MAX provides quick, convenient public transportation that helps reduce traffic congestion and auto emissions.

MAX features distinct characteristics that incorporate state of the art technology to deliver customers a high level of reliability, speed and comfort. For instance, dedicated lanes help give MAX vehicles a rapid, smooth ride, and special traffic signalization holds a green light longer to keep MAX on schedule. Limited stops mean that MAX can keep moving to key destinations.

By design, a unique identity was created for MAX, including unique vehicles and easily identifiable “stations,” not “stops.” Each station features an 18-foot marker that is well lit at night, serving as a beacon from blocks away. The new, modern shelters were designed to provide protection from the elements with a roof that is 80% opaque, providing needed shade in the summer, yet allowing 20% of the light through to break the chill in the winter. One of the most popular features of the stations is the real-time arrival signs. Customers know exactly when the next MAX will arrive, taking the guesswork out of riding. (Source)

Do these changes make a difference in the perception of the bus? Based on my experience & observation, a big yes!

The Kansas City MAX line on Main St. gets transit-optional & tourist riders, something regular bus lines just don’t get.  Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer fixed rail but I was shocked at how much I liked the limited-stop BRT concept now that I’ve ridden one.

The following is a promotional video from the Kansas City Transportation Authority:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Pj4uAHk2E

I rode conventional bus lines in Kanas City as well, easy to navigate with Google Maps on your phone.  But with limited stops, the map of the entire MAX line is clear & easy to understand.

Earlier this year Metro mentioned BRT when asking St. Louis County voters to approve a tax to help fund transit.  The question is, what corridors are ideal for BRT?

– Steve Patterson

Poll On Missouri’s Historic Tax Credit Program

The State of Missouri is facing a budget crunch so everything is on the table, including tax credits:

“Missouri has 61 tax credit programs that waived $521 million in state income taxes last year. Costs for tax credits have increased five-fold during the past dozen years while state revenues have risen much less.” (AP via Bloomberg)

One credit that may be scaled back is the historic tax credit:

“Gov. Jay Nixon’s tax credit commission recommended Tuesday lowering Missouri’s annual cap on historic tax credits from $140 million to $75 million a year.

The commission said the reduction, which would be permanent, should cover all historic renovation activity under the program. Nearly $100 million in historic tax credits were authorized in 2010, according to the commission’s report.”  (St. Louis Business Journal)

In 2010 “nearly $100 million in historic tax credits were authorized” so lowering the cap would reduced the number of projects getting renovated using the tax credit.  This is the subject of the poll this week.  I want to know how you, the readers, feel about the cap being lowered.  The poll is in the upper right corner of the blog.

– Steve Patterson

Salazar & LaHood Show Support For City+Arch+River Project

Last week I attended a press event held at the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park in East St. Louis IL.

The event featured some big names showing support for the City+Arch+River project.  Representing the Obama administration was Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior; and Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation.  Missouri’s Senator Claire McCaskill was also there , the one that got two cabinet members here at the same time. Additional speakers included East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

This video is long — 24 minutes.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ZJ48du9jQ

I look forward to being able to reach this park without being a pedestrian in the road.

– Steve Patterson

New Resource Room For Area Homeless

On Wednesday a new Community Resource Room was opened at The Bridge, “a drop-in center providing a variety of services for the sojourners in downtown St. Louis, MO who are currently living without a home of their own.” The Bridge provides many services, including “in excess of 3000 meals per week.”

So when Bridge Executive Director Kathleen Wilder posted plans for the ribbon cutting on Facebook, I knew I had to be there. Here is a short video from Wednesday afternoon:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLk2AxVHkfc

Saint Louis University Social Work student Jessica Mueller led the project, transforming a room once piled with stuff to an attractive room with books and six new computers.  This project was her practicum. Unfortunately, demand for services exceeds supply.  If you have time and/or money please consider helping out.

– Steve Patterson