I sometimes write about different generations (Millennials, Gen-X, Boomers, etc), I’m also naturally curious about the ages of the readership. Today’s poll is a simple demographic question — your age. The poll is in the upper right sidebar.
UPDATE: I closed the poll ar 11:22am because the number of votes suddenly increased — categories that had no answers suddenly were leading
– – Steve Patterson
Only one person selected “maybe” in the Sunday Poll — that person was me. I think Knowles‘ time to resign was 5-6 months ago — to fall on his sword — to clear out the old guard leadership so real change can begin. Now I hope the recall effort is successful.
Here are the poll results:
Q: Should Ferguson Mayor James Knowles resign?
Last Fall Knowles didn’t think problems existed in the Ferguson Police Department — his employer for 4 years, but the DOJ has shown otherwise. For Ferguson’s new political activists I think it’ll be much more rewarding if he’s recalled by voters than if he were to resign as others have. Conversely, if he survives the recall it’ll be a blow to those trying to bring change.
Ferguson has a Council-Manager form of government, the mayor’s annual salary is only $4,200.
— Steve Patterson
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles, running unopposed, was reelected to a second 3-year term in April 2014. Much has changed in the year since — following the recent Dept of Justice report we had the resignations of the city manager, municipal judge, police chief, and others.
Some feel Knowles should also resign, they’ve started a recall campaign:
Five residents notified city hall that they had formed a committee to gather signatures to force a recall election, the first step in a removal process outlined in the city’s charter. It appears the group would have 60 days to gather roughly 1,800 signatures, about 15 percent of the number of people who were eligible to vote in the last mayoral election. (Post-Dispatch)
So I ask the question: should he resign? The Sunday Poll is at the top of the right sidebar and is open until 8pm tonight.
— Steve Patterson
In 1962 something happened nobody 100 — even 50 — years earlier would’ve predicted:
St. Louis County overtakes St. Louis City in population
The American Statistical Association’s St. Louis Chapter Metropolitan Census Committee listed the population of St. Louis County as 762,000, and the population of St. Louis City at 740,000. For the first time in history, the population of St. Louis County exceeded that of St. Louis City. The recent creation of the Interstate Highway System would drastically change the lives of American cities forever, with St. Louis taking a particularly extreme stance as those with means fled outwards from the center. St. Louis County’s population had begun rising steadily around the turn of the century, but in the post-World War II years, it jumped with shocking speed. From 1950 to 1960, the population of St. Louis County jumped from 406,349 to 703,532. Meanwhile, St. Louis City had experienced its first population loss in history in the 1960 census. Dark days were still ahead… from 1970 – 1980, St. Louis City would lose 27% of its population. (STL250 via Facebook)
The above text isn’t totally correct — the 1940 Census showed a net loss of less than 1%, followed by a 5% increase in 1950. St. Louis County has had losses in only two Census counts: a 90%+ plus in 1880 after the city succeeded and a 1.7% decline in 2010.
Here’s today’s poll question: St. Louis’ 2010 population was 8.3% less than 2000 — the smallest decline since the 1950 peak. What change will the 2020 Census reveal?
The poll, as always, is at the top of the right sidebar on desktops — mobile users can switch to the desktop view at the bottom of their browser.
— Steve Patterson
Today is the start of Daylight Saving Time (DST) — we Spring forward one hour:
Since the introduction of modern daylight saving time in the early 20th century, many countries have been adjusting the clock one hour ahead in spring and winding it back by one hour during fall.
This practice has been a controversial topic debated by both by the general public and politicians alike. (timeanddate.com)
Like many controversial practices, DST has pros & cons. Since we set our clocks ahead this morning, or last night before bed, I think this is a good topic for today’s poll. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ve copied a poll from AccuWeather: Is Daylight Saving Time Still Necessary?
The poll, located in the right sidebar, is open for 12 hours — closing at 8pm tonight — Central Standard Time (CST).
— Steve Patterson