Readers: Limiting NLEC to 32 Beds is Fair, Alternatives Exist

A week ago today the city’s Board of Adjustment ruled the New Life Evangelistic Center homeless shelter must 1) limit beds to the licensed 32 beds 2) seek a new license that would allow more emergency beds or 3) close. Larry Rice, however, wants to continue as he has been — stuffing far more people into a rundown facility after coercing them to do lots of free labor.

Here are the results from Sunday’s poll:

Q: Thoughts on the city calling Larry Rice’s NLEC a “nuisance”? (pick up to two)

1. TIE:
   1. Limiting the licensed occupancy to 32 beds is fair, considering the conditions. 28 [25.69%]
   2. There are other/better alternatives to NLEC available. 28 [25.69%]
2. Rice’s TV televangelism empire depends on a large visible homeless population 18 [16.51%]
3. NLEC was there before the condos & apartments 15 [13.76%]
4. Where will the homeless sleep if NLEC is limited to 32 beds? 10 [9.17%]
5. NLEC should be able to sleep 300, or more, if they want 3 [2.75%]
6. Other: 3 [2.75%]
   1. If NLEC had better job training and mental service, open all day Add as a poll answer
   2. it’s high time for NLEC to cease and desist. It’s not a church but a flop house
   3. It and he are nuisances.
7. NLEC is a religious facility, no government license should be required. 2 [1.83%]

The #2 answer is closest to the truth — Rice desperately needs to maintain the exterior appearance of lots of homeless. Without a visible homeless population he doesn’t have a hook to get donations.

In 2009, court documents estimated New Life has assets between $40 million and $50 million, including radio and television stations. In 2008, the center reported receiving more than $1.8 million in cash contributions. (stltoday.com)

I can assure you other non-profits do more for the homeless with a fraction of the total assets, social workers & researchers are now realizing there is a much more effective & humane way to help the homeless than how Rice has operated NLEC for nearly 40 years:

• Permanent housing, not a hard cot in a room crowded with hundreds of men
• Hot meals prepared by a trained chef in an inspected kitchen, not sandwiches out of a trunk on the street
• Social workers & occupational therapists to find & resolve problems, not free labor & religion
• Secure places to store belongings, not encouraged to carry bags to increase visibility
• Daytime space & activities, not being out on the street for 12 hours.
• Security inside & outside during operations, not ignoring everything that happens just outside.

In these examples the former is how other agencies in St. Louis are trying to end/reduce homelessness, the latter is how Rice maintains the visible problem that keeps millions in coming in. I don’t expect this to be over in May, Rice will fight to maintain his status quo.  He misses the old days of vacant warehouses, lack of restaurants, jobs and any sort of measurable economic activity downtown.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Thoughts on the city calling Larry Rice’s NLEC a “nuisance”?

Tuesday afternoon the city’s Board of Adjustment, after of 12+ months of hearings on a citizen petition, concluded Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center (NLEC) was a nuisance:

A city board ruled Tuesday that Rev. Larry Rice’s homeless shelter downtown is a nuisance and will be closed effective May 12, 2015, unless he complies with city terms.

Rice’s occupancy permit allows him to have a maximum of 32 beds. Many nights, Rice allows upwards of 300 people to stay in the shelter. (stltoday.com)

A perfect subject for the final poll of 2014: Thoughts on the city calling Larry Rice’s NLEC a “nuisance”? The poll is in the right sidebar, vote until 8pm.

I have thoughts on this, but I’ll save my views for Tuesday when I post the results.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: The US Should Convert To The Metric System

The ham we’re serving my husband’s family tomorrow weighs just over 4 kilograms (4,0279kg), or 8.88 lbs in US/Imperial measurements. The instructions say to reheat it at 162.78ºC (325ºF).  If we offered soda to drink we’d probably buy it in a 0.52834 gallon bottle (2 liters).  They’re driving 155.62Km (96.7 miles) from Springfield IL, the speed limit on I-55 is 112.65kph (70mph), though his uncle will likely won’t exceed 90kph.

Of the above metric units you all likely can relate to a 2 liter bottle of soda, you know how much that is. Why? We’re used to it.  Your prescriptions are in milligrams.

So why should America change?

The United States is the last remaining industrialized nation with no formal commitment to going metric. America’s position is causing unnecessary isolation. It’s an impediment to trade and puts the United States at a disadvantage.

Not being metric-fluent can hamper collaboration and communication across borders. And it’s not just annoying, but can add real costs. For example, many US manufacturers need to make two kinds of products for every item — one for here and one for there. Foreign manufacturers also have to modify products just for the US market (or decide that maybe it’s not worth the bother). (Vox)

Below are the results from the Sunday Poll:

Q: Should the U.S. switch to the metric system?

1. Yes 14 [58.33%]
2. No 9 [37.5%]
3. Maybe 1 [4.17%]
4. Unsure/no opinion 0 [0%]

Even though converting will be a costly endeavor, I think it’s in our best long-term interests to do so. Money spent building military equipment the Pentagon doesn’t want can be used to create to new highway signs. Of course that means every highway in America, except Arizona’s I-19, will get all new exit numbers.  Had president Reagan not disbanded the Metric Board in 1982 we might be fully metric by now.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Should The U.S. Switch To The Metric System?

Some of you are too young to remember our brief flirtation with the metric system, 1975-1982:

The Metric Conversion Act is an Act of Congress that U.S. President Gerald Ford signed into law on December 23, 1975. It declared the Metric system “the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce”, but permitted the use of United States customary units in non-business activities. The Act also established the United States Metric Board with representatives from scientific, technical, and educational institutions, as well as state and local governments to plan, coordinate, and educate the American people for the Metrication of the United States.

Executive Order 12770, which cites the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, directed departments and agencies within the executive branch of the United States Government to “take all appropriate measures within their authority” to use the metric system “as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.” (Wikipedia)

In 1982 President Reagan disbanded the 17-member Metric Board (source). I’ve driven in Canada, where the metric system is used. US highways aren’t in metric — except I-19 in Arizona:

The roughly 60-mile stretch (or about 100 kilometers) is the only continuous highway in the U.S. with metric signs, and it’s the subject of a long-simmering spat over whether they should be changed back to the standard system. (Arizona highway signs in metric units may change)

There were, and are, valid arguments for keeping measurement system as is, and for changing to match 3/4 of the world. Which brings me to the poll question for today: Should the U.S. switch to the metric system?

The poll is open for 12 hours, 8am-8pm central. Results will be posted Wednesday.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Which Retail Stores In Our Region Would You Like To See Open A Location In The City Of St. Louis?

Decades ago downtown St. Louis was the place to go shopping, that’s where stores were concentrated. But years of population loss also meant retail stores have decentralized. The St. Louis region has many retail outlets (local & chain) but many don’t have a location within the city limits. Which brings me to the poll question for today: Which retail stores, if any, in our region would you like to see open a location in the City of St. Louis? (pick up to 5)

I’ve included a long list in the poll and you can add one more of your own. Remember, this only applies to stores already in the region. Vote at right, discuss below.

— Steve Patterson