Dear Editor:
I believe all people are good people and that includes myself even if I did spend time in jail. That’s what we have jails for. Good people that get caught doing bad things. I got caught and paid the consequences of my actions. Today I look at life a little different than I used to.
We all know about the so-called columnist for the other publication and his take on city politics that we have lost some good people working for the city. Namely, Carrie Caskie, Steve Powell, Mike Pratt and Carolyn Rouse and I would guess “TOP COP” Mayer, best friend of our Mayor.
He also tells us we are all blessed to have a man like Henry Elemendorf among us. He was the treasurer for the Mayor’s re-election and was quick to promote her, saying things like – “Patti York gets things done.” I’ll be the first to say she can get things done and she doesn’t care whom she steps on getting things done. She also does not care how unethical or morally wrong it may be, just so it goes her way. I would say without a doubt Mr. Elemendorf has done a lot of good for this town but for a community leader as he is professed to be and as active as he is in politics in this town I do not see how he can sit quietly by and let this Mayor try to regain control of this Council as she had with the last one.
Mayor Patti pulled some pretty sleazy deals right before this council was seated. If you missed any of these, Henry, I would be happy to discuss them with you with the Mayor present on Channel 20 for the whole city to participate. We could have an open line like on Donnybrook for her to answer questions.
If you watch the Council meetings, these good people the columnist speaks of, the department heads that no longer work for the city you would know whey they no longer work for the City. Especially Mr. Pratt and his $850,000 study etc. with EMC that has finally went by the wayside just like Mr. Pratt.
Even you should know after reading all of Ms. Caskies lies in her article about employment with our city and her involvement with Mr. O’Connor the “Smiling Irishman and her idol” when it comes to involvement in City government. Ms. Caskie flew the coop.
And then we had CVB Director Steve who said his only reason for leaving was the council was going in a different direction than him. And Patti’s words, “He made St. Charles what it is.”
And for some people when they think they have arrived like “TOP COP” Mayer did. He hadn’t even got a good start. This is along the Mayor’s way of thinking when dealing with anyone, Tommy. It goes “Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got.” That’s the way she plays. Get used to it. Someone told me they heard Jamboretz say that about one of these good people who left our City.
Henry, if you really want to be a good community leader for all the people and not just the moneyed friends of the Mayor, let me give you a little advice.
Remember how Patti tried to undermine the Park Board and how the citizens were rallied by people like Mel Wetter and how the amendment passed. It was a vote of the people to make the Parks Department autonomous from the rest of City government.
Remember the Veterans Memorial and how she was hell bent on putting it in McNair Park? Remember how the people stopped her after she tried to sway other park board members to vote her way.
We need a community leader to serve all the people. Open your eyes Henry and stand up for what is right for all not just the people who see nothing but dollar signs.
Bob Bredensteiner
PS Always tell the truth and you don’t have to remember what you said.
An Open Letter To Councilman Bob Hoepfner:
Mr. Hoepfner! How could you? How could you turn your back on your constituents like this? We, sixty percent of the voters in Ward 10, voted you back into office expecting you to continue the battles you so valiantly waged during your first term. As your second term progressed your behavior became less and less explainable. Now you have abandoned us completely. It was becoming more and more painful to sit at council meetings and watch you nearly every week find some excuse to vote against your former compatriots, sometimes on significant issues. By doing so you are throwing us, the “little guys” you claim to be working for, into the jaws of the developer conglomerate, which has been trying desperately to sink its claws into our city.
Why are you doing it? Are you scared? I don’t think so. Your previous performance would indicate that the word “scared” is not in your vocabulary. Are you tired? Yes, you would seem so. You certainly look tired on the Council floor, even when the meetings don’t go to midnight, and your column this year often sounds tired. However, I don’t think tiredness is your problem.
I think you perceive yourself as getting even. The Mayor isn’t the only one who can play that game. In a phone conversation in May you informed me that Mr. Riddler at the beginning of the term promised you that at midterm you two would switch leadership roles and you would be Council president during the second half. It didn’t happen. You were very upset about it. In fact you were angry just telling me about it. It has been said that hell has no fury like a woman scorned. That seems to apply to men as well.
There may still be time, Bob. It may not be too late to reverse course, to straighten up and fly right, and become once again the “Battling Bob” of old, fighting for the little guy. It is not too late to return to what you were elected to do. Perhaps some of us could even forgive you for your most recent transgressions should you reform.
Rejoin our fight and help us take back our city.
Glen Dashner
Ward 10
To All Americans:
As a child born while my father was aboard the USS Missouri during WWII, a wife whose husband was in the “Bay of Pits,” a friend who lost many good friends in Vietnam, an aunt whose two nephews were in “The Gulf War” & “The Invasion of Iraq” respectfully and now a future mother-in-law of a young man returning to Iraq for the third time, I feel that it is my duty to bring attention to the cost in human lives, disabled and traumatized veterans and their horrendous struggle for health care.
Since I have lived with or been part of the lives of veterans my entire life, I know the struggle. When I founded Veterans and Citizens for truth a year ago, I received many letters; phone calls and had numerous conversations with veterans from all walks of life. They all share one common problem, getting their healthcare needs met. Now, over the past few years, their benefits have been either drastically cut or in some cases, completely eliminated. A letter from one veteran told me that he couldn’t receive VA care or Medicaid because he makes $12,000 a year. A woman whose husband served in Korea and is in a nursing home from illnesses there, is paying for it herself since these benefits were cut. My daughter’s finance is returning to Iraq for the third time and he already suffers from nightmares. My friend’s grandson is haunted by the fact that he had to shoot a 14-year-old boy in Baghdad. “Brain Trauma” has become the signature injury of the war in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq due to continuous bombing. And yet, the current administration orchestrating the attacks that should be held accountable for this as well as the injuries and illnesses to our troops; for sending them to “protect America” and then letting them fall through the cracks when they return.’’
I have begun a quest to raise a million dollars in St. Louis to be given to those who need it most – our veterans. I am organizing a fundraiser at the Westin Hotel St. Louis on September 17th and I am asking for sponsors, donations, and speakers to appear on behalf of the veterans to lend the public recognition and education that this issue so deserves. We have had tremendous response from national figures around the country.
We cannot allow this to become another Vietnam, where the men and women fighting are those blamed for the deaths of innocent civilians. That falls on the heads of those in command. These men and women are our brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers. Those who sent them to war are not ensuring that they be cared for when they return and even in many cases, while they are there. They need our help now. Guest $200 – Patron $500 – Sponsor - $1000. It will include silent auction items, dinner at the Westin Hotel, cocktail party, National Speakers and entertainment. We can do this with your help!
Sandra Marie Vago, Playwright, Activist, Director, Veterans & Citizens for Truth
John T. Kerry, Secretary Veterans and Citizens for Truth
314 544-5000
