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Saturday, March 10, 2007
FRONT PAGE - FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - March 10 - 16, 2007
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Gieseke Winner Of Mayoral Debate - Mayor Will Say Anything To Win
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Last week there was a debate between the candidates for mayor of St. Charles. St. Charles City Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8, is facing off against two term Mayor Patti York in the Tuesday, April 3, 2007 general election. All 10 City Council Wards are also up for grabs.
It was obvious from those in attendance and from those who have since watched the debate on the City Cable Channel 20, that Councilman John Gieseke successfully trounced Mayor York.
York came out swinging and made some comments against Gieseke. We offered him the opportunity to respond.
In her opening remarks the Mayor commented she was sharing the podium with a member of a college debate team. Some in the audience believed she made this remark to cover any of her inadequacies in the event she falters during the debate. Have you ever been a member of a college debate team?
JOHN GIESEKE: I looked around and thought is there someone else debating her this evening. I did have classes in which we debated issues, but I was never on a debate team. I do appreciate the thought though.
The Mayor said, “Over the past eight years I have rolled back taxes 12 percent, while increasing city services and getting rid of nuisance taxes.”
My opponent has supported a tax increase as recent as six months ago.
JOHN GIESEKE: I did not support a tax increase; I supported placing a use tax on the ballot. Saying I supported a tax demonstrates that it’s easy to say anything to get elected. In this city the belief is if you say it enough it must be true. The tax would have been used to fund the operation of the community center and would have been only on items purchased on the Internet. The people would have been able to vote to decide if they wanted the tax.
The Mayor said, “I have a history of bringing good businesses to our community such as Bass Pro, Coca Cola, our own Starbucks and I am so looking forward to having an Old Navy here in town.”
JOHN GIESEKE: All I can say to that is take a drive down First Capitol Drive. It takes diligent planning and hard work to achieve sustained economic development and it isn’t being done. The old K-Mart site is still vacant, Bally’s building is vacant, the old police headquarters, that she rushed to sell for less than the appraised value with a higher bid on the table, is vacant. We have many empty stores in shopping centers. Several former fast food restaurants are closed and the buildings allowed to deteriorate. Businesses are leaving Main Street at a record number. We are far from saying we have a successful economic development record.
The Mayor said, “My opponent has shown a history of voting against economic development such as tourism which is an $11 million dollar industry right here in our community. He has also voted against the Convention Center, which is a $70 million project, which brought in hundreds of jobs.
JOHN GIESEKE: Once again she will say anything to get elected. To leap from voting against the convention center and saying I’m against tourism is a pretty big leap to make. I am very much in favor of tourism, but not the way we have been doing it. We have failed in marketing our city and growing the tourism industry. We do not need to be spending our tourism dollars in Canada, Europe, etc. We need to spend them in places where they will do us the most good. I pushed to get kiosks placed at the soccer fields so those who are here enjoying tournaments from out of town can see that we have more to offer. I believe tourism is important to our city if handled properly. But not at the expense of our residents. If you get right down to it, the condition of our streets and infrastructure has a direct affect on our abiltiy to convince people to visit. Once again the basics are ignored and the residents suffer because of lower tax revenues.
In regards to the Convention Center which was supposed to bring millions of dollars to our City with conventioneers spending at our hotels, restaurants, and other shops, well, it leaves a lot to be desired. It has been filled with gun and knife shows, craft fairs, bridal fairs and just recently it is being touted and advertised for wedding receptions. If not corrected it will be a big drain on our taxpayers.
The Mayor said, “I feel my opponent is truly a Johnny come lately when it comes to economic development.”
JOHN GIESEKE: Saying that spending your money to build a convention center is economic development is a little misguided. The private sector is who we should be depending to grow our economy. We wouldn’t have to build these buildings if the City would get back to basics and invest in our infrastructure.
If being a Johnny come lately means getting over $1.3 billion in investment in my ward then I proudly say I’m a Johnny come lately.
The Mayor said, “I have been in the trenches for 8 years leading the growth by leaps and bounds while John has just recently started talking about economic development.”
JOHN GIESEKE: If we have been growing by leaps and bounds then why hasn’t the sales tax income to the city grown? Last year the city council had to adjust the budget in midyear to make up for poor sales tax results. That’s not growing by leaps and bounds.
The Mayor said, “I know what it is to be the mayor. It’s commitment, it takes hard work but most importantly it takes sound decision-making. I stand by the tough decisions I have made in the past. We cannot afford to have a mayor who buys decorative stop signs rather than investing in our streets such as Elm Street. We cannot afford to have a mayor who gives away discretionary money to a private business rather than ensuring that our police are properly funded, that our streets are sound, that our parks are beautiful.
I am running for reelection because I am the best person for this job. I have a proven track record of lowering your taxes, increasing economic development and making those sound decisions that have made our city to live, work, and raise a family.
JOHN GIESEKE: I find her comment amusing. I voted against dividing the money 11 ways and somehow now spending that money on something the average resident wanted in their neighborhood it is wrong. The decorative signs are something the residents wanted. These signs cost about $4,000. Compare that to the Mayors plan to spend over a million dollars to make the overpass on Interstate 70 at Highway 94 look good for the people passing through. I think the taxpayers would agree they would rather see their tax dollars spent in the city neighborhoods and not on trying to impress the drivers passing through on Interstate 70. As far as paying a private company, that money was for a fuel surcharge for trash service. If we had not paid this, residents would be paying much more with the next contract for trash hauling. The city could pay the surcharge or the residents would have to pay more for trash. It wasn’t a difficult choice to make.
When the new Mayor takes office in April we will have a much different form of government. The residents voted to have a strong Mayor form of government. This is much different from what we now have. My education, business background and experience makes me more qualified to lead St. Charles as it’s mayor. My business experience offers far more value to the taxpayers.
The mayor has had eight years to present a budget that focused on the residents, it hasn’t happened. As far as her saying she lowered taxes that was a roll back based off the property values increasing and the state Hancock Amendment requiring the reduction. I was the first to get a lower utility tax for every household. I took Councilman Hoepfner’s senior tax relief proposal and made it a reality.
I am not going to say just anything to get elected. This election is about what the residents want from their city. Do they want a city that puts their interests behind every special interest, or one that puts the residents first?
I appreciate you calling to ask me about some of the issues that were brought up in the debate. It would have taken a lot more time that we were given in the debate to really set the record straight. I refuse to say just anything to get elected. When I make a promise I keep it.
Last week there was a debate between the candidates for mayor of St. Charles. St. Charles City Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8, is facing off against two term Mayor Patti York in the Tuesday, April 3, 2007 general election. All 10 City Council Wards are also up for grabs.
It was obvious from those in attendance and from those who have since watched the debate on the City Cable Channel 20, that Councilman John Gieseke successfully trounced Mayor York.
York came out swinging and made some comments against Gieseke. We offered him the opportunity to respond.
In her opening remarks the Mayor commented she was sharing the podium with a member of a college debate team. Some in the audience believed she made this remark to cover any of her inadequacies in the event she falters during the debate. Have you ever been a member of a college debate team?
JOHN GIESEKE: I looked around and thought is there someone else debating her this evening. I did have classes in which we debated issues, but I was never on a debate team. I do appreciate the thought though.
The Mayor said, “Over the past eight years I have rolled back taxes 12 percent, while increasing city services and getting rid of nuisance taxes.”
My opponent has supported a tax increase as recent as six months ago.
JOHN GIESEKE: I did not support a tax increase; I supported placing a use tax on the ballot. Saying I supported a tax demonstrates that it’s easy to say anything to get elected. In this city the belief is if you say it enough it must be true. The tax would have been used to fund the operation of the community center and would have been only on items purchased on the Internet. The people would have been able to vote to decide if they wanted the tax.
The Mayor said, “I have a history of bringing good businesses to our community such as Bass Pro, Coca Cola, our own Starbucks and I am so looking forward to having an Old Navy here in town.”
JOHN GIESEKE: All I can say to that is take a drive down First Capitol Drive. It takes diligent planning and hard work to achieve sustained economic development and it isn’t being done. The old K-Mart site is still vacant, Bally’s building is vacant, the old police headquarters, that she rushed to sell for less than the appraised value with a higher bid on the table, is vacant. We have many empty stores in shopping centers. Several former fast food restaurants are closed and the buildings allowed to deteriorate. Businesses are leaving Main Street at a record number. We are far from saying we have a successful economic development record.
The Mayor said, “My opponent has shown a history of voting against economic development such as tourism which is an $11 million dollar industry right here in our community. He has also voted against the Convention Center, which is a $70 million project, which brought in hundreds of jobs.
JOHN GIESEKE: Once again she will say anything to get elected. To leap from voting against the convention center and saying I’m against tourism is a pretty big leap to make. I am very much in favor of tourism, but not the way we have been doing it. We have failed in marketing our city and growing the tourism industry. We do not need to be spending our tourism dollars in Canada, Europe, etc. We need to spend them in places where they will do us the most good. I pushed to get kiosks placed at the soccer fields so those who are here enjoying tournaments from out of town can see that we have more to offer. I believe tourism is important to our city if handled properly. But not at the expense of our residents. If you get right down to it, the condition of our streets and infrastructure has a direct affect on our abiltiy to convince people to visit. Once again the basics are ignored and the residents suffer because of lower tax revenues.
In regards to the Convention Center which was supposed to bring millions of dollars to our City with conventioneers spending at our hotels, restaurants, and other shops, well, it leaves a lot to be desired. It has been filled with gun and knife shows, craft fairs, bridal fairs and just recently it is being touted and advertised for wedding receptions. If not corrected it will be a big drain on our taxpayers.
The Mayor said, “I feel my opponent is truly a Johnny come lately when it comes to economic development.”
JOHN GIESEKE: Saying that spending your money to build a convention center is economic development is a little misguided. The private sector is who we should be depending to grow our economy. We wouldn’t have to build these buildings if the City would get back to basics and invest in our infrastructure.
If being a Johnny come lately means getting over $1.3 billion in investment in my ward then I proudly say I’m a Johnny come lately.
The Mayor said, “I have been in the trenches for 8 years leading the growth by leaps and bounds while John has just recently started talking about economic development.”
JOHN GIESEKE: If we have been growing by leaps and bounds then why hasn’t the sales tax income to the city grown? Last year the city council had to adjust the budget in midyear to make up for poor sales tax results. That’s not growing by leaps and bounds.
The Mayor said, “I know what it is to be the mayor. It’s commitment, it takes hard work but most importantly it takes sound decision-making. I stand by the tough decisions I have made in the past. We cannot afford to have a mayor who buys decorative stop signs rather than investing in our streets such as Elm Street. We cannot afford to have a mayor who gives away discretionary money to a private business rather than ensuring that our police are properly funded, that our streets are sound, that our parks are beautiful.
I am running for reelection because I am the best person for this job. I have a proven track record of lowering your taxes, increasing economic development and making those sound decisions that have made our city to live, work, and raise a family.
JOHN GIESEKE: I find her comment amusing. I voted against dividing the money 11 ways and somehow now spending that money on something the average resident wanted in their neighborhood it is wrong. The decorative signs are something the residents wanted. These signs cost about $4,000. Compare that to the Mayors plan to spend over a million dollars to make the overpass on Interstate 70 at Highway 94 look good for the people passing through. I think the taxpayers would agree they would rather see their tax dollars spent in the city neighborhoods and not on trying to impress the drivers passing through on Interstate 70. As far as paying a private company, that money was for a fuel surcharge for trash service. If we had not paid this, residents would be paying much more with the next contract for trash hauling. The city could pay the surcharge or the residents would have to pay more for trash. It wasn’t a difficult choice to make.
When the new Mayor takes office in April we will have a much different form of government. The residents voted to have a strong Mayor form of government. This is much different from what we now have. My education, business background and experience makes me more qualified to lead St. Charles as it’s mayor. My business experience offers far more value to the taxpayers.
The mayor has had eight years to present a budget that focused on the residents, it hasn’t happened. As far as her saying she lowered taxes that was a roll back based off the property values increasing and the state Hancock Amendment requiring the reduction. I was the first to get a lower utility tax for every household. I took Councilman Hoepfner’s senior tax relief proposal and made it a reality.
I am not going to say just anything to get elected. This election is about what the residents want from their city. Do they want a city that puts their interests behind every special interest, or one that puts the residents first?
I appreciate you calling to ask me about some of the issues that were brought up in the debate. It would have taken a lot more time that we were given in the debate to really set the record straight. I refuse to say just anything to get elected. When I make a promise I keep it.
MILLIONAIRE DEVELOPERS ATTEMPT TAKE OVER OF CITY HALL AGAIN
By Tony Brockmeyer
The First Capitol News has learned that a number of people who were associated with the failed attempt to recall Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer have joined together once again to make another attempt to take over St. Charles City Government and the $100 million budget.
This group was financially backed by millionaire developers who spent over $107,000 three years ago in an attempt to buy their candidates seats on the City Council. They were unsuccessful in their attempt to gain control of the City Council. After fourteen months they decided to start a recall effort against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer because of their strong stance to hold the developers accountable. The group spent more than $87,000 in their attempts to remove Greer and Brown because they were outspoken against them. The recall campaign was filled with lies, fraud, and forgeries and resulted in arrests and numerous charges still pending in the office of the Prosecuting Attorney. The First Capitol News exposed their scheme and discovered that when this group fell short of the necessary signatures, the recall group started paying up to $10 per signature in an effort to seek the recall elections. They spent money flying airplanes trailing banners around block parties calling for Mark Brown’s recall.
This group attempted to deceive the public by hiding their identities and forming several different committees to which money was funneled and laundered through these newly formed committees.
Committee treasurer and one of the main organizers of the St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government was Ken Kielty who is now a candidate for Ward 8 city council seat.
Kielty, an organizer of the recall committee demonstrated his close ties with millionaire developer and builder T.R. Hughes where a large amount of the $87,000 came from and was put into the recall effort.
The police were called in after the First Capitol News exposed the fraud. Ken Kielty had his son, attorney Michael Kielty, defend numerous suspects throughout the criminal investigation involving the recall fraud and forgeries.
The First Capitol News has learned Ken Kielty has contacted several candidates now running for city council seats throughout the city. Kielty has offered them financial support and help in their campaign.
A candidate who had filed to run against Kielty for the Ward 8 City Council seat said that he withdrew from the race because of several threatening phone calls he had received from Kielty.
This is not the first time Kielty has been associated with threatening phone calls. A threatening phone call made to resident Bob Bredensteiner several months ago was traced by the police to a phone number registered to Kielty. His son, an attorney, had also made a threatening phone call to the First Capitol News. Stories on both of these incidents can be found in our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Kielty is closely aligned with Mayor York. He is also a close ally of Glennon Jamboretz another confidant of the Mayor.
York allegedly funneled City tax dollars to a fictitious company that was in the name of an employee of Jamboretz. The money then found it’s way to Jamboretz and then to St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government which was started by Kielty and Jamboretz with the express purpose of recalling St. Charles City Councilmen. The money then went from Jamborertz and Kielty directly to the recall effort.
Kielty was also chairman of the County Sports and Convention Authority for a short time. Kielty served on the Convention Committee with Mayor York when the $37 million in contracts were handed out to numerous firms. After the convention center was built he then left the committee and attempted to have the authority hire him to develop a golf course even though he apparently had no experience for such a position.
When the city council attempted to remove the Mayor from the Convention Oversight Committee, Kielty had the Authority file a lawsuit against the council in an attempt to overturn their action and have the Mayor returned.
It is also thought by several public officials that Kielty is responsible for several vicious and malicious campaign pieces that have been mailed in recent campaigns.
Councilman Mark Brown told the First Capitol News that he has been threatened and warned that if he filed for re-election that the vicious lies and rumors they put out the last time would be insignificant compared to what they had in store for him in this election. Brown went on to say, “This group will go to any level in their attempt to seize control of the City’s $100 million budget and to receive special treatment for their developments at the expense of the taxpayers.”
Brown told the First Capitol News he was aware that Ken Kielty was involved with his opponents and his opponents were financially supported by the same people who attempted to recall him. Brown stated, “The same people are strong supporters of Mayor York and Mayor York was a member of their team. In fact she contributed $2300 to them several months ago.” Brown went on to say that other candidates who are not favored by these developers can probably expect vicious and malicious mailings to be sent out by this group against them.
The First Capitol News has learned that a number of people who were associated with the failed attempt to recall Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer have joined together once again to make another attempt to take over St. Charles City Government and the $100 million budget.
This group was financially backed by millionaire developers who spent over $107,000 three years ago in an attempt to buy their candidates seats on the City Council. They were unsuccessful in their attempt to gain control of the City Council. After fourteen months they decided to start a recall effort against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer because of their strong stance to hold the developers accountable. The group spent more than $87,000 in their attempts to remove Greer and Brown because they were outspoken against them. The recall campaign was filled with lies, fraud, and forgeries and resulted in arrests and numerous charges still pending in the office of the Prosecuting Attorney. The First Capitol News exposed their scheme and discovered that when this group fell short of the necessary signatures, the recall group started paying up to $10 per signature in an effort to seek the recall elections. They spent money flying airplanes trailing banners around block parties calling for Mark Brown’s recall.
This group attempted to deceive the public by hiding their identities and forming several different committees to which money was funneled and laundered through these newly formed committees.
Committee treasurer and one of the main organizers of the St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government was Ken Kielty who is now a candidate for Ward 8 city council seat.
Kielty, an organizer of the recall committee demonstrated his close ties with millionaire developer and builder T.R. Hughes where a large amount of the $87,000 came from and was put into the recall effort.
The police were called in after the First Capitol News exposed the fraud. Ken Kielty had his son, attorney Michael Kielty, defend numerous suspects throughout the criminal investigation involving the recall fraud and forgeries.
The First Capitol News has learned Ken Kielty has contacted several candidates now running for city council seats throughout the city. Kielty has offered them financial support and help in their campaign.
A candidate who had filed to run against Kielty for the Ward 8 City Council seat said that he withdrew from the race because of several threatening phone calls he had received from Kielty.
This is not the first time Kielty has been associated with threatening phone calls. A threatening phone call made to resident Bob Bredensteiner several months ago was traced by the police to a phone number registered to Kielty. His son, an attorney, had also made a threatening phone call to the First Capitol News. Stories on both of these incidents can be found in our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Kielty is closely aligned with Mayor York. He is also a close ally of Glennon Jamboretz another confidant of the Mayor.
York allegedly funneled City tax dollars to a fictitious company that was in the name of an employee of Jamboretz. The money then found it’s way to Jamboretz and then to St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government which was started by Kielty and Jamboretz with the express purpose of recalling St. Charles City Councilmen. The money then went from Jamborertz and Kielty directly to the recall effort.
Kielty was also chairman of the County Sports and Convention Authority for a short time. Kielty served on the Convention Committee with Mayor York when the $37 million in contracts were handed out to numerous firms. After the convention center was built he then left the committee and attempted to have the authority hire him to develop a golf course even though he apparently had no experience for such a position.
When the city council attempted to remove the Mayor from the Convention Oversight Committee, Kielty had the Authority file a lawsuit against the council in an attempt to overturn their action and have the Mayor returned.
It is also thought by several public officials that Kielty is responsible for several vicious and malicious campaign pieces that have been mailed in recent campaigns.
Councilman Mark Brown told the First Capitol News that he has been threatened and warned that if he filed for re-election that the vicious lies and rumors they put out the last time would be insignificant compared to what they had in store for him in this election. Brown went on to say, “This group will go to any level in their attempt to seize control of the City’s $100 million budget and to receive special treatment for their developments at the expense of the taxpayers.”
Brown told the First Capitol News he was aware that Ken Kielty was involved with his opponents and his opponents were financially supported by the same people who attempted to recall him. Brown stated, “The same people are strong supporters of Mayor York and Mayor York was a member of their team. In fact she contributed $2300 to them several months ago.” Brown went on to say that other candidates who are not favored by these developers can probably expect vicious and malicious mailings to be sent out by this group against them.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
THE MAYOR WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET RE-ELECTED
Ronald Reagan used to say “Well, there you go again,” when his political foes began to say anything against him to get elected. It appears that Mayor York didn’t learn from this. She will say anything to get elected, She’ll tell you what she thinks you want to hear. If you really look at her last eight years you see a tenure that is without merit to re-elect. The Mayor was quoted as saying that she’s been tested. Well Mayor you have and your grade is a F. An F stands for failure Mayor. The Mayor failed to gain consensus through three city councils. The mayor failed to understand the law and signed a contract that has caused Express Scripts to file suit against the city for $200,000. The Mayor is more interested in helping her special friends than caring about the residents. The Mayor has failed to improve our quality of life in the city.
So when you hear the rumors, the negativism, the stories, the lies, remember the Mayor is running scared and will say anything to get elected
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO Hmmmmmm
I believe the Art Foundry was a great idea and is an asset for the residents of St. Charles. However, I do not understand why the Foundry group uses a catering company from St. Louis County at their functions.
They held a very formal ball on New Years Eve. The function received rave reviews from those in attendance. But they used a St. Louis County catering company. We have a number of great catering companies in St. Charles and St. Charles County. Why do they not use one of them instead of giving the business to companies who are not contributing to our St. Charles tax base?
St. Charles taxpayers contributed approximately $1.9 million in tax dollars of the approximately $2.2 million total spent on the Foundry Arts Center. It is time the Art Foundry Board stopped spending money in St. Louis County and begin spending it in St. Charles.
DOWN AND DIRTY
Filings on record at the St. Charles County Board of Election reveal Venetia McEntire, a candidate for City Council in Ward 2 has Tom Hayden as her Election Committee treasurer.
Hayden, of the 2000 block of Autumn Wood Drive is a confidant of the Mayor and was the campaign manager for Councilman Mike Weller. He was also involved in the failed recall campaigns against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer. You remember those recall attempts. They were filed with forgeries, fraud and misinformation. Arrests were made and charges were filed.
With Hayden as her treasurer, I would expect McEntire’s campaign to be negative. To incumbent Councilman Larry Muench, I recommend that you come out fighting.
MONEY FOR WASTEWATER
The United States House of Representatives approved legislation to spend $1.7 billion over five years on federal grants to states and cities to modernize wastewater systems and to control overflows of sewage. The matter is now being taken up by the Senate. Representative Todd Akin, (R) opposed the bill.
It is probably too late for St. Charles. I believe that contracts for millions and millions of dollars have been let to repair our sewage systems. The White House is opposing the bill.
IT IS TOO BAD THEY DON’T HAVE TOM DEMPSEY
Davis Street Land Company has filed suit against the City of O’Fallon because the City has refused to provide a new shopping center Davis is building in Lake St. Louis with sewer srvice. The developer wants the court to order O’Fallon and a Public Water Supply District 2 to provide sewer service for the development.
According to City Manager Robert G. Lowery, Jr. the city also refused requests for a shopping center and condominium complex at Mexico Road and Highway K because the City believes their plant is operating at capacity.
If Davis Land Company contacts Representative Tom Dempsey maybe they can convince him to pass legislation in the Missouri House to require O’Fallon to allow them to hook up. That is what he did for his friend, T.R. Hughes in St. Charles. He had the legislation passed in one day. The Supreme Court has ruled such legislation is illegal. Every time the City Council passes legislation to have Dempsey’s bill declared unconstitutional the Mayor vetoes the legislation. It pays handsomely to have friends in high places.
Don’t forget to vote for JOHN GIESEKE for Mayor on April 3.
Ronald Reagan used to say “Well, there you go again,” when his political foes began to say anything against him to get elected. It appears that Mayor York didn’t learn from this. She will say anything to get elected, She’ll tell you what she thinks you want to hear. If you really look at her last eight years you see a tenure that is without merit to re-elect. The Mayor was quoted as saying that she’s been tested. Well Mayor you have and your grade is a F. An F stands for failure Mayor. The Mayor failed to gain consensus through three city councils. The mayor failed to understand the law and signed a contract that has caused Express Scripts to file suit against the city for $200,000. The Mayor is more interested in helping her special friends than caring about the residents. The Mayor has failed to improve our quality of life in the city.
So when you hear the rumors, the negativism, the stories, the lies, remember the Mayor is running scared and will say anything to get elected
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO Hmmmmmm
I believe the Art Foundry was a great idea and is an asset for the residents of St. Charles. However, I do not understand why the Foundry group uses a catering company from St. Louis County at their functions.
They held a very formal ball on New Years Eve. The function received rave reviews from those in attendance. But they used a St. Louis County catering company. We have a number of great catering companies in St. Charles and St. Charles County. Why do they not use one of them instead of giving the business to companies who are not contributing to our St. Charles tax base?
St. Charles taxpayers contributed approximately $1.9 million in tax dollars of the approximately $2.2 million total spent on the Foundry Arts Center. It is time the Art Foundry Board stopped spending money in St. Louis County and begin spending it in St. Charles.
DOWN AND DIRTY
Filings on record at the St. Charles County Board of Election reveal Venetia McEntire, a candidate for City Council in Ward 2 has Tom Hayden as her Election Committee treasurer.
Hayden, of the 2000 block of Autumn Wood Drive is a confidant of the Mayor and was the campaign manager for Councilman Mike Weller. He was also involved in the failed recall campaigns against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer. You remember those recall attempts. They were filed with forgeries, fraud and misinformation. Arrests were made and charges were filed.
With Hayden as her treasurer, I would expect McEntire’s campaign to be negative. To incumbent Councilman Larry Muench, I recommend that you come out fighting.
MONEY FOR WASTEWATER
The United States House of Representatives approved legislation to spend $1.7 billion over five years on federal grants to states and cities to modernize wastewater systems and to control overflows of sewage. The matter is now being taken up by the Senate. Representative Todd Akin, (R) opposed the bill.
It is probably too late for St. Charles. I believe that contracts for millions and millions of dollars have been let to repair our sewage systems. The White House is opposing the bill.
IT IS TOO BAD THEY DON’T HAVE TOM DEMPSEY
Davis Street Land Company has filed suit against the City of O’Fallon because the City has refused to provide a new shopping center Davis is building in Lake St. Louis with sewer srvice. The developer wants the court to order O’Fallon and a Public Water Supply District 2 to provide sewer service for the development.
According to City Manager Robert G. Lowery, Jr. the city also refused requests for a shopping center and condominium complex at Mexico Road and Highway K because the City believes their plant is operating at capacity.
If Davis Land Company contacts Representative Tom Dempsey maybe they can convince him to pass legislation in the Missouri House to require O’Fallon to allow them to hook up. That is what he did for his friend, T.R. Hughes in St. Charles. He had the legislation passed in one day. The Supreme Court has ruled such legislation is illegal. Every time the City Council passes legislation to have Dempsey’s bill declared unconstitutional the Mayor vetoes the legislation. It pays handsomely to have friends in high places.
Don’t forget to vote for JOHN GIESEKE for Mayor on April 3.
The PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Dear Tony,
It has come to my attention that we may lose our Police Chief Swope if our current Mayor is reelected. It seems she is lonely for the Fraternal Order of Police. Who can forget the trouble Mayor York caused this town because of the FOP? One of the members of the FOP put our city administrator on the ground with a gun to the back of his head. What a mess! That officer is now gone, and I for one am glad.
St. Charles waited for over a year for a new Police Chief. Those who applied and interviewed were vetoed by our mayor because they “didn’t fit”. Maybe a new seamstress could have helped our present mayor.
Tim Swope grew up here and has been an excellent Police Chief. We now have a police chief who is a “home-grown” man and who knows the city and its’ residents. There is no more congregating at the QT by the police. Instead the police are in the neighborhoods patrolling and waving to the people who are outdoors. I feel so much better about letting my grandsons ride their bikes around the block because I know there is a policeman nearby.
Chief Swope has solved a multitude of problems and crimes. It used to be interesting reading in bed and at the same time hearing the drag racing on 370. That’s stopped—the racing not the reading.
Chief Swope has started new programs that will benefit the town including a program for the elderly to register with the department so that in another power outage the police can check on them. Chief Swope is making a profound difference in this town, and we need to keep him as our chief. Mayor York apparently wants him gone.
The bottom line is VOTE FOR JOHN GIESEKE. He is not a loose canon like our present mayor. CHIEF SWOPE WILL STAY ON THE JOB!
Jane Horning
First Capitol News
I can’t believe what I just read…. if that had been written by a 10th-grader, it would have been given an F….bad spelling, bad punctuation, miserable grammar…I don’t live in his ward, but I’d be embarrassed to admit it if I did….if that’s the caliber of politician in St. Charles, we are in trouble.
Ken.Kuhlenschmidt1@emotors.com
Dear Editor
I was interested in Mayor York’s comments at the Mayoral debate last week in which she noted how many times she’s been at the openings of new businesses in town this year. My question is, “Where are they?” I’ve been waiting for many years to see some new retail come into St. Charles City rather than going out to St. Peters and O’Fallon, but I haven’t noticed floods of businesses opening here in the last few months. There is one new retailer on Main Street. Where are the others?
Take a drive around town and you will see one empty building after another. There are the empty buildings which used to house such businesses as Home Supply, the fabric store and several other stores in St. Charles Plaza, Wendy’s on Truman Road, the old Best Buy Store in Cave Springs, the former K-Mart building, the former police station, the Sears Hardware store, the former Jack-in-the Box on West Clay, many empty buildings on Main Street (apparently the Convention Center has not been the promised boon to Main Street’s tourist industry), three buildings which used to house Preston’s Furniture as well as other empty buildings on Second Street. There are new retail spaces in Mark Twain Mall as well as across from Starbucks on Fifth Street, but they remain empty. If Schnucks moves out of its’ present location on Duchesne Street, we can add yet another empty building to that part of town. Between the closing of schools, the dilapidated buildings, and the emergence of check-cashing stores and manpower employment agencies along First Capitol Drive, our town is beginning to resemble an old inner-city area. All this on the present mayor’s watch.
The one part of town which is growing and vibrant is the commercial area on north Elm Street which is in John Gieseke’s Ward. John is committed to economic growth in our city, and the work he’s done in his ward is evidence of that commitment. This city needs a new direction—one that will restore our businesses, build our population, and re-establish the City of St. Charles as the leader in St. Charles County. John is dedicated to these goals. That’s why he has my vote on April 3rd.
Eleanor McCune
First Capitol News,
During reorganization the Saint Charles School Board stated on more than one occasion that it would take at least a million dollars a year to keep each of our elementary schools open. Thanks to the efforts of this great city and community the unbelievable has happened. Even with all our schools still open, this district acknowledged an excess of more than three million dollars this past year. This does not include the million in one time TIF donations or the Lewis and Clark grant; it was a surplus in the recurring tax base, a phenomenon that will be sustained year after year after year.
The Saint Charles School board now has the task to decide what they should do with this windfall, and the possibilities are profound. There are some on the board that have adamantly stated that they should ignore this fact and simply “Stay the Course”. Despite the outcries of this community, they feel their efforts over the last several years must be justified with a sacrifice of our neighborhood schools.
I prefer to look at this money as the greatest opportunity imaginable. It is a chance to stop and reassess what they are doing. Here is the money they said they needed. Here is the prospect to save our schools. They asked, and they received; it is the miracle that we were all hoping for. This reorganization has caused such terrible discontent in our community and this money is indeed the answer to all of our prayers.
I am begging this School Board; please recognize this gift as a sign. Please take this opening to heal our community. Please show this city the compassion that we need so badly. Please take this very last golden opportunity and use this money to save our schools. Please don’t let this miracle go to waste…
Vicki DuMontelle
It has come to my attention that we may lose our Police Chief Swope if our current Mayor is reelected. It seems she is lonely for the Fraternal Order of Police. Who can forget the trouble Mayor York caused this town because of the FOP? One of the members of the FOP put our city administrator on the ground with a gun to the back of his head. What a mess! That officer is now gone, and I for one am glad.
St. Charles waited for over a year for a new Police Chief. Those who applied and interviewed were vetoed by our mayor because they “didn’t fit”. Maybe a new seamstress could have helped our present mayor.
Tim Swope grew up here and has been an excellent Police Chief. We now have a police chief who is a “home-grown” man and who knows the city and its’ residents. There is no more congregating at the QT by the police. Instead the police are in the neighborhoods patrolling and waving to the people who are outdoors. I feel so much better about letting my grandsons ride their bikes around the block because I know there is a policeman nearby.
Chief Swope has solved a multitude of problems and crimes. It used to be interesting reading in bed and at the same time hearing the drag racing on 370. That’s stopped—the racing not the reading.
Chief Swope has started new programs that will benefit the town including a program for the elderly to register with the department so that in another power outage the police can check on them. Chief Swope is making a profound difference in this town, and we need to keep him as our chief. Mayor York apparently wants him gone.
The bottom line is VOTE FOR JOHN GIESEKE. He is not a loose canon like our present mayor. CHIEF SWOPE WILL STAY ON THE JOB!
Jane Horning
First Capitol News
I can’t believe what I just read…. if that had been written by a 10th-grader, it would have been given an F….bad spelling, bad punctuation, miserable grammar…I don’t live in his ward, but I’d be embarrassed to admit it if I did….if that’s the caliber of politician in St. Charles, we are in trouble.
Ken.Kuhlenschmidt1@emotors.com
Dear Editor
I was interested in Mayor York’s comments at the Mayoral debate last week in which she noted how many times she’s been at the openings of new businesses in town this year. My question is, “Where are they?” I’ve been waiting for many years to see some new retail come into St. Charles City rather than going out to St. Peters and O’Fallon, but I haven’t noticed floods of businesses opening here in the last few months. There is one new retailer on Main Street. Where are the others?
Take a drive around town and you will see one empty building after another. There are the empty buildings which used to house such businesses as Home Supply, the fabric store and several other stores in St. Charles Plaza, Wendy’s on Truman Road, the old Best Buy Store in Cave Springs, the former K-Mart building, the former police station, the Sears Hardware store, the former Jack-in-the Box on West Clay, many empty buildings on Main Street (apparently the Convention Center has not been the promised boon to Main Street’s tourist industry), three buildings which used to house Preston’s Furniture as well as other empty buildings on Second Street. There are new retail spaces in Mark Twain Mall as well as across from Starbucks on Fifth Street, but they remain empty. If Schnucks moves out of its’ present location on Duchesne Street, we can add yet another empty building to that part of town. Between the closing of schools, the dilapidated buildings, and the emergence of check-cashing stores and manpower employment agencies along First Capitol Drive, our town is beginning to resemble an old inner-city area. All this on the present mayor’s watch.
The one part of town which is growing and vibrant is the commercial area on north Elm Street which is in John Gieseke’s Ward. John is committed to economic growth in our city, and the work he’s done in his ward is evidence of that commitment. This city needs a new direction—one that will restore our businesses, build our population, and re-establish the City of St. Charles as the leader in St. Charles County. John is dedicated to these goals. That’s why he has my vote on April 3rd.
Eleanor McCune
First Capitol News,
During reorganization the Saint Charles School Board stated on more than one occasion that it would take at least a million dollars a year to keep each of our elementary schools open. Thanks to the efforts of this great city and community the unbelievable has happened. Even with all our schools still open, this district acknowledged an excess of more than three million dollars this past year. This does not include the million in one time TIF donations or the Lewis and Clark grant; it was a surplus in the recurring tax base, a phenomenon that will be sustained year after year after year.
The Saint Charles School board now has the task to decide what they should do with this windfall, and the possibilities are profound. There are some on the board that have adamantly stated that they should ignore this fact and simply “Stay the Course”. Despite the outcries of this community, they feel their efforts over the last several years must be justified with a sacrifice of our neighborhood schools.
I prefer to look at this money as the greatest opportunity imaginable. It is a chance to stop and reassess what they are doing. Here is the money they said they needed. Here is the prospect to save our schools. They asked, and they received; it is the miracle that we were all hoping for. This reorganization has caused such terrible discontent in our community and this money is indeed the answer to all of our prayers.
I am begging this School Board; please recognize this gift as a sign. Please take this opening to heal our community. Please show this city the compassion that we need so badly. Please take this very last golden opportunity and use this money to save our schools. Please don’t let this miracle go to waste…
Vicki DuMontelle
The City DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Faded Glory: UMSL Rivermen
Go The Way Of Chief Illiniwek
Chief Illiniwek was recently sacrificed to the gods of political correctness. The University of Illinois didn’t want to offend Native Americans with a mascot famous for his feathered headdress and war paint. I personally feel that erasing such popular imagery actually hurts Native Americans more, because you are also erasing historic references from popular culture. What you are left with is a future population that will have even less knowledge and interest in American Indian culture.
My own alma mater, UMSL (excuse me, I mean University of Missouri St. Louis no hyphen), is about to do in their own Rivermen team name and mascot. Here was a completely non-descript team name and mascot that nobody cared about. Were there groups of Riverboat pilots lodging complaints I didn’t know about? Had they inadvertently offended the Society of Mark Twain impersonators?
At first I decided it must be the implied sexism in the use of the term Rivermen that had spurred UMSL to swift action, albeit some thirty years after the height of the feminist movement. “Gender neutering” the mascot not only sounds painful, but wasn’t really an available option. Riverpeople sounds like an Irish line dancing group. As a stopgap, UMSL simply referred to its female sports teams as the UMSL Riverwomen.
Riverwomen? What the Illiniwek does that even mean? At least with the Rivermen you could conger up a mental image of a brave steamboat pilot, burly flat boatman or roustabout. But all Riverwomen ever brought to mind were the ones of low morals, plying their trade among the drunken gamblers of some floating pleasure palace of the 1800s. The only thing the other team would be scared of was catching some social disease.
I recently found out that UMSL had conducted voting among students and faculty on a shortlist of replacement team names. Unfortunately most of the list was even lamer than the team name they might replace. There was The UMSL Hurricanes – frightening to teams from the Gulf Coast perhaps, but really not a meteorologically correct name for a team from the Midwest.
Students could also vote for the UMSL Jets. Given Boeing’s prominence in the community that had possibilities, but not if you get into a debate over whether you mean commercial or military jets. Also, how would you like to be the poor schmuck that has to put on an airplane costume and zoom around a basketball court?
Also making the shortlist was the UMSL Revolutionaries. One can only hope they have some sort of 1776 Continental soldier in mind and not a cigar smoking Che Guevera with lots of red banners.
Yale University claims to have adopted the first college mascot in the United States back in 1889. It was “Handsome Dan” the bulldog. It set the standard for choosing a name and mascot with equal parts of strength and likeability. Our own Benton School Bulldogs, now on the endangered species list thanks to the St. Charles School District, also had a catchy slogan the students put on shirts a few years ago. They said Benton Bulldogs – We Will Win So Don’t You Try. It had an utterly demoralizing effect on other grade schools. Maybe the St. Louis Rams should try it.
There are some other College and University team names and mascots I would have to put on my endangered species list. Temple University, a Christian College, has Hooter, a costumed owl. I can’t even imagine a stadium of Christian students yelling “Go Hooters!” They might as well borrow Wake Forest University’s mascot, the Demon Deacon!
Then there is Chip, the buffalo mascot of the University of Colorado. Get it? Buffalo chips? Besides, buffalos were animals sacred to Native Americans. It has to be on the endangered species list of school mascots.
Colonel Reb of the Ole Miss Rebels was recently “demoted” to the “unofficial” mascot category. That’s just one chair closer to the stadium exit. And finally, Pee Dee the Pirate from East Carolina will no doubt succumb one day to those he has offended with bladder control issues.
Of course not every good team name or mascot is taken.
With 7.2 million teens in this country reportedly binge drinking, what about a college team calling themselves The Drunken Hamsters - Frightening behind the wheel of a car, but adorable when passed out.
“Scooter” seemed more like a team mascot name than the top aide to a Vice-President. He won’t be using the name in public for a while anyway.
Of course they could always borrow “retired” commercial mascots. The Frito Bandito is still looking for work and is guaranteed to offend a large minority of the population. Joe Camel is also in the unemployment line and ready to be rehabilitated.
My favorite would have to be The Rabid Bats. Surprisingly no college or university I could find wanted to be associated with rabid bats. The name has great intimidation value. No one wants to tangle with the Rabid Bats…or get them tangled in your hair for that matter.
Too bad the Piasa Bird is from Illinois.
Go The Way Of Chief Illiniwek
Chief Illiniwek was recently sacrificed to the gods of political correctness. The University of Illinois didn’t want to offend Native Americans with a mascot famous for his feathered headdress and war paint. I personally feel that erasing such popular imagery actually hurts Native Americans more, because you are also erasing historic references from popular culture. What you are left with is a future population that will have even less knowledge and interest in American Indian culture.
My own alma mater, UMSL (excuse me, I mean University of Missouri St. Louis no hyphen), is about to do in their own Rivermen team name and mascot. Here was a completely non-descript team name and mascot that nobody cared about. Were there groups of Riverboat pilots lodging complaints I didn’t know about? Had they inadvertently offended the Society of Mark Twain impersonators?
At first I decided it must be the implied sexism in the use of the term Rivermen that had spurred UMSL to swift action, albeit some thirty years after the height of the feminist movement. “Gender neutering” the mascot not only sounds painful, but wasn’t really an available option. Riverpeople sounds like an Irish line dancing group. As a stopgap, UMSL simply referred to its female sports teams as the UMSL Riverwomen.
Riverwomen? What the Illiniwek does that even mean? At least with the Rivermen you could conger up a mental image of a brave steamboat pilot, burly flat boatman or roustabout. But all Riverwomen ever brought to mind were the ones of low morals, plying their trade among the drunken gamblers of some floating pleasure palace of the 1800s. The only thing the other team would be scared of was catching some social disease.
I recently found out that UMSL had conducted voting among students and faculty on a shortlist of replacement team names. Unfortunately most of the list was even lamer than the team name they might replace. There was The UMSL Hurricanes – frightening to teams from the Gulf Coast perhaps, but really not a meteorologically correct name for a team from the Midwest.
Students could also vote for the UMSL Jets. Given Boeing’s prominence in the community that had possibilities, but not if you get into a debate over whether you mean commercial or military jets. Also, how would you like to be the poor schmuck that has to put on an airplane costume and zoom around a basketball court?
Also making the shortlist was the UMSL Revolutionaries. One can only hope they have some sort of 1776 Continental soldier in mind and not a cigar smoking Che Guevera with lots of red banners.
Yale University claims to have adopted the first college mascot in the United States back in 1889. It was “Handsome Dan” the bulldog. It set the standard for choosing a name and mascot with equal parts of strength and likeability. Our own Benton School Bulldogs, now on the endangered species list thanks to the St. Charles School District, also had a catchy slogan the students put on shirts a few years ago. They said Benton Bulldogs – We Will Win So Don’t You Try. It had an utterly demoralizing effect on other grade schools. Maybe the St. Louis Rams should try it.
There are some other College and University team names and mascots I would have to put on my endangered species list. Temple University, a Christian College, has Hooter, a costumed owl. I can’t even imagine a stadium of Christian students yelling “Go Hooters!” They might as well borrow Wake Forest University’s mascot, the Demon Deacon!
Then there is Chip, the buffalo mascot of the University of Colorado. Get it? Buffalo chips? Besides, buffalos were animals sacred to Native Americans. It has to be on the endangered species list of school mascots.
Colonel Reb of the Ole Miss Rebels was recently “demoted” to the “unofficial” mascot category. That’s just one chair closer to the stadium exit. And finally, Pee Dee the Pirate from East Carolina will no doubt succumb one day to those he has offended with bladder control issues.
Of course not every good team name or mascot is taken.
With 7.2 million teens in this country reportedly binge drinking, what about a college team calling themselves The Drunken Hamsters - Frightening behind the wheel of a car, but adorable when passed out.
“Scooter” seemed more like a team mascot name than the top aide to a Vice-President. He won’t be using the name in public for a while anyway.
Of course they could always borrow “retired” commercial mascots. The Frito Bandito is still looking for work and is guaranteed to offend a large minority of the population. Joe Camel is also in the unemployment line and ready to be rehabilitated.
My favorite would have to be The Rabid Bats. Surprisingly no college or university I could find wanted to be associated with rabid bats. The name has great intimidation value. No one wants to tangle with the Rabid Bats…or get them tangled in your hair for that matter.
Too bad the Piasa Bird is from Illinois.
Case In Point By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.
Plato
Very recently a shift in the discussion of outsourcing occurred in the media. The national news has run stories with experts questioning the downside to outsourcing. Where have the media been? Americans have been having this discussion for a long time now. Citizens have watched their income stagnate and erode for the past six years. Costs have risen and wages have not kept pace with inflation. For the first time in scores of years, there has been “job growth” and a downturn in home sales. Prognosticators are long-windedly telling us why this is. All of us already know the answer – this so-called job growth came after years of job loss. The current “growth” is the re-employment of millions of Americans only at lower wages with fewer and fewer benefits. Ascending health care costs have eaten away any real potential pay raises for millions of Americans, but the CEOs have done just fine, thank you. They have enjoyed grandiose salaries and benefits and staggering bonuses and stock options. All the while, the national news has sheepishly went about its business not wanting to do the hard-hitting news stories that confront these corporate raiders and corporate sell outs who tell us that our country doesn’t want the jobs that have been sent overseas anyhow. The news media do not want to upset their advertisers, after all.
After the Katrina debacle in New Orleans and Mississippi the media found their voice if only for a moment. Americans watched as reporters asked tough questions and pushed the bureaucrats and criticized the Administration. If the national news networks had paid attention they may have realized that people listened, tuned in, and cared about the news. The news was real, it was poignant and it was reminiscent of how news used to be. I think many people hoped that this new take on national news would stick, but it was not to be.
It wasn’t long before the oft-over jovial morning news casts and the evening talking heads were back to telling us very little about politics, the war in Afghanistan or Iraq, much less investigating the hordes of possible stories that have surrounded the current Administration. Once again our national news was in a race to the bottom by spending time telling millions of viewers stories of actors and their babies. The public again renewed their disdain for the lack of serious news brought you by ABC, NBC, and CBS.
I wish I could ask the news the following question, “How will you end your promotion of meaningless harmony with corporations and the Administration?” I got this question from a recent public forum – I have altered it slightly.
This leads me to address the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum from February 28, 2007. All that you were supposed to learn from the forum was that the current council is disharmonious. Over and over again, the Chamber asked, “How would you promote harmony among council and the mayor.” Did you wonder who came up with this question?
Other City Issues: An issue that has been thrown out by a local columnist made me smile. It was stated that we each are using dollars allotted for our wards to win votes right before the election. Money came available from building permits a few months back and each ward received an equal share to spend on issues that they felt were important. Anyone familiar with the pace of getting things done through government realize that most every project begun takes months to achieve; even simple tasks to have to go through a bid process that can take weeks on end. Projects that I wish would have been done last year might be done by April. In fact, I’m not even certain if any of the projects using this allotted ward money will be begun, much less completed by the April elections. I also was glad we got money that we could spend in our wards for some things that we see as important. We are elected to represent our wards and we should have a general idea of some things that need to get done. This is why one of the projects planned is a retaining wall that will help residents more safely exit their neighborhood. I was glad that this money came available and I could use it to enhance public safety in the ward as well as upgrade some infrastructure.
Finally, It has been refreshing to see Congress bring up several matters that, well, matter. One recent issue that sticks out is the fees and fines that credit card companies charge their customers. They seem to be able to charge whatever they choose and have answered to no one. Long forgotten are most usury laws that prevented such arbitrary increases in interest rates and fines that often do not jibe with the offense. Congress passed laws lowering interest rates on student loans. Finally some oversight has entered the picture in D.C.! Scooter Libby has indicted his old boss and now there is talk of a presidential pardon. Don’t believe for one moment that this is not a possibility and if this man does receive a pardon, listen for deafening silence coming from Fox News and other critics who screamed about presidential pardons six years ago…
To Wrap up:
Let the workers organize. Let the toilers assemble. Let their crystallized voice proclaim their injustices and demand their privileges. Let all thoughtful citizens sustain them, for the future of Labor is the future of America
John L. Lewis
Plato
Very recently a shift in the discussion of outsourcing occurred in the media. The national news has run stories with experts questioning the downside to outsourcing. Where have the media been? Americans have been having this discussion for a long time now. Citizens have watched their income stagnate and erode for the past six years. Costs have risen and wages have not kept pace with inflation. For the first time in scores of years, there has been “job growth” and a downturn in home sales. Prognosticators are long-windedly telling us why this is. All of us already know the answer – this so-called job growth came after years of job loss. The current “growth” is the re-employment of millions of Americans only at lower wages with fewer and fewer benefits. Ascending health care costs have eaten away any real potential pay raises for millions of Americans, but the CEOs have done just fine, thank you. They have enjoyed grandiose salaries and benefits and staggering bonuses and stock options. All the while, the national news has sheepishly went about its business not wanting to do the hard-hitting news stories that confront these corporate raiders and corporate sell outs who tell us that our country doesn’t want the jobs that have been sent overseas anyhow. The news media do not want to upset their advertisers, after all.
After the Katrina debacle in New Orleans and Mississippi the media found their voice if only for a moment. Americans watched as reporters asked tough questions and pushed the bureaucrats and criticized the Administration. If the national news networks had paid attention they may have realized that people listened, tuned in, and cared about the news. The news was real, it was poignant and it was reminiscent of how news used to be. I think many people hoped that this new take on national news would stick, but it was not to be.
It wasn’t long before the oft-over jovial morning news casts and the evening talking heads were back to telling us very little about politics, the war in Afghanistan or Iraq, much less investigating the hordes of possible stories that have surrounded the current Administration. Once again our national news was in a race to the bottom by spending time telling millions of viewers stories of actors and their babies. The public again renewed their disdain for the lack of serious news brought you by ABC, NBC, and CBS.
I wish I could ask the news the following question, “How will you end your promotion of meaningless harmony with corporations and the Administration?” I got this question from a recent public forum – I have altered it slightly.
This leads me to address the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum from February 28, 2007. All that you were supposed to learn from the forum was that the current council is disharmonious. Over and over again, the Chamber asked, “How would you promote harmony among council and the mayor.” Did you wonder who came up with this question?
Other City Issues: An issue that has been thrown out by a local columnist made me smile. It was stated that we each are using dollars allotted for our wards to win votes right before the election. Money came available from building permits a few months back and each ward received an equal share to spend on issues that they felt were important. Anyone familiar with the pace of getting things done through government realize that most every project begun takes months to achieve; even simple tasks to have to go through a bid process that can take weeks on end. Projects that I wish would have been done last year might be done by April. In fact, I’m not even certain if any of the projects using this allotted ward money will be begun, much less completed by the April elections. I also was glad we got money that we could spend in our wards for some things that we see as important. We are elected to represent our wards and we should have a general idea of some things that need to get done. This is why one of the projects planned is a retaining wall that will help residents more safely exit their neighborhood. I was glad that this money came available and I could use it to enhance public safety in the ward as well as upgrade some infrastructure.
Finally, It has been refreshing to see Congress bring up several matters that, well, matter. One recent issue that sticks out is the fees and fines that credit card companies charge their customers. They seem to be able to charge whatever they choose and have answered to no one. Long forgotten are most usury laws that prevented such arbitrary increases in interest rates and fines that often do not jibe with the offense. Congress passed laws lowering interest rates on student loans. Finally some oversight has entered the picture in D.C.! Scooter Libby has indicted his old boss and now there is talk of a presidential pardon. Don’t believe for one moment that this is not a possibility and if this man does receive a pardon, listen for deafening silence coming from Fox News and other critics who screamed about presidential pardons six years ago…
To Wrap up:
Let the workers organize. Let the toilers assemble. Let their crystallized voice proclaim their injustices and demand their privileges. Let all thoughtful citizens sustain them, for the future of Labor is the future of America
John L. Lewis
The View From The Cheap Seats BY Jerry Haferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
As our readers know, the First Capitol News investigates and informs. No other paper brings you the information you deserve. Therefore, I am going to disclose something that I’ve never told even my relatives. I am the real father of Anna Nichole Smith’s baby. Now that that’s settled, we can get on with local issues.
It was interesting to discover that Mayor York has exceeded John Gieseke in the amassing of campaign funds. This comes as no surprise to me as Mr. Gieseke is more interested in securing decent government than he is in securing wealth. After all, he is the only one giving up a good job if he wins the election. He obviously thinks your well being and mine is worth the sacrifice, or he wouldn’t run.
That brings up an assessment of statements by some council members that said that the mayoral salary needed to be higher to attract good candidates. Are they suggesting that a former mayor, the present mayor and a multi-term councilman aren’t “good candidates”? This just goes to show how wrong that hypothesis was and still is. I’m glad the salary was set at the level it was.
Mr. Gieseke should have to outspend the mayor since his campaign starts from “scratch”, but I doubt he will. The mayor conserved since she recycled old campaign signs. The bottom right of these signs have her former “paid for by’ marked out and a new name put on with what looks like magic marker. Since someone else paid for these signs during her last campaign, is it legal to say these signs were now paid for by someone different? She wouldn’t sell her old signs to her campaign and pocket the money, would she?
Mayor York obviously will need more campaign funding than Mr. Gieseke due to her basic tenet that elections go to the highest bidder. You tried to educate her in the fraud laced recall election but she may not have been a good student. You have the opportunity to show her once and for all that St. Charles is not for sale. Maybe this time she’ll listen.
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
ttt
By Jerry Haferkamp
As our readers know, the First Capitol News investigates and informs. No other paper brings you the information you deserve. Therefore, I am going to disclose something that I’ve never told even my relatives. I am the real father of Anna Nichole Smith’s baby. Now that that’s settled, we can get on with local issues.
It was interesting to discover that Mayor York has exceeded John Gieseke in the amassing of campaign funds. This comes as no surprise to me as Mr. Gieseke is more interested in securing decent government than he is in securing wealth. After all, he is the only one giving up a good job if he wins the election. He obviously thinks your well being and mine is worth the sacrifice, or he wouldn’t run.
That brings up an assessment of statements by some council members that said that the mayoral salary needed to be higher to attract good candidates. Are they suggesting that a former mayor, the present mayor and a multi-term councilman aren’t “good candidates”? This just goes to show how wrong that hypothesis was and still is. I’m glad the salary was set at the level it was.
Mr. Gieseke should have to outspend the mayor since his campaign starts from “scratch”, but I doubt he will. The mayor conserved since she recycled old campaign signs. The bottom right of these signs have her former “paid for by’ marked out and a new name put on with what looks like magic marker. Since someone else paid for these signs during her last campaign, is it legal to say these signs were now paid for by someone different? She wouldn’t sell her old signs to her campaign and pocket the money, would she?
Mayor York obviously will need more campaign funding than Mr. Gieseke due to her basic tenet that elections go to the highest bidder. You tried to educate her in the fraud laced recall election but she may not have been a good student. You have the opportunity to show her once and for all that St. Charles is not for sale. Maybe this time she’ll listen.
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
ttt
First Capitol News Sports - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
A couple of things I believe warrant attention this week. The first topic deals with the University of Missouri at Saint Louis – more popularly know as UMSL. My wife and I are both graduates of UMSL, her degree is in Business and mine in Education. The years Lynn and I attended UMSL there seemed to be an identity crisis. Mizzou was the University of Missouri, SLU was of course Saint Louis University, Wash U was Washington University – I think most of you get the picture by now. It seems that someone with far, far too much spare time on their hands felt that the term “UMSL,” wasn’t projecting the image the University wanted. After months and months of studies, which cost thousands and thousands of dollars, the committees came to the conclusion that UMSL would forever be known as UM – Saint Louis. God only knows how much more money was spent on changing signs, stationary, billboards – once again, I think you get the idea.
Was the money well spent and was the change viewed positively? That I’m not sure of, but to this day I’ve not heard a single person say they graduated from “UM – Saint Louis,” have you? Nope, everyone I’ve ever talked to is a proud graduate of UMSL.
Well it seems history repeats itself, because my alma mater is once again experiencing an identity crisis. From what I have been able to gather from reading the weekly student newspaper, The Current, the students are up in arms over the nickname of the university. Quickly – for ten thousand dollars and a round trip ticket to Country Club Hills, MO, what is the nickname for UMSL? Time’s up – the answer is The Rivermen, unless of course you play on a female team, then it’s of course the Riverwomen. I suspect I could relay some of the quotes the students have made, but as far as I’m concerned they are all lame! Who cares what they think? I don’t want to sound like an angry old man here, but believe it or not there is some tradition in the name, the Rivermen. How about in 1973 when the Rivermen were the National Division II Soccer Champions? The years Lynn and I attended UMSL were the hey day of the basketball program. Their current head coach was the star player, and the team drew crowds that rocked the Mark Twain Auditorium (Mark Twain and Rivermen – anyone besides me see something here).
Presently UMSL is spending tens of thousands of dollars to find out (a) if the name needs to be changed at all, and (b) if so, what should it be changed to. To those who argue there is no history to the name, I say not yet, the school is still in its adolescence.
Topic two: Scottrade Center needs to do everything they possible can to insure the Men’s Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament remains in downtown St. Louis. As I’ve stated here before, I’ve been attending the tournament since the days it was held at the old Arena. Back in those days they would take a giant black curtain and curtain off half of the Arena to make it look like the place was filled. Slowly but surely, year by year, the tournament has grown, and grown and grown. This past weekend the Scottrade Center had over 22,000 paying customers in the seats for both the semifinals and the finals. Counting Friday’s semifinals and Thursday’s first round games, the tournament attracted over 85,000 fans. One simple question: how many Blues’ games (this year) would it take to draw 85,000 fans?
Lastly, and probably most importantly, good luck to Coach Wacker and his Saint Charles High Pirates as they travel to Columbia this weekend to play in the finals of the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s Class 4 basketball tournament. By the time most of you read this column, Friday’s contest will be over and we will know if the Pirates are playing for third place or the title. No matter what happens, it has been a great ride for everyone. Congratulations Coach Wacker on your retirement. What a way to go out, sir.
Was the money well spent and was the change viewed positively? That I’m not sure of, but to this day I’ve not heard a single person say they graduated from “UM – Saint Louis,” have you? Nope, everyone I’ve ever talked to is a proud graduate of UMSL.
Well it seems history repeats itself, because my alma mater is once again experiencing an identity crisis. From what I have been able to gather from reading the weekly student newspaper, The Current, the students are up in arms over the nickname of the university. Quickly – for ten thousand dollars and a round trip ticket to Country Club Hills, MO, what is the nickname for UMSL? Time’s up – the answer is The Rivermen, unless of course you play on a female team, then it’s of course the Riverwomen. I suspect I could relay some of the quotes the students have made, but as far as I’m concerned they are all lame! Who cares what they think? I don’t want to sound like an angry old man here, but believe it or not there is some tradition in the name, the Rivermen. How about in 1973 when the Rivermen were the National Division II Soccer Champions? The years Lynn and I attended UMSL were the hey day of the basketball program. Their current head coach was the star player, and the team drew crowds that rocked the Mark Twain Auditorium (Mark Twain and Rivermen – anyone besides me see something here).
Presently UMSL is spending tens of thousands of dollars to find out (a) if the name needs to be changed at all, and (b) if so, what should it be changed to. To those who argue there is no history to the name, I say not yet, the school is still in its adolescence.
Topic two: Scottrade Center needs to do everything they possible can to insure the Men’s Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament remains in downtown St. Louis. As I’ve stated here before, I’ve been attending the tournament since the days it was held at the old Arena. Back in those days they would take a giant black curtain and curtain off half of the Arena to make it look like the place was filled. Slowly but surely, year by year, the tournament has grown, and grown and grown. This past weekend the Scottrade Center had over 22,000 paying customers in the seats for both the semifinals and the finals. Counting Friday’s semifinals and Thursday’s first round games, the tournament attracted over 85,000 fans. One simple question: how many Blues’ games (this year) would it take to draw 85,000 fans?
Lastly, and probably most importantly, good luck to Coach Wacker and his Saint Charles High Pirates as they travel to Columbia this weekend to play in the finals of the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s Class 4 basketball tournament. By the time most of you read this column, Friday’s contest will be over and we will know if the Pirates are playing for third place or the title. No matter what happens, it has been a great ride for everyone. Congratulations Coach Wacker on your retirement. What a way to go out, sir.
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