Board of Aldermen

DannyJ · PostFeb 10, 2015#1512015-02-10T02:08+00:00

Ebsy wrote:
Northside Neighbor wrote:
McKinney seems a little odd to me. He's from Tennessee, and was mayor in his hometown, but decided to move here. Not sure what to make of it.
What is the implication of the above comment supposed to be? People don't move to better places? I think I'd rather live in St. Louis than small town Tennessee.
I just thought it was odd for someone who was mayor of a town to move to a large city and then run for alderman. I guess perhaps I am just cynical.

I have no idea, but his campaign website says they've been here for a long time and that his wife heads up Habitat for Humanity. Maybe the story is as simple as they moved to St. Louis because she got a good job with Habitat. I have no clue, but it's not like he moved here last year and is now running for office.

To tell you the truth, I like what his campaign website says, so I want to give him a chance. Conway seems pretty good though too.

jstriebel · PostFeb 10, 2015#1522015-02-10T02:15+00:00

Ebsy wrote:Conway actually lives on Alfred across from the Botanical Gardens, funnily enough.

He left me with the impression that he owned a property on the street, but I wasn't thinking he lived there. But maybe that's right. Either way, he was definitely familiar.

quincunx · PostFeb 20, 2015#1532015-02-20T16:34+00:00

Stltoday.com - McClellan: Everything old is new again in St. Louis aldermanic races

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/colu ... 22317.html

PostFeb 26, 2015#1542015-02-26T19:48+00:00

Stl Public Radio - Most St. Louis aldermen on Tuesday's ballot face opposition

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/mos ... opposition

MRNHS · PostFeb 26, 2015#1552015-02-26T21:14+00:00

Maybe a dumb question, but I simply can't remember the ballot from the last election...do we only vote for the alderman in our ward or do all city residents vote for aldermen for each ward?

roger wyoming II · PostFeb 26, 2015#1562015-02-26T21:17+00:00

^ Ward only. Some cities have at-large and KC has a mix of both which is something that could be potentially useful here.... someone to protect the local turf and someone supposedly looking out for the greater city good.

Ebsy · PostFeb 26, 2015#1572015-02-26T21:28+00:00

The number of wards is already decreasing by half after the census, but I don't see the geographic based wards disappearing. In reality, most residents like it like that. It's just a vestige of the nearly extinct political machine.

Northside Neighbor · PostFeb 27, 2015#1582015-02-27T17:51+00:00

It now appears that 14th Ward Alderwoman Carol Howard is endorsing challenger Elizabeth Braeznell over incumbent Megan Green in the 15th Ward race.

Any thoughts why? The intrigue of these individual races is really quite fascinating.

I heard Jamala Rogers' Organization for Black Struggle ("OBS") group is endorsing Green. Anyone else? Is there a progressive divide on the Board of Aldermen?

Has OBS made an endorsement in the 20th Ward?

Greatest St. Louis · PostFeb 27, 2015#1592015-02-27T20:57+00:00

From my cursory appraisal of the city's aldermanic primary races, it seems the one in the fifteenth ward has been the nastiest. Apparently the incumbent there has been pretty nasty, trying to paint Braeznell in a negative light for being a student and expressing solidarity with Ferguson protesters.

Ebsy · PostFeb 27, 2015#1602015-02-27T21:11+00:00

Megan Green is aligned with BoA President Reed, isn't she?

roger wyoming II · PostFeb 27, 2015#1612015-02-27T21:16+00:00

^ yes. GC got the incumbent/challenger mixed up.... challenger Braznell is an veteran real estate hand attacking Megan Green, the young incumbent shaking up the system. If I had a dollar for every piece of campaign mail Braznell has sent with funds from the police union and realtors assn. I could buy a round of drinks for everyone. Can't even fire up the computer without Braznell getting in my face with banner ads.

PostFeb 27, 2015#1622015-02-27T22:24+00:00

Public radio has a sit down with President Reed:

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/ree ... rmen-chief

Moving North-South Metrolink forward is one of his main priorities...

Reed also wants to help facilitate a new MetroLink line to run north and south. That type of project will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and require coordination with St. Louis County and the federal government.

“Just the amount of additional revenue that the city would see from the businesses and all the increased economic activity that would happen along that route if indeed it was built out would be significant,” Reed said. “Also the impact on the lives of people through those corridors would be significant.”

He also believes a vote on the stadium will be needed. Civilian Review Board and building communication and trust with the police and community is a top priority.

Northside Neighbor · PostFeb 27, 2015#1632015-02-27T22:39+00:00

Well, there you go! I guess it would be fair to say that President Reed is working to firmly establish himself as a progressive! Amen.

roger wyoming II · PostFeb 27, 2015#1642015-02-27T22:51+00:00

^ from my perspective, Reed really got a shot in the policy arm when he brought on to staff Michael Powers as legislative director; I believe that was shortly after his failed mayoral campaign. Powers seems to have a good handle on progressive issues and is very capable; I think if he had come on board earlier that might have given Reed a more powerful platform than not being Slay.

Northside Neighbor · PostFeb 28, 2015#1652015-02-28T00:18+00:00

Interesting. Michael Powers replaced Harry Kennedy in Reed's office. Young turk replaces old guard?

The unfortunate part is, as progressive as Reed/Powers might be, there is very little power vested in the office of President of the Board of Aldermen; and, if anything, it's a dinosaur position about to be eliminated through charter reform.

It's sad, really. This city needs progressive LEADERSHIP. And to be effective, leadership needs support from a wide base of people.

Until all the cop worshipers, pro-labor/socially regressive dems (read: blocking African American union membership), and all Afro-centric-first dems, either die off or move away, we will continue to be a divided city with no progressive critical mass.

PostMar 02, 2015#1662015-03-02T01:55+00:00

Cara Spencer says she wants to "reform the LRA". Does anyone know what she wants to do?

True_dope · PostMar 02, 2015#1672015-03-02T02:10+00:00

Northside Neighbor wrote:Cara Spencer says she wants to "reform the LRA". Does anyone know what she wants to do?

I think wants The LRA to work on stabilizing buildings instead of demos.

Northside Neighbor · PostMar 02, 2015#1682015-03-02T02:11+00:00

With what money? They have no money. They can barely cut the grass and demo the worst of the worst.

DannyJ · PostMar 02, 2015#1692015-03-02T21:10+00:00

Maybe if the LRA put any effort into making private investors more aware of their vast collection of property holdings, then they might not have so much property that they have to pay to maintain. If they didn't have to spend so much on maintenance, maybe they'd have more money available to protect their buildings from falling apart. Then they might be able to avoid so many costly demolitions.

I know that simply marketing their properties isn't going to make much of a difference in attracting buyers in some parts of the city. But there are some markets in the city that the LRA has no business holding onto property and could easily find responsible buyers in the private market.

Northside Neighbor · PostMar 03, 2015#1702015-03-03T01:21+00:00

The vast LRA inventory is not a secret. Quite the contrary. It's a well known, regional issue.

JNOnSTL · PostMar 03, 2015#1712015-03-03T13:49+00:00

A reminder for all the City residents to get out and vote today in the municipal primary election. With a few exception wards where non-Democrats have an outside chance on April 7th (the municipal general election), today is the day to choose your alderman (for all even wards, the 7th & 15th) and the President of the Board of Aldermen.

roger wyoming II · PostMar 04, 2015#1722015-03-04T03:43+00:00

Spencer beat Schmid and Green trounced Braznell. Coatar wins the open seat.

Greatest St. Louis · PostMar 04, 2015#1732015-03-04T04:05+00:00

I'm bummed that Merta and McKinney didn't make it, but overall I'm okay with how everything shook out. It'll be interesting a few years from now when half the aldermen are outta there.

jstriebel · PostMar 04, 2015#1742015-03-04T04:20+00:00

FINAL (basically) RESULTS:

President: Lewis Reed

2nd: Dionne Flowers

4th: Sam Moore

6th: Christine Ingrassia

7th: Jack Coatar

8th: Stephen Conway

10th: Joseph Vollmer

12th: Larry Arnowitz

13th: Beth Murphy

14th: Carol Howard

15th: Megan Green

16th: Donna Baringer

18th: Terry Kennedy

20th: Cara Spencer

22nd: Jeffrey Boyd

24th: Scott Ogilvie

26th: Frank Williamson

28th: Lyda Krewson

http://www.stlelections.com/wp-content/ ... lts-11.htm

Plenty of these were unopposed, but still posting the "winners."

Ebsy · PostMar 04, 2015#1752015-03-04T04:29+00:00

I was at the Conway victory party, and things were pretty tense until the results came in. It was a close shave; only 99 votes. High turnout though, relative to the other wards. Mayor Slay showed up before the results came in to show his support.

I'm pleased that Ogilvie, Green, and Spencer won. Spencer will make a good addition to the board.

Board of Aldermen

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