Mayor's Desk 2007 Predictions

metzgda · PostJan 02, 2007#12007-01-02T15:17+00:00

From Mayorslay.com...

Happy New Year, everyone.

Hank Aaron described successful hitting as 80 percent "guessing what the pitcher is going to throw." He attributed the other 20 percent to "execution." During his Hall of Fame career, Aaron had 3,771 hits, 755 of them home runs.

10 Predictions for 2007

Plans for both the Gateway Mall and the Riverfront are finalized

Violent crime drops

The City’s population continues to rise, including an increase in north St. Louis

A citywide Wi-Fi network goes live

A new high-rise office building breaks ground downtown

Construction begins on the 14th Street Mall

Lambert Airport undergoes a major renovation

Cherokee Street draws more pedestrians and diners than Euclid on at least one Friday night

Amy and Amrit Gill bring their record of success downtown

The Zoo-Museum District announces an expansion

Looks like the list from 2006 pretty much all happened, can we expect the same from this 2007 list? A new highrise office building? Plans for the Gateway mall AND riverfront FINALIZED? Begin speculation...

the central scrutinizer · PostJan 02, 2007#22007-01-02T15:33+00:00

metzgda wrote:A citywide Wi-Fi network goes live

A new high-rise office building breaks ground downtown

Amy and Amrit Gill bring their record of success downtown

The Zoo-Museum District announces an expansion

Does he know something we don't? Being mayor, I would hope so. These would be four great events! Hopefully, he's not just engaging in idle speculation.

smsplanstu · PostJan 02, 2007#32007-01-02T17:32+00:00

Zoo-Museum District expansion should include St. Charles County and northern Jefferson County, because (you will all hate this) they are apart of St. Louis too.

debaliviere · PostJan 02, 2007#42007-01-02T17:38+00:00

A citywide Wi-Fi network goes live

Maybe Doug's e-mails did the trick!

I would REALLY like to see plans for the Hwy 70 lid become finalized...

innov8ion · PostJan 02, 2007#52007-01-02T18:21+00:00

A citywide Wi-Fi network goes live

Blanketing the city with Wi-Fi doesn't seem like a great idea no matter who is paying for it. Wi-Max is far better suited for this and should be gaining market traction in 2008. Whoever is planning this needs to think smartly and with vision. From the "Top 10 Wireless Predictions for 2007: http://wireless.seekingalpha.com/article/23319

"8. The City WiFi bubble bursts

I've been amazed this year by the number of local authorities willing to spend yours & my hard-earned taxes on subsidizing WiFi on lamp-posts, or at least permitting other operators' rights-of-way to do it themselves. In my view, it's a completely over-hyped proposition that doesn't merit its "me too!" bandwagon status or breathless "Digital City" marketing. It's only usable for a handful of boring outdoor-only local services like CCTV cameras and connecting traffic wardens' handhelds. The killer: it won't work reliably indoors. It's like 3G but even worse. Next up on the list for over-funded local authorities to burn our money . . . Municipal Fibre."

bonwich · PostJan 02, 2007#62007-01-02T18:28+00:00

I would REALLY like to see plans for the Hwy 70 lid become finalized...

And in the spirit of the above post on Wi-Fi, the "lid" was a viable idea -- in about 1980. If the PTB want to be truly visionary and plan rather than react, 70 between the new Miss. River bridge and the 55/64 intersection should be blown up and replaced by at-grade streetscape.

Why doesn't the Mayor have that on his list, or even on his radar?

brickandmortar · PostJan 02, 2007#72007-01-02T18:31+00:00

bonwich wrote:
I would REALLY like to see plans for the Hwy 70 lid become finalized...

And in the spirit of the above post on Wi-Fi, the "lid" was a viable idea -- in about 1980. If the PTB want to be truly visionary and plan rather than react, 70 between the new Miss. River bridge and the 55/64 intersection should be blown up and replaced by at-grade streetscape.

Why doesn't the Mayor have that on his list, or even on his radar?

Probably because by the time the new river bridge is built it will be 2030 and hovercars will have made roads obsolete.

threeonefour · PostJan 02, 2007#82007-01-02T19:58+00:00

bonwich wrote:And in the spirit of the above post on Wi-Fi, the "lid" was a viable idea -- in about 1980. If the PTB want to be truly visionary and plan rather than react, 70 between the new Miss. River bridge and the 55/64 intersection should be blown up and replaced by at-grade streetscape.

Sort of like The Embarcadero in San Francisco- I like the idea.

Furthermore, ridding ourselves of that stretch of elevated and depressed highway would completely open up the vistas along Washington Avenue from downtown's western edge all the way to the Eads Bridge- assuming that the skybridge linking St. Louis Centre to the Stix Baer & Fuller Building is ever demolished.

Of course, we have to get the new Mississippi River Bridge before we can talk about realigning Interstate 70, and that will require Missouri to actually provide at least some funding for the bridge. I think the Blues will win the Stanley Cup first.

matt · PostJan 02, 2007#92007-01-02T20:07+00:00

The only source I know about for long-range vision is Richard Baron. Outside of him, the thinking seems to be only in terms of about 5, maybe 10 years. The practice of triage has dominated the city for so long that it may have killed off creative urban thinking. How can it be nurtured again? This web site is a great start.

doug · PostJan 02, 2007#102007-01-02T20:46+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:
A citywide Wi-Fi network goes live

Maybe Doug's e-mails did the trick!

I would REALLY like to see plans for the Hwy 70 lid become finalized...

If my letters had an impact well then I will have to get out the Moet for another celebration.

I am skeptical of this list but hot damn I would love to see them happen especially the Cherokee Street, 14th Street Mall, Violent Crime, and Zoo-Museum District.

Regarding expanding the district. OK, since East Gateway notes the ever decreasing density and every so amazing sprawl continues to occur, then every County in the MSA should pay a tax. Really, Forest Park is probably one of our biggest assets. Maybe then our International gem wouldn't have funding issues! These guys need to contribute to the coffers. They cannot

use the name and services of the region for free without paying a fee.

Regarding Wi-Max, I would not wait for that, as ISP's probably will not want local governments interfering with their 70-mile range. With traditional Wifi, there are issues like thick walls, EMI, etc., yet at the minimum the number of hotspots could be expanded dramatically. This way people eating lunch downtown or those with external outdoor antennas, or walls which are not a barrier, can have access. E-Government should be expanded to include a NetFlix-like system for library rentals, or dare I say downloadable PDF's!? This WiFi, depending on speed and availability of content, could either be free or a small fee. The City shouldn't fund porn or file sharing yet it should fund research, which educates the public.

bonwich · PostJan 03, 2007#112007-01-03T00:02+00:00

Perhaps a bigger issue: During drive time, I listen to Paul Harris on KMOX. He was citing the 2007 list, and noting that he "looked up" the 2006 list to see how the Mayor did last year. (Um, it's linked to the 2007 page.)

So he and Carol Daniel come to

"Widespread usage of the phrase 'The Grove'."

"I've never heard of the Grove, have you, Carol?"

"Are they talking about that new restaurant? Busch's Grove? Maybe they mean Webster Groves or Tower Grove."

I've never met Paul Harris, but I have met Carol Daniel, and she's generally smarter than that. But the fact remains that the most-listened to radio personalities in the afternoon had no clue about one of the major development projects in the City. Yikes!

doug · PostJan 03, 2007#122007-01-03T00:19+00:00

bonwich wrote:Perhaps a bigger issue: During drive time, I listen to Paul Harris on KMOX. He was citing the 2007 list, and noting that he "looked up" the 2006 list to see how the Mayor did last year. (Um, it's linked to the 2007 page.)

So he and Carol Daniel come to

"Widespread usage of the phrase 'The Grove'."

"I've never heard of the Grove, have you, Carol?"

"Are they talking about that new restaurant? Busch's Grove? Maybe they mean Webster Groves or Tower Grove."

I've never met Paul Harris, but I have met Carol Daniel, and she's generally smarter than that. But the fact remains that the most-listened to radio personalities in the afternoon had no clue about one of the major development projects in the City. Yikes!

That's because they are old farts and don't get out enough. It appears they also do not read blogs or this website. Or maybe we have so many projects they simply cannot remember them all

stldtfan · PostJan 03, 2007#132007-01-03T01:29+00:00

MOST excited about the new Office high rise. Wonder if it is an inside or a hint about the BPV, or something totally new.......

suburban lou · PostJan 03, 2007#142007-01-03T01:29+00:00

I don't know anyone under 60 who listens to KMOX.

tiabstl · PostJan 03, 2007#152007-01-03T01:53+00:00

60?! You are too polite Citylover. I think more than half of KMOX's target audience is six feet under.

No offense to any here that listen to KMOX by the way. Zombie.

Though I must say I am not really fond of the name "The Grove." Maybe if Manchester were a boulevard with towering trees along the side or down the center evoking a "grove" of sorts. Something ala Holly Hills would be cool.

doug · PostJan 03, 2007#162007-01-03T04:06+00:00

Agreed.

Even NPR can be quite boring although it is far better than KMOX.

KMOX lost all validity once it lost the Cards.

suburban lou · PostJan 03, 2007#172007-01-03T04:37+00:00

TIABstl wrote:60?! You are too polite Citylover. I think more than half of KMOX's target audience is six feet under.

No offense to any here that listen to KMOX by the way. Zombie.

Which reminds me my grandpa died 7 years ago today, he had his radio turned onto KMOX 24/7.

threeonefour · PostJan 03, 2007#182007-01-03T06:38+00:00

Doug wrote:KMOX lost all validity once it lost the Cards.

Actually, it lost its credibility long before that.

suburban lou · PostJan 03, 2007#192007-01-03T08:02+00:00

Rush Limbaugh..........

debaliviere · PostJan 03, 2007#202007-01-03T14:50+00:00

bonwich wrote:Perhaps a bigger issue: During drive time, I listen to Paul Harris on KMOX. He was citing the 2007 list, and noting that he "looked up" the 2006 list to see how the Mayor did last year. (Um, it's linked to the 2007 page.)

So he and Carol Daniel come to

"Widespread usage of the phrase 'The Grove'."

"I've never heard of the Grove, have you, Carol?"

"Are they talking about that new restaurant? Busch's Grove? Maybe they mean Webster Groves or Tower Grove."

I've never met Paul Harris, but I have met Carol Daniel, and she's generally smarter than that. But the fact remains that the most-listened to radio personalities in the afternoon had no clue about one of the major development projects in the City. Yikes!

Paul Harris drives me batsh!t crazy. I find him to be completely unlistenable.

bonwich · PostJan 03, 2007#212007-01-03T14:55+00:00

Um, kids....

Certainly KMOX no longer has the 1 out of 4 of all area listeners that it had in its heyday. And certainly fewer people, especially under 30, listen to radio than they did even 10-20 years ago.

However, here's the second-half overall fall ratings for St. Louis:

KMOX-AM 8.5

KEZK-FM 6.3

WARH-FM 6.0

KLOU-FM 5.1

KTRS-AM 4.8

KSHE-FM 4.7

WIL-FM 4.7

KSLZ-FM 4.5

KMJM-FM 3.8

KSD-FM 3.8

KATZ-FM 3.4

KIHT-FM 3.4

WFUN-FM 3.3

KYKY-FM 3.2

WHHL-FM 2.9

KFTK-FM 2.8

KPNT-FM 2.6

Somebody apparently still listens to KMOX. And it really does remain the only local station with any semblance of a local-news operation.

And maybe the folks at rBar aren't real concerned that the "older crowd"

has never heard of the Grove, but I can guarantee you that the folks at Five would have been mighty ticked off if they heard that exchange yesterday afternoon. (As should have been the VP and programming and news directors at KMOX, not to mention the folks who try to sell advertising.)

the central scrutinizer · PostJan 03, 2007#222007-01-03T15:48+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:
bonwich wrote:Perhaps a bigger issue: During drive time, I listen to Paul Harris on KMOX. He was citing the 2007 list, and noting that he "looked up" the 2006 list to see how the Mayor did last year. (Um, it's linked to the 2007 page.)

So he and Carol Daniel come to

"Widespread usage of the phrase 'The Grove'."

"I've never heard of the Grove, have you, Carol?"

"Are they talking about that new restaurant? Busch's Grove? Maybe they mean Webster Groves or Tower Grove."

I've never met Paul Harris, but I have met Carol Daniel, and she's generally smarter than that. But the fact remains that the most-listened to radio personalities in the afternoon had no clue about one of the major development projects in the City. Yikes!

Paul Harris drives me batsh!t crazy. I find him to be completely unlistenable.

Really? I find that he and John Grayson(sp?) are the only two there that have a brain and are caple of logical thought.

debaliviere · PostJan 03, 2007#232007-01-03T16:02+00:00

I like Grayson, but Harris is a little too fogey-ish. The man knows very little about the city, but frequently claims to have all the answers to its problems.

doug · PostJan 03, 2007#242007-01-03T16:44+00:00

ThreeOneFour wrote:
Doug wrote:KMOX lost all validity once it lost the Cards.

Actually, it lost its credibility long before that.

You are probably right. I only listened to KMOX for the Cards and nothing else due to the old AM sound quality. My dad used to listen to Paul Harris when I was in high school so I have a little experience. Rush is one of the many MO leaders which we hold oh so dearly to our hearts

I really get most of my local news from St. Louis on the Air, PubDef, and Urban Review and the BBC or C-Span for Inter/National. All of which is via the Internet except for the NPR.

This is interesting as NPR has had a few good segments on the death of the old media which includes the evening news cast as well as print news papers. The Googlezon video, if you have not seen it, is also quite interesting. Utopian or Dystopia depending on your viewpoint. It seems to me the issue with the news paper is that they are profit driven. If they would educate for the public good rather than the bottom line then perhaps quality would be better thus readership. If French can do it then so can others and these dedicated people will help shape the future of information diffusion.

the central scrutinizer · PostJan 03, 2007#252007-01-03T16:45+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:I like Grayson, but Harris is a little too fogey-ish. The man knows very little about the city, but frequently claims to have all the answers to its problems.

In fairness, he is relatively new to the area (if 6-7 years counts as "relatively").