urbanSTL

^Biondi doesn't work for the people of St. Louis, the Planning Commission (theoretically) does. Biondi isn't accountable to us, while our elected officials, and their appointees to public bodies like the Planning Commission, are accountable to us. Letting them know that we noticed their failure of leadership here and are unhappy is more likely to lead to change than getting mad at Biondi.

"Given Biondi's deliberate attempt to deceive a public body, I'd imagine he'd love for our anger to be directed at them instead of himself"

There is no "instead of" here. There is plenty of rage to go around.

Before Ivy Pinkston got to the preservation board meeting, the SLU folks (who I was sitting behind) were heard whispering 'where is she?' "Dont worry, she said she would make it". It became clear when 'she' go there what had been planned. Ms Pinkston very aggressively rallied to give Biondi what he wanted. At one special moment she pointed out the salaries of the Commission's members were paid out of the earnings tax that SLU employees generate. It was disgusting .

Yes I am glad for the condition for a building permit prior to demolition but the point is that the planning commission seems to be representing political bullies like Biondi more than the residents of the city.

Well, if you want to know who voted how, here's the information, IIRC. By law, six city officials form the core of the Planning Commission, together with four (current) "citizen members". The city officials on the Commission are:

Alderman Fred Wessels – voted for demolition
Alderman Terry Kennedy – voted for demolition
Richard Bradley, President of the Board of Public Service – voted for demolition
Ivy Pinkston, representing Comptroller Darlene Green – voted for demolition
Patrick Brown, representing Mayor Francis Slay – voted against demolition
Tom Shepard, representing Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed – voted for demolition

The four "citizen members" either voted with the majority or abstained, although they seemed the most critical of SLU's plans during the actual meeting.

Was about to post this. So seriously, what would it take for SLU to be more like Wash U in terms of urban investment? Just getting rid of Biondi?

We need to pressure Mr Joe Roddy to get that pile of rubble cleaned up. Doubt he would stand up to SLU but he needs to be reminded of his job.

Alex Ihnen wrote:^ It took three years for Roddy to enforce codes on the Mills property in the CWE. Sure, it's now going to be a Whole Foods and apartments. He'll declare victory, but he let it sit (against city code) as a swamp for three years. Since the hole was filled in, it has sat another two years.

So why does Roddy get to decide which lots/developments are above city code enforcement? That's the real question.

i'm feeling sick to my stomach over Cupples 7 like i did when the Pevely complex was coming down... losing them both might actually kill me. does anybody know if there's been any effort to close up the demo-induced holes in Pevely? Why the f*ck hasn't Slay called for Roddy to enforce building code?

Funny how SLU has destroyed so much historic and culturally significant architecture, but leaves the Captain D's untouched.

Time to pressure Alderman Roddy to get the Pevely site rubble cleaned up. Has anyone else written to him?

Yes I have written to him, and all he did was forward my message to public safety. I always find it more effective to just go to the NSO Ron Coleman. Ald. Roddy has been absolutely useless when my neighbors and I try to engage him.

I wonder if Lewis Reed would have any influence on this considering he is the president of the board of aldermen.

http://www.stlbeacon.org/?_escaped_frag ... y_part_one

An article from the Beacon titled "Biondi's Legacy: Good with Buildings, Not so Good with People." I guess if you consider large expanses of green space and rubble in the middle of the city "good with buildings," then he was fantastic.

Alex, I love that you called their piece "onionesque"! Hilarious. The guy was good for surface parking and green lots. An enemy of buildings is how I'd describe him.

I saw a deer cross Grand Blvd at Chouteau on the walk to work this morning. No joke.