I think we are uniquely positioned to establish a thriving international trade hub, but I also think that the Chinese (and South Americans) will go to another city if we don’t get our act together soon. I think it’s a bit premature to give up on Jeff City. Twenty years from now I don’t want to be talking about how Indianapolis’ insightful leadership positioned themselves to become a globally competitive city because they picked up where we dropped the ball.
My hope is that the negotiations go well, things are signed, flights committed, what-not, so there's some actual "fire" to what many perceive as "China Cargo Hub smoke."
In that case, a special session would be a lot easier to make happen.
In that case, a special session would be a lot easier to make happen.
good point. It would definitely help our lobbying efforts if the Chinese continue to express in interest in spite of our incompetent legislature.
Slay still seems optimistic:
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/05/17/ ... ptimistic/
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/05/17/ ... ptimistic/
On the political front, Gov has some leverage with his quest for tax reform prior to the start of legislative session alone to make a case for special session. I don't think anybody that posts disputes that. I still think May 23rd will be a big day as any agreement to land even one plane is a huge first step, to paraphrase Shadrach - need to get a flame going if you want a fire.
I still believe that a special session is a must if the state seriously wants to compete and for the sake of St. louis region, HTC and Areotropolis is something sooner then later the better.
I still believe that a special session is a must if the state seriously wants to compete and for the sake of St. louis region, HTC and Areotropolis is something sooner then later the better.
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I think that, come May 23, many will be expecting a "show me" moment from the Chinese, expecting a commitment.
Should that happen, I'd expect these same people to be open again to a special session to finish doing their jobs. Of course, this will be in deference to the 4 Senators who are interested in nothing but maintaining the status quo and are in favor of political philosophical alignment, no more.
Should that happen, I'd expect these same people to be open again to a special session to finish doing their jobs. Of course, this will be in deference to the 4 Senators who are interested in nothing but maintaining the status quo and are in favor of political philosophical alignment, no more.
If you all are still interested in circulating a petition, we should get the ball rolling soon. As an initial contribution, below is the email that I sent to our senators and reps. I'm certainly not saying that we should send this, or even anything resembling what I said. Rather, I'm just throwing a few ideas out there.
I’m writing to express my frustration with the failure of the Missouri legislature to pass the Aerotropolis Bill. Although I am outraged by the inability of regional leaders to effectively lobby for this piece of legislation, I know you care deeply about your constituents and have worked tirelessly to advance our interests. In line with this demonstrated commitment to serving the region, I urge you to demand that Nixon call a special session.
As a result of 3 years of negotiations and bipartisan cooperation, we are uniquely positioned to emerge as a competitive global player by establishing ourselves as a hub for international trade between the US, South America, and China, the country that the IMF predicts will have the largest GDP in the world by 2016. However, it looks like we are poised to repeat the same mistake regional leaders made 100 years ago when they failed to adapt to the realities of an increasingly interconnected economic system. While we sat on our hands, Chicago seized the opportunity to become the regional transportation hub by building an extensive rail network. We are now at a similar crossroads, though the stakes are amplified by the global ambitions of the Aerotropolis initiative.
History will not look kindly on the failure of regional politicians to effectively advocate for this vital piece of legislation. As such, I urge you to demand that Nixon call a special session. Thank you for your time.
I’m writing to express my frustration with the failure of the Missouri legislature to pass the Aerotropolis Bill. Although I am outraged by the inability of regional leaders to effectively lobby for this piece of legislation, I know you care deeply about your constituents and have worked tirelessly to advance our interests. In line with this demonstrated commitment to serving the region, I urge you to demand that Nixon call a special session.
As a result of 3 years of negotiations and bipartisan cooperation, we are uniquely positioned to emerge as a competitive global player by establishing ourselves as a hub for international trade between the US, South America, and China, the country that the IMF predicts will have the largest GDP in the world by 2016. However, it looks like we are poised to repeat the same mistake regional leaders made 100 years ago when they failed to adapt to the realities of an increasingly interconnected economic system. While we sat on our hands, Chicago seized the opportunity to become the regional transportation hub by building an extensive rail network. We are now at a similar crossroads, though the stakes are amplified by the global ambitions of the Aerotropolis initiative.
History will not look kindly on the failure of regional politicians to effectively advocate for this vital piece of legislation. As such, I urge you to demand that Nixon call a special session. Thank you for your time.
I hesitate to even say this because I can't reveal my sources, but they were apparently within a few hours of making a deal on Friday. The legislators/lobbyists are working together to file for an extension this week and convince Governor Nixon that they have reached a consensus so he will call a special session.
Essentially, this bill was incredibly popular in both the Senate & the House, but as it got further along, people tried to tag on extra amendments that mostly do not relate to the China Hub, hoping they would easily be passed. The bill's proponents are working to clean the bill up for the special session. The group working on this will not give up this easily. There is too much on the line for both St. Louis and Missouri.
Essentially, this bill was incredibly popular in both the Senate & the House, but as it got further along, people tried to tag on extra amendments that mostly do not relate to the China Hub, hoping they would easily be passed. The bill's proponents are working to clean the bill up for the special session. The group working on this will not give up this easily. There is too much on the line for both St. Louis and Missouri.
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^It always amazes me that the above stated is part of the political process at any level. (Tacking on extra single serving crap onto things)
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A light at the end of a tunnel? Let's hope it isn't an oncoming train.bchao524 wrote:I hesitate to even say this because I can't reveal my sources, but they were apparently within a few hours of making a deal on Friday. The legislators/lobbyists are working together to file for an extension this week and convince Governor Nixon that they have reached a consensus so he will call a special session.
Essentially, this bill was incredibly popular in both the Senate & the House, but as it got further along, people tried to tag on extra amendments that mostly do not relate to the China Hub, hoping they would easily be passed. The bill's proponents are working to clean the bill up for the special session. The group working on this will not give up this easily. There is too much on the line for both St. Louis and Missouri.
Agreed...but that's politics for you.newstl2020 wrote:^It always amazes me that the above stated is part of the political process at any level. (Tacking on extra single serving crap onto things)
I am really beginning to wonder if the tax incentives are needed. Is there a way to get this done without them?
The main issue I take with the session is how they went about their business. They basically held things ransom, rather than working through each issue and deciding what was in the cities' and state's best interest. Yet, all they did was start with the least important issues and left the most important ones on the table. While this might make sense, if they felt they needed more time to decide, they seem to have just dropped the ball and never reached over to pick it up. That is where I really shake my head.
The main issue I take with the session is how they went about their business. They basically held things ransom, rather than working through each issue and deciding what was in the cities' and state's best interest. Yet, all they did was start with the least important issues and left the most important ones on the table. While this might make sense, if they felt they needed more time to decide, they seem to have just dropped the ball and never reached over to pick it up. That is where I really shake my head.
^That's generally how the Missouri Legislature operates every year, sadly.
bchao524, I really hope your source is credible. This whole thing has just been so disappointing. I'm really curious to know what Count thinks about all of this.
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That's not what NPR said. The last and most important discussion was about guns. It was a rural urban fight in whack the STL issues were bargaining chips.bchao524 wrote:I hesitate to even say this because I can't reveal my sources, but they were apparently within a few hours of making a deal on Friday. The legislators/lobbyists are working together to file for an extension this week and convince Governor Nixon that they have reached a consensus so he will call a special session.
Essentially, this bill was incredibly popular in both the Senate & the House, but as it got further along, people tried to tag on extra amendments that mostly do not relate to the China Hub, hoping they would easily be passed. The bill's proponents are working to clean the bill up for the special session. The group working on this will not give up this easily. There is too much on the line for both St. Louis and Missouri.
Nixon is still non-committal:
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 0f31a.html
I hope others have been writing or speaking to their local elected officials to pressure Nixon into strapping on a pair
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 0f31a.html
I hope others have been writing or speaking to their local elected officials to pressure Nixon into strapping on a pair
Colby thanks for stating that correctly, the PD title is really misleading as it gives the impression that a special session is DOA and Dave Nicklaus should really know better.Colby wrote:Nixon is still non-committal:
http://www.stltoday.com/business/column ... 0f31a.html
I hope others have been writing or speaking to their local elected officials to pressure Nixon into strapping on a pair
Obviously it's disappointing but I don't think all is lost. Let's see if they can reach consensus in the next weeks so Nixon can call a special session. The next important step is the meeting with the Chinese on the 23rd.Colby wrote:bchao524, I really hope your source is credible. This whole thing has just been so disappointing. I'm really curious to know what Count thinks about all of this.
I understand, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating or any less of a joke. To think these people work for us. Yet, they might as well be children. (Insert head-shake and long sigh here)MattnSTL wrote:^That's generally how the Missouri Legislature operates every year, sadly.
if true, this makes me sick:
http://www.stlamerican.com/news/politic ... 002e0.html
I don't know if I could bring myself to vote for Kinder, but there is no way in hell I'll ever again vote for Nixon
http://www.stlamerican.com/news/politic ... 002e0.html
I don't know if I could bring myself to vote for Kinder, but there is no way in hell I'll ever again vote for Nixon
It has to be Rex Sinquefield. It definitely explains why the Show-Me Institute, which he owns, was so unreasonably hostile to the initiative, and it makes sense considering that two of their "journalists" were called on to testify before the Senate, despite the fact that one of them is a 23 year old recent college grad.
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^ Can't be. The article states:
Everyone: Read that article.
Seriously, imagine the scandalous expose that could be made of this story. We've got:
- Billions of dollars of economic development
- Secret backdoor dealings
- A shady, "one man with too much influence" operator with a history of sabotage, whose affiliation with an unnamed local newspaper (assuming StLP-D) affords him the chance to write his own story & claim hero where he's really the villain
- A split political party, with fiscal conservative "goog guys" (Schmitt & Lamping) are pitted against the outstaters & a local tea party-affiliated GOPer in Lemay (who I know, consider a nice guy personally, and never would vote for even before this)
- A GAWDDAMN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE MIDWEST, FOR FARK'S SAKE
- City Hall, whose former alliance with the "operator" developer has been cast aside
- And, last but not least, the Governor (so poetically named Nixon), who's trying to play both sides for his own righteousness, directly hurting the people he claims to represent the most, all while ignoring the decline of the State's cities with populations over 50,000. He hopes to sow confusion & contempt, all the while playing the puppet strings as his constituents fall behind.
The King who sacrifices his Kingdom for his own opulence and self-perceived legend.
Sounds like Nero playing his fiddle.
Focus: We still have a couple of days where hopefully the actual leadership of the House and Senate can put the squabblers behind them and go to the Governor with a passable agreement, and compel that action be taken. Followed immediately by an emergency legislative session, and policy ready to roll by Monday when the Chinese delegation arrives.
Pray for the City's economic future not being thrown asunder.
Rex is not an "urban developer", nor what we'd consider a consultant involving either real estate or economic development. Outside of the purely academic, neither Rex nor any of his interests are involved in actual business in MO (running a chess shop doesn't count). And, this doesn't fit his modus operandi, where if he wanted to torpedo a deal, he'd flat out say it and do it in the open, none of this backroom consulting and switched affiliation bullcrap that seems to have infested the Governor's mansion.The bad guy, in this version of events, is a St. Louis developer/consultant close to the publisher of a local business publication who is becoming best known for creating problems so he can get paid to fix them. This operator also has been close to the Mayor’s Office, though on this deal his alliance with a governor seeking reelection is said to have put him at odds with his usual deal partners in the city.
Everyone: Read that article.
Seriously, imagine the scandalous expose that could be made of this story. We've got:
- Billions of dollars of economic development
- Secret backdoor dealings
- A shady, "one man with too much influence" operator with a history of sabotage, whose affiliation with an unnamed local newspaper (assuming StLP-D) affords him the chance to write his own story & claim hero where he's really the villain
- A split political party, with fiscal conservative "goog guys" (Schmitt & Lamping) are pitted against the outstaters & a local tea party-affiliated GOPer in Lemay (who I know, consider a nice guy personally, and never would vote for even before this)
- A GAWDDAMN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE MIDWEST, FOR FARK'S SAKE
- City Hall, whose former alliance with the "operator" developer has been cast aside
- And, last but not least, the Governor (so poetically named Nixon), who's trying to play both sides for his own righteousness, directly hurting the people he claims to represent the most, all while ignoring the decline of the State's cities with populations over 50,000. He hopes to sow confusion & contempt, all the while playing the puppet strings as his constituents fall behind.
The King who sacrifices his Kingdom for his own opulence and self-perceived legend.
Sounds like Nero playing his fiddle.
Focus: We still have a couple of days where hopefully the actual leadership of the House and Senate can put the squabblers behind them and go to the Governor with a passable agreement, and compel that action be taken. Followed immediately by an emergency legislative session, and policy ready to roll by Monday when the Chinese delegation arrives.
Pray for the City's economic future not being thrown asunder.
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Yeah, it's not Sinquefield. At least he's not the person the American was talking about.Colby wrote:It has to be Rex Sinquefield. It definitely explains why the Show-Me Institute, which he owns, was so unreasonably hostile to the initiative, and it makes sense considering that two of their "journalists" were called on to testify before the Senate, despite the fact that one of them is a 23 year old recent college grad.
Show-Me Institute is hostile to this because they're hostile to tax credit programs always and everywhere. It's their ideology, and at least they're consistent about it.
Mr. "he-who-shall-not-be-named" has a much more opaque angle in all this. As for who he is, methinks MattnSTL is on the right track.
When you see a historic building it's easy to ogle. Except when you're the developer named...