Looks like the House and Senate still have a lot of differences to work through before they want a special session:
http://www.stlbeacon.org/voices/blogs/p ... al-session
http://www.stlbeacon.org/voices/blogs/p ... al-session
Agree with your point Roger, I also think a little political posturing is expected when both parties see a need or stake in an over due action. In that context, I think all parties involved openly speaking about it is a positive sign at this point.Roger Wyoming wrote:Looks like the House and Senate still have a lot of differences to work through before they want a special session:
http://www.stlbeacon.org/voices/blogs/p ... al-session
I think a lot of divergent groups across Missouir looked at the last legislative session and had one comment to respective leaders, "seriously, that is the best you can do?"
I love how Senator Tilley says that he hopes to work toward a compromise and then calls a preliminary meeting to achieve such agreement “premature.” He seems to conflate this meeting with the special session itself. Gotta love political posturing.
Skeptical of stories that reference "the word on the street," but the STL Business Journal seems to think a special session is all but a done deal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/prin ... -deal.html
Skeptical of stories that reference "the word on the street," but the STL Business Journal seems to think a special session is all but a done deal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/prin ... -deal.html
Maybe with back to back poor job numbers this will light a fire.Colby wrote:I love how Senator Tilley says that he hopes to work toward a compromise and then calls a preliminary meeting to achieve such agreement “premature.” He seems to conflate this meeting with the special session itself. Gotta love political posturing.
Skeptical of stories that reference "the word on the street," but the STL Business Journal seems to think a special session is all but a done deal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/prin ... -deal.html
I think as a whole the reform of or at least re-direction a portion of the various tax credits is a tool for economic development that needs to happen now whatever opinions they are on individual tax credit programs. In this economic climate, the sooner the better.
Getting Local control passed is a big first step. Next on the list that should be pursued, half the number of city alderman to right size.
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I think that the Gov's actions are about wanting to lay claim to the victory landing the China Hub. Meanwhile, the legislature has been working on this deal for a while, especially since the close of the last legislative session, and they're skittish of meeting with the Gov's people who may want to rewrite what's been done.
Now, if that happens, it could be a serious backtrack on the time table. Nixon's been very much in favor of a Five Year Plan for economic development, and I bet he's wanting the Aerotropolis bill to match his concept's framework. With the legislature already working for months on a bill not made around a standard framework, they're hesitant about being brought back all the way from the end-step to the first-step, rebuilding the whole thing effectively from scratch.
Perhaps I'm being too skeptical about the best intentions of the State government, but I think this is being positioned as "who gets to run the victory lap" in 2012's elections. I still believe the job of the Legislature is to write laws, and that the job of the Administration is to oversee the implementation of passed laws. Now, we have the risk of politically-motivated logjamming.
After all, this legislation is becoming the most important piece of law to define the 2012 election...
Are we going to lead a state that creates opportunities for jobs and competes for business on the global arena, or are we only going to sit on our asses while letting all we have fall asunder?
Will Missouri have jobs for the future, or are we only going to hold onto the vestiges of industries that have gone away? (I'm thinking of you, automotive industry...)
Can we expect government to proactively seek out a better quality of life for us, the citizenry? And if so, who is actually leading us to capitalize on these opportunities?
Or should we all just pack up and leave for another state where the Chinese do decide to partner with?
I'm sick of the political positioning and playing of interests off each other. Just get the damn thing done. ASAP. Before it's lost.
Now, if that happens, it could be a serious backtrack on the time table. Nixon's been very much in favor of a Five Year Plan for economic development, and I bet he's wanting the Aerotropolis bill to match his concept's framework. With the legislature already working for months on a bill not made around a standard framework, they're hesitant about being brought back all the way from the end-step to the first-step, rebuilding the whole thing effectively from scratch.
Perhaps I'm being too skeptical about the best intentions of the State government, but I think this is being positioned as "who gets to run the victory lap" in 2012's elections. I still believe the job of the Legislature is to write laws, and that the job of the Administration is to oversee the implementation of passed laws. Now, we have the risk of politically-motivated logjamming.
After all, this legislation is becoming the most important piece of law to define the 2012 election...
Are we going to lead a state that creates opportunities for jobs and competes for business on the global arena, or are we only going to sit on our asses while letting all we have fall asunder?
Will Missouri have jobs for the future, or are we only going to hold onto the vestiges of industries that have gone away? (I'm thinking of you, automotive industry...)
Can we expect government to proactively seek out a better quality of life for us, the citizenry? And if so, who is actually leading us to capitalize on these opportunities?
Or should we all just pack up and leave for another state where the Chinese do decide to partner with?
I'm sick of the political positioning and playing of interests off each other. Just get the damn thing done. ASAP. Before it's lost.
Finally found it. I'd already addressed this on p. 71 of this thread. Back then, when somebody brought up the alleged FedEx/TWA, I went back and searched and found bupkis. In fact, the only article reference I could find was a recent Memphis Commercial Appeal article that said it happened and then quoted Hamm-Niebrugge or whatever her name is talking about it happening.the count wrote:STL was never FedEx's first choice. They started in Little Rock in 1971 and soon went to Memphis in 1973. In the late 80's they were expanding and looked at STL before deciding on Indianapolis (IND), which is now their second-largest hub. I don't know the details about how and why, or what role TWA played. Obviously Lambert was a very congested airport at the time. Bonwich might be able to dig something up from the P-D archives.soulardx wrote:"How about the fact that Memphis was FedEx's second choice - that they wanted to set up base here but the city preferred to cater to TWA."
Second time I've read that here. Other than Commercial Appeal article from March, I can't find any other reference online either.
Anyway, does anyone have more info (links perhaps) to stories talking about how STL chose TWA over FedEx?
I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I do pay attention to various civic stuff and I can't remember it at all, nor can I document it.
P-D Op-Ed on Aerotropolis: http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/co ... 942d6.html
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In Validation of Long-Term Cooperation between China and Saint Louis!
From the Wall Street Journal:
These companies first started working together as part of a JV for Sinochem's China National Seed. Now, I don't know whether these two companies are in deeper talks additionally because of efforts from our private sector business-related organizations, i.e. the RCGA, etc. Nor do I know if it is resultant from the government-related business promotion entities, such as the China Hub Commission or the recent visits to StL from the Chinese scientific enterprise investment groups. Still, these only bode for great things between our City and the world's second-largest economy. The efficacies of such global partnerships between StL-based and China-based companies demonstrate the viability of the StL Aerotropolis concept having roots that will promote its immediate accessibility to present businesses seeking market expansion, on both sides of the Pacific.
The system works!
The theory is sound!
We can do great business together!
NOW PASS THAT DAMN LEGISLATION AND GET THE AIR HUB BUILT!
From the Wall Street Journal:
Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... e_articlesChemicals conglomerate Sinochem Corp. is in advanced discussions with Monsanto Co. to deepen their ties significantly, people familiar with the discussions said, an important sign of China's growing appetite for U.S. crops and biotechnology.
The two companies have been in talks for months, the people said. It was unclear what form an agreement might take, though arrangements could include a large joint venture, the sale of a minority stake or Sinochem assuming a larger role marketing Monsanto products in China.
These companies first started working together as part of a JV for Sinochem's China National Seed. Now, I don't know whether these two companies are in deeper talks additionally because of efforts from our private sector business-related organizations, i.e. the RCGA, etc. Nor do I know if it is resultant from the government-related business promotion entities, such as the China Hub Commission or the recent visits to StL from the Chinese scientific enterprise investment groups. Still, these only bode for great things between our City and the world's second-largest economy. The efficacies of such global partnerships between StL-based and China-based companies demonstrate the viability of the StL Aerotropolis concept having roots that will promote its immediate accessibility to present businesses seeking market expansion, on both sides of the Pacific.
The system works!
The theory is sound!
We can do great business together!
NOW PASS THAT DAMN LEGISLATION AND GET THE AIR HUB BUILT!
Yeah, I wonder whether the China hub efforts facilitated the development of this relationship, or whether this agreement will help with the China hub.
Although Chinese businessmen are, of course, ultimately concerned with the bottom line, they seem to value personal and professional relationships more than most westerners do when making business decisions(Steve Stone's connections perhaps demonstrate this).
Although Chinese businessmen are, of course, ultimately concerned with the bottom line, they seem to value personal and professional relationships more than most westerners do when making business decisions(Steve Stone's connections perhaps demonstrate this).
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^Absolutely agree. From what I've seen, the Chinese (as a people and as a business community) value personal relationships with the utmost regard. While these personal relationships may sometimes take years to develop, they are held closely and receive primary considerations when considering multiple parties. I've recognized this both personally & professionally, and I believe that it is within this framework that the China Hub can realize success upon implementation.
Looks like the decision to call the initiative “Aerotropolis” might have been a bit improvident: http://midwestdemocracyproject.org/blog ... -st-louis/
It’s only a tweet saying that the China hub would not be a true “aerotropolis” as defined by the academics who coined the term, but it will probably provide opponents with ample fodder
It’s only a tweet saying that the China hub would not be a true “aerotropolis” as defined by the academics who coined the term, but it will probably provide opponents with ample fodder
It didn't take long for the Biz Journal to make a story out of it.Colby wrote:Looks like the decision to call the initiative “Aerotropolis” might have been a bit improvident: http://midwestdemocracyproject.org/blog ... -st-louis/
It’s only a tweet saying that the China hub would not be a true “aerotropolis” as defined by the academics who coined the term, but it will probably provide opponents with ample fodder
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news ... -here.html
Have to agree with one point, Aerotropolis has been taken on by everybody and anybody who can tie any development to an airport. That being said, I can't see how the author would expect anything different when his book became popular. As far as Lambert, its already in a city and well connected via transit and freeways to the urban coree and its surroundings.
I also think that the bill, when a special session is called, can be easily framed and should be framed as an Economic and Jobs Development Bill as it will clearly touch on a lot of things beyond export tax credit/warehousing credits.
Quote from Business Journal: "A plan to dedicate $360 million in tax credits to create the “Aerotropolis” development at Lambert-St. Louis International Airportwon’t succeed in creating a trade hub"
I looked at the guy's tweets, and I don't see where he said that the initiative would fail to create a trade hub. Rather, he said that the project is not representative of his concept of Aerotropolis, which is totally fair.
This could get ugly. He wrote the book on Aerotropolis and apparently beat Watson on Jeopardy!. He has instant credibility and opponents could easily misrepresent his tweet as saying that the China hub would not work. Awesome
I wonder if the fact that Mr. Lindsay runs a think tank that shares the Show-Me Institute’s ideology and mission has anything to do with why he chimed in with a tweet in which he tagged Show-Me Institute journalists. His think tank is strongly opposed to “government intervention in the economy,” so it’s no surprise that he would oppose development that is dependent upon tax credits. It runs counter to his free-market ideology.
His think tank:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for ... nt_Studies
I looked at the guy's tweets, and I don't see where he said that the initiative would fail to create a trade hub. Rather, he said that the project is not representative of his concept of Aerotropolis, which is totally fair.
This could get ugly. He wrote the book on Aerotropolis and apparently beat Watson on Jeopardy!. He has instant credibility and opponents could easily misrepresent his tweet as saying that the China hub would not work. Awesome
I wonder if the fact that Mr. Lindsay runs a think tank that shares the Show-Me Institute’s ideology and mission has anything to do with why he chimed in with a tweet in which he tagged Show-Me Institute journalists. His think tank is strongly opposed to “government intervention in the economy,” so it’s no surprise that he would oppose development that is dependent upon tax credits. It runs counter to his free-market ideology.
His think tank:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for ... nt_Studies
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Personally, I think Lindsey's an academic who's upset that he wasn't called in for this deal, or that he hasn't been credited enough, but most likely because the "aerotropolis" word use isn't in full application to his work's definition of the term & that a Lambert China Hub "Aerotropolis" isn't congruous to his titling of the concept.
Understandable. He's not going full-on diva here, and he does have the right to defend his own work.
Takeaway is that he didn't call the China Hub a bad idea, or one that doesn't work, or anything like that. He's only saying it's not going to be a "true aerotropolis" through the assigning of tax credits & garnering international cargo.
But in the StL Media? Yes, they'll crap all over it because it sounds controversial, or is based on the premise that that someone's business idea won't succeed (and they already feed us local failures much more than local successes). It's not accurate reporting of what Lindsey wrote, and it's not responsible journalism.
Meanwhile, IL had a big development in working with China on agricultural exports...
Big River Fish Corporation (Pearl, IL, about 70mi north of StL) has just signed an export deal with the Chinese to ship 30 million pounts of flash-frozen Asian Carp. This frozen carp will be shipped frozen to the West Coast, then sent out on the slow boat to Shanghai. Perhaps a future demand will exist for non-frozen carp that'll be air-shipped...
Source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 2cdcd.html
Understandable. He's not going full-on diva here, and he does have the right to defend his own work.
Takeaway is that he didn't call the China Hub a bad idea, or one that doesn't work, or anything like that. He's only saying it's not going to be a "true aerotropolis" through the assigning of tax credits & garnering international cargo.
But in the StL Media? Yes, they'll crap all over it because it sounds controversial, or is based on the premise that that someone's business idea won't succeed (and they already feed us local failures much more than local successes). It's not accurate reporting of what Lindsey wrote, and it's not responsible journalism.
Meanwhile, IL had a big development in working with China on agricultural exports...
Big River Fish Corporation (Pearl, IL, about 70mi north of StL) has just signed an export deal with the Chinese to ship 30 million pounts of flash-frozen Asian Carp. This frozen carp will be shipped frozen to the West Coast, then sent out on the slow boat to Shanghai. Perhaps a future demand will exist for non-frozen carp that'll be air-shipped...
Source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 2cdcd.html
FYI: The Greg Lindsay who founded the Centre for Independent Studies is not the Greg Lindsay who authored "Aerotropolis: The Way We'll Live Next."
One is from Australia and was a mathematics teacher, while the other is from Illinois and is a journalist.
One is from Australia and was a mathematics teacher, while the other is from Illinois and is a journalist.
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Truly a remarkable story, with the creation of the "wild-caught... so much energy they jump" that understood the Chinese market. Also quite interesting was the juxtaposition of this story about the carp being upscale food in China with the companion one that IL is also using the same carp to feed the poor. I wonder if any of the innovative Chicago restaurants will go China and upscale this fish... its almost an endless supply of this troublesome beast.gone corporate wrote:.
Meanwhile, IL had a big development in working with China on agricultural exports...
Big River Fish Corporation (Pearl, IL, about 70mi north of StL) has just signed an export deal with the Chinese to ship 30 million pounts of flash-frozen Asian Carp. This frozen carp will be shipped frozen to the West Coast, then sent out on the slow boat to Shanghai. Perhaps a future demand will exist for non-frozen carp that'll be air-shipped...
Source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 2cdcd.html
"Shanghai Bass"Roger Wyoming wrote:I wonder if any of the innovative Chicago restaurants will go China and upscale this fish... its almost an endless supply of this troublesome beast.
Had a good conversation today with Greg Lindsay, author of "Aerotropolis, the way we'll live next". We focused on the STL China hub effort but also spoke about developments in global commercial aviation in general.
One thing we both agreed on is that STL should focus not just on cargo- but also on passengers flights.
We need to think about a strategy to get more direct passenger flights, starting with Europe, and maybe China as well. I had a meeting with the airport director several months ago where I coined some ideas that were not met with a lot of enthusiasm. (I am not saying she was wrong.)
Other than the China hub I am going to focus on what measures the politicians and business community could take to make direct trans-Atlantic flights viable. Stay tuned.
One thing we both agreed on is that STL should focus not just on cargo- but also on passengers flights.
We need to think about a strategy to get more direct passenger flights, starting with Europe, and maybe China as well. I had a meeting with the airport director several months ago where I coined some ideas that were not met with a lot of enthusiasm. (I am not saying she was wrong.)
Other than the China hub I am going to focus on what measures the politicians and business community could take to make direct trans-Atlantic flights viable. Stay tuned.
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I should have known. Maybe we'll have it locally in a few years.bonwich wrote:"Shanghai Bass"Roger Wyoming wrote:I wonder if any of the innovative Chicago restaurants will go China and upscale this fish... its almost an endless supply of this troublesome beast.
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So, in Laymen's terms, is the China Hub on hold until/if the Aerotropolis bill gets passed?
On a side note, they had an interesting segment on CBS News about overcrowded airports.
On a side note, they had an interesting segment on CBS News about overcrowded airports.
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Pretty much.stlcardsblues1989 wrote:So, in Laymen's terms, is the China Hub on hold until/if the Aerotropolis bill gets passed?
The China Daily, a Chinese government-funded publication, released this article today:
St. Louis set to be major air trade hub
The first China-St. Louis cargo air route poised to be a key trade hub in the US' Midwest will take flight in September, sources involved in the project have recently told China Daily.
The flights will bring agricultural goods and other products from the Midwest to China and create about 12,000 to 15,000 jobs in St. Louis, according to Midwest-China Hub Commission Chairman Mike Jones. "Flights will begin in September. When people see that happening, they will understand that Missouri will be transformed into an international trade hub. It will get a lot of attention not just in the state but in the world," said Daniel Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.
Read more here: http://goo.gl/0VHo3
St. Louis set to be major air trade hub
The first China-St. Louis cargo air route poised to be a key trade hub in the US' Midwest will take flight in September, sources involved in the project have recently told China Daily.
The flights will bring agricultural goods and other products from the Midwest to China and create about 12,000 to 15,000 jobs in St. Louis, according to Midwest-China Hub Commission Chairman Mike Jones. "Flights will begin in September. When people see that happening, they will understand that Missouri will be transformed into an international trade hub. It will get a lot of attention not just in the state but in the world," said Daniel Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.
Read more here: http://goo.gl/0VHo3