I'm all for a mass turn out at Lucas Park. It's a cool park that has been taken from the (tax-paying) residents. I'd really like to spend an afternoon in the park with my girlfriend without some crack head asking me stupid questions...maybe sit on a bench without fear of catching an STD.
I really like this Lucas Park picnic idea. How about Saturday lunch? I'd love to do it. Nothing confrontational obviously, just a "this is OUR park too" kind of thing. Mattresses in the park?! what a f ing joke. as for the people with the sandwich's, they make me want to vomit. Give money to St. Patrick's center. Oh, look at me, I'm handing out sandwich's, it's so tangible, i'm so great... bleep, blorp...
dweebe wrote:Doug wrote:I have a great idea. Why don't all of us Urban St. Louis users have a huge picknick in Lucas Park?
How about we all do #1 and #2 in the park. If the homeless can deficate with impunity in Lucas Park; why can't we?
(To be honest they seem to like the corners of the library more. Saw a dude taking a leak there a week or two ago. Don't know why when all the portapotties from the parades were still in Gateway Mall.
I have walked from 10th and Olive to the postal building on market to work for a year and a half. In that time I have seen 4 # 1's and 1 #2.
It could be a good forum meet as well. Of course not confrontational. The reason the homeless monopolize the park is just that. They are the only ones that use it.
- 6,775
And everyone bring way more food than you can eat. Then, when you're done, don't throw it in the trash cans where the homeless can dig it out. Loudly pronounce that you are going to take it home and throw it away there.
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:And everyone bring way more food than you can eat. Then, when you're done, don't throw it in the trash cans where the homeless can dig it out. Loudly pronounce that you are going to take it home and throw it away there.
But Lucas Park really is a cool little park. It is a shame that it's more or less wasted.
- 10K
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Loudly pronounce that you are going to take it home and throw it away there.
- 923
Maybe we can get Giuliani to become mayor here after he loses the nomination. He was great at secretly killing - I mean alleviating the homeless problem in New York.
ALDERMAN KACIE STARR TRIPLETT
St. Louis Board of Alderman – 6th Ward
TRIPLETT TO HOST DOWNTOWN TALK WITH RESIDENTS MEDIA ADVISORY:
Contact: Patrick Jakopchek
(314) 494 – 1780
(ST. LOUIS) – Kacie Starr Triplett, Alderman of the 6th Ward, will host a “Downtown Talk” with the downtown residents in the 6th Ward on August 13, 2007. Also participating in the conversation, Captain Jerry Leyshock and Candace Ulrich, Director of the Horizon Club, St. Louis’ first 24-7 safe haven for the homeless.
“There has been a lot of time, effort and energy in improving downtown however; problems with the homelessness and crime still exist. This event will provide an opportunity for me to update the citizens of downtown on recent proactive developments as well as a forum for my constituents to share their concerns .“
WHAT: Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett hosts “Downtown Talk” with downtown residents
WHERE: St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive, St. Louis, MO
WHEN: Monday, August 13, 2007
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
St. Louis Board of Alderman – 6th Ward
TRIPLETT TO HOST DOWNTOWN TALK WITH RESIDENTS MEDIA ADVISORY:
Contact: Patrick Jakopchek
(314) 494 – 1780
(ST. LOUIS) – Kacie Starr Triplett, Alderman of the 6th Ward, will host a “Downtown Talk” with the downtown residents in the 6th Ward on August 13, 2007. Also participating in the conversation, Captain Jerry Leyshock and Candace Ulrich, Director of the Horizon Club, St. Louis’ first 24-7 safe haven for the homeless.
“There has been a lot of time, effort and energy in improving downtown however; problems with the homelessness and crime still exist. This event will provide an opportunity for me to update the citizens of downtown on recent proactive developments as well as a forum for my constituents to share their concerns .“
WHAT: Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett hosts “Downtown Talk” with downtown residents
WHERE: St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive, St. Louis, MO
WHEN: Monday, August 13, 2007
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
CMD+H wrote:ALDERMAN KACIE STARR TRIPLETT
St. Louis Board of Alderman – 6th Ward
TRIPLETT TO HOST DOWNTOWN TALK WITH RESIDENTS MEDIA ADVISORY:
Contact: Patrick Jakopchek
(314) 494 – 1780
(ST. LOUIS) – Kacie Starr Triplett, Alderman of the 6th Ward, will host a “Downtown Talk” with the downtown residents in the 6th Ward on August 13, 2007. Also participating in the conversation, Captain Jerry Leyshock and Candace Ulrich, Director of the Horizon Club, St. Louis’ first 24-7 safe haven for the homeless.
“There has been a lot of time, effort and energy in improving downtown however; problems with the homelessness and crime still exist. This event will provide an opportunity for me to update the citizens of downtown on recent proactive developments as well as a forum for my constituents to share their concerns .“
WHAT: Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett hosts “Downtown Talk” with downtown residents
WHERE: St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive, St. Louis, MO
WHEN: Monday, August 13, 2007
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
Is anyone going? I'm going to try and do my best to get to this meeting even though I only work downtown but don't live down here (yet).
- 6,775
I skipped it. I'm sure that any proposals to solve the homeless problem would have fit into a PC framework. Which means that it was a monumental waste of time.
I went last night. Here are the highlights are far I can can remember them. I forgot something to take notes with and the room was around 90 degrees and very humid, so I sometimes zoned out.
I came in when Ms Ulrich was speaking
-new day center for homeless opening behind Firestone around 23rd/Pine. Day use only, no beds. Lockers, showers, laundry internet/computers. (I have issues with this. Seems a bit like enabling)
-She moved into Soulard 25 years ago when it was a lot rougher.
-Effort needs to come from residents to fix things. Don't sit back and wait for things to happen. Call 911 every time you see something illegal happening. Force the government to instal more lights and have more lighting installed on private property pointing towards alleys and public areas.
-Neighborhood organization(s) need to be formed and take action.
-Downtown residents need to copy Soulard and take it a step further in addressing crime and homelessness.
Some highlights from Capt Leyshock
-came in with some positive spin control numbers. Crime in the city down 13% this year etc.
-Most property crime is not from the homeless but from criminals who have a home.
-Many of these repeat criminals are getting much higher bails set. While their single crime amount may be low their overall damage is high: bonds are reflecting this.
-he threw out a couple of veiled insults to the ACLU and their meddling limiting what can be done in Lucas Park
- a number of residents and business owners stood up to express their frustration. They gave numerous examples of issues. Capt Leyshock acted suprised with most of what was said.
An assistant for the mayor spoke next.
-St. Louis City's homeless budget is $12 million, the county's is $2 million.
-Trying to work with surrounding areas to fix how downtown has become a magnet. Illinois seems to be the biggest issue.
Ms Triplett spoke last.
-the closing and cleaning of Lucas Park every day for the last few weeks seems to help.
-the city is now bringing in parolees, work release and people doing public service time to clean the park.
-trash and items left behind will be removed
-an effort to privatize the park and turn it into a dog park must come from the public. She really pushed the dog park idea as the best way to privatize Lucas Park
Some overall thoughts.
-we need another larger meeting like this with all three downtown aldermen and their respective residents/business owners.
-a strong grass roots downtown resident/business owner association needs to be created.
-all the building HOA must band togther to work on issues
-everyone dislikes Larry Rice. But he's so media and legal savvy getting rid of take a lot of small individual efforts from different fronts. One big swing from the city will do no good and backfire.
That's a rather defeatist attitude.
I came in when Ms Ulrich was speaking
-new day center for homeless opening behind Firestone around 23rd/Pine. Day use only, no beds. Lockers, showers, laundry internet/computers. (I have issues with this. Seems a bit like enabling)
-She moved into Soulard 25 years ago when it was a lot rougher.
-Effort needs to come from residents to fix things. Don't sit back and wait for things to happen. Call 911 every time you see something illegal happening. Force the government to instal more lights and have more lighting installed on private property pointing towards alleys and public areas.
-Neighborhood organization(s) need to be formed and take action.
-Downtown residents need to copy Soulard and take it a step further in addressing crime and homelessness.
Some highlights from Capt Leyshock
-came in with some positive spin control numbers. Crime in the city down 13% this year etc.
-Most property crime is not from the homeless but from criminals who have a home.
-Many of these repeat criminals are getting much higher bails set. While their single crime amount may be low their overall damage is high: bonds are reflecting this.
-he threw out a couple of veiled insults to the ACLU and their meddling limiting what can be done in Lucas Park
- a number of residents and business owners stood up to express their frustration. They gave numerous examples of issues. Capt Leyshock acted suprised with most of what was said.
An assistant for the mayor spoke next.
-St. Louis City's homeless budget is $12 million, the county's is $2 million.
-Trying to work with surrounding areas to fix how downtown has become a magnet. Illinois seems to be the biggest issue.
Ms Triplett spoke last.
-the closing and cleaning of Lucas Park every day for the last few weeks seems to help.
-the city is now bringing in parolees, work release and people doing public service time to clean the park.
-trash and items left behind will be removed
-an effort to privatize the park and turn it into a dog park must come from the public. She really pushed the dog park idea as the best way to privatize Lucas Park
Some overall thoughts.
-we need another larger meeting like this with all three downtown aldermen and their respective residents/business owners.
-a strong grass roots downtown resident/business owner association needs to be created.
-all the building HOA must band togther to work on issues
-everyone dislikes Larry Rice. But he's so media and legal savvy getting rid of take a lot of small individual efforts from different fronts. One big swing from the city will do no good and backfire.
The Central Scrutinizer wrote:I skipped it. I'm sure that any proposals to solve the homeless problem would have fit into a PC framework. Which means that it was a monumental waste of time.
That's a rather defeatist attitude.
- 10K
^
Sounds like a good start. Nice work by the alderwoman to get a dialogue started.
Sounds like a good start. Nice work by the alderwoman to get a dialogue started.
- 11K
^ Yes, sounds encouraging to me. Not all the ideas seem great, i.e. there's got to be a way to keep a park nice for residents and prevent a takeover by dozens of homeless without turning it into a doggy toilet - I mean, dogpark.
- 5,433
^ I agree. Why not privatize the park without making it a dog park? Lucas Park is in a place that could really be something special and an asset to downtown residents and visitors alike. There are plenty of other open and underutilized public spaces in downtown that could be used as dog parks.
- 125
I'm curious does anyone know how a group or business entity would purchase a city owned or government owned piece of land? Would you all setup a neighborhood organization where only those that contributed to security and upkeep of the park be able to use the park or implement a more unconstrained policy of usage?
- 6,775
dweebe wrote: -Effort needs to come from residents to fix things. Don't sit back and wait for things to happen. Call 911 every time you see something illegal happening.
I can't count how many times I have come across this, both on this board and in real life. "I saw a homeless guy taking a piss on the library steps yesterday". "My neighbors were having a loud party until 4:00am and I couldn't sleep all night.", etc... "Did you call the police"? "Ummmm....no". "Why not"? "They won't do anything"....
People complain about what happened yesterday or the week before. You have to take action now, not tomorrow, not next week.
dweebe wrote:-he threw out a couple of veiled insults to the ACLU and their meddling limiting what can be done in Lucas Park
The ACLU is a convienient crutch to use when you don't want to do your job.
dweebe wrote:The Central Scrutinizer wrote:I skipped it. I'm sure that any proposals to solve the homeless problem would have fit into a PC framework. Which means that it was a monumental waste of time.
That's a rather defeatist attitude.
More like a realist attitude.
Jeff707 wrote:European-style Beer Garden.
The nearby bars might complain, but I'd like it!
Following the forest park BJC debacle, don't the voters have to approve the sale or lease of any city park land? Not bloody likely in this case. Not enough people know anything about the problem at Lucas to vote for a public divestiture of park land.
^ just another example of how short sighted those who pushed to approve that law were...
As for Lucas Park, one of the best ways to improve the park is already long gone.
When the Washington Avenue district began to emerge, the City should have had a plan in place calling for the closing off of St. Charles Street along Lucas Park and requirements that buildings fronting the park must have street level businesses fronting both the park and Washington Avenue, ideally with door shopping or dining.
Imagine the quality of Lucas Park had those buildings between St. Charles and Washington been required to have restaurants with outdoor dining facing the park. Would Lucas Park be in its current state if 2 or 3 restaurants faced out onto the park? I doubt it. Patrons and owners would have cleaned out that park long ago. But sadly, the orientation of most buildings (except for the Shell Building) means that Lucas Park is everyones back yard and easily ignored.
As for Lucas Park, one of the best ways to improve the park is already long gone.
When the Washington Avenue district began to emerge, the City should have had a plan in place calling for the closing off of St. Charles Street along Lucas Park and requirements that buildings fronting the park must have street level businesses fronting both the park and Washington Avenue, ideally with door shopping or dining.
Imagine the quality of Lucas Park had those buildings between St. Charles and Washington been required to have restaurants with outdoor dining facing the park. Would Lucas Park be in its current state if 2 or 3 restaurants faced out onto the park? I doubt it. Patrons and owners would have cleaned out that park long ago. But sadly, the orientation of most buildings (except for the Shell Building) means that Lucas Park is everyones back yard and easily ignored.