urbanSTL

^Yeah. I think the progressives mostly caucus with Green, who is pretty staunchly opposed to Reed. That fight's been going on . . . ten years now? He forced her to publicly genuflect for her allegations of corruption. Doesn't mean she or hers aren't, but if they are it's probably completely unrelated to Reed. I don't think they'd ever play ball together.

downtown2007 wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

Ebsy wrote:And judging from Reed's evil monologue about his scheme to take over 10 of 14 seats on the new board, hard to believe that the SW City aldermen haven't been getting in on the action. We probably all should be taking a closer look at Reed's other allies on the Board.

What makes you think progressives aren’t in on the action? Green hands out a lot of incentives.

She had some early in her aldermanic-ship (but far fewer than her predecessor) but none since 2017.  I think Rice only has had one tax abatement board bill, and that was in her first year.  Some of the other "progressives" rep wards with significant levels of vacancy and where abatement may make more sense, but even they seem to be pretty limited... Guenther's last bill e.g. was two sessions ago and was for rehab of a fire-damaged four-fam.  

Just in general, tax abatement for single-family/townhome residential in South City is pretty limited now (only bill so far this session is for Bevo single-fam infill of two parcels) and even some of the past gross abuses such as on The Hill appear to have ended.  So that's very good news.  Larger multi-fam (and large single-fam projects like the residential conversion of former industrial areas like La Collina on The Hill) is a different animal but there isn't a whole lot of that in South City.

Also, while I'm here, anyone else old enough to remember way back when then alderman Scott Ogilvie said cash was being spread around by the barrel full?

who is keeping an eye on all that covid relief money?

mikenewell48 wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

who is keeping an eye on all that covid relief money?

The United States Treasury.

NextSTL - Calls for tax incentive moratorium grow following federal indictments of three St. Louis City BOA members

https://nextstl.com/2022/06/calls-for-t ... a-members/

Having now read the news in full since I’m back in the US and am tired after a week in London, Paris and New York, all I can say is it’s not that surprising. Payouts are common here and all are done “under the table”. I guarantee of the current 29 member board, 15 or so have taken payments at one point or another just they’re not the focus of an investigation. I think it’s fair to request a full blown investigation of city government since I’m sure there’s skeletons in the closets of several politicians that have been hidden for so long. Doing this would lead to a better/cleaner government too. Isn’t that what we all want to have? I know I do.

I think this situation does rock public trust with city government since the second most powerful figure in local St. Louis politics was involved.

At the same time, I can’t help but think this was a politically motivated investigation. Convenient how the three of the more vocal people against Tishaura Jones were indicted in an election year. I’m not going to start a conspiracy, but I really think the investigation should’ve been wider than just those three because of what I said earlier. Plus the illusion of this being politically motivated wouldn’t be so visible.

I think it is politically fortuitous but not sure it could be politically motivated. It was obviously a situation where Almuttan was wearing a wire in order to curry favor with the Feds, the fact that Reed and Boyd were snared was somewhat predictable but they were only involved because Collins-Muhammad couldn't get the abatement through on his own.

Really a shame they couldn't snap up Joe Vaccaro in this operation.

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

At the same time, I can’t help but think this was a politically motivated investigation. Convenient how the three of the more vocal people against Tishaura Jones were indicted in an election year. I’m not going to start a conspiracy, but I really think the investigation should’ve been wider than just those three because of what I said earlier. Plus the illusion of this being politically motivated wouldn’t be so visible.

Its not an election year in the City. 
Hal Goldsmith has been doing this at the US AG office here for a long time. 

quincunx wrote:NextSTL - Calls for tax incentive moratorium grow following federal indictments of three St. Louis City BOA members

https://nextstl.com/2022/06/calls-for-t ... a-members/

Dumb idea. Take the aldermen out of the incentive equation instead.

dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

At the same time, I can’t help but think this was a politically motivated investigation. Convenient how the three of the more vocal people against Tishaura Jones were indicted in an election year. I’m not going to start a conspiracy, but I really think the investigation should’ve been wider than just those three because of what I said earlier. Plus the illusion of this being politically motivated wouldn’t be so visible.

Its not an election year in the City. 
Hal Goldsmith has been doing this at the US AG office here for a long time. 

It’s an election year to me. Less than a year from round 1 of the 2023 municipal elections.

Who gave John Doe the idea to set up elected officials and cooperate with the Fed in order to resolve his racketeering and laundering charges?

Hal Goldsmith, the famous stooge of Tishaura Jones.

sc4mayor wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

^ Still doesn’t change the fact that Hal Goldsmith and the feds couldn’t care less about furthering Jones’ career.

True. I didn’t think of that. But I’ll still leave my assumption out there even if false.

chriss752 wrote:

sc4mayor wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

^ Still doesn’t change the fact that Hal Goldsmith and the feds couldn’t care less about furthering Jones’ career.

True. I didn’t think of that. But I’ll still leave my assumption out there even if false.

But to your point of a cleaner local government Chris, these three aren’t known for sitting quietly. I’d expect they’ll be presented with the same opportunity of a lesser sentence for corroboration.

In that case the only ones to make it out are those without wrongdoing. I hope that’s not the case but if it is, I welcome a reset BOA.

doellingd wrote: ↑

Jun 03, 2022

This was a federal investigation. What makes you think the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT cares about the political prospects to Jones? 

Good breakdown thread of the investigation here, from start to finish:

Thank you for that. I did not know that there were money laundering and DRUG TRAFICKING charges tied up in all this. Holy crap this is a giant mess. I'm aware of the Northside machine, but I wasn't aware it was beholden to what may be actual organized crime. Old school, that! Sometimes the new school really is better. Jeebus!

StlToday - Messenger: Federal indictment puts aldermanic courtesy in St. Louis on trial

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... fb164.html

RESIGN Mr Reed and attend to your allegations of illegalities !

quincunx wrote:StlToday - Messenger: Federal indictment puts aldermanic courtesy in St. Louis on trial

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... fb164.html

But it really doesn’t. I don’t see anything changing with aldermanic courtesy.

StlToday - Multi-candidate race for Collins-Muhammad’s old seat may develop

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 18a66.html

I'd rather avoid the drama, but I'm happy with how my new ward turned out.

quincunx wrote:I'd rather avoid the drama, but I'm happy with how my new ward turned out.

Same.