15thWardSTL.org

This Monday come on down to the Carpenter branch of the St. Louis library (on Grand across from Schnucks) and check out the candidates forum.

Candidates for the Missouri Senate’s 5th district, the Missouri House’s 59th and 67th districts, and the 15th ward committeeman/comitteewoman candidates.

It’s Monday April 14th at 7:00 pm.

Bring your questions!

St. Louis needs to ban smoking in indoor public places. All of them.

This is one that I’m not going to equivocate on. A poll on Francis Slay’s blog last week put the question out there, and it’s since gotten a little chatter in the neighborhood.

A lot of the chatter in this debate swirls around the alleged individual “right” of smokers to choose to smoke. There is a strong point here. In the privacy of one’s home, I agree that people should have the right to smoke cigarettes. In fact, I’ll go most of the smoker’s rights “libertarians” one better- I would support legalization of all drugs.

I received word last night that Steve Patterson of Urban Review has been hospitalized. Without his personal approval, I won\'t discuss the details here. However, at this point his prognosis is good. I\'m sure he would appreciate well wishes either e-mailed directly to steve@urbanreviewstl.com or posted here.

I would like to extend my personal support and hope for a speedy recovery.

Today was the conditional use hearing for 3737 S. Grand.

As I said before, I was unable to make it, but doubtless, some you you did.

Reports? Discussion?

This Thursday, at 8:30 am, in room 208 of city hall, a Conditional Use Hearing will convene to begin making the decision on a Rent-A-Center going in at 3737 S. Grand.

This is an important opportunity for anyone who feels trepidation about businesses like Rent A Center (or anyone who for some reason supports them) gaining a greater foothold in our community. There will be an opportunity to speak if you are so interested. If this is your neighborhood, you are a relevant stakeholder and your opinion matters.

Businesses like Rent a Center do little to support healthy communities, IMHO. They prey on the poor and others with few options, offer a marginal product, and get people caught up in payment schemes in which they eventually pay far more for the merchandise than its actual market value.

Tower Grove South (10th Ward) resident Christian Herman continues to steam full speed ahead on the Marti Frumhoff Memorial Garden.

http://fundraisers4marti.blogspot.com/2007/12/blog-post.html

If you haven't donated or attended a fundraiser for this memorial, please do so. Marti had a huge impact on Tower Grove South and the City as a whole... there is still a long way to go.

After five long years, the Tower Grove South web site has been updated with a new web host, a content management system, a new design, and new content! The new web site will be managed by the Tower Grove South block captains and will have several editors to update articles and keep everything current and interesting.

Please stop by for a visit. The address is: http://TowerGroveSouth.org.

I first wrote about this issue in September of 2006. The Internet serves as one of a neighborhood's public faces - it is the place where the neighborhood can control the information content and spin.

At the end of August, my family and I will be relocating to Des Moines, Iowa.

I moved here to attend architecture school at Washington University in St. Louis in 1993 - the summer of the big flood. As a green transplant, I had no idea that a beautiful and vibrant city existed between the Arch and the University. Stories of murder and mugging kept me from exploring north, south and east of campus. It was two years before I went anywhere that wasn't steps from a Metrolink station.

Please consider donating whatever you can to the construction of a memorial garden in honor of Marti Frumhoff's activism, commitment, and unmeasurable contribution to the St. Louis community during her life.

http://www.martifrumhoffmemorial.org

Contributions will be accepted by PayPal or Check.

Go MIKE!
Our State Representative, Mike Daus, has pledged a $1,500 donation if the organizers can raise $25,000 by July 28. There were 500 people at her memorial service - the goal will be reached if each one sends in $50. I'm going to send in a check for $75 tomorrow and I'll bump it up to an even $100 if the goal is reached.

Some Advice
If I were organizing this fundraiser, I would challenge Alderpersons Florida, Conway, and Vollmer to each donate $1,500 towards that $25,000... Marti worked tirelessly to revitalize each of your Wards and her impact was beyond quantifying

Here is your chance to pay her back.

From the organizers:

Rain or Shine!

We will be creating the space as we come together… some of us may want to share a story, read a poem, put up art work, lead us in a song, play Frisbee or Scrabble. .

We see this as a informal time, family friendly, this includes dogs and children.

If this is at a time in which you will not be able to join us and you wish to have some thing read… please email: mel@changingtide.org and we will make sure that some one reads it for you.

The space is available from 3pm – 8pm. The focused phase of this gathering will begin at 5:30.

This memorial is a time of celebration in a park Marti cherished.

Come early, stay late. Two bbq pits are available

Please Forward!

Details:
A memorial gathering to honor Marti

Place:
Pavilion 5 – Wells Drive – Across from the Zoo (south side)
Link to Map - http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark/fppicmap.html

Date:
Friday, June 15th

Time:
3pm -8pm