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1. Jackson Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 6:05 PM

   Irene Smith has no campaign committee, no website, no presence. Why did she file?

2. MrHacks Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 7:08 PM

   I believe the Flat Panel TV Bandits were here in North St. Louis County last month steeling laptops from a school in Black Jack. Seeing as how a flat pannel screens have no copper to strip out of them, what is the purpose of taking all these items? Did the price of Mercury shoot up? Is Glass a precious comodity?
   What is their motive for taking these items which are becoming rapidly inexpensive as time goes on?

3. Douglas Duckworth Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 9:17 PM

   Antonio, what are your proposals to bring economic development to O’Fallon Park and the wider 21st Ward. Besides asking where’s the money, because it’s obvious where it’s gone: downtown. Will you not only stress new construction but historical rehabilitation, as you know many of the homes in your ward are quite magnificent?

4. Antonio D. French Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 9:55 PM

   Jackson, that’s a good question.

5. Antonio D. French Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 10:21 PM

   Doug, to give you one example, I think the economic engine of the 21st Ward could be Natural Bridge. (See map here: http://www.21stWard.org/map/)

   Natural Bridge, between Shreve and Vandeventer (which is the section inside the 21st), has many small businesses and even some chains (Auto Zone and O’Reilly Auto Parts), but it also has dozens and dozens of vacant commercial and residential buildings. I see these an opportunity.

   We’ll have an opportunity to use some of the same tools that have helped revive other areas and bring them to a part of town that needs it most. TIFs, CIDs, Historic Tax Credits — these are all tools that have just been sitting on the shelf unused in the 21st Ward for years.

   But, Doug, the primary difference in how I’d encourage development is: I will not pretend to BE a developer.

   As an alderman my job is to encourage development, and recruit and support developers, all while protecting the interests of the residents and existing businesses. That means bringing people together and sharing information.

   My job will not be to tell would-be developers who they need to hire (especially not friends or relatives of mine) or tell them to name their projects after me.

   That alone will be a big difference over here. It is that environment that developers have been rejecting and why they’ve been choosing to do projects in other northside wards and not the 21st.

   People want to do business here. Big business and small business. They just need a partner.

6. Jackson Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 10:21 PM

   Maybe Jeff Rainford knows why Irene Smith filed.

7. BigD Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 9:56 AM

   Bond is out, So who do republicans pick?

8. Adam Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 10:37 AM

   Question: why do so many unions endorse Slay? Is there anything he has actually done for unions or do you think its just a case of supporting the generic Democratic candidate?

9. Antonio D. French Says:
   January 8th, 2009 at 2:36 PM

   Adam, the answer is very simple: jobs. Slay takes care of the unions, even though most of the members of many of those unions don’t even live in the City. They benefit from the projects that Slay supports, even when City residents have a tough time getting work on those projects.

   Besides, without a viable opponent in the Democratic primary, where else are they going to go?

10. Douglas Duckworth Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 4:49 PM

    Antonio,

    If Metrolink goes down Natural Bridge then it could turn into the street we all want. I would also focus on Natural Bridge.

    Will we see row and paddle boats in O’Fallon Park?

11. Douglas Duckworth Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 4:52 PM

    I am sad to see that we won’t see ADF Estates anytime soon!

12. Jackson Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    If Kinder runs for Senate, which spineless STL Moneycrats, I mean Democrats, will back him over the Democratic nominee?

13. Katie Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    What do you mean, where else are they (the unions) going to go? The only reason the Democrats always win is because they’ve convinced everyone they will always win, which has allowed them to not be Democrats anymore, in many cases–it’s just a name only thing. I’ve talked to several whose philosophies are decidedly more in line with other party platforms who freely admit that they run as Democrats because “that’s where the power is.” Voters hold the key to changing that if they want to. The unions didn’t even wait to see who the other candidates in the primary were before endorsing, so the “without a viable opponent where else would they go” argument doesn’t fly with me. The Greens always run someone and their platform on many issues is actually in line with what a lot of people voting Democrat say they believe. The Republicans really ought to get themselves going and start running someone too. It is so frustrating to know that the voters could change the face of St. Louis politics, if they really want to, and just aren’t doing it. I suppose the “if they really want to” is the key. It’s easier to complain than to do something.

14. STL Listener Says:
    January 10th, 2009 at 12:14 AM

    A huge change in going to occur in St. Louis politics after the mayor’s election. I guarantee it!

15. Tank Says:
    January 11th, 2009 at 5:44 PM

    Jackson

    You wouldn’t find a Democrat backing Kinder for Senate. The Lt. Governor is one thing. A U.S. Senator is another.

16. Independent Voter Says:
    January 12th, 2009 at 7:28 AM

    Katie,

    I agree. We should stop pledging our allegiance to the so-called Democratic Party and start researching candidates to elect someone who has a prove track record of representing the best inerests of the community they were hired to serve, regardless of party affiliation.

17. Clark Says:
    January 12th, 2009 at 9:00 AM

    Well, since Republicans on the whole are not very interested in helping labor, union members should probably stick with Democrats.

18. Katie Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 12:15 PM

    But Clark, my point is that someone using the label Democrat while acting like a Republican is not helpful to those who choose the support the priniciples of the Democratic platform. You are also ignoring the Greens, who have interest in labor.

19. Adam Says:
    January 14th, 2009 at 7:44 PM

    Clark,

    Many of the unions endorsed before the filing period for the Democratic primary was over. All of them who have endorsed so far have endorsed before seeing if any Democratic candidates might run as independents. And, like Katie says, the green candidate will obviously be pro-labor.

    So the claim that “Democrats are good for unions” does not answer the question in this case. If they are only looking for who would be the best candidate for labor, then they should wait to see who is running. The fact that they are endorsing so early suggests that they get some benefits for early endorsements.

20. Clark Says:
    January 14th, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    Sorry, I’m used to arguing with Republicans at the P-D site or on Prime Buzz. Forgot I was talking with city progressives.

21. BigD Says:
    January 15th, 2009 at 2:03 PM

    Am I the only one who thinks the Mayor should have responded to the STD problem? Instead of taliking about changing the times of meters in Downtown. Not that he created the problem, but a press confrence with your Healt Director explaining what was wrong with the plan when it happened last year, and what they are going to do to fix it. That would have way more benefit to the community as a whole . Than helping downtown keep people who don’t want to stay there anyway. Just another example of failure in leadership.

22. CWE Says:
    January 15th, 2009 at 5:09 PM

    Huh? BigD, I cannot understand your logic. Is Slay responsible for morons f@#king each other without rubbers? Seriously, that is rediculous.

23. STL Listener Says:
    January 15th, 2009 at 10:42 PM

    CWE, leaders take responsibility – period. With a Health Department servicing the city and an education system in ruins, he should take responsibility. Education is critical, but we all know how Slay feel about education for this city.

    http://www.irenejsmith.com

    Irene belives in public education. A better educated population usually has a lower STD rate.

24. BigD Says:
    January 16th, 2009 at 12:07 AM

    I did state, ” Not that he created the problem”. However as the leader of the community the problem should have been addressed. To my knwledge it has not. Does no response to a health and safety issue satisfy you?

25. MrHacks Says:
    January 16th, 2009 at 10:46 PM

    Can anyone explain why Charles Jaco has an eye-patch and Larry Conners is recovering from “Rotator Cup Surgery”? Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

26. Antonio D. French Says:
    January 17th, 2009 at 11:24 PM

    ^ LOL!!!! Too funny!

27. Turd Ferguson Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    When is Irene Smith going to start rolling out her yard signs? All the reactionaries on my street whipped their ugly yellow Slays out at the same time. I can guarantee her at least five signs on my street (in the Deep South Side, nonetheless) if I could just get my hands on some.

28. Michael Landers Says:
    February 10th, 2009 at 10:30 PM

    Wikepedia says that CHARLES JACO lost site in his eye due to GONORRHEA!!!! What the heck is that about????

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