The League of Women Voters of St. Louis will be moderating a candidate forum for those who seek to be elected Mayor of the City of St. Louis in the April 7, 2009 election. And for the first time, all four candidates — Francis Slay, Robb Cunningham, Elston McCowan and Maida Coleman — have confirmed they will attend.
The forum will be held on Monday, March 30th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Central Library, the main branch of the St. Louis Public Library, located at 1301 Olive Street . This forum is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Downtown St. Louis Residents Association.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that it is providing the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and the Kansas City International Airport with $4.9 million and $7 million respectively in federal grant money funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is being provided through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program to rehabilitate airport taxiways.
Funding to states and localities through the economic recovery package will be allocated through existing federal programs like these, rather than earmarks, in order to ensure prompt distribution and better accountability. Local projects receive funds from these grants by following the process set up by each program.
Senator Claire McCaskill says she believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks.
The St. Louis American and the Post-Dispatch reported this week on controversial comments by former state senator and now Independent candidate for mayor Maida Coleman in which she accuses Democratic leaders of “raping” African-Americans for their votes.
From The American:
“We have gone along with the program, thinking the Democrats are going to change the way the system operates in this state,” Coleman said.
“We have been going along, expecting for the Democrats to change something. I am tired of the Democrats raping us for our votes.”
This is not the first time Coleman has voiced her displeasure with the Democratic Party’s relationship with its African-American base. In a 2006 interview with PubDef.net, Coleman discussed the subject at length.
Last night I was reminded of the final scene of one of my favorite movies, “The Candidate”. After Robert Redford’s character realizes he has won his election after a long and arduous campaign, he asks his campaign advisor, “What do we do now?”
For us in the 21st Ward the answer is clear: Now we begin the hard work of rebuilding our northside community.
For my friends and supporters outside my ward: Now we begin to organize across this city to make St. Louis a better place to live, work and play for ALL of our people.
I am so very appreciative of all the support from the people of the 21st Ward and my friends beyond its boundaries. Thank you all!
