EDIT: Please see this post, too:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2016/03/questions-for-saint-louis-teens.html
Instead of more cops, the same tired, ineffective response, over and over again, how about real solutions?
There are the obvious- put money into jobs and schools, etc.
But also GO ASK THESE KIDS WHAT THEY NEED.
http://www.kmov.com/story/31428741/group-of-juveniles-assault-rob-2-men-in-central-west-end
http://www.kmov.com/story/31431838/police-teens-responsible-for-recent-crimes-in-u-city-are-from-east-st-louis
And then ask all the other kids, too.
Don't just stop with kids, ask every single person that ends up in trouble with the law.
Is there anything you would like to be doing with your time? Is there any activities that you would want to do with your free time? (Sing, Dance, Make movies, fly a kite, run a marathon?)
What would you need to be able to do that? (A ride, lessons, a video camera?)
Do you feel you have a meaningful life and a future ahead of you?
What would you need to feel that way?
Instead of more cops, ask every kid in every junior high and high school these questions. There are actual solutions to these problems.
(The job of everyone in prison should be to answer these questions, too. Just asking these questions would bring about results, even if the person did not answer out loud.)
Also, Metro can barely pay the interest on its' bond debt with payments they get from St Louis County Prop A. Steve Stenger says more cops on Metrolink will be covered with Prop A. Please ask him how that is possible? Please ask how much of that money goes to Metro already and what do they spend it on? St. Louis really can't afford anymore bonds.
http://www.kmov.com/story/31424328/county-executive-pushes-to-double-number-of-officers-on-metrolink-lines
Or cops. More cops almost never reduce crime. In fact, more cops usually means more crime.
Solve the real issues. Make real changes.
OPTINSTL
OCCUPY! PUBLIC TRANSIT Image by Eric Drooker for Occupy Wall Street, click on image for Drooker's website
Showing posts with label prop a. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prop a. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Thursday, July 10, 2014
MORE ON AMENDMENT 7: HIGHWAY ROBBERY BENEFITS ONLY THE CONCRETE AND CONSTRUCTION "CARTELS"
OPTINSTL'S previous post about Amendment 7:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-no-on-amendment-7-proposed.html
The St. Louis Post Dispatch and their St. Louis Today website have been running some really good opinion pieces and articles on the proposed increased sales tax.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-modot-s-list-of-shiny-objects-can-t-obscure/article_20186cfd-9edc-5782-bb59-8b4d54dd2f9b.html
Both terms in this post's title, "Highway Robbery" and "Concrete Cartels", come from this brilliant and well-written Op-Ed:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/stop-missouri-s-highway-robbery/article_68a94d5c-22e8-5af5-b854-a1e0ea14d1b7.html
And this one is great on who is paying for the "pro" Amendment 7 campaign:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kevin-mcdermott/transportation-interests-donated-k-to-key-sales-tax-proponent/article_f41d8c5e-cdbc-584d-820f-ea9e7ec2ffce.html
Many people have written in that what we need to do is increase gasoline tax-- ours is the lowest in the nation! Let the trucking companies that use the highways the most pay for the roads!
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/no-to-raising-missouri-s-transportation-sales-tax/article_ce043f0d-546f-54f9-a27c-d2a3aeb318bc.html
This is great opinion letter, from a transit rider:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/public-transit-rider-can-t-support-higher-sales-tax/article_87bf77c3-6966-51dc-ab2f-acdd03f577f1.html
And this great piece really spells out the ridiculousness of the few transit related items on the City's wishlist.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/slay-gives-city-residents-reason-to-oppose-transportation-tax/article_b4674df1-ea0f-5eaa-b18a-ee691fc711ef.html
On the project list biking and pedestrian paths are considered "public transit". So you might see a lot of X marks in the transit column but read the descriptions carefully. The few that actually deal with bus, trains and streetcars are nothing more than government subsidies to private developers, such as the Loop Trolley, McKee's Northside "Redevelopment" and a Lindell street car that runs parallel to the Metrolink!
https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/documents/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=402539
MO DOT has released their final "wishlist" draft, but it isn't readily available to the public, which is just OUTRAGEOUS. We are being asked to pay for something, but don't get to see the details? A reporter from Associated Press had to file a Sunshine Act request to get the project, and even then, he only reports on what is in it, we do not get to see the actual list.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/missouri-updates-project-list-for-transportation-tax/article_a5dfaf8f-496c-5e1e-9959-a05bd4466c6a.html
And even if we did see the wishlist, that is all it is. Once they get the money they will do whatever they want with it. Let's not forget April 2010's Prop A. It was going to "save" Metro. And look what they have done with it. Nothing. They get the 11 million a year from the city for the Metrolink, but County Executive Charlie Dooley controls the purse strings on the $78 million the county collects. And even if he is does allot some to Metro, they are still insolvent!
SAY NO TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY!!!!
MORE ON AMENDMENT 7:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/transportation-tax-is-the-wrong-means-to-the-wrong-ends/article_8013b86e-ced2-5e7a-980b-520559989dec.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/increase-the-gasoline-tax-to-pay-for-publicly-maintained-roads/article_05cce727-f345-53d6-8481-84c8f87d6dcb.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/nixon-opposes-missouri-transportation-sales-tax/article_c1ced8f4-3ee6-55db-b05f-269c0ac54195.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-no-on-amendment-7-proposed.html
The St. Louis Post Dispatch and their St. Louis Today website have been running some really good opinion pieces and articles on the proposed increased sales tax.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-modot-s-list-of-shiny-objects-can-t-obscure/article_20186cfd-9edc-5782-bb59-8b4d54dd2f9b.html
Both terms in this post's title, "Highway Robbery" and "Concrete Cartels", come from this brilliant and well-written Op-Ed:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/stop-missouri-s-highway-robbery/article_68a94d5c-22e8-5af5-b854-a1e0ea14d1b7.html
And this one is great on who is paying for the "pro" Amendment 7 campaign:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kevin-mcdermott/transportation-interests-donated-k-to-key-sales-tax-proponent/article_f41d8c5e-cdbc-584d-820f-ea9e7ec2ffce.html
Many people have written in that what we need to do is increase gasoline tax-- ours is the lowest in the nation! Let the trucking companies that use the highways the most pay for the roads!
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/no-to-raising-missouri-s-transportation-sales-tax/article_ce043f0d-546f-54f9-a27c-d2a3aeb318bc.html
This is great opinion letter, from a transit rider:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/public-transit-rider-can-t-support-higher-sales-tax/article_87bf77c3-6966-51dc-ab2f-acdd03f577f1.html
And this great piece really spells out the ridiculousness of the few transit related items on the City's wishlist.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/slay-gives-city-residents-reason-to-oppose-transportation-tax/article_b4674df1-ea0f-5eaa-b18a-ee691fc711ef.html
On the project list biking and pedestrian paths are considered "public transit". So you might see a lot of X marks in the transit column but read the descriptions carefully. The few that actually deal with bus, trains and streetcars are nothing more than government subsidies to private developers, such as the Loop Trolley, McKee's Northside "Redevelopment" and a Lindell street car that runs parallel to the Metrolink!
https://stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/documents/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=402539
MO DOT has released their final "wishlist" draft, but it isn't readily available to the public, which is just OUTRAGEOUS. We are being asked to pay for something, but don't get to see the details? A reporter from Associated Press had to file a Sunshine Act request to get the project, and even then, he only reports on what is in it, we do not get to see the actual list.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/missouri-updates-project-list-for-transportation-tax/article_a5dfaf8f-496c-5e1e-9959-a05bd4466c6a.html
And even if we did see the wishlist, that is all it is. Once they get the money they will do whatever they want with it. Let's not forget April 2010's Prop A. It was going to "save" Metro. And look what they have done with it. Nothing. They get the 11 million a year from the city for the Metrolink, but County Executive Charlie Dooley controls the purse strings on the $78 million the county collects. And even if he is does allot some to Metro, they are still insolvent!
SAY NO TO HIGHWAY ROBBERY!!!!
MORE ON AMENDMENT 7:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/transportation-tax-is-the-wrong-means-to-the-wrong-ends/article_8013b86e-ced2-5e7a-980b-520559989dec.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/increase-the-gasoline-tax-to-pay-for-publicly-maintained-roads/article_05cce727-f345-53d6-8481-84c8f87d6dcb.html
http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/nixon-opposes-missouri-transportation-sales-tax/article_c1ced8f4-3ee6-55db-b05f-269c0ac54195.html
Monday, April 28, 2014
DEAR COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHARLIE DOOLEY
Mr. Dooley:
You are lucky to have your staff. They believe in you. I don't. I have heard too many stories about you that include the words "scandal".
But today, after a number of calls to your office asking for accounting of the monies from Prop A, I was finally connected to someone.
Probably because I called the MO Department of Revenue and asked for the sales tax collected. DOR sent me a report with the breakdown for 2011, 2012, 2013 and the first three months of 2014.
Prop A has collected about 78 million dollars a year for 11, 12, and 13. (Apparently it was not a bond measure, it was just revenue. Which makes a lot more sense, and I wish someone had explained that earlier.)
I called your office, Mr. Dooley, to find out how much of that went to Metro. A man explained to me that Metro has to submit a request for funds, and the request is put before the county board. The man was not certain if all of the money collected was for Metro or not. But apparently, either way, it doesn't go straight to Metro for them to decide what to do with it.
The people in your office also went out of their way to tell me what a great guy you are and how you only have the public interest at heart.
I hope that is true. (EDIT: It is possible that all of the smear comes from former Metro CEO Larry Salci, although a lot of his allegations against you do ring true: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/more-on-metro-lawsuit-against-original.html EDIT THE EDIT: I am going to give you the "Hollywood movie" version of the benefit of the doubt, too, that occurred to me as I walked in a truly cinematic St. Louis sunset, that you are the beleaguered good guy, trying to work the corruption for the people, and being vilified for it. I don't know that I feel that way, but it did occur to me, that you could be pushing your guys because there was no other trustworthy option. But for that to be true, you would need to make financial affairs much more transparent, and available to the public in a way that is understandable to the average person. Taxpayers should not need an advanced degree to understanding where their money is being spent.)
If that is true I promise to apologize. If it is true, than I hope you will work with the public to make sure that Metro is spending its' funds wisely and well. I hope you will look at some of the suggestions I have made for improving transit and that you will do what you can to make this a city with a world class public transportation system.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metro-is-doing-with-your-money-and.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/call-for-public-audit-of-metro-bi-state.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/prop-what-you-voted-on.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/again-metro-has-long-history-of.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/dear-federal-transit-authority.html
I hope you will encourage voters to ask more questions about what our money is being used for, and to educate the public on what the right questions are.
I will leave this space below to be filled in with the numbers on where these monies went, including a list of what Metro requested.
From MO DOR, Tax Type 383, effective July 2010:
Total collected, 2011: $ 78,047,485.91
Total collected, 2012: $ 76,835,569.43
Total collected, 2013: $ 78,780,868.07
We pay very high sales tax rates: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/sales-taxes-in-st-louis-relentlessly-on-the-rise/article_41ecea42-069a-5b6d-9736-1c02d71225dc.html
This does not include the .25% collected solely for Metrolink:
http://ww5.stlouisco.com/taxes/muntax.html
Three principal sources of municipal revenue in St. Louis County are sales taxes, property taxes and taxes on utilities. Rates vary among the 91 cities in St. Louis County, but all cities receive a substantial portion of their revenues from these sources.
Local sales tax rates: In addition to the one percent local retail sales tax that is collected countywide, there are five local option sales taxes that individual cities may levy. (1) The 1993 revenue reform legislation allows cities to levy an additional one quarter percent tax. Twelve and one-half (12.5) percent of that additional money is shared with the members of the one cent pool. (2) Cities may levy an additional 0.5 percent for capital improvements projects. For this tax, cities elect to participate in a revenue-sharing pool or retain 85 percent of revenue generated by this tax. (3) Another 0.5 percent sales tax may be levied for park and stormwater projects. (4) A .25 percent fire protection service sales tax for cities with fire protection responsibilities. (5) Up to 0.5% sales tax for economic development purposes If all of the above taxes are levied by a given city, the total retail sales tax rate is 8.325 percent. In addition, Transportation Development Districts can levy up to 1% in sales tax, and Community Improvement Districts can levy up to 1% in sales tax.
Property taxes: Most but not all St. Louis County municipalities levy a property tax for municipal purposes. Part of the reason for the wide range of municipal rates from zero to $1.27 is that twenty cities have their own fire departments paid for out of city revenues while most of the rest obtain their fire protection and ambulance service from fire protection districts which have separate property tax levies. A few cities use municipal revenues to contract for fire service from neighboring municipalities or fire protection districts. Cities also vary as to what services they pay for with city revenues; trash collection and parks and recreation services in some cases are provided at city expense and in many cases are not. Most cities tax personal as well as real property. Those which do not are indicated in the table as excluding personal property.
Utilities gross receipts taxes: Cities in Missouri are authorized to levy these taxes on utility bills paid to electric, gas, telephone, water and sewer companies. Cities have not levied them on sewer charges, however. For cities there is no maximum rate. Villages levy these charges on the electric utility only at a maximum rate of two percent. Some cities have different rates on different utilities, and some have different rates for residential and non-residential customers.
You are lucky to have your staff. They believe in you. I don't. I have heard too many stories about you that include the words "scandal".
But today, after a number of calls to your office asking for accounting of the monies from Prop A, I was finally connected to someone.
Probably because I called the MO Department of Revenue and asked for the sales tax collected. DOR sent me a report with the breakdown for 2011, 2012, 2013 and the first three months of 2014.
Prop A has collected about 78 million dollars a year for 11, 12, and 13. (Apparently it was not a bond measure, it was just revenue. Which makes a lot more sense, and I wish someone had explained that earlier.)
I called your office, Mr. Dooley, to find out how much of that went to Metro. A man explained to me that Metro has to submit a request for funds, and the request is put before the county board. The man was not certain if all of the money collected was for Metro or not. But apparently, either way, it doesn't go straight to Metro for them to decide what to do with it.
The people in your office also went out of their way to tell me what a great guy you are and how you only have the public interest at heart.
I hope that is true. (EDIT: It is possible that all of the smear comes from former Metro CEO Larry Salci, although a lot of his allegations against you do ring true: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/more-on-metro-lawsuit-against-original.html EDIT THE EDIT: I am going to give you the "Hollywood movie" version of the benefit of the doubt, too, that occurred to me as I walked in a truly cinematic St. Louis sunset, that you are the beleaguered good guy, trying to work the corruption for the people, and being vilified for it. I don't know that I feel that way, but it did occur to me, that you could be pushing your guys because there was no other trustworthy option. But for that to be true, you would need to make financial affairs much more transparent, and available to the public in a way that is understandable to the average person. Taxpayers should not need an advanced degree to understanding where their money is being spent.)
If that is true I promise to apologize. If it is true, than I hope you will work with the public to make sure that Metro is spending its' funds wisely and well. I hope you will look at some of the suggestions I have made for improving transit and that you will do what you can to make this a city with a world class public transportation system.
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metro-is-doing-with-your-money-and.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/call-for-public-audit-of-metro-bi-state.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/prop-what-you-voted-on.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/again-metro-has-long-history-of.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/dear-federal-transit-authority.html
I hope you will encourage voters to ask more questions about what our money is being used for, and to educate the public on what the right questions are.
I will leave this space below to be filled in with the numbers on where these monies went, including a list of what Metro requested.
From MO DOR, Tax Type 383, effective July 2010:
Total collected, 2011: $ 78,047,485.91
Total collected, 2012: $ 76,835,569.43
Total collected, 2013: $ 78,780,868.07
We pay very high sales tax rates: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/sales-taxes-in-st-louis-relentlessly-on-the-rise/article_41ecea42-069a-5b6d-9736-1c02d71225dc.html
This does not include the .25% collected solely for Metrolink:
http://ww5.stlouisco.com/taxes/muntax.html
Three principal sources of municipal revenue in St. Louis County are sales taxes, property taxes and taxes on utilities. Rates vary among the 91 cities in St. Louis County, but all cities receive a substantial portion of their revenues from these sources.
Sales taxes: Retail sales in St. Louis
County are subject to state sales tax (4.225%), a transportation sales
tax (0.5%), a mass transit sales tax for Metrolink (0.25%) a children's
services sales tax (0.25%),and a Regional Parks and Trails sales tax
(0.1%) plus a one percent (1%) local sales tax that is distributed among
the 91 municipalities and St. Louis County. St. Louis County's share
is based on the unincorporated population of St. Louis County. Thus,
the base retail sales tax rate throughout St. Louis County is 6.325%.
Local Sales Tax rates are monitored by the Missouri Department of
Revenue, which is responsible for the collection of sales taxes.
Sales tax distribution: A complex set of rules governs the
distribution of the one percent local sales tax in St. Louis County.
Some cities, designated point-of-sale or "A" cities, retain most of the
sales tax revenues collected from businesses within their boundaries.
These are cities that had had local sales taxes before the countywide
levy was enacted. Other cities, designated pool or "B" cities, share
revenues with others in the pool on a per capita basis. Unincorporated
St. Louis County is part of the pool. Legislation passed in 1993
provides for some sharing of revenues by point-of-sale cities: a sliding
scale is used to calculate amounts contributed to the pool by
point-of-sale cities. Finally, areas annexed by point-of-sale cities
after 1995 remain in the sales tax pool. As a result, some cities have
both point-of-sale and pool portions and are thus designated "A/B"
cities.
Local sales tax rates: In addition to the one percent local retail sales tax that is collected countywide, there are five local option sales taxes that individual cities may levy. (1) The 1993 revenue reform legislation allows cities to levy an additional one quarter percent tax. Twelve and one-half (12.5) percent of that additional money is shared with the members of the one cent pool. (2) Cities may levy an additional 0.5 percent for capital improvements projects. For this tax, cities elect to participate in a revenue-sharing pool or retain 85 percent of revenue generated by this tax. (3) Another 0.5 percent sales tax may be levied for park and stormwater projects. (4) A .25 percent fire protection service sales tax for cities with fire protection responsibilities. (5) Up to 0.5% sales tax for economic development purposes If all of the above taxes are levied by a given city, the total retail sales tax rate is 8.325 percent. In addition, Transportation Development Districts can levy up to 1% in sales tax, and Community Improvement Districts can levy up to 1% in sales tax.
Property taxes: Most but not all St. Louis County municipalities levy a property tax for municipal purposes. Part of the reason for the wide range of municipal rates from zero to $1.27 is that twenty cities have their own fire departments paid for out of city revenues while most of the rest obtain their fire protection and ambulance service from fire protection districts which have separate property tax levies. A few cities use municipal revenues to contract for fire service from neighboring municipalities or fire protection districts. Cities also vary as to what services they pay for with city revenues; trash collection and parks and recreation services in some cases are provided at city expense and in many cases are not. Most cities tax personal as well as real property. Those which do not are indicated in the table as excluding personal property.
Utilities gross receipts taxes: Cities in Missouri are authorized to levy these taxes on utility bills paid to electric, gas, telephone, water and sewer companies. Cities have not levied them on sewer charges, however. For cities there is no maximum rate. Villages levy these charges on the electric utility only at a maximum rate of two percent. Some cities have different rates on different utilities, and some have different rates for residential and non-residential customers.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC TOILETS
Metro is a "doing business as" (dba) of Bi-State Development Agency.
Bi-State Development Agency was formed in 1949 for the purpose of "making the region more attractive to business".
What was their first job? CREATING THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT. Which is now a separate entity.
Bi-State did not even get into Public Transit until the 1960's, when they bought 15 failing private bus lines.
According to Wikipedia:
In addition, Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport (formerly Parks) and the adjoining industrial business park, paddlewheel-style river excursion boats, the tram system leading to the top of the Gateway Arch, and the Arch's parking garage.
...
The agency was created on September 20, 1949 through a compact between Missouri and Illinois and ratified by the United States Congress. Metro's broad powers enable it to cross local, county, and state boundaries to plan, construct, maintain, own, and operate specific facilities in its effort to enhance the quality of life in the region. Its service area encompasses 200 municipalities. The agency continued to operate streetcars from the St. Louis Public Service Company in St. Louis until May 1966 with the discontinuation of the Hodiamont line.[4] First public support of transit came to the region in 1974. Buses continued to dominate Metro's fleet until a feasibility study in the late 80's suggested the construction of a light rail line from Lambert St. Louis International Airport to 5th and Missouri in East St. Louis via an abandoned segment of railway; that included abandoned tunnels under downtown St. Louis and the then disused Eads Bridge lower deck railway.
Metro's own Comprehensive Annual reports show that the only thing that DOESN'T operate at a loss in the Arch Trams and the parking garage!
Without the public transit they are a tiny little agency, operating on less than $5 million a year. It's the public transit that brings in the 160 million of taxpayer money. It's Metro that allows people like John Nations to get a quarter of a million a year salary and the "grooming" for a senate seat.
When Metro (Bi-State Development Agency d.b.a.) says that they are "not in the business of supplying public toilet facilities" they are lying. They are in the business of whatever they want to be, as long as they can justify it fitting in with "making the region more attractive to talented young professionals".
Business owners benefit from increased public toilet facilities, too. For example, one of my favorite restaurants is The Kitchen Sink (TKS). They started out next to the Debalivere Metrolink. They moved to Union Blvd. last fall because the owner was tired of people coming in to use the restroom, and also peeing on the side of the building and in his entryway when the restaurant was closed.
Yesterday-- even though I don't drink an hour before I leave for the bus, and often go 5 hours without using a toilet when riding the bus and Metrolink- I found myself needing a bathroom at the Delmar Metrolink. Every business I approached had a sign stating "NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS."
If you own a business near a bus or Metrolink stop, you should call Metro and demand they get in the business of providing toilets.
Metro's money comes solely from public money. We should have the right to determine how they spend it.
There is a legal basis for their responsibility to provide toilets. Hold them accountable for this!
JAM THE PHONE LINES! CALL EVERYTIME YOU RIDE! DEMAND THAT THEY INSTALL TOILET FACILITIES!
From Metro's Website:
In existence for more than 60 years, Metro Transit is one of the nation's oldest interstate agencies. However, it hasn't always been known as Metro Transit.
It was established as the Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) in 1949 through an interstate compact between Missouri and Illinois, ratified by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman. (The BSDA adopted the name Metro in 2003.) The BSDA was created to serve the region on both sides of the Mississippi - to have a regional outlook not tied to any one municipality, county or state. As such, it was given broad powers that enable it to cross local, county and state boundaries to enhance the development of the region.
Although the Agency is now best known for its transit system, it would be 14 years - in 1963 - before it operated a public transit vehicle. In fact, during its first year of operation, the BSDA:
Bi-State Development Agency was formed in 1949 for the purpose of "making the region more attractive to business".
What was their first job? CREATING THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT. Which is now a separate entity.
Bi-State did not even get into Public Transit until the 1960's, when they bought 15 failing private bus lines.
According to Wikipedia:
In addition, Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport (formerly Parks) and the adjoining industrial business park, paddlewheel-style river excursion boats, the tram system leading to the top of the Gateway Arch, and the Arch's parking garage.
...
The agency was created on September 20, 1949 through a compact between Missouri and Illinois and ratified by the United States Congress. Metro's broad powers enable it to cross local, county, and state boundaries to plan, construct, maintain, own, and operate specific facilities in its effort to enhance the quality of life in the region. Its service area encompasses 200 municipalities. The agency continued to operate streetcars from the St. Louis Public Service Company in St. Louis until May 1966 with the discontinuation of the Hodiamont line.[4] First public support of transit came to the region in 1974. Buses continued to dominate Metro's fleet until a feasibility study in the late 80's suggested the construction of a light rail line from Lambert St. Louis International Airport to 5th and Missouri in East St. Louis via an abandoned segment of railway; that included abandoned tunnels under downtown St. Louis and the then disused Eads Bridge lower deck railway.
Metro's own Comprehensive Annual reports show that the only thing that DOESN'T operate at a loss in the Arch Trams and the parking garage!
Without the public transit they are a tiny little agency, operating on less than $5 million a year. It's the public transit that brings in the 160 million of taxpayer money. It's Metro that allows people like John Nations to get a quarter of a million a year salary and the "grooming" for a senate seat.
When Metro (Bi-State Development Agency d.b.a.) says that they are "not in the business of supplying public toilet facilities" they are lying. They are in the business of whatever they want to be, as long as they can justify it fitting in with "making the region more attractive to talented young professionals".
Business owners benefit from increased public toilet facilities, too. For example, one of my favorite restaurants is The Kitchen Sink (TKS). They started out next to the Debalivere Metrolink. They moved to Union Blvd. last fall because the owner was tired of people coming in to use the restroom, and also peeing on the side of the building and in his entryway when the restaurant was closed.
Yesterday-- even though I don't drink an hour before I leave for the bus, and often go 5 hours without using a toilet when riding the bus and Metrolink- I found myself needing a bathroom at the Delmar Metrolink. Every business I approached had a sign stating "NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS."
If you own a business near a bus or Metrolink stop, you should call Metro and demand they get in the business of providing toilets.
Metro's money comes solely from public money. We should have the right to determine how they spend it.
There is a legal basis for their responsibility to provide toilets. Hold them accountable for this!
JAM THE PHONE LINES! CALL EVERYTIME YOU RIDE! DEMAND THAT THEY INSTALL TOILET FACILITIES!
From Metro's Website:
History
In the beginning...In existence for more than 60 years, Metro Transit is one of the nation's oldest interstate agencies. However, it hasn't always been known as Metro Transit.
It was established as the Bi-State Development Agency (BSDA) in 1949 through an interstate compact between Missouri and Illinois, ratified by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman. (The BSDA adopted the name Metro in 2003.) The BSDA was created to serve the region on both sides of the Mississippi - to have a regional outlook not tied to any one municipality, county or state. As such, it was given broad powers that enable it to cross local, county and state boundaries to enhance the development of the region.
Although the Agency is now best known for its transit system, it would be 14 years - in 1963 - before it operated a public transit vehicle. In fact, during its first year of operation, the BSDA:
- Commissioned a comprehensive plan for development of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District, outlining the major needs of the area and recommending solutions.
- Sponsored a study of the pollution in the Mississippi River in the St. Louis area. This led to a successful program where local industries voluntarily agreed to treat wastes in order to reduce pollution.
- Completed a study of the sewer problems of St. Louis County, which led to the establishment of the Metropolitan Sewer District.
- Sponsored an area-wide survey of highways and expressways in Missouri and Illinois - one of the first instances of coordinated interstate highway planning.
Monday, April 21, 2014
PROP A: WHAT YOU VOTED ON
This is a scan of the language on the ballot. "Pubic Transportation" which "includes" Metro transit, is my guess what the argument will be ("no we always meant that Charlie Dooley would decide what went to roads and what went to buses!")
http://occupyurlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/occupy-saint-louis-county-executive.html
Still have to file a Sunshine Act request to get the actual bond, but it is already obvious that they lied to the public.
This alone is the basis for a lawsuit.
Shall the County of St. Louis impose a countywide sales tax of one-half of one percent for the purpose of providing a source of funds for public transportation purposes including the restoration, operation, and expansion of Metrolink, MetroBus, dsabled and senior transportation, in addition to an existing sales tax of one-quarter of one percent for the same purpose?
Read this, too: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metro-is-doing-with-your-money-and.html
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http://occupyurlife.blogspot.com/2014/04/occupy-saint-louis-county-executive.html
Still have to file a Sunshine Act request to get the actual bond, but it is already obvious that they lied to the public.
This alone is the basis for a lawsuit.
Shall the County of St. Louis impose a countywide sales tax of one-half of one percent for the purpose of providing a source of funds for public transportation purposes including the restoration, operation, and expansion of Metrolink, MetroBus, dsabled and senior transportation, in addition to an existing sales tax of one-quarter of one percent for the same purpose?
Read this, too: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-metro-is-doing-with-your-money-and.html
Monday, April 14, 2014
METRO REFUSES TO SUPPLY THE PUBLIC WITH A BOND WE VOTED ON, THE CONTENTS OF PROPOSITION A
So Shirley**, at Metro, refused to take my call today and said that I had to file in writing to get a copy of Proposition A, the bond that we the public were told was a half cent sales tax increase to go to Metro. (Actually it was a transportation bond, the one that failed in 2008 and was repackaged to sound better.)
(See this: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/call-for-public-audit-of-metro-bi-state.html
I called the nice people at the Board of Elections. They can only supply me with what was on the ballot. They told me Metro "should have a copy."
Ridiculous.
Just called Charlie Dooley's office. They have to get back to me. Apparently after something gets voted on in St. Louis they hide it from the public.
I told the lady at the County Executive office that not only did I want the actual language of the Prop A, but I was also gonna need a break down of how much money that half cent has added up to, and how much of those funds made it to Metro.
St. Louis PLEASE! WE HAVE TO START OCCUPYING THIS CITY AND ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!
THIS CITY SHOULD NOT BE RUN BY THE LOCAL 1% GOOD OLE BOY NETWORK!
WE VOTED ON THIS BECAUSE WE WANTED THE TAX TO GO TO TRANSIT!
OPTINSTL NOW!!!!
**Shirley made $55,000 four years ago. Wonder if she has had a raise? Wonder if all these Metro employees appreciate the fact that the transit riding public is who they answer to? Shirley, WE pay your salary.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/metro-transit-agency-employee-payroll/html_1396d59c-088b-11e0-ad1c-0017a4a78c22.html?appSession=066100520353457
(See this: http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/04/call-for-public-audit-of-metro-bi-state.html
I called the nice people at the Board of Elections. They can only supply me with what was on the ballot. They told me Metro "should have a copy."
Ridiculous.
Just called Charlie Dooley's office. They have to get back to me. Apparently after something gets voted on in St. Louis they hide it from the public.
I told the lady at the County Executive office that not only did I want the actual language of the Prop A, but I was also gonna need a break down of how much money that half cent has added up to, and how much of those funds made it to Metro.
St. Louis PLEASE! WE HAVE TO START OCCUPYING THIS CITY AND ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!
THIS CITY SHOULD NOT BE RUN BY THE LOCAL 1% GOOD OLE BOY NETWORK!
WE VOTED ON THIS BECAUSE WE WANTED THE TAX TO GO TO TRANSIT!
OPTINSTL NOW!!!!
**Shirley made $55,000 four years ago. Wonder if she has had a raise? Wonder if all these Metro employees appreciate the fact that the transit riding public is who they answer to? Shirley, WE pay your salary.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/metro-transit-agency-employee-payroll/html_1396d59c-088b-11e0-ad1c-0017a4a78c22.html?appSession=066100520353457
| Bryant, Shirley A | Legal Counsel | Paralegal/Specialist Exempt | $55,076.75 |
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
WHAT METRO IS DOING WITH YOUR MONEY- AND WHY PROP A WAS NOT ABOUT METRO
EDIT: The court case looks like it was taken out of court and settled privately. This seems to be common knowledge in the community and among former and current Metro employees, but finding it the huge pile of Metro litigation may take me awhile. EDIT EDIT: Part of the story below is the "telephone line" of third party information. The suit paid out 8 million to Cross Country, but it appears Metro's overall costs were $39 million. Still trying to find the contractors that were turned away- which looks like it was rolled up in the Mokun suit in 2010. It is a tangled web, but I will unweave it. http://www.dowdbennett.com/news/jury-orders-transit-agency-to-pay-the-firms-it-sued/
Hey St. Louis, remember back in 2010 when Metro told you to vote on Prop. A for the half cent sales tax for the buses and trains?
You know, that EXTRA half cent they needed, on top of the quarter cent from the city and half cent from the county that they were ALREADY getting?
Well, that was just a big fat lie. That bond was not for PUBLIC TRANSIT. It was for TRANSPORTATION, which includes bridges, roads, and other stuff that Metro has nothing to do with.
Why did Metro agree to pull the wool over your eyes?
To cozy up to the County Executive Officer. That's the government official that actually controls Metro's checkbook.
Metro needed 42 million dollars a year to operate (they need 62 million now). That includes the $250,000 a year paid in straight salary to former CEO Robert Baer and current CEO John Nations. And the private company car costs, and free membership to Missouri Athletic Club, and all the other perks they get for running Metro transit into the ground. (I don't know, but my estimate that Nations' benefits- including health care, pensions, and other perks like the car cost another $50-78,000 a year. At least.)
A Metro CEO makes more than Mayor Slay $131,000; Slay's Chief of Staff, $156,000; Governor Nixon, $133,000; or County Executive Office Charlie Dooley, $144,000. (And all those people are way overpaid for the work they do, too.)
You knew, didn't you, that political ambition is the only reason a man like Nations goes after the CEO position at Metro? Nations apparently makes no secret of the fact that the ONLY reason he is at Metro is to build his campaign for a seat in the senate. I have been asking for 2 weeks and found this out, so you folks that have been living here this whole time already knew that.
And let's not forget that the only reason Nations got involved was that the buses to Chesterfield were faltering and all the maids and busboys couldn't get to their jobs.
That 42 million a year figure also includes the $190,000 a year salary that every other person at Metro with a CEO title makes. (I was right, that firing all the executives would make up that 2.5 million a year they want from their customers in fare increases.) And the $100,000 a year salary to other executives.
So, back to Prop A and that 42 million a year in basic operating expenses. See, Metro had gotten some big government grants for train development. Now, we have already established that Metro really only wants to serve the wealthy, white suburbs and get more of those people to park and ride to Cardinals games.
So they set off for Alton and St. Charles/St. Peters, where the Metrolink was shut down by all the racist white people that live in those areas and went to the Town Hall meetings. (Not saying all the people in those neighborhoods are racist, but obviously there either weren't enough of them that wanted a Metrolink.)
They had to spend that money or lose it, which is when Richard Gephardt stepped in and the Shrewsbury Metrolink extension was put in.
But you see, Metro hired some minority contractors, apparently mostly for hauling away debris from the construction sites, and when these black men showed up with their trucks to do the job they were hired for THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB.
"Go away, Black Man."
So the contractors fought back with a lawsuit and WON 39 MILLION DOLLARS.
Bye-bye to almost an entire year's operating budget. The County Executive Office, Charlie Dooley, refused to write Metro another check to cover the loss.
Somehow, the Good Ole Boy Network managed to hide all this from the press, or if it was covered, it was buried. (I can't find any news coverage of this... YET.)
Metro decided to pressure their existing staff into working overtime, instead of hiring more drivers and Metrolink operators. (Cheaper to pay overtime than pay for hiring and training, and benefits and pensions, for the new drivers they needed, etc.)
The bus drivers did not want to work more hours. (I am sure that 40 hours a week driving a Metro bus is about all any sane person can handle!) So Metro had to cut 24 bus line and 20-30% of Metro's other services (paratransit, special event shuttles, etc).
(People that don't ride public transit- this next part is about you, too!)
So, along comes Prop A. Metro hawked it to the public as a "Public Transit" bond, NOT what it really was, that is, a "Transportation" bond, in exchange for some more cash from Mr. Dooley.
At Mr. Dooley's discretion.
(I have not been able to find the text of Prop A, only the marketing propaganda written about it to get voter's to pass it. This link does not even have the text of the Bond measure, and sites only news articles and opinion pieces. And that is not a mistake. That is the Good Ole Boy Network in operation. But if you read it carefully, look at the words "metro" and "Metro" and the vague wording. This bond was all about "metro" and not very much about "Metro". Detractors, feel free to prove me wrong by providing me with the ACTUAL BOND LANGUAGE. OR, MR. DOOLEY, PLEASE PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A BREAKDOWN OF HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT!)
Now, when Metro went to get all those bus lines back, they re-routed them. They held Town Hall meetings (how many showed up at each? I would bet less than 40 people at each meeting). They said "hey how about we run the bus lines this way?" and the people agreed.
Which is how Metro re-routed all the bus lines to the Metrolink, making many people's trips LONGER (I am one of them).
Metro needs to be separated from Bi-State Development Agency. Metro needs to be about Public Transportation and NOT about CEO senatorial ambitions, and funneling government funds to the Good Ole Boy Network, and acquiring real estate.
WAKE UP ST. LOUIS! YOU HAVE BEEN ROBBED!
OCCUPY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ST. LOUIS!
EDIT: FROM METRO'S 2009 Report, page 14:
Still going through the report-- but the B.S. about Prop A is actually "hiding right out in the open" in that paragraph.
EDIT: These records are from 2010, and you have to search by individual names, but here it is:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/metro-transit-agency-employee-payroll/html_1396d59c-088b-11e0-ad1c-0017a4a78c22.html
Robert Joseph Baer, CEO, John Nations predecessor: $190,000
Ray Friem: Chief Oper Ofcr-Transit Serv/Chief Operations Officer $174,350.00
Jessica Mefford Miller: Chief of System planning and development: $86,000.00
Bus driver I knew the name of: $43,784.00
Still looking into these matters: http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/05/01/former-metro-ceo-says-dooley-adminstration-meddled-with-metro-contracts/
http://m.stlamerican.com/news/political_eye/article_77825bd0-5d5b-11e3-923b-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2013/11/07/st-louis-metrolink-claims-video-justifying-arres/
EDIT: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/04/former_st_louis_mayor_sues_metro_freeman_bosley_jr.php
Hey St. Louis, remember back in 2010 when Metro told you to vote on Prop. A for the half cent sales tax for the buses and trains?
You know, that EXTRA half cent they needed, on top of the quarter cent from the city and half cent from the county that they were ALREADY getting?
Well, that was just a big fat lie. That bond was not for PUBLIC TRANSIT. It was for TRANSPORTATION, which includes bridges, roads, and other stuff that Metro has nothing to do with.
Why did Metro agree to pull the wool over your eyes?
To cozy up to the County Executive Officer. That's the government official that actually controls Metro's checkbook.
Metro needed 42 million dollars a year to operate (they need 62 million now). That includes the $250,000 a year paid in straight salary to former CEO Robert Baer and current CEO John Nations. And the private company car costs, and free membership to Missouri Athletic Club, and all the other perks they get for running Metro transit into the ground. (I don't know, but my estimate that Nations' benefits- including health care, pensions, and other perks like the car cost another $50-78,000 a year. At least.)
A Metro CEO makes more than Mayor Slay $131,000; Slay's Chief of Staff, $156,000; Governor Nixon, $133,000; or County Executive Office Charlie Dooley, $144,000. (And all those people are way overpaid for the work they do, too.)
You knew, didn't you, that political ambition is the only reason a man like Nations goes after the CEO position at Metro? Nations apparently makes no secret of the fact that the ONLY reason he is at Metro is to build his campaign for a seat in the senate. I have been asking for 2 weeks and found this out, so you folks that have been living here this whole time already knew that.
And let's not forget that the only reason Nations got involved was that the buses to Chesterfield were faltering and all the maids and busboys couldn't get to their jobs.
That 42 million a year figure also includes the $190,000 a year salary that every other person at Metro with a CEO title makes. (I was right, that firing all the executives would make up that 2.5 million a year they want from their customers in fare increases.) And the $100,000 a year salary to other executives.
So, back to Prop A and that 42 million a year in basic operating expenses. See, Metro had gotten some big government grants for train development. Now, we have already established that Metro really only wants to serve the wealthy, white suburbs and get more of those people to park and ride to Cardinals games.
So they set off for Alton and St. Charles/St. Peters, where the Metrolink was shut down by all the racist white people that live in those areas and went to the Town Hall meetings. (Not saying all the people in those neighborhoods are racist, but obviously there either weren't enough of them that wanted a Metrolink.)
They had to spend that money or lose it, which is when Richard Gephardt stepped in and the Shrewsbury Metrolink extension was put in.
But you see, Metro hired some minority contractors, apparently mostly for hauling away debris from the construction sites, and when these black men showed up with their trucks to do the job they were hired for THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB.
"Go away, Black Man."
So the contractors fought back with a lawsuit and WON 39 MILLION DOLLARS.
Bye-bye to almost an entire year's operating budget. The County Executive Office, Charlie Dooley, refused to write Metro another check to cover the loss.
Somehow, the Good Ole Boy Network managed to hide all this from the press, or if it was covered, it was buried. (I can't find any news coverage of this... YET.)
Metro decided to pressure their existing staff into working overtime, instead of hiring more drivers and Metrolink operators. (Cheaper to pay overtime than pay for hiring and training, and benefits and pensions, for the new drivers they needed, etc.)
The bus drivers did not want to work more hours. (I am sure that 40 hours a week driving a Metro bus is about all any sane person can handle!) So Metro had to cut 24 bus line and 20-30% of Metro's other services (paratransit, special event shuttles, etc).
(People that don't ride public transit- this next part is about you, too!)
So, along comes Prop A. Metro hawked it to the public as a "Public Transit" bond, NOT what it really was, that is, a "Transportation" bond, in exchange for some more cash from Mr. Dooley.
At Mr. Dooley's discretion.
(I have not been able to find the text of Prop A, only the marketing propaganda written about it to get voter's to pass it. This link does not even have the text of the Bond measure, and sites only news articles and opinion pieces. And that is not a mistake. That is the Good Ole Boy Network in operation. But if you read it carefully, look at the words "metro" and "Metro" and the vague wording. This bond was all about "metro" and not very much about "Metro". Detractors, feel free to prove me wrong by providing me with the ACTUAL BOND LANGUAGE. OR, MR. DOOLEY, PLEASE PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A BREAKDOWN OF HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT!)
Now, when Metro went to get all those bus lines back, they re-routed them. They held Town Hall meetings (how many showed up at each? I would bet less than 40 people at each meeting). They said "hey how about we run the bus lines this way?" and the people agreed.
Which is how Metro re-routed all the bus lines to the Metrolink, making many people's trips LONGER (I am one of them).
Metro needs to be separated from Bi-State Development Agency. Metro needs to be about Public Transportation and NOT about CEO senatorial ambitions, and funneling government funds to the Good Ole Boy Network, and acquiring real estate.
WAKE UP ST. LOUIS! YOU HAVE BEEN ROBBED!
OCCUPY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ST. LOUIS!
EDIT: FROM METRO'S 2009 Report, page 14:
Still going through the report-- but the B.S. about Prop A is actually "hiding right out in the open" in that paragraph.
EDIT: These records are from 2010, and you have to search by individual names, but here it is:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/metro-transit-agency-employee-payroll/html_1396d59c-088b-11e0-ad1c-0017a4a78c22.html
Robert Joseph Baer, CEO, John Nations predecessor: $190,000
Ray Friem: Chief Oper Ofcr-Transit Serv/Chief Operations Officer $174,350.00
Jessica Mefford Miller: Chief of System planning and development: $86,000.00
Bus driver I knew the name of: $43,784.00
Still looking into these matters: http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/05/01/former-metro-ceo-says-dooley-adminstration-meddled-with-metro-contracts/
http://m.stlamerican.com/news/political_eye/article_77825bd0-5d5b-11e3-923b-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2013/11/07/st-louis-metrolink-claims-video-justifying-arres/
EDIT: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2010/04/former_st_louis_mayor_sues_metro_freeman_bosley_jr.php
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