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people
THE LONG RUNNING SAGA: Of Almeta's Lament
CAN YOU TALK STRAIGHT TO A FIFTH GRADER? Kids Question Candidates, Part 2
COULD A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Bankrupt the Tribune??
C.A.N.T.: Group Files Papers to Fight Tax Levy
COUNCIL COUNTDOWN: TIFS, Violent Crimes Task Force Redux?
SCHNARRE COMPLAINS: Parry Off Air during Hospital Board Race
PIONEER DEVELOPER: Bob Lemone Dies
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places
VILLAGE VOICEOVER: Darin Preis and CMCA Give Up On the Corner; Blum Law
AFFORDABLE HOUSING WATCH: Seven Homes for Under $50K
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things
STREET SQUAWK: Group Interviews Four Assessor Candidates; Ultra "Green" Lawn Care
READERS RITE: Write, Right
PARTING THOUGHTS: Life! after a heart attack
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Meet city council candidate Paul Sturtz at KLIK's restaurant in the Village. Wednesday, March 17, 7 pm. Tenth St. across from Wabash Station.
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THE LONG RUNNING SAGA: Of Almeta's Lament
By Mike Martin for the Columbia Business Times
Excerpt:
Conceding that [First Ward Councilwoman Almeta] Crayton was “mostly by herself,” [Tribune publisher Hank] Waters concluded that “she does not yet seem to give valid stimulus for spending more city money.”
But in much of the First Ward, where racial segregation once ruled and where because of it, many streets lack sidewalks, drainage, lighting, safety, and other basics the rest of us take for granted, the stimulus seems glaringly obvious.
The problem may instead be lack of commitment, made more pressing seven years later by skyrocketing crime; increasing demand for affordable housing; and an ever louder cry against the ill-effects of suburban sprawl.
READ THE REST
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CAN YOU TALK STRAIGHT TO A FIFTH GRADER? Kids Question Candidates, Part 2
Many thanks to Jennifer Wingert's Fifth Grade Class at Grant Elementary for providing these questions to local political candidates. And many thanks to the candidates for answering.
School Board candidate Gale "Hap" Hairston did not respond and First Ward Councilwoman Almeta Crayton did not respond, saying that she "did not have access to a computer. I'm not trying to blow off your questions; it's just an issue of access."
Our second batch of answers is from School Board Candidate Tom Rose and Fifth Ward City Councilwoman Laura Nauser, who is running unopposed.
READ THEIR ANSWERS
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COULD A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Bankrupt the Tribune??
When a letter to the editor in support of former Columbia Board of Education candidate Michael Tan came into the Columbia Tribune for the board appointment Tom Rose received, it almost caused a management meltdown.
What, no check?
"It’s after the election, sir. This is for a special board appointment."
Management read the letter.
Wow. This Tan guy’s good! Whaddya know about him?
"You endorsed him, sir."
Great! Run it!
Then a voice intervened. "Hold it, Dad. Run that letter, and we’re outta business."
Run one letter and potentially face thousands more -- all without the customary $25 candidate endorsement fee -- an unintended loophole created by the Don Ludwig resignation. The editorial team went to work, covering Smart Boards with integrated math.
Tan got 8,000 votes. Say he gets 8,000 letters. That’s eight groups of 10 sets of 100, right?
"No, Dad - that’s eight sets of 10 groups of 10 times 10 more squares. And then take all that and times 25."
"I’m getting $200 million," the business editor said. "A potential $200 million loss - all over one letter."
"This is disastrous!" the sports editor said. "What was Ludwig thinking?"
"Only of himself, I’m afraid."
Then a reporter came in. "It’s only $200,000. That’s like, what? The superintendent’s salary?"
"That’s even worse!" someone yelped. Management fainted and hit the floor with a thud.
If this potential "real-world" scenario concerns you, on April 8th please urge Columbia to support Ines Segert, a committed educator with impeccable credentials. Because integrated math just doesn't add up.
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C.A.N.T.: Group Files Papers to Fight School Levy
Excerpt:
"I consider the levy a taxpayer bailout, pure and simple," Rogers -- a 32-year Columbia resident -- told the Heart Beat. "The school district doesn't manage the money it has. They hired a bunch of people they couldn't afford to pay and now they want the taxpayers to bail them out."
READ THE REST
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COUNCIL COUNTDOWN: TIFS, Cops, $100K to Roots and Blues Tonight
Cops, TIFS, and a "Neighborhood Leadership" program are on tonight's city council agenda. A proposal to create so-called "Tax Increment Financing," largely for central city and downtown redevelopment may bode well for struggling inner city neighborhoods and stalled downtown projects like the Tiger Hotel renovation.
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Bills/2008/mar3bills/PR47-08.pdf
The city wants to authorize a $100,000.00 payment to Roots and Blues Fest producers. http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Bills/2008/mar3bills/B67-08.pdf
A public meeting to consider the Howard Meehan's Key Hole city hall art project is on tap for April 8th.
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Bills/2008/mar17bills/R51-08.pdf
City staff has recommended adoption of a "neighborhood leadership program" to train community leaders. The program, which some say is controversial because it involves city hall control and fees, is slated to begin in 2009. http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Bills/2008/mar17bills/ReportE.pdf
A defunct Violent Crimes Task Force may be reformed as a Street Crimes Task Force to fight drug dealing and other so-called "street crimes." http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Bills/2008/mar17bills/ReportC.pdf
Read tonight's city councila agenda at:
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/cfforms/agenda/agendadetail.cfm?&UID=238
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SCHNARRE COMPLAINS: Parry Off Air during Hospital Board Race
Hospital board candidate and former Boone presiding commissioner Keith Schnarre has filed a complaint against his opponent, KFRU Morning Meeting talk show host Fred Parry, essentially asking for "equal time" on the radio. Unable to visualize, under any circumstances, the Morning Meeting with Keith Schnarre and Simon Rose, KFRU has instead decided that Parry wait out the race.
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PIONEER DEVELOPER: Bob Lemone Dies
Bob Lemone, a Columbia developer who created the Lemone Industrial Park and with his firm Little Dixie Construction, built a number of high-profile and successful developments in the area, has died. Recently celebrating his 65th birthday, Lemone was "a real pioneer," development honcho Don Stamper said on KFRU's Morning Meeting today. "He was a real giant and I can't imagine a Columbia without him."
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VILLAGE VOICEOVER: Darin Preis and CMCA Give Up On the Corner
School board member/candidate and Central Missouri Community Action director Darin Preis has given up on a seven year project to renovate the Heibel-March Store on the corner of Rangeline and Wilkes Blvds., aka "The Corner." Preis oversaw the project for about the last three years. CMCA collected a few thousand dollars toward its renovation and recently received tax credits.
City officials could recommend demolishing the 90-year-old structure, a City of Columbia Notable Historic Property. Or it could become part of a new Historic Preservation "fund" recently created by city statute. If that happened, perhaps putting a series of "urban city" offices in the building would work --small field offices for the Neighborhood Response Team; police subprecinct; PedNet; First Ward council person; and a small neighborhood meeting space.
The city owns the land underneath the building, which makes its acquisition by any other organization problematic at best.
North Central Columbia Neighborhood Association board member Dan Cullimore will be speaking about the project during the public comment section at tonight's Columbia City Council meeting.
The city council tonight will address a request by the Blum Law Firm to apply less stringent yard, parking and screening requirements for the firm's office at 9th Street and Park Avenue.
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Bills/2008/mar3bills/B51-08.pdf
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING WATCH: Seven Homes for Under $50K
Looking for affordable housing? Think Columbia has an "affordable housing crisis?" Then check out these seven single family homes in the central city, all for under $50,000.00. Hold, it you say. Are those neighborhoods safe? Don't know. But if not, then Columbia has an "affordable neighborhood crisis," NOT an affordable housing crisis. Click addresses for details.
$19,900
2 Bed, 1 Bath
$20,000 Cute!
1 Bed, 1 Bath
213 FOREST AVE
$29,900
2 Bed, 1 Bath
1002 MADISON ST
$39,000 (lots of pix)
2 Bed, 1 Bath
21 THIRD AVE
$39,000 Cute!
1 Bed, 1 Bath
511 DONNELLY AVE
$42,000
4 Bed, 1.5 Bath
0.17 Acres
128 TOWER DR
$49,900
2 Bed, 1 Bath
19 FOURTH AVE
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STREET SQUAWK: Group Interviews Four Assessor Candidates; Ultra "Green" Lawn Care
Citizens for Property Tax Fairness has interviewed four potential candidates for the position of Boone County Assessor -- the property tax man (or woman). The candidates include a woman and three men, group representatives say. Together, the candidates' credentials include two who are real estate agents; two who are certified appraisers; an attorney; and a local public official looking to branch out who has experience on a number of Boone County area boards and commissions. Though the grassroots group has neither formally collected nor spent any money, they claim about $5,000.00 in early campaign commitments "with several additional commitments that have come in by telephone and email."
If PedNet went into the lawncare business, they'd be the Green Team, Zero Emissions Lawn Care Service. PedNet Coalition Education Coordinator Robert and his wife Cia Johnson say that from the time they leave their home to the time the job is complete not a single drop of oil will be used. They use two bicycles, an 8-foot cargo trailer, lawn shears and two human-powered, environmentally-friendly reel mowers. They don't make noise. They don't pollute. They reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on fossil fuels, all while mowing your lawn. Check out their website.
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READERS RITE: Write, Right
Can we vote on whether or not the Columbia School Board should lower salaries of the administrators to raise funds for classrooms and teachers? If so, I vote yes.
-- V. Bader, Columbia
Thanks for being a voice of reason in the political madness! I appreciate your candor.
-- Arch Brooks, Columbia
You rock Columbia! Good governance can ONLY happen in the light of day. Congrats on the scoop and thanks for resisting the temptation of the (formerly, of course) smoky back room. Your hard work is greatly and gratefully appreciated.
-- Tracy Greever-Rice, Columbia
Alice through the keyhole! Does she grow taller or smaller? Ah, the White Rabbit left his keys in the courtyard. "Curiouser and curiouser! I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it." (with apologies to Lewis Carroll).
-- K. Heitkamp, Rocheport, on City Hall's public art
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Classic Northern Exposure: Life! after a heart attack
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Mike Martin Blogitor-in-Chief
Member: National Press Club (www.press.org)
National Association of Science Writers (www.nasw.org)
The Columbia Heart Beat
Circulation: Roughly 3,470
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