Historical February–March 2020 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The year 2020 marks the end of a decade.
There is a lot riding on the decisions we make over the next twelve months.
The election of the president is one of the most important.
The last day to register to vote in the March primary is February 12.
Please get registered and stay tuned for updates in polling locations in the neighborhood.
The Board of Election Commissioners is making sure that all voters have access to the voting booth and we are working on improvements to current locations and finding alternatives very close-by.
Another big question we face is about cooperation and consolidation of the city and the county.
The Board of Electors (formerly known as the Board of Freeholders) has been convened and the City must nominate its nine members in order to participate meaningfully in a conversation about city/county cooperation and consolidation.
As of this writing, the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor have yet to agree on a slate of candidates.
In the meantime, the county has appointed its nine members and the governor has appointed his one.
If this group comes up with a plan for cooperation, a form of consolidation, or consolidated services, it must go to the voters.
The last successful Board came up with the proposal to create the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District in the 1950’s so there are many possibilities for cooperation.
The process of convening the Board of Electors was initiated upon the submission of 15,000 signatures of registered voters in the county and 5,000 in the city. By law, the city must appoint its 9 members. Until we do, this failure is a dereliction of our duties.
This board has a limited time to come up with a plan and we owe it to the voters to give it our best shot. Questions before the Board of Aldermen this legislative session (which ends in April) regard the possible restructuring of our police districts, funding and possible closure of the workhouse (the city’s medium security institution), and the regulation of short-term rentals. Feel free to contact me about these issues or any others that interest you.
This year promises to be an exciting one. Whether it’s a neighborhood issue, a citywide policy, or a development project that you are following, please stay engaged with your neighbors, the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council, and your elected officials.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2020.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2020_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
