St. Louis Flooding and Stadium Projects

Welfare for millionaires and billionaires look ridiculous when the St. Louis area is experiencing record-setting flooding and the need for assistance is great.

Thousands of people in and around the St. Louis area will be affected by flooding. Many will lose their possessions and homes, others will be out of work and some businesses may closed down completely unable to reopen.

Public dollars should be reserved for public need! This is when public tax dollars are most needed, in emergency and catastrophic situations. However, since so much public money is tied up in pledges to private projects of millionaires and billionaires, many of those truly in need will find scarce resources available to them.

Levees are in danger of failing and I suspect some of them have not received the attention and allocation of public money they should have received because we were more concerned about providing subsidies to the rich.

To add insult to injury, the proposed stadium would be located even closer to the river, adding to future flood damages that will have to be paid for by tax payers.

Flooding affected almost every major artery into St. Louis; highways 44, 55 and 70 have been partially closed because of flooding. Even before flooding, MoDot had already expressed they didn't have the necessary funding to do required maintenance and repairs. Major roadways and highways will certainly be damaged by flood water adding additional repairs to MoDot's strained budget. SeeList of area roads closed due to high water

As I've stated previously, paying hundreds of millions of dollars for private projects for the rich do not make sense. Some ordinary hard-working people will lose everything they own and unfortunately many of them will discover that there are no available public funds to assist them; because we have committed so much to make certain that wealthy sport franchise owners get their share of public money through a reverse Robin Hood tax scheme.

I wonder if the governor, legislators and aldermen who fought so hard for stadium financing will fight as hard to find public money to assist those the ordinary people, that elected them into office, who are affected by the flood.

I suspect that low-interest loans that must be paid back will be available, but many flood victims will not receive the same sort of non-repayable subsidies that is proposed to be given to the wealthy.

Merry Christmas from a broke family

Merry Christmas!

My grandmother, from all family accounts was a wonderful and wise woman. Unfortunately, my grandmother, died when my mother was only seventeen, so I never had the pleasure of meeting her.

My grandmother used to tell her six children, “we’re not poor, we’re just broke. Poor is an attitude, broke is a condition.” My family has experienced that “broke” condition over the past couple of years partially because of legal challenges which required time and research to defend which took time away from income producing activities. Last night, I went to bad feeling bad and worried because I couldn’t afford to give my family much this year.

My sons woke me up this morning around 7 am to the sounds of Christmas music. We told each other how much we loved one another, hugged and opened presents. We called family members and as soon as they answered the phone we sang, “we wish you a Merry Christmas.” Although, we were not able to provide much for our sons this Christmas, we had a wonderful morning and experienced the true joy of family. We all gave love this Christmas and it was the most wonderful gift to behold.

My oldest son, who recently started working and is still in school, bought presents for us all, but especially for his little brother. Seeing the joy in my son’s eyes as his little brother opened his gifts allowed me to experience a peace and joy I hadn’t expected this Christmas.

If you’re reading this, most likely you have your own legal issues and your family may also be experiencing hardships this Christmas. If that is the case, you’re not alone and I hope that you too will find some joy and peace the way my family did today.  Our family motto is “Always take care of your family,” and today, I had a bright shining example that my sons have embraced that motto with all their hearts.

The best presents can’t be bought, so if you’re like us and didn’t have any money, give love, you’ll be surprise how much it’s appreciated and needed. This site exist in that spirit of love in hopes that others can avoid some of the hardships I experienced and quickly find the legal information they need that might make the difference. Have a wonderful holiday and embrace those that you love!

How Did Your Alderperson Vote on Stadium Financing?

Below is video of the  December 18, 2015 Board of Aldermen session that voted 17 to 10 to approve stadium financing. The actual vote process begins at 2:16:50 in the timeline. See how your alderperson voted.

The law making body of the City of St. Louis is the Board of Aldermen. There are twenty-eight aldermen, one from each ward in the City and a President. The Board of Aldermen meet every Friday except during summer recess and on holidays. At these sessions, the Aldermen present the First Readings of a resolutionor new board bill and discuss issues raised in these pending bills.

You can now view recordings of the Full Meetings and the Committee Meetings on YouTube.

St. Louis Stadium Corruption

On December 10th, in reaction to proposed stadium financing, St. Louis Alderwoman Megan Green made the following statement:

“The deal cutting, bribery, and [corruption] at City Hall will never cease to amaze me", she later referred to the situation as “legalized bribery,” and stated, “And just because something is legal in MO doesn’t mean it’s ethical”.

See the article:  St. Louis alderman alleges 'bribery' and 'corruption' in stadium vote.

I was not very familiar with Megan Green, so I did some light research; including searching news reports about her, reading her personal website, Facebook,  Linkedin  and Twitter accounts. Some news articles about Ms. Green are listed below:

Below is a video of her explaining her background, last year, when she was a running for office.

Below is another video of Ms. Green responding last year to crime and the Ferguson protests.

My research didn't reveal any thing I could cite as negative. Megan Green appears to be intelligent, committed and open minded. So far, I like what I see and Ms. Green seems sincere and genuine.

Today the post dispatch reports, Lewis Reed considering reprimand of St. Louis alderman over stadium flap.

The Post article mentions that neither the St. Louis Police or FBI have substantiated the allegations. Unsubstantiated allegations do not mean that corruption did not occur. One of the primary reason for the existence of Court.rchp.com is St. Louis' Culture of Corruption.

Reed reportedly stated, "She clearly has lied about this," …. "Something needs to happen. The board, universally, is really upset about it". However, without proof that she lied, statements about her lying are equally unsubstantiated. The irony is that Lewis Reed endorsed Megan Green during her candidacy.

Is it really unreasonable to believe that corruption surrounds a billion dollar project? Unless this alderwoman has a history of lying; which I find no evidence of, I see no reason not to take her at her word.

I don't personally know Mr. Reed, he seems to have integrity and I have mostly liked what I have seen and heard about him publicly and I have voted for him in the past. Although, he may honestly believe everything is being done ethically and legally, I'm not ready to totally dismiss Ms. Green's statements.

Corruption may not always be obvious and can come in many forms including:

  • Outright monetary bribes
  • Campaign financial support
  • Employment opportunities
  • Travel or other perks
  • Book deals with large advances
  • Hugh public speaking fees
  • Appointment to higher office or corporate boards
  • The list could go on and on

Maybe I'm biased, I don't believe it is smart or in the public interest to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of public money on a private stadium, especially when a perfectly good stadium already exists. St. Louis has infrastructure in disrepair, crime, homelessness, and variety of other issues public money would be better be spent on.

Dangerous Racist and Religious Propaganda

A husband and wife couple, who happened to be Muslim, killed 14 people and wound 22 during a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California on December 2, 2015, the deadliest such tragedy in three years.

Donald Trump has suggested banning Muslims from our country by spewing vicious propaganda in reaction to the shooting tragedy. Surprisingly 25% of surveyed Americans and 38% of GOP primary voters agree with him. Trump's rhetoric and ideology is reminiscent  of "slavery back in effect".

One of this country's founding principles is freedom of religion, which is enshrined in the first amendment. Even if you dismiss that principal, the logic of Trump's proposal and those that agree with him is flawed.

Are all white people the same? Are all black people the same? Are all Christians the same? Are all Muslims the same?

The answer to all of those questions is NO!

People are individuals with individual characteristics. Even my two sons who live within the same household, raised by the same parents are as different as night and day. One is religious, the other not so much, one is athletic, the other not so much, one is small the other large, one is very social and outgoing, the other more reserved and quiet, one is silly the other one more serious and the list could go on and on. Of course, as I have mentioned before, they also have many similar traits such as intelligence, kindness, likability,  being respectful, love of music, travel, family and friends and again the list could go on and on.

As of December 2nd, 353 mass shootings have killed 462 and wounded 1,317 people in 220 cities, according to the website shootingtracker.com. The majority of the shooters were Young White Christian Males rather than Muslim.

However, no one would dare suggest banning Christians or even profiling young White males. White privilege prevents most people from even considering the profiling of white males. But as soon as the perpetrator is someone other than White, the discussion changes and stereotypes and prejudices are introduced.

Whenever I hear a person make racist or derogatory statements against a whole group of people based on stereotypes, I realize that person probably expresses similar sentiments about the group I belong too. A person making generalized negative comments to me about one group is probably making negative comments about my group to others.

As expressed in an earlier post, "First They Came", once we allow the unreasonable exclusion or discrimination of one group, it makes it much more easier to discriminate against the next group. Eventually, the discrimination may reach you or one of your family members or friends. And if you don't speak up for others, you can't expect others to speak up for you.


For additional information; see the articles:

Black Christmas Movies

Today the St. Louis Post Dispatch published, "Joe Holleman's list of the 10 best Christmas movies of all time". I couldn't help but notice not a single Black Christmas movie was listed. I'm not criticizing, Mr. Holleman, he has every right to his personal choices; and many of his choices were pretty good movies.

Since part of this site's mission is historical balance, I thought it might be good idea to list some Black Christmas movies. The last five movies are the actual full length movies, enjoy!

THE PREACHER’S WIFE (1997)

Good natured Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage to choir mistress Julia is flagging, due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from property developer Joe Hamilton. In desperation, Rev. Biggs prays to God for help – and help arrives in the form of an angel named Dudley.

LAST HOLIDAY (2006)

Upon learning of a terminal illness, a shy woman (Queen Latifah) decides to sell off all her possessions and live it up at a posh European hotel.

THIS CHRISTMAS (2007)

A Christmastime drama centered around the Whitfield family's first holiday together in four years.

THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (2013)

When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.

BLACK NATIVITY (2013)

A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey.

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY (2007)

A young girl turns to a department store Santa in the hopes that he will help find a new husband for her divorced mother.

 A MADEA CHRISTMAS (2013)

Madea dispenses her unique form of holiday spirit on rural town when she's coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas.

Dear Secret Santa (2013)

Beverly Hills banker/workaholic JENNIFER comes home to her small Northern California town just before Christmas when her dad, TED , takes a bad fall while putting up decorations. While home, Jenny begins getting romantic Christmas cards from an unknown admirer, who turns out to be her old neighbor and the unrealized love of her life, JACK. There's just one problem- Jack died in a car accident three years ago.

 HOLIDAY HEART (2000)

A drag queen takes in a drug addict and her daughter and helps raise the daughter.

THE KID WHO LOVED CHRISTMAS (1990)

A Chicago jazz musician seeking to adopt a young boy after his wife is killed in a car accident has to deal with a large amount of conflict with those who could approve the adoption, along with an offer to play in New Orleans.

A DREAM FOR CHRISTMAS (1973)

Click image to watch movie

A Southern minister is assigned to a poor church in California where the congregation is drifting away and the church itself is scheduled for demolition.

A DIVA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL (2000)

When an ego-driven superstar (Vanessa L. Williams) loses her holiday spirit, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future visit her.

First They Came

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality". – – Desmond Tutu

First they came for Black men, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not Black.

Then they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Muslim.

"First they came …" is a famous statement and provocative poem written by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the cowardice of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and the subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum quotes the following text as one of the many poetic versions of the speech:


First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.


White Lives Matter Too!

A White man died from injuries suffered while in St. Louis City jail. The homeless man was arrested for trespassing. The man's mother believes police beat her son and told a reporter that she and family members were shocked when they saw Gilbert’s body at the morgue. “He’s black and blue and swollen all over,” she told a reporter Wednesday. “It just blew our mind when they pulled the curtain back. I wanted them to pull the sheet further down because we wanted to see his full body. They killed our kid. My husband went nuts. We knew immediately that this was no head injury or wrestling around — no, they beat him.”

During an event that took place earlier this year in Washington, MO, a White man was tasered while handcuffed, but in his case the incident was captured on video. The police officer has since been fired and Washington, MO paid an undisclosed amount in settlement of a lawsuit.

People and organizations such as Black Lives Matter are not imagining police brutality, it does happen.  It's just a matter of time before the injustices people remain silent about, visits them.  "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Police Lives Matter and so do Body Cameras

The St. Louis City Police Department announced today; they will begin a body camera pilot program. Only a few officers will have them, so I expect videos will often be unavailable when the situation is questionable. However, I expect to see many videos that prove the suspect's guilt.

With controversial St. Louis City police shooting deaths since Michael Brown including Kajieme PowellVonderritt Myers, Isaac Holmes and Mansur Ball-Bey, there's no viable reason why officers shouldn't have body cameras. The only legitimate  privacy concern is when an officer enters a private residence or any other non-public location. In public spaces, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled there is no expectation of privacy, so there is no valid reason not to require body cameras, other than to shield officers and the City from accountability.

Police officers provide a very important and necessary function including public safety. They are authorized by law to use deadly force and there should be some protections built is to make sure that deadly force is absolutely necessary. Even when police officers use excessive force unless there's a video is involved, the police officer's version is never questioned, until video surfaces.

The average person is a decent law abiding person, but criminal laws exist against theft, robbery, rape, murder and a host of other crimes. Those laws don't exist because every person is expected to commit crimes, they exist because some people do. We don't need body cameras because all police officers are rogue or corrupt, we need them because some are.

As I've expressed many times before, I believe most police officers are hard working and honest with an extremely stressful and dangerous job to do. However, unchecked power is dangerous. The "founding fathers" understood that "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". The authorized unquestioned use of deadly force is absolute power!

Since a technology exist that allows checks and balances on the use of police force, it should not be a contract bargaining issue. I can think of no other circumstance where an employee is allowed to dictate to his employer what type of equipment will or won't be used in the performance of their duties unless it involves some sort of safety issue. In this instance safety is involved; those of both the police officer and the public.

Police lives matter too

Body cameras protect police officers too! Many suspects will be more aware that their actions are being recording which should result in reduce resistance; because it will be much easier to prove and charge resisting arrest. The videos will often exonerate police officers in situations such as Elkhart, TX.

A 24-year-old rookie St. Louis city police officer was shot Sunday, November 22nd and, fortunately, a suspect was quickly caught. I'm happy they caught the person allegedly responsible, but that is what I expect. I can't recall many crimes when a police officer is a victim, where no suspect is caught. I'm certain it happens, but those instances are most certainly exceptions rather than the rule. Body camera video will help get convictions.

I have friends who are or were police officers and even some of them have expressed frustration with other police officers. Below, three black St. Louis police officers describe their experiences with white officers on the Jamie Allman Report.

One of my friends was killed when he was only 23. His funeral was attended by what seemed to be every police officer in the city and police officers from various departments blocked traffic and lined the route to the cemetery. I was reminded of him on November 22nd and I'm glad his family didn't experience what my friend did.  I wonder if body cameras would have made a difference in my friend's case. Maybe the suspect wouldn't have been so quick to pull the trigger, knowing his actions were being recorded.

Another friend was severely burned while responding to a domestic situation. A flammable substance was thrown at him and ignited and my friend's shirt, which was mostly synthetic, melted onto his skin resulting in severe burns over most of his upper body. St. Louis City police uniforms were changed as a result of that incident. Flame and heat resistant materials were used to better protect officers. I doubt that a body camera would have prevented my friend injury, but body camera will make it much easier to get convictions and longer sentences for these types of acts.

Jail is Slave Warehouse

Television's Judge Joe Brown, who served a five day prison sentence this summer, stated that jails are slave warehouses. Brown was found in contempt when he reportedly became verbally abusive to court workers and ignored Juvenile Court Magistrate Harold Horne's warning to calm down. Watch the video of his comments concerning that incident on our corrupt judges page.

During an interview he presented a very interesting take on mass incarceration. He acknowledges systemic racism and discrimination while finding many of the victims of mass incarceration complicit in there own destruction. Brown points out that most people in jail did it to themselves by pleading guilty, most likely because of plea bargains. He touches on Ferguson, Black Lives Matter,  and Blacks not exercising political power correctly

He invoked W.E.B. Du Bois' talented tenth concept and expressed the view that part of the problem is that many of the most talented people in the black community do give back and are only concerned only about themselves.

60th Anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott

Today mark the 60th anniversary of the spark that ignited the the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the civil rights protest movement.

On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake's order to give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled. Parks was not the first person to resist bus segregation.

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005, was known as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement". Parks' act of defiance and the Montgomery Bus Boycott became important symbols of the modern Civil Rights Movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation.

Rosa Parks – Quiet Revolutionary – The Documentary

Rest in peace "Mother Parks".