St. Louis Board of Aldermen

Marijuana Reform Now Law in St. Louis, Chief Sam Dotson Says Will Improve Prosecutions

Last month, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly approved a measure to reform local marijuana laws so that minor possession cases will be handled as fines in city court and not misdemeanor charges in state court. Mayor Francis Slay officially signed the bill into law last week, his spoke ... More >>

Marijuana: After Success With Pot Law Reform in St. Louis, Activists Look to Kansas City

A successful marijuana reform effort in St. Louis could pave the way for policy changes across Missouri -- and key cannabis advocates say they are now looking toward Kansas City. Statewide advocacy group Show-Me Cannabis says it is in the very preliminary stages of pushing for so-called "decrimina ... More >>

Lewis Reed Has New Press Strategy, Will Have Campaign-Like Media Operation Year-Round

When a Lewis Reed press release slamming Mayor Francis Slay arrived in Daily RFT's inbox earlier this week, we had a serious sense of déjà vu -- especially because it was sent out by Glenn Burleigh, Reed's former campaign manager. Reed, president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, lost his mayora ... More >>

Marijuana: Gary Wiegert's Free-Speech Lawsuit Goes Forward, Sgt. Hopes to Lobby for Reform

Last week, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a marijuana reform proposal that would reduce the punishment for minor pot offenses. The policy change is supposed to save police resources and the mayor is expected to sign it into law. While officials with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Depart ... More >>

Mayor Francis Slay Says LGBT Issues Will Be a Priority in Historic Fourth Term

It is officially official. After beating his challenger Lewis Reed in the March primary, winning against no one on the April 2 Election Day and going through his formal inauguration ceremony yesterday, Mayor Francis Slay has begun his fourth term -- making him the first mayor in St. Louis history to ... More >>

Marijuana: St. Louis Aldermen Pass Reform Bill, Mayor Francis Slay Likely to Sign it into Law

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen has officially passed a local marijuana reform bill that aims to save police resources and reduce punishments for the most minor possession offenses. "This is a good, practical move for the city of St. Louis to alleviate police and prosecutorial resources on minor d ... More >>

Marijuana: Free-Speech Lawsuit Sparks Questions About St. Louis Police Stance on Pot

Yesterday, we reported on the allegations of Sergeant Gary Wiegert that the metro police department is suppressing his free-speech rights by blocking him from lobbying for marijuana reforms. His attorney has since filed a formal complaint in federal court, on view below. But what does this latest ... More >>

Marijuana: St. Louis Police Sgt. Gary Wiegert is Suing Department for Suppressing His Lobbying

Sgt. Gary Wiegert of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department supports changes in local marijuana laws so that minor offenses would not needlessly drain police resources. That's why he decided to work on the side as a lobbyist for Show-Me Cannabis, a group that advocates for pot reform in Missou ... More >>

Lewis Reed Says He'll Run for Mayor Again As Supporters Lament Another Francis Slay Term

At around 10:30 p.m. last night inside the Carpenters Hall on Hampton Avenue, a smiling Francis Slay appeared on two large monitors flanked by "Reed for Mayor" signs. The audio of the mayor's victory speech, airing live on KTVI, was muted inside the large room, where loud music continued to blast as ... More >>

Why Shrinking the Board of Aldermen is an Awful Idea: Our Q&A with Samuel Moore

What should we do this November, city voters? Should we completely redraw our political map and cut our Board of Aldermen from 28 members to only 14 members by 2012?It's an interesting concept -- at least as it was fleshed out for us last week by Aldermen Scott Ogilvie of the 24th Ward. But not ever ... More >>

St. Louis: A Dog-Eat-Mailman World and City Health Director Wearing MilkBone Underwear

​Remember one those classic intros to Cheers when Norm walks into the bar and Woody asks him how he's doing? Norm responds: "It's a dog-eat-dog world, Woody, and I'm wearing MilkBone underwear." I recalled that scene this morning when reading the latest dust up regarding St. Louis' problem with st ... More >>

Bill Would Require Nearly All St. Louis Dogs and Cats to Be Sterilized

Bob Barker approves this message.​A bill under consideration in the St. Louis Board of Aldermen could make St. Louis one of the most restrictive cities in the nation when it comes to owning cats and dogs. Board Bill 107 would require all pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats and microch ... More >>

Dog Daze: Randy Grim Unleashed!

YouTubeRandy Grim says he's now "liberated" from "nutcase" aldermen. ​Perhaps the weather is to blame, with this being the dog days of summer and all. Whatever the case, a pissing match between a local drama queen and a few politically incorrect politicians reached its zenith yesterday when Stray ... More >>

[Update] South Grand Del Taco Gets Facebook Love -- But Could Get Demolished Anyway

photo by Laura Miller​Update: By attending the meeting of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Daily RFT's Albert Samaha called the bluff of more than 9,000 enraged citizens who like the "Save St. Louis Del Taco" Facebook page. Would they show their opposition to the bill that would create a commu ... More >>

St. Louis Smoking Summit a Dud

​We had imagined yesterday's "smoking summit" for St. Louis area officials would look something like this. Only instead of beer, the table would be full of ashtrays and mounds and mounds of those famously cheap Missouri cigarettes. After a bit of frank discussion, the officials would sit back and ... More >>

St. Louis to Crack Down on Bath Salts

High quality, indeed.​The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will soon consider a bill to outlaw the sale and possession of synthetic cocaine marketed as bath salts.  KMOX reports that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce is pushing the bill sponsored by Alderman Greg Carter (Ward 27). "These ... More >>

Scott Ogilvie: St. Louis Independent Hopes to Pull Off an Upset in 24th Ward

ward24stl.comCan independent Scott Ogilvie defeat the Democratic political machine?​Daily RFT caught up yesterday with Scott Ogilvie, the independent candidate running for alderman in the 24th Ward -- the southwest sliver of St. Louis that includes the Dogtown, Franz Park, Ellendale and Clifton H ... More >>

City Hears Proposal to Relocate Tony's Restaurant to the Cheshire Inn

The Cheshire Inn lies just within the St. Louis city limits.​A committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen was informed this month that downtown restaurant stalwart Tony's is expected to vacate its location on Market Street to take up residency at the remodeled Cheshire Inn near the intersec ... More >>

Brad Kessler: Attorney-Cum-Artist with Great Hair and Killer Tats Running for Office

TwitterSilver-haired hunk wants your vote!​So, it's official. Criminal defense attorney Bradford (Brad) Kessler is running for the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to represent the city's Sixth Ward. That's the downtown loft district currently represented by alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett. Since we ca ... More >>

Today's Board of Aldermen Meeting: Short and Sweet

Where nothing happens.​"Now that's the way a meeting should be!" cracked tenth ward alderman Joseph Vollmer on his way out of the weekly gathering of city leaders. "Twelve minutes has to be a new record. And if it wasn't for the announcements it would have been ten minutes."Yes, the St. Louis Boar ... More >>

St. Louis Launches New Tactic to Get You to Pay Red-Light Camera Tickets

Yes, but can the city enforce the tickets?​The St. Louis Board of Aldermen last month approved legislation allowing the city to fine people up to $500 for failing to appear in court on summons regarding municipal law violations. The law addresses any municipal law infraction, though it seems speci ... More >>

Missouri Poised to Lead Nation in Meth Lab Busts For Fourth Straight Year

Courtesy of the Missouri State Highway PatrolMissouri busted 1,776 meth labs last year and we're on pace for more than 1,800 in 2010.​Missouri has already done the three-peat -- leading the nation in meth lab seizures for three consecutive years, including a whopping 1,774 busts last year, nearly ... More >>

St. Louis Could Decriminalize Marijuana; Small Amounts of Drug Wouldn't Be Prosecuted

Sometimes Mayor Slay (and/or his press team) rocks. Take, for instance, the "mini-poll" on marijuana posted yesterday afternoon on his personal website entitled "A Civil Conversation."First, consider the graphic he/his people chose to illustrate the whole thing:mayorlsay.comSomebody at City Hall lik ... More >>

Poll: Guess Which St. Louis Alderman Wants to Decriminalize Weed

Photo: Jennifer SilverbergIs Ken Ortmann the reefer reformer or are we just blowing smoke?​Earlier this morning we posted the news (via Mayor Slay's website) that a member of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is considering a measure that would decriminalize marijuana in St. Louis, meaning that poss ... More >>

The potentially explosive "shake-and-bake" method is burning its way through meth land

When sweeping smoking bans take effect next year, many bar patrons might not even notice the difference

St. Louis Board of Aldermen Passes Smoking Ban

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen ended a three-and-a-half hour debate this afternoon and approved 20-7 a bill to ban smoking in most bars and restaurants in St. Louis. The amended bill excludes casinos and bars smaller than 2,000 square feet in size. Those voting against that ban were: Ken Ortmann - ... More >>

Highlights of Today's Epic Smoking Ban Debate at St. Louis City Hall

Today's meeting was a lesson in how sausage -- and cigarettes -- are made.​As mentioned on this here blog earlier today, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved by a 20-7 vote a bill that would prohibit smoking in most bars and restaurants should voters in St. Louis County also approve a smoking ... More >>

Smoking Ban Debated Today at Board of Aldermen

Updated 12:12 p.m. Debate today was canceled last minute as the bill was placed on the board's informal calendar. Bill is now schedule for discussion at next Friday's meeting.The citywide smoking ban floated by Ward 28 Alderwoman Lyda Krewson goes to the floor of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen toda ... More >>

Eating on $4.13 a Day

stlouiscore.comLewis Reed may look a bit skinnier by next week. ​Thanks to KMOX for explaining the curious tweet Lewis Reed, president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, sent out this afternoon. Reed and St. Louis County Council member Barbara Frazier are participating this week in "Hunger C ... More >>

Calls for Smoking Bans Push Forward in Kirkwood, Wildwood; Hearing Tomorrow in St. Louis

deviantart.comNot one of the seventh-grade Wildwood students proposing a smoking ban.The St. Louis Board of Elections yesterday certified that a petition drive for a smoking ban in Kirkwood had enough signatures to require action.If the Kirkwood City Council does not deal with the issue by September ... More >>

Board of Aldermen Approve Subsidy for Kiel Opera House

flickr.com/photos/dduckworthEd Golterman, your ship has come in. This morning, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved a plan to subsidize $29 million of the $74-million redevelopment plan for the Kiel Opera House. The city's money will come from an amusement tax on Blues hockey tickets. Developer ... More >>

Unreal auditions for Up in the Air, test drives a new energy mouth spray and names a street after ourself

State of Street Art: Vandalism or legit, it's not going away

St. Louis Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe Says Red-Light Cameras Must Go

St. Louis Proposes Law Against “Cyber-Harassment”

French Bread

Money Talks

Parade Charade

The search for the real reason for moving the Annie Malone Parade

Letters Column

Week of March 9, 2006

Exhibit V

Want a Girls Gone Wild video? The city can hook you up. Plus: a box full of even more naughty tapes, and a paean to the cars that go boom.

Red Light, Green Light

Did the city deliberately tailor the ordinance and bid requirements to favor only one red-light camera company?

Top Story

Unreal applauds James Shrewbury's efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Plus, a titillating AP report, a local Orthodox Jew who's having second thoughts and a breast-cancer-awareness p

Current Event

St. Louis hasn't built a public pool in 33 years. It might take 33 more.

Busch Whack

The king of beers lords over a small Soulard enclave

Burnt to a Crispus

A monument to an African-American symbol of U.S. independence? Don J. Smith asks (but not very politely): Why not?

Keeping Up With the Jasarevics

Bosnian refugees found safe haven in St. Louis in the 1990s. Many are on the move again -- this time to the suburbs.

St. Hatchet

Callow still feared despite backing another loser

Married to the Job

Mike Owens gets conflicted reporting on his wife's workplace

Side Dish

Negotiations for a new riverfront restaurant are going swimmingly