Metropolitan Rural

I got the following message yesterday through our Neighborhood e-mail group. 

 Google is planning to build ultra-high speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the country.  The plan is to deploy 1 Gbps, fiber optic connections directly to people’s homes.  This connection would be over 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today.
 

Securing ultra high speed internet infrastructure in St. Louis will provide strong momentum for the creation of next generation internet services, companies, and jobs.
 
The City is responding to the Request For Information (RFI) released by Google. We will be competing with many other communities across the country to be chosen for this experiment.
 
One part of the RFI requires us to demonstrate our community support for this project. To this end, we’ve created the following website:
 
http://stlcin.missouri.org/googlefiber/
 
You can help St. Louis get Google Fiber by doing any of the following from this site:
 
1. Share the site and our effort via Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or through your own email.
2. Nominate St. Louis as a resident.
3. Get an organization of which you are a member to support our effort.
4. Leave a comment of support on our map.
 
Please share this site with your friends and family and let’s show Google that St. Louis deserves ultra high speed fiber!

I had read the reports recently about Google’s intention with this and it would be something awesome for St Louis to have.  Our population density would make installation cheaper than it would be in many other cities of comparable size. 

So, pass this along to as many city residents as you know, let’s get Google to build us some infrastructure!

Two weeks ago I was standing in a conference center in Scottsdale, AZ.  I was with a good friend and business partner trying to hock our new business service to potential clients.  Things went really well and we’ve had a lot of follow-up and planning going on since.  Between that and trying to catch up with the new class I’m teaching, these past 2 weeks have been extremely busy.   I finally feel like I’m caught up at this point and wanted to share a few thoughts that have gone on with me the last several days.

1. I was really impressed on Friday night when we stopped by our local PetSmart to pick up some bedding for our guinnea pig.  Parked right next to us was a shiny, black Ford Escape Hybrid.  This was a car my wife and I had considered last year when we bought our new one.  It gets an EPA estimated 34 MPG in the CITY!  That’s right, 34 MPG In the city for a small SUV, that’s very impressive.  Still, we don’t drive enough to really justify the 10 grand extra that would have cost us.  What impressed me most was the license plate.  It read, “City of St. Louis, Director of Public Safety.”  Yep, a city vehicle.  And for an office that’s undoubtedly putting a lot of city miles on it.  Very smart decision and good use of my tax dollars.
2. Over the weekend I heard that Metro had finally announced their rate increases for next year.  My monthly pass will be going from $60 to $68.   Still not bad I guess.  My only problem still is the possibility that my express route could get canceled come spring.  That would mean my 35 minute trip to and from work would now become nearly an hour (if everything is on time).  That extra 25 minutes each way everyday makes me not want to use Metro.  I mean, I live about 5 miles from work, it shouldn’t take me an hour to get there, I could nearly walk that far in that amount of time!  So, I’m still thinking of options for me and waiting for the official announcement, but look for an extra car on the road for morning commutes come spring.
3. On Saturday I read a note on Mayor Slay’s website (he calls it a blog, but it hardly is considering there are no comments allowed) encouraging Metro to work out a deal to allow their system to be integrated with Google Maps.  I too would agree this is a great thing.  With my business I’ve started, I’ve got a cell phone with a data plan and built in GPS.  Google Maps has been great to have on my cell phone to look up directions.  To have easy access through there to bus routes and times would be awesome.

So, things have been busy, the holidays are upon us, and the boy is at the airport now on his way to visit his father for 10 days over Thanksgiving.  I’ve got lots of cleaning and organizing to do around the house so we can set up a Christmas tree in a couple of weeks and so I can turn our front “junk” room into a home office over the holiday.

It’s that time of year again.  Yes, it’s time to traumatize the little kids by forcing them to dress up in ridiculous clothes, walk down the street, ring your doorbell and tell you a joke.  All for a measly five cent piece of candy.  I honestly don’t get the whole joke thing that goes on around here.  I’ve never heard of any other cities that are so adamant about it (or do it at all to be more exact).

If you are new to the area, be sure your kids have a  joke down pat before they leave the house, otherwise they will be stammering and embarrassed  before long.  Here’s one I heard on KWMU the other day that I got a kick out of.

Two atoms walk out of a bar.  One atom turns to the other and says, “I think I left an electron back there.”

“Are you sure?” the other replied.

“Yes, I’m Positive!

If you get that one then I’m impressed!  Happy Halloween.

Last week there was a proposal to make changes to the Arch Grounds. Preservationists and parks people are not at all happy about the prospects of some of the land being taken over for private development/management. If you don’t check out Michael Allen’s Eco Absence blog regularly, you should head over there. Here are a couple of articles recently on opposition to the plans.

• National Park Service Retirees Oppose Preliminary Plan to “Privatize” Portion of St. Louis Gateway Arch Site
• National Parks Conservation Association Concerned about Potential Development on Grounds of National Historic Landmark in St. Louis
• NPS Expected to Announce Preferred Alternatives for Arch Grounds Today

What ever happened to our sense of personal responsibility? It seems every day I see more people who are so totally self absorbed they ignore the needs of others.

• There was the man who tried to cross the street without a signal and held up traffic turning left with a green arrow. You can’t wait for 10 seconds until they are done and it’s your turn?
• There was the lady driving a van yesterday who insisted she turn left, pushing herself through the first 2 of 3 lanes of traffic, only to get hit by an oncoming car in the 3rd lane. Honestly, you can’t see past the school bus and the city bus in the first two. If you were really in such a hurry, you just blew it.
• There was the guy at the grocery store parking lot this weekend who yelled out his car window at us. He’d pulled half way out of his spot after we were most of the way out of ours just two spots down. We waited for him, and when he didn’t go we assumed he wanted us to go around him.
• There are the drivers giving me angry looks for being in the crosswalk with a cross signal when they want to turn left on a yield signal.
• There are people demanding the government give us more affordable health insurance so they don’t have to take care of their own bodies.
• There are parents who get upset with public school teachers for not teaching their children when those same parents do nothing to encourage their children at home.

I don’t know about you, but I still routinely get strange looks when I say please, or thank you sir/miss/ma’am. It’s almost like they are shocked that someone is being polite to them. You see, in a small town, your ambulance service is your next door neighbor. That guy you just cut off in traffic will be sitting next to you at the diner tonight. Here in the city, it seems everyone wants to stay nameless and faceless. It just makes it easier to ignore those other people because “I’ll never see them again anyway.”

What strikes me as funny is that with all of this, people still seem surprised when corporate executives and politicians act the same way they do.  Should we really be surprised that our leaders act the same way we do?

If you haven’t been down Macklind Avenue in a while, you should make a point to head down that way again soon. The last few months have brought several new businesses to the area. Here’s what you’re missing out on:

• Natures Aglow 2 - A new 100% soy candle shop. My wife and I have both been in here and they’ve got a pretty good selection of scents and sizes (Be sure to check out the “Monkey Farts”, you’ll love it!). They also will fill an empty container for you with your choice of color and scent.
• Big River Running - Their first location in the city. It’s right on the corner of Macklind and Devonshire (Natures Aglow is right next door). I haven’t been in yet (just thinking of running makes me knees hurt), but they seem to have a good selection of sportswear and shoes. I’ve also seen a rather large increase in the number of runners around the neighborhood since they moved in.
• DramaRama Theater Company - As a new addition to the South City landscape, they are renting part of the Southampton Presbyterian Church at Macklind and Nottingham. They will be providing classes in drama and improv for all ages. They will also likely be having some live performances as well. Stay tuned there for lots of fun I’m sure.

Also, a couple weeks back, I attended a business owners networking event at Montgomery Bank. The event was catered by Murdoch Perk and was a lot of fun. I heard there that several of the businesses in the area have been working with Home Eco to procure eco friendly consumable and cleaning products for their shops. That’s a really cool collaboration to hear about.

My wife and I also attended a trivia night fund raiser this past Saturday for the Macklind Business District. We had a lot of fun and managed to hold on to second place at the end. Now, if we only would have remembered that Sponge bob’s pet snail was named Gary and this post over at Urban Review wouldn’t have convinced me that 1809 was the year St. Louis city was founded (it was incorporated then, not founded), we just might have gotten first.

For anyone familiar with the Avalon on South Kingshighway, you know it’s a real eyesore. It’s been in a state of major disrepair for years. The owner has been “trying” to sell it for a hefty sum and hasn’t had any luck. Every time the city gets close to taking possession, he finally steps up and pays all his back taxes.

For historical reference, here are some other stories about the history of the bulding:

Cinema Treasures

Built St. Louis

River Front Times

Since this building is part of my neighborhood and in my ward as well, the topic comes up at ever neighborhood association meeting and it’s been sort of a thorny issue for a while. Earlier this week barricades were placed out front. It seemed hopeful that something was about to happen. Our neighborhood received the following update from local Alderman Stephen Gregali:

As far as the Avalon is concerned;

I last reported that the tax sale was to be on October 14th and keep your fingers crossed.

As much to my dismay… Larry Tsevis gave Greg a check and he paid the 3 yrs back tax
about 2 weeks ago.

Myself, the City Counselor’s Office, the Building Division and Barbara Geisman have been
communicating almost daily about what to do. The Building Division has placed a barrier
on the sidewalk for public safety issues, the City will proceed with demolition or
preservation. We have not made the decision which way to go because we have also been
communicating with Tsevis’ attorney and other members of the family.

The one thing for sure is that in the next 30-60 days there will be some sort of closure.
When the type of closure is evident I will let everyone know.

Stephen M. Gregali

So, it seems that something is about to happen soon. Whether the building gets demolished by the city or finally gets sold is yet to be seen.  Personally, I would expect the property to be more valuable to Mr. Tsevis with the building demolished.  I would not be surprised to see him stand by and let the city demolish it and then miraculously have a contract to sell shortly afterwards.  But, that’s just my opinion.

It would be a shame.  It could really be a pretty cool old building if it was redone.  I’m no architect, but I believe it would be considered Art Deco.  The front facade of the building (if restored) would be an awesome addition to that little stretch of the city.  But, it is in terrible condition, so the cost of that restoration is most way out of the budget for all but the most die hard restorationist.

Yesterday, I posted wondering if people really know what the purpose of crosswalks were.  This morning, I was given the perfect example of what I was talking about.  I had just gotten off the bus and walked down to the corner to cross the street.  I arrived just as the left arrow for cars headed my direction turned green.  I pressed to button and waited (I could cross half way and then go on, but I always wait until I have a walk signal).

As I’m waiting, there is a pedestrian headed my direction on the opposite side of the street.  There are cars turning left and right in front of him.  He walks up to the corner, turns 15 feet down, and then steps out into the street to try and cross.  Why he couldn’t walk straight across in the cross walk that was directly in front of him I’ll never know.  He only needed to wait about  5 seconds for a walk signal.

Next, I’m finally crossing (in the cross walk) and cars have green lights both directions.  The left turn lane that was turning now has a “Left Turn Yield on Green.”  Of course, that’s not going to stop those next couple of cars from trying to fly through the intersection ahead of oncoming traffic and directly at … ME!  I had to stop int he middle of the street to let one car go by in front of me (you could tell the driver’s wife was yelling at him about what he was doing).  There was a second car that actually turned left BEHIND me and crossed through both lanes and the left turn lane of oncoming traffic.  I was appalled.

Are these people in such a hurry they have to endanger their own lives and nearly run over a living person in the process?  Maybe you should leave home a few minutes earlier if you really need to get where you’re going so fast.

Have you walked around the city lately?

Have you seen people using crosswalks?

This past week or so I’ve been so completely disappointed in people and crosswalks.  I swear I’ve seen more cars sitting in crosswalks waiting for their lights than I’ve seen people actually walking in them.  And the number of people I’ve seen ignore the crosswalk, walk 50′ down the block and cross in the middle of the street, than cars blocking the crosswalk.

Has everyone lost their minds at the end of summer or did I miss a memo someplace?

So, how did you spend your 4th of July?  Me, I went to bed early in anticipation of my 6:42 AM tee time on Saturday morning.   Unfortunately, I was kept awake until the wee hours of the morning by neighbors who don’t realize that fireworks are illegal in the city of St. Louis.  Sure, as a kid I enjoyed my share of fireworks being in a rural town.  But my enjoyment stopped during daylight hours of stuffing firecrackers in anthills.  We’d always somehow end up with a bunch of bottle rockets and I’d shoot them off to be done with them, but they are kind of boring. 

For my money, I prefer to go and watch the pros do what they do.  Even more so now that we live in a city.  The density of housing is such that I don’t feel comfortable shooting flaming paper and explosives into the air.  But, hey, that’s just me.  Obviously my neighbors do not share the same view point! 

Lucky for me, there was an excellent fireworks display at Sublette Park on Saturday (sponsored by the Southwest Garden Neighborhood).  It was really quite a nice display.  The park was filled with families when we got there a little after 8 that evening.  The playground was packed full of kids and ours promptly disappeared into the crowd of others.  He returned when it was getting closer to dark and the fireworks. 

The best part of all, it took only 5 minutes to get there and find a place, and less than 10 minutes to walk back to the car and drive home!