• About
  • The Poetry of Protest

Show Me Progress

~ covering government and politics in Missouri – since 2007

Show Me Progress

Tag Archives: St. Louis

Punching down is never a good look

28 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Elad Gross, missouri, Missouri Sunshine Law, RSMo § 610, St. Louis

As if a lack of transparency is aspirational.

St. Louis Comes After Lawyer Who Accused Them of Sunshine Law Violations
The city calls Elad Gross’ lawsuit “a publicity stunt,” seeks $25K in damages
By Ryan Krull on Mon, Nov 28, 2022 at 11:53 am

Elad Gross For Missouri
[….]
I sometimes sue the government on behalf of hurt people. The day before Thanksgiving, my government decided to sue me and start a negative media campaign in an Eric-Greitens-esque attempt to discredit my work.
I believe that the government should be accountable to the people it represents. A lot of folks agree, and that’s why Republicans and Democrats passed the Missouri Sunshine Law almost 50 years ago, so we could see what our government is doing with our money and in our name. But now, decades later, we have far too many government officials who think you and I shouldn’t see anything at all.
I represent a man who was temporarily detained in a St. Louis jail. Because the cell locks admittedly don’t work and the jail is unsafe, he was assaulted and severely injured. As part of our investigation, I asked for public records from St. Louis City. Over the course of a year, the City violated the Sunshine Law multiple times and delayed producing public records. I learned that attorneys, reporters, researchers, and other members of the public had similar issues with the City. I offered to help the City comply with the Sunshine Law on multiple occasions, and each time I was ignored.
As a last resort, I filed a Sunshine Law lawsuit against the City and several officials. Because of the number of violations involved, the lawsuit was very long and took considerable time to write. I again offered to resolve the dispute, and again the City ignored that offer.
Instead, the City and several of its officials decided to file an illegal lawsuit against me for daring to hold them accountable. They have asked for maximum monetary damages, including an award of punitive damages, which is not allowed in Missouri without special permission of the judge, permission they never asked for. They claim that once the City violates the Sunshine Law on a request, it can violate it as many times as it would like to without additional liability, a novel argument that I’m sure other lawbreakers would love to use in their cases too. Ironically, the name of the claim the City is using to try to shut me up and deter others from seeking transparency is called “abuse of process.”
The City spends a lot of its lawsuit disparaging me, saying that because I ran for Attorney General more than two years ago I should not be believed. I guess the City doesn’t want people running for office either, especially for an office that is supposed to police Sunshine Law violations. If only it did.
These City officials then shared portions of their work with the media in some weird attempt to discredit me. In their comments to the media, the government officials criticized me for… talking to the media. About folks – including reporters – being prevented from seeing public records. About people being assaulted in their jails! These City officials left out the fact that reporters approached me about the issues they were having, or that we have freedom of speech in this country.
Eric Greitens used to attack me for being a “Democratic operative” when I sued him for hiding records, well before I was a candidate for office. Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, and Mike Parson took their turns too. They all lost.
It’s a very sad time in the Show-Me State when some government officials act like they own their offices, like the people don’t matter. It’s a scary time when some officials are willing to use their authority and taxpayer money to silence citizens. In some states, these kinds of strategic lawsuits against public participation filed by the City are strictly prohibited. They should be in Missouri too.
If you’ve had issues with the St. Louis City public records portal online and are willing to tell the court about it, please feel free to reach out. Sounds like we’ll be in court soon

Bet on Elad.

Elad Gross (D) [2020 file photo].

Cora Faith Walker

11 Friday Mar 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Cora Faith Walker, missouri, St. Louis

Cora Faith Walker (D) [2017 file photo].

This afternoon, from the Missouri Democratic Party:

Missouri Democrats @MoDemParty
We are devestated to learn of Cora Faith Walker’s passing. She was a perfect example of a dedicated public servant who deeply cared for the St. Louis community. We’ve lost someone very special and too soon.
3:10 PM · Mar 11, 2022

Cora Faith Walker was a former State Representative and was serving as Chief Policy Officer for St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.

illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov – RSMo § 610 – Missouri Sunshine Law – email submissions – Get In Good Trouble

09 Sunday Jan 2022

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

anti-mask, anti-science, Attorney General, Corona virus, COVID-19, Eric Schmitt, Mayor, Missouri Sunshine Law, pandemic, right wingnut, RSMo § 610, St. Louis, Tishuara Jones

“Submit Media with Proper Lighting + Horizontal Orientation”

On Thursday afternoon we received a response from the office of Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (r) complying with our December 9th RSMo § 610 “Missouri Sunshine Law” request for the contents of the illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov email address set up by the Attorney General to solicit complaints about mask wearing in Missouri public schools.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones submitted an email:

[….]
Subject: Kids in Masks at Schools

How appalling!

[Get In Good Trouble]

Tishaura O. Jones
Mayor, City of St. Louis
(She/Her/Hers)
[….]

Heh.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s (r) anti-mask public school complaint email address: illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov

Heh.

Previously:

A simple request (December 9, 2021)

We get a response (December 14, 2021)

We’re still waiting… (December 31, 2021)

There’s much more to follow (January 6, 2022)

illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov – RSMo § 610 – Missouri Sunshine Law – email submissions – part 1 (January 6, 2022)

illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov – RSMo § 610 – Missouri Sunshine Law – email submissions – part 2 (January 7, 2022)

illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov – RSMo § 610 – Missouri Sunshine Law – email submissions – part 3 (January 8, 2022)

illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov – RSMo § 610 – Missouri Sunshine Law – email submissions – clown (January 8, 2022)

illegalmandates@ago.mo.gov – RSMo § 610 – Missouri Sunshine Law – email submissions – part 4 (January 8, 2022)

Masks work

09 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

CDC, Corona virus, COVID-19, higher education, masks, missouri, pandemic, St. Louis, study

Today:

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
CDC
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate
SARS-CoV-2 Transmission to Masked and Unmasked Close Contacts of University Students with COVID-19 — St. Louis, Missouri, January–May 2021
Weekly / September 10, 2021 / 70(36);1245–1248

[….]

Close contacts with any unmasked exposure to persons with COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result compared with those who had only masked exposure. In addition, close contacts who had multiple exposures, whether masked or unmasked, had higher odds of a positive test result than did those with only a single exposure. The percentage of positive test results among close contacts in this study (30.7%) was similar to that observed in previous studies (approximately 31%) (2,3). Consistent with findings from studies in nonuniversity settings (4,5), the findings from this study reinforce that universal masking and having fewer encounters in close contact with persons with COVID-19 helps prevent further transmission in in-person university settings.

[….]

Wearing masks and having fewer encounters with persons with COVID-19 reduced the odds of transmission in a university setting. In addition, there was no evidence of secondary transmission from either of the two students with only masked exposure who received positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, and who, because of the modified protocol in place, were allowed to forego quarantine. Universities opening for in-person instruction could consider taking mask use into account when determining which unvaccinated close contacts require quarantine if enforced testing protocols are in place. CDC recommends that universal masking be adopted in indoor spaces for vaccinated and unvaccinated persons in areas with substantial or high transmission rates and that masks should be worn in indoor spaces in areas without substantial or high transmission rates if you are not fully vaccinated (9). In addition, CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for individuals aged ≥12 years.

[….]

If you haven’t already done so, get vaccinated.

Wear a damn mask.

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

03 Tuesday Aug 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

ant-mask, Attorney General, Corona virus, COVID-19, Eric Schmitt, missouri, pandemic, right wingnut, St. Louis

Today:

Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
Today my Office delivered a huge win for the people of St. Louis County & obtained an order halting the mask mandate.

I’ll never stop fighting against unreasonable & unconstitutional government overreach & I’ll never stop fighting for the cause of freedom. #NoMaskMandates
2:15 PM · Aug 3, 2021

Sociopath.

Some of the comments:

What effect do you think that this “win” will have for the people of St. Louis County? #HonestQuestion [….]

Thank you AG Eric Schmitt! So grateful you are using your office to fight for our freedoms! May God bless you and your family!

Well, that’s one way of killing off your base

Basically, you sentenced more people to suffer and die so that you can get the GOP nomination in the Senate race. Monstrous.

I hate you.

Why is it such a big issue to wear a mask and get vaccinated? What are people afraid of? Why do you spend so much time and effort in this?

You obtained a temporary restraining order

Idiot.

Thank you @Eric_Schmitt for working hard to protect our rights and freedoms as Missourians!! #LikeABoss

This is great news – but please let us know when they actually put this into action. As of this morning every place is still requiring masks for the vaccinated and unvaccinated

Guess what? Private companies can still require you to wear a mask…

Thank you!! I’m terrified at what’s going on in our country but you are a hero to all of us [….]

Thanks for nothing. You don’t care about our health or welfare at all. Just catering to the MAGAs. Yet you call yourself pro-life. You have blood on your hands.

[….] Gonna make sure I’m a true Missourian for now on and do jack shit for other people.

“There’s a slight chance I can protect my fellow man by doing something simple? We’ll fuck them. Me, me, me. God bless and fuck off.” – MAGAts

Thank you for protecting our freedom!

Please fight against vaccine passports, even in the private sector. We cannot have this medical apartheid here.

The only thing for which you fight is your political career.

You’re a shameful person, and a horrible example for your children.

Good, now do Kansas City please. End all mask mandates.

Shut up Eric, what you are tweeting is another of your many lies from the lawyer! The Judge ordered a TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER! You have not stopped anything can happen when it’s issued as TEMPORARY! Tell SLC that truth!

The world we live in.

Always in search of another way to lose in court

24 Saturday Jul 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Attorney General, Corona virus, COVID-19, Eric Schmitt, mask mandate, missouri, pandemic, right wingnut, social media, St. Louis, Twitter

Yesterday evening:

Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
The citizens of St. Louis and St. Louis County are not subjects — they are free people. As their Attorney General I’ll be filing suit Monday to stop this insanity. #covid
[….]
6:50 PM · Jul 23, 2021

Some of the responses:

You’ve gone a couple of days without losing in court, do you need a fix?

My kids can’t get vaccinated. We need to either get more people vaccinated, or do what is necessary to protect everyone from the spread among the unvaccinated. Do not take legal action against St. Louis City and County doing what needs to be done.

Setting yourself up for another loss in court?

I’m one of those people and I’d like to know how many times you’ve promoted vaccination. Looking back through July tweets….that would be a big ZERO times. As a doctor who works inpatient, I suggest you drop the politics and do something useful.

You are completely out of touch with the seriousness of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. Individuals choosing not to be vaccinated are a problem as yourself, and Missouri Republicans who are against mask mandates or other issues for the greater good of our communities and state.

Are you going to sign the lawsuit this time or find a totally different embarrassing way to lose?

We’re not your grandstanding springboard either. Leave us alone. #STL

Read the room, dude.

Ohohoh… Scary Eric is gonna sue!!! It will end like the rest of them

Is it not the most important role of government to protect its citizens from harm? Why would you choose to take a political and legal position that ignores the health and welfare of your fellow citizens?

Expecting anything different?

21 Monday Jun 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2nd amendment, General Assembly, guns, HB 85, missouri, nullification, St. Louis, Tishaura Jones, U.S. Constitution

Nullification? Right.

Tishaura Jones (D) [2019 file photo]

St. Louis City, County Sue to Block New State Law That Nullifies Federal Gun Laws, Ties Hands of Law Enforcement
STL City and County filed a joint lawsuit seeking to block a new law which prevents local law enforcement from following federal gun laws.

June 21, 2021

Today, St. Louis City and St. Louis County filed a joint lawsuit seeking to block a new law which makes Missouri a sanctuary state for gun violence by preventing local law enforcement from following federal gun laws. Filed in Cole County Circuit Court, today’s lawsuit asks the court to declare the new law unconstitutional under the federal and state constitutions.

Missouri has some of the weakest gun regulations in the country and one of the highest rates of gun violence deaths per capita. But the state legislature passed HB 85 in an effort to prevent enforcement of federal gun laws in Missouri. The new law has already disrupted law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels:

The United States Department of Justice declared that the new law unconstitutionally interferes with federal law enforcement and threatens the ability of local police departments to access federal grants.

The State of Missouri withdrew its prosecutors from assisting in federal drug, carjacking, and gun cases in St. Louis.

A police chief in the St. Louis region resigned after Governor Parson signed the bill, noting that the new law will “chill the legitimate peacekeeping duties of police.”

“2020 was the deadliest year of gun violence in our state’s history, and now the Missouri legislature is throwing up barriers to stop police from doing their most important job —preventing and solving violent crime,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “This harmful and unconstitutional law takes away tools our communities need to prevent gun violence. I’m proud to partner with St. Louis County in this effort to protect our region and stop this law.”

“This new law is like the state holding out a sign that says ‘Come Commit Gun Violence Here,’” said St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page. “We can’t expect people to stay in St. Louis or to move their businesses here if we don’t do everything we can to reduce gun violence in the region, but this new law sends the opposite message to our residents and business community.”

The City and County are seeking an injunction of unconstitutional provisions and ultimately for the law to be overturned on constitutional grounds. The entities will jointly argue that HB 85 violates the U.S. Constitution Supremacy Clause, which provides that federal law preempts state law, and also is in contravention of other Missouri law.

City County Petition for Declaratory Relief and Injunction – HB85 [pdf]

Eric Schmitt’s (r) record will remain intact.

Previously:

The Supremacy Clause don’t mean shit (June 12, 2021)

Eric Schmitt (r) wouldn’t know the U.S. Constitution if it smacked him upside the head (June 17, 2021)

Don’t mess with the mayors

02 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

General Assembly, Kansas City, local control, missouri, Nick Schroer, Quinton Lucas, right wingnuts, Sara Walsh, St. Louis, Tishuara Jones

Right wingnut members of the Missouri General Assembly held a photo-op outside of their districts, without including the members of the General Assembly who actually represent that area.

The mayors of St. Louis and Kansas City had something to say about it.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones [2019 file photo].

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, Mayor Quinton Lucas Release Joint Statement Regarding Proposed Special Session
Mayor Jones, Mayor Lucas Joint Statement on Special Session.

June 2, 2021 [….]

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas today released the following joint statement regarding Republican state lawmakers’ calls for a special session related to police funding:

“Today’s grandstanding doesn’t make our communities any safer. As mayors of Missouri’s two largest cities, we are committed to collaborating with anyone willing to offer real solutions and investment to address the underlying conditions that lead to crime—poverty, lack of mental health services, housing instability, and more.

“Republican lawmakers on the outskirts of our communities calling for a special legislative session are offering no real solutions. Instead, they are advocating away the right of St. Louis and Kansas City residents to make decisions for our own communities.

“Both of us have committed to visiting each other’s respective cities to speak with those most affected by disinvestment—primarily in traditionally minority neighborhoods—and to discuss solutions to benefit the people of St. Louis, Kansas City, and all of Missouri. We again extend that same invitation to any elected leader who is serious about having truthful conversations about what actually makes our communities safer.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas [2019 file photo].

Local control is apparently not a right wingnut value in Missouri.

But, sadly, humanity does not apply to humanity

10 Monday May 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bear, missouri, Shark Fu, St. Louis, Twitter

This morning:

Pamela Merritt (she/her) @SharkFu
Let’s use this as a teachable moment. Bears can hurt & kill people. But authorities didn’t engage the bear until it was safe to do so without having to kill it. The same residents who were under threat celebrated the non-lethal resolution.

Now imagine that … with humans.
[….]
5:35 AM · May 10, 2021

That’s the way it is.

Mayor-elect Tishaura Jones

14 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

missouri, St. Louis, Tishaura Jones

Tishaura Jones (D) [2019 file photo]

Mayor-elect Tishaura O. Jones @saintlouismayor
Since last Tuesday, Election Day, my team and I have been working diligently to hit the ground running on day one and deliver results for the people of Saint Louis.
2:31 PM · Apr 13, 2021

I have spoken with @GovParsonMO and @LtGovMikeKehoe about the importance of working together to strengthen the Saint Louis region and move our City and State forward.

I’ve also been in contact with HUD @SecFudge, Labor @SecMartyWalsh, and Transportation @SecretaryPete and look forward to working with them to bring federal dollars to Saint Louis.

My team and I had an extremely productive working meeting with @RepCori and her congressional team to discuss our shared values and priorities for Saint Louis City.

I’ve spoken with Pres. @LewisReedSTL and @stlcomptroller about working together to advance the priorities of the people of the City of Saint Louis.

I have begun calling all of the 28 Aldermen and other citywide elected officials, but have not yet made my way through the entire list.

I look forward to working with them to advance good, sustainable public policy for our City and region.

I’ve received congratulatory calls from mayors across this country, and I look forward to continuing the dialogue, learning from them, and bringing solutions they’ve had success with to Saint Louis City. #ReadyOnDayOne

Leadership.

Previously:

Tishaura Jones elected Mayor of St. Louis (April 7, 2021)

← Older posts

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007

Categories

  • campaign finance
  • Claire McCaskill
  • Congress
  • Democratic Party News
  • Eric Schmitt
  • Healthcare
  • Hillary Clinton
  • Interview
  • Jason Smith
  • Josh Hawley
  • Mark Alford
  • media criticism
  • meta
  • Missouri General Assembly
  • Missouri Governor
  • Missouri House
  • Missouri Senate
  • Resist
  • Roy Blunt
  • social media
  • Standing Rock
  • Town Hall
  • Uncategorized
  • US Senate

Meta

  • Log in

Blogroll

  • Balloon Juice
  • Crooks and Liars
  • Digby
  • I Spy With My Little Eye
  • Lawyers, Guns, and Money
  • No More Mister Nice Blog
  • The Great Orange Satan
  • Washington Monthly
  • Yael Abouhalkah

Donate to Show Me Progress via PayPal

Your modest support helps keep the lights on. Click on the button:

Blog Stats

  • 740,842 hits

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...