Elliott_Davis's Blog

 I'd like to get the blogging community's feed-back on this.

 St. louis COunty Residents are forced to pay a $12  a month recycling fee on their trash bill even if they never recycle.

 Is it just me or does it seem unfair when taxpayers are already having a tough enough time with the existing taxes and fees.  Why have to pay for something they're not even using.

I think it's great that some people want to recycle. That's their right. But what about those who don't want the hassle. They're paying a fee and getting absolutely nothing in return. WHat happens to the money the county gets for doing nothing at all..

I've gotten a number of calls on this issue from irrate homeowers..To date I haven't done anything on it..I'm considering doing something now..and questioning St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley.

What do you guys think.

Elliott

 St. Louis Aldermen apparently heard you loud and clear after my You Paid For It on an Alderman trying to get a extra $400 gas allowance to help them with the high cost of fuel.

 You already pay them $30,000 a year for the part time job that meets once a week.

Plus you give them a $2,400 a year expense account.

 Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe called all the money you're paying "chump change"

But taxpayers weren't "chumps" this time.

 I recently grilled the head of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Louis Reid.

He told me Troupes bill was dead, and won't see the light of day anytime soon.

Score one for common sense and for the many people that called the Board and blew up the phone lines.

After all You Paid For it.

 It's amazing to me that our station has featured the You Paid For It segment for almost 20 years.

  I never would have thought there would be enough government waste to sustain something like this that long. There's always something new and unbelievable.

 Take this month for example where we showed you the Mayor of East St. Louis and his plans for a $1.3 million dollar monument of a flower. This with all the other issues facing that city.

 Or the Jennings School District deciding to buy nearly a million dollars worth of Palm Pilots to hand out to grade schoolers to take home..only to decide the kids couldn't take them home after all.

Or the story in West County where Modot building a soundwall right in front of a Frontenac family's front door..And then told me there was nothing wrong with it.

Lets not forget the City of O'fallon where they spent $41,000 for furniture for a historic house, only to discover the furniture didn't fit the time period.

 And of course the Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich, who cost taxpayers hundreds of thousand of dollars commuting to work on the state owned executive plane.

 Of course I'll never forget the old favorites, Dorothy Moore of Hillsdale fame who tried to take my mike.

 Then St. Charles County Executive Joe Ortwert (Jesus loves you Elliott)

There's one of my all time favorites.."Are you a traveling man"

And of course Gales Towing...My cameraman was shot during the course of that investigation.

 It is really encouraging when I run into many of our viewers on the street who tell me they appreciate Fox Two's You Paid For it.

 It's truly a team effort made possible by a lot of folks behind the scenes you never see but who are nonetheless essential in getting these reports on the air.

 As for the officials. I think most are well intentioned. But many of them change when they get elected and stop using common sense in some of their decisions..

It's almost like they say "it's taxpayers money, There's more where that came from" Plus they're on boards and commissions where others think the same way. Before long you're got a boondoggle on your hands..that you paid for.

  I really want to thank all of your for making this franchise possible. You're the ones who make those calls that hold officials feet to the fire..And tie up their phone lines, and make them think.  

As I'm fond of saying it's your government. You're the shareholders. Office holders are in charge at your discretion, and only as long as you want them to be..Thank you for letting us be a part of making sure your voices are heard..

After all You Paid For it.

 We did a You Paid For It last night on the high flying governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich.

He's logging a lot of flight hours in the State's executive private plane on your dime.

 Part of the problem as a taxpayers watchdog group pointed out, is that he chose to keep his residence in Chicago instead of moving to the governors mansion in Springfield,

 He could at least stay there when the legislature is in session. It might facilitate better communications in resolving a multi-billion dollar mess.

 It also would cut down on what you're spending to fly the governor back and forth to Springfield..

With gas being what it is every little bit helps.

The You Paid For it Team is taking a hard look at a brewing fight in the City of Olivette.

 The city is building a Pavillion in a tiny neighborhood park in the middle of  the Indian Meadows  subdivision.

Neighbors have already had trouble with an unwanted element congregating in the park and fear adding amenities like a pavillion and restroom will just attract more undesirables to the park that's just 50 feet from some of their homes.

 They've told city hall they don't want it. The answer they get. It's been in the works and it's too  late to stop it.

 Here's a case of spending taxpayers money to do something taxpayers don't want.. It's amazing that officials can't grasp that. I caught up with the Mayor who says they're pushing on anyway regardless of what the people affected think..Unbelievable.

For their part citizens aren't backing down from the fight and have gear up  a petition drive with over 200 signatures and climbing.

 I love to see citizens activism. I always say officials rule by the consent of the governed..and when the people get fed up they can take back the power.

 It seems citizens in the Indian Meadows Subdivision may be on the road to doing just that.

 I'm looking at the latest on MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah.

It's alway an experience when I go there to shoot, on days that it's empty.

I remember when it was Christened and all the dignitaries were on hand to tell how great a deal this was for taxpyaers $300 million dollars..and St. Clair county officials have been trying to get it up and going since it openned in 1997..

 Now they're hoping the latest $3 million dollar investment to refrigerate the cargo area will do the trick.. A lot of promises that this will do it.

Haven't we taxpayers heard that tune before..

 I did get a treat the other day though some of the Blue Angels used the field along with their Cargo Plane..called Fat Albert.. I guess that was worth the $317 million dollar price of admission.

You ever heard the expression I need that like I need a hole in the head.

Maybe not that drastic but a new proposed million dollars monument for downtown East St. Louis comes close.

I did a You Paid For It report on it last night. The monument would be in the shape of a flower opening. called rebirth.. It would be put on a vacant lot flanked by a gas station and city hall, near the Metro Train tracks..just a few blocks away from a boarded up downtown. Right down the roa, streets that flood when it rains making them almost impassible because the sewers system is broken and the city hasn't had money to fix them..And I guess hasn't requested it from the Federal Govenment. But they're asking the feds for a million bucks for a downtown monument that won't do anything. 

  Monuments are like the icing on a cake..BUt in this case we're dealing with a problem cake that needs more than just a little icing. East St. Louis needs an over-haul from the ground up.

 I couldn't believe it when I interviewed the Mayor about this..and he told me with a straight face it was a good deal.

He reminded me of the Mayor of Creve Coeur Harold Dielman when I questioned him about a $3 million dollar over-pass. In fairness to Dielman though Creve Coeur is in a lot better shape than East St. Louis, and can afforded to look at a frill or two..(Just wish we didn't have to pay for it)

 But in the case of East St. Louis the new Mayor should stick with the basics. Things that citizens need to make their lives better, like sewers and streets, and jobs, and fewer abandoned falling down houses, and better schools, and community centers to give kids somewhere to chill...

 East ST. Louis needs the basics...

 The ICING can wait.

I had the greatest experience this morning on my way to church. There's a disabled man I speak to every time I go to a convenience store on Sunday Morning.

But this morning I after I said hi..we started talking about Independence Day and he told me he served in the Navy in World War II.

I'm a student of history, and have a great respect for the soldiers and sailors who serve our nation.

And a special interest in those who served in WWII..I was all ears.

He told me how he was stationed on a security detail on Tinian Island and actually stood next to the atomic Bomb that was ultimately dropped on Hiroshima which ended the war. And that he'd seen the B-29 Bomber that dropped the device.

He was 17 years old at the time and remembered everything in great detail..We talked nearly and hour. While I missed a good part of church, hearing his story gave me more insight into a valuable piece of history.

We can all take time to at least give a listen to the people who were willing to give their lives if need be for the sake of the nation.

Vets are always worth listening to, even when we're not celebrating Independence Day.

Where would we be without them?

Here's one I had trouble believing.

 I'm doing a You Paid For It on Monday on a St. Louis City Alderman who wants a special gas allowance for alderman.

 Consider this.

It's a Part time job. Alderman have once a week regular meetings.

You paya them $30,000 a year . Plus a $2,400 a year expense account.

 Now because of the rising cost of gas Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe thinks you should kick in a few hundred extra dollars a month for them a special gas allowance.

Excuse me. This while citizens are struggling with trying to gas up their cars to get to work..we're supposed to kick out more of our hard on dollars for Alderman to get to their part time job that we're paying them a salary for.

 And the alderman says you should want to fill up their tanks..  Where as taxpayers just have to suck it in..and cut corners it's amazing how officials always think of you when it comes time to pay more..

 This story airs Monday night at 9pm.. 

 I remember when the fFair St. Louis started..I'm glad the tradition is continuing.

 I think one ot the most unfortunate decisions though is the elimination of the popular Air Show.

That ws my main reason for going to the fair for many years.  The  Air show was a real crowd pleaser and gave folks a chance to see military aircraft they'd never seen before..

It ws also a real inspriation for kids, who may have dreamed of being pilots, and for taxpayers who could see what some of their defence dollars are paying for..And be entertained.

 It seems without the Air Show the Fair has lost a lot of it's luster. I understand that in this time of tight budgets something had to go..

But it's a shame the most popular offering, next to the fireworks ,was eliminated.

Perhaps that's one of the reason for the dwindling crowds.

Maybe one day they'll bring the air show back..I for one miss it.

I've always had my doubts about the set up the governor and Department of Education dreamed up to run the city schools.

 Putting a Special Administrative Board over the regular school board and putting a home builder  with no experience in running a school district in charge of the special board.

 To me it's a formula for failure.  For one the head of the board Rick Sullivan is beholden only to the Governor as opposed to and elected board that must eventually answer to the voters.

 So there's little if any over-sight over decisions the elected board makes.

 I've refrained from criticizing this deal though, in hopes it would bear fruit..now that I see it's not the You Paid For it team is jumping into the fray.

 In Sunday's report we're questioning the decision to hire temporary superintendent to work 3 months and pay him $50,000..until the board finds a permanent replacement for Diana Bourisaw.

 Many organizations would just let someone already on staff run an operation for three months or so rather than go out and spend that much money for a temp.

  In a district tight on cash this is $50-grand that could have been better spent on something else than putting it in the pocket of another administrator.

 To add to the questions the interim superintendent John Wright came from a failing district the Normandy School District.

 We had a comical encounter when we interviewed him about a questionable decorative soundwall in November..In the interview he called me.."A hustler"

 My question, are taxpayers getting "hustled" on the Special Boards decision to pay him $50,000 for three months work.

Sounds like a hustle to me.

 I was stunned to learn of the shooting death of a man St. Louis knew as "The Rose Man"

I've known Lee Nixon for more than 30 years..He was one of the kindest, soft spoken people i've ever met.  He as a regular feature on the night scene. he'd show up with an arm full of Roses to sell..And on many occasions would give away free roses to lucky ladies..And always with a smile.

  THere was more than met the eye about the rose man. I had the chance recently to talk to him at length. I learned he was a Viet Nam Vet..And proudly carrier pictures of himself in the service in the bush with his army unit.

  He told me his joy in life was just making people happy..He did that so well.

  It's a shame such good people are taken away from us so suddenly and tragically..

One thing for certain he did indeed bring a lot of happiness to a lot of people..

He made a difference..He was one of a kind..

I often find myself doing a lot of stories about school districts wasting money. Whether from Wentzville to East St. Louis it seems many districts often dole out dollars with no clear forethought in mind.  Oten they don't have a measureable system to evaluate results.  Often it seems decision are made by how the board feels at the time..It's the old "That sounds good" logic.  That's the challenge of a citizens board. I'm all in favor of having citizens run the school board. I just wish that when they get on the board they'd spend our money the way they spend their own..Right now there are a couple of districts I'm focused on with stories coming up in July.. They are stories that will leave you scratching your head.

   It's always amazing to question them about their decisions and see that deer in the head-lights look..but still having to say something..

  Our most notable stories are those done in Wentzville, Wellston, and Venice.

They called out the police on YOu Paid For It in Wellston and Venice..but in the end both districts were dissolved.  Nothing nearly so dramatic in Wentzville..But i've run into quite a few colorful characters there,,,

The one thing I can say. Districts are never dull.

In my last encounter with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich he wouldn't come out of his state paid for airplane. Then I was there to talk about P.R.. Now I'm looking at a whole new costly deal.

 It's been amazing to see the changes in the perception of the Governor.

When I first ran into him shortly after his election he seemed a bright young rising star. Now look. I think the video of me chasing his blackout Surburban says it all..A governor on the run. Incredible.

What a mess. The Mehlville School District is facing a financial crisis and what do they do?

Hire a P.R. Firm for $160,000 when they already had a P.R. man oon staff (Who has since been suspended). The district is looking a ttrimming a million bucks from the budget because of a budget goof.

 I really don't know why district's think the problem is always not enough P.R. Or that they need to pay a lot of money to have someone to act as a buffer between themselves and residents.

 Some of the best school districts in the area really don't have a lot of P.R. People but their do have good folks in the financial department to keep track of where the money is going and make good budget recommendations to the board, and other folks to make sure the cirriculum is up to snuff..and folks to keep the trains running on time.

 It was interesting to hear School Board president Tom Diehl try to defend the P.R. deal..Even he had to pause during the interview and think about what he was saying.

 It was almost as if during the interview he came to the realization "What a waste of money" But of course he couldn't say that..Instead he gave a labored answer.

 Voters, and parents don't need to be dazzled with fancy P.R and fancy presentations..

They just need to know they schools are being run in a well financially and academically.

No amount to P.R will pull the wool over their eyes if a district is falling down on the job and wasting their money.

  A little less P.R. and a little more of the basics will carry Mehlville a long way..

Especially since You Paid For It.

Elliott